p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"2.8.21 Update: Revising these old chapters before I post new content this week. New Chapter *18* coming this week!/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Disclaimer: I am not Tolkien/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"AN: I really appreciate all of your support and feedback. Keep it coming!/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Happy Reading!/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Chapter 11: Arrivals and Departures/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"As a consequence of Nina and Legolas's late night conversation the elleth woke well after the sun had risen to the sound of a maid knocking. The woman gave her a decidedly disapproving look and Nina silently wondered if it was due to her race or how late she'd slept./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""The bath will be ready for you in just a minute. We came by earlier but you were still abed. Lady Eowyn said to let you rest until breakfast." At least Nina knew what the woman's sour face was about now./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Thank you. I really appreciate it." Nina gave her a tentative smile in hopes of thawing the icy woman's disapproval. Considering the maid gave her a skeptical look and left the room without responding it sent a fairly clear message. The elleth shook her head and sorted through the bundle of her clean clothing the maid had left, packing away what she wouldn't need for the day. As she waited for the bath she took stock of her supplies and finished packing for leaving with Gandalf later that day (though, of course, Gandalf didn't know he was leaving quite yet)./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Less than half an hour later Nina had washed and dressed herself in a tunic and leggings that would be suitable for the hard riding she would have to begin in just a few hours and went in search of breakfast./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""There's the lass!" Gimli's overly cheerful voice boomed form across the hall and Nina smiled, relaxing into the familiar interaction as she went to sit near Aragorn and Legolas while Gimli was entertaining some of the younger men at a far table with Gandalf./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Sorry about missing dinner last night. I guess I was more tired than I thought!" She slid onto the bench next to Aragorn who flashed her a quick smile before returning to his food. The Ranger had never been much of a morning person which was fine by Nina. A servant placed a plate in front of her and left before she could turn to thank him, refusing to meet her eyes as was polite. She frowned slightly and wondered if all servants were as unfriendly as the few she'd met this morning./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"What troubles you, my friend?/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"" Legolas asked her quietly in Elvish, having noticed her frown./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nina smiled at his concern and wracked her brain trying to remember the words she would need to respond to him in kind. Perhaps she should get him to practice the language with her before the disuse rendered her completely unable to use her hard won knowledge. "/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"It is nothing. I think I must have done something to offend the servants. That was the second one who has refused to look me in the eye."/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" She shrugged and began her meal, determined to put the incident out of her mind. "/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The funeral is this morning, correct?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""The service begins in half an hour. Will you be coming?" /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"It appeared that Aragorn had finally joined the land of the living as he was the one to respond to her question./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Yes, we will be receiving a few visitors just after the ceremony and I would like to be there."/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" She winced slightly thinking about the two small children who would be riding into Edoras soon. "/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"I would suggest you get packed before the funeral."/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" The men gave her identical confused looks but she just smiled and gave them a non-answer "/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"the story is moving forward and what is about to happen cannot be changed"/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" With that Nina nodded to them and went to check on Tala in the stables./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The stable hands gave the young elleth a wide berth and she was grateful for the distance. Brushing down Haldir's mare gave her time to really think about what she was about to do. She'd checked the mirror before leaving Lothlorien to find where she could meet up with the Galadhirm while Gandalf went in search of the Rohirim. Helms Deep was quite possibly one of the most important events she was going to try and change. The weight of responsibility was stifling and were it not her adoptive brother who she was braving battle for, Nina feared she may have chickened out. "We'll be seeing Haldir soon girl. Are you as excited as I am?" She muttered under her breath to the horse. At the name of the Marchwarden Tala threw her head and pressed closer to her elleth./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!-!