Another chapter! Anything in BOLD is being said in Elvish.
As always, enjoy and review if you want :)
~:Elven Kat:~
"By order of the King, the city must empty! We make for Helm's Deep! Take only what you need!"
The cry rose above the sounds of people gathering belongings, the neigh and whinnies of horses, and riders preparing their armor for the journey. Rìan helped Freda up onto a horse.
"I will stay near you, little ones," she told them.
They nodded and Rìan handed the reins to a soldier. She retuned to her friends. Legolas, already mounted on the horse, offered his hand to her and helped her up. She wrapped her arms around his waist, feeling the hard muscles of his stomach against her. They took their place behind Theoden. The King glanced back one more time at his city before nudging his horse forward.
~:✿:~
Arod's smooth gait soothed Rìan into a half conscious state. Distantly, she could hear Gimli chattering on about something. She rested her cheek against Legolas' back, inhaling his woodland scent. One of his hands grasped hers and squeezed lightly. As the day wore on, she barely moved from that position. She was happy.
As the sun began to set, Theoden halted his people to make camp. Rìan made sure Freda and her brother were settled in before joining Legolas and Gimli around a fire. Gimli was tearing into a piece of bread, crumbs falling into his beard. Rìan could not help but laugh as she watched him. Legolas moved over, allowing her to share the log he was perched on. His arm snaked around her, holding her tight. From here, she watched the sun go down. Little by little, stars appeared, dotting the night sky.
When everyone but the guards were asleep, Legolas stood up, pulling Rìan up with him.
"What are you doing?" she asked, giggling.
He said nothing as he led her away from the camp. They stopped at a large bush. He remained silent as he pulled her down.
"Rìan," he began.
She put a finger to his lips.
"Hush."
She leaned forward and brushed her lips against his. Gently, Legolas pushed her down onto the ground, his mouth never leaving hers. She moaned quietly as he placed his light yet muscular body on top of hers. She felt him slide his hands along her torso, lifting her tunic over her head. His lips traveled downward over her breasts and stomach as she removed his tunic, revealing his smooth chest. Elves were naturally hairless everywhere but their heads. She scraped her nails down the beautiful body in front of her, stopping to undo his leggings. Within minutes, both Elves were lying naked in the brush, their bodies writhing against each other. Legolas positioned himself in between Rìan's legs.
"Look at me," he growled.
Rìan flicked her eyes upward to meet his beautiful blue eyes. They were filled with lust and desire. She bit her lip as she felt him press the tip of his manhood at her entrance.
"Do not look away," he begged her, his voice husky.
She shook her head. Slowly yet surely, he drove his entire length into her. She shuddered as pleasure overtook her. Her hips rose up to meet his as they rocked together. Through lidded eyes, Rìan looked up into the face of her lover. As her release came closer, she felt his thrusts become harder and shorter. She knew he was close as well. They came together, bodies shaking. Legolas buried his face in her neck, biting it gently. Her fingers dug into his shoulders. As the pleasure subsided, Legolas rolled off of Rìan, panting slightly. His arms stayed wrapped around her. She snuggled into his chest, once again breathing in his smell. They lay there for hours, only returning to camp before dawn.
We are bonded, Rìan realized. It was sealed. We are married
Had she not been so in love with Legolas, this notion would have annoyed her. She had not wanted to be bonded. She had wanted to go on adventures instead of settling down. But now, as she gazed into the eyes of her husband, she felt at peace.
"Are you alright?" Legolas asked in Elvish.
She nodded, not used to being spoken to in Elvish. She had learned it before Mordor but never used it during her time in the Black Land.
"I was just lost in thought," she said, smiling.
Legolas cocked his head to one side.
"About what?"
Rìan did not respond, merely kept smiling. Oh how her life had changed drastically. From a prisoner in Mordor to the wife of the most handsome Elf she had ever seen. And with this thought, she was content.
~:✿:~
"It's true you don't see many Dwarf women. In fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance, they are often mistaken for Dwarf men."
Rìan sank back in the saddle as she listened to Gimli tell Eowyn about the mysteries of Dwarf women. Legolas had gone ahead to scout. Tilting her head back, Rìan let the sun's rays wash over her. A loud thump caused her to sit up quickly. Gimli's horse had bolted and thrown him.
"Nobody panic! That was deliberate!" he shouted, flailing around in the grass.
As Eowyn helped him up, she met Rìan's eyes and neither of them could contain their laughter. Rìan nudged her horse into a trot. She caught up with Legolas just in time to see him pull his blade out of an Orc.
"What is it?" she called, a bit frantically.
"A scout!" he yelled.
Behind her, she could hear Aragorn yelling.
"We're under attack!"
At the top of the hill, Legolas raised his bow and began to fire arrow after arrow.
