Sorry it took so long to update! I hope none of you are angry! To make up for the delay, this one is a nice long chapter. I hope you enjoy it and let me know. Thank you so much for the reviews and as always keep them coming because I love to know what you think!
Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings. I only own Aria and her family.
Chapter 19
Legolas had changed and retired for the night after he had said his good nights and checked in on Aria one more time. After the dawn he made his way into the hall to find everyone that traveled to Isengard awake and eating and talking quietly. Legolas smiled and sat down next to Aragorn who looked at him. "How is Aria?" Aragorn asked and all looked at him and Legolas.
"What's happened to Aria?" Pippin asked.
"I thought she was still in Lothlorien," Merry said as he looked at Legolas.
"She came to Helms Deep with the elves of Lothlorien to aide in the battle against the Uruk-hai," Aragorn said. "She was struck by a poisonous arrow and has slowly been recovering."
"Where is she?" Pippin asked very concerned for her.
"She is alright, Pippin," Legolas said. "At the moment, she is resting. The poison has left her and she is healing." Everyone seemed relieved, except for Theoden and Eomer who knew little of Aria. Legolas took a small bite of bread when Eowyn came rushing into the hall. She spotted Legolas and smiled.
"Milord," she said as she walked up to him. "Please come, Lady Aria is requesting your presence." Legolas quickly stood and followed Eowyn. Merry and Pippin made to get up but Gandalf stopped them.
"Let them be alone for a time," Gandalf said as he watched Legolas and Eowyn leave the hall with a small smile on his face.
Legolas quickly stepped into the room to see Aria sitting up propped up against a bunch of pillows. Legolas smiled at her. It was obvious that a night's rest did her well. "Good morning Legolas. I'm sorry I couldn't come to you, but Eowyn wouldn't let me leave my bed," Aria said with a small smile. Legolas looked back at the sheildmaiden who smiled and left the two of them alone. Legolas turned his attention back to Aria and quickly made his way over to her. He sat down on the bed next to her and took her hand into his.
"It is alright, Aria. I am glad to come to you," he said as he gently rubbed her hand. "How does your shoulder feel?" Aria looked down at her shoulder and then at Legolas.
"It actually feels a lot better. Eowyn said that it was almost healed and I am assuming that that is because of my healing powers." Legolas nodded. Aria chuckled. "You should have seen her face when she removed the bandage and both of the wounds were scabbed over and no longer tender. She was speechless." Legolas smiled.
"I'm glad you are well." Aria smiled.
"Is Haldir here?" she asked hopeful that she could thank him for helping her. Legolas looked at her oddly and shook his head.
"No, he had to travel back to Lorien with the remaining elf soldiers." Aria could read the question in his eyes and she shook her head.
"Legolas, I simply wanted to thank him for helping me. Eowyn told me what he had done for me." Relief flashed in Legolas' eyes and Aria smiled. "Are you jealous of the marchwarden?" she asked teasingly. However, Legolas' cheeks flushed and Aria squeezed his hand. "You are, aren't you?" Legolas sighed and shook his head but Aria only smiled wider. "Don't be. He's not the one I give my heart to," she whispered and Legolas smiled at her before he leaned into her and kissed her lips gently. Aria smiled against his lips before she brought him closer by pulling him by his neck. Aria moaned quietly as his lips devoured hers. She slowly pulled her lips away and smiled when Legolas groaned quietly in protest. "Legolas, someone is coming," she whispered and Legolas pulled away just in time cause Merry and Pippin busted into the room.
"Aria!" Pippin cried before he rushed over and jumped on the bed. Aria cried out in surprise but laughed.
"Pippin! She's hurt! Be careful!" Merry scolded as he rushed over to the bed. Legolas smiled at both of them but Aria shook her head as she wrapped her left arm around Pippin and took her right hand from Legolas and held onto Merry's hand.
"I'm alright Merry. I'm actually almost healed and I'll be as good as new by the time the sun sets," she said with a smile.
"Why did you come back?" Merry asked and Aria looked at them and then at Legolas.
"It was my time to rejoin the fellowship," she said quietly. Merry and Pippin nodded and Legolas smiled at her.
"The others are coming to see you too," Pippin said and as if on cue Aragorn, Gimli, and Gandalf came into the room. They walked over to her bed and she smiled at them.
"Aria," Aragorn said with a small smile. "Last I saw you it was almost as if your life had left you."
