Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the plot. All of the characters and
settings belong to J.R.R Tolkien, New Line Cinemas, and Peter Jackson. I
merely thank them for not persecuting me for dabbling in their majestically
created world.
*-*
Chapter Three
Across the Plains
The sun broke early over the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Legolas could see, in his mind's eye, his destination, the last stronghold of men. There was a war awaiting him, and his fate awaited him there too. But Legolas was not afraid of what was in store for him beyond the skyline; rather, he was concerned with what lay directly across from him, currently sleeping soundly.
Eowyn had had a troubled night's sleep. She was moaning the entire duration of the night, making it incredibly hard for Legolas himself to get any rest. Her moans and protests to an unseen force were utterly bone chilling. The Mirkwood Elf was a bit shaken and was having trouble letting the maiden out of his sight.
Sighing, Legolas wondered why he was so captivated with her, a mortal, who was not even half as beautiful as many of his kin. But he had found that his eyes had not been able to tear away from her since the moment they had first spoken. He had been constantly watching her in the corners, unsure as to how to approach her.
"Do not let her take over your thoughts," Legolas admonished himself, "She is naught but an mortal maiden, nothing worthy of your captivation. There are many other female elves that you could be watching."
Legolas approached a clean, crystal-clear brook, and filled a canteen with water.
"That is the first sign of insanity, you know," came a raspy voice from behind him, "Talking to yourself."
The Elf whirled around, sloshing water up and down the front of his tunic. "Why are you up so early, Lady Eowyn?" he asked earnestly. Then, "How much did you hear?"
"It was naught but mumbles to my mortal ears," the Shield Maiden said carefully, "And in response to your query, the sun has already begun to rise, milord. We should be leaving by now."
He sighed. "You are not fully well, Milady. Surely you know this, though you may not want to admit it."
Eowyn stared at him coldly. "We have been through this before, Master Elf, and it would be a waste of my breath and your time to go over the same argument again. I am perfectly capable of traveling at whatever pace you set for us. If my injury is enough to severely disable my abilities, then I shall ask you to stop."
"At least have something to eat, Shield Maiden," Legolas said, recognizing defeat, "It is not right for any person, healthy or not, to travel far and wide without a bit of fuel. Try this," he said, handing her some lembas bread. "It might be a bit much, but you shall need it. Then take a drink of water, and we shall be on our way."
"Of course, Legolas," Eowyn said, eating a large bite of the elvish food. "Thank you for your concern, though I must admit that I hate to be cared for. I like to take care of myself." She took a long swig of water. "Let's go."
"Is there any point in arguing with you?" he asked.
"None."
Legolas quirked an eyebrow and bit back a grin. "Well then," he said, "Off we go."
*-*
Legolas was moving quickly, as if he was afraid that she would snap at him if he went any slower. When he thought she wasn't looking, he would glance quickly back to make sure she was okay. Although Eowyn's natural instinct was to resent this kind of treatment, she found herself enjoying it rather than hating it.
Eowyn rather wished that she had heard what Legolas was mumbling by the creek, earlier that day. He had seemed dreadfully embarrassed when she had questioned him about it. But Eowyn hadn't pressed the matter any. She was almost positive it wasn't her business.
The sun was now high on their backs. Although the heat of the glistening orb might have caused discomfort, there was a swift wind that enveloped them in its cool comfort. The wind carried away all her sweat, and all her troubled thoughts, allowing her to enjoy the majestic scenery and the company of her companion.
It was a rather refreshing experience, to say the least.
Eowyn had not been out on an adventure such as this for a long time. While her Uncle was under the shadow of Sarumon, she was constantly by his side. The White Wizard had tried to extend his hand to cover her as well, but she has resisted. It was a private and internal battle that she did not share with anyone. She had come very close to becoming another puppet of Sarumon, but in the end her enormous will had prevailed.
Legolas did not know any of this, and although Eowyn was sure he would probably care and be ready to listen, she was hesitant to tell him. The Elf Prince was someone who she did not know very well, and even though he had saved her life, she still found that he put her on aware. Her senses were heightened when she was with him.
"Are you feeling well, milady? Shall we rest for a bit or continue?"
His voice broke her thoughts. She gazed into his face. His golden-blonde hair was windswept and his blue eyes were shining. He looked as if he were having the time of his life.
"Nay, I am fine, we may continue," she rasped, a bit breathless.
"Are you sure? You sound a bit breathless."
She mentally cursed her pulsing emotions and fought, to no avail, to contain the rising blush on her cheeks. Legolas looked at her a bit strangely, then, accepting her shake of the head, began to walk on.
