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Ithilwen run to the gate of the Hall. She longed so much to reunite with her friends. But what she met there, could only be a part of a joyful dream. Along with Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Gandalf, entered the Hall Merry and Pippin. Ithilwen left a small cry of happiness as the two hobbits ran towards her to greet her. They started reciting their adventures, how they ran away from the Orcs and the Uruk Hai, how they met Treebeard and the other Ents, how they won at the battle of Isengard and the spoils of war they had. Merry immediately gave to her some salted pork to taste. Ithilwen was listening to their stories, relieved that they were safe and sound.
They were led to the room, where they would stay for the nights to come. They would sleep altogether, along with other Rohan soldiers. Several soldiers were taken by surprise by Ithilwen's presence in the room, but since she fought side by side with them, they quickly counted her as one of them. King Théoden soon joined them and announced to them that the preparations for tonight's celebrations were soon to be completed, and that they were welcome to join them in their festivities in the memory of those who died in the battle.
The left their armory and their cloaks in the room. Ithilwen combed and braided her hair. She touched the small velvet with the head jewels Galadriel had gifted her. She was unsure whether to ornate her braids with the flowers of Lorien or not. No, the time to wear them had not yet arrived, she thought.
They entered the Hall. The people of Rohan bowed their heads at the sight of the company. They looked at them as heroes, who had helped them to fight against Saruman's hordes, ready to give their lives in order to protect Rohan. Ithilwen felt awkward at this sight. She wasn't used to such honors.
Éomer approached them and led them to their seats.
"Do you feel better?" he whispered to Ithilwen. He looked into her eyes. His gaze was revealing his worry.
"Yes, yes" she replied and smiled to him. He smiled back to her and went straight next to his uncle. Ithilwen followed him with her eyes, forgetting to go where she was told. Aragorn patted her back. She felt like coming from a dream. Aragorn smirked at her, and she gave him an angry look. She was sure what Aragorn was thinking of, but she was just looking at Éomer, nothing more.
Éowyn approached Théoden handing him a golden cup. Theoden took the cup and raised it.
"Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country. Hail the victorious dead!" he said.
"Hail" repeated the crowd and they all drank a sip. Ithilwen's feelings were mixed. Many men had died, among them her friend, Haldir, but they were still alive, and they had a glorious victory. A victory that would be remembered for many years.
The bards started playing music and singing songs. The people started dancing and singing. Many of them were drinking ale, while eating cheese, bread, meat and berries. Ithilwen went to celebrate with Gimli and Legolas. Gimli was prepared for a night full of ale and had already drunk a cup or two. Legolas was looking around him awkwardly, not knowing how to behave. Eomer approached them proposing a drinking contest. Gimli started clapping his hands and Legolas accepted, willing to try something new in his life. Eomer turned to Ithilwen and asked her if she would too participate. After all the stories he had heard about her, he would not be surprised if she participated in a drinking contest, and would be its winner. She went by his side.
"No, I won't" she told him. "I already know the result" she whispered in his ear and smirked. Then she gave him her cup to fill it with ale. They exchanged a smile and the drinking game started. Gimli was drinking the one cup after the other, and after each cup he was becoming merrier and merrier. Legolas seemed unaffected by the alcohol that ran in his veins.
"You seem very attached to them", noticed Éomer as Ithilwen was staring at her friends laughing at Gimli's drunk statements.
"I am, indeed", replied Ithilwen and turned her face to him. Her eyes were smiling and her expression brightened her face. For an instant Éomer felt that all the lights in the room suddenly dimmed before her brightness. "I have lived many years, and I have seen many wonders, but the most wondrous thing my eyes have witnessed is the sincere friendship formed between us. We have been through so many hardships, so many crucial moments, that I consider them more like brothers of mine."
"They are really very lucky to have you" said Éomer and had a sip of ale. Ithilwen smiled at him. "I have heard many stories of your brave acts during the battle. Your presence really inspired the people of Rohan."
"It was our duty for the future of Middle Earth. The darkness is spreading day by day and we must not stay still, idly waiting for the end to come."
"Of course, certainly, I agree with you. But I mean mainly, your presence Ithilwen. We are not used to seeing elves fighting next to us, not to mention an elven maiden. "
"Your words are very kind Éomer" said Ithilwen and gave him a shy smile. Éomer looked at her blushing face. He felt a weird shiver down his spine. Ithilwen felt her breath getting faster at these moments, and her knees weaker. It was a sentiment that she had never experienced in her life before. For a moment the people around them disappeared, the hustle and bustle stopped, Gimli and Legolas were not having a drinking game. It was just the two of them.
"Here, here. It's the Dwarves that go swimming with little, hairy women" said Gimli completely drunk and interrupted them. Ithilwen turned her head to her friends, upset by her strange feelings.
"I feel something", said Legolas surprised by the strange numbness he was feeling. "A slight tingle in my fingers. I think it's affecting me."
"What did I say? He can't hold his liquor", pointed out Gimli and fell from his chair.
"Game over" stated Legolas and they all shared a laugh. Ithilwen and Éomer exchanged a timid smile, as Legolas and some other men started carrying Gimli to their room. Ithilwen followed them back to their room. As they were helping Gimli to prepare himself to fall asleep, she was standing behind, thinking of what she had just felt. Her eyes were fixed on the floor and she did not notice Legolas, who had come right in front of her with a cunning look on his face.
"You look different today", he noticed and smirked.
"Me? No. I was just thinking of several things" she replied quickly, feeling somehow guilty, that her anxiety was too obvious.
"Come, let's go back to the feast", he said and they both went back to the Hall. They went by Aragorn and Gandalf.
"What has happened to you?" asked Aragorn astonished, when he saw Ithilwen.
"Maybe it's the atmosphere here in Rohan" said cunningly Legolas. Ithilwen responded to him with a stern look.
"We need to talk", said Gandalf. "We must prepare our next moves. The shadow in Mordor is growing. We may have achieved a victory, but we should not rest in our laurels. The wrath of Sauron will strike soon, and we must prepare ourselves to face it." The Hall was almost empty now and some servants had started cleaning around. "But for now", added Gandalf, "we all need a good night's sleep. Go and take some rest. Tomorrow we will prepare our plan."
Ithilwen went outside to breathe some fresh air. The night was silent and only the calls of the owls were breaking the silence. She opened the small velvet envelope with the hair jewels, that Galadriel had given her. She touched them with her fingertips and sighed. She heard footsteps approaching and she turned her head. It was Aragorn. She smiled and looked back to her jewels.
"They are beautiful" he said as he was preparing his pipe. Ithilwen gave him a hopeless look. "Hope is not lost yet. There will come a day that you will wear them" he said and started to smoke. She sighed and put back the envelope in her pouch. "Tonight you were very beautiful. Like something had changed in you" he said and grinned.
"I- How..? I was the usual me!"
"I haven't seen you like that for more than 30 years" he said. Ithilwen took a step behind. "Do not panic, I think that very few realized your change of behavior, but I do not believe that they understood why this happened. And this is a good thing, you deserve some happiness at last. But remember, the war is not over yet, and I do not want to see you heartbroken for once more." She did not utter a word. This man could read her like an open book. "Now go to sleep, I will go and speak to Legolas".
Ithilwen headed back to their room, when suddenly she felt like she was stricken by a thunder. Like the eye of Sauron was gazing persistently at them. Screams were heard from their room and Ithilwen hurried and strode towards there.