Kale and Eldarion came to fetch her at mid noon for the meeting.
Kale suspected nothing for Laurelin and Eldarion acted as if night had never come between them and were ignorant of each other's secrets that had been uttered in the pollen scattered air and had written ballads and sonnets as grand as the stars on each other's bodies. Like Laurelin had thought to herself, it was an incident that could never, ever be repeated lest she would be forced to hang up her bow and arrow and resign herself from shieldmaidenhood as her mother had. Much less, she would also have to tell the truth which was something impossible at that point.
"How big is this elf legion?" She questioned, fingering the dagger at her waist as she walked with the two men toward the large tent in the middle of the camp.
"About 300," Answered Eldarion, blinking into the sun.
"So that would make how many in all?" She asked.
"With both hosts from Gondor, and the elf legion, that would make around 1,000, not counting our dwarf friends," Calculated Kale as they reached the tent.
"That is not much," She commented under her breath to Kale, after Eldarion had ducking into the tent.
"We had been expecting more, but with your legion lost it brought the numbers down. Also, the men are superstitious; they do not want to go into Moria for fear of demons and ghosts." He replied, "Do not mention any of this in there, we must seem to know what were doing,"
"Don't we?" She asked looking at Kale inquisitively,
Kale gave her a look that made her second guess the confidence the Gondorian army portrayed as he followed Eldarion into the canvas tent. Laurelin wanted to run from there and go out to the stream in the meadow, go out from there to anywhere. However, she knew that whatever was in that tent, she was going to have to face sooner or later and it was better to be sooner. She ducked into the tent.
The air was close, the sun's harsh glare seemed directed to the pavilion, causing the men to sweat and breathe deeply underneath their leather armaments, displaying the tree of Gondor on their chests, and the elves from the Woodland Realm shift uncomfortably in their seats, their hair shimmering like golden red waves in the humid air. Fair faces impatient with the noonday sun and the small amount of troops assembled. Also assisting the dwarves probably did not liven their spirits much either.
"My Lords, the Captains Kale and Morwen," Announced a soldier who stood by the entrance.
Kale nodded a greeting, Laurelin doing the same but keeping her eyes down, she had to at least try to conceal her identity.
"Is that the last of your captains, Eldarion," Spoke a familiar voice.
Laurelin cringed at the sound of her dear friend Legolas's voice for the first time in her life since he had found her in her mother's stable, communing with a rather feisty horse she knew she wasn't allowed around.
"Yes, your highness," Eldarion spoke respectfully.
"Then I believe we must introduce ourselves," Legolas said, "I am Legolas, son of Thranduil of the Woodland realm," His voice drove deeper and deeper into Laurelin's chest, "This is Lord Morcertar, and Lord Comare who have come with me from Mirkwood,"
"And I am Lady Mithliriel of Lothlorien," Spoke a cold yet fair voice, "And this is my daughter Lady Hrívëwen, and Lord Anordil."
Laurelin looked up at the elves quickly. They were all lovely; Lord Anordil was especially handsome, as was Lord Morcertar. She avoided Legolas's eye, but he seemed to ignore her expertly. She felt comfortable enough to gaze at the lady elves as well. The mother and daughter. They were both phenomenally beautiful, and it seemed as though Kale caught his breath beside her when Lady Hrívëwen looked his way. Her deep crimson hair was pulled back in a shiny braid. Her deep green garments matched her eyes which reminded Laurelin of an aging pine tree. The Lady Mithliriel was grand and elegant with sharp eyes like pieces of ice cut in an angry stream, snowy blonde locks spilling onto her shoulders.
At that point Legolas looked up and met Laurelin's eyes. Her heart stopped and she prayed he would not recognize her. Yet no remembrance came into his eyes and nothing passed and he looked over at Kale. She let out her breath and relaxed a bit.
"Our host from Mirkwood will arrive at sundown," Said Lord Comare, "Then we may start at dawn for our meeting point for the dwarves,"
"We were expecting more men that those that have gathered here," Spoke Lady Mithliriel, "Why is there no third company from Gondor,"
"This is what distresses me," Said Eldarion, "I was the Captain of that host and we were in the eaves of Fangorn when we were attacked, all being killed except for myself and Captain Morwen. It seems we will have some more resistance at Moria than what we originally thought,"
"Resistance?" Said Morcertar, "Is there not just a few orcs that linger in those halls now? What kind of resistance could that be now that the balrog has been vanquished?"
