Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings is property of Tolkien and there are many references throughout to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I only own what you do not recognize. The character Chinky is not meant to cause offence and is named after a real horse whose name has been shortened from a Fiat Cinquecento (Chinky – Chento).
Chapter 29: Legolas' Apprentice
Aragorn stared in amazement as Haldir opened his eyes groggily. "Haldir, Haldir." He said gently.
Haldir frowned at him slightly before recognition dawned on his face. "I am Haldir; I am the blonde haired elf."
Legolas looked at the other elf with confusion. He bent down and slowly picked up the limp form of Amy and held her tightly to his chest, rocking her slowly.
Shaking his head slightly as if to clear it, Haldir sat up. Almost instantly he fell back onto his elbows. "What happened?"
"Calm Haldir, do not use your strength otherwise Amy's work will be in vain." Aragorn said lightly.
"No, no don't worry." Haldir said still looking very confused, "I am feeling stronger already, I can almost feel life going back into me, and I can feel my strength returning like a storm quenching a dry river."
Aragorn smiled as he looked upon his old friend, he knew what the elf meant, he could see the colour returning to his skin, his hair was returning to its elvish glossiness and his sea blue eyes were shining again.
Haldir tried sitting up again and found that this time he could sit up and support his own body weight upon his elbows. Turning to look Legolas in the eye he asked again. "What happened?"
Legolas still sat cradling Amy in his lap. He smiled and raised his head as he heard Haldir talk.
"I thought I was dead. I thought I didn't know what I thought." Haldir said raising a hand to rub his eyes.
Legolas looked down at Amy and kissed her cheek. "She forgave you. That's all she did, she forgave you."
Haldir's mouth opened then shut again quickly. Her forgiveness had saved him? Nothing else? "What else did she do?"
"After realizing you were alive she healed the wound that would have killed you, after that she was so exhausted from the battle she collapsed. She will be awake in a few minutes." Aragorn said.
Almost as soon as the words left his mouth the young elf in Legolas' arms stirred and groggily raised her head. "Is he al...?"
She never got to finish her sentence as her eyes met with Haldir's. Scrambling out of Legolas' lap she crawled towards the elf – in a very undignified way – and slung her arms around his neck. Her body was racked with tears of joy. Laughing lightly Haldir wrapped an arm round her back and hugged his friend lightly.
"I thought I'd lost you! I felt so guilty leaving Lorien without apologizing. Then I should have apologized when I saw you and your elves come to Théoden's aid, but I was too stubborn to do anything. I nearly lost you!" Amy said tearfully as she still clung to the older elf's neck.
"Amy I should never had argued with you in the first place, it wasn't my place to do so. But now I travel with you and your companions as I fear that not many of my guard still live." Haldir finished sadly.
"Come this is no place for us to linger. We must head towards Isengard if we are to vanquish Saruman." Aragorn said standing up skirting around telling him how few of his guard remain.
"Yes we must leave; there are horses to ready and belongings to pack. Come Amy." Legolas said, wanting to get Amy out of Haldir's arms as soon as possible. Once Amy stood up he looked at the elf still sitting on the floor. Haldir sensed Legolas' purpose and shook his head slightly. Feeling guilty Legolas held out his hand, "come Haldir, I do not think all your strength has been regained yet."
Haldir sensed the younger elf's change in mood and smiled before allowing himself to be pulled to his feet and supported.
BREAK
Amy reluctantly walked to the stables. It was the day after the battle and she had been glad of a good nights sleep. She was also shocked at the lack of arguments, she was sure the King would have something to say about going to Isengard so soon. But no, an argument didn't happen there. Also no arguments sprung up between Legolas and Haldir, in fact on several occasions she had seen them embrace like brothers. Weird! Still there was always today. Of course it had been less than a day since Haldir had awoken, but already his strength had returned. Aragorn and Legolas had seen him out of his bloody and travel worn clothes, into some new ones. Come to think of it they were all clad in clean clothes. Plus all their weapons had been cleaned and repaired. Odd! 'Probably Gandalf' she thought. 'He probably doesn't want to show up to fend off Saruman with a load of dirtballs!'
Sighing Amy realized she had come to the stable doors. 'No use' she thought 'I've got to face her at some point!' So gritting her teeth she opened the large stable door, trying not to make it creak. Releasing a breath she picked up a brush from the hay-strewn floor she walked silently over to Chinky's stall. Once there she opened the door and walked in silently closing the door behind her. Slowly she walked to the side of the mare – who was thankfully sleeping – and raised the brush to her back and slowly started grooming the mare.