They were walking in companionable silence. Thanks to the filling Lembas bread, Eowyn was stuffed. She did not need to eat or drink for hours at a time. She was so happy about being outdoors again, living out her dream, that the aching of her feet and legs did not bother her. Eowyn was in a heaven on Earth.
Legolas and Eowyn traveled long into the night. When he finally called them to a halt, she was exhausted, yet wishing for more time on their passage. Legolas gave her another piece of lembas bread and a bit of water, and Eowyn fell asleep not long after that.
*-*
She was soundly tonight, at least. Legolas gently ran a cool fingertip down her cheek, willing her a peaceful rest. Eowyn definitely deserved it. She had worked hard the entire day, running and fast and quick as a strong man.
Eowyn of Rohan was more than worthy of the admiration of any man. But she should not be more than a mere figure in the passing, never-ending life of an elf. All too soon her time on this Earth would come to an end, and he, Legolas, would be continuing on in his never-ending journey.
A rush of pain and heartache came over the woodland archer, and he suddenly understood why Arwen was so willing to give up her immortality for a mortal. He had grown to a point where he could not imagine life without her.
And the amazing part of this was that he did not know if she returned the feelings.
He wasn't quite sure what he admired about her. He did know that she was strong and willful; her sheer determination was enough to scare off anyone who wished to oppose her. And the inner light that glowed within her outshone anyone he knew. Eowyn was mesmerizing to look at.
Legolas' mind was in a horribly muddled state. He did not know what to do with his newfound love, nor did he fully understand why she fascinated him so. Perhaps it was because she was forbidden to him, and he to her. Their love was one that could never exist.
"Meleth nin," he whispered to her softly, "What I would do for us to be happy together."
She murmured something, and moved closer to him. Legolas resisted the strong temptation to reach out and enfold her in his grasp.
For now, at least, he would have to control his emotions.
*-*
They rose early yet again the next morning, and were headed off across the plains. Eowyn was in a much more talkative mood, and was involved in a long conversation with Legolas as they covered their ground. She found him incredibly easy to talk to, with a boyish appeal that made her grin.
Aragorn was the only other man to have done this to her.
Ah, Aragorn. She missed him greatly, and sometimes found herself wishing that he were here with her. Eowyn was quite enjoying the company of Legolas, don't misunderstand, but she longed for the sight of her Ranger again. He was the champion of her soul.
But, hissed a tiny voice inside her head, his heart and soul are already claimed for another. Do not deny the feelings you are harboring for Legolas, for the Mirkwood Elf may feel the same way.
Eowyn dismissed this as idiotic ramblings and continued on her way, silently now.
"A black bird circles us," Legolas said suddenly. "That is a bad sign."
"What?" she asked, instantly alarmed and on alert. Her hand drifted down to her sword hilt.
"We are being watched," the Elf said simply and quickly, "Beware of Sauron. His arm can reach us here, in the middle of the land where men are so easily corrupted to do his bidding. We must tread softly."
"Are we in any danger?" she queried, uneasily dropping her hand, but glancing around furtively.
"Not now," Legolas said, "But my feelings tell me that we shall be very soon."
His nose and ears perked quickly, and they both stood stone still. Eowyn tried very hard not to move, for she did not wish to interrupt him. When Legolas finally stopped, Eowyn glanced at his anxiously.
"Do you sense anything bad?"
He stared at her for a long time, as if treasuring the sight. "Yes," he finally said. "There is a party of Uruks heading towards us."
She felt herself gasp, and her hand flew to her heart. "When shall they be here?"
"By nightfall," came the cold reply.
Eowyn steeled herself for battle. "Then we shall be ready for them," she said decidedly.
"We will defeat them." He sounded just as sure and confident as he had when they were facing the Uruks with the rest of the Rohan soldiers.
Eowyn took faith in his confidence but could not shake the uneasy feeling that rested in the pit of her stomach. "We will be ready," she said again, looking to him to assure her that her statement was correct.
"Aye."
*-*
Horribly short, I know! I'm really sorry but I'm having the worst case of homework. My teachers have decided to dump it all on me NOW! Oh well. Anyways, I'm sorry for not updating in awhile, I'll try to be better about it. Sorry if this is another cliffhanger, but hey, at least it keeps you guys coming back.
Thank you so very, very much for reviewing! I love you all, you are the greatest! Please keep giving me some feedback, I'm trying to aim for 20 reviews or more with this chapter! That's not too much to ask for now is it?
Well, I must depart! I love you all! Oh, and the link to the Website should now be up in my profile! Please check it out and leave a comment in the guest book! That would make me feel even more special!
