A/N: Hey! This will hopefully be a more lighthearted and fun chapter to tide you over for now! School is back in full swing now so I'll be more or less occupied by that for some time, so please forgive me if I don't update in a while! I do have another story out on my page called The Price We Pay, unrelated to this story and it is Thranduil centered, but I'd love it if you'd check it out and let me know what you think!
Ok, onward with the next chapter!
"Ow!" Kate hissed, gripping her scalp where her hair was being tortuously ripped out.
"Oh, do not be so dramatic." Eowyn tutted, raking the comb through the brambles of Kate's hair. "Had you not been out all night your hair would not be in the state that it is in."
"You're doing that on purpose." Kate growled. "And I wasn't out all night. "
"No?" Ardith, Eowyn's friend chimed in from across the room, deftly fixing her sister's hair. "What would you call riding out in the middle of the night with the Elf lord and not returning til midday?" She asked with a smirk.
"I would call it none of your business." Kate replied, watching her reflection growing crimson in the looking glass. The women laughed, but did not relent their friendly teasing.
"Oh, and to think! Bronna will be so disappointed to find that her mysterious Elf Lord is spoken for." Eostre laughed, slapping away Ardith's hands and adjusting her own hair now.
"I should think Bronna will recover just fine if the last feast is any indication." Eowyn sniffed. "Bring me that hairpin will you, Ardith?"
"All the same, I'd keep a close eye on your men ladies. Especially yours Kate, she made quite the fool of herself over him." Eostre warned, taking her ginger hair out of its braid and starting a new look.
"You mean she was flirting? With Legolas?" Kate asked, watching Eowyn continue her assault on her hair.
"I would not worry. She's half as pretty as you dear, and twice as dumb." Ardith soothed, laying the hairpin down on the table. Kate giggled to herself, imagining an uncomfortable Legolas having to thwart off the advances of another woman.
"That is very unkind of you, Ardith." Eowyn chided, but the thinly veiled smirk across her lips let Kate know that she didn't entirely disagree with the sentiment.
"Oh, Bronna is very unkind!" Eostre said, spinning around in her seat. "Just last week she told Aelfric that my meat pies were what made everyone ill. And she knew I only made them because they are his favorite! The whole way back from Helm's Deep I had a cart full of rotting pies that no one would eat! That old bag!"
"Well as a healer I can confirm it wasn't your meat pies that made everyone sick." Kate pipped in, watching the relief spread across the women's face. She would not mention, however, that she was quite sure Eowyn's stew was the culprit.
"Aye, well could you tell him that then! He's not eaten a single one of my meals since that but I saw him stuffing his gob with one of Bronna's pies just yesterday. "
"Well if Aelfric believes Bronna instead of you it sounds like he's not worthy of your affections. That's just my opinion, but for what it's worth, I'll make sure to mention it."
"You are dear!" Eostre gushed, and then growing quite serious pointed her brush to each of the women. "But watch your men! Bronna and her horde will be in rare form tonight I am sure and should she give any of you ladies' trouble let me know and I'll handle her! Especially you, Kate." Kate nodded in agreement, and took another sip of her mead, which tasted much better than the wine. She made a mental note to tell Nestaron
"You will do nothing of the sort!" Eowyn scolded. "Besides we have no men, none of us are married and are not ours to claim."
"More to the point, whichever man decides to spend his company with the likes of Bronna and the rest of them has already weeded themselves out for us. Why would we want to court a man that wants another woman?" Ardith added, causes Eostre to snort in response
"Exactly," Eowyn agreed. "Let her do as she pleases. it is not our concern."
"Oh? So, Eowyn, you would be completely unbothered then if another woman sidled up to the Lord Aragorn? He is quite the hero, it would not be such a crime for him to want company for his efforts."
Kate spit out in drink, sputtering in disgust as the horrifying mental images filled her mind while Eowyn pursed her lips.
"As I said, we have no claim on any man until our fathers and our king have given their blessing for a marriage."
Kate, recovering herself, lightly squeezed Eowyn's hand comfortingly.
"True, but you could make your feelings known. Don't look so scandalized we all see how you look at him! Do we not, Ardith? Are we to ignore it?" The redhead continued. "Oh, honestly Eowyn, it would not be indecent! Give him a drink, make your affections obvious."