After Amy had done no more than a few strokes the huge mare stirred and woke up. Turning her head towards her master she extended her long neck. Without looking Amy reached into her pocket and pulled out a carrot and offered it to the mare. Chinky took it willingly and instantly started crunching. Raising her hand to the mare's side she started grooming her again.
'Look Amy, I am sorry for what I said. I shouldn't have spoken out of turn and I know you were only trying to advise me.' Chinky said after she crunched the carrot.
Amy smiled at the horse before laying her head against the mare's great flank. 'I am sorry too my friend, it is not my place to tell you who to love. Snowmane will be a great partner for you.'
Chinky whickered gently before stamping a hoof and taking a mouthful of water out of her water bucket.
"Amy," someone called.
"Yes, I'm in Chinky's stall," she replied recognizing the voice as Legolas'.
"Once you are finished with Chinky can you help me ready the other horses? Théoden wants us gone within the hour, and there are over fifty horses to saddle!" Legolas said sticking his head around the door.
"Sure I'm finished here." Amy said pulling the bridal over the mare's head.
"Thanks!" Legolas said kissing her as he opened the door.
"How many elves are accompanying us?" She asked as she entered a bright chestnuts stall.
"Thirty-six elves, fifteen humans and one dwarf." Legolas said casually as he swung a saddle up onto a small bay's back.
"Fine. Is Aragorn riding Brego or Hasufel?" Amy asked.
"Why?" Asked Legolas curiously.
"Because otherwise I won't know what horse to saddle will I?" Amy said taking a bridal from Legolas.
"Oh, he's ridding Brego, as Damer is riding Hasufel."
The bridal Amy was holding clattered to the floor.
Legolas looked up from the horse he was brushing to see what had made Amy drop the bridal. Not seeing anything he went back to work.
"Damer? This Damer doesn't happen to be an elf does he?" Amy asked picking the bridal up.
Legolas dropped the hoof he was cleaning and leant on the stall door to look at Amy. Annoyingly she had an unreadable expression on her young face.
"Yes, Why?"
"He doesn't happen to look really young does he? And have great skill with a blade?"
"Yes he does why?" Legolas said thinking back to the elf fighting at his back.
"That little...!"
"Yes he has great skill what is wrong with that? And if it wasn't for him fighting at my back we would probably be dead." Legolas said getting even more confused.
"He's only two-hundred and sixty! He's just lied about his age to get into the army! I don't know what the age is to get into the army of Mirkwood but no one less than three-hundred and fifty is allowed into it in Lothlorien!"
Legolas gulped, two hundred and sixty, he was only an elfling! "He told me he was three-hundred."
"Don't worry the damage is done. Oh speak of the devil! Damer how nice it is to see you!" Amy said sarcastically as she turned to the young elf who had just walked in through the stable entrance.
BREAK
Damer found himself trying to slink into the shadows all day, in a vain attempt to avoid Amy. He was very glad that she had made it through the battle, but he would be better off being an orc on the receiving end of one of her fireballs if she figured he was here.
Of course he was very skilled for his age, not many under the age of three hundred were raised to the sword, and in most cases he wouldn't have been trusted with a sword without hurting himself with it. If his mother hadn't been lost to grief he would never had come to Lothlorien. He missed the Grey Havens. That was where he was raised until his father died in an orc attack and his mother had then wasted away from grief. Shortly after he made the long trek to Lothlorien to meet with some of his kin, but on arrival he found that they had left for the Grey Havens shortly after he had left there himself! Their paths had not crossed in his fortune. So with nowhere to go, he lied about his age and enrolled in the guard.
Amy was the only person in Lothlorien to know of his real age. She did not approve of him training with a sword, and if she had known that he secretly joined the guard it would have been the end of him.
Sliding round another wall he started to make his way towards the stables. He knew he would have to face her at some point; he had no choice in the matter. All the same he was terrified she would tell Haldir of his real age, and he would be kicked off the guard. Shaking his head he looked around another corner. The stable block was in sight and there was no one in the courtyard, making a final check of his surroundings he sprinted lightly to the stables and opened the door. Once inside he shut the door and breathed a sigh of relief. Turning round he was face to face with the elf he had been fighting alongside and Amy.
BREAK
Damer just stood there. His light feet frozen to the spot as he looked upon the child of the dragon.
"Hi," he said lamely.
"So nice of you to join us Damer. I heard a strange thing less than five minutes ago. I heard that you were fighting in the battle. I also heard you were part of the guard." Amy said walking up to him.
Gulping Damer tried to take a step backwards. His head hit the wooden door behind him. He turned his gaze to the blonde elf behind her and looked at him pleadingly.
"Amy, without him, regardless of his age, I would probably be in a far worse state than I am now." Legolas said before retreating to a stall with a grey mare in it.
