This chapter is rather short. I apologize. But it does have Guddry's story in it! :)
Enjoy and review! Again, no flames please.
~:Elven Kat:~
Weeks after the destruction of the Ring, preparations for Aragorn's coronation were underway. The child within Rìan grew, forming a bump on her abdomen. Minas Tirith was slowly rebuilding itself, restoring the city to its former glory. Many of the days were cloudless with a bright sun that shone down upon the white stone. Rìan spent most of the days near the White Tree, either reading or speaking with Eowyn. Eowyn had found love with Faramir, Boromir's younger brother. When she spoke of him, the Shieldmaiden became giddy with excitement.
"Have you kissed him?" Rìan asked her.
Eowyn blushed.
"You did!"
The two broke out in laughter as a man came up to them.
"Lady Rìan. Lady Eowyn," he greeted them, bowing.
"Guddry!" Rìan exclaimed.
The man was almost unrecognizable. His face was clean and shaven. His clothes were now of better quality. Rìan jumped up and threw her arms around his neck, embracing him. She had not seen him since the day of the battle.
"Lord Aragorn has requested to see me," Guddry said.
"Come. I shall go with you," Rìan offered.
Excusing themselves, Rìan walked arm in arm with her friend as they entered the throne room. Aragorn stood with Legolas and Gimli, arms crossed over his chest. As they approached, Aragorn demanded that Rìan sit and rest. Legolas stood next to his wife, placing a hand in her shoulder.
"Guddry, I understand that you were a good friend of Rìan in Mordor," Aragorn said.
Guddry nodded.
"I would like to hear of how you became a servant of the Dark Lord."
Rìan opened her mouth to protest but Guddry shook his head.
"I am ready and willing to speak of it," he said.
Taking a deep breath, he began his tale.
"I was a child when the Orcs came. They arrived on a summer's day as I was in the field near our house . My father was teaching me how to become a farmer. We heard men yelling, women shrieking and babies crying. We could see the homes closer to the river go up in flames. My father told me to hide amongst the tall grass as he ran off towards our house. Little did I know that it would be the last time I saw him or heard his voice. I stayed hidden for the most part. When the screams died down, I emerged, thinking it was over. But as I left the field, they caught me, claiming I was a strong lad who could serve the Dark Lord. The last thing I remembered was seeing my house burning and the body of my mother lying in front of it. She was still clutching my baby sister in her arms."
Guddry paused for a moment and took another deep breath before continuing.
"A man by the name of Glaer raised me in Mordor. I felt secure with him until one day he did not return from a scouting trip. I was forced to fend for myself after that, fighting my way up the ranks. That was how I became Caruryn's second-in-command. When I met Rìan, I knew I would have to protect her as best as I could like Glaer did for me."
As he finished his story, Guddry turned to face Rìan, tears in his eyes. She could see hurt, anger, and sadness behind them. She stood and walked over to the man who suddenly seemed so vulnerable. They embraced as she whispered a thank you into his ear.
~:✿:~
Since Rìan's recovery, the two Elves were given a room near Aragorn's chambers. Gimli and the Hobbits were also lodged nearby. After Guddry's story, Legolas walked Rìan back to their room. Braedia awaited them, putting fresh linens on the bed. Placing his hand on Rìan's stomach, Legolas planted a swift kiss on his beloved's lips.
"I shall return later melamin," he said.
The elleth smiled at him as he bent down, placing his hands on her hips, and kissing the bump that protruded from under her gown. Braedia bowed as he left.
"What will you name your child, my lady?" the handmaiden asked.
"I thought I should call him Nyvyan. I am not so good with names," Rìan confessed.
"It is a lovely name, Lady Rìan," Braedia said.
"What about you? Is there a man?" Rìan prodded.
Braedia blushed.
"I did meet a man this past week. He asked to see me later today," the woman said.
Rìan laughed.
"Well, then you should not keep him waiting!" she said. "Pick out a gown."
She opened her wardrobe, revealing gowns of different colors.
"My lady?" Braedia asked, surprised.
Rìan nodded to her and watched as the maiden picked out a gown made of red material.
"Beautiful. It goes well with your hair and eyes," Rìan said.
Braedia put it on, twirling a bit as she admired herself. Rìan picked up a comb and began to brush the long, dark curls of her handmaiden. When all was finished, Rìan insisted on escorting Braedia to the garden where she was to meet the man.
"Keep the gown. It looks much better on you," Rìan told the maiden.
And it was no lie. Braedia was stunning. Rìan had begun to see the handmaiden as a sister instead of a servant. As they approached the garden, the man waiting for Braedia turned. Rìan was surprised to see Guddry standing there. Noticing it was Rìan who accompanied Braedia, he smiled and bowed his head.
"I shall have none of this. I am not royalty," Rìan chided as she greeted him.
"Not yet Rìan, not yet," Guddry laughed.
She punched him softly in the arm.
"I do not wish to hear anything ill about you from Braedia or I shall have your head," she said, smiling.
Guddry grinned and bowed. Turning to Braedia, Rìan bid her farewell.
"You are in wonderful hands. He is an honorable man."
Braedia was smiling as she bowed. Rìan left the two and made her way back to her chambers. Legolas caught up with her.
"Who was that lady whom you walked with?" he asked.
"Braedia," Rìan responded.
Legolas raised his eyebrows in shock.
"I did not recognize her," he said.
They entered their room, heading straight for the bath. As they lay together in the hot water, Legolas held his love tightly to him. The steam swirled across the top of the water and over their naked bodies as Rìan closed her eyes, letting the bath soothe her.
"Melamin," she murmured. "What's it like in Mirkwood?"
Legolas smiled and stroked her hair as he told her of his homeland. Planting a kiss here and there along her collarbone, he spoke of his father, the palace, and the beauty that surrounded it. They did not move for a while. Legolas placed his cheek on the top of her head, catching her sweet vanilla scent.
~:✿:~
Rìan had fallen asleep in the bath. Legolas had felt her even breathing and knew that sleep had taken her. Lifting her up in his arms, he carried her to the bed and placed her on the soft blanket. As he wrapped her in a robe, his eyes ran down her still form, taking in every curve of her body. The scar on her belly, stretched by a growing child, the healed gash on her thigh from her fight with Caruryn. Before closing the robe completely, he put his ear to her abdomen, listening for his child. He smiled as he heard the child stirring within her. His child. His son. He pulled the blanket over the mother of his child as she slept, finally undisturbed by nightmares. The fall of Sauron and Mordor had freed her from her terrors. Rìan curled into Legolas' body as he slipped into the bed next to her. The two Elves slept peacefully as the moon shone bright outside the window.