Rated M for violence and sexual encounters

Disclaimer: The characters all belong to the master Tolkien and this is only being written for my own enjoyment and hopefully yours. No money or profit involved

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A Cage of a Different Kind

Chapter 12

Eowyn had enclosed herself in her chamber, coming out for food only when she knew others would not be around. If she could not please them or herself, than avoidance seemed the best choice. "I am not going to get away with this much longer." she thought as she hurried back to her room with some fruit she had found in the kitchen.

She ducked inside her chamber, bolted the door behind her and jumped when she heard her name spoken softly from across the room. She whirled around and almost dropped the plate of food she carried but she relaxed a bit when she saw it was Faramir. He sat starring into the fire.

"Your brother is going to come down with a battering ram and break down your door if you do not give him an answer soon." His attempt at humor fell flat when combined with his sad countenance. "Is the thought of marrying me that reprehensible that you would barricade yourself in your chambers to avoid giving an answer? A simple 'no' usually suffices in these situations."

Eowyn sighed and sat down across from him. Tears welled in her eyes and she put her head in her hands and started to sob.

He was immediately at her side, patting her back and trying to calm her. "I am sorry Eowyn. I did not mean to upset you. It's just that we need to give him an answer and by your reaction, I think I know what it is." She could hear the hitch in his voice as well.

"That's just it, you don't know." She said looking out the window, anywhere but in his eyes. She drew herself up and sighed as she squared her shoulders. Mustering every ounce of courage in her small body she spoke quietly. "Once you find out, you will not want to marry me anyway so I am just going to come out and say it. I am carrying Legolas' child." Eowyn finally looked up into Faramir's eyes, watching the shock register as he sat heavily on the arm of her chair.

"I knew you would be shocked." she said softly, all the sadness and desperation welling up so that she could hardly breathe. The next came out as the barest whisper. "That is why I cannot marry you."

Faramir was stunned. He had played so many different scenarios in his head as to how this was going to end but this totally threw him. He stood and ran a hand absently through his unruly hair trying to wrap his head around what he had just heard but before he could muster a reply she continued.

"I cannot get a response from Legolas leading me to believe that I have been played for a fool. He lives and my heart still loves him Faramir, but I have also come to love you." She turned and began to pace as she tried to control the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. "I cannot in good conscious ask you to accept me now. My brother will have a fit and probably try to wage war on the elves. At the very least, he will send me away somewhere to bear my shame out of the eyes of the people, eventually fostering my bastard and letting me live the rest of my life in solitary pursuits." Once she started, she could not seem to stop.

"Eowyn please, there are things..." Faramir started but Eowyn interrupted him.

"Don't even say it! I will not get rid of my baby. It is the one thing that held me to this world after I killed the Witch king. I could sense it, even when I was not sure what it was. It somehow led me back to the world of the living, the light. Without this child, I do not think I would have had the strength to return." Eowyn started to sob again and Faramir wrapped her in his arms.

"You interrupted me before I finished my love. I could never ask you to get rid of anything that is a part of you. I was going to say that I would marry you no matter what. I will claim the child as my own and we will raise it together."

"What! You would do that Faramir?" Eowyn raised her tear stained face to him unsure she had heard him correctly.

"I might have some trouble explaining his or her pointed ears but my word will not be questioned." A smile appeared on her lips as he said that. "We will cross that bridge if and when we need to Eowyn. I love you and everything about you, including your baby." Faramir gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I understand your hesitation now, but there is nothing you could tell me that would make me refuse to marry you."

She stood there in awe of this wonderful man that was going to be her salvation. "Oh Faramir, you are too good to me. I do not deserve you."

"Stop! I am the one who cannot believe my good fortune. Let us tell your brother with all haste. Your condition will not stay hidden forever my love."

The next few weeks passed in a blur for all concerned. Legolas slowly regained his strength, sending daily messages to Eowyn and still getting nothing in return. His heart hurt even as his body recovered.

Eomer was elated at the news his sister had accepted Faramir's proposal. His plan had worked so far and it seemed that she was almost happy about it.

The final nail in the coffin of her love for Legolas came when she was finally given a reply to her many messages. It curtly stated that Legolas was recovering but did not wish to speak to her. All further communication should be stopped. Once she was able to get her wobbling legs to obey her, she decided enough was enough. She had a wonderful man that would love her and her child. She finally started preparations for her own wedding. It could not come soon enough, she had started to wear only her looser gowns and the baby's presence was not going to stay hidden much longer.

Eomer breathed a sigh of relief when Eowyn stopped sending messages to Mirkwood every day. He had been finding it more and more difficult to intercept the incoming messages. Who knew the elf would be that persistent. Perhaps I need to send a message similar to the one Eowyn had received. No, an announcement of the upcoming wedding would be enough." And he got busy drafting it.

