Chapter Nine; Battle of the Wastelands.
The commanders met in the centre of the battleground. One day had already passed, and they were now in the brief respite of midday. The Urukans could fight in the sunlight, but it was uncomfortable for them, and so they rarely did so at high noon.
Éomer and Aragorn, along with the Prince of Dol Amroth talked together, assessing their losses. The enemy was strong, but not so strong that they could not be beaten. Éomer and Aragorn had both brought down a chieftain of the orcs, while Gimli and Legolas were equal in their total of deaths, two score each.
The two Princes sat outside, by a fire where they stayed in companionable silence until the elf and dwarf joined them.
"Why so quiet Princes?" Gimli asked
"Hush Gimli, perhaps they are thinking."
Eldarion sighed, "Indeed I am."
"Of what?" Legolas queried, then corrected himself "Or maybe I should say 'of whom'?"
"My sister, Atùvinel. She wanted to come with us. Father wouldn't allow it."
"She will come to see his point in time." Gimli said simply.
"But what if she doesn't? She loves Minas Tirith, but she loves the wild more." Eldarion leant forward and played with a stick, thrusting it deep into the embers and stirring them. "She loathes being caged and that is what she sees this as."
"She has had her turn of danger, being sent over the Sundering Sea to find Gandalf and Frodo."
"That is true, but she was afraid about that. Atùvinel is never afraid."
"Or perhaps she never seems to be afraid." Elfwine said softly.
"Perhaps." Eldarion acknowledged, "But she came to me the night before she left for the Shire. She was terrified, even though she tried to hide it from me, you know what they say at the harbours, once you cross the sea, you are not meant to come back."
"But Atùvinel did. She defeats all prophecies like that, because they say she cannot do what she wants to."
All four laughed at Elfwine's comment.
"That is true. How do you know my sister so well all of a sudden Prince of Rohan?"
"We talked at the banquet, and she sent me letters to while she was away."
"She did? I had no knowledge of that."
"Perhaps she did not want you to Master Eldarion." Gimli noted wryly. "But what I want to know is what you had in your pocket all through the banquet and the dancing, and you gave to Lady Arwen Evenstar after the Princess left the ball and before you rode off home."
Elfwine blushed slightly,
"A homecoming gift of a sort." He would say no more and there was no more time to press him, as the alarm calls to battle rang out across the valley, but before the two Princes left to fight, Eldarion grabbed his friend's arm.
"We will speak of this again later."
"Not if I can help it!" Elfwine grinned. "As your sister if you must know, and that is all you are getting from me."
"Atùvinel? Tell me? Are you mad? You know that when she wants something secret she will not tell anyone or anything not under torture."
The Prince of Rohan, pulled on his helmet and ran to join his father in the left flank, saluting the other young man with his sword as he ran.
"Eldarion! Come." He ran to join Aragorn, "I know you are worried about Atùvinel but now, we must fight so we can ride back to our home and find out what the Prince of Rohan gave her."
Eldarion stared up at his father.
"You knew?"
"I know something, Arwen would not tell me more than it was from Elfwine to Atùvinel."
The two ran to their horses, and then to battle.
That might help clear up who Elfwine is to a few of you who asked me previously. Did you like it? Let me know by reviewing…