Chapter 9 Sometimes you gotta give

Hello all here's the next installment of The Price of Freedom. I hope that eventually you as my readers will review more it really helps me continue when you do.

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

oooOooo

I retired to my room the night after the council with a sense of fulfillment. It felt right to be apart of the fellowship. This was the beginning of a journey that I knew would reveal many things about me and this new world. I just hoped that along the way I would be able to overcome all the obstacle that were sure to be thrown in my way. I was somewhat scared about what might come my way. What if I messed up, did something wrong and it caused some one to die.

I swallowed hard. Death was something that seemed haunt me. Sometimes I dreamed at night about what happened to my village, my family, and me. I heard their screams and felt the pain all over again every night. I didn't say anything to anyone I figured it would, one day, go away. I would, however, never forget the look on his face before I'd slit his throat in cold blood. His wide dark surprised eyes and the look of shock lining his face. I shook the thoughts from my head...I shouldn't think about these things. It would only make them worse.

I quickly undressed from my council clothing and slipped on a soft robe. The material was soft and fuzzy against my skin. I'd never felt anything like it and silently wondered what it was made of. It was long sleeved but short on my body, barely coming to my knees. It was cut low in a V shaped style that revealed a slight amount of cleavage. I tied the sash of the same material around my waste to keep it closed. I shivered as a slight breeze came through the window and blew on the bare skin of my calves.

I walked over to the small basin of water that I kept in my room and quickly washed my face, neck, and hands. I dried them on the edge of my robe and then moved on to braiding my knotted long hair when there was a knock on my door.

" Come in..." I said loudly enough for the person out side to hear me. The door cracked open and Legolas' head popped in followed by the rest of his body and that of whom I knew to be Aragorn

" Sorry for the interruption Adriana but my dear friend wished to speak with you." Legolas explained. I nodded and sat down in front of my mirror and proceeded to braid my hair. He looked at me as if for the first time and noticed my robe.

" Maybe another time would be more appropriate." He said softly. I shook my head. I didn't really care about them being here while I was in my bath robe, it covered the parts I'd like to keep to myself.

" Take a seat." I offered knowing that the only place to sit was on the bed or in the one chair that was next to it. Legolas opted for the bed and Aragorn the chair. Legolas made himself comfortable on the bed. He turned on his side to face me while Aragorn sat silent in his chair.

Aragorn spoke first, " There are matters of you joining the fellowship that concern me my lady. Legolas has informed me that you can handle weaponry with the ease of a seasoned warrior however this quest will be very dangerous..." Did he really think I didn't know how dangerous this quest would be. Would I have joined the fellowship if I wasn't capable of handling myself. " and I am not quite sure how ready you are for battle. It is my wish to hold training session for you, the hobbits, and any other member whom wishes to attend tomorrow morning if for no other reason then to see what you are capable of..."

I cut him off, " My lord Aragorn, I understand your concerns however they are completely misplaced I assure you." He raised an eyebrow at my words. " I did not join the fellowship on some act of impulse...the matter was thought thoroughly through I assure you. There are many things you don't know about me my lord. We have just met and already you assume that because I am a woman I have never seen battle, never killed a man, you assume that I am weak."

I looked at Legolas and caught his eye. " Will you leave us for a moment Legolas." He gave me a look of question witch I answered with one that clearly stated ' later'. He got up to leave. I almost felt bad at making him leave. He took hold of the door nob and turned it. He more than anyone deserved to hear this.

" Wait..." I said softly and took a deep breath. " You, more than anyone, deserve to hear this." he looked at me questioningly. " Please...stay." He slowly made his way back to the bed and took the seat he'd previously occupied.

" I'm going to tell both of you something I have told no one else. I...I came here some 3 weeks ago...broken, bruised, and on the verge of dying." I turned to Legolas. " I think I may have died if you wouldn't have found me. I was lucky you found me when you did. I don't know what would have happened to me if you hadn't. " I pulled down the side of my robe to show them the arrow wounds as well I pulled up the sleeves of my robe to show them the marks that still remained on my wrists. His gazed remained steady. " These are not marking of a women who has never seen war my lord. I got these from the Prince Octinia and his men. I had gotten up early that morning to go practice my weaponry by the river...I had barley crested the hill when I heard noises coming from over the hill. I crouched down and looked over the top and what was on the other side..still haunts my dreams. The entire army of Octinia sat on the other side...swords drawn ready to attack. There was nothing I could really do...I knew I would die and so would my people. I figured if I was going to die why not try to give the people a small chance of escape...some time..anything. So I charged at them...alone...head on. There is nothing more terrifying then charging down a hill at an entire army to your death. I took down as many men as I could until I was shot down and tied up. The Prince kept me as his personal slave...I don't know how long I was with him the days all seemed to blur together."

I shook my head as hot tears fell from my eyes. " There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about that...I try so hard not to let those moments control my life and hid my hurts from others. My grief is my own and I don't want anyones' sympathy because of what happened. I can't change what happened that day. As much as I wish I could...I just can't...my point is I am stronger for what happened to me and ironically, to an extent, I'm thankful that it didn't happen to a woman who wouldn't have been able to escape to this place as I have. I watched my people die before my eyes...I heard their screams...and by the Gods I wont let it happen to anyone else if it is within my power. I do not know the people of this world but I do know this...a person is a person and no one deserves to be put through what I went through...no one."

Aragorn was speechless for a moment. I'm sure he hadn't been expecting this whole out pour. I honestly think he didn't know what to say. Legolas looked to be in the same boat, his eyes were slightly misted over and I thought for a moment that tear might slip passed his lashes. He closed his eyes and sat up in my bed with his head in his hands. He ran them over his face before looking at me.

