Maewyn: Shield Maiden of Rohan Part III

The Troubles of the Palantir

By Luthien Meneledur

His bright blue eyes opened to the light of a dying fire in it's hearth, and a maiden of Rohan held in his arms. She was sleeping deeply and he did not wish to wake her, so with elven gentleness he left the bed and made for the door. He covered her quickly with a blanket, and moved to the wooden door. He grasped the rusting metal latch and opened it without a sound.

The night sky looked down upon the cloaked elf, and he drew up his hood against the night's chill. His blonde hair was tucked in behind but a few strands fell forward to cross his smooth face. His elven ears could hear through the thick hood, and he felt at ease knowing that few others walked the cold paths of the small village. He made his way to the Hall of Medusil, to find the others, and where they slumbered.

Aragorn walked slowly along the stone shelf that surrounded the great Golden Hall. He wandered the night sleepless in the thought that Sauron was moving ever closer, and Frodo was still in danger. He saw a figure standing alone at the edge of the cliff, looking towards Mordor. He recognized the stance of his friend, and Prince of Mirkwood Forest. Legolas Greenleaf. Aragorn made his way to the edge at the side of the elf, and though the elf's hood was drawn the golden strands dangling from beneath it hinted more of the Prince.

Aragorn said not a word and Legolas spoke first.

"The stars are veiled. Something stirs in the East." He paused and was pained saying the very words. "A sleepless malice." Legolas then turned his gaze towards his friend. "The eye of the enemy is moving."

Aragorn sighed, and drew his eyes disappointedly towards the shadows that loomed to the east. "It is then as I feared." Said Aragorn.

"And what have you feared that you have not spoken of?" Legolas asked, almost hurt that their leader would not tell them all.

"That the war is here. It will only be a short time now." The dark clad warrior said.

"Elessar," said Legolas trying to comfort his friend. "The sun will shine on better times in the days to come. Times that you shall too see. Do not fear." He put his hand atop Aragorn's shoulder, and tried to smile.

Aragorn returned another sad smile and placed his hand atop Legolas' shoulder as well. "Falan tar, mellon."

Suddenly Legolas felt a presence that shocked him back to where they were. He could see the eye of Sauron, he could feel it close at hand. Legolas' eyes grew wide as he looked to Aragorn. "He is here."

Both immediately ran toward the room that the rest of the company slept in. Aragorn flung the door open and there was a magnificent sight. Pippin held the palantir in his hands, and a fire seeped from it that came from the eye of Sauron himself. Without thinking of the consequences Aragorn grabbed the sphere from the obviously suffering hobbit. The pain shot through his arms as he held the seeing stone, and he fell to the ground and let it roll from his hands across the cold stone floor. Though he had held it for only a moment he had clearly seen the eye, and the energy had been slightly drained from him.

Legolas caught the ranger as he fell to the ground, and tried to hold him as he lost all strength for only a moment. He lay on the ground as Gandalf stepped over the two and threw a cloak atop the glowing sphere. He turned quickly, with an angered look on his face. "Fool of a took!" He yelled, immediately sensing it was a mistake as he saw that poor Pippin was lying senseless on the floor of the chamber.

Legolas looked on, still holding Aragorn's weakened frame as Gandalf brought the small hobbit back to his senses, and questioned him about what he had seen in the mysterious sphere. Once everyone had made their way back to their beds, the elf Prince helped his darkly clad friend from the floor to his bed, and left the chamber to let the others sleep.

The elf Prince walked quickly back to the home that he had woken in. He feared what Maewyn would think had she awoken without him at her side. It had frightened her the last time and now, he was sure, would be no different. Entering the hut he found her still asleep, the fire dead. The night was cold, but would soon break to dawn when it would warm, so he did not relight the hearth. He lay back down next to the maiden, and again fell asleep.

The smell of day woke the elf, and again the girl still slept. This time he was purposefully not as careful when he woke, and she stirred with him. It had been almost an entire day of rest for her, and it was time for her to rouse.

Maewyn stood quickly and with grace. "Is there anything that I can find for you this morning?" She asked, almost as if she had not slept. Musical were her words, and they brought a smile to the elf's face.

"No," he answered. "Your kindness has been enough." He stood and bowed politely and proceeded to gather his things from the table.

"You leave so soon?" She asked.

He looked to her face, framed by her dark hair. Her green eyes shone through the darkness of the closed room. "My companions will make a decision soon, I must join them."

"When will I see you?" She asked innocently.