"We know not, but I fear we may be met with more than what we bargained for," Laurelin said finally speaking up, "In Rohan, we have seen many a fell beasts come through our lands, we must be on our guard,"
"But Sauron and his dominions were defeated, I was there at the fields of Cormallen, and have seen much more then you," Said Morcertar, "My Lady Morwen, you must be mistaken, we have nothing to fear of outside forces only those within which are not much trouble either,"
"Not much trouble?" Laurelin said firmly to the cocky elf lord, "For one who has lived many lives and seen many battles, you must know that it is foolhardy to underestimate any of the enemy's underlings, may he be defeated or victorious,"
"Its not just 'a few orcs', Morcertar," Replied Legolas, looking at all that sat in the tent, "I have been there in the depths of that mine, and more than a balrog and a few orcs met us there, I believe we must take Prince Eldarion and Lady Morwen's word not for granted,"
"There has been news of foul creatures limping through the edges of Lorien," Said Lady Hrívëwen, "We have slain most, but they come from the ruins of Mordor,"
"You speak truth, my lady," Lord Comare said sternly, "We must not take these warnings so lightly. Diligence and alertness must be demanded of our troops."
"I agree," Lord Anordil commented, "I think we all do,"
No one disagreed.
"We must not be careless, for it may result in unwanted incidents," Said Legolas, "We must be cautious. We ride at dawn,"
And so it was decided. Elves and Men filed out of the tent and into the cool, unsuppressed air outside.
"Morwen," Called Kale, "Will you not come have some food?"
"No my Lord," Laurelin replied, "I feel faint and must get back to the medicinal tent before my caretaker gets impatient,"
Kale nodded with a smile and followed Eldarion back to the fires lit in the heat of the day.
Laurelin felt uneasy. Why hadn't Legolas acknowledged her? Did he not recognize her? What was happening?
She arrived at her tent, the dust mixing with sweat on her forehead. She was about to enter the tent when a voice drew her away.
"Morcertar will have to learn that you do not bend easily," Said a voice, drawing Laurelin's gaze to meet Legolas's where he stood beside the tent.
"Excuse me, my lord," Laurelin asked, trying to cover up her tracks, though she knew she was caught.
"Do not play ignorant with my, My Lady Laurelin," He said, arching his eyebrows at her.
Laurelin looked around to make sure no one had heard her true name spoken, then without a word, dragged the elf prince into her tent.
"Legolas, you must not anything," She said in an urgent whisper once they were within the tents, "You mustn't, it would ruin all,"
"So this is where you have been?" He said, anger edging on his voice, "Your parents have been hysterical, as have I and Gimli and all the others who care for you. Laurelin, what are you doing here?"
Guilt crept up on her but Laurelin pushed it back and glared at the elf, "I told you I was going far away from everyone that evening; I wanted to live my own life by my own terms. I don't want to marry or settle down, Legolas, can't you see that? I am not my mother,"
The clouds cleared in the elf's blue eyes and he shrugged his shoulders, "I understand, I was against the whole situation in the first place. But can't you see? It was for the best for both kingdoms, Rohan and Gondor. Since Eomer's wife has birthed only sons, it was for the better of both kingdoms."
Tired of fighting and not wanting to give up her newly attained life at the same time, she collapsed onto a chair and put her head in her hands wearily, "I'm not my kingdom, it can be connected some other way,"
"You know your mother used to be exactly like you," He said sitting down beside her, "And she's happily married with a beautiful daughter,"
"I can't marry him now," Laurelin said, "He knows me as Captain Morwen, the runway from Rohan, not the Daughter of Faramir and Eowyn of Ithilien,"
"I'm not saying that you should marry him," Legolas said quietly, "Just to go home before you cause yourself grief or your parents anymore,"
"How could I cause myself grief?" She asked looking up at him.
He gave her an understanding gaze, "I see more than you think. You look at him differently than any other captain, don't think I don't know, my lady,"
"Its my problem, and I won't get hurt," She said standing, "I'll make a deal with you Legolas,"
Legolas stood and took the seat where she had been sitting and gazed knowingly at her, "And what is that?"
"Legolas, after the siege of Moria, if I still live, I will go back to my mother and father. If I am slain, tell them that their daughter died bravely. But in the meantime keep my identity secret," She said, crossing her arms over her stomach.
Legolas nodded, "Fine, I shall keep my end and you shall keep yours,"
Laurelin sighed with relief, "Fine, then I shall see you at dinner,"
"Yes, you shall," Said Legolas standing and heading to the tent flap, he took her hand and kissed her calloused knuckles, "Farewell for now, little sister,"
Laurelin smiled a true smile, "Farewell,"
And with that the elf left the tent, leaving Laurelin to weep tears of guilt for her mother and father. She would make this up to them someday.
