For Disclaimer please view chapter 1
Author's note: thank you to all my readers and reviewers. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Kersi
Chapter 10: Do Your Duty
She slowly left his embrace and looked up at his bright eyes, obviously full of happiness at the sight of her. "How did you escape?"
For a moment his eyes clouded at the thought of Ethaen, but he quickly banished the thought in fear of what it might do to Aurel. "With difficulty." Was all he said. She was about to say something else but he quickly interrupted her and shook his head, "First…. do you realize you still have the sword in your hand?"
Aurel looked at the hand that held Maethorgond's sword, she had not realized she was still holding onto it, and even with attention brought to it, she did not want to let go of it.
"There is no need to hold on it, Melethril." Said Legolas.
Ihawsanor took the opportunity to remind them that they were in no safe place. "We must keep moving."
"Give us a moment please." Said Legolas, and they all obediently stayed at a distance. Eomer most of all, for he did not want to be seen.
Aurel did not look at Legolas, "It is Maethorgond's, I must hold onto it until it can be returned to him." She dared to look at Legolas's worried eyes, "Have you found him?"
Legolas slowly nodded. "You gave him your ring."
"He was worthy of it, he gave me his life."
"But that was his duty."
She shot him a surprised look. "Duty or not, that is his ring now." She went to get up, her demeanour turned cold. "The captain is right, we must keep moving."
Legolas stood and watched her. "I am sorry, have I upset you?" He went to touch her arm, but she moved it away.
"It is no small thing, his duty, and yet you made it seem so. When did you turn into an arrogant princeling?"
Under normal circumstances he would have argued with her, but not so soon after being reunited and not in front of his guards. "I did not mean to make it seem like a small thing. I am sorry…" He would have said more if he had not noticed that her eyes now were focused on something else entirely, and he could feel growing frustration and anger welling within her. She had seen Eomer.
Legolas walked closer to her and placed his hand on her shoulder to calm her, "He came to my aid."
"What?" She said with disinterest.
"He is here as a friend, not a foe."
"And he gets to choose when that is?!" said Aurel in anger.
"His family was under threat."
Aurel clearly did not understand what was happening nor what had happened. "And that means that he could impose the same on us? Why does he stand so far?"
"He knows your temper."
She went to take a step forward, but Legolas blocked her path. "He wishes to remain with our party, and he will do so…and you will leave him be."
"You do not command me Legolas." Said Aurel plainly.
"No, but as your husband I am asking you, to set whatever ill feelings you have of him aside, for the sake of the group, and leave him be."
The fire in her eyes cooled a moment, and she turned her thoughts away from Eomer. "As you wish. Now are we to keep moving?"
Legolas nodded and they all began to walk in the direction of Eryn Lasgalen. The guards made sure that Legolas and Aurel were always in the centre of the group and protected from all angles. Legolas would have greatly minded being protected in this way had he not been with Aurel. Eomer insisted on walking on the tail of the group as he took in the wilderness around him. After a few hours, Legolas began to feel weary himself and he wondered why he was feeling that way, the trek was nothing compared to the thousands of treks he had been on before. He looked at Aurel, he and she had not shared one word since they had begun to walk, and she had once again shut her feelings from him, but he could tell by the way she walked that she was uncomfortable, weary and upset. He silently commanded for the group to stop and make camp where they were. When everyone began to set up camp Aurel looked at Legolas in question.
"It is time for a rest." Said Legolas.
She looked at the Guards, they did not look weary. "We do not have to stop on my account."
"We haven't. We all need the rest Aurel."
Aurel found a spot to sit down and Legolas came and sat down next to her. "Will you not let go of your anger?"
"Why should I?"
"It will get you nowhere, and it is not healthy."
"Since when do you speak to me in such a manner? I am not your child."
"Indeed not, but you are acting like one, so I will treat you accordingly so."
She turned her head away from him.
Legolas regretted saying what he did, he placed his hand on her arm and tried to soothe her. "I do not want to argue with you. I realize you are weary and that many things have happened while we were separated both in Rohan and before."
