Intersecting Paths
A/N: According to Tracey, Buddy is one of the top pet names, so we've decided to christen a new term (unless one exists that we don't know about): Buddy-doo - for an animal that is a Mary-Sue/Gary-Stu (I used "doo" since "sue" and "stu" are gender specific; it comes from "Scooby-doo"). So Leander gets to be the first animal thus christened. And in case anyone besides Elwen of Lorien is interested, Eomer makes a tiny appearance in ch. 5 and really turns up in ch. 6. When it didn't look like I'd ever finish this story, I was tempted to steal the two Eomer bits and use them somewhere else, but they really didn't fit anyplace other than here without creating a whole new backstory to lead into them.
Chapter 4
Módwyn was pleased that later in the day she was able to release four more of her patients to return to their homes. That left only five of the twelve who had still been in her care on the return from Helm's Deep, including the Elven archer whose name was Imlion. The latter was still not progressing as well as she would have liked, so that afternoon she sought out Aragorn. She found him sitting outside the Golden Hall, smoking his pipe and lost in thought.
"My lord?" she called, breaking his reverie.
He turned to her and smiled, "Please, my lady, call me Aragorn. We are friends, are we not?"
"I will only consent to do so, my lord, if you will call me Módwyn!" she rejoined.
"Agreed! How may I be of service, Módwyn?"
"I am concerned about Imlion. He is not responding to treatment as he should."
Aragorn nodded, "I know. Lothlorien is closest. Perhaps we should seek counsel there. Elrond of Rivendell would be best, but is, I fear, too distant." After thinking a moment, he glanced at her, "With a fast horse, a rider could be there and back in three days."
She made no comment, but Aragorn noticed the troubled look on her face. "Speak freely, Módwyn. What worries you?"
With a sigh, she told him, "There is no one of Rohan I can send for they are needed here and do not speak Elvish. I cannot go myself as I need to remain with my patients, and I am the only trained healer left at Edoras." She drew a deep breath and looked at him, "Is it possible to send Legolas? I would let him use Leander. He is one of the fastest horses in all of Edoras."
Aragorn contemplated the request and what it might mean if the situation were to change suddenly. Gandalf had gone to Minas Tirith and it was expected that soon Gondor would ask for help of Rohan. If that was the case, they would need to ride for Gondor as soon as possible. Still, he knew the Elf was the best choice for the assignment, if he would take it. "If Legolas is willing to go, I have no objection to it."
"Thank you, my...Aragorn." She smiled quickly, then turned on her heel and dashed off. Racing into her chambers, she hastily began a letter describing the Elf's injuries and treatment thus far. As she worked, there came a knock on her open door. Legolas stood there, watching her curiously, "I saw you running down the hall. Is something the matter?"
"How are you feeling? How's the head?" she asked, not looking up from her letter.
He did not see what his health had to do with his questions, but responded, "I am better, thank you."
"Are you feeling up to an arduous journey on horseback? I need you to run an errand for me – to Lothlorien."
"Can it not wait? Now is not a good time..." he began, but she cut him off mid-sentence.
"I know it is a bad time, but Aragorn has agreed to it if you are willing. I need you to seek healing counsel from the Elves. Imlion is not improving. Please, Legolas, I need you to do this for me." She sealed her letter and brought it to him. "This will tell them what has already been done." Slowly she held it out to him and gave him a pleading look.
Much as he wanted to decline, he could not refuse her. He nodded and reached for the letter. Her face flooded with relief, "Take Leander. He is fast and he knows the Rohan country well. With any luck you will return before you are needed here – or elsewhere." Impulsively, she stepped close and lightly kissed him on the lips. "Thank you!"
He gazed at her for a moment, then turned and hastily departed the room. Quickly she ran to the kitchen and gathered some food for the trip, packed it into her carrying bags and hurried after him to the stable. He was just leading Leander out of the barn when she arrived and handed it to him. "Push as hard as you can, Legolas. Leander will let you know when he needs a breather or to eat, but he has great stamina." She moved to stand in front of the horse, who lowered his head to her. "You must be quick, my friend. This will be a long, hard trip – be careful. Take care of Legolas." The horse nudged her with his muzzle and she laid her head on his forehead momentarily, then reluctantly stepped off to the side.
