AUTHOR'S NOTE Thanks for the reviews! All of these other chapters after the first one will be much more interesting. The first one's just to recap the first two stories in case you haven't read them. (Although if you'd like to read the first two, you're more than welcome, lol.)
DISCLAIMER Rae, Calíme, Emeriel, Colindor, Gauna, Marek, and Daelin. All mine. The others, not so much. Also, this chapter takes some dialogue from Return of the King, which was written by Peter Jackson, Phillipa Boyens, and Fran Walsh. Lovely talented people.
…
March 4, Year 3019 of the Third Age
Théoden King rode for Isengard. With him traveled Eomer and Gandalf, as well as Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli. The Rohirrim warriors were left to tend to the dead and rejoice with the living. The danger was past and soon the refugees began to leave the fortress and start their long journeys home.
Following Éowyn's lead, the people of Edoras gathered together and departed. It was as long a trek as it had been the first time, but the mood of the Rohirrim was decidedly different. There was grief and sorrow from those mourning a fallen loved one, but the hopeless despair I had sensed on the journey to Helm's Deep was gone.
I was able to marvel at the beauty of the Riddermark. Somewhere deep within my heart, I felt as if my past had never been destroyed. That morning, I looked upon Rohan and felt it was my home.
The journey was still long and it took several days to return to Edoras. The sight of the Golden Hall upon the hill was magnificent. I could sense the joy of the refugees to be home.
We had not long to wait before the King's host returned, bringing news of the destruction of Isengard. When I went out to greet Legolas, he grinned secretively, saying that he had someone who I should meet.
"Hullo Rae!"
"Pippin!" I cried, kneeling down to hug the hobbit. "I'm very pleased to see you well."
"And you're well too," he remarked. "Is it true that you're having Legolas's baby?" he asked frankly.
I felt warmth rush to my face and glanced accusingly at my lover. "I said nothing but a passing remark to Aragorn of worry for you. Hobbits have very keen ears," he said with innocent eyes.
Pippin was waiting for an answer. "Yes," I finally said. "It is true."
"Well congratulations then!" Another hobbit appeared.
Legolas put a hand on the second hobbit's shoulder. "This is Meriadoc Brandybuck."
"Everyone calls me Merry."
Legolas continued. "Merry, this is Lady Raélowen Mirimë of Lórien."
Merry quickly bowed. "My Lady."
I laughed. "I am really not as important as my name sounds."
Pippin meanwhile was regarding me curiously. "Rae, what happened?" he asked. "You're an Elf."
"Well of course she's an Elf, Pip!" Merry replied. "What else would she be?"
Pippin looked at me curiously. "Never mind."
It wasn't long before the two hobbits had left in search of dinner. "Pippin will not long keep a secret from his cousin," Legolas remarked.
I shrugged. "It makes no difference."
"I must see the King," Legolas said. He took my hands. "Come. First I must make sure that you are comfortable in his Hall."
"Legolas, no, I'm fine – "
He silenced me with a fiery kiss, full of pent-up heat and lust. "We must make sure your quarters are comfortable," he repeated.
"Well when you put it that way…"
…
We arrived late in the Golden Hall, just in time for the night of festivity. I stood in the back with the women of Edoras as Théoden addressed his people. "Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country." My heart ached as I thought of Haldir and the other Lórien Elves now waiting in the Halls of Mandos. "Hail the victorious dead!"
As one, we all raised mugs to the dead. "Hail!"
While the evening began somberly, soon we were rejoicing. Rohan was safe and there was plenty of ale to remind everyone.
The high point of the evening for me was the spectacle put on my dear hobbit friends. Merry had joined Legolas and I and I had grown fond of him as well. As the night grew late and the ale had completely taken over their senses, Merry and Pippin climbed up on a table.
I don't recall what exactly they sang, but it pertained to ale and a place called the Green Dragon. I laughed and clapped in time with the song. There was certainly nothing like a hobbit for livening a celebration.
In a way, I envied the hobbits. Merry and Pippin had endured horrors of captivity and yet here they stood singing of a beloved tavern. I sought Pippin out after their show, just to give him a hug and express my gratitude.