"That would be because it basically had," Gandalf said causing all to look at him. "She was in a healing state and her body had closed off to concentrate solely on healing."
"Well, it's good to see you're healthy again lass," Gimli said with a smile and Aria gave him a beaming smile.
"I've missed you all terribly," she said as she looked over everyone. Suddenly, Legolas thought of something and looked at her.
"Aria, when you arrived at Helms Deep you asked of Gandalf. How did you know that Gandalf was alive?" Legolas asked.
"Lady Galadriel, she told me," she said and Legolas couldn't help but smile once again. "I take it but the look on all of your faces that we won the battle."
"Aye, but the war has begun," Gandalf said sadly. Aria nodded in understanding. She would be ready to help where she could. Merry nodded and all looked grim. Aria sighed.
"Well, that may be so but we'll face whatever comes our way with out heads held high. However, Eowyn tells me of a celebration tomorrow night." Aragorn, Gimli, and Gandalf chuckled quietly. Merry and Pippin nodded enthusiastically and Pippin climbed down off the bed.
"There is a celebration to for the victory at Helms Deep tomorrow night," Legolas said and Aria smiled.
"Excellent! All of you could use one night to lose your minds and have fun," Aria said. They all just gave her a small smile before there was a knock at the open door. The group turned and looked to see King Theoden, Eomer, and Eowyn standing by the door.
"May we enter?" King Theoden asked. Aria gave him a smile.
"Of course your majesty," Aria said. Theoden, Eomer, and Eowyn stepped inside. Haldir had told her who the king was when they were at Helms Deep.
"Aria, this is my brother, Eomer," Eowyn said. Aria bowed her head. There suddenly many people in her room and Legolas seemed a little upset that they were no longer alone.
"Lady Aria, I thank you for your help during the battle at Helms Deep and for the sacrifice you nearly made for Rohan," Theoden said. Aria gave him a small smile and shook her head.
"Your majesty, many of my kin made the sacrifice as did yours. At times like this we all must make sacrifices," she said. Gandalf smiled. It seemed her time in Calas Galadhon aged her spirit and made her much wiser than one would think. The king just gave her a small smile before he nodded his head. Gandalf cleared his throat and all looked at him.
"I think we should leave Aria to rest," Gandalf said. They all nodded and the hobbits gave her a small smile before they followed behind the others. Legolas stood to leave but she grasped his hand.
"Stay. I don't want to be alone," she whispered. He sat back down and took her hand into his. He looked to the door to see Aragorn smile before he closed the door. "Legolas," she said but couldn't finish because Legolas leaned into her and kissed her gently. Soon, Aria gave into his kiss and cupped his cheek. He pulled his lips away from her and she sighed as she opened her eyes. "What was that for?" she asked a little dazed. Legolas just smiled at her as she ran her fingers gently down his cheek.
"For being you," he whispered before he once again leaned his head down and claimed her lips. After a moment, Aria pulled away.
"Legolas, tell me of your journey after you left me in Calas Galadhon." Legolas smiled at her before he nodded. He stood and went to the other side of the bed. He climbed up next to her and she laid her head on his shoulder as he held her left hand and told her of their travel down the river, their battle with the Uruk-hai, and their hunt for Merry and Pippin.
The next night the hall was a buzz and full of the people of Edoras. Aria stood next to Legolas and Gimli and behind Aragorn as the king stood in front of his throne. Eomer stood to his left and Eowyn to his right. "Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country," Theoden said before he raised his goblet. "Hail the victorious dead!" Everyone raised their goblets.
"Hail!" everyone called and took a drink from their goblets or tankards. Aria took a deep drink of her water and smiled at Legolas as he drank his water and Gimli as he guzzled his ale.
"Pace yourself Gimli or you'll be two sheets to the wind within the hour!" Aria said with a laugh. Gimli just laughed and turned to grab some food. Aria looked back at Legolas who smiled at her. "We will end up dragging him to bed before the nights end," she whispered as he pulled her close. Legolas smiled and nodded his head before he kissed her cheek. Aria stood close to him as he kept his arm wrapped around her and hers around him as they stood and watched the people of Rohan drink and talk happily.
"Come on laddie, up for a game?" Gimli asked as he dragged Legolas away, however, Legolas pulled Aria along. Gimli sat at a table with many tankards, cheese and bread, and Eomer was smiling at them as he stood next to a large barrel of ale. Eomer filled two tankards and handed one to Legolas.
"No pauses," he said before he handed the other to Gimli. "No spits." Gimli smiled and took the tankard.
