Here's another chapter. Do you know how hard it is to watch LOTR and write at the same time?! So difficult
Enjoy and review if you like :)
~:Elven Kat:~
"Five arrows each. The most accurate wins."
Rìan grasped her bow tighter, a smile tugging at her lips. She and Legolas were having a competition of sorts. Eowyn stood behind them, giving them directions.
"On the count of three. One...two...three!"
Skillfully, both Elves fired arrow after arrow into the wooden targets that lay before them. Once the last arrow had been released, Eowyn went to inspect their targets. She returned with the arrows, grinning widely.
"Legolas, you are the winner!" she declared.
Rìan snorted as her lover chuckled.
"Though your arrow was off only by a hair, Rìan."
Eomer, who had been watching from a distance, came up to them, shaking his head in amazement.
"That is some skill with a bow you have, my friends," he said, placing his hand on Legolas' shoulder.
"And it would honor me greatly if you were to attend the feast tonight with me," he continued, turning to Rìan.
Rìan could see the muscle in Legolas' jaw clench tightly. Not many knew of the bond she had with Legolas.
"I-I must go," she stammered before fleeing to the Golden Hall, followed closely by Eowyn.
The two males watched them go. Legolas turned to Eomer, anger flashing in his eyes.
"We are bonded," he said, voice low.
"Since when? You are not betrothed. She is fair game," Eomer responded cooly.
Their conversation was interrupted by Gamling, Theoden's closest lieutenant. The two Men of Rohan left the Elf alone, seething. No, they were not betrothed. They were married.
~:✿:~
Inside the Hall, Eowyn and Rìan prepared themselves for the feast. Rìan wore a light blue gown to match her eyes. Her hair fell to her waist and she wore a small crown of crystals and woven strands of silver, gifted to her by Eowyn. The Shieldmaiden had insisted on her royal appearance, claiming it was good practice for when she was to be wed to Legolas. Eowyn wore a gown similar to Rìan's but in white.
"My brother means well but he does not know of your bond and your marriage to Legolas. I shall speak to him," Eowyn told Rìan.
The two left Eowyn's chambers and entered the Golden Hall. The feast was already started. Eowyn took her leave to seek out Eomer.
"You look beautiful."
Rìan smiled and turned to face Legolas. He too looked rather royal, clad in a blue tunic.
"As do you, my lord," she said.
Legolas smiled at her and took her hand. Gimli approached them, a pint of ale in each hand.
"You look wonderful, lass," he roared above the din of merrymaking.
"Thank you, Lord Gimli," she laughed.
The Dwarf looked to Legolas before a large grin spread over his face and a loud, bellowing laugh erupted from him. Then he buried his face back into his ale. Rìan noticed Merry sitting in the corner by himself. She excused herself and approached him. Ever since Pippin had left for Minas Tirith, Merry had not been himself.
"Merry? What is the matter?" she asked him.
"It's not the same without Pip," he answered sadly.
Rìan placed her hand on the Hobbit's head.
"You will see him again soon enough," she said reassuringly.
Merry said nothing. Rìan whirled around when she felt someone touch her shoulder. It was Eomer.
"Forgive me, my lady. I did not know of your bond with Prince Legolas," he apologized, bowing his head.
"It is alright. Many do not know yet," Rìan said.
Eomer bowed one last time before heading off into the direction of the ale. Legolas had noticed the interaction and came over to her.
"What did he say?" he asked, a bit demanding.
"He merely apologized for his behavior, melamin," Rìan said, kissing him quickly on the lips. "Do not worry. I only have eyes for you, Legolas."
~:✿:~
Rìan lay on her back, not daring to move. The still form of Caruryn lay next to her, even and heavy breathing telling her he was asleep. She did not want to wake him. He had violated her in many different ways that night and she could still taste the saltiness of him on her lips. If Sauron knew of what he was doing, the Dark Lord would have him ripped apart, limb by limb. Guddry was the only one keeping her from telling her adopted father. There were some men, extremely loyal to Caruryn, who would have killed Guddry if Caruryn were punished. The commander next to her turned in his sleep, throwing his arm around the naked elleth. He pressed his own naked body to hers, his hardened chest muscles grinding against her arm. Rìan shuddered slightly, fighting the urge to vomit. Staring up at the ceiling of the tent, she wished to be anywhere but here. Even death would've been a better place.
Rìan opened her eyes slowly. The faint blue light of dawn shone through the window. Next to her, Gimli grumbled in his sleep, tossing around in his bedroll. On her other side lay Legolas, bare chest rising and falling. He looked so peaceful as he slept. Silently, she slipped out of her bedroll and crept out of the room, pulling her cloak around her shoulders. She stood at the top of the stairs leading to the Golden Hall and looked down at the city, watching the early risers prepare for another day.
"You are up early," a voice said from behind her.
Rìan turned to see Aragron sitting against the wall, smoking his pipe.