/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Aragorn was distinctly uncomfortable in Rohan. He'd been there countless times before as a Ranger but he'd never been the center of so much attention; nor had he been forced to attend the funeral of a child prince. The ranger was unspeakably jealous of the two elves who had positioned themselves on the very farthest fringes of the assembly. Of course, his jealousy might have more to do with their closeness when he was so far from his beloved than their relative anonymity. It was clear to the man that something had shifted for the two elves since their time in Lothlorien. As much as he was happy to see his longtime friend finally showing some interest in an elleth Aragorn was worried./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nina was lovely but the Ranger couldn't help but wonder what she was hiding. Her background was foggy at best. She claimed he people were from a land far to the East and yet he had never heard of Elvin societies beyond the kingdoms of Middle Earth. Her manners and speech were also a curiosity he'd noticed in Lothlorien but stood out more glaringly in Rohan when she was surrounded by humans. The girl acted more like a human than an elleth with her emotional displays and relaxed speech (especially given how poor she was at Elvish). He was also confused by her foresight. From what he knew of Elrond foresight was not an exact practice. The elleth in their company was far too certain of the events she'd decided to change for this to be a normal Elvin gift. Aragorn could only assume Legolas had been given a more detailed account of the elleth and tried to content himself with following the ellon's judgment which had never steered him wrong./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The King had finished his tearful eulogy for his only son and the mourners were gathering to place flowers on the new grave. He noticed that the two elves kept their gaze trained on the western horizon and, in response to something their superior eyesight took note of, began running towards whatever it was that had their attention./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!-!/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Legolas really needed to stop being so surprised when Nina's foreknowledge played out in front of him. Just as the service for the prince ended a horse appeared on the horizon they'd been scanning. Nina turned to him and gave a wide grin before darting off to meet the newcomers with him close behind her. Within minutes they'd reached the children and Nina had quickly taken charge, depositing the young boy who looked as if he were about to faint in his arms and taking the smaller girl herself./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nina kept the horses lead in her hand as she hoisted the girl onto her hip and spoke to her "Are you well child?" Legolas could feel the soft concern in her voice and had an unbidden thought of how she would be a fantastic mother. The ellon pushed the traitorous thought down and focused on the situation at hand./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Is Eothain alright? I wanted to stop but he said we had to keep moving!" The girl craned her head over Nina's shoulder to catch a glimpse of her brother./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Eothain will be just fine Freda. Legolas is taking good care of him and we'll be in the city in just a few minutes. I bet you're hungry. How about we get both of you supper and then you can get cleaned up?" The same cooing voice appeared to settle the young girl down beginning to fall asleep as her brother had and Legolas noticed she never thought to ask the elleth how she knew her name./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"When they finally made it back to the city there was a large party of stunned people waiting for them. Aragorn, Gimli, and Gandalf regarded the pair of elves with a sort of calm understanding seeing as they knew of Nina's foresight to some extent. Eowyn and the five of so maids and servants behind her looked confused and Nina had to tap a stable hand on the shoulder three times before he took the horse from her. Finally coming out of the stupor, Eowyn and one of the maids came forward to relive the elves of the children clinging to them and Nina tried not to laugh as both clung to their current carriers, refusing to leave the relative safety of their rescuers arms./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I do not think they've eaten for several days. They've come from the river settlements which we attacked several days ago. Perhaps we could find them something to eat while your uncle is alerted to the raid?" Nina suggested calmly to a now slightly sour looking Eowyn. The lady nodded curtly and turned back to the great hall, expecting the elves to follow. Legolas caught Nina's eye after the Lady had turned away and raised a questioning eyebrow wondering if she knew what was wrong with their hostess but Nina simply shrugged and silently followed the older woman inside./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Once they'd gotten the children situated on the benches and they were distracted enough by the food in front of them to let go of their rescuers Legolas and Nina approached the heated argument currently taking place by Théoden's throne./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak. Eomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their King." Aragorn said to the King. Clearly they had arrived mid-conversation./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Théoden's face flickered for a moment as if considering the option of calling to the Rohirim before focusing his resolve as he stood "They will be three hundred leagues from here by now. Eomer cannot help us. I know what it is you want of me, but I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war." Legolas fought down his irritation. Was this man stupid? The enemy was roaming his lands unchecked and he didn't want to take action. Did he care nothing for his people?