"Not too obvious dear, you are a shieldmaiden, and niece to the King of Rohan after all."
"Well, I said present him with a drink not her virtue, Ardith!"
"Oh God, okay, he is my uncle, you know this right? My uncle!" Kate begged, covering her ears. "If you enjoy my company at all you will put a stop to this at once."
"Oh! We really had forgotten! Our apologies." Eostre offered, having the decency to look contrite.
"Thank you." Eowyn silently mouthed to Kate in the mirrors reflection. Kate nodded, taking another sip of mead, wondering when she would ever get those images out of her head.
It was now painfully obvious that Eowyn had more than a crush on Aragorn, who had also not dealt with that as he claimed he would. But what could he do really? It wasn't as if he was leading her on, but he wasn't really dissuading it either.
A part of Kate wondered if he was entertaining the idea of a marriage between him and Eowyn, still thinking that Arwen had sailed, but she dismissed that idea immediately. He would not marry Eowyn, not while he loved Arwen, he wouldn't dishonor Eowyn that way.
"Tell me then, Lady Kate, what does your uncle think about your courtship with Lord Legolas? They are friends are they not?" Ardith asked, grabbing another section of Kate's damp hair and helping Eowyn comb through it. "It must have made it easier to obtain his blessing."
"Oh, I, umm, well…" Kate grappled for words to try to explain…except that Aragorn had never outright voiced his opinion. "Yep. Yes, yeah they are friends, good friends."
"So then he would encourage a marriage between the two of you? I had thought such a union…frowned upon?"
"Well, it's not …un-frowned upon." Kate said. "But we haven't really talked about it, and there's his father…it's a whole thing. Just a thing. We're trying to keep it fairly private."
"I've heard the elven king in incorrigible." Eostre said sympathetically. "All the same, you've managed to land a Prince, that's no small thing!"
"I guess…I tease him about it so often, at times I forget he really is a prince. Itt doesn't really matter to me either way, if he were a pauper or a prince, but yes I suppose it is nice...in some way."
"It certainly is! Will you live in his palace? Oh, how would you manage living in Mirkwood, ugh. I would die…but I suppose I could make an exception for a prince.
"Oh, well, you know they don't actually like it being called Mirkwood, trust me. The Greenwood is preferred, and I haven't really given it a lot of thought." Kate grumbled out. In fact, I'm making it a point not to think too much about our future, Eostre, thanks.
Kate sent a pleading look to Eowyn, who quickly changed the topic.
"What color are you wearing tonight, Eostre? Will you dress to match Aelfric , or is it Gaderian tonight?" Eowyn deflected.
"Gaderian would be the better choice, he will wear the green tonight and it would flatter you better." Ardith advised.
Kate gave a warm smile as the conversation turned to a less troublesome topic and Kate happily sat amongst the women, enjoying the idle chatter.
She had to admit, when Eowyn asked if Kate had wanted to prepare for the feast with her and her ladies she was less than enthusiastic. She did not make friends easily and the friendship with Eowyn was still new, she didn't want to offend her or her friends by staying something stupid, and she was still a bit wary of being around others after the whole 'Traveler' bombshell.
However, Kate had accepted the offer, begrudgingly, and she was quite happy she did. She enjoyed the female company and the chance to talk about something other than the end of the world or death and destruction. She didn't have to be Kate of the Fellowship, or Kate the Traveler…she could just be Kate. It was a nice change of pace.
"I'm assuming you are dressing to match Legolas? What are you wearing tonight?" Eowyn asked Kate, finally satisfied that all the knots were out of her hair.
"Oh, well he's wearing light blue I think but we're not matching. I was just going to wear that." She shrugged, pointing to the light muslin shift dress she wore on her outings to check on patients. It wasn't couture but it was the nicest thing she had that was not leggings and somewhat clean.
The women stared in shocked silence as they eyeballed the dress.
"Well that…that is quite nice." Ardith added.
"There's blood on it."
"It's clean, Eostre, I just …it's really hard to get blood out of muslin."
"I dare say…" Ardith silently agreed. The women still stared at the dress while Eowyn tried not to laugh at how flustered the woman looked.
"I mean, I could just wear my leggings…they're comfy."
