Disclaimer: We own the new characters and the plot, nothing else.
Chapter 8- One day...
"You are..." Eowáthiel muttered, her eyes widening in surprise.
"We are Merry and Pippin at your service", a small man with light brown hair said, his eyes gleaming with delight. "So, is this your girl, Legolas?" Pippin asked, looking to the blond elf.
"Yes, this is Eowáthiel. Eowá, these are my dear friends, Merry and Pippin", Legolas introduced, and both hobbits shook hands with the brown eyed elleth, that was still recovering from the surprise.
"Legolas is a lucky fellow. You are as beautiful as a blooming flower, my lady", Merry commented, smiling at Eowáthiel.
"Thank you, but you don't have to call me lady; Eowáthiel is just fine" the blonde elleth replied, smiling at the polite manners of the small man. "Well, you two must be exhausted, I'm sure your journey was long. Come inside and we'll find you something to eat", she added, pointing to the wooden house.
"Well, lad- Eowáthiel, I mean… I'm a bit hungry. We only had breakfast, and we missed the second breakfast, the-"Pippin started to count up, but Merry interrupted him, saying "I'm sure that's not important right now, Pip. Let's go inside, shall we?"
So, the four of them unhurriedly made the way towards the house, with Merry and Pippin chatting about the adventures of the journey. As they were almost reaching the door, a certain red haired elleth stepped outside and shrieked at the sight of them. "Oh my, you're hobbits! Legolas told me stories about you, but I never imagined you'd be so short!"
"Léssi!" Eowáthiel warningly said. "That's not a very nice thing to say", she explained, as her sister walked towards them.
"Don't worry, the little lady is right! True to be said, we're as small as a child, and proud of it!" Merry happily stated, smiling to Léssien that was now holding the brown eyed elleth hand.
Laughing, they entered the house, where Milanil and Inwë greeted them, "Welcome to our house, you can stay as long as you wish" the black haired elleth told the two hobbits.
It was only after eating a good meal (it turns out that Pippin's hunger was not that tiny), that the two of them started giving Legolas news about those they had left behind. It was really amusing to watch them speaking enthusiastically, interrupting each other to add more details. Léssien was charmed: her blue eyes shined as she observed Merry and Pippin closely.
"… and Faramir is still at Gondor", Pippin concluded.
A loud noise echoed trough the kitchen, due to the tray Inwë had just let slip to the floor. Fruit rolled in every direction, but the green eyed elleth didn't move. She raised her eyes, and whispered: "Faramir?"
"Yes, son of Denethor. Why? Do you know him?" Legolas asked, raising an eyebrow suspiciously.
"Not personally. But the name is familiar; probably you mentioned it in one of yours many stories about the ring bearer's quest" Inwë quickly answered, her face suddenly expressionless.
And without adding a word, she left the kitchen. The elves and the hobbits stared at each other in a rather confused way, not understanding Inwë's reaction at the mention of that name.
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"Inwë, may I come in?" a blonde elleth called out.
"Sure", the dark haired elleth answered, and as soon as she spoke the door of her room opened to reveal her sibling, Eowáthiel. Her expression showed apprehension, and Inwë could clearly see what was coming. The green eyed elleth was not ready to tell her the truth, it was too painful.
"Onóre, what was that all about? Do you know this man, Faramir?" the brown eyed elleth asked, trying not to reveal in her voice how much she was concerned.
"I already answered to that, Eowá. I don't know who that man is", Inwë replied. She was sitting in the ledge, and her piercing eyes were gazing into the blue sky. "If you don't mind, I need to take some rest. I have a terrible headache."
"Are you sure you don't want to tell me anything?" No reply come, and so Eowáthiel decided to leave her older sister with her own thoughts. However, as she was almost closing the door, she added:" You should trust me, Inwë."
'That is easy to say', the green eyed elleth thought to herself. But her heart carried a heavy burden, and she was not ready to confide it to anyone; not even to her sister. Maybe one day she would be able to do it… when the pain had faded away, and her mind had erased those distant memories. One day…
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The hobbits brought another spirit to that house, and the place where silence had been a constant before, was now full of cheerful voices and loud laughter. Léssien was the one who was enjoying more their presence; she was never tired of hearing Pippin's and Merry many adventures.