/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"It appeared as though Aragorn was thinking the same as him as he pointed out the folly of the King's statement "Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The King looked down at Aragorn with clear irritation "When I last looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was King of Rohan."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"When it looked like Aragorn was going to rise to the bait of Théoden's words Gandalf interceded "Then what is the King's decision?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""We will move the city to Helms Deep. I dare the enemy to try and challenge us there!" With that said he strode away from his small council of foreigners and went to confer with Hama, who was waiting by the door for orders. Nina shook her head in resignation and walked back to the children with Legolas tailing her./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Where is Mama? She promised she would be here!" Freda yelled at Eowyn who was trying to get her to go with her to bathe. Eothain was nowhere to be seen but his food was gone so Legolas assumed he'd been taken away by a servant with less fuss. The little girl saw Nina approaching and wriggled her way out of Eowyn's grasp to clutch at Nina's legs. "Lady! Where is Mama?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nina smiled sadly at the clearly overwrought little girl. "Your mother is waiting for you in Helms Deep. You have to behave yourself and do what Lady Eowyn says alright? She and the maids will be looking after you and your brother until you see your mother again. If you stay with your brother and do as you're told I promise you that you will see her again." Legolas saw Eowyn's face sour at the word Promise but the young girl nodded trustingly and went to take the hand of the maid Eowyn had been trying to give her to earlier./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Once Freda was out of earshot Eowyn turned to face the elleth. "What are you doing, giving a child such assurances? Her mother is probably dead and you just PROMISED her that she was waiting in Helms Deep!"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I only make promises that I can keep Milady. Their mother is waiting at Helms Deep. They will be reunited not twenty paces inside the gate." Nina's voice was surprisingly calm, but Legolas caught the frustrated and slightly affronted look in her eye./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You cannot possibly know that! And when the hopes you've built up come crashing down who is supposed to take care of the children?" Eowyn was truly yelling now and Legolas was uncomfortably aware of how many eyes were watching the dramatic scene and decided to intervene./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""My Lady, if Nina says that the children will be reunited with their mother, they will. She has the gift of foresight and has never been wrong. Her warning is the reason your brother and his men got to the settlements in time to stop further destruction." Apparently Legolas's attempt to be reasonable was unsuccessful as Eowyn turned on her heel and all but stormed out of the hall./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""She truly does not like me." Nina stated in awe as the Lady slammed the entrance door behind her. Legolas nodded in agreement and together they returned to Gandalf, Aragorn, and Gimli who had been watching the scene with rapt attention./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What is our next move?" Gimli asked, breaking the slightly awkward moment of silence following the theatrics./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Gandalf is leaving to find Eomer" Gandalf nodded in agreement, "and I am going with him to meet up with some friends who may be of some assistance." All four males protested this at once. "I must. I cannot be there for your journey to Helms Deep and I need to speak with someone before the battle."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Then it is settled." Gandalf said, cutting off any further protests from the still unconvinced man, elf, and dwarf. "Will you be ready to leave in one hour?" Nina nodded. "Then I will meet you in the stables. And we should all pack as the rest of you will be moving out come morning." With that they went their separate ways and after a moment of hesitation Legolas went to his own room to gather his belongings. He would find Nina before she left but he needed a moment to himself first./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!-!/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nina stared down at the paper, ink, and pen set before her. Aragorn was going to fall off a cliff and, even if he came back eventually, Nina had her doubts that Legolas would forgive her for leaving him in the dark on this one. She wanted to give him a note or something, she could tell him to open it after the fall or something equally vague. Aragorn needed to fall to be in a position to give Théoden an accurate number of enemies but that didn't mean their friends needed to suffer unnecessary grief. Finally, it came to her. 