Maewyn: Shield Maiden of Rohan Part II
By Luthien Meneledur
The now halls of the ruined refuge of Helms Deep held cheering soldiers, glad that the battle was finished and won. Legolas Greenleaf pushed his way through the happy men on his way to the caves that had housed the woman and children of Rohan. After a few minutes of quick and tireless running on the elf Prince's part he reached a crowd of women with their children and older folk wandering down from the tower to greet their heroes. The way was blocked by them, and he hugged the wall to let them pass, all the while looking among the many to see the face of the beloved Maewyn. The crowd of people had begun to dwindle and he still had not seen the maiden he searched for. He feared that perhaps he had not seen her, and looked back down the way preparing to follow the crowd to find her when he heard a voice echo down the hall from behind him.
"Legolas?" Came the surprised call of a girl with a voice like music to the elf's ears.
He closed his eyes just to savor the sound and turned in time to catch her in his arms. He swung her in a wide circle and set her to the ground still holding her by the waist. "You were right. I should have believed your wise words."
She looked surprised. "You did not believe them in the first?" She asked.
"Yes, but I still doubted." He hugged her again, unaware of the people walking by and whispering. "We shall go out to greet the soldiers. We ride for Edoras soon." He took her hand and began to walk.
"Edoras? So soon?" She asked. "But the soldiers are wearied. Can we not rest here one night?"
"There is nothing here, the battle has ruined the fortress. We must go." He pulled her along.
She followed him quickly as he went down to join the other soldiers.
They rode for Edoras that day. Maewyn had wished to help the others along the path, but she had not slept all through her time in the caves, and was exhausted. She rode in front of Legolas on his white mare, and slumbered on the trail to Edoras in the warm arms of the elf Prince.
Aragorn rode alongside his friend for a while, and spoke while the girl slept.
"And who is this girl you carry Legolas?" The ranger asked.
"She is Maewyn. A Shield Maiden of Rohan." Legolas replied.
"So much loss at Helm's Deep," said Aragorn, "glad there was new hope to be found." He looked forward on the trail through the lands they were to travel yet. Tears gathered in his eyes, but they did not fall. Slowly the horses walked on in silence, Legolas atop the mare, and Aragorn riding Brego.
The Evenstar glinted from Strider's neck in the afternoon sun, it's inner light seemingly gone.
"There is always hope." Legolas said. "You wear yours about your neck."
The day was warm and Aragorn traveled on for a time in silence, his thoughts focused on memories of Arwen. His face was solemn, and the tears in his eyes came dangerously close to falling down his weary face.
"Aragorn?" Legolas question after a few moments, a look of confusion on his face.
"Arwen is lost to the sea, gone to Valinor." He said sadly as he tucked the Evenstar back into his shirt, and with that directed his horse forward to ride aside Theodin.
Legolas looked after his good friend and wished he had not mentioned Aragorn's love. He looked down towards the girl he carried, and her serene face comforted him, and lit his face with a smile. Suddenly a horse ran quickly past him. Atop the beautiful stallion rode Gimli who had lost the reigns of the great beast. Eowyn chased quickly after him, laughing all the way. The day was bright and all was healing with the people of Rohan.
The group stopped to eat quickly in the midst of the journey. The sun was moving more to set now, and as they halted Legolas did not have the heart to waken the girl that slept in his arms. So with the agility, and gentleness only an elf would posses, he dismounted with her and carried her to a soft patch of grass where she lay back and continued to sleep without once opening her eyes. He ate little and sat near her side. He knew she should eat but the exhaustion had taken her and she needed rest. So he saved some food and kept it for her to eat later should she wake. He stood to walk for a while, to be among the people but did not wander far from where Maewyn slept.
Eomer found the elf, and began to talk with him. Legolas still harbored a few ill feelings towards the horseman due to his comment to Gimli on the day of their meeting. But he spoke with him.
"You carry one of our womenfolk on your mare I see." Eomer said enquiringly. He did not wear his helmet, but still shouldered his armor which gleamed in the bright sun.
Legolas continued to look out at the countryside as he answered with a stinging tongue, "yes."
"She is quite beautiful, if I may say." Eomer said.
"Quite bold of you to say so." Legolas said as he turned his gaze to the horsemaster almost in anger.
"I do know horses, and it tends to be the first thing I notice about anyone." Eomer said as he looked away to the horizon with a small smile upon his face.
"You speak of the mare." Legolas said taken off guard.
"Yes friend," Eomer said laughing as he patted the elf hard on the back.
Legolas let a smile cross his face.
"You should be off soon, your company has finished their meal and is preparing for the journey." Eomer said kindly.
"Journey?" Legolas asked.
"Yes. Do you not know?"
"We travel to Edoras." Legolas said. "That is all I know."
"You are to leave with a few companions to Isengard, to find the fate of Sarumon." Eomer said with a slight bitterness marking the end of his sentence. No doubt he harbored hatred for the things Sarumon had done to his family and country.
"But Maewyn…" Legolas began without thinking. He did not wish to leave the girl's side.
"I will take her on my horse for you Prince." Eomer said respectfully. "No harm will come to her, I give you my word."
Legolas gave him the food that he had saved for her, and approached her in the grass. He still did not have the heart to wake her, and so whispered a farewell to her and went to his horse. He sat atop the white mare and rode about the camp to find the Ranger and White Wizard.
