Blue sparks in woodland realm

Chapter 5: The ride to Rohan and beyond

A/N: I own nothing except my mistakes.

The ebbing of the water below them got her rocking out of her slumber, one that she had fallen into without her will or her power from doing so. As an Elf full rest was not often needed, except for severe blood loss, and she feared that might have been what had happened to her.

Upon awakening she found herself laying with her head down on a set of robes within the boat, her hair feeling rather damp as it sprawled onto her chest, her neck rather stiff from being in such an uncomfortable position.

Groaning, Erynèth tried to push herself up with her arms and legs, but found herself wincing at the movement. "Steady," Legolas said to her, pulling on her good arm to help move her up gently, until she could sit herself on the wooden seat.

"You have washed me," Erynèth observed, her throat rather dry, from having laid in the sun, for who knows how long. Her arm and ankle had been cleaned, as well as wrapped with leaves from the Lembas bread they carried, attached with a thin slice of rope so it would hold together. It wasn't much, but it seemed to help a lot.

Legolas offered her his water jug, but she shook her head at him. "I have my own," Erynèth dismissed, but he kept offering it. "You have lost it during battle, take some of mine, I do not need it."

Hesitant, but knowing he would not back down before she did, she reluctantly accepted his offer as she brought it to her lips, moaning slightly in the overwhelming feeling of the water running down her throat.

"What is it you have healed me with?" Erynèth asked after handing him the jug back, observing the leaves and peeking underneath it. The wounds had stopped bleeding, as well as hurting for the most part.

"Yarrow," Legolas replied, referring to a flower, known for its healing power. "I did not manage to find more, so I had only been able to apply a little."

Erynèth shook her head. "It is enough, ni lassui."

With that Legolas grew quiet, and she noticed that his previous worry, from before she had passed out, had replaced itself with a distant, cold Elf, who was trying to look anywhere but at her, as he kept his brows furrowed and his lips tightly shut.

Looking about her, she noticed Gimli and Aragorn sitting in another boat, rowing behind them, on a clear mission as what to do.

"Mi van me?" ("Where are we?") Erynèth asked, not able to recognize her surroundings at the moment. At this a low growl emerged from Legolas's lips, but he tried to remain calm. "I proposed to head back, to Lothlorièn, to get you help, but Aragorn insisted on finding the Hobbits."

Sitting up straighter, she nodded eagerly. "That's good," Erynèth agreed, wanting nothing more than to help Merry and Pippin, having felt rather awful for not having been able to do so before, when she had been trapped.

Legolas snapped his head at her. "Am man theled, govano ven?" ("Why did you join us?") he suddenly asked, his face troubled, as if he could not think of any reason that seemed reasonable.

Erynèth broke his stare, unable to hold it, and instead looked down at her hands, fumbling as she did. "I told you, I wished to help," Erynèth repeated, but he wouldn't take it for an answer.

"I do not believe that is your true reason, Erynèth," Legolas said pointedly. At the sound of her name she felt a shiver run down her arms, and she rubbed it in the hopes to wipe it away. Curse him for the power he still had over her.

"You would not believe my true reason," she said, daring to look at him. He just stared back at her, raising his eyebrows, as if challenging her, but she would not budge.

"You do not give me the chance," he accused, his words sniding. "My heart is still troubled from the last time you did not do so." Legolas spoke honestly, this time the bitterness softening as he looked even more pained.

Biting her lip, she wanted to reach out and cup his face, to lean in, and whisper to him all that she had wished to say, but she could not. "Do not ask of me this, Legolas, for I fear I will break your heart."

Shaking his head, he cleared his face of all emotions as he grabbed for the pedals as they were headed downwards. "I fear you already have."

With those words they dove downwards, Legolas tensing his muscles as he shoved the pedal into the water, in the hopes to brake their fall, but there was only so much they could do. With an incredible speed they flew down, and down, until at last they managed to stabilize their boat at the bottom, as Legolas had jumped up and rode it like a board.

Behind them, the boat of Aragorn and Gimli had not been so lucky, as they came on land, drenched and dripping, with a very grumpy dwarf. "Next time there's a landing, ye'd do well to tell me, so I can hop off on time," Gimli said, squeezing his beard so all water would soar out.

Despite the stinging words said to her by Legolas, he helped her out of the boat, until both her feet were planted strongly on the ground.

"Can you walk?" Aragorn asked, watching as she hobbled as she tried to move, unable to put much weight on her ankle, for her muscle was still too sore. Erynèth smirked at the Man, patting him on the back. "I will crawl if I must, now let us not waste time, and set out to seek the young ones."

Aragorn smiled in surprise, chuckling as he shook his head and straightened out her bow on her back. "You never seize to amaze me, Erynèth," he said, then walked ahead of everyone, deciding to put it into a sprint.

Gimli, determined, ran straight after the ranger, but Legolas lingered behind with Erynèth. "You are not capable to even walk, let alone run," he observed, watching her hindered steps as she stubbornly pushed herself onwards, ignoring the pain.

"Let me carry you," Legolas said, making Erynèth rather confused. One moment he was all bitter and distant, and the next he still seemed to care. Had she truly left such a wound?

"I will not let you do that, for I would only slow you down," she said whilst shaking her head. "Noro," ("Run,") Erynèth said, "if I will not be able to keep up, you will not wait for me, you understand?"