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me!
.x Moonlit Tears x.
*-*
Chapter Three
Across the Plains
The sun broke early over the snow-capped mountains in the distance. Legolas could see, in his mind's eye, his destination, the last stronghold of men. There was a war awaiting him, and his fate awaited him there too. But Legolas was not afraid of what was in store for him beyond the skyline; rather, he was concerned with what lay directly across from him, currently sleeping soundly.
Eowyn had had a troubled night's sleep. She was moaning the entire duration of the night, making it incredibly hard for Legolas himself to get any rest. Her moans and protests to an unseen force were utterly bone chilling. The Mirkwood Elf was a bit shaken and was having trouble letting the maiden out of his sight.
Sighing, Legolas wondered why he was so captivated with her, a mortal, who was not even half as beautiful as many of his kin. But he had found that his eyes had not been able to tear away from her since the moment they had first spoken. He had been constantly watching her in the corners, unsure as to how to approach her.
"Do not let her take over your thoughts," Legolas admonished himself, "She is naught but an mortal maiden, nothing worthy of your captivation. There are many other female elves that you could be watching."
Legolas approached a clean, crystal-clear brook, and filled a canteen with water.
"That is the first sign of insanity, you know," came a raspy voice from behind him, "Talking to yourself."
The Elf whirled around, sloshing water up and down the front of his tunic. "Why are you up so early, Lady Eowyn?" he asked earnestly. Then, "How much did you hear?"
"It was naught but mumbles to my mortal ears," the Shield Maiden said carefully, "And in response to your query, the sun has already begun to rise, milord. We should be leaving by now."
He sighed. "You are not fully well, Milady. Surely you know this, though you may not want to admit it."
Eowyn stared at him coldly. "We have been through this before, Master Elf, and it would be a waste of my breath and your time to go over the same argument again. I am perfectly capable of traveling at whatever pace you set for us. If my injury is enough to severely disable my abilities, then I shall ask you to stop."
"At least have something to eat, Shield Maiden," Legolas said, recognizing defeat, "It is not right for any person, healthy or not, to travel far and wide without a bit of fuel. Try this," he said, handing her some lembas bread. "It might be a bit much, but you shall need it. Then take a drink of water, and we shall be on our way."
"Of course, Legolas," Eowyn said, eating a large bite of the elvish food. "Thank you for your concern, though I must admit that I hate to be cared for. I like to take care of myself." She took a long swig of water. "Let's go."
"Is there any point in arguing with you?" he asked.
"None."
Legolas quirked an eyebrow and bit back a grin. "Well then," he said, "Off we go."
*-*
Legolas was moving quickly, as if he was afraid that she would snap at him if he went any slower. When he thought she wasn't looking, he would glance quickly back to make sure she was okay. Although Eowyn's natural instinct was to resent this kind of treatment, she found herself enjoying it rather than hating it.
Eowyn rather wished that she had heard what Legolas was mumbling by the creek, earlier that day. He had seemed dreadfully embarrassed when she had questioned him about it. But Eowyn hadn't pressed the matter any. She was almost positive it wasn't her business.
The sun was now high on their backs. Although the heat of the glistening orb might have caused discomfort, there was a swift wind that enveloped them in its cool comfort. The wind carried away all her sweat, and all her troubled thoughts, allowing her to enjoy the majestic scenery and the company of her companion.
It was a rather refreshing experience, to say the least.
Eowyn had not been out on an adventure such as this for a long time. While her Uncle was under the shadow of Sarumon, she was constantly by his side. The White Wizard had tried to extend his hand to cover her as well, but she has resisted. It was a private and internal battle that she did not share with anyone. She had come very close to becoming another puppet of Sarumon, but in the end her enormous will had prevailed.
Legolas did not know any of this, and although Eowyn was sure he would probably care and be ready to listen, she was hesitant to tell him. The Elf Prince was someone who she did not know very well, and even though he had saved her life, she still found that he put her on aware. Her senses were heightened when she was with him.
"Are you feeling well, milady? Shall we rest for a bit or continue?"
His voice broke her thoughts. She gazed into his face. His golden-blonde hair was windswept and his blue eyes were shining. He looked as if he were having the time of his life.
"Nay, I am fine, we may continue," she rasped, a bit breathless.
"Are you sure? You sound a bit breathless."
She mentally cursed her pulsing emotions and fought, to no avail, to contain the rising blush on her cheeks. Legolas looked at her a bit strangely, then, accepting her shake of the head, began to walk on.