'Aragorn marries Arwen Evenstar. Members of the Fellowship always find their way back.' was printed boldly on a small scroll of paper and, on a whim, she added '/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"see you soon/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"' underneath it in Elvish. She hoped he shared this with Gimli when the time came, the dwarf would be frustrated to no end by the two languages. On several occasions he'd actually encouraged Nina to stop trying to learn the language so that more of their conversations could be in the common tongue./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The message written, Nina gathered her pack and strapped on her weapons before heading in the direction of Legolas's room, message in hand. Her hand had barely knocked on the surface of Legolas' door before he opened it and smiled, stepping back to let her in. Her desire for privacy over propriety won out and she shut the door behind herself. "I have something for you but you have to promise not to open it until the time is right." When he nodded she handed him the paper. "I'm giving this to you, knowing that if you break your promise it will change everything for the worse. You should open this at the cliff when hope seems lost." She knew it was vague but there was no better way to describe the right time without possibly influencing the event./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I swear I will not open it until the time is right." Legolas tucked the roll of paper into his neatly filled pack next to what looked like leftover lembas which reminded her of something else she should probably share with him./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Also, while you're traveling it might be wise to avoid any food Eowyn has hand in cooking. She's never set foot in a kitchen before and that is probably for the best." She tried to smile teasingly and could actually feel herself failing./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You've been out of sorts all day Nina. What troubles you?" Legolas asked, taking her hand and leading her to sit on the bed as they had the night before. Nina had thought she was hiding her trepidation well but apparently not if the Prince had tuned into her discomfort./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I suppose it is one thing to plan to interfere in a war between good and evil and quite another to actually do it. Would you think less of me if I told you I am absolutely petrified?" The elleth was staring at her hands cursing herself for saying such a thing to an ellon who'd been in more battles than days she'd been alive./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""If you were not frightened I'd be concerned. You've dedicated your entire new life to the coming war, which is quite a lot to be riding on the shoulders of any one person." Legolas pulled her into his arms and Nina enjoyed the closeness that hadn't felt so natural since Lothlorien. "Is where you are going safe? I know you cannot tell me what you will be doing but I will spend the entire journey concerned for you if I do not know something." Nina smiled softly at his concern and felt her heart give a small squeeze of the emotions she was more and more certain were too deep to keep running from./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I'll be seeing you again before the real danger starts." Again, that was vague enough but managed to reassure him if the relaxing of his tense shoulders was anything to go by. "I need to get Tala saddled. Are you coming to see us off?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Of course. Tala is going to miss me. I have to say goodbye to her." His joking grin served to lighten the mood a bit and Nina squeezed him tightly for a second more before extracting herself from his embrace and gathering up her things she'd left by the door. They walked to the stables in uninterrupted comfortable silence./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Almost fifteen minutes before Gandalf was set to appear Nina finished the tack on her horse and had strapped her pack and weapons to their appropriate places, leaving her bow and quiver on the ground for her to sling over her back when they were ready to ride out. Nina rechecked all of her straps for the last time while Legolas had what appeared to be a very engrossing one sided conversation with Tala in hushed Elvish. When she came around and made to exit the stall Legolas looked up with an almost excited or agitated gleam in his eyes. "Are you done?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""We simply have to wait for Gandalf now and…" she trailed off as Legolas grabbed her hand and proceeded to drag her out of the stable and around the building to the back. He stopped there and spun around to face her. When he approached her and invaded what little personal space she had left she took an involuntary step backwards towards the stable wall. "Legolas what on earth-"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"She did not get the chance to finish her sentence as Legolas had closed the remaining distance between them and kissed her. Whereas their first kiss had been short, embarrassing, and completely spur of the moment, this kiss was none of those. Legolas eliminated any and all space between them as one arm wrapped around her waist and the other cupped the back of her neck. Whereas Legolas had frozen up when she kissed him in Lothlorien, Nina's reaction was a startled gasp which turned into more of a muted moan as Legolas took advantage of her parted lips to deepen the kiss, slipping his tongue into her mouth to tangle with hers. The elleth, once she'd figured out what was happening, threw herself into the kiss with enthusiasm./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"By the time they parted for more than a few breathless moments to gulp in air Nina had somehow ended up pinned to the stable wall with her fingers tangled in the ellon's hair (that incidentally was as soft as she'd imagined it would be) and was more than pleased by the situation. "So..." she trailed off, not sure how to ask what she was trying to clarify./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I am going to miss you and the next time we see each other we need to figure this out even if the middle of a war is not the ideal setting." He lowered his lips to hers again and placed a series of sweet chaste kisses on her slightly swollen lips./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nina was just about to deepen the kiss when she heard the telltale gruff tones of Gimli on the other side of the wall. "The lass' horse is done up. Where did she and the elf get to?" Both elves froze before carefully separating as reality intruded on their stolen moment./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I guess that means it is time." Nina whispered and took his hand in hers as they began walking around the stable. She paused just before they turned the corner, still out of sight from anyone on the main road. Rising onto her toes she kissed him one more time before pulling away to put his disheveled hair in some sort of order (she was lucky she'd thought to braid hers back). "I'll be seeing you soon." With that last remark thrown over her shoulder with a smile that was way more confident than she actually felt, Nina turned the corner. 