" There is more about me that I may tell you both...in time perhaps we will learn to trust one another more. If you'll excuse me my lords I'm very tired and would like to ready myself further for bed. I'll see you in the morning." I bit my quivering lip as they stood up. That was by far one of the most difficult conversations I'd ever had. I turned back around in the mirror and saw Aragorn approach me from behind. He laid a hand softly on my shoulder. His grey eyes found my own brown ones in the mirror.

" Until then my lady." He said evenly. He walked silently out the door. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. I had a feeling I'd just earned myself a bit of respect from the noble man.

I looked back up in the mirror and saw Legolas still sitting on my bed. Just looking at me made me want to cry and I had no idea why it was him that would set me off but it was. I let out a deep shaking breath as my tears flowed freely from my eyes. He walked over to me a knelt before me. I couldn't look at him...I just couldn't. He made me want to cry so much more. I shook my head as a particularly loud sob escaped my throat. I felt his arm slip under my legs and one behind me as he lifted me from my chair. I cried harder as he carried my and covered my face with my hands. I didn't want him to be here while I finally cried. Finally let loose all the pain that I'd berried. He lade me on my bed and covered me with my blanket. He stroked my hair as a father might a small child. He pulled my head into his lap as he sat down beside me and continued to stroke my hair.

I don't know how long I sat and cried but he was the there through it all. He sat in silence the entire night as if he knew that saying something wouldn't help me. He reminded me so much of my brother. So silent and comforting.

Flashback

My head was resting quietly in my brothers lap. His fingers playing with the wet strands of my dark hair.

" Cratias?" I asked, " Can we come back tomorrow. I want to learn how to swim underwater like you."

He chuckled slightly and continued to play with my hair.

" Of course little one, but on one condition." I sat up happily and turned to him with a smile plastered to my face. He smiled warmly and ruffled my hair before jumping to his feet. " you have to beet me back home!" with that said he took of in the direction of our village. I laughed as grabbed my shoes and took off after him.

" Cratias!" I called and smiled. " You forgot your shirt!"

End of Flashback.

When I lay spent on the bed on the verge of sleep, Legolas began to sing. His voice was soft and sorrowful. I was almost asleep and vaguely aware of the fact that he even left I was so spent. I went to bed that night with the thoughts of home running through my mind. That night I dreamed but my dreams were not that of home...

oooOooo

Dream

I shivered as the breeze blew over my bare skin and snuggled into the warmth behind me. The steady sound of breathing filled my ears moving in tune with the steady rise and fall of the chest behind me. It was then I noticed that I wasn't the only one who was completely naked. I almost panicked when I realized there was an arm wrapped protectively around my bare waist. I looked down at the arm wrapped around me. His hand lay over a large scare I'd received from my first sword lesson . The blade had bit in just above my hip bone and dragged straight down some six inches before it came to a stop. I started as I was pulled closer and I rolled around to face the person behind me. I was surprised to find the man still asleep after I'd turned around, I hadn't made any effort in being quiet about it. I noticed that we were surrounded by tall grass and lying on a cloak of deep green.. I brought a hand up to his handsome face and touched his cheek making sure he was real. There was a small scare just above his left eyebrow. I felt the slight stubble of his beard tickle the ends of my fingers. He took in a breath and stirred but didn't wake up. Stands of dark blonde hair fell in front of his eyes. He felt real enough I could even fell his breath on my cheek.

' my last dream hadn't been like this.' I thought.

I reached out and touched his muscular shoulder and gently shook it. I found another scar there. It was small and round, as if he'd caught the end of an arrow there. He groaned and stretched his muscles slightly and froze. His muscles tensed and his eyes opened. They widened as they met my own wide brown ones. I was surprised when he made no move to get up and surprisingly neither did I. He smiled slightly and touched my cheek in the same manner I had. His rough hands sent a tingle down my spine. He was so devilishly handsome.

" This must be a dream." he muttered. His voice was deep and smooth unlike any voice I'd ever heard.

" What else could it be." I said quietly back. His hand stopped moving on my cheek, he seemed surprised that I'd answered him. " for this cannot be real can it."

"What is your name?" he asked softly.

" Adriana...and you?" I questioned back as he leaned in closer. His hand cupping my cheek gently. This was most defiantly not just a dream. His hand moved to the back of my neck and softly pulled me toward him.

" Eomer." He whispered. His lips were just a breath away...and then he was gone.

oooOooo

I woke back in my bed with a start, my heart pounding in my ears. I rolled over and out of bed. That had been one hell of a dream. She'd felt so real in his arms. Her skin had been so hot and smooth against my own. She was been the most beautiful thing I'd ever had the pleasure of laying eyes upon. That dark wild hair and deep eyes, he could get lost in those eyes.

I quickly adorned a pair of breaches and tunic before a knock sounded at his door.

" Just a moment." I called gruffly as I quickly ran my fingers through my hair and knotted it behind my head. I grabbed my sword and pulled on my boots.

" Hurry up will you Eomer. Uncle is waiting for us in the hall." Eowyen called from the hall.

" Just a moment." I called again. I grabbed some small daggers and placed them in variously places on my body. When I finished I went to open the door. I paused and looked back to the ruffled bed. I grabbed the door handle and turned it.

' Just a dream,' I thought, " what else could it be?" I mumbled as opened the door and walked out into the hall to great my sister and the coming day.

oooOooo

There's the end of chapter nine. I hope you read and review. Until next time.

Foxyloxylegolas