"As are you," she jested.
He stood and came over to her.
"Nightmare?" he asked.
She nodded.
"They are all of Mordor," she said quietly.
"I guessed."
Together, they watched the sun rise over the mountains. The two friends parted ways as the hall bustled with life behind them. Fires were being re-lit, breakfast was being made. Rìan found Gimli and Legolas at one of the tables. Gimli was finishing his meal.
"Melamin," Legolas greeted her.
She kissed him on the cheek and smiled at him. He grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently. As Legolas pulled her close to him, she let her mind wander is she stared at the dancing flames in the fire pit.
In her mind's eye she saw a garden, beautifully green and blooming with flowers, surrounded by buildings made of white stone. A small child, a boy, ran through it, chased by an Elf. Rìan recognized the Elf as Legolas. Both were laughing as they approached a small fountain where an elleth sat, reading a book.
"Naneth! Look! I can outrun Ada!" the little boy cried out.
The elleth turned. Rìan saw it was herself. The little boy ran to his mother as she stood. Legolas caught the little one, swinging him high above his head as the child giggled furiously.
"Melamin."
Rìan's vision disappeared as Legolas shook her arm.
"What is it?" he asked curiously, as he noticed her faraway look.
"A vision," she answered.
Her hand absentmindedly went to her abdomen where it rested. Her Elvish instincts felt something stir within her. Life. Gasping, she looked to Legolas.
"Legolas. There is life," she whispered, placing his hand on her stomach in place of hers.
"You are with child!" he exclaimed.
Their moment was cut short as Aragorn burst through doors.
"The beacons! The beacons of Minas Tirith! The beacons have been lit!" he yelled as he ran through the hall, stopping in front of Theoden.
"Gondor calls for aid."
Theoden remained silent. Rìan looked at the King, waiting for his answer.
"And Rohan will answer," he said finally.
"Muster the Rohirrim!"
~:✿:~
Legolas pulled Rìan onto Arod, positioning her in front of him between his arms. They rode hard to Dunharrow, where the Rohirrim were going to prepare for war. Upon arriving, Theoden made his rounds, taking into account every group of Men who had come. Rìan looked up at their encampment. It stood high upon the mountain, overlooking the rest of the army. The path upwards was steep and dangerous. A tent had been prepared for Rìan, Legolas, and Gimli.
"Rest melamin," Legolas said, tying Arod to a pole.
"I am alright," she laughed.
"She needs no rest. She is a tough warrior. A day's ride is nothing," Gimli said, pulling out his pipe.
"She is with child," Legolas said hastily.
Gimli's mouth dropped a bit at this news.
"Well, I believe congratulations are in order."
The three turned to see Theoden, flanked by Eomer and Gamling, coming towards them. Rìan bowed her head to him in thanks. Eomer looked shocked at the news, as he still felt for the elleth, but he congratulated the Elves nonetheless. Word of the child flew through the camp, bringing with it renewed hope. A child, even in these dark times, gave the Men another reason to fight. Children being brought into this world did not deserve the horrors and the evil that spread through Middle Earth.
~:✿:~
Rìan fell asleep in between Legolas' legs as he sat on a bedroll. As he held his future wife and unborn child, he sighed in content and tried to imagine the ceremony that would be held when they were to be wedded. He could see it clearly in his mind. Rìan stirred and awoke, gazing up at the handsome Elf's face. She stretched and pulled herself up.
"Where are you going?" Legolas asked her as she pushed open the flap of the tent.
"I need to walk. Do not worry. I shall return," she said, ducking out of the tent.
As she walked through the encampment, she was greeted with congratulations and bowed his. Nearing the King's tent, she heard an unfamiliar voice. It spoke to Aragorn of taking the path into the mountain and summoning the dead. As she listened, she turned to look at entrance of the Dimholt road, the path that leads under the mountain. She hastened back to her tent.
"Ready Arod. Aragorn plans to take the Dimholt," she told Legolas.
He stood and went to fetch their horse. Standing next to Gimli, Rìan watched as Aragorn walked towards them.
"Where do you think you're going?" Gimli asked him.
Aragorn shook his head.
"Not this time Gimli."
"Have you learned nothing of the stubbornness of Dwarves?" Legolas said, appearing next to him, leading Arod.
"We're going with ya laddie," Gimli told Aragorn.
Aragorn looked over to Legolas, who was helping Rìan onto the horse.
"And you, Rìan?" he asked.
The elleth nodded.
"But you are with child!"
"I swore an oath and and I have followed you this far. My child shall be safe," Rìan said as Legolas swung up behind her.
Aragorn smiled at her loyalty and mounted. As they rode to the path they could hear the Men whispering to each other.
"Where are they going?"
"Why do they leave us on the eve of battle?"
"Lord Aragorn!" someone called out as the four friends disappeared into the darkness of the mountain.
Ada - Father