"If we are to leave soon, I will say goodbye." He picked up the quiver and strapped it to his body, tightening the buckle. He took her hand in his and brought it up for a kiss. He let it fall back to her side before turning to leave through the small doorway. He closed the door tightly and sprinted quickly through the city to the hall, where the rest of the companions gathered. He topped the stairs quickly and found Eowyn looking out over the lands.

The elf walked over to her lightly. "Why do you stand here so often lady?" He asked gently.

"I only wish to look upon these lands lush and green as I may never see them the same again." She continued to stare into the fields. Legolas pitied the girl, she was so young, and yet always carried tears in her eyes. So terrible to waste such a short life on sorrow. She sighed heavily and sensed him still standing beside her. "The rest gather inside." She said, but as she turned around the elf had already gone, and only the guards were left with her sorrow.

The door opened quietly, and Legolas moved inside to the sound of talking, and some laughter. Gimli sat at one of the great tables beside Aragorn. Across from them sat Eomer and Merry while Pippin brought up the end of the table. Eomer's hearty laugh broke through Merry's words as he told one of his Shire stories.

"You do have a few good tales Master Merry." Eomer chuckled through the breakfast he was eating. He was the first to see Legolas enter the hall, and motioned to him as he closed the door. "Come Legolas. Merry was just telling a story of the first time Pippin saw a full grown horse!"

Pippin burst in after Eomer was done speaking, half laughing. "So I said, 'It comes in Clydesdale? I'm getting one!'" Pippin burst into laughter again with the rest of the company. Though Aragorn only chuckled.

Legolas walked up to the table. "I have heard that tale." He said as a smile crossed his lips. "Many times." The elf sat down next to his dwarf friend and continued to speak with them as the morning progressed. They told stories, trying mostly to lighten the mood of the day.

After Eomer had finished a story about Gamling losing balance on his horse attempting to reach apples high in a tree, Legolas began to speak.

"Eomer, your sister will freeze if she stays to stare out at the fields all day." He said.

Eomer smiled at the elf. "Yes I know. I will bring her something warm. Thank you friend." He said kindly. Immediately after the door had closed on Eomer, Gandalf entered the hall. As soon as everyone had noted the wizards presence they stood, and grew somber. King Theodin followed soon after, and they began to speak.

He pulled Pippin's chair from the end of the table and slid it out into the center of the Hall. Merry joined his side, standing. Gandalf told the King what Pippin's glance into the Palantir had meant, and what Sauron's plans were for Minas Tirith. He was planning to attack the city as soon as was possible and the small hobbit had seen these plans.

"If the beacons are set," Gandalf said, "you must be ready to ride to Gondor's aid."

"And where was Gondor for us?" Asked Theodin ignorantly.

Legolas could not understand this pride that seemed to lead most mortals into doom. He could not understand the reason for it and restrained himself. He wanted to voice his opinions but he knew that Mithrandir knew better, and let the wizard speak. The elves would never show such traits, they would show bravery and willingness to sacrifice for their kin. But Theodin was of the race of men, who were noted for their stubborn nature, and so he said not a word. The conversation finished, and Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, and Merry followed Gandalf and Pippin to the stables.

As Shadowfax showed the meaning of haste and bore Gandalf and Pippin from Edoras towards the white city Legolas watched them fade into the distance from the steps of Medusil. With his elven sight it took a great fraction of the day for the horse to disappear from view, but he watched.

Aragorn sat upon a wooden bench, seemingly exhausted. He did not hear the approach of his friend, for elves are hard to read even for the greatest tracker.

"Aragorn." Legolas said startling the ranger a little. "You still tire from the touch of the Palantir." He said it almost questioningly, but it was a statement.

"Yes. All the energy flowed forth from my limbs in that moment. But I will be alright." He sighed, and seemed almost out of breath.

Alone with Aragorn he felt ease slipping into the Sindarin tongue. He felt more comfort in speaking his own language, and the two talked elvish together. "We cannot linger here. What good are we so far from the battle."

"We must wait for the signal. Gandalf knows the path we must take, he is wise. Wiser than any among us."

Legolas frowned. "I do not see why we delay."

"But we shall nonetheless Legolas." He patted the elf's back, and stood to finish the conversation moving back to the tongue of men. "It will not be long. I promise you that." He motioned to the rest of the city. "Cherish the time that you have with her, while we wait here." He walked from the bench, and toward the Hall. Aragorn seemed almost angry at the fact that Legolas had someone here, and that Arwen was sailing far away from him. But Legolas knew he held no ill will toward him, and so he listened to his friend and ally.