"And no regurgitation," he said happily and the Rohan soldiers around them laughed heartedly. Aria looked at Legolas with a raised eyebrow and Legolas shrugged before he looked at Eomer.
"So, it's a drinking game?" Legolas asked.
"Aye!" cheered the soldiers around them. Gimli looked at Aria with a wink before he smiled at Legolas.
"Last one standing wins!" he said before he took a gulp of his ale. Legolas looked at Aria who laughed and shrugged.
"Go for it," she said and he raised an eyebrow before he looked at his tankard curiously before he slowly took a drink. Aria laughed at his odd expression but stood to the side with a smile on her face as she watched Legolas and Gimli participate in a drinking game that sadly reminded her of the first college party she ever went to when she was a college freshman.
Many, many tankards later Legolas seemed unaffected by the ale, which surprised Aria slightly. However, Gimli was getting a 'little' tipsy. As Eomer passed Gimli another tankard of ale he raised from his seat and not so quietly 'broke wind' as Aria's grandma used to say. Eomer gave Gimli a look and Aria couldn't hold in her laughter. Legolas looked at her before he finished his tankard and gave her a questioning look.
"Sorry," she said as her laughter calmed. Legolas just smiled before he finished his tankard.
"Argh, it's the dwarves that go swimming with little hairy women!" Gimli exclaimed before he belched loudly. Aria raised an eyebrow at him but he seemed to have forgotten she was even there. Legolas sat down his tankard and looked at his fingers with a strange look on his face.
"I feel something," Legolas said. Eomer raised his eyebrows and gave him a questioning look as did Aria. "A slightly tingle in my fingers. I think it's affecting me," he said with a sigh as he looked at Aria who was smiling at him. Gimli slammed down his tankard and raised his finger before he pointed at Legolas.
"What did I tell you, he can't hold his liquor," Gimli dragged before his eyes crossed and he fell backwards in his chair with a loud crash. Aria gasped slightly and kneeled next to him to make sure he was alright but Legolas looked at Eomer and titled his head.
"Game over," Legolas said and Eomer chuckled quietly. However, Aria looked up at him trying not to laugh.
"Yes, you won. Now could you please help me with him?" she said unable to hold back her laughter. Legolas chuckled and helped Aria sit Gimli up.
"Aria, you know the elf fancies you," Gimli said when he opened his eyes and saw Aria smiling at him.
"Does he now?" Aria asked playing along like she didn't know what he was going on about. Gimli huffed.
"Of course he does! All he did was talk about you to Aragorn in that language of theirs." Aria raised an eyebrow at Legolas whose eyes had yet to leave her as Gimli spoke.
"How do you know that?"
"I'd hear them say your name and then he'd go on about you. Though," he paused to burp and then looked up at her, "though I don't know what he said exactly I could tell by his face that it was good." Aria laughed and two Rohan soldiers came over and helped lift Gimli up on chair. Aria patted his shoulder as she stood and looked at Legolas who slowly stood. He had yet to look at anything but Aria and she could feel his gaze on her when she looked away and down to smooth out the blasted dress she was stuck wearing until her leggings and tunic were cleaned.
"Aria," he said quietly but with her Elvin hearing she heard him and looked up at him. He held out his hand and she put her hand into his and he led her from the crowded hall to the outside of the hall, which was nearly empty compared to the packed hall. He pulled her into the shadows and her back was against the stone wall of the building. She looked up at him, thankful for her Elvin sight because she could make out his features with little moonlight shinning down on them as they were tucked away.
"What are you doing Legolas?" she asked as he gently ran his fingers down her cheek then her neck and stopped where her neck and shoulders met. Legolas leaned into her kissed her lips lightly before he pulled his lips away and rested his forehead against hers.
"Stealing a moment with you before we once again return to the crowded hall," he whispered before he kissed her lips with a fiery passion she had never felt before and she was certain she had melted to the spot where she stood. Suddenly, a throat cleared and Legolas quickly removed himself from Aria and she was still dazed as she looked to her right to see a smiling Aragorn who was trying to hold in his laughter. He was succeeding, but barely.
"Excuse me, Gandalf would like to speak with both of you," he said chuckling. Aragorn couldn't help but laugh at the death glare Legolas had sent him when he pulled away from Aria and the slightly confused expression that graced Aria's face. Aria felt herself blush and she nodded her head before Legolas held out his arm and led her inside with a still laughing Aragorn behind them.