Well, so much for posting this chapter before I went to bed. The Internet was fucked so I couldn't post the chapter. It is now 1:00pm on December the 29th and I am going to see Return of the King in less than 2 hrs. Yay! Ok, I hope it will work this time.
Disclaimer: All mine! Mine I tell you! (Except the characters and the places)
Chapter 3: Manan? (Why?)Legolas noticed the presence of someone in the hall, with his keen Elven senses. He heard the soft footsteps resound faintly around the hall as she entered. He turned around to see who was there. Éowyn had succeeded in hiding before he turned around to face her, his bright blue eyes searching the room carefully. Éowyn knew that she would have to find another way out of the court. She doubled back along the corridor she had just come down.
Rounding the corner, she saw Aragorn hurry out of one of the rooms, looking frantically around. Éowyn pressed herself up against the wall of the hallway, remaining completely silent until she heard his footsteps fade away. She made her way back to the main hall and peered in again. Seeing that Legolas and Gimli had gone, Éowyn crept slowly inside, crossing the hall and passed through the massive doors to the city.
She breathed a sigh as she left the High Court, moving swiftly through Minas Tirith to the stables. She could not stay here. She could not face Aragorn. Not now. Not after all she had been through. There were too many questions, for which she had no answer to give him. Glancing around her, she walked briskly along to find Windfola, hoping not to be seen by anyone.
People bustled around her as she went, going about their own business, ignorant of her. That was how she wanted it. She came at last to the grand stables of Minas Tirith. Here was her escape and her salvation. She opened the doors.
Aragorn was in a state of panic as he wandered the court for Éowyn. How had she managed to slip away again? She was still badly wounded and he worried for her safety. He searched every room, looking for some sign of where she may have gone.
Éomer had been summoned from Edoras as soon as Éowyn arrived. He was told only a little about his sister's state and desired to see her. But now, she had vanished, disappearing only hours after her arrival. Aragorn went down passageway after passageway, looking right and left for her. He came to the main hall where Legolas and Gimli were standing.
"Aragorn," said Legolas, turning to his friend. "What is it?"
"Éowyn is gone," said Aragorn, urgently. "We must find her before she disappears again."
Legolas nodded and motioned for Gimli to follow them.
"She will have gone to the stables," said Legolas to Aragorn, as they walked into the main hall. "She wishes to run, so she will take her horse."
"Gimli, search these halls for the lady," ordered Aragorn. "Legolas, go to the stables and stop her if she is there. I will ride and seek out Faramir. She may have gone to him."
The three friends parted, Legolas for the stables, Aragorn for Osgiliath where Faramir resided, and Gimli remaining at the court.
Aragorn's horse, Roheryn, was brought to him almost immediately so that he could ride out to Osgiliath to speak with Faramir.
"Gimli," he called out. "Keep my office for me while I am away, for I have business in Osgiliath also, and may not return for some hours."
Gimli nodded proudly and earnestly as he watched Aragorn rode down through the city and out of the gates.
Faramir had chosen to reside in the city of Osgiliath after he was given the region of Ithilien to rule over by Aragorn. He wished to be near to Ithilien, but still remain close to the capital. With Faramir there, the city had been rebuilt to former glory, before the rise of Mordor. Aragorn felt confident that Osgiliath would be in good hands with Faramir there.
Legolas hurried to the stables to look for Éowyn, his keen Elven eyes searching for her as he went. He opened the doors of the stables and entered. Relieved, Legolas saw that Windfola was still in his stall. Éowyn would not have left the city without him, he was sure. He decided to wait for Éowyn, as he felt sure that she would take Windfola from the city.
It was not long before Éowyn burst inside the stables, only to find Legolas waiting patiently for her. She froze when she saw him, her eyes wide with shock.
"Why do you flee the city, my lady?" asked Legolas. "You are injured; you need rest."
"I do not flee, Legolas," she said, resolutely. "But I will not be held prisoner, as I was before."
She walked past Legolas to Windfola's stall and lifted the latch on the door, leading him out. Legolas watched her as she went about saddling her horse. He walked across the stables and stood near her.
"Aragorn never wished to cage you, Éowyn," he said. "He is merely concerned for your safety, that is all."
"I do not believe that Aragorn's concerns are necessary," said Éowyn, repugnantly. "He knows that I am capable of defending myself."
"Then why did you arrive at Minas Tirith so gravely wounded?" asked Legolas, gently.
Éowyn glared angrily at Legolas for a moment, her eyes flashing. She gave no response to this question, but the fury was building up inside her.
"Éowyn?" persisted Legolas.
Éowyn refused to answer, but looked up from the ground, her eyes aflame with fury and resentment. Behind that fury, Legolas could see a darkness hidden within them. She stormed out of the stables, leading Windfola down through the city. Legolas followed her.
"Aragorn will not allow you to leave him again," Legolas called out to her. "You promised to return and you have."
Éowyn stopped short and slowly turned back to face Legolas. Her expression was angry, but her eyes filled with such sorrow.
"I did not return by choice, Legolas," she said. "You know that, as does Aragorn. Had I not been so seriously wounded, I would have ridden to Edoras, to my brother. My only wish now is to visit dear Faramir."
"I will inform Aragorn that you are returning to the city when you have met with Faramir," said Legolas bluntly.
