Hey guys! I am so sorry about my lateness, I have no excuses apart from mental illness and the writing and rewriting this chapter about five times before getting it how I want it. I hope you all enjoy this! Xx
Review responses;
Dinosaur Imperial Soldier – Of course with the drinking game, there's no way I can leave that bit out. As for the Palantir and Pippin, that will be in the next chapter.
MajesticLunicorn – As interesting as that sounds, I won't be doing anything like that. Although, the Battle of the Five Armies won't be the last time she sees Thorin and the others. . .that is all I'm saying.
Celebrations
Arriving at Edoras, Théoden orders food and drink to be prepared in celebration of the victory at Helm's Deep and for those who risked and gave their lives in the battle. Éowyn takes me away to prepare for the night. After bathing, she loans me a green dress with darker green leaves sewn into the bodice. As I sit at the dressing table, brushing and braiding my hair, I noticed Éowyn watching me.
"May I help you with anything, My Lady?" I ask her.
She blushes a little for being caught staring before getting out; "Forgive me for staring, but I have noticed you weave the same braids Gimli has. Do they represent anything?"
I nod. "Dwarven braids mean a lot of things. Family. Love. As for me, I have three braids which show my family line, my coming of age and my status as a warrior."
"Forgive me again, but I did not think dwarves would take in other races?"
I smile. "They don't usually, but my mother found me as a babe and since she couldn't have children of her own, she and my father decided to take me in and raise me as their own."
She smiles back. "That was nice of them. It must have been hard though growing up."
"For the first few years, everything was fine. I was accepted by everyone in the mountain and made friends with the other dwarflings. My childhood was a good one. . .until Smaug came and drove us out. When the rift between the dwarves and the Mirkwood elves started. . .that's when things got rough. I won't go into much, we'll be here all night if I did, but let's just say that I soon became pretty much alone after that."
She has a sad expression on her face at this. "But, surely your family stood by you?"
I nod. "Well, the family I had left did. My mother died during the attack and my great-grandfather treated me as well as the other dwarves did. But, I still had my father, grandfather, aunt and uncles there for me."
She smiles. "Well, at least you had some people there for you."
I give a small smile and nod as I finish getting ready. Once we finish, we leave and meet up with the others. Looking around, I stop as I see Legolas, looking very handsome in his light blue, almost grey tunic and under shirt.
For many years, even when I first saw him I will admit, I have had a slight fancy for the elven prince, but as time went on, I soon learnt to push that aside in my grief. And then we saw each other again months ago and all those feelings slammed back into me, like Dwalin during training. I have always wondered whether he felt the same way for me, dreamed that maybe it could be possible.
An hour or so later, everyone gathers in the Great Hall, I'm sitting with Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. Théoden and Éomer are on the raise platform by the Throne. Éowyn brings Théoden a cup. Théoden raises it and prepares to addresses a quiet crowd. Aragorn leads everyone in standing.
Théoden begins to speak. "Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country. Hail the victorious dead!"
"Hail!" Everyone cries out before drinking.
The party in the great hall soon gets underway and I find myself with Legolas, Gimli, Éomer and a group of men. I instantly know what is going on and have to grin to myself as I watch Éomer passing mugs to Legolas and Gimli.
"No pauses, no spills."
"And no regurgitation." Gimli grumbles out.
"So it's a drinking game?" Legolas asks as he looks to me, I swear I see a hint of nervousness in his eyes, but I don't say anything about it.
I nod. "Aye, Last one standing wins."
Gimli laughs before chugging his ale. I watch as Legolas takes a tentative sip from his mug. I catch Éomer's eye and we almost burst out laughing. This is going to be interesting. Elves are much harder to get drunk. . .not counting two of Thranduil's elves that were passed out drunk in the wine cellars almost seventy eight years ago. . .but Gimli is a champion at this.
"What'll we drink to?"
"Let's drink to victory!"
"To victory!"
I hear some of the men behind us shouting, pulling me from my thoughts as I continue watching the game.
Many drinks later, I lost count after ten, Legolas and Gimli are still working their way through mug after mug of ale. Gimli grabs for another and then promptly farts, causing Éomer to look at him in disgust. I have no reaction, already used to it from being raised by dwarves. Gimli laughs.
"It's the dwarves that go swimming with little hairy women."
He then belches before dropping his head into the mug, I just shake my head and roll my eyes at this.
"I feel something." I hear Legolas say from next to me. Looking to him, I see him examining his fingers, looking worried. "A slight tingling in my fingers. I think it's affecting me."
I bite my lip to keep from laughing as Gimli points to him after draining his mug;
"What did I say? He cant hold his liquor!"
He suddenly goes quiet, his eyes crossing as a little bit of ale dribbles from his mouth. He then falls back and topples off his chair, crashing into the ground and he passes out. What makes me burst into laughter, is the smug look on Legolas' face as he turns to Éomer.
"Game over."
Hearing singing from nearby, I look over and smile as I see Merry and Pippin dancing on a tabletop to the amusement of onlookers.
"Oh, you can search far and wide
You can drink the whole town dry
But you'll never find a beer so brown
As the one we drink in our home town.
You can keep your fancy ales.
You can drink em by the flagon
But the only brew for the brave and true. . ."
As Pippin pauses in the soung, I see him looking strangely at Gandalf before Merry shouts out to him and they continue the song.
". . .But the only brew for the brave and true
Comes from the Green Dragon!"