Aragorn was saddened when he got the message that Legolas and Thranduil would not be attending his wedding. According to the missive, Legolas was still recovering and things were hectic in Mirkwood. "In a way, that is probably for the best considering..." He thought ruefully. He knew that Eowyn was still reeling from the way she and Legolas had parted even though she was doing her best to hide it and put on a brave face. He also suspected there was something underlying her decision to marry Faramir so quickly but he knew they would let him know what was going on soon enough; he would not listen to idle gossip.

Legolas sat under the tree not far from the palace pondering his next move. He had every intention of going to the wedding but he was going to have to plan this well. His father and he had arrived at a truce. He had even helped his father send the message to Aragorn in hopes of making his father think he was resigned to staying home. He was going to have to wait till the last minute and ride like the wind in order to make it. Thranduil would be watching him like a hawk during the weeks leading up to the event.

As the time approached, the king seemed to have more and more responsibilities for Legolas to take care of. It was as if he sensed something was up. Of course, he had been Legolas' father for several millenniums and knew his son very well, so when Legolas started to talk about going out on patrol again; warning bells went off in his head.

"Absolutely not!" Thranduil said.

"But Ada, you will not allow me outside the palace and I have not set foot in the forest since my return. I am a forest elf. I need contact with the trees and nature. That is part of my duty as well."

"You can go outside and sit in a tree, within sight of the palace then." Thranduil replied curtly.

Legolas sighed; this was going to be more difficult than he had anticipated. "I am going crazy Ada. I spoke to the patrol leader and it is not going to be a long or dangerous trip. I need to get out or you will not have to throw me in the dungeon, you can just bury me."

"Don't you think that is just a little dramatic Legolas? I still don't trust you not to go to Gondor." Thranduil replied.

"Even if I still planned on going, how would I make it in time? The patrol goes tomorrow and the wedding is less than a week away. It would take almost that whole week to get there and the men would report my departure the minute I tried to leave. Besides, Adar, I am not a child, I understand your concerns and I have agreed to stay in Mirkwood." Legolas hoped he looked sincere as his heart raced in his breast. He noticed his father softening and pushed on. "Please let me go. I will be with other elves that will make sure no harm befalls me Ada!"

"Something always happens to you ion nin." Thranduil responded, but one look at his despondent son made him start to reconsider. "They are not going far are they?"

"Just to the river east of here and up to the ridge and back. It will be 5 days at the most. Please Ada I don't know if I can take this much longer."

Thranduil almost said no again but he knew Legolas loved the forest and was never able to stay in one place for long. Besides, at this point, he probably could not make it to Gondor in time anyway.

Silence stretched out as each studied the other. Legolas knew enough about negotiation to know that this was the pivotal point; the first one to speak now would lose.

"I am going to trust you ion nin."

Legolas almost flinched at that but he made his face remain passive. "Thank you Ada, I will prepare to leave with them at first light tomorrow."

Legolas wearily slipped off his lathered horse late the night before the wedding. He had parted company with the patrol two nights ago amidst much confusion and trepidation on Arundel's part, and had ridden his poor mount nearly to death. If not for the stout heart and strength of his elven mount he surely would not have made it and he fussed over him, concerned for his welfare. As he groomed and fed him he thought back on the last few days events.

The captain of his patrol had done everything in his power to dissuade him from coming for he knew that the king was going to be furious. He did not appreciate the position Legolas was putting him in but Legolas assured him that he would send word to his father the minute he got to Gondor. And if all went as planned that which should be a day before the patrol arrived back in Mirkwood. This way, the king could have his fit of anger over with by the time the patrol got home and they would miss the brunt of it. He also assured Arundel that he would admit he had snuck away and that he had no prior knowledge of Legolas' plan. The prince knew there would be hell to pay when he did get home, but he was no longer an elfling and he had far too much at stake.

As he stepped out of the stables, he decided to slip into the castle and go to the king's room directly. He did not want to be announced so late at night but knowing Aragorn, he would still be up. His heart told him to go directly to Eowyn but he did not know what was going on there. The announcement of her betrothal to Faramir had shaken him and he wanted to talk to his friend before he talked to her.

Legolas had become familiar with the white city and its castle so he had no problem slipping in to Aragorn's room unnoticed, something he should talk to Aragorn's captain of the guard about. He stood quietly on the balcony and watched his friend writing something at his desk.

"Greetings Estel." Legolas said as he stepped out of the shadows. Startled, Aragorn leapt up and had his dagger out before he realized who was there.

"Legolas!" he cried and stepped forward to embrace his friend.

"I was told you would not be here! What happened? You look like you rode straight through!" Aragorn said as he held his friend at arm's length and surveyed his bedraggled appearance.

Legolas smiled. "Aye mellon nin. I did ride straight through. My father has been difficult these last weeks and I took it upon myself to be here. It was his wish that I should stay in Mirkwood."

"Legolas, am I going to incur Thranduil's wrath because you are here?" Aragorn said sternly, still holding onto his dear friend.

