Chapter Forty-Two

~ Estel~
I sighed in annoyance as I surveyed the chaos, confusion, and downright bedlam that moving back from Helm's Deep had caused. I knew that Éowyn and my sister and mother would be facing similar annoyances, wherever they were; we had all split up the task to spare Éowyn the nightmare of doing it alone, after all.

Aragorn, Legolas, Éomer, Théoden, Gimli, Boromir, Eldarion, and Mithrandir had all set out not too long ago to Isengard, and now we waited for their return, passing the time by preparing for the festivities tonight.

I had wanted to come, but they had tried to stop me. It had only been after Mithrandir himself – the one who had always encouraged me with a gentle, amused smile on his face – had asked me to stay that I had consented. I had agreed only because I knew that he was not being overprotective as the others were; he genuinely feared for my safety.

With another sigh, I directed some of the servants to begin cleaning as I and the rest began shelving the supplies.

Carefully, I grabbed a casing and lifted it as high as I could get it; but even on my tiptoes, I wasn't tall enough to put it where it belonged. I was about to ask for someone's help when arms appeared around me and lifted the case for me.

I spun around, startled. "Legolas! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" I accused.

But for once, Legolas didn't respond to my teasing. His blue eyes were almost . . . distracted, actually.

I frowned. "~Legolas? What's wrong?~"

He merely looked at me, sorrow in his gaze. "~It's your brother.~"

After those three words registered, I daresay Legolas did have problems keeping up with me.

I ran straight past everyone, hitching up my skirts to run faster and causing some of the women to stare at my lack of dignified decorum, but I certainly didn't care. With every heartbeat more and more questions emerged, terrified questions – Was Eldarion all right? What had happened? Would he be all right? What had gone wrong? Was he going to die?

When I finally burst out into the courtyard, I saw my mother was already at Eldarion's side, frantically trading theories with Aragorn and Mithrandir as to what was wrong and what could be done.

Behind me, Legolas said something, but I didn't hear it – all of my focus was on my comatose brother.

Without thinking, I unclasped the Elessar from my neck and put my hands on my brother's neck. He was breathing, his heart rate was fine, everything looked fine – something was wrong internally. . .

Days could have passed, and I wouldn't have known. All I was aware of was the bright energy flowing from me, through me, to my brother.

And then my brother coughed violently and his blue eyes opened.

I flung my arms around him. "Thank the Valar!" I sobbed. I had been so afraid that he wouldn't wake up – that we would lose him – that the miracle I had achieved with Haldir would not be enough to save Eldarion.

He patted my back awkwardly. "~I'm fine now, Estel.~" Then he spotted how everyone else was eliciting relief and sighing, and he frowned. "~What's going on? Why is everyone hanging around me like I'm on my deathbed or something? Personal space over here, please.~"

~ Legolas ~
I helped Estel to her feet. She seemed weary, but not as much as she had been after doing . . . well, doing whatever she had done to Haldir.

That was good. She was expected to attend the festivities tonight, for one thing, along with her brother and sister and mother. And although she seemed to disdain the dressing up and the celebrations, I guessed that she wouldn't want to miss them all the same.

Estel turned to me. "~Thanks for getting me, Legolas. I owe you one.~"

I smiled. "~You owe me nothing,~" I corrected gently. "~It is your brother who owes you something.~"

"~Yes, well, he'll repay me during the celebrations tonight.~" Estel sounded like she was back to her normal, relaxed, cheerful state, and that made me smile all the more.

"~Are you ready for the celebrations tonight?~"

Estel made a face. "~Please don't remind me. I hate having people fiddle with my hair and clothes. I'm a girl, not a doll,~" she complained.

I laughed. "~See you tonight then, little doll.~"

She grabbed my hand. "~Wait.~"

I turned to her, confused by her action. We were back at the storage centers, where she had been when I had found her and where I had assumed she would continue working. "~What is it, Estel?~" I asked curiously.

"~Can you stay and help us put away all of this stuff?~"

I laughed at the request. "~Is this because you're not tall enough or just want company?~" I teased. Secretly, however, I found myself strangely pleased, even though I wasn't really sure why. I had spent months with her when we had travelled with the Fellowship, so why did I suddenly crave her company?

Estel stuck her tongue out. "~Just help!~"

"~Yes, my lady.~"

~ Éomer ~
When I went to find Lady Estel, I found out that knowing her real name only made the servants understand who I was looking for. It didn't really help me actually find her, though. When I asked, the usual answer was that she had been there – only now, of course, she was helping out somewhere else around Edoras.

It made me wonder how many places she could visit in a day.

And how much stamina she had to have to help out in so many places.

Finally, I tracked her down to one of the storage rooms; one of the servants had mentioned seeing her there not five minutes ago helping pack away stuff and get ready for tonight's feast.

Thankfully, she was actually there.

And then I frowned.

It wasn't her that caused me to frown, though. It was the company she was keeping that made me frown.

Legolas was with her, assisting her as they conversed rapidly in the language I assumed was Elvish. She seemed perfectly at ease and completely fluent, easily switching from her Elvish conversation with Legolas to give directions in the common tongue to servants.

It made me feel slightly . . . jealous.

If I wanted to speak privately, my best chance was to take the person into the most deserted place I could find, whisper in the ear, and hope no one else heard.

Estel and the others? All they had to do was speak in Elvish.

