Disclaimer: I do not own anything pertaining to LOTR, I only wish I did.

Rating: PG. I will change the rating when necessary.

A/N: Constructive criticism is welcome and appreciated. This is told in the first person, from Freda's point of view. Many details of events and time lines are from The Encyclopedia of Arda online. Translations come from two online sites – Arwen Undomiel and Grey Company. (for some reason, is not allowing me to type out the addresses, but it's cool) I do not own them either, I only use them for flavor.

From the First

Chapter 5: Unthinkable

It was nearly three months since Legolas and Gimli left to explore the southern edge of the mountains. Life in the royal household had returned to normal with one exception. With each passing day, a feeling of loneliness slowly crept into my heart. I did not fully understand why, but the days, no matter how bright and sunny, seemed a bit more dim to me.

One afternoon, Lady Eowyn paused and looked at me. "Freda, come closer."

I obeyed, halting only two steps from her.

"Are you feeling well?" Her eyes took in my appearance.

When she looked into my eyes, I resisted the urge to look away. "I feel no different than usual, my lady."

"Are you sure? You seem sad." She seemed to think for a moment. "You worry about your friends."

I nodded. "I do. They are traveling in a very dangerous place. I fear for their safety."

She smiled and placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sure they will be just fine."

I nodded again, somehow not as certain as she seemed.

"I have some news that may cheer you up."

I raised my eyes to hers.

"Adanor of Linhir has come to us with an offer of marriage." She waited for my reaction.

"For who, my lady?" I offered a small smile, my thoughts still on the elf and dwarf.

Again she smiled. "For you, Freda."

Stunned, I stepped back. "Adanor? But I barely know him!" A look of dismay crossed her features. I immediately felt the need to clarify. "It is not that I'm not honored that someone of Adanor's standing would think so highly of me," I faltered, unsure of how to continue, "but I was not prepared for such an offer."

"I realize that this is not a decision to be made lightly." Her eyes were full of concern, her tone was soothing. "You need not give your answer right away." I felt a wave of relief. "Shall I tell Adanor that you will at least consider his offer?"

Inside, part of me was screaming against it, but I nodded. I felt numb.

"Alright." She seemed more at ease. "Do you think you might be able to have an answer within a week or two?"

I nodded again. "May I ask what your advice would be?"

She chose her words carefully. "I think it would benefit you and your family very much if you were to accept. But in the end, the choice is entirely up to you. I will not force you into something you do not want to do."

I knew full well that were she any other person, I would not be given such a choice. The decision would be made for me, and I would have to go along with it. Lady Eowyn was very generous indeed. "Thank you, my lady." I bowed my head.

When I looked up she offered a motherly smile. "Go and rest. Perhaps you will feel better in the morning."

I bowed again and left. Both head and heart did feel a little lighter the next morning. I went about my duties aware that Lady Eowyn's eyes watched me from time to time. The next day was better, as was the day after that, though a strange uneasiness abided. We were in the great hall when the horns sounded, signaling an arrival. My initial joy turned to anxiety when the doors were thrown open and people started shouting. Gimli came in, weary and shaken. Behind him, three guards carried a badly wounded elf.

"What happened?" I hurried forward.

Instructions were being given and obeyed in the flurry of activity as the elf was laid on a table. I pressed through the gathering crowd and stopped in my tracks. Legolas lay there dazed and murmuring to himself, clearly in pain. The fletched end of a Haradric arrow had been broken off leaving the remainder of the shaft protruding from the wound it had created. From the dark stains on his tunic I could see that he had lost a good amount of blood.

My heart sank. "Gimli?"

The dwarf turned to me, exhausted and troubled. "We were attacked four days ago by a band of Haradrim on the way back. The horse was fast enough to outrun them, but not their arrows." He looked back to the elf. "The fool nearly unseated me trying to block that one."

"Four days?" I gasped, stunned.

One of the healers was speaking to Lord Faramir. "The wound is deep, my lord. It was probably for the best that he did not remove the arrow."

"Can you mend it?" The prince asked, his expression grim.

"I believe so, but it is already becoming infected. I can only hope that we can control it."

Lord Faramir nodded. "Do what you can." He turned to the nearest guard. "Send word to the King."

When he turned back, his gaze caught my own. A fear like I'd never felt before stole through me. My eyes fell to Legolas again. He stirred, his eyes fluttering open briefly and he looked at me.

"Freda." His hand rose weakly.

I ignored the strange looks I received and moved forward to clasp his hand with mine. His elven skin felt much too warm to me. "Amin sinome." (14)

"Amin hiraetha." (15) He sounded so very sad.

The world seemed to be swimming. I shook my head. "Eller kai ten'hiraethan." (16)

He closed his eyes and sighed then grimaced, his body going rigid. I gripped his hand tighter and glanced up to see that the arrow was being removed. When he jerked again with a gasp, I couldn't restrain my accompanying whimper.

"Ta naa eithel." I told him. "Lle varna." (17/18)

I felt him relax a bit. He began mumbling again in incoherent bits of phrases that did not make any sense in Westron or Elvish. Someone was crying. I felt a hand on my elbow gently pulling me away.

"Come."

I remained where I was. The crying continued.

"Freda, come away. The healers will take care of him."