…
Revelries in the Golden Hall lasted well into the night. As the Rohirrim and their guests drifted off to sleep, I noticed that Legolas was not among them.
I found him standing alone outside of Meduseld, his hood drawn. Quietly, I walked up beside him. "The night is calm," I said.
"It only appears calm," he replied and took my hand. "Something evil is stirring on the horizon."
Finally, I could see an orange glow growing past the far eastern mountains. "Is it him?" I asked softly.
"He is restless," was all Legolas said.
We were silent for a minute. "What is going to happen?" I finally asked.
Legolas looked at me. "I do not know, Meldanya. The Enemy is strong now." He kissed me softly. "Do not worry. Go to sleep."
I knew that that was his way of asking to be left alone. I nodded and returned to the room reserved as the women's bedroom in Meduseld.
But I could not sleep. The air was still and restless at the same time. Something was indeed wrong in the world.
I lay awake, staring into the darkness. The shadows of the room weighed heavily on my mind. The other women slept peacefully around me and I envied them.
All was quiet. The silence grew to stifling. My heart beat faster and faster. Something was coming. I glanced around the room wildly. We could not escape!
A cry suddenly broke the horrible quiet. I sat up in fear, afraid to move. More cries and commotion came from somewhere in the Golden Hall. I could feel that something horrible was happening. As the noise grew, other women began to stir. They looked around, half-asleep, before falling asleep again. They couldn't feel it. They couldn't feel the darkness all around us!
Just as suddenly as the disturbance started, it stopped. The other women slept peacefully on, but I lay terrified, unable to move. My eyes darted around the room. Moments went by; I don't know how long.
Finally, I couldn't take it any more. Silently, I left the room and wandered through the halls. I saw several cloaked figures clustered around an open doorway. As I got closer, I saw that Gandalf the White and a smaller figure were inside.
One of the figures turned around. "Lady Raélowen?" Aragorn asked.
Another turned. "Rae?" Legolas looked worried. "What are you doing here?"
"I couldn't sleep," I replied lamely. "What happened?"
Aragorn and Legolas shared a look. "Dark events," Legolas replied. "Images of fire."
I sighed. So much for a straight answer.
Then Aragorn said softly, "Master Peregrin lays ill." He gestured to the room.
"Pippin?" I asked fearfully.
Aragorn looked taken aback, but Legolas added, "She and Pippin met briefly while we stayed in Lothlorien."
With a nod, Aragorn simply replied, "Oh."
"What has he?" I asked. "What symptoms ail him?"
At that point, Gandalf emerged from the room and glanced at me. "His malady is in his mind. He is asleep now and no one is to wake him!" he commanded gruffly.
"Can I sit with him?" I asked in a small voice. I knew in my heart that Gandalf was kind, but he frightened me.
It was a moment before he answered. "Do not wake him," he repeated, then left. Aragorn followed and after a kiss, Legolas did too.
Pippin lay sleeping fitfully on a mattress on the floor. Pulling up a chair beside him, I kept watch all through the night. If he was cold, I covered him with a blanket. If he was hot, I lessened the coverings upon him. I brushed the sweaty hair from his forehead.
He awoke only once, just before dawn. "Rae?" he asked as he opened his eyes a little.
I nodded and smiled. "Este si, mellon nîn. Na sinome o tye."
I'm sure that he didn't understand but the soothing Elvish words calmed him enough to lull him back to sleep. Until the sun rose, I kept my vigil. With the first light of day, Gandalf returned, followed by Merry.
"Did he sleep through the night?" Gandalf asked.
"Yes Mithrandir," I replied. "He awoke only once, just a while ago."
Gandalf gave me a quick nod, then knelt at Pippin's side. Gently, he said, "Time to wake up, Peregrin my lad."
Mumbling, Pippin groggily opened his eyes. Gandalf whisked him away, with Merry following closely behind. Later that day, Gandalf left Edoras on Shadowfax, riding for Minas Tirith in Gondor. He took Pippin with him and I did not see them again.
…
Este si – Rest now (Quenya)
mellon nîn – my friend (Sindarin)
Na sinome o tye – I am here with you (Quenya)