"You may tell Aragorn that he will not see me again," said Éowyn, angrily. "I will not be returning to Minas Tirith after my visit with Faramir. I intend to ride to Rohan and my home in the Golden Hall."
"Have you not also been parted from us, Éowyn?" asked Legolas. "Why do you not stay, at least for a time? You must rest and recover, or you will not be fit to ride to Edoras."
"I am fit to ride, and I will do so," said Éowyn. "Do not presume that you can order me to stay."
"I do not order you, Éowyn," said Legolas. "Nor do I presume. I merely entreat you to consider an offer of hospitality."
"I refuse the offer," said Éowyn. "My only wish now is to serve my people, from whom I have been parted too long. I am content to fulfil my duties to them."
"You are content to be a shieldmaiden," said Legolas. "But will that suffice?
"My desire was never to become queen," said Éowyn. "I sought the love of Aragorn, for when first we met, I knew not that he would be king. He was but a man, noble and dignified. I loved him then, but now no longer."
"If this is so then why must you leave?" asked Legolas. "Why does it matter how soon you return home, and why do you avoid Aragorn?"
Éowyn had tried so hard to evade this question, but now, it seemed, it had resurfaced.
"He will ask questions," she said. "Questions I cannot answer him."
Memories flooded back into her mind. She struggled to fight them, but they remained in her mind. She did not want to face them again, just as she did not want to face Aragorn. There was so much she wished to forget.
Legolas saw the hurt, grief, desperation, and emptiness in her eyes. It pained him to see her so. A lady who had once been so happy and so naïve, driven to anguish, forced to watch those whom she loved fall. To see one so strong fall, herself, after all that she had fought for and sacrificed. She could see no hope in the darkness, only misery for her.
"What has brought this woe upon you, Éowyn?" asked Legolas.
Éowyn only stared back at him.
"You know, my friend," she replied softly. "Deep in your heart, you know."
And with that, Éowyn turned around and hoisted herself into the saddle, directing Windfola down the road. Legolas made no attempt to stop her as he watched her ride out of the city, heading north-east across the plains to Osgiliath.
A/N: Ok, well, what did you think of that? I felt that it was important for this to go into the story. It gives you an idea of the relationship between Legolas and Éowyn, a very close friendship. There is a trust between them and an understanding, even though Legolas is about 3000 years old and Éowyn is only about 19. They have similarities (other than their long, shiny blond hair) and see things that others can't (it could just be the Elvish side of Leggy). This friendship will play a big part in this story and Éowyn finds it her salvation in some ways. For those people who are wondering why Legolas and Gimli are still here, they didn't leave Middle Earth until a while after Aragorn was crowned because they stayed to travel in the books. In this story, it was mainly because Aragorn needed some friends. In the next chapter, no, I can't, it'll spoil the fun. You'll have to wait.
Thank you to my reviewers:
TheOneAndOnlyElbereth – Yay! It's nice to see you back, and even nicer to see that you like my new story. How have your holidays been? And Christmas? I'm glad you liked the Éowyn vs. Gríma, and that it was a surprise. I thought it would be good to get him out of the picture. I pride myself on being true to Tolkien's characters. Everyone will have different versions of Éowyn, but I prefer to have her how I think Tolkien would have written her. Thank you very much :)
Aurdomiel, Ravenstar (a.k.a. demon horse 900) – I love your new pen name, it's so cool. I think mine's a bit boring, but I've become kind of attached to it, and it's my best friend's nickname for me (mousie, that is). I'm glad the Gríma fight was a shock. Like I'd let a couple of mindless orcs get the better of our favourite heroine and besides, where would be the fun in that? Legolas didn't exactly stop Éowyn, did he? Don't worry; Éowyn will meet another obstacle in the next chapter ;)
The Dark Wanderer – Nice to see you again. You've read my mind. That's exactly what's coming, tons of Aragorn/Éowyn angst and romance. Éowyn will eventually forgive Aragorn, but that's where the struggle lies, and the story.
i cant find the snitch – Aragorn's not thick. He's just a bit......slow. Lol. He doesn't want to face up to his feelings because he doesn't want to hurt her, like he did Arwen (plaguing guilt) and wants to be certain before he does anything. He doesn't realise how much it is hurting her. Éowyn is taking as rejection. We all know how much he loves her. Now it's just Éowyn who needs to know.
Kiki – Nice to see that no one's complaining about me killing off Gríma. Yet. I thought it had to be Éowyn because if Aragorn did it, she'd be the damsel in distress, and we all know she hates that. I hope you liked this chapter.
Necole – Aww, thanks. I added the pity in after I wrote his death. I figured, she has to feel something for him or she's no more human than he was. She'd be just like him, a cold-blooded killer. I know that there hasn't been that much romance, and I should probably change the genre to make it primary angst, but there will be more. I quite enjoy the sexual tension too, and I find it a little boring when everything is happy and perfect (but that's just me). There will be more romance, promise. We move past arguing to plain resentment on Éowyn's part. A reversal of roles, Aragorn becomes the one who is seeking Éowyn's love. I am working on those ficlets, but the truth is, I never finished any of the ideas I had. I just need to get them on paper......or computer, or whatever.
LastTrueBard – Glad you like it, and keep reading.
eowyn the fair – The answer to that question is yes. Like I'd write an Aragorn/Éowyn story sequel and all without having them get together in the end. This is my favourite pairing! ;)