When she did not say anything, he continued. "Melethril…please…" He suddenly felt a great sadness from her, a rush of woe swept over him and it caught him off guard. And then he heard a sob coming from her. Her face had been turned and he had not seen that while he was speaking she had been crying. Finally her guard was down, and she did not put a barrier between them. He took his hand and turned her face to him, it was warm and wet with tears that still flowed.
"You are right, I am weary." She said. "I am a failure Legolas….I am weak."
He shook his head, "Why do you say such things?"
"Because they are the truth…I run away at anything that scares me remotely…and I have done it to you twice now in our lifetimes…that is my failure as your wife, and Ene…I banished her because I was afraid of her….and look at what has happened, all the lives it has cost, all because I am a coward." She finally set Maethorgond's sword down.
"Stop it, you are no coward, nor are you a failure or weak. Those things you speak of were the paths you chose, and had you not, you do not know if things would have been any different. Much good has come from those choices as well. Yes, it may seem like you run away, but don't you realize you never do? You have always put others before yourself, even now you cast the blame solely on yourself and do not take into account the actions of others, including myself."
Her tears stopped and she looked up at him.
"I have not been the best husband, or friend or companion for that matter. I do not pretend to begin to understand what that must have done to you, what it still does to you."
"You do not have to say these things to appease me." She wiped the tears from her face and smeared the dried blood from her hands onto it by accident.
It sent chills down Legolas's spine to see her face marked, and he immediately went to wipe it off, but she took hold of his hand. "Leave it."
"I cannot." He replied and took his hand and wiped it off.
Aurel's face cringed suddenly, and she closed her eyes. She placed both her hands on her stomach, she was obviously in pain but she did not cry out.
"Aurel?" asked Legolas….he placed one of his hands on her arm, and again she cringed, and the pain shot through him, it took every ounce of his being not to cry out. "What is happening?"
She shook her head as she whispered soothing words of calm, and eventually she was able to open her eyes again, the redness in her face from the pain was quickly fading away, but Legolas's state was dishevelled. He looked to her for some answers. "That is the first time that has happened to me….." She whispered.
"It is the child? Are you unwell?"
"I have not had anything to eat in days…I think he may be hungry…I think he may sense my weariness.
"Why did you not say so?"
"I did not wish to hinder our trek back."
Legolas stood immediately and went to one of his guards. Aurel took the opportunity to continue to soothe the unborn child inside of her, it was restless, not wishing to calm down, and it was causing strain on her already weak body.
"Lady Aurel?" asked Eomer.
She shot him a look of anger, but that look was shortly lived as she felt another pang of pain. Eomer immediately went to her, kneeling by her side and placing both his hands on her stomach, he now was speaking the ancient tongue of Rohan, moving his hands in small circles, Aurel would have protested for such a gross act of impropriety, but it was making her feel better and she was grateful. Eventually the pain subdued and Eomer promptly removed his hands. "Is the pain soothed?"
She nodded. "Thank you. Where did you learn to do that?"
"Lothiriel had a troublesome time when she carried our child; I learned many things in order to ease her pain and discomfort."
She cursed herself for not feeling as much disdain for him as she wished to, she wanted to be angry at him, but she found she could not any longer, instead her nature guided her to forgive him. "Is your family safe now?"
"Legolas told you of what happened…?"
She nodded.
"They are as safe as they can possibly be at the moment now that they are no longer in his hands."
"Whose hands?"
Eomer looked at her, she obviously did not know enough. "That I will speak to you of at a later time, luckily they are well and no harm had come to them. I know that there is no excuse for my actions, but I do ask for your forgiveness, the Elves have always been our friends and allies whether we were aware of it or not. You and I, we have had our differences, but you have always stood true, and I have betrayed you."
She could tell that he was speaking from the heart, "Eomer King, you were protecting that which was most precious to you, as you should and always do, family is everything. Had I been in your position I would have done the same."
He smirked, he knew that was a lie, she would have never betrayed him. "I will accompany you both to Eryn Lasgalen, as a show of good will; I wish to see you there safely."