Legolas smiled down at her, then tapped Leander with his heels. "To Lothlorien, Leander." Within minutes, they had cantered down the hill and were disappearing out of sight in the distance. Módwyn watched them until they were only a pinprick on the horizon.
xxxxx
Two days later, the signal fires from Gondor were seen and King Theoden responded to Aragorn's plea for Rohan to assist Gondor. Riders were sent to gather as many soldiers as possible from the various parts of Rohan and preparations were made for the riders of Edoras to move to the encampment at Dunharrow.
As the preparations were being made and word spread through Edoras of what was taking place, Módwyn found Aragorn on a watchtower, looking to the north. When she came up beside him and touched his arm, he looked at her and the worry in his eyes was plain. "Do not fear, Aragorn. I am sure he will return soon. If he is not here when you depart, I will see him to Dunharrow as soon as he arrives. You will be there a day or two anyway, before leaving for Gondor."
He wondered how she seemed to know so much about the battle preparations, but did not question her on it. "I am sure you are right. I will expect to see him ere long."
By the next morning, Legolas still had not turned up and the Rohirrim began its departure. Aragorn cast one last worried glance at Módwyn, but forced a trusting smile on his face, "Tell Legolas to come as quickly as he can."
"Aye," the dwarf echoed. "There's work to be done!" He wobbled unsteadily in the saddle as he followed the other riders down the hill.
As all her other patients were gone except for the Elf, she had had him removed to her house and cleared the castle of her things. She had long ago turned the downstairs into a treatment area and reserved the upstairs as her living quarters. Once Imlion was settled into a bed, she began cleaning up the house, which had been neglected the past few weeks. As she worked, she thought about what was coming. Gamling had told her about Gondor's signal for help and the muster at Dunharrow. He hadn't wanted to worry her too much, she could tell, but from what he said and the furrows in his brow, this was no mere battle. He hadn't looked this concerned even at Helm's Deep. She knew Gondor bordered Mordor and if they were calling for help, then likely a great battle was to ensue. Gamling had indicated that Minas Tirith might fall, and she knew enough of that great city that if it fell, the future would indeed be bleak for all of Middle Earth.
With some degree of frustration, she sat down and stared at her surroundings. The men she had patched up recently, and who were able, had joined the riders from Edoras. What had she done for them but buy them a few more days of life; another day of terror, and probably death, in battle. As she pondered the matter, she heard hooves in the yard. A smile flickered on her face as she hurried to the door.
Legolas was startled when she came out and found him trying to turn Leander toward the castle. His efforts subsided and he smiled tiredly, "I see he knows better than I where we are going!" He slid down and handed her a letter and her carrying bags. "Hopefully, this will provide the help you need for Imlion." He looked around, behind him at the town, "Edoras seems deserted. Where is everyone?"
"They have mustered to Dunharrow. You are to join them there. Gondor has signaled for aid."
He started to move away when she caught his arm, "Come in and eat. Then rest. They only left this morning. If we leave early tomorrow, and push hard, we will be less than a day behind them."
"We? You cannot be thinking of going also."
"I will be your guide. You would not get past the sentries and the road to Dunharrow can be treacherous. I promised Aragorn I would see you there."
He still seemed reluctant, but knew he was not familiar enough with the land to get there as quickly on his own. "Where shall I stable Leander?" he asked, giving in.
"The small barn out back is mine. King Theoden let me keep him in the royal stables so he would be closer if I needed him while I was staying there."
Before the Elf could move away with the horse, Leander pulled toward her and gave her a nudge. She smiled up at him, "Well done, my friend. I am glad to see you safely home!" She gave him a kiss on the muzzle and added, "Go eat and rest. You have another long journey tomorrow." Without urging from Legolas, the horse moved toward the stable and tugged the Elf along at the end of the reins, shaking his head in wonder at the relationship Módwyn had with the horse.
When Legolas returned to the house, Módwyn had food and drink ready for him and was already reading the letter from Lothlorien. She examined the contents of the carrying bag as she read of each ingredient they had sent. She stopped and then held it out to him, "What is this word? I'm afraid my Elvish is a bit rusty."
"It means..." He thought for a moment for the appropriate word in the common tongue. "Poultice," he said at last. She nodded as if that made sense, and resumed her reading. When she finished, she set about preparing the ingredients as directed and took the results over to her patient, across the room behind a partition.
Working quickly, she applied the various treatments as indicated and then sat a moment looking at the Elf. He had been unconscious for over a week, and while he had not lost ground, she had expected more improvement by now. If these new treatments did not work, she wasn't sure there was anything else that could be done for him. With a heavy sigh, she rose and returned to join Legolas at the table.