"No, you will not!" Eostre shouted, standing so quickly she nearly knocked over her chair. "No, we cannot allow our new friend to attend her first feast in Edoras looking like a hag. I won't allow it!"
"If you would not object to it, I have a light blue dress that may fit you quite nicely." Ardith added.
"Of course, she does not object! Do you?"
"Um, no I guess not." Kate shrugged.
Ardith and Eowyn exchanged a good-humored glance, biting their cheeks to keep from laughing. What Eostre lacked in tact she made up for in beauty and loyalty.
"Good, it is settled then. I shall grab the dress, and I have recently been gifted a tin of rouge from Gondor that would look lovely on you." Eostre beamed, excitedly hurrying toward the door. "When we are done with you, Lady Kate, Lord Legolas will absolutely be wanting to discuss your future."
"There is still time to run dear." Ardith said once Eostre was gone.
"Yes, we can distract her while we smuggle you and your leggings out of here." Eowyn nodded, finally settling down to brush out her own long locks.
"Truly, we will hardly be offended. You will not be the first woman to leave our company utterly unnerved." Kate laughed, but brushed it off.
"No, it's fine. It would take a lot more than a dress to unnerve me. Besides…I suppose I do need quite a bit of help in that area"
"More than a bit, dear." The auburn-haired woman said sympathetically.
"Do not worry Kate, once Ardith has finished her mead you will find her company far more enjoyable." Eowyn teased, poking her in the ribs. "She'll be dancing with the rest of us in no time."
"I haven't the slightest idea what you mean." The woman haughtily replied, but she quickly took another sip to hide the smile the spread across her face.
"No, no of course not." Eowyn said with a smile, turning back to pile Kate's dark tresses atop her head. "Now then, what to do with your hair?"
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"This is too much. Is this too much?" Kate asked, biting her lips and staring into the polished looking glass.
"Nonsense, you look lovely." Eowyn said, smoothing out the skirt of Kate's dress. "And it would be improper to wear your training clothes. It would dishonor the fallen."
I hardly think they'll care really Kate thought morbidly, but bent closer, inspecting the braids that Eowyn had woven.
"This is pretty." She mused.
"I thought you might like it…I hoped you wouldn't mind but I did take inspiration from one of the elven ladies. The healer." Eowyn explained, flushing a bit as she twisted her own hair back.
"Oh Elaron? Yeah, she does have nice hair…yeah I quite like it actually."
"Lord Legolas will like it too, I imagine."
"Eowyn!" Kate laughed, covering her face to hide how red she knew she was turning. "Is it silly I'm so nervous he won't like it?" She asked, taking another tentative look at herself.
She did look pretty, she thought, twirling a bit as the dress flowed around her. The sleeves stopped just at the wrist, a great comfort to Kate because she wouldn't have known what to do with the draping bell sleeves that seemed to be the fashion around here.
Her skin was clean and the bruising on her face were hardly even noticeable now. The steady diet she'd had since being in Rohan had filled out her cheeks more, she noticed, and the light dusting of rouge did give her a nice glow, she'd have to thank Eostre for that. Eowyn had even shown her how to apply kohl to her lashes to darken them, and how to use a warmed silver spoon she'd hidden away to curl them just a bit. That was Eowyn's own personal beauty secret, and Kate had considered herself very lucky to be have been shown that little trick. Yes, Kate thought satisfactorily, her eyes certainly did benefit from it.
Kate swallowed nervously, needlessly tucking a stray curl away as she realized that this was, in a way, her first date with Legolas. It hardly seemed believable that the both of them had through so much together but had still never managed a real date. Is it still considered a date if it's a chaperoned feast to celebrate winning an impossible battle? What if he thinks it's too much? She wondered, and then rolled her eyes at herself, turning away from the mirror. Oh hell, Kate! You sound like a ninny. Just a fun evening, don't read too much into it. You remember fun, don't you?
"Of course, he will like it! If he doesn't he is a fool. You look beautiful."
"Thanks, and so do you! You're practically glowing. I would fight a bear to have your complexion, I really would. ! D-do you want help with your hair or something?"
Eowyn snorted and continued to twist her hair back, adding a bit of wax to keep the flyaways under control.
"Thank you, but I have seen how you do your own hair, and no. I can manage."
"Thank God." Kate sighed in relief flopping back onto Eowyn's bed. "I really would have just ruined it." Eowyn smilled, tugging a few pieces of hair here and there.
