Intersecting Paths

A/N: If this is the only story of mine that you've ever read, PLEASE don't judge my writing by it! This is NOT my best work, I promise. And so you know, this was written before the Extended Version was released. There is a scene below that I saw a snippet of, I think in a documentary or something, but it didn't show the outcome - thus my "outcome" differs from what turned up in the Ext. Version.

Chapter 3

As it turned out, the Elves departed two days later, and the day after that they were ready to move the encampment back to Edoras. Since there were only a dozen who could not ride or walk, they went with the litter idea. Most of the wagons had been left behind to aid in their flight and so were not easy to come by. The morning of their departure had the entire fortress bustling with activity.

Despite the battle, neither Aragorn or King Theoden felt the threat of attack was entirely past, so the soldiers needed to remain mounted and alert. The other horses in the company, that could be spared, were fitted for litters, and everyone able to walk did so. Módwyn included Leander as a litter-bearer since she would need to be moving among her patients, checking their progress during the journey.

One Elf remained among the wounded, not having recovered as much as hoped. At first the Elves had intended to take him with them when they left, but arguments from both Aragorn and Legolas convinced them that Módwyn's medicine was essentially the same as Elf medicine and so hurrying him to an Elven healer would benefit little. Módwyn was relieved at their acquiescence about leaving the Elf behind; the several-day trip on horseback would have been very hard on him.

When the procession camped the first evening, Módwyn found she was more tired than she realized. Several days straight of long hours working, much stress and little sleep were beginning to take a toll. Before preparing a meal, she sat down briefly and lay her forehead on her knees that were pulled up to her chest. Without meaning to, her eyes slipped closed and she was asleep in a matter of moments.

Some time later, a light touch on her arm jolted her awake and she blinked in confusion, trying to orient herself. She found herself looking at Legolas, crouched in front of her. Rubbing her face with tired hands, she apologized, "Sorry. I must have drifted off."

He gave her a knowing smile that said he understood full well the circumstances, and held out a plate of food to her. "Maybe this will help you regain your strength. I have unburdened Leander and seen to his care. Once your patients are settled for the night you can get some sleep yourself."

She nodded, gratefully, "Thank you." Her tiredness caused her to lapse into silence then, and she ate the meal he had provided. When she finished, she rose reluctantly to press on. Legolas took her plate from her, and she smiled at him as she moved off to visit the wounded and see that they were ready for the night.

When she returned a half hour later, her blankets had been spread next to the fire and Legolas was sitting on his own bedding nearby. For a moment, she had a funny feeling take over her – almost a shyness. But she was too tired to examine it closely and pushed it away as she moved to lie down.

She lay looking up at the stars for a bit and then said softly, "Legolas, thank you. For everything."

"You are very welcome," he whispered. An instant later her deepened breathing told him she was asleep.

xxxxx

The trip home took three days total and everyone was glad when the hillside settlement came into view. Back in their homes, everyone was eager to celebrate their victory at Helm's Deep, though clearly Aragorn and Gandalf thought the matter far from settled by the one battle. To add to the pleasure of the celebration was the return of King Theoden to full health and removal of Eomer and the Rohirrim's banishment from court. The music, drinking and dancing lasted long into the night, despite the weariness most still felt from the battle and the travel.

Módwyn was not one for such festivities, so she mostly sat quietly off to the side and watched the proceedings with a bemused expression. She noted the great excess of ale being consumed and ruefully reflected how fortunate it was that she had a good supply of the herb to brew for hangover. No doubt she would have many agonized visitors tomorrow!

The throaty roar of laughter that could only belong to the dwarf, Gimli, caught her attention off to her right. Turning in that direction, she saw Gimli and her kinsmen engaging in what appeared to be yet another drinking contest. To her surprise, and amusement, they seemed to have somehow lured Legolas into participating as well. She had a momentary flash of concern – she had never known Elves to be much drinkers of ale. She wasn't sure how a tipsy Elf would fare. Still, he was an adult. He would have to bear the consequences.