Between bites, he asked, "How is it that you know Elvish? And you never did tell me how it is that you know an Elvish lullaby," he prompted.
She smiled reminiscently, then replied, "When I was a child, our neighbor took an Elleth as his wife. They were not able to have children of their own. Being young, I was fascinated by this person who looked so different than anyone I had ever known, so I took to hanging around her every chance I got. Perhaps because she could not have her own children, she permitted me to do so – even encouraged it. So I grew up listening to songs and stories of her people. It was probably because of her that I became a healer. She was the first to teach me about plants and herbs and their medicinal qualities and uses. And she taught me to use a bow and arrow. That is not something typically taught to young ladies of Rohan."
"You speak of her in the past. Where is she now?"
Sadness shadowed her answer, "Both of them were killed by Orcs on a visit to her family; I was seventeen at the time." She roused herself from sorrow by adding, "But they are not truly gone as long as I remember them."
"And she taught you Elvish, as well?" he asked quietly. She did not respond and he saw that her thoughts had turned inward, so he kept silent.
A moment later, she roused, "I am sorry. Did you say something?"
"She taught you Elvish, as well?" he repeated.
She nodded and slowly stood, "Yes. I think it was mostly so she would have someone to speak to her in her own tongue, for she missed her home a great deal." She paused, then went to put on her cloak, "I need to find someone to watch Imlion while we are gone to Dunharrow. I will return shortly." She was out the door before he could comment.
When she returned, he was still seated at the table, but done eating. "Fetige will come by early tomorrow and stay with him," she advised, as she began eating something herself.
Looking around, Legolas asked, "What is this place?"
"It was Tandurin and Celwen's home. Since they had no heirs, they left it to me. When I became a healer, I turned it into a place of treatment. It is more centrally located in Edoras and larger than my family home, so it fit the purpose nicely." She finished her meal and began putting the remaining food away and cleaning up.
"Help me a moment," she said, signalling Legolas to follow her. She led him to the room Imlion was in and indicated handholds in the partitioning wall, then moved to two others and directed him how to help her remove it. That opened up the room so there were now two beds in it.
"I will sleep here tonight, in case there is any change," she told him. "You may take the next bed over." She led him on a brief tour of the house's layout and then said, "We should probably get packed for tomorrow and then get some rest. Fetige promised to come at first light and we can leave soon after, if all goes well."
There was something that had changed in her demeanor and Legolas could not quite put his finger on what it was. Ever since talking about her Elf friend, she had been more subdued and finally he decided what he was sensing was a melancholy. As she stood surveying the room, apparently trying to decide what she might have forgotten and what she should do next, he moved toward her and encircled her in his arms, pulling her close to his chest. At first there was no response, but then the tears began to fall, slowly at first and then more, accompanying wrenching sobs.
He did not know how long they stood there, but finally the flow eased and she wiped at her face with embarrassment. "I am sorry. I do not know what has come over me," she whispered.
"Do not apologize. Sometimes feelings must be expressed, whether we wish it or not."
She pulled free and gave him a weak smile, "Thank you." She disappeared up the stairs, and after watching the empty stairwell a moment, he went to wash and then turn in for the night. He heard her return a short time later and drop a bag on the floor in the other room. The candles were doused and he heard her climb into bed as well.
xxxxx
Light was not yet coming through the windows when Legolas heard Módwyn rise and begin moving about. Soon he saw shadows that indicated she had lit candles, so he stood, gathered his belongings and carried them to the dining area.
He saw her bending over Imlion and went to the doorway, "How is he?"
When she turned to him with tears in her eyes, he momentarily feared the worst, but then a brilliant smile lit her face. There was movement next to her and before she could respond, he could see that Imlion was awake. She turned back to her patient and, finding his eyes upon her, asked, "Do you think you could take some broth?" He nodded weakly and she moved to prepare it.
While she worked in the kitchen, Legolas entered the room and spoke to Imlion in Elvish, explaining the circumstances. Módwyn joined them a few minutes later with a mug of broth and helped him consume it. There was a knock at the door and Legolas rose. "That will be Fetige," Módwyn commented.
When Fetige and Legolas appeared in the doorway, Módwyn began filling the woman in on the Elf's situation and treatment. While she did that, Legolas returned to the kitchen and prepared a light breakfast for them. Within the half hour, they were ready to depart and said their farewells.