"Oh, I don't know, if this were a bit of mangled flesh I should think you would do quite well."
"Yea well that's me. Kate Mackenzie meander of mangled flesh and destroyer of locks!" Kate shrugged, propping herself back onto her shoulder and watching Eowyn add the last few touches. "Honestly, I would have thought you'd have ladies in waiting or something to do that for you." She asked, genuinely curious.
"Yes, well they've run off to find us a good table. Besides…I wanted to do this myself tonight." Eowyn explained. "But you can apply this kohl…you've a steadier hand than me.
"There now, that looks quite lovely." Kate said, admiring her handy work. She missed mascara but this would do the trick!
"Oh…yes, I do quite like that. Hmm…pass me that spoon would you?" She asked. "Do you think I should try the rouge?"
"Mmmm," Kate grabbed the small box of rouge and inspected the deep pink shade and shook her head. "No, not with you lighter features, I don't think it would suit you. Just pinch your cheeks, you've got such beautiful skin, don't cover it."
"Yes, I suppose your right, Looks lovely on you though, and Ardith perhaps!"
"Yeah it would look great on her. Maybe if we are ever in Gondor we can see if they have any other colors. Eostre said it was a fairly new product, but perhaps they do." Kate agreed, placing the box back on her dressing table. "Anyone in particular you're dressing up for?"
"Myself." Eowyn said simply, and Kate smiled.
"Well I love that answer, even if it is a lie. Just the girls tonight, huh? Very progressive of you though, I dig it."
"It is no lie! I simply excited for tonight." Eowyn remarked, satisfied with her appearance and turning to face Kate. "There is no man of Rohan that has caught my eye, believe me."
Yea, sure, not of Rohan Kate thought, frowning to herself. She was really starting to like Eowyn, but she wondered if she would want to continue on with any friendship if she knew Aragorn did not feel the same?
"Well, I'm sure that will come as a great disappointment to the many men of Rohan." Kate teased. "Would you mind terribly if I just met you there? I'd like to stop by the infirmary and check on a few patients."
"Not at all. Though, mind that you don't sodden your dress, Ardith will not be as forgiving as you or I in that matter. "Kate laughed, but thanked Eowyn again for all her help before excusing herself and making a beeline toward the makeshift hospital.
She simply wanted to check on the rest of the patients, and while she was assured that she was not needed today she couldn't help but feel responsible. This whole organization had been her idea after all, and it didn't seem right to her to just take the night off.
Quietly she walked through the halls, so well-known to her now that she hardly ever needed help navigating the maze anymore. That was a comfort to her, the routine of it all. She need that, in light of recent event, and the familiar scent of antiseptic, herbs and even blood brought a sense of calm to her that had been sorely missed.
She wanted to get back to her daily tasks, to focus on being a better healer for these people, and not on the new problems that being a Traveler brought up. What she really wanted, truth be told, was to go back to blissful ignorance. A part of her, a very sordid part, even resented the others for telling her, but she realized that was silly and unreasonable.
She evidently had to know, to protect herself and others from any further damage she might have caused by her experiments, or accidental rule breaking, or Kedron. Kate sniffed to herself as she checked the heart rate of a sleeping patient who would not be enjoying the festivities tonight. She certainly didn't want to think about him either!
No, tonight she would celebrate, no matter how un-celebratory she felt.
"What are you doing here?" Nestaron asked, walking in the room and watching her assessments with a critically raised brow.
"Vitals."
"Yes, I see that. Why?"
"What do you mean why, am I no longer welcome here? Is this against the rules too?" Kate scoffed, making a note in her records about the patients labored breathing.
Nestaron sighed in resignation, striding forward to assess those she hadn't checked yet.
"Do not be absurd, of course you are welcome here, and there is obviously no rule against such a thing." He chided, the warning creeping back into his voice, daring her to mock the ire of the Valar once more. "It is only that I've been under express orders to deny you work for tonight. A task that has proven , already, to be more taxing than I had originally assumed, it would seem."
"Well you know what they say when you assume." Kate muttered to herself. "Whose orders? And why?"
"You uncle. Lord Aragorn was quite insistent that you have…fun tonight."