They were walking in companionable silence. Thanks to the filling Lembas bread, Eowyn was stuffed. She did not need to eat or drink for hours at a time. She was so happy about being outdoors again, living out her dream, that the aching of her feet and legs did not bother her. Eowyn was in a heaven on Earth.
Legolas and Eowyn traveled long into the night. When he finally called them to a halt, she was exhausted, yet wishing for more time on their passage. Legolas gave her another piece of lembas bread and a bit of water, and Eowyn fell asleep not long after that.
*-*
She was soundly tonight, at least. Legolas gently ran a cool fingertip down her cheek, willing her a peaceful rest. Eowyn definitely deserved it. She had worked hard the entire day, running and fast and quick as a strong man.
Eowyn of Rohan was more than worthy of the admiration of any man. But she should not be more than a mere figure in the passing, never-ending life of an elf. All too soon her time on this Earth would come to an end, and he, Legolas, would be continuing on in his never-ending journey.
A rush of pain and heartache came over the woodland archer, and he suddenly understood why Arwen was so willing to give up her immortality for a mortal. He had grown to a point where he could not imagine life without her.
And the amazing part of this was that he did not know if she returned the feelings.
He wasn't quite sure what he admired about her. He did know that she was strong and willful; her sheer determination was enough to scare off anyone who wished to oppose her. And the inner light that glowed within her outshone anyone he knew. Eowyn was mesmerizing to look at.
Legolas' mind was in a horribly muddled state. He did not know what to do with his newfound love, nor did he fully understand why she fascinated him so. Perhaps it was because she was forbidden to him, and he to her. Their love was one that could never exist.
"Meleth nin," he whispered to her softly, "What I would do for us to be happy together."
She murmured something, and moved closer to him. Legolas resisted the strong temptation to reach out and enfold her in his grasp.
For now, at least, he would have to control his emotions.
*-*
They rose early yet again the next morning, and were headed off across the plains. Eowyn was in a much more talkative mood, and was involved in a long conversation with Legolas as they covered their ground. She found him incredibly easy to talk to, with a boyish appeal that made her grin.
Aragorn was the only other man to have done this to her.
Ah, Aragorn. She missed him greatly, and sometimes found herself wishing that he were here with her. Eowyn was quite enjoying the company of Legolas, don't misunderstand, but she longed for the sight of her Ranger again. He was the champion of her soul.
But, hissed a tiny voice inside her head, his heart and soul are already claimed for another. Do not deny the feelings you are harboring for Legolas, for the Mirkwood Elf may feel the same way.
Eowyn dismissed this as idiotic ramblings and continued on her way, silently now.
"A black bird circles us," Legolas said suddenly. "That is a bad sign."
"What?" she asked, instantly alarmed and on alert. Her hand drifted down to her sword hilt.
"We are being watched," the Elf said simply and quickly, "Beware of Sauron. His arm can reach us here, in the middle of the land where men are so easily corrupted to do his bidding. We must tread softly."
"Are we in any danger?" she queried, uneasily dropping her hand, but glancing around furtively.
"Not now," Legolas said, "But my feelings tell me that we shall be very soon."
His nose and ears perked quickly, and they both stood stone still. Eowyn tried very hard not to move, for she did not wish to interrupt him. When Legolas finally stopped, Eowyn glanced at his anxiously.
"Do you sense anything bad?"
He stared at her for a long time, as if treasuring the sight. "Yes," he finally said. "There is a party of Uruks heading towards us."
She felt herself gasp, and her hand flew to her heart. "When shall they be here?"
"By nightfall," came the cold reply.
Eowyn steeled herself for battle. "Then we shall be ready for them," she said decidedly.
"We will defeat them." He sounded just as sure and confident as he had when they were facing the Uruks with the rest of the Rohan soldiers.
Eowyn took faith in his confidence but could not shake the uneasy feeling that rested in the pit of her stomach. "We will be ready," she said again, looking to him to assure her that her statement was correct.
"Aye."
*-*
Horribly short, I know! I'm really sorry but I'm having the worst case of homework. My teachers have decided to dump it all on me NOW! Oh well. Anyways, I'm sorry for not updating in awhile, I'll try to be better about it. Sorry if this is another cliffhanger, but hey, at least it keeps you guys coming back.
Thank you so very, very much for reviewing! I love you all, you are the greatest! Please keep giving me some feedback, I'm trying to aim for 20 reviews or more with this chapter! That's not too much to ask for now is it?
Well, I must depart! I love you all! Oh, and the link to the Website should now be up in my profile! Please check it out and leave a comment in the guest book! That would make me feel even more special!
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me!
.x Moonlit Tears x.