Tales be told
Once mirth had dissipated and sanity returned, we settled into comfortable silence. But it was eventual, that the moment would break and I would come to a realisation.
"My stuff is missing." Is said to myself absentmindedly.
"Huh?" Legolas questioned, not quite realising what I had said.
"It doesn't particularly matter." I replied. Despite this, he decided to remember and comprehend what I had said anyway.
"I will get it for you." He said gently, forever the gentleman. He slowly(and a little reluctantly) got up from his position beside the bed. Had he been there the entire time? I suddenly felt guilty. How long exactly had the time been?
"Wait," I said, more feebly than I would have liked. "I'll come with you." I struggled to sit up without crushing my wings- which some idiot healer had obviously thought were a good idea to place beneath me.
"Are you sure?"
"I will be fine." I wasn't quite so sure, but I did not like to show weakness. Eventually, departing the bed was achieved by rolling onto my side and shuffling off. My weak legs wobbled, but then held firm. I tentatively took step, but grew confident promptly. Soon I was walking straight and tall once more- even if I had to use poor Legolas as a walking aid. The foot that I had cut and burnt was extremely painful, although I realised it would full well heal with time.
It was only then I quite realised the apparel hanging off me. I was still in the clothes I had flown in…however long ago it was now. Four…five days? Added to that was a thick bandage on my left foot, and a poncho thing that was thankfully covering my wings. I thanked the healer in silent respect, no longer believing they were quite the idiot I first made them out to be. Yet as we walked, something still niggled on my mind. "How long have I been…unconscious?"
"About a week. Today is the second of April."
A week. I had been more exhausted than I thought. Even now, the groggy feeling of having slept too long hovered around my head and weighed down my limbs. This was the reason why I didn't sleep unless I couldn't help it. And now I had slept more than once in a single month! Or 10 days, to be exact. Of course with my slowed thoughts, coupled with never having been good with numbers, it took me far, far longer than I would have liked. But we were all alive! Such trivial things mattered not.
We continued to walk slowly down the halls, halls that once calm(er) now filled with people. What had been the cost of Sauron's downfall? What had the race of men suffered for our sakes? Yet I tried not to let it bother me, for greater wounded I had witnessed, and the groans of those men had not been clear, but low and silent at energy was sapped from them. Yet the reassurance that there had been worse did not make the toll any less. We turned a corner into the main street. It then occurred to me that I had no idea where we were going, and had not even memorised out route. "Legolas. Where exactly are we headed?"
"To where our two young hobbits now stay. They told me of your possessions after I found Pippin with your clothes."
"Pray tell me, what exactly were they doing with them?" I conjured a comical sound in my head of my shirt scraping along the ground as one of them tripped over it.
"Taking them to be washed. They thought them rather…used." I bit down a bark of laughter. The goodness of hobbits, the gladness that this war had not lost them to the darkness or death or of fears one's own mind could conjure. Hobbits were truly the most amazing, most surprising beings to ever walk this land. Besides, after all this time…well, those clothes would have been in full need of a proper wash. I probably smelt like a pile of rith.
I could feel the drafts grow stronger and heard the babble of noise grow louder as we drew near the exit. There was the smell of woodsmoke from campfires on the plains, and the sweat of working people. There was groaning of pain, but also cries of happiness as families were reunited. It was the aftermath of war, it was-intoxicating. Only now that I sensed the things going on first hand, was I truly able to believe once and for all that there would be no more battles. I would not be required to throw a dart or draw a sword again. My feelings were mixed, and I was confused by them-surely only joy should be felt about such things! But life had taught me to put such deep philosophies aside and to wait for a later date to deal with them.
The two of us walked down the main street of this level of Minas Tirith, into areas where the richer often held abode. There were still many people, most very busy to my ears. I could even hear the wounded who were able doing things, such as sewing(many yelps of pricked fingers were heard). As a result of this, few people payed us attention, and we passed almost unnoticed. It was a welcome feeling.