Preparing for the coming war was an important thing to Legolas. He spent his time readying his weapons in Maewyn's home utilizing her help where he could. She came to the stables and helped him tend to Arod and every other free moment he had was given to her. They rode the plains together not far from the city, and she showed him the beautiful countryside as she knew it. The elf spent some of his time practicing with his blades, and teaching Maewyn some things she did not know about her sword. These things were few, but there were some. She was quick in her fighting skills, and her heart stood behind every swing of her sword.

The two rode the plains in the midst of the day and decided to lay amongst the grass near a stream for some rest. They let Arod and Hasufel roam free, yet close while they sat about the stream.

Legolas smiled at this maiden, his maiden of Rohan. She looked to him but did not smile back. Her green eyes were cold like ice, and almost held tears but seemed to hard for that.

"My Prince." She said with an empty voice that lacked in the music he usually heard in it. "There is something I must say, and you cannot protest."

He smiled. "For what reason would I protest?" He asked.

"When the call comes, I must go to war, and you cannot hold me here." She did not look away, but straight into his eyes.

His smile faded and his brows moved into a frown. "But why? You cannot go to your death." He said almost angry.

"You cannot stop me." She said calmly. "What makes you so certain that it would be my death?" She asked smiling once again.

The elf could do nothing but look to the ground, confused, thinking. What could this do for her? Why would she want to be taken from him? He could not understand. He gasped for air in his anger and confusion.

She put a hand on his shoulder to comfort him but he shrugged it off. "Legolas." She said almost commanding. "Legolas look to me." Her face was stern once more. He looked back into her green eyes, his blue eyes almost tearing. "This is my choice. It does not concern you. I do it for my father and people." Her brown hair was caught in the wind and danced around her in utopian disorder. She smiled and it lifted his heart. He realized now what Aragorn had meant. Love is but a feeling, and when it comes there is no doubt in it.

Her green eyes sparkled in the noon light and he leaned in to kiss her.

She laughed and leaned away. "I do not think that you can change my mind with a kiss Prince." She paused at this. "You must first tell me that you will not protest my presence in battle."

"I will tell you this: If you face me and win, I will not protest." He said with a solid face.

She laughed again, and he closed his ears to the music of it. "I could not beat such a great elf. Is this the only choice I am given?" She asked.

"It is my final decision." He whispered through the wind.

Maewyn stood, and using a piece of leather tied her hair into a tight bun, though a few strands still hung loose around her face. She whistled loudly and called to her horse. "Hasufel." The horse responded immediately as if ceasing the chance to be next to the girl.

Legolas stood and called forth Arod. The white horse ran to him, and from it he took his two elven blades. He swung them about in his grip, and checked them for marks. The golden hilts were worn with time as he had used them for years. The silver blades bore no mark other than the carvings that had been put upon it. He unconsciously spun them about in his hands, switching them occasionally.

Maewyn took from her saddle a simple sword that bore the crest of her family near the hilt. She held it as an extension of her body, and thought of it much the same way moving it about with smooth ease.

After the horses had gone off a distance they began the duel. The elf danced around as if it were nothing, swinging the blades about with terrifying speed. His blonde hair whipped about in the wind and his blue eyes flashed. The girl, however, stood poised and still in the center of the circle he made around her. She did not even follow when he went behind her, she only closed her eyes and listened. Suddenly she came around with a swing, misjudging where he was and missing him completely as he came up behind her. She turned just in time to block the first blade, and duck for the second. She responded quickly from them and came back at him. It went on in the same manner for the better part of an hour. Legolas still with the same energy jumped around the girl and could see that she was a better warrior than most men he had ever met. They danced a few more moments and suddenly she had him. The sword was held right before his neck, and his blades were nowhere near her body.

A smile crossed her graceful face and she took back the sword sheathing it quickly. "And so how does your decision stand my lord?" She asked politely.

"You are most deserving to fight among your kin." His heart and face faltered. "And so you shall go to battle, though I do not wish it on you for the world."

She could see his face sadden at this, and so she pulled him close in an embrace. She let go and he looked into her deep eyes. He kissed her softly and a tear snuck from under his closed lids.

THERE YOU HAVE IT… FINALLY A SAPPY KISS… sorry… umm… I just have to give credit for the Clydesdale joke to my friend Telemergion who gave me permission to use it because it's GREAT!!! Alright… chapter four will soon be here…