Even so, her eyes lingered on him as the contest proceeded. She was uncertain what her feelings were toward the Elf. She had never expected the past week to unfold as it had. Certainly she had not expected him to kiss her – more than once. Nor was she expecting his attentiveness to her needs and comfort. Part of her was enjoying the attention he was showing her; she had not had much such interaction with the men among her kinsmen. But another part of her warned that his presence here would be short-lived. He and his companions were only passing through and too soon would be gone, possibly never to return.

She was pulled from her reverie by Aragorn's voice, "And what holds your interest so intently, my lady?"

She blinked and looked up at him with a bit of a guilty expression, "I was just observing your two companions, my lord. I have some fear for the Elf's safety in the dwarf's game!"

Aragorn followed her gaze and took in the drinking with a smirk, "I think your concerns may be well founded. I have never known Legolas to drink ale. Perhaps we should move closer – to catch him when he falls!"

Though said in jest, the words proved a bit prophetic as Legolas drained his tankard and lowered it with a glazed look in his eyes. A silly smile slid across his face as he reached to put the tankard on the table, misjudged and dropped it to the floor. With a delayed reaction, his eyes followed the offending crash to its source as Gimli and the others began to roar with laughter. Aragorn reached his friend's side just an instant before his knees began to buckle. Lifting him easily, he chuckled down at the Elf in his arms, "Good night, sweet Prince!"

Módwyn stood to their side, "Bring him this way, my lord. We will let him sleep it off and hope a bad head is the worst he faces."

Because of the number of wounded men that had been brought back, and Módwyn did not have room at her lodgings to keep all of them while they recuperated, King Theoden had set aside a room in the castle for her use and provided an antechamber for her to sleep in until her patients were all recovered. Aragorn followed her to the antechamber, and she quickly grabbed some extra blankets and made a bed for Legolas.

Aragorn laid his friend down and looked at him with a bemused expression. "I think it is safe to say that he and Gimli are no longer enemies, if Gimli can persuade him to this indignity! And, thank you, for allowing him to bed down away from prying eyes." He glanced at Módwyn, "My apologies, for pulling you away from the celebration."

"It is alright. I was going to leave soon anyway." She eyed him speculatively, "Return and enjoy yourself. In these dark times, another opportunity may not soon come."

He realized that she understood a great deal more than many others in Rohan, who believed this victory had somehow won them relief from the evil of Mordor. He inclined his head to her with new respect as he excused himself, "Indeed, you are correct. Good night."

Módwyn checked the fires in the hall, as the night was beginning to grow cold, and then began checking on each of her patients before turning in for the night. Lastly, she returned to Legolas and, noting a shiver run through him, retrieved another blanket to tuck over him. As she did, his eyes blearily flickered open and his intense blue gaze fixed on her. Softly he mumbled, "I did not get a chance to dance with you."

She smiled gently, "Perhaps another time. I think it best if we both sleep now."

xxxxx

She jolted awake at the sound of the moan, and quickly moved to the side of the Elf, a bucket in her hand. An instant later, the ale he had consumed was forcefully purging itself from his stomach. With one hand she held his hair back out of the way, while the other held his forehead in his misery. Finally, the heaving subsided and he lay back on his bedding. After a few minutes, his eyes blinked open and he caught her attention, then looked away in shame, "My apologies for subjecting you to this great dishonor of myself and my family."

Gently she reached over and turned his face back toward her, "It is no dishonor, Legolas. An error in judgement, perhaps, but no dishonor. And the others will not remember the outcome so much as they will remember that you joined in, as one of them. Trust me, by tomorrow, many of them will be no better off than you are at this moment! I have tended most of them for this same ailment before!"

He smiled weakly at her, not entirely seeming to believe her words. She added, "If your stomach has settled, try to get some sleep." He nodded and let his eyes slip closed with a mournful sigh.