The entire journey to Isengard, though he had Gimli riding with him, the elf Prince felt alone. He could not prevent his thoughts from straying to the green eyed girl. Gimli even had to shake the elf awake once while riding to keep him on the trail with the others.
"You seem distant as of late." His dwarf friend said slyly. "Something draws your mind Prince-ling," he added.
"Tis only weariness, nothing for you to worry about." Legolas said. "You are seeing things wrong, I was not going from the trail. You are too short to make such judgments." The elf said playfully.
Gimli grumbled for a few moments, and with no response they traveled on in silence, Legolas a smile across his youthful face.
The night wore on and the next morning they reached Isengard to find Merry and Pippin standing atop the battered wall in front of the tower of Orthanc. They were smoking pipe weed and eating meats with which they taunted Gimli. Legolas could only laugh as Gimli muttered empty threats behind him. They rode through the walls and into the thigh high water that surrounded the tower. Gandalf traded words with Treebeard that took an exceedingly long time. After retrieving a black, glowing ball from that water they began their way back to Edoras. Though Gimli did complain long into the day about not getting to see the sphere due to Legolas blocking the sight. Legolas only laughed as they continued on.
The longer return journey to Edoras was tiring to everyone but the elf, which was frustrating for Legolas. For, as Gimli leaned on his back and snored in a deep slumber Legolas could do naught but elbow the dwarf and think of Maewyn. Her dark hair danced through his thoughts, blowing back to reveal her green and piercing eyes. Legolas Greenleaf Prince of Mirkwood and son of Thranduil had never been in love. He wondered what it felt like, and if Maewyn was possibly it. He rode alongside Aragorn for a long while, and questioned him of this.
"I have never loved anyone. It is a strange sensation." Legolas spoke, almost thinking aloud. He looked to Aragorn questioningly but all the ranger did was smile through his tired eyes. Pippin was in the same sleeping position with Aragorn that Gimli was taking advantage of. "How should I know if it is true?"
Aragorn laughed to himself and looked to the distance. "It is an unmistakable feeling," he said suddenly solemn. After a few moments he looked to his elf friend with a smile. "The only two elves I ever knew make such changes in love are you and Arwen. The only two I have ever seen love immediately and without care."
"Without care?" Legolas asked confused.
"Did you not consider her mortality?" Aragorn asked suddenly. "That you are from two different people? That neither may approve?"
In truth Legolas had not thought about any of these questions. For he had just met the girl, and thought nothing of these great burdens, he thought only of these new feelings. He looked on to the road, and up to the moon for a time until Aragorn's voice broke through the night. "I did not mean to trouble you friend, she seems a fair maiden. I shall have to meet her soon." He smiled to his friend but Legolas could not smile back, for these things rushed his thoughts now.
The snoring of Gimli did not disturb the elf Prince the rest of the night, for all he could think was of Maewyn growing old and dying, leaving his world forever. He did not think of the other questions Aragorn had put to him, for he cared not. Visions of Maewyn's body scattered his thoughts and he could not shake them out.
The next day he rode next to Aragorn as the approached Edoras. "I believe I know how Arwen truly feels Elessar." He said sadly. "I believe I know her heart now, and why the light of your pendant is fading."
"But the light still pushes through, because she has hope." Aragorn said. "And she does not let her fears take sway during the time we are together." He quickly spurred his horse towards the gates of the city, Pippin riding close behind.
They entered the city, and a great party was arranged for the night. Legolas was wearied from lack of sleep on their travel, and needed sleep, but sought his maiden first. He found Maewyn waiting outside the stable when he emerged. They embraced quickly.
She looked almost hurt when she spoke. "I was frightened when I woke and you were not there. I was lying in a patch of soft grass, and Eomer told me that you had only a few minutes before left the camp." She pulled him into another embrace. "I don't know why I worried so."
A smile crossed his face, and he put a hand to her face. "Maewyn," he spoke gently. "If it were my choice I would never leave your side again."
Her green eyes sparkled as she smiled into his youthful face. "You are tired, your bright eyes fade." She said. "My home is empty, you can rest there soundly." She took his hand and walked with him down the cobblestone street to a small dwelling in the midst of the city.
Legolas followed tiredly up the street, though he barely showed his weariness. He looked up to see Eowyn standing on the steps of Medusil.
The inside of the small home was comfortable, and perfectly sized for a family of one child. The fire was warm and inviting and warmed the cold stone that surrounded. After a cup of tea to calm him Legolas lay down in the bed that rested against one of the walls and almost fell immediately asleep until he heard the musical voice. She had not realized he was quite ready to sleep already.
"Do you have everything you need Prince?" Her voice floated through the warm air and filled his ears.
"Of course." He replied, sitting up in the comfortable bed. "Why do you call me Prince?"
She sat in a chair across the room, her face was distraught.
"What is wrong? You have trouble in your eyes. Come sit with me and tell me what causes your grief."
She sat beside him, and he held her in his arms. "You are a Prince," she said. "A Prince of elves. I am but a common maid of Rohan, there is no hope in us." A tear streamed down her cheek, and Legolas wiped it kindly away.
He put his hand under her chin and made her look into his face. "There is always hope." He said. He pulled her close to him and stroked her silken hair.
She wept for many reasons, and for all of them he held her close and they fell into slumber in the bed, together dreaming of the other.