Amy calmed herself and looked back at Legolas, "If what he says is true Damer, then I also owe you my life. You may be too young to be in the guard, but your secret is safe with me." She said finally reaching him and placing a kiss on his cheek.
Damer sighed as he heard these words, "I promise I won't let you down! I promise! I want to be good with the sword, I want to be good with my weapons, but alas I don't think anyone will have time to train me anymore." He said edging round Amy.
Amy smiled, "I think I can find someone to train you. Legolas might."
"You think you could find someone to train with me?" Damer said excitedly. "Wow a chance to train with Legolas of Mirkwood! I have heard he fights like his weapons are part of him!"
"Don't encourage him; he's already big headed about it enough!" Amy said light heartedly.
Legolas smiled and went back to tacking a grey mare. He would love to train with the young elf, for he had shown great potential. Looking up from tightening the girth he smiled. "Damer I thank you for the complement. I would be happy to train you, you show more potential with that blade than anyone. I would be happy to take you as my apprentice."
Damer choked as he heard Legolas talk. "You mean you're Legolas?" Damer said as Legolas walked out of the stall and next to Amy.
"Yes. And as I said I am willing to take you as my apprentice." Legolas said.
"I...I...I don't know what to say." Damer said completely star struck. "You mean I was fighting alongside the prince of elves?"
"Yes Damer you were." Amy said smiling. She looked fondly up at Legolas who was going a nice shade of pink from the complements.
Damer shook his head as if to unscramble everything. "I'm to be an apprentice?"
"Yes." Legolas said moving away from Amy and walking over to the young elf.
Damer dropped to his knee in the traditional elvish bow. "I honour you sir, what do you ask of me?" He asked.
Legolas laughed lightly. "One, call me Legolas. Two, you can help me and Amy saddle the horses."
Amy smiled as she tossed him a brush. "You have now gone up in the world Damer, you are now of the royal court of Mirkwood!"
Damer stood up and caught the brush deftly. He looked at Legolas and Amy then smiled a smile that could warm the coldest hearts. "I will honour and serve!" And with that he ran off to find bridals and saddles.
"That was an honourable thing you did Legolas." Amy said as she turned to the prince.
"I figured he needed direction in his life. Plus my Father will not be staying on this land for much longer and the Kingdom will be left to me. I need to gather a court. I do not want to be king." Legolas said cupping Amy's cheek in his hand.
"You will follow the path that is set for you." Amy said before leaning up to kiss him.
BREAK
Two hours later the company found themselves on the road to Isengard. Amy found herself at the front of the company in the presence of Éomer, who actually despite what Amy originally thought did have a good sense of humour. This was the first time she had properly spoken to the future king, she had met him of course, when he had arrived with Gandalf, but that was nothing more than hasty greetings, and now she basked in his company. All through their conversations she could not help but think what a great king he was going to make, one to make men proud.
Turning round on Chinky's back she looked back at the company. She smiled as she saw Legolas showing Damer how to shoot from horseback. Legolas had taken to Damer more than she had thought. Gimli, as usual was seated behind Legolas, though he didn't look best pleased as Legolas kept hitting him with his elbow whenever he pretended to draw an arrow.
Aragorn was seated upon Brego talking to Haldir and the King. The rest of the riders were talking animatedly about the battle and each one was boasting about the number they killed. Turning back to Éomer she looked upon the tall man.
"You will make a good king." She said.
Éomer looked at her strangely, "how do you know I shall be king." He asked.
"Just trust me!" Amy said laughing lightly.
The next few hours were filled with light talk and conversations. Though once dinner had passed the company went strangely quiet. Dark clouds rolled in from the south, large clouds that threatened rain.
Gandalf trotted Shadowfax up to Amy. "Something is amiss." He said.
"I know I can feel it. It lies heavy in my heart." Amy said smoothing Chinky's mane.
Silence followed before Amy heard Chinky speak.
'Amy we must make haste something is wrong, we cannot linger here.'
'Calm yourself, we will be fine.' Amy said reassuringly to the horse trying to calm her worries as well.
The clouds that had rolled in earlier now covered the sky in a blanket of darkness.
Suddenly Amy heard the clatter of hooves as one of the scouts came galloping back "orc archers!" He yelled before tumbling to the floor with a shaft in his head.
"Draw weapons and fight!" Amy yelled as the archers the scout spoke off ran into view.
Everyone drew weapons, and as Amy shot arrow after arrow she thought hard. 'They are outnumbered; orcs don't fight if they know they are going to lose. Something is not right.'
'I am sorry Amy,' Chinky said.
'What?' Amy thought
Her thoughts were answered as Chinky screamed and the huge animal fell from beneath her.