"Nay Estel. I will be the one to incur his wrath. I might even need you to rescue me from his dungeon upon my return." Legolas said with a slight laugh, knowing that he was not entirely kidding.

Aragorn was drinking in every detail of his friend's appearance. "I am so glad to see you well. We have been worried about your health." Aragorn embraced him again and finally released him. "Come sit down, we have much to catch up on." Aragorn smiled as he led his friend to a chair in front of the fireplace. It was not cold but the fire lent needed light and cheer to the room.

"Why did you say you were not coming?"

"My father did not wish me to make the trip. the only way to get him to loosen his hold on me was to appear to agree with him. I had to wait until he was sure I probably could not make it in time and then I was finally able to sneak away."

"Oh Legolas. I can see now that we will have to plan a rescue mission if we are ever to see you in Gondor again."

They shared a good laugh and Legolas took the opportunity to politely inquire about Arwen and the wedding, trying not to bring up Eowyn until the other news was out of the way. He did not want to seem too eager.

"I am glad everything is ready and all are well mellon nin." Legolas politely responded to Aragorn's news.

"Legolas, I know this is late notice but I would like you to stand with us tomorrow. I would have invited you to do so earlier but I did not know you were coming." Aragorn looked at his friend pleadingly.

"Aragorn, I would love to but won't that throw things off for Arwen? It sounds like everything is in place and I would not want to alter the plans at this late date. I am just glad I was able to make it in time." Legolas did not want to hurt his friend's feelings.

Aragorn leaned up and took Legolas hand. "Please mellon nin. You were ever my first choice and now my day will be complete with you at my side as well."

Legolas groaned inside. He was never one to want to bring undo attention to himself and this made him a little uncomfortable. "I don't know..."

"What is there to think about? I will tell Arwen right away. I am sure she will be just as thrilled as I am that you are here and able to stand with us. It will mess nothing up!"

Still trying to wriggle out he said, "Don't I need special clothes? I couldn't very well pack my finest to go on a patrol. My father would have figured out my plan immediately! I did not bring anything suitable to be standing in front of your whole kingdom in."

"Not at all. I have a tailor that can use one of Elladan's outfits and take it in for you in a matter of hours. You will just need to go to his quarters first thing tomorrow morning. I will make sure everything is ready for you."

"Aragorn, I..."

"Legolas, it would mean the world to me." Aragorn pleaded.

Legolas looked at his friend and found he could not say no. "Aye, for you and Arwen, I will do this. Right now I need to send off a message to my father to ward off any unnecessary bloodshed and then get some rest. That ride took much out of me."

Aragorn looked at his friend and saw the tired circles under his eyes. "Are you fully recovered mellon nin? You do look a little frail." Aragorn said concern in his eyes.

"Yes naneth." Legolas quipped. "I am quite well. I will admit that was the most exercise I have had in a while but I am fine."

"Then I will keep you no longer." Aragorn opened his door and summoned his steward. A tired looking man soon rushed in and quickly showed Legolas to a room.

"Do you require anything before you retire my lord?" he asked politely.

"No, I am good. I will just take a quick bath and get some sleep."

"As you wish my lord." the steward backed out of the room and Legolas could not help noticing the relieved look on his face as he hurried away. He longed to find Eowyn but it was very late and he still did not know if the rumors he had heard were true.

The next morning was spent in the tailors and before he knew it, he was walking with Aragorn to the steps of the keep. He had been told that this was the same place they had held the coronation since it allowed his people to participate in the happiness of their new king.

Eowyn sat in the front row with Faramir watching the event unfold. "I could not possibly have this kind of grandeur, it is simply not my style." She thought to herself. A pain twisted her heart for a moment when she thought of Legolas. "I actually thought I would be with him but now…" She looked up to see the King walk in followed closely by a tall blonde elf…

"By the Valar!" she breathed clutching Faramirs arm in dismay. "It could not be but it was… He is here? When did he arrive? Why had he not contacted her?" Everything that Eowyn had wondered about now seemed true. He had purposefully avoided her. Her heart broke even as her breath was taken away by the sight of him. He was wearing his familiar warrior braids but he was clothed in a blue and silver tunic that made his eyes blaze. The soft light blue leggings and boots showed off his lean build and long legs. The moment was almost too much and she swayed dangerously. Faramir turned to her and smiled and placed a soft kiss on her cheek, not immediately realizing the cause of her distress.

Legolas almost stopped as he caught sight of Eowyn and he had to make his legs continue to follow Aragorn. He tried not to stare but he caught his breath when he saw how beautiful she looked. Her skin seemed to glow and her golden hair cascaded down her back. His legs almost collapsed under him when he saw the kiss Faramir bestowed on her as she clung to his arm. She was obviously in as much shock as he was but he vowed he would not show any emotion to any in attendance. He barely heard a word of the ceremony as he stood beside his friend for his body was numb. He went through the motions but his heart felt dead. His father had been correct.

TBC