"Fun?" Kate mimicked looking from Nestaron, to the ailing patients and then back to Nestaron again. "This is fun. I enjoy being a healer."
"I did endeavor to explain."
"Fun…for the whole night?"
"The whole night." Nestaron responded, struggling to keep his voice flat and unamused. Kate pondered that, frowning as she pre-portioned the prescribed tonic for the current patient she was attending. Not the whole night, surely! There were patients she had to attend to and more than likely much more tonight! A bunch of drunk men and women with swords? There would definitely be some injuries that needed mending. "Elaron and I will tend the patients we have here. We will manage, I assure you. You may leave." Kate snorted and set down the vial, looking back to Nestaron for any hint that he may be joking. She saw none.
Her mouth fell open, flapping wildly as she searched for any argument, but at last she relented, giving a heaving sigh.
"What does one do for fun during a feast?" She asked, trying to hide her irritation.
"Are you so unaccustomed to the notion?" He asked, no longer bothering to conceal his amusement. "Dance. Drink. Make Merry. Drink again. I cannot imagine there is such a difference in festivities between our two races."
"No, no that sounds about right." She said, scrunching up her face in irritation. "I can have fun, you know, I have celebrated before! Not a battle or anything, but in college. I just didn't anticipate an entire evening! I assumed at some point I'd be back here."
"One should not assume anything, you know what they say." He retorted, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Kate's hands went to her hips, eyeing him doubtfully as she cocked her head.
"Do you actually know what they say, or are you mocking me?" She never could tell really.
"You are dismissed for the night Kate, enjoy your evening."
"W-well what if I have questions?"
"What could you ask that cannot wait until tomorrow?" He queried, though one look at her worrisome face answered all that for him. With a sigh he stepped away from his patient, to the front of the room where Kate stood. "You cannot learn all there is to know in one night, surely you know that."
"Yes, I know." She defended, pressing her lips together as she smoothed her dress. "I just…well I'd like to get started. If I have to do this I want to get it over with, and there is a lot you can teach me but you won't be here long so I'd at least like as much instruction as I can get."
Nestaron frowned, a flurry of memories and emotions flitting across his eyes before he finally spoke.
"I cannot instruct you in these ways, Kate. You should not look to me." He said firmly.
"Why not? If not you, then who? There is no other Traveler, or If so I've never met them! How will I even know what to do?"
"I cannot … you will learn, in time. I assure you that you will, but it is not for me to teach you."
"How am I supposed to learn then? I just teach myself and risk breaking some secret rule, again? That's ridiculous!" She argued, her voice rising, only to be quickly chastised by the older Elf. "What does that even mean, it's not for you teach me?"
"It means, Kate, that it is not for you to worry over tonight." Nestaron added, eager to change the subject. "Tonight, is for you, to celebrate, to enjoy."
"Yeah, well I'm gonna be honest Nestaron, I don't really feel much like celebrating."
"No, perhaps not, but celebrate you will, to honor the lives lost. You must enjoy times such as these while there is still time to enjoy them…there are so few." He said, gently. "So go, enjoy them, and leave me in peace."
With a grumble of frustration Kate slumped toward the hall, hating that she was being dismissed but accepting her fate. It was not such a punishment, to have to enjoy the night, was it? She stopped at the door, biting her lip before turning around to face him once more.
"Is this…You don't think it's too much, do you?" She asked, motioning to her hair and dress. She chewed her lip, watching his face soften as he appraised her, knowing he would absolutely tell her the truth, however good or bad it was.
"No…no, you look beautiful." He said, a warm smile resting on his face. And then, just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone and he returned to his work, resuming his usual gruff demeanor.
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"One more for our Lords of War!" Ardith shouted, mug raised high above her head as a chorus of cheers echoed around her.
"Victory!" Eostre and Kate shouted in unison, clinking their mugs just as the men had in a grandiose display, and taking their celebratory drink.
"I think you've had quite enough Ardith!" Eowyn called, her eyes shining with amusement.
"Or is it, my dear Eowyn, that you have not had enough at all?" The woman challenged, raising a glass to whoever echoed her sentiment.
"You're right!" Kate laughed, finishing her own cup and clapping along to the jaunty tune that was playing. "She is a completely different person when she's drunk."