She emptied the bucket and returned to her bed, where she lay watching the Elf by the light of the fire. He was so very different than anyone she had ever known. She would be sorry when it came time for him to depart. She let her eyes shut and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, she was up early and carried water in and heated it for a bath. She moved to the Elf and gently shook him awake. "Legolas, wake up." He gave a moan but opened his eyes slightly.

"My head is pounding," he murmured.

A small smile creased her face, "I know, but we need to get you cleaned up before anyone sees you. Do you have a change of clothes?"

He shook his head. "I have only what I am wearing."

She retrieved a robe and brought it to him. "Remove your clothes and put this on. We need to wash your things. They will reek of ale and vomit otherwise."

He began to undress under the blanket and she heated a bucket of wash water and threw in some soap. When he handed over his clothes, she quickly washed and rinsed them and then hung them by the fire to dry. Turning to a pot heating over the fire, she pulled it toward her and filled a cup, which she brought to him. "Drink this. It will help."

He slowly sipped the hot liquid as she motioned toward the bath. "Get cleaned up. I will go check on my patients while you bathe. Hopefully your clothes will dry quickly."

Before she could move away, he caught her wrist, "Thank you. I am most grateful, and very ashamed of myself."

"I told you last night, there is nothing to be ashamed of. While I don't encourage such overindulgence, what you did last night, participating in their game, did much to foster good relations. They will not care that you lost, only that you joined in."

She left the room and Legolas slowly, carefully extricated himself from the blankets and moved to the bath.

Some time later, a knock came at the door. "Enter," he called out. He looked up from combing his wet hair and saw Módwyn was carrying some bread with her.

"I doubt you are particularly hungry, but you should try to get something into your stomach. Bread is probably best – and only water." Noticing he was still in the robe, she moved to check the clothes and found they were still a bit damp. She turned them so the other side faced the fire, then went to sit facing him.

He kept his eyes averted from hers and, with a sigh, she asked, "How are you feeling? Is the head any better?"

Slowly he lowered the comb, "My head has eased. My dignity is beyond repair."

She let out a peel of laughter, which so shocked him he turned to face her, as she had intended. Leaning forward and staring intently into his eyes, she asked, "Do you doubt that my skills as a healer are boundless, sir!"

Legolas merely gazed at her in disbelief, and then, finally, it penetrated that she was teasing him and he looked down, grinning ruefully, "I would never dare underestimate you!"

"Good! For I refuse to let you take this too seriously! It is not the end of the world, Legolas. You have committed no great crime." She picked up the bread and cut some for him. Slowly he reached and took it from her, hesitantly meeting her gaze.

"I need to help my patients get breakfast. I will be back in a bit." He nodded as she left the room.

xxxxx

When he was at last dressed and his hair braided, Legolas made his way to the other room. He found Módwyn stirring a pot over a fire and went toward her. As he did, Aragorn and Gimli entered the room, the dwarf obviously being steadied by his friend. Not far behind them trailed three other men, holding their heads and moving slowly along. The corners of Módwyn's mouth tweaked upward and she said softly to Legolas, "Ah, so it begins! I told you that you would not be the only one to suffer this morning!"

Gimli settled himself gently on a bench nearby and let out a moan, "Lass, do you think you might have something to make the room stop spinning?" The three other men sat moaning on another bench, giving her pleading looks as well.

Aragorn moved to stand beside the Elf and gave him a grin, "Glad to see you up and around." His nose twitched and he added, "And smelling surprisingly well, all things considered." The Elf smiled and lowered his eyes.

As Módwyn ladled the liquid she had prepared into cups and handed one to each of her new patients, she quietly said to Aragorn, "Legolas might like some fresh air – but keep to the shade. He will not enjoy the light very much right now." He nodded at her and the two turned to leave the hall.

Before they reached the door, Gimli called out, "Legolas! Not too bad for your first attempt. Better luck next time, laddie!" He let out a throaty laugh and then caught himself, holding his head as he drank more from his cup.