"No!" I resisted. I realized it was my own sobs I was hearing. The hand on my arm was that of Lady Eowyn.

Gimli placed a hand on mine. "Go on, lass. There isn't much more you can do now. I'll stay with him."

I saw the tears glistening in his own eyes and nodded, letting him take hold of the too-warm hand.

"Have a bath drawn and make sure she is not left alone." I heard Lady Eowyn say to one of the maids as I was led into my room. "Freda-"

I looked up.

"I am sorry that you had to see that. Our healers will do what they can for him, and once King Elessar arrives, I am sure he will be able to help even more."

My gaze fell to the floor. I barely remember being helped out of my gown and into the large basin that had been filled with warm water, or being dressed into a fresh shift before being put to bed. I woke in the morning after a restless night filled with bad dreams. How late in the day was it? Was Legolas alive? Surely if something had happened someone would have come to tell me. I didn't bother with more than a dressing robe over my shift before moving past the sleeping maid and pulling the door open.

At first, I hurried toward the great hall, then realized they would not have kept him there. Spinning around, I went back the way I'd come, heading toward the guest quarters. As I rounded the corner, I saw Gimli sitting on a bench in the hallway outside of the very rooms he and Legolas had shared before.

"How is he?" I asked, padding up to the dwarf.

Gimli's eyes were sad. "Too early to say yet. The King is with him now."

"Do you think I could-"

The dwarf nodded. "Of course, lass."

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the heavy door open. Aragorn Elessar, King of Gondor and High King of the realms of men, stood at Legolas' bedside. When I entered, he looked up, looking drawn and worried. I remembered to bow to him, unable to look away from the elf.

"Rise, young one." His voice was soft, the command more like a request.

I did, taking a tentative step forward. The King gestured silently for me to continue toward them. Slowly, my bare feet quiet on the stone floor, I obeyed. Legolas looked more pale than the day before and he seemed to be too still in his sleep.

"Freda?"

I nodded, tearing my eyes from the elf to meet the King's gaze. "Yes, Sire."

I could not fathom the look in his eyes. "The same who warned King Theoden of the attack by the wild men all those years ago?"

"I am, My Lord." I bowed my head again and bobbed a curtsy. He had an excellent memory to recall that from all those years ago.

"How unfortunate that we meet again under such circumstances. I have done what I can for him." He looked to his friend and then back to me.

I took Legolas' hand in my own. It was still very warm, but didn't feel quite as hot as the day before.

The king seemed to take notice. "He takes comfort in your presence. Will you watch over him until I return? I must go to Prince Faramir."

"Yes, Sire." I bowed my head again.

He left us alone. I don't know how long I stood looking down at the elf but I jumped when a throat was cleared from the doorway.

"My apologies, lass." Gimli came forward, looking very tired.

"It's alright."

He came to me and patted my shoulder gently. "He'll be better before you know it. Elves are very sturdy creatures. Almost as sturdy as we Dwarves are."

I had a feeling he was saying it not just to reassure me, but both of us. I nodded, slowly releasing the hand that I was holding. Remembering my charge to be sure that these two guests were comfortable as long as they were in Dol Elessa, I glanced down at Gimli.

"I suppose you have not yet broken your fast."

"No, but you needn't worry about me."

"Nonsense. You must keep up your strength as well, Master Dwarf." I stepped back, trying to ignore the strange pull inside of me that wanted me to stay.

His eyes looked into my own as though he were reading my true thoughts. "Very well. But bring back enough for both of us."

I shook my head. "Thank you, but I'm not very hungry."

"You would make me breakfast alone?" He challenged lightly.

Despite everything, I felt myself smile. "No. Of course not."

"That's more like it." He nodded.

I returned with a tray of various items, meat and cheese, some fruit, even a few boiled eggs. While we ate, I asked Gimli to recount the first part of their travels South. He told me how the further they went, the land became increasingly dry, until there were only sparse outcroppings of vegetation and what grasses there were had been brown and thin. It wasn't until they neared the River Harnen that they saw a good amount of plant life again. The lush growth along the river's banks made it look like a wide green ribbon had been strung out across the land.

"It brightened his mood a good deal when we got to it." Gimli said with a small gesture toward Legolas.

"But I thought he wanted to go."

"He did."

"Then why would he have not been in a good mood? Did something happen along the way?"

Gimli shifted, looking uncomfortable. "Not exactly."

"What then? You both seemed happy to be on your way when you left here."

"Perhaps it was the heat."

There was something he wasn't telling me but I decided not to press him. "Perhaps." Elves were supposed to be impervious to climate. What would make him suddenly lose interest in the journey? I would have to remember to ask Legolas himself when he was better.

King Elessar returned to check on the elf and I excused myself to tend to my duties, promising Gimli that I would come back at dinner time.

"How is he?" Lady Eowyn asked when I came to her side.

"It is hard to say." I replied. "He has not woken yet."

"And Gimli?"

"He worries for his friend, but believes that he will recover in time."

"I hope he is right."

"As do I."

14 – Amin sinome – I am here

15 – Amin hiraetha – I am sorry

16 – Eller kai ten'hiraethan – There is nothing to be sorry for.

17 – Ta naa eithel – It is alright (Lit. 'It is well')

18 – Lle varna – You are safe