"Drunk?!" Eoste exclaims in mock outrage. "My sister is not drunk! No, not yet! Though I'll tell you," She shouted, suddenly dropping her voice and leaning in "when she starts singing, it is imperative we get her to bed. Once she had reached that point there is no going back and her actions become less forgivable. We are still ladies, after all. Aren't we! Woman of Rohan! There is not fiercer band of women in all the land"
"Hear, hear!" A man cheered, amidst the several women who shouted who shouted their agreement. The women all laughed, shushing the drunken man.
"Oh, pipe down you!" Shouted a woman from a few tables over, sneering at their lively party. "The only thing fearsome about you are your meat pies!"
"Well you look like you could use a few Bronna, if only to stuff your gob with and save us all from your screeching! Leave the singing to the mistrals and the goats, would you, dear?!"
"Eostre !" Eowyn chided, barely concealing her laughter. "Do not egg her on, you are drunk!"
"We are all drunk, and I'm not scared of Bronna!"
"Yeah, she's not scared!" Kate echoed, returning with another ale.
"Oh, do not encourage her." Eowyn laughed, "I really thought you would have behaved."
"Nope. I'm off duty. And drunk…so there's no telling what I might do!" Kate declared boldly, spilling her ale as she waved her mug in the air.
This really was quite fun she had to admit, much different than the feast in Rivendell! Kate wondered if the difference in the two feasts really did lie in the two races or if it was simply because she was more at ease with her own people, but she did not care!
The beginning had started off quite somber, remembering those that had lost their lives and listening to Théoden give a small speech, but after that it went straight to party mode. The men had no problem livening up the scene, nor did the hobbits who quickly set about starting the music and dancing before getting good and proper drunk. After the men were too drunk to remember the women quickly followed, and soon swarms of people crowded into the hall, dancing, drinking, and cheering all in celebration. She was glad she came, she would admit, and even a bit glad that there would be no work tonight, especially because she could imbibe without fear of being called upon. She was not glad that she had seen less of Legolas than she had hoped, save a few flirtatious glances and longing stares but she knew it would not be long. Besides, these women were quite a fun group!
"Ay, well you should be! I've seen you with a sword, and you should be scared of everyone! I will gladly take my chances in a challenge, if you are truly not scared!" Bronna retaliated, flanked by two other women and a few of the more unsavory looking men.
"There will be none of that, now!" Eowyn shouted.
"Ay, none of that, no!" Eostre shouted back. "What would we do if you were injured in a duel? Why, who else could warm the beds of these fine gentlemen!"
"Eostre!" Ardith rebuked, even in her own drunken stupor she knew Eostre had crossed a line
"Oh! Flag on the play!" Kate yelled, laughing despite herself and pulled Eostre back, further away from the source. "Come on, let's go dance. Don't ruin a good night that way!"Eostre nodded, allowing Kate and Eowyn to pull her away.
"You stay out of this, Elf-whore!" Bronna shouted, flinging a roll in her direction.
"What!" Kate laughed in response, unbothered by the woman's slur.
"You heard me! We have all seen you throw yourself at 'im. Can't imagine why he'd want someone like you, unless you're a witch who's spelled 'im!"
Kate was too drunk to bother being insulted, watching Eowyn drag Eostre over to dance.
"I'm not a witch, just bewitchingly attractive!" She retorted, shouting over the din and laughing to herself as a few brawl men echoed their agreement. Aragorn came over now, frowning opening at his niece and every man who responded. "Where have you been uncle?!" Kate shouted upon seeing her uncle. Bronna quickly clamped her mouth shut, and all those who stood around listening to the verbal sparring match scattered, finding something else to occupy their attention.
"Far behind you, it would seem." Aragorn added, handing a plate of food. "Eat."
"Oh, bless you!" Kate replied, tucking in immediately and letting out a contended sigh as the food began to fill her belly. God, you really are drunk, Kate. Might want to cool it! "You're not drinking?" She asked, glancing down at his full mug.
"Not like you." He laughed.
"Well I was ordered to have fun. By you! Remember that? I could be very sober in the infirmary right now, but no!"
"I hope I shall not regret that."
"Me too!" Kate laughed, but pushed her mug away, deciding she'd had quite enough. "That Bronna really is a rude woman. A had felt bad for her at first, but man she just is the worst! She's been hurling insults all night."