I smile and applaud with the others as the hobbits chugs their drinks.
"It's during dark times like these, when we need a little happiness and celebration to keep our spirits alive." Legolas says, to which I have to smile at.
"You are right. These people have already suffered enough."
Hearing my name being called, I look up and see Merry and Pippin making their way towards me. I get very nervous at the grins on their faces.
"Sing for us, Faron!" Merry exclaims.
The men around us, cheer as they hear, trying to encourage me to sign for them.
I smile and shake my head. "Oh no, I don't think so. I don't sing."
"That's not what Bilbo says." Pippin says in a sing song voice.
I inwardly curse the hobbit, knowing exactly when he would have heard me sing. . .twice! I just sigh as I allow the hobbits to pull me along, among the cheering men, and pull me up to the raised platform where everyone can see me. I begin to get nervous, I have never sang in front of a lot of people before, yes the last time I sang, I knew Dain's men was behind me, but I couldn't see them.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath, thinking of something to sing. A song comes to mind, not exactly something for the atmosphere, but maybe it can be a lament for the people who gave their lives the past few days. Opening my eyes, I begin to sing;
"Lay down,
Your sweet and weary head.
The night is falling,
You have come to journey's end.
Sleep now,
Dream of the ones who came before.
They are calling,
From across the distant shore.
Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see,
All of your fears will pass away.
Safe in my arms,
You're only sleeping.
What can you see,
On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea,
A pale moon rises.
The ships have come to carry you home.
All will turn,
To silver glass.
A light on the water,
All Souls pass.
Hope fades,
Into the world of night.
Through shadows falling,
Out of memory and time.
Don't say,
We have come now to the end.
White shores are calling,
You and I will meet again,
And you'll be here in my arms.
Just sleeping.
What can you see,
On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea,
A pale moon rises.
The ships have come to carry you home.
And all will turn,
To silver glass.
A light on the water.
Grey ships pass,
Into the West."
Looking over the crowd, I see some of them, women mainly, dabbing their eyes with their napkins, while the men have solemn looks on their faces. They immediately start cheering and applauding when the song ends. I smile and give a little curtsy as I step down. As I walk through the crowds, many of them stop and thank me for the song, complimenting me on my singing. Not used to so many compliments, I manage to smile at them all, excusing myself before leaving to my room.
Legolas grins as he watches the hobbits pulling Faron along. He has to admit, he's curious to hearing her sing again, after hearing her sing in the dungeons many years ago. It's a voice that has always haunted his thoughts and dreams since he first met her.
He watches as he turns to face everyone and can see the nervousness on her face. He wishes he could be up there to support her, but soon enough, she begins to sing. He is in awe. When he heard her sing before, she had a wonderful voice and sang the upbeat song of her home with so much passion, the same passion she sang in Moria with Gimli. But this. . .this took his breath away. He could see the emotions running across her face with every word and note she sang.
When her song finished, everyone cheered and applauded her. She smiled and curtsied before walking into the crowd, where he soon lost sight of her.
"She is an extraordinary woman." Éomer says from next to him. "I have never known of a woman to fight like she can."
Legolas smiles at this. "She is definitely strong. I'm sure she gets that from her father."
Éomer watches him curiously. "You have known her long?"
Legolas thinks about the answer to this for a moment. "I have known her for almost seventy eight years. But, truthfully. . .I know nothing about her. We first met seventy seven years ago and then lost contact until a few months before."
"But, you have not been able to stop thinking about her." Éomer points out.
Legolas nods at this. It is true, he hasn't been able to stop thinking of her and wondering how she is or what she's doing.
"Do you love her?"
This question surprises him for a moment. Love? True, he has never been in love, so he wouldn't know how it felt. However, he thinks back to all the times he has seen her, from their first meeting to now, and every time there has always been a jolt inside his chest, right where his heart is. He had no idea what it was. Up until their first meeting, he had always felt some feelings towards Tauriel, but then she came along and everything changed. He realised whatever he felt for Tauriel was just a fascination of her. . .but Faron. . .there was always something stronger, something he had always wanted to focus on and see if anything could come from it, but then they lost contact.
When he saw her again in Rivendell, his heart pounded so much he actually staggered back a few steps and to her smile again. . .it was the greatest feeling he ever felt. The flutter in his stomach and his heart. . .he always wanted to feel that when he saw her. Then when he had to watch as she was flung into the air during the battle. . .his heart dropped into his stomach and panic filled his entire being as he feared the worse. When she finally moved, he vowed from that day that he would always be there to protect her. . .to love her. Even if she didn't feel the same about him. . .he would always love her.
Éomer just nods with a smile, not having to hear the confirmation to know the answer. He puts a hand on the elf's shoulder. "You should tell her. Tell her before it is too late. And don't let her go. No matter what, don't let her go. You have already wasted enough time, don't waste any more."
Éomer pats his shoulder before he walks away. Tell her. . .easier said than done. How was he going to tell her? What could he say? He had better think of something soon.
Ooooooh. . .things are starting to heat up with Faron and Legolas, want to find out more? Then stay tuned for the next chapter.
As for the songs, obviously we know the first one, The Green Dragon. As for the second, it is called Into the West, the version I imagine her singing is once again by Peter Hollens, who I think is an amazing singer and puts so much emotion and passion into a song. I definitely suggest you check out his work on youtube, absolutely amazing!
Please rate and review! xx