Kale suspected nothing for Laurelin and Eldarion acted as if night had never come between them and were ignorant of each other's secrets that had been uttered in the pollen scattered air and had written ballads and sonnets as grand as the stars on each other's bodies. Like Laurelin had thought to herself, it was an incident that could never, ever be repeated lest she would be forced to hang up her bow and arrow and resign herself from shieldmaidenhood as her mother had. Much less, she would also have to tell the truth which was something impossible at that point.
"How big is this elf legion?" She questioned, fingering the dagger at her waist as she walked with the two men toward the large tent in the middle of the camp.
"About 300," Answered Eldarion, blinking into the sun.
"So that would make how many in all?" She asked.
"With both hosts from Gondor, and the elf legion, that would make around 1,000, not counting our dwarf friends," Calculated Kale as they reached the tent.
"That is not much," She commented under her breath to Kale, after Eldarion had ducking into the tent.
"We had been expecting more, but with your legion lost it brought the numbers down. Also, the men are superstitious; they do not want to go into Moria for fear of demons and ghosts." He replied, "Do not mention any of this in there, we must seem to know what were doing,"
"Don't we?" She asked looking at Kale inquisitively,
Kale gave her a look that made her second guess the confidence the Gondorian army portrayed as he followed Eldarion into the canvas tent. Laurelin wanted to run from there and go out to the stream in the meadow, go out from there to anywhere. However, she knew that whatever was in that tent, she was going to have to face sooner or later and it was better to be sooner. She ducked into the tent.
The air was close, the sun's harsh glare seemed directed to the pavilion, causing the men to sweat and breathe deeply underneath their leather armaments, displaying the tree of Gondor on their chests, and the elves from the Woodland Realm shift uncomfortably in their seats, their hair shimmering like golden red waves in the humid air. Fair faces impatient with the noonday sun and the small amount of troops assembled. Also assisting the dwarves probably did not liven their spirits much either.
"My Lords, the Captains Kale and Morwen," Announced a soldier who stood by the entrance.
Kale nodded a greeting, Laurelin doing the same but keeping her eyes down, she had to at least try to conceal her identity.
"Is that the last of your captains, Eldarion," Spoke a familiar voice.
Laurelin cringed at the sound of her dear friend Legolas's voice for the first time in her life since he had found her in her mother's stable, communing with a rather feisty horse she knew she wasn't allowed around.
"Yes, your highness," Eldarion spoke respectfully.
"Then I believe we must introduce ourselves," Legolas said, "I am Legolas, son of Thranduil of the Woodland realm," His voice drove deeper and deeper into Laurelin's chest, "This is Lord Morcertar, and Lord Comare who have come with me from Mirkwood,"
"And I am Lady Mithliriel of Lothlorien," Spoke a cold yet fair voice, "And this is my daughter Lady Hrívëwen, and Lord Anordil."
Laurelin looked up at the elves quickly. They were all lovely; Lord Anordil was especially handsome, as was Lord Morcertar. She avoided Legolas's eye, but he seemed to ignore her expertly. She felt comfortable enough to gaze at the lady elves as well. The mother and daughter. They were both phenomenally beautiful, and it seemed as though Kale caught his breath beside her when Lady Hrívëwen looked his way. Her deep crimson hair was pulled back in a shiny braid. Her deep green garments matched her eyes which reminded Laurelin of an aging pine tree. The Lady Mithliriel was grand and elegant with sharp eyes like pieces of ice cut in an angry stream, snowy blonde locks spilling onto her shoulders.
At that point Legolas looked up and met Laurelin's eyes. Her heart stopped and she prayed he would not recognize her. Yet no remembrance came into his eyes and nothing passed and he looked over at Kale. She let out her breath and relaxed a bit.
"Our host from Mirkwood will arrive at sundown," Said Lord Comare, "Then we may start at dawn for our meeting point for the dwarves,"
"We were expecting more men that those that have gathered here," Spoke Lady Mithliriel, "Why is there no third company from Gondor,"
"This is what distresses me," Said Eldarion, "I was the Captain of that host and we were in the eaves of Fangorn when we were attacked, all being killed except for myself and Captain Morwen. It seems we will have some more resistance at Moria than what we originally thought,"
"Resistance?" Said Morcertar, "Is there not just a few orcs that linger in those halls now? What kind of resistance could that be now that the balrog has been vanquished?"