They were quickly on their way in the early morning light and rode in comfortable silence for nearly an hour. While Leander drank from a stream and rested a moment, they walked on the bank to stretch their legs.
"How is it that you are not fair like your kinsmen?" Legolas queried, as they strolled along.
"Not all of my kinsmen are fair," she answered. At his questioning look she added, "My father was of Gondor and my mother of Rohan. My coloring is a blend of the two."
"Where are they now? You do not speak of them, or of brothers and sisters."
"I am my parents' only child as my father was killed, fighting with the Rohirrim, when I was young. My mother died a few years ago of a fever."
"I have noticed that Gamling pays particular attention to you," he commented.
She gave a laugh, "Gamling and I grew up together. As we lived next door to each other, we often played together, neither of us having brothers or sisters. He has been my protector ever since – especially now that my family is gone.
"Are you pledged to him, then?"
"If I were pledged to him, I would not have been kissing you!" she chuckled, blushing slightly. "He is like a brother to me, and very dear. We have gone through some difficult times together."
"Since you are not pledged and are willing to let me kiss you, perhaps now would be a good time," he suggested, moving closer to her, his eyes dancing.
She blushed again and looked down at the ground, but he tipped her head up with a finger under her chin. He searched her eyes for permission and when he found it reflected there, he bent and brushed his lips lightly against hers. Slowly he reached for her waist and drew her nearer, and gradually her own arms moved to encircle his neck. They remained lost in one another for several minutes until a nudge from a wet muzzle attracted their attention. Leander stood looking balefully at the two of them, stamping a foot with impatience.
"I think he is ready to leave," Módwyn commented, trying to stifle a laugh.
"I would say so," Legolas observed, laughing outright and causing Módwyn to give in as well. When their mirth subsided, they mounted and continued their journey.
They rode hard for the next couple of hours, trying to cover much ground before noon. Around 11:00 they slowed to a walk to allow Leander another breather, and Módwyn found Legolas nuzzling her neck, sending pleasant sensations along her spine and bringing a smile of pleasure to her lips. He dropped kisses along the side of her neck and then tugged playfully on her earlobe with his teeth.
"If you keep this up, I fear we may never reach Dunharrow!" she exclaimed, though reluctant to discourage his attention.
His arms tightened around her waist, and he broke off his ministrations to lay his head on her shoulder alongside hers. "Alas, we will get to Dunharrow all too soon, for we must. But who is to say we may not enjoy the journey? There is so little joy left in Middle Earth, I would not waste precious moments when they come."
After a few minutes of silent contentment in each other's company, she turned and kissed his cheek, then nudged Leander with her heels and they resumed their pace.
By early afternoon they had reached the foot of the mountains, and they walked while they ate their midday meal and let Leander rest, eat and drink. They were quickly on their way again and began the climb up the Dunharrow trail.
The sentries they had passed earlier in the day had recognized Módwyn and passed them without argument. The sentries guarding the trailhead were unknown to her and it took more convincing for them to approve the riders' presence. Finally they were admitted to the trail and the winding, steep climb to the encampment near the top.
As they rode into camp, Módwyn spotted Gamling exiting a tent to the right and turned Leander toward him. When Gamling spotted them, he stopped and awaited their approach. "Gam, where is Lord Aragorn?" she inquired. "I have brought Legolas, as promised." His eyes narrowed a bit as he glanced at the Elf, but he made no comment.
Finally he pointed off to his right, "He was with King Theoden overlooking the field encampment a short while ago." She nodded and gave him a reassuring smile as they rode off in the direction he had indicated.
"I do not think Gamling likes me," Legolas said softly in her ear.
She laughed and replied, "Of course not! You are male and you are spending far too much time in my company. Be you Elf, Dwarf, Man or Orc, he would view you suspiciously for these offenses!" They laughed together, but Legolas tightened his grip on her waist in a mock show of defiance.
Aragorn had turned and spotted them before they reached him, and was walking to meet them, a grin of relief on his face. Before he could speak, however, Gimli's voice rang out, "Well, it's about time you showed up, laddie! I was beginning to think I'd have to do your work while you rested!"
Legolas rolled his eyes at Aragorn and slid to the ground, then helped Módwyn dismount as well. "You three will want to talk," she told them. "I'll go stable Leander."