Eowáthiel seemed to be distant, her brown eyes repeatedly looking towards her sister's room door. That headache was just an excuse, she was sure, but no matter how hard she tried to find a reason for that behaviour, the blonde elleth just couldn't bring herself to reach it.
"Eowá, let's leave these three children alone, and go for a walk", Legolas whispered in her ear. She nodded, and followed her beloved one outside. They walked side by side for a while, until Legolas grabbed her hand and made her look at him.
They stood still for a moment, their eyes locked. At last, the blond elf pulled the elleth to a hug, and it was a long time before they broke apart. "You're worried about your sister", he said, caressing her tanned face.
"Inwë has always been so mysterious, Legolas. Sometimes, she disappears in the night, and only returns before the dawn", Eowáthiel explained, her voice above a whisper. "I just want to understand…"
"I saw her a few nights ago, coming from the forest. I asked where she had been, but she told me it was not my business. If Inwë is keeping a secret, then it's because is serious and her will should be respected" the blue eyed elf seriously assured.
The blonde elleth nodded, but it was evident that something was still disturbing her. Legolas soothingly leaded her towards a big bolder ahead, and they sit facing each other. He wanted to say anything to comfort the elleth he loved, but no words reached his mouth. Instead, Legolas kissed Eowáthiel's hands softly, making the brown eyed elleth to quiver inside.
"You always had the gift of making me shiver, you know?" Eowáthiel said, a small smile gracing her features.
"And you have the gift of making me wish to stay by your side forever, away from all problems" Legolas said in a sweet voice, staring deeply into Eowáthiel's eyes.
Legolas and Eowáthiel were together for a long time. And their story was older than some trees that grow in that forest. They had made promises of eternal bounding and fought together against the many obstacles that faith had laid before their path.
However, when Tharandruill had called his son to an urgent meeting in the Dark Forest, things changed dramatically. Legolas was sent to Rivendell and Eowáthiel stayed behind, lost within the confines of the forest she inhabited, anxiously waiting for a return many thought impossible.
And then, one day not very distant from this, Legolas appeared out of nowhere. His strong determination in hug Eowáthiel again had prevented him from perish to the many dangers that the Fellowship encountered. And here he was again; reunited with the elleth to whom he had swore undying love, holding in his hands the most precious thing he had in Middle-Earth: Eowáthiel Leagallow.
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The sound of hooves broke the quiet night of an almost enchanted forest, where the hand of men had barely reached. Here and there, small shinny points could be spotted in the gaps between bushes; they were the eyes of small creatures that lived in the forest.
The tall figure riding a grey horse was aware of their presence, but she hadn't come just to watch them running hurriedly from bush to bush every time she approached them. In fact, she was not concerned about them at all.
As the figure drew closer a clear bathed by the moonlight, she removed the hood that covered her face. A cascade of black curly hair fell over her back, and with an incredible speed of moves, the figure descended the horse and walked confidently into the clear.
Someone was there: a man with a green cloak over his shoulders, a brown horse by his side. He looked as if he was expecting someone; his bright eyes searched the darkness restlessly. At the sight of the dark haired figure, his lips curled into a smile and his eyes become brighter than ever. "You came…" he whispered to the night.
"I came…" was the only reply reaching his ears.
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"No!" cried a green eyed elleth to the emptiness of her room. Rising slowly form the bed, Inwë walked towards the window, where the full moon could be seen high in the sky. Breathing heavily, the elleth felt one single tear rolling down her face, falling in the cold floor with a soft sound.
"I won't let it happen again; you will not control my emotions anymore. Did you hear me? You will not!" she said to no one, whipping some tears that were stubbornly fighting to roll down her face.
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Note: People I really need to know if you're enjoying this or not, because I'm starting to feel a little bit unsure about this fic. I don't know if I shall keep writing it or not… Anyway, thanks for all of you that read this until now.