Legolas began to shake his head in protest, but Erynèth tugged him along as they were beginning to move faster, wanting to keep up with Aragorn and Gimli. "I will be able to defend myself, if things go wrong," she said, patting at her sword, "but I will not be the reason for the death of those two young Hobbits."

Looking at her conflicted, he fell into a hesitant step, but knew better than to argue. If Erynèth had her mind stuck on something, she would not back down. He had learned so the hard way. "I will not lose you out of my sight," he promised her, but did speed up, so he easily could bypass Aragorn, who had previously been leading ahead, leaving her to tag behind, a couple of feet behind the dwarf. If there was anything she was bitter about, it was being slower than the pace of Gimli. Now that was embarrassing.

Days went by like this, where they remained on foot, not slowing down, or take a gasp for air, but Erynèth was all right with it. The more she continued to run, the less she could feel the pain, even though she felt her ankle worsening. An Elf did not injure easily, except by the slice of a sword, but when injured, it did not heal well without rest and healing.

Still, she was far behind the others, having passed mountains and valleys, and yet, there hadn't been a twist or turn where Legolas hadn't looked over his shoulder to see if she was still there, encouraging her along the way.

On they journeyed, until they headed for a stop, to seek advice from Legolas to where they were taking the Hobbits. "They're taking the Hobbits to Isengard!" Legolas exclaimed, dooming them all with worry. They must get to them, before they would get to Isengard, or else all hope would be lost for them.

Wincing, Erynèth kept moving on her feet, not wanting to slow down for long, for she could feel her ankle hanging onto her leg as if a heavy rock had attached itself there.

And so on they went, until the sun began to set, and they watched a set of horses march by in the far off distance. The blue sky began to turn red, and Legolas spoke of the bloodshed night.

Hearing the galloping of the horses, Aragorn urged them all to hide behind a rock, but Erynèth, still far behind, did not manage to escape on time, and was left encircled alone, until the others joined her side, Legolas resting an arm around her body, helping her stay on her feet, as her ankle began to truly give in, not fond of the abrupt stop.

Letting Aragorn have his word with the riders, he inquired about the Hobbits, but heard solemn news of a terrible camp fall.

The riders had offered two horses, and had wished them luck.

Erynèth had been offered the white horse by Legolas, but she shook her head. "I will not burden your heart further," Erynèth spoke softly, and let Aragorn lift her onto the brown horse, along with himself in front, leaving Legolas and Gimli to join each other on the white horse.

On they marched to the smoked camp, and had almost seen no sign of the two young ones, had it not been for the indents of their escape towards the woods. But what they had found in those woods were not the young Hobbits they had been looking for, but instead of Gandalf, the white, one they had not expected to ever see again.

Having a moment of greeting, there was not much time to spare as they had to ride out to Edoras, though not before Gandalf did some minor work on her ankle, never having been the greatest healer, but enough to at least get her well enough on her feet to be able to move without worse for wear.

By the time they had arrived at Edoras, she had been able to climb of the horse herself, and was able to strut alongside the others into the castle, where they were greeted rather unpleasantly by Gríma Wormtongue.

"Now who would this fair lady be?" Wormtongue asked, licking his lips as he moved in closer to the group upon their arrival, his back rather bowed down as he encircled her, a nasty look onto his face as his fingers trailed around her waist.

"That would be Erynèth, daughter of Galadriel," Legolas said, stepping in front of the greasy man, towering high above him.

At this Wormtongue squirmed backwards, moving back towards the throne, where he whispered manipulative words to the king's mind.

As the Men on the side were approaching near them, Erynèth began to feel rather bare without a weapon on her back or on her hip, but she knew she'd be able to stand her guard regardless, no matter how injured, no matter how unpleasant.

Wormtongue, having ordered to take Gandalf's staff, had now sent his Men towards them, but as Gandalf went on to approach the king, she, as well as Gimli and Legolas, went to physically defend the wizard, so he could go and do what needed to be done, whilst hitting and punching away at her attackers.

Admittedly, she wasn't as strong as she'd like to be, as she would have been under normal circumstances, but lucky for her she did have three other companions who were, and they were eager to help out a hand when necessary, to finish the blow.

With the return of Théoden, without the possession from Saruman, things began to turn around, and they were welcomed more warmly than before, and were offered food and drink, whilst discussing their next move.

They were to lead the city to safety at Helm's Deep, where they'd get shelter and protection. And so on they went, though not before Théoden had gifted Aragorn a set of healing herbs, knowing he could wield them better than anyone else, besides perhaps Elrond, and using them wisely, he applied all of it on her ankle.

Sighing in relief, she felt the immediate affects already, though knew she'd need some rest, albeit a few hours, would it heal completely. Hence why they had let her ride the horse, with Gimli on the back, whilst Legolas tugged it along.

For a long stride they were all right, until alarm of wargs had reached their ears, and all warriors were settled on horses, reaching onward to battle. Gimli, adamant that they fight as well, made Erynèth wield the reigns, though she did not need to be asked.

Legolas, having stood in the far distance, waited for the horses to approach, before tugging himself along with Aragorn, in an unlike fashion, though nothing too surprising for Erynèth, who had seen him do much crazier.

Onto battle they had went, where all became messy, and Erynèth had lost sight of her friends, and remained seeing only wargs, and enemies, until peace flooded the lands, yet with the absence of their dear friend Aragorn, who had toppled over the edge.

With a sorrowful heart, for she had known Aragorn for a long while, she felt burdened when they had made it to Helm's Deep, wondering how she could tell Arwen, that the love of her life, was forever gone.