Hey everyone! I'm really glad you guys liked the last chapter. I came up with the idea for their eyes to change like that because I thought it would be really interesting to show a twist to elven bonding. I'm really glad you all liked it and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings. It all belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien and the movie producers. I only own Amaris.
Number 37: Does Everyone Have to Know?
Merry climbed up with Amaris and he wrapped his arms around her waist. Pippin rode with Aragorn. "It is good to see you again Merry," Amaris said with a smile.
"You too Amaris. Pippin and I were so worried about you. We tried to drag you away but we were nearly trampled by horses," Merry said sound less than happy about the matter.
"Do not worry Merry. Eomer, over there and another soldier found me and took me with them. Then they ran across Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli. So, they gave me over to them and here I am. No harm done." Merry squeezed her a little more as the horses marched through the water. When Treebeard made his way over to them Amaris took a sharp breath. Legolas looked over at Amaris and she felt his eyes on her. She turned and looked at him and he smiled at her. Amaris gave him a soft smile back.
"Young master Gandalf. I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone I can master, but there's a wizard to manage here; locked in his tower," Treebeard said as he made his way over to the group. Gandalf nodded.
"And there Saruman must remain. Under your guard, Treebeard," Gandalf said. Gimli huffed behind Legolas.
"Well, let's just have his head and be done with it!" Gimli exclaimed.
"No, he has no power anymore," Gandalf said slowly as he watched the tower. Amaris stopped paying attention to the conversation around her. She felt great evil and sensing Legolas' apprehension she figured he felt it too. She scanned the water to find the source of the feeling. She saw Pippin jump from Brego and Aragorn called out to him but Pippin didn't pay any attention. Amaris watched as Pippin brought a glass ball with a strange orange glow in the center. As soon as Amaris' eyes looked at it her eyes began to burn and she quickly closed them and looked away. Her breath was taken from her for a moment and it came it quick short gasps. Merry's grip loosened and she brought her left hand to her chest trying to calm her breathing.
"Amaris, are you alright?" Merry asked quietly. Merry looked over at Legolas whose eyes were locked on Amaris' form. Her breathing soon became normal and she sighed and opened her eyes slowly. The burning sensation was gone but her eyes felt dry. Merry was still worried. "Amaris?" Amaris looked over her shoulder and gave him a slight smile.
"I'm alright Merry," she whispered. He didn't look convinced but she gave him a reassuring smile. Amaris looked over at Legolas and when he looked at her a wave of concern flooded her senses. She smiled at him and he gave her a slight smile.
After speaking further with Treebeard they left Isengaurd and headed back to Edoras. They stopped to camp for the night. They would continue on and reach Edoras in two days. When they stopped, Amaris helped Merry off of Marisal and he rushed over to Pippin. Amaris' eyes still burned slightly and she didn't know why. Legolas dismounted Arod and after he helped Gimli down he walked over to Amaris who was resting her head against Marisal's neck and petting her.
"Amaris, are you alright?" Legolas asked her as he rested his hands on her waist. She turned around and looked at him. Her eyes were red and irritated and he became concerned.
"My eyes hurt Legolas. They burn," she said quietly. There was a stream close by and Legolas knew she had to was her eyes out. He took her hand.
"Come, meleth nîn, we will go and was your eyes in the stream." Legolas and Amaris walked from camp and over to the stream. She knelt down by the edge and so did Legolas. He removed the cap from his water skin and rinsed it in the water. He filled the cap with water. "Lay down and I will run the water on your eyes." Amaris nodded and laid down with her head by Legolas' knees. Legolas carefully dumped the cool water over her open eye. At first she jumped but then let him continue. After he rinsed both eyes, he smiled at her. "Close your eyes." Amaris did as he instructed and he dumped cool water on the outside of her eyes. The cooling sensation eliminated the burning and when she opened her eyes they no longer burned, they just felt a little dry. She sat up and shook the water from her hair. She turned and faced Legolas who was smiling at her. Amaris smiled back and moved over to him. She kneeled in front of him and smiled at him.
"Thank you for helping me Legolas." He smiled and gently caressed her cheek that was still slightly damp.
"You are welcome Amaris." He paused and thought about what happened earlier. "Amaris what happened earlier, when you ran short of breath?" Legolas felt confusion and fear come from her. "Tell me, meleth nîn." Amaris nodded and took his hands.
"I don't know. I felt evil and I was looking for it and when Pippin picked up that sphere and I looked at it my eyes burned and then it felt like someone punched me in the stomach and I couldn't breathe." Legolas nodded as he looked at her. Suddenly a voice broke in.
"That is no ordinary sphere Amaris," Gandalf said. Amaris jumped because she didn't hear him approach. "That is the Palantír of Saruman. Saruman used it to talk to Sauron." Amaris nodded and Legolas suddenly became very stiff. Amaris looked at him.
"When Amaris looked at it her eyes burned and she became short of breath. What does that mean Gandalf?" Legolas asked as he watched the wizard and squeezed Amaris' hands.
"I do not know, but I do not want you to lay eyes on it again Amaris. Sauron may reach you without you even having to touch it," Gandalf said concerned evident in his voice. However, as he looked into her eyes the same smile from earlier played across his face. "So, has anything changed since I left you both in Edoras?" Once again, Amaris was thankful her blush would not show and she looked to Legolas who was smiling and looking lovingly at her. As she looked at him, she saw him ask her if he could vocalize their bond since Gandalf already knew and she nodded. Legolas' smile grew and he turned to Gandalf. Legolas stood and helped Amaris up as well.
"Something has changed Gandalf. Amaris and I are bound." When Legolas spoke his voice was strong and proud. Gandalf looked at them both with a smile and nodded. Is everyone going to know now? Do we have to tell the world of our bond so soon? As if he was reading her thoughts Gandalf smiled.
"Do not worry Amaris. No one else will know of this bond until it is time to be shared. However, Aragorn and I know because of your eyes. Do not fear, very few know of the change when matches bond," Gandalf said with a slight laugh to his voice. Amaris nodded. The wizard shook his head and went back to camp. Amaris sighed and looked at Legolas who was beaming at her.
"What?" she asked with a smile.
"Are you ashamed of our bond, meleth nîn?" Amaris' mouth hung open and Legolas laughed slightly.
"Of course not! It's just that I wanted to keep our bond private, just between us. At least for right now." Legolas smiled at her and she smiled back before leaning up to him and gently taking his lips to hers. When she pulled away Legolas' eyes were still closed and asmile played on his lips. She leaned up again and kissed the corner of his mouth and he opened his eyes. "After all, why does everyone have to know?" Legolas smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer once again claiming her lips as his own.