"Yes I know, if that is what you wish to do I will not stop you, but do you not want to return to your family soon? We have many days ahead of us in thick wood…and then for your return…"
"I will stay to see you safe, and then I will return to them." He said standing up.
It was then that Legolas walked back to her. He was surprised that both seemed calm.
"I take my leave." He bowed his head and walked away.
Legolas watched Eomer leave curiously and then sat down next to Aurel; he held some food out for her. "Here…eat."
She gently took the food from his hand and began to eat it.
"What did Eomer wish?"
She swallowed what she had in her mouth before responding. "He wanted forgiveness for his betrayal."
"And you granted it to him?"
She took another bite and nodded her head.
"Why?" He asked, wondering how she could give her forgiveness so freely.
"Because it was not of his own will. Pitted family against friend, which would you chose Legolas? It is not that easy. And I feel no ill will from him." She gently rubbed her swollen stomach.
Legolas had not been ready to forgive Eomer, and he quickly changed the subject. "Is the child calm now?"
"Very. He is happy you are near. Why do you not feel for yourself?"
Legolas was trapped, he did not wish to feel for himself, but he would have to, as it would hurt Aurel that he still wished to be partially distanced from the child. He reached over and placed his hand over her stomach, he could feel the warmth of her skin even with all the layers of clothing she had on and it made his blood rush. At first, he did not feel a thing, but then his fingers began to tingle, and the tingling sensation rushed up and spread throughout his entire being, it made him tremble. Legolas forced a smile at Aurel.
"You see, he is very happy to have you close."
He removed his hand and looked at it for a while.
"What did it feel like?"
"It tingled."
Aurel was obviously pleased that he had felt something, "That is curious."
"Those pains you had before…. you said they had never occurred before?"
"Do not worry yourself over that, I told you, I was hungry and tired."
"But I do worry, even under normal circumstances, your body would be under strain."
She tsked. "There are limitations as to how much I can do, but I am still capable."
Legolas forced himself to smile again, suppressing the memories of his mother's death, which as of late seemed to be so fresh in his mind. "Then you must promise me that whenever you feel hungry or tired, you will not hide it, that you will let me know. You are more important than getting home."
"Legolas, what is it that you fear so much?"
He looked at her blue-grey eyes, they seemed darker than usual. Her dark hair was pulled back, which made her facial features more prominent. Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips were a dark pink, she looked drained, but she was beautiful nonetheless. He put one of his hands up to her face and caressed it with his thumb. "I fear not having you by my side." She leaned into his hand, relishing the feeling. His fingers trailed down her neck and over her shoulder, "I fear forgetting what your touch does to me." His hand gently continued its way down her arm and onto her hand, grabbing hold of it tightly, and then bringing her hand up to his lips as he placed a kiss on it.
A shiver ran up her spine, and she let go of his hand, this time placing hers on his face, pulling him closer to her. So close that their foreheads were touching. "Fear not those things." Was all she said before kissing him passionately.
He responded eagerly to the kiss, kissing her back, but then he began to feel that tingling sensation again and it made him feel sick and he pulled away, although Aurel tried to pull him back, he stayed where he was. He never took his eyes off of her, but he did not know what to say.
It seemed as if she was going to say something, but nothing came forth, instead, she took Legolas's arm and wrapped it around her, and comfortably settled herself within his embrace, trying to take a rest. He was grateful that he did not have to explain himself; somehow he thought that perhaps she understood. Through it all he was overjoyed that he was able to hold his wife in his arms once again, he relished the feeling of having her so close to him.
A few hours passed and Ihawsanor loathed having to disturb them, but they could not risk staying in one place for too long. "My lord, I am sorry to disturb you and the Princess."
Legolas nodded, for he understood why they had to move. Aurel sat up as well, dreading having to walk the long way they did. "Will you be well enough to walk Melethril?"
She nodded and waited for him to stand so that he could help her up. She almost forgot to pick up Maethorgond's sword, and went to get it but Legolas was kind enough to pick it up for her. "I pray you do not have to use this." He said as he passed it onto to her. She did not reply to that, as they began to move forward. Ihawsanor took the opportunity to pull Legolas aside.