Oh Valar, he is beautiful, Rìan thought as she paused to watch his graceful beauty.
Shaking herself, she rode up behind him. Wargs and their riders were coming over the next hill. Raising her own bow, she fitted an arrow to it, drew back, and fired it with the same speed and accuracy of her lover. She had undoubtedly been the best archer in Mordor, even better than Caruryn. But she had dared not show it in front of him otherwise he would've punished her. Theoden and his men reached them as Rìan pulled Legolas up behind her. She heard him unsheathe his twin blades. Smiling, she fired one last arrow. They charged forward and met the Wargs head on. Fur flew amidst swinging blades as Rìan hacked at the beasts. She felt Legolas slide off Arod as he went to help Gimli who had fallen to the ground in front of a Warg.
"That one counts as mine!" she heard Gimli yell as she thrust her sword into the throat of a Warg.
It was not long before most of the Wargs and Orcs were slain. Rìan dismounted from Arod and held his reins as she surveyed the battlefield before her. She watched as Gimli and Legolas along with some of Theoden's men killed the remaining Wargs. A man came and stood beside her.
"We did it, my lady," he said, as her eyes searched for Aragorn.
"Where's Lord Aragorn?" she asked when she couldn't find him.
"I do not know," the man replied.
Tossing Arod's reins to the man, Rìan ran down the hill to Legolas and Gimli.
"Where's Aragorn?" she asked breathlessly.
"Aragorn?" Gimli yelled out, searching for their friend.
They heard a cackle. An Orc was lying on the ground, blood oozing from a fatal gash.
"Tell me where he is and I shall ease your passing!" Gimli said, holding his axe to the Orc's neck.
"He's...DEAD!" the Orc coughed, spitting up black blood. "He took a little tumble off the cliff."
For a moment, no one moved.
"You lie!" Legolas accused, shaking the Orc.
Rìan noticed something glittering in the Orc's fist. The Orc merely laughed before going completely still. Rìan pried the object out of his hands. She gasped. It was the Evenstar, Arwen's gift to Aragorn. With a heavy heart, she showed it to her companions. A single tear made it's way down her dirty cheek.
"Get the wounded on horses. The wolves of Isengard will return. Leave the dead," she heard Theoden say to his men.
Leave the dead.
Rìan stood completely still. Theoden noticed the horror written on her face.
"Come," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Rìan only allowed herself to move when Legolas gently pushed her towards Arod. With one last glance behind her, she grasped Legolas' hand and pulled herself up behind him.
~:✿:~
Before them, the gates of Helm's Deep rumbled open.
"Make way for the king!"
People jumped out of the way as the horses rode up to the main hall. Eowyn greeted them.
"So few. So few have returned," she said quietly to Theoden as he dismounted.
"Our people are safe here. We have payed for it with many lives," her uncle responded.
Gimli slowly walked up to Eowyn.
"My lady," he began.
"Lord Aragorn. Where is he?" she asked.
"He fell."
Rìan caught the Shieldmaiden as she fell slightly. Their eyes met and Rìan could see the hurt in them. Eowyn must have seen the same look in Rìan's eyes and held the Elf maiden in a sad embrace. Rìan was not used to being hugged by anyone except Legolas but Eowyn was in need of another woman's company. She led the grief-stricken Shieldmaiden to a nearby rock ledge and sat her down. Rìan sat on her haunches in front of Eowyn, wiping away her tears and muttered soothing Elvish words to comfort her.
"I fancied him," Eowyn whispered, turning her tear-stained face to Rìan. "I wanted him like you want Legolas."
"What?" Rìan asked, surprised.
"I saw you outside of the Golden Hall that night. Caught in your lovers embrace," Eowyn said. "Fear not. I have not told anyone."
Rìan smiled sadly at Eowyn. The woman pulled herself together and stood up.
"I must go help my people," she said.
Rìan bowed her head and watched her leave before seeking out her lover. She found him inside the hall with Gimli. She fell into his chest as he wrapped his arms around her, placing a kiss on her forehead.
"The Elvish princeling has found love," Gimli said, chuckling. "Of course I saw it coming."
Rìan pulled out of Legolas' arms.
"Prince?" she asked him. "You're a prince?"
If he was a prince, that meant he would one day become a king. And she would become his queen.
No. I do not wish to be a queen, she thought angrily.
Gimli backed away, realizing he was not needed.
"Rìan," Legolas began.
"You should have told me!" she said angrily.
She had been reluctant to love him. He knew this. And now, she had found out about his royal status. She was not worthy enough to be a queen, especially not his. She was a broken, abused elleth escaped from Mordor. Without waiting for his answer, she turned on her heel and fled the hall. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she stopped, realizing who was standing in front of her.
"Aragorn."