"I would not let it bother you." Aragorn said, lighting his pipe and watching the hobbits dance atop their table. "Words are not chosen as carefully when there is drink involved."
"Yes, obviously. No, I'm not bothered, I think she's a little jealous actually, I was told she had her sights set on Legolas actually." Aragorn hummed, amusement coloring his face. He did recall something to that affect happening. "Where is he, anyway?"
"Engaged with Gimli in a drinking game."
"A what?" Kate snorted. "I have to see that!"
"From the looks of it, it won't last much longer, so you should hurry."
"Who's winning?!"
"Legolas, though I am not surprised." Aragorn replied with a smile, "the drinks of men affect elves very little."
"Oh, poor Gimli!" Kate laughed. "To be duped like that. Has he ever done that to you?"
"Yes, when I was very young." He answered, smiling once again at the memory and shaking his head. "I learned very quickly not to take up a challenge from an Elf."
Kate erupted into laughter, imaging the two friends in a drinking game, Aragorn sinking further and further into a drunken stupor. For how long did Legolas tease him afterward? Was it still an inside joke between the two of them?
Kate once again grabbed her ale, planting a kiss of her uncle's cheek and stood to go find those two, not wanting to miss such a thing.
"Stay close to the women, or to the fellowship." Aragorn warned, frowning at a drunken man who gazed approvingly at his niece. Kate nodded in agreement. It was a celebration, sure, and these were honorable people but there were always a few bad apples in the lot.
Kate skimmed through the crowds, until she heard the unmistakable chortle of Gimli. She stifled a laugh as she slid in between the group of onlookers. Gimli and Legolas were drinking, mug after mug, and Legolas was clearly handling himself better.
"Oh, it's the dwarves who go swimming with little hairy women!" He drunkenly declared, laughing to himself and letting out a loud belch.
"What does that even mean?!" She shouted, receiving an equally confused shrug from a bored looking Eomer. This game had clearly gone on longer than anyone intended, judging by the literal piles of mugs on the table.
Upon hearing her voice Legolas turned his attention to her, and gave a secretive wink before downing another mug of ale. Kate rolled her eyes, taking another swig of her own drink as she enjoyed watching the game.
"I feel something. A slight tingle in my fingers…" Legolas declared dramatically, staring at his fingertips as if he really were starting to. "I think it is affecting me."
"Oh, liar." Kate teasing called.
"Ha! What did I say?" Gimli slurred, rolling about unsteadily on his chair. "He can't hold his liquor!" And with that, Gimli promptly fell over, crashing onto the floor with a loud thunk.
"Game over." Legolas responded with a satisfied smirk, finishing his last mug in victory.
"Is this all because he beat you?" She laughed, moving over to the dwarf to ensure he was simply passed out drunk, and still breathing. Legolas said nothing in response but the tell-tale twinkle in his eye lead her to believe that that was the case. "That is very vindictive of you. Very un-princely."
"But fun nonetheless." He replied, grabbing her hand and pulling her as close to him as he could without provoking scandal.
"Should we move him?" Kate asked, eyebrows raised in amusement.
"Perhaps after the festivities have ended."
"Mean."
"Hardly!" He exclaimed and Kate could stop the peal of giggles the flowed from her mouth. "You are drunk."
"I did warn you." She giggled Legolas laughed, inclining his head for her to follow him. Taking his hand, she followed him through the throng of people, stopping for a few moments to enjoy Merry and Pippin's performance. "You need some quiet, don't you?" She asked after a few moments, watching his face sag.
"Soon, yes, but I will stay. It is good to see you enjoy yourself, to see you smile so freely…even if it is alcohol induced."
"Oh, ha ha." She said, narrowing her eyes but unable to keep the smile off her face. She watched the hobbits for a few more moments, dancing and singing and she had to wonder if all hobbits were this way. What a fun place The Shire must be! She'd have to visit sometime "Ok, I'm ready." She said with a contented sigh.
"That did not take very long." Legolas said with a raised eyebrow. "Truly, enjoy yourself Kate, I am content."
"I'll come back, maybe, but some fresh air might do me some good right now." She explained with a shrug, and truth be told Kate was more than eager to spend some time alone with her elf. So, with a secretive smile Kate tugged on his hand and the two of them weaved their way through the crowd and out of the hall, until they reached the night sky, at long last. Kate smiled as Legolas let out a deep breath, and stared up at the stars, pulling him to her and resting his chin upon her head. "It must be really hard for you to be cooped up in this building."
