A/N I've been playing around with the idea of doing a prequel to this story. Giving Iasbelin and Legolas some background might be fun to do. What are your guy's thoughts? Also I am making Legolas' age as about eight hundred since Tolkien never stated his real age.
delenawolves: Thanks for the review!
Erik'sAngelOfMusic17: Thanks for the review! I'm happy I let Iasbelin go with Legolas!
Chapter 11
"You look well this morning, Mistress Elf." Eowyn complimented as she walked up to the horse Iasbelin was riding on. Legolas rode next to her and never seemed to take his eyes off of here unless someone called his name. When Eowyn came to talk to his wife he fell a few steps behind the women to let them speak in some privacy. He went to find something useful to do such as scout. Eowyn had given up on talking to Aragorn and figured that Elven company would be more entertaining. She had only seen Elves a few times in her life but she had never gotten to hold a conversation with one so she jumped on the chance when a female Elf had come to Rohan.
"Thank you, child." Iasbelin mentally slapped herself for calling Eowyn a child. She had a habit of doing that to men sometimes and she was really trying to stop.
"I have not been called a child in some years, Mistress." Eowyn responded, laughing a little. She looked up at the beautiful Elf sitting on a tall mare and sighed. She had always been infatuated with Elves for some reason. They were mystical and outlandish to her.
"Please do forgive me, my lady, I am not used to the company of men." Iasbelin apologized.
"What is it like to be an Elven princess?" Eowyn found herself asking before she could stop herself. She had heard stories as a child of beautiful Elven kings and queens and she wondered if the stories were possibly true.
"It is much like the life of any princess , I'm afraid," Iasbelin began "I have certain duties as a princess that I must preform without hesitation. I am the lady of the court and I must act like it at all times. Ever since Legolas' mother left for the Undying Lands I have been burdened with the tasks of queen and princess." Eowyn nodded. She knew what that felt like, when the Queen had died she was left with her burdens.
"How old are you?" Eowyn wondered. She had always thought that it was fascinating that Elves were so old.
"I am seven hundred and fifty-one years old, my lady." Iasbelin laughed.
"I am but twenty-four." Eowyn laughed along with Iasbelin. At this Iasbelin dismounted her horse and chose to walk next to Eowyn. She found her very nice and she yearned for some female company in the midst of all males.
"You have plently to look forward to then." Iasbelin told her "Are you married?"
"No, I am not. I will marry for love. I do not want my uncle choosing my spouse so I will wait." Eowyn declared.
"Tis a wise decision." Iasbelin replied.
"Elves marry for love, do they not?" Eowyn questioned.
"They do." Iasbelin confirmed.
"It must be so wonderful to get to share eternity with one man." Eowyn marveled at the romanticism of the thought.
"It is a blessing from the Valar." Iasbelin muttered sarcastically. Eowyn looked at the Elf and noted her change in demeanor at the question.
"What is the matter?" Eowyn asked.
"Elven marriages are not as Man portrays them to be. They are not perfect as Man thinks them to be. Elves have the same challenges that men have in marriage." Eowyn knew that Iasbelin was speaking from experience when she told her about these things.
"Wargs! We are under attack!" The two women looked up to see Aragorn running down to Theoden and mounting his steed. Gimli attempted to mount Legolas' horse so he could join the fight. Iasbelin noticed Legolas standing at the top of the hill shooting at the Orcs as they came. Eowyn ran to her uncle.
"You must lead the people to Helm's Deep. And make haste!" The King declared.
"I can fight!" Eowyn yelled back to her uncle. Iasbelin remained put and waited for the answer.
"No! You must do this for me." Theoden yelled as he turned his horse in the opposite direction and rode off the to join the battle. Eowyn turned to the villagers and commanded them to follow her orders.
"Make for the lower ground! Stick together!" Eowyn yelled at the frightened villagers. Iasbelin mounted her horse and rides to the front of the line in an attempt to help Eowyn with her task. She looked back once more to the hill where she saw Legolas and sees that it no longer supported her husband. She sent a silent prayer to the Vala to protect him.
"Helm's Deep! There it is! At long last." Iasbelin heard a woman say as they neared the fortress. The fort was bigger than anything Iasbelin had ever seen before, it was cut into a mountain and there was not breaching it. Iasbelin felt confident that no army of Sauron or Saruman could take the fortress.
They entered through the enormous gate at the front of the keep and made their way to the center of the fortress. Iasbelin helped Eowyn unpack some of the food that she carried and put it somewhere that it would not go rotten. Iasbelin liked feeling useful for once in this journey.
The women waited no long for the men to return from fighting off the Warg riders. Iasbelin and Eowyn were in the main street of Helm's Deep when they heard the trumpets and went running. Iasbelin's brown dress that was borrowed from Eowyn fluttered behind her as she ran to see the men. She felt so much like a human as she ran to find her husband.
"Make way for the King!" Gamling yelled at the civilians who were standing in the way. Eowyn reached her uncle as he dismounted his horse. Iasbelin searched the soldiers for Legolas' face and let out a relived breathe when she saw his face behind the King's.
"So few. So few of you have returned." Eowyn said as she searched the soldiers for Aragorn's face.
"Our people are safe. We have paid for it with many lives."The King said After telling his niece this he turned and walked up the stairs to talk with some soldiers on top the stairs. Legolas and Gimli dismounted their horse and walked over to the two women standing in the road. Legolas ran up to Iasbelin and gathered her up into a hug as soon as he could reach her.
"I was so worried that you had not made it here." He muttered in her ear. Iasbelin wrapped her arms around his neck and held on to him as if he were being pulled away by Sauron himself.
"I am fine. Where is Aragorn?" Iasbelin asked as she pulled away from her husband. Eowyn looked from the Elf to the Dwarf several times before anyone dared speak.
"My Lady" Gimli started but Eowyn cut him off.
"Lord Aragorn? Where is he?" She asked still searching for his face. Iasbelin was beginning to get worried now.
"He fell..." Iasbelin gasped and looked at Legolas who simply shook his head. Iasbelin felt tears forming in her eyes and dug her head into Legolas' tunic. Eowyn ran up to her uncle and looked at him with hollow eyes. He looked at her, nodded, and Eowyn began to cry.
"He cannot be dead." Iasbelin said in disbelief. Legolas just kept his eyes fixed on Eowyn and nodded. He held out his hand to Iasbelin and revealed Arwen's necklace that she gave him before he had departed. She touched it lightly and then closed Legolas' hand around it and placed her own hand over his.
"I told Arwen that I would watch over him." Iasbelin told Legolas. He decided that it was time to get off the street and find a place to gather his thoughts. He led Iasbelin away from Eowyn and parked her outside a very large door. He sat on a crate and motioned for her to sit on the one next to him.
"Have faith, my love, he will return." Legolas told his crying wife. She looked at him stubbornly and stared at him.
"When someone is dead that means they are not coming back to this world." Iasbelin explained.
"There was no body found." Legolas clarified for her.
"It does not matter." Iasbelin whispered.
"I know that this cut you deep, Iasbelin but please do not think of your brother's fate." Legolas asked as he touched his wife's face. She looked up at him and then down at the ring on her finger.
"It pains me to know that two of my brothers have been killed by Orcs. One brother of the blood and one of bond." Iasbelin muttered. Legolas reached out and grabbed her hand as she said this. He knew how hard losing family was and he did not want his wife to grieve over something that she could not change.
"You will meet him again." Legolas stated.
"I do hope so because I miss him sorely." Iasbelin answered.
A/N: Let me know what you think! Next chapter tomorrow! Review please!