"There is blood in the air, can you smell it?" He asked Legolas.
"I have for quite a while now."
"Should we continue to press forward? We are few, and should there be…"
"We will press forward." Said Legolas interrupting Ihawsanor. "There is no where else for us to turn, we are but a few days from Eryn Lasgalen, let us not turn our backs now."
Ihawsanor grabbed hold on Legolas's arm. "You are not safe, and neither is your wife, you, her…both are what is Eryn Lasgalen, should you fall in battle, who will lead? What will become of your kingdom?"
Legolas looked at Aurel as they continued to walk. Were they in that much danger? Was he being hasty in his decision to move forward? He shook his head. "What ever happens to Aurel and I, it is not the end for we are not Eryn Lasgalen, the people are, and I sense that our people need us."
"Then you would put your unborn child at risk?"
Legolas shot Ihawsanor a deathly gaze. "Watch your tongue Captain, you may have known me since I was an elfling, but I am your commander now. Am I to sacrifice that which I have sworn to protect for my own personal reasons? Am I to sacrifice all the other unborn children of our kingdom for my own? Nay, there is a code of honour we live by Ihawsanor, we best not forget it now in time of dire need." He pulled his arm away and walked quickly to be next to his wife.
Although worried, Ihawsanor was proud, Legolas had become the leader he never wanted to but was destined to be.
Aurel's heart froze at the sight of the entrance to Eryn Lasgalen. There were dead bodies everywhere, both human and Elven, and she had to fight back the tears; this was not a time to show distress of any kind. She looked at Legolas, who had a cold resolve on his face, he let no emotions break through. There was an eerie silence as they walked through the stone gates that were unguarded and left open. She grabbed a hold of his hand, he looked at her briefly before turning his gaze back upon the palace. He broke away from her grasp as he looked around, and slowly but surely some noise came about.
"Prince Legolas?" asked Elven guard who came about from the shadows.
Legolas walked up to him, "What has happened here?"
"You need to leave, you should not be here, for your own safety…" and then he looked about, "Elebereth…" Whispered the guard as he saw Aurel and he approached Legolas "Get the princess away from here!" He raised his bow and seemed to aim his arrow at Aurel.
Legolas immediately moved himself in front of the the guard, "What do you do?!" But as the last word escaped his mouth, he could here his name being called out by Aurel, he though, had no time as he felt the searing pain of an arrow embedded in his back. The force of it made him fall to his knees.
Distraught the Elven guard shot out and killed the Easterling archer whom had been his target before Legolas had stood in front of him, he was not aiming at Aurel.
Aurel ran to Legolas immediately falling beside him. "Legolas!"
But Ihawsanor ran to her and picked her up roughly.
"Let me go! Unhand me!!!" cried Aurel
Legolas tried to breathe normally as he slumped forward onto the ground. "Get---her-away!" was all he could force through the pain.
More Easterling archers and fighters began to appear, there were not many left, but they had managed to injure the prince and that was cause for worry.
Ihawsanor nodded as he carried Aurel to a place of cover.
"Let go of me, or I will cut you down Ihawsanor!!"
"I cannot princess."
"You cannot leave your prince out there!! You cannot, he is injured!!!"
"And we cannot have you injured as well." He said setting her down, but holding on to her. "Stay still." He looked out beyond the wall they were hiding behind. "He is still alive there are guards out there with him." He felt cold steel against his neck.
"Release me."
"You will have to kill me Princess, and then, that is one less good fighter to help protect your husband."
"Ihawsanor, do not make me do it!"
"I do what my commander has asked of me!" He turned to face her. "You are a heavily pregnant elf!! Understand the limitations to your capabilities; understand that you must not act as his lover, but as the Princess of Eryn Lasgalen, and soon the mother of the heir to this fallen kingdom!! Do your duty and remain where you are. I will go and fight for you, but you must swear to stay here, if Legolas dies, you are leader….now lower your blade and begin accepting your responsibilities!!"
Her breathing slowed and she lowered her blade, he in turn let go of her arm and nodded, taking one more look out there before running out with a great cry.