"Some nights are more difficult than others, but it is not permanent. I will see my home again." He said, as Kate leaned back further into his arms. "I hope that you will see it one day as well…that perhaps you might one day call it your home."
She smiled, her head swimming with alcohol and unfiltered joy as she allowed herself the blissful moment of forgetting all the reasons why they should not be together. She simply let herself imagine the two of them enjoying their life together, and thought to the contrary was promptly shoved to the back of her mind and to enforce this new found liberty she turned around and kissed him.
"Kiss me once, then kiss me twice, then kiss me once again, it's been a long, long time.*" Kate sang, illustrating the lyrics by doing just that.
"I have never heard such a song." Legolas laughed as he held onto her, swaying in time to her singing. "But I cannot say I dislike it."
"It's a good one, from my world, but much older, like from the 1940's or something." Kate explained humming more bars of the song as the two of them swayed back and forth to the music she was providing.
"Is that such a long time in your world."
"Yea, seventy years or so. But I've always really like the music from that time…you'd like it to, I think."
"Sing it then" Legolas insisted, and Kate was just drunk enough to oblige, lazily singing the song as they danced to the tune.
This is one of those moments to remember she told herself, happily resting her head on his chest. She didn't want to go back inside, she wanted to stay here, dancing under the stars with her Elf Prince. The very idea of it should have made her laugh, being that she was not at all a romantic, and yet with Legolas…he brought that out in her, slowly but surely.
"I do like it." He agreed, smiling down at her as he leaned in to tenderly kiss her, and they stilled their dancing only long enough to show each other just how long they felt it had been since their last kiss. "I love you." He whispered into her ear, and this time Kate did not argue. There was no war waged within herself about whether it was wrong of her to accept this love, no more reasoning that this could not be real, because in her heart she knew he meant it. He loved her, truly, deeply and in every way that she should be loved.
"I love you too." She whispered back, picking up their dance again, as Legolas began his own song. Silently, she sent out a mental thank you to Aragorn and Nestaron, for making her take this night off. She had needed it, and a small part of her knew that she would be holding onto this memory for the rest of her life.
A/N: Ok! I hope you've enjoyed this! It's a lot of fluff but always super fun to write those kinds of scenes! I will probably go back and edit this a bit more, so please forgive me if it seems rushed or if there are spelling errors, but I really wanted to get this up for you all before classes. Especially since the last chapter was so heavy, you all could use a break, lol!
The song is called It's Been A Long Long Time by Kitty Kallen and it was written in 1945 (and yes that is the same one from Endgame lol)
Thank you for reading, and please review because they make me smile!
Also, a huge thank you to:
RubberDuckiez- thank you so much! And Nestaron is a really fun character to write, i love writing their friendship.
d'elfe- Glad you enjoyed it, and don't worry Loki will be explained later. Yeah, it does sound rather harsh of them doesn't it? I think Nestaron just really cares for Legolas and wants what's best for him, especially since he knows all to well how that relationship can go, he worries. And Galadriel...well, she knows why she said what she did.
Julsathil- It is! Glad you are enjoying it though!
yasmina1- Thank you!
Mooncatknits- I'm glad you're day got better and thank you so much, that really means a lot!
Katia0203- Thank you, I'm so glad to hear you like it! And yea, he's a bit tough in the beginning but Kate kind of needed it.
peygoodwin- Thank you!
amrawo- Thank you!
Pint-sized She-Bear- Thank you!
daughterofthechief- Thank you! And thank you for always leaving such kind reviews they mean a lot!
leward1992- LOL, I'm so sorry! Hahaha, hopefull this chapter made up for the last one, and thank you for reading!
Sorceress of the Trees- Yes, to answer your question, they know it's not totally her fault, but Nestaron takes what she's done a lot more seriously because he knows the ramifications of those actions, whether they are intentional or not. It sucks she was tricked and ultimately provoked into that reaction, but she's still done it. Hope that cleared some stuff up for you! Thank you for reading!
I so very much appreciate each and every review, it's very inspiring and I can't tell you enough how much they make me smile, so I just thought I'd give a shout out!