After turning several corners, and finding the streets to be calmer if the houses a little larger, I finally remembered we were upon the sixth level of the city. That was where the healing house was located. The city was terraced into seven levels altogether-the tower of Ecthelion, the high seat, the white tree and the kings hall at the highest point, and on the lowest level the bell tower, the great gates and many abodes. I knew from previous visits to the great city and from pieces of lore I heeded here and there. Yet although this knowledge flowed through me, I was still unsure of the location of our quarry. We were looking for lodgings, yes. So why had we just passed the lodgers house? It made little sense to me. I pointed to where I could hear the inn sign swinging in the river breeze. "Why?"
"We have other lodging arrangements." Legolas said mysteriously. I elbowed him gently(which actually turned out to be less of an elbow and more of a moving my arm, as he was still helping me walk). "I thought I was meant to be the mysterious one around here."
"You can't be the only one all the time." I could literally hear the smirk in his voice. Deciding to retaliate, I deadpanned. "I hate you."
"You don't." Came the equally deadpan reply.
"You appear to be correct."
Conversation ceased and we returned to the comfortable silence.
After naught but another minute or two, Legolas turned into a seemingly random doorway. As many of the buildings in this city were, they were built with one of the great walls as its back and no gaps between the houses, yet separated all the same. It was masterful engineering, and efficient planning. But all the same, it was a random residence. I was about to ask why we had stopped, when Legolas confidently and casually just opened the door and walked in.
"Why are we here?" I asked, suddenly shy and a little nervous about being in a random building, most likely owned by complete strangers.
"This fair building," my elven companion announced, if a little theatrically, "is where we have all been given to make our abode during our stay." My mouth hung open unnoticed. I could tell from the air movement and echoes alone that it stretched over two levels, and had many spaces. It was indeed, a fair structure by almost anyone's standards. How such a place had been acquired left me thoroughly confused. "How...why…who?"
Legolas let out a low chuckle. "By Aragorn. When our hosts arrived back from battle, the people still remaining took on Aragorn as their king. He is yet to be crowned, but has the full power all the same. We were originally going to use the lodging house, but then he suggested we use here instead." My mouth snapped shut. I shook my head in amazement.
"By Illuvatar..." It was just then that the three people I had heard on a third story began to make their hurried and loud way down the stairs. It brought a smirk to my face as I realised who they would be. Mere seconds later I was nearly bowled over by two hobbits bear hugging me to a metaphorical death. "Darke!" Pippin exclaimed, "you're awake!" Merry simply squeezed me harder, causing me to stumble back a step and be torn from Legolas's arm. They took a step back.
"Idiot."
"That's my line Pip."
I let out a low chuckle, and felt the shorter races stare at me, before quickly dismissing it as the fact that I could indeed sometimes have functions that normal people had. Gimli then came up to me and clasped me on the arm. "It's good to see you awake my girl. At the rate you get knocked out, we get rather worried!"
I took the opportunity to let out my smile-the same vampire grin so it felt, I'm afraid. "Trust me randi, it worries me too." He let out a low chuckle.
"And so it should! You are going to have to explain to us what all these foreign words you say mean, one day you know."
"One day, kar-eek(short one), one day. But for now, I must keep up my mysterious façade." There was a pause. "So pray tell me, what has been happening whilst I have been absent, for I have heard some news but think there is more to come." So then I was led to a living room, where there was the opportunity to sit and talk in comfort and peace.
I was regaled with tales of how they marched upon Mordor, and of great speeches that were told. Of a red sun, and of a voice that leaked menace into all that surrounded. And then there were tales told a the great return of host from Gondor, from Rohan, and the great flight of eagles that soared over the white city(in which time they returned all who they bore back to solid ground). But what amazed me most was the kingship of Aragorn; and not only that, but the stewardship of Lord Faramir, who had by all means proven to be a kind and just man. And so was the day were I came to have some respect over royalty, and silently pledged my help to King Elessar, Elfstone. Aragorn son of Arathorn, heir of the great kings of old.
And then of course I was dragged off by two young hobbits to hear about pig racing.
Chapter, yay! Hope you all liked -you for those scrummy reviews, I enjoy them a lot:)