"We know not, but I fear we may be met with more than what we bargained for," Laurelin said finally speaking up, "In Rohan, we have seen many a fell beasts come through our lands, we must be on our guard,"
"But Sauron and his dominions were defeated, I was there at the fields of Cormallen, and have seen much more then you," Said Morcertar, "My Lady Morwen, you must be mistaken, we have nothing to fear of outside forces only those within which are not much trouble either,"
"Not much trouble?" Laurelin said firmly to the cocky elf lord, "For one who has lived many lives and seen many battles, you must know that it is foolhardy to underestimate any of the enemy's underlings, may he be defeated or victorious,"
"Its not just 'a few orcs', Morcertar," Replied Legolas, looking at all that sat in the tent, "I have been there in the depths of that mine, and more than a balrog and a few orcs met us there, I believe we must take Prince Eldarion and Lady Morwen's word not for granted,"
"There has been news of foul creatures limping through the edges of Lorien," Said Lady Hrívëwen, "We have slain most, but they come from the ruins of Mordor,"
"You speak truth, my lady," Lord Comare said sternly, "We must not take these warnings so lightly. Diligence and alertness must be demanded of our troops."
"I agree," Lord Anordil commented, "I think we all do,"
No one disagreed.
"We must not be careless, for it may result in unwanted incidents," Said Legolas, "We must be cautious. We ride at dawn,"
And so it was decided. Elves and Men filed out of the tent and into the cool, unsuppressed air outside.
"Morwen," Called Kale, "Will you not come have some food?"
"No my Lord," Laurelin replied, "I feel faint and must get back to the medicinal tent before my caretaker gets impatient,"
Kale nodded with a smile and followed Eldarion back to the fires lit in the heat of the day.
Laurelin felt uneasy. Why hadn't Legolas acknowledged her? Did he not recognize her? What was happening?
She arrived at her tent, the dust mixing with sweat on her forehead. She was about to enter the tent when a voice drew her away.
"Morcertar will have to learn that you do not bend easily," Said a voice, drawing Laurelin's gaze to meet Legolas's where he stood beside the tent.
"Excuse me, my lord," Laurelin asked, trying to cover up her tracks, though she knew she was caught.
"Do not play ignorant with my, My Lady Laurelin," He said, arching his eyebrows at her.
Laurelin looked around to make sure no one had heard her true name spoken, then without a word, dragged the elf prince into her tent.
"Legolas, you must not anything," She said in an urgent whisper once they were within the tents, "You mustn't, it would ruin all,"
"So this is where you have been?" He said, anger edging on his voice, "Your parents have been hysterical, as have I and Gimli and all the others who care for you. Laurelin, what are you doing here?"
Guilt crept up on her but Laurelin pushed it back and glared at the elf, "I told you I was going far away from everyone that evening; I wanted to live my own life by my own terms. I don't want to marry or settle down, Legolas, can't you see that? I am not my mother,"
The clouds cleared in the elf's blue eyes and he shrugged his shoulders, "I understand, I was against the whole situation in the first place. But can't you see? It was for the best for both kingdoms, Rohan and Gondor. Since Eomer's wife has birthed only sons, it was for the better of both kingdoms."
Tired of fighting and not wanting to give up her newly attained life at the same time, she collapsed onto a chair and put her head in her hands wearily, "I'm not my kingdom, it can be connected some other way,"
"You know your mother used to be exactly like you," He said sitting down beside her, "And she's happily married with a beautiful daughter,"
"I can't marry him now," Laurelin said, "He knows me as Captain Morwen, the runway from Rohan, not the Daughter of Faramir and Eowyn of Ithilien,"
"I'm not saying that you should marry him," Legolas said quietly, "Just to go home before you cause yourself grief or your parents anymore,"
"How could I cause myself grief?" She asked looking up at him.
He gave her an understanding gaze, "I see more than you think. You look at him differently than any other captain, don't think I don't know, my lady,"
"Its my problem, and I won't get hurt," She said standing, "I'll make a deal with you Legolas,"
Legolas stood and took the seat where she had been sitting and gazed knowingly at her, "And what is that?"
"Legolas, after the siege of Moria, if I still live, I will go back to my mother and father. If I am slain, tell them that their daughter died bravely. But in the meantime keep my identity secret," She said, crossing her arms over her stomach.
Legolas nodded, "Fine, I shall keep my end and you shall keep yours,"
Laurelin sighed with relief, "Fine, then I shall see you at dinner,"
"Yes, you shall," Said Legolas standing and heading to the tent flap, he took her hand and kissed her calloused knuckles, "Farewell for now, little sister,"
Laurelin smiled a true smile, "Farewell,"
And with that the elf left the tent, leaving Laurelin to weep tears of guilt for her mother and father. She would make this up to them someday.