But my jealously was more than just about the language. It was also centered around the ease of her relationship with the Elf.

Elves and Men were as different as night and day. Compared to Legolas, Eldarion could be my twin brother. Eldarion was at least a Man. Legolas was an Elf. Our societies acted differently, had different traditions, and even conversed differently. And they were immortal while we were not – that was the biggest difference.

Yet Estel didn't seem bothered by that.

It was if . . . It was like if she ever decided she liked Legolas enough, she might actually allow him to court her.

He already was beginning to. I could see it in how his eyes strayed often to her when they were in the same room; how they spent so much time together; and how they got along so well. If Estel was a Man, I might have said they were brothers-in-arms.

But a relationship between them would never work.

Legolas would remain untouched by time, while she would fade and eventually die one day. A lifetime to her would be a blink of the eye for an immortal like him. That would build bitterness and jealously between them, as well as a longing for someone of their own kindred.

Hopefully, Estel would keep her eyes open for someone . . . better.

I cleared my throat and the Elf's head snapped up. His eyes narrowed momentarily before he said something to Estel and she turned.

"So, you finally came," she said in greeting.

"You're a hard person to find, my lady," I replied. "And when I think of all the places you've been, I can only wonder if you'd actually decide a ride was more relaxing than running around.

She laughed. "If that was an invitation, consider it accepted. I've been longing to get out and ride around for a bit."

To my surprise, the Elf merely shrugged at her words.

"There's nothing for you to worry about, Legolas, so don't nag," she said when she looked at him.

He frowned. "I wasn't about to say anything except to advise you to inform the Lady Kiria before she thinks you got kidnapped or something," he said quietly.

She sighed. "You're right." Estel looked at me. "I'll meet you in the stables later, all right?"

Only ten minutes into my wait, she appeared. She had somehow acquired her cloak and her bow and quiver within those ten minutes, which amazed me; she looked like she had strolled down here leisurely without a hint of exertion, but I knew it took longer than that, especially if she had stopped by her quarters during that time.

But when I mounted, I turned to find her frowning at her horse.

"What is it?"

"The horse."

"She's a gentle mare. She won't hurt you."

"No, it's not that." She blushed slightly. "I don't know how to mount a horse properly on my own," she admitted.

I laughed and swung down. "Is that your only problem? Here, let me show you."

Thankfully, she caught on easily. It only took me two demonstrations before she understood perfectly how it had to be done. And within two minutes, she managed to successfully get on her horse. I stood close by and had my hands out in case she slipped or something, of course, but other than that she did it on her own.

"Well done, my lady," I said, swinging back on to my own horse. "Now, do you know how to use the reins or must I teach you that as well?"

"I'll show you, I guess."

To my amazement, she picked up the reins and with a murmur of a musical word, the normally gentle mare slipped from a walk into a canter as easily as gliding and Estel skillfully guided her out of the barn by only the slightest of movements with the reins and a great deal more of the musical words.

When I finally caught up to her, she grinned. "I told you."

"No, you showed me," I corrected. I gave her a sideways glance. "What were you saying to the horse earlier?"

"What do you mean?"

"What did you say to the horse to make her start off like that?"

She smiled. "Horses often respond very quickly to Elvish," she said simply. "The Elves still practice the habit that horses are cherished companions and precious partners, not simply beasts of burden. By learning their language, you learn their ways – and through learning their ways, you see the world as they do, including all of the world's creatures."

"So what did you say to her?"

"I simply told her that I intended to act as her partner and not as her master, and then I asked her to please go."

"That's . . . impressive," I said. "Can you teach me?"

"Elvish or horsemanship?" she asked, a mischievous glint in her grey-blue eyes.

"Um . . ."

She laughed. "I'm sorry; I couldn't resist teasing you," she apologized. "Do you really want to learn Elvish from me, though? I'm not even very good at it; you should ask Aragorn or Eldarion. They've been practicing for years, and they are excellent."

"You seem just as good," I observed. "You can hold your own with Legolas and Aragorn."

"Not really."

"Come on. At least the basic words, then, like 'go' and 'stop'."

She laughed again, but she did consent, and by the end of the ride, I at least knew how to tell my horse to go and stop and how to greet someone in Elvish and how to say farewell. More complicated phrases and sentences proved too difficult; I just couldn't pick up on the grammar and all the words I needed to know in one ride.

Finally, as she was soothing her horse in Elvish as I swung off, I said, as casually as I could, "You seem to be good friends with Legolas."

She looked at me, startled. "Why, yes. He has been a great friend to the Chieftain . . . and a good friend to my family."

"Forgive me; I don't mean to pry," I said hastily.

"It is all right. You are not the first to wonder at the friendship, and I doubt you will be the last."

When she swung her other leg over in preparation to dismount, I made to help. "Here – let me help you," I said, reaching for her waist.

She stopped me and leaped down nimbly. "I can get down on my own."

I stepped back, slightly hurt.

She saw my expression. Moving forward, she put a hand on my shoulder. "Éomer, it isn't you," she assured me. "It's just . . . I always thought that that would be something only my husband would do. That's all."

"I understand."

I didn't, but what else could I say? That I wanted to be her husband?

"Now – I need to go get ready for the festival and help the others prepare, so farewell."

"~Farewell,~" I tried to say.

Estel smiled brilliantly. "Perfect."

It hadn't been, but her praise was enough to salvage some of my dignity for how horrible my attempt had sounded.