Author's Note: I'm so sorry I had Suldal as Swift this chapter, I totally forgot about the name change. I think I have fixed it now. Sorry, it took me way too long to fix this, but I found out that grades didn't actually close the other day so I have lots of work to do. I'd also like to say, I'm following the movie, like Saruman's killed in not Hobbiton (I forget what the place is called). I noticed that this story was put on The Worst of the Worst LotR Fanfiction C2 thing and I have one thing to say: I don't care. If you think a cow pie could write this way better than me, don't read it! I am going to continue writing whether you want me to or not.
Chapter Four – A Stranger in the Woods
Féowin liked trees and plants well enough, the absolute silence of Mirkwood was beginning to get to her and the darkness was suffocating. Every moment she felt as if a pair of unseen eyes were watching her. She shifted nervously in Suldal's saddle, scanning the trees for a pair of eyes, she found none, but still had the oddest sensation of being watched. In fact, she was being watched, not by one pair of eyes, but many.
Finally she sighed, resigned to the fact that someone was watching her and she couldn't see them, "Hello? Who …"
She didn't get to finish her sentence for a group of ten or so elves jumped down from trees and were pointing their bows at her. Only her training as a shield maiden kept her cool calm and collected. "Peace," she said, dropping Suldal's reins and holding up her hands to show that she held no weapons. "I am a messenger from Rohan, bearing ill news for the Elvin King."
A handsome blonde elf spoke, "My father is not here at the moment."
His father? Féowin wondered, then it hit her: He was Prince Legolas!
"Your Highness," she said, bowing low in her saddle as Suldal extended a foreleg and bent her neck in a horse bow.
The Prince and many of his fellows laughed at Suldal's antics. Then Legolas turned serious again, "My father will not be back for some time now, is there something I can help you with?"
"I suppose so, Your Highness," Féowin said, "But I cannot give you the message in front of your fellows, for the time being it is confidential."
Legolas nodded, "I understand. Do you wish to tell it to me here, or when we arrive at my home?"
The sooner the better," Féowin said.
Legolas nodded again and walked out of earshot of his fellows with Suldal following.
"It is Saruman," Féowin began.
"Saruman? I saw him die with my own two eyes," Legolas said, suddenly becoming suspicious once again, "Who are you?"
"Féowin of Rohan, daughter of Faramir and Éowyn, shield maiden-in-training," she proudly fingered her saddle blanket which bore the insignia of a shield maiden-in-training. "Less than a week ago, I saw him alive with my own two eyes. As did my mother, father, Freda, and Aragorn. Do you doubt them?"
Legolas was angry, how dare this little shield maiden-in-training be so rude to him! "I do not doubt them, it is your word I doubt. Who is Freda?" he added as an afterthought.
"You know Freda," Féowin stated it as a fact she was sure was true.
"Then would you please refresh my memory?" Legolas asked with clearly faked politeness.
"Freda, you knew here as a young girl, five or so years old. She and her brother brought news of Saruman's attacking forces, resulting in King Theodin taking his people to Helm's Deep."
A look of puzzlement flitted across Legolas' face, soon followed by one of recognition, "Oh, yes. I remember her and her brother. But I still believe you not."
Féowin frowned, what could she do to get him to believe her?
Being hospitable, Legolas invited her to stay in Mirkwood until she was ready to move off. She gladly accepted for it would give her a chance to try and figure out how to convince him that she was telling the truth.
Legolas walked back to his fellows, a concentrated frown across his handsome features. Féowin followed him fighting the urge to pout. She looked up to see many of the elves staring at her and Legolas speaking in some form of elvish to them all. A few of the elves' hands went to their weapons, just to be safe. Legolas said something that probably had the meaning of, "Not yet, but be on your guard." For the elves released their weapons, but still watched Féowin carefully, monitoring her every move with keen eyes.
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The ride to the Prince's home was filled with an awkward silence, interrupted every now and then by one of the elves posing a question in Elvish to which Legolas always responded the same, a shrug and saying something Féowin took to mean, "We'll see."
Legolas' home was beautiful, but Féowin was too deep in thought to notice or comment on it. She was shown a fine room while Suldal was given a large, roomy box stall and a good rub down. A she-elf who had been assigned to serve Féowin introduced herself as Canadiel. Canadiel told Féowin she would most likely be in Mirkwood a while and began to unpack Féowin's saddlebags. No matter how much Féowin protested Canadiel just kept on unpacking. When she was finished, she bowed and spoke, "Clothes are in the wardrobe, books are on the shelves, food is in the pantry, and scrolls and maps are on the desk. Will you be needing anything else, my lady?"
"No, thank you, Canadiel," Féowin moved to repack her things as soon as Canadiel closed the door behind her.
When she was packing up the scrolls and maps, she noticed an envelope she clearly did not remember requesting it to be put in. The envelope was sealed with her mother's seal and when she held it up to the light, she could faintly make out part of it. Then she figured out what it was: It was a comprehensive report on the situation. Féowin was so relieved she could have cried, but she didn't for she felt she needed to conduct herself in a professional manner.
Féowin didn't know what to do, so she finished packing and sat down on her bed with the letter to think.
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A few hours before dinner, Canadiel entered the room and asked, "Is there anything I can help you with, my lady?"
Féowin, who had fallen asleep with her eyes open, blinked herself awake, "Yes, I do not need some help. I need to see the Prince immediately ."
Canadiel looked at Féowin, disbelief clearly scrawled across her face, "You don't just go up and talk to the Prince. There are specifications and procedures. I could, though, take a message to someone to take to the Prince."
"Tell him I have proof that what I told him earlier is true. He'll know what I mean," Féowin said, sitting back down on the bed and examining a map, making sure she knew the route she would take for the rest of her journey.
Canadiel sighed and left the room muttering something about outsiders.
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A little while later, Canadiel came back and told Féowin, "His Highness, Prince Legolas, wishes to see you."
Féowin stood up, a triumphant glint in her eyes, "Thank you. Would you please show me the way? I know it not. Then after that, could you please bring my saddlebags down to the stable and have my mare groomed, tacked, and warmed up? For I believe I shall be leaving very soon."
Canadiel nodded silently, the image of an obedient servant, and led Féowin to the throne room where Prince Legolas sat. Legolas clapped his hands and the courtiers and many of the guards skittered out, leaving only ten or so guards standing well out of earshot.
"So, Féowin, daughter of Faramir and Éowyn, shield maiden-in-training, what proof do you bring me?" He asked leaning forward in his seat, giving away his hidden interest in the matter.
Féowin gave him the letter which he opened, scanned, then put down again, "So, it seems as if you were telling the truth. Very well then, will you be traveling back to Rohan to go to war with the rest of your kin or shall you be warring with us?"
"Neither, Your Highness. I'm traveling to Hobbiton to escort two hobbits to the ents in Fangorn Forest. Then, I shall hopefully make it back in time to war with my kin. If you require no more information from me, may I be on my way now?"
"Yes, yes, of course! Be on your way!" Legolas said, giving Féowin a shooing motion with his regal hand.
Féowin smiled gratefully and ran down to the stables. There, she was glad to see Suldal groomed, tacked, and ready to go. Canadiel was also there, standing by Suldal's head and holding her reins, looking around for Féowin. Féowin thanked her. Then, she and Suldal galloped off toward the sun that was threatening to set and all the warriors were summoned by Legolas to go to war.
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Author's Note: As I said before: I am not about to stop writing, so if you hate this stop reading it. Common sense, duh! If you see any more typos in this chapter please alert me, I hate typos.