'Just two days' she thought to herself; equal measures panicked at the thought of battle and elated at the thought of a reunion with the ellon she loved./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"AN: So, Eowyn bashing was unintentional but just sort of happened. I figured the two of them would be jealous of each other in equal parts since Nina is treated as an equal by the men in her company which Eowyn wants and Eowyn doesn't suck at being a girl in Middle Earth which Nina has been having problems with…Unfortunately Tolkien doesn't give us much to play with for Female characters and one main OC is more than enough for me. Everyone is very stressed and Nina is an elf which naturally makes the humans suspicious. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Anyways you all got some Nina-Legolas love at the end there. Chapter 12 will have Haldir being an overprotective brother, some more fluff, and oh right the battle./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Let me know what you thought! Reviews are excellent motivation to keep updates quick :)/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Disclaimer: I am not Tolkien/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"AN: I really appreciate all of your support and feedback. Keep it coming!/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Happy Reading!/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Chapter 11: Arrivals and Departures/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"As a consequence of Nina and Legolas's late night conversation the elleth woke well after the sun had risen to the sound of a maid knocking. The woman gave her a decidedly disapproving look and Nina silently wondered if it was due to her race or how late she'd slept./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""The bath will be ready for you in just a minute. We came by earlier but you were still abed. Lady Eowyn said to let you rest until breakfast." At least Nina knew what the woman's sour face was about now./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Thank you. I really appreciate it." Nina gave her a tentative smile in hopes of thawing the icy woman's disapproval. Considering the maid gave her a skeptical look and left the room without responding it sent a fairly clear message. The elleth shook her head and sorted through the bundle of her clean clothing the maid had left, packing away what she wouldn't need for the day. As she waited for the bath she took stock of her supplies and finished packing for leaving with Gandalf later that day (though, of course, Gandalf didn't know he was leaving quite yet)./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Less than half an hour later Nina had washed and dressed herself in a tunic and leggings that would be suitable for the hard riding she would have to begin in just a few hours and went in search of breakfast./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""There's the lass!" Gimli's overly cheerful voice boomed form across the hall and Nina smiled, relaxing into the familiar interaction as she went to sit near Aragorn and Legolas while Gimli was entertaining some of the younger men at a far table with Gandalf./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Sorry about missing dinner last night. I guess I was more tired than I thought!" She slid onto the bench next to Aragorn who flashed her a quick smile before returning to his food. The Ranger had never been much of a morning person which was fine by Nina. A servant placed a plate in front of her and left before she could turn to thank him, refusing to meet her eyes as was polite. She frowned slightly and wondered if all servants were as unfriendly as the few she'd met this morning./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"What troubles you, my friend?/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"" Legolas asked her quietly in Elvish, having noticed her frown./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nina smiled at his concern and wracked her brain trying to remember the words she would need to respond to him in kind. Perhaps she should get him to practice the language with her before the disuse rendered her completely unable to use her hard won knowledge. "/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"It is nothing. I think I must have done something to offend the servants. That was the second one who has refused to look me in the eye."/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" She shrugged and began her meal, determined to put the incident out of her mind. "/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The funeral is this morning, correct?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""The service begins in half an hour. Will you be coming?" /spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"It appeared that Aragorn had finally joined the land of the living as he was the one to respond to her question./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Yes, we will be receiving a few visitors just after the ceremony and I would like to be there."/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" She winced slightly thinking about the two small children who would be riding into Edoras soon. "/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"I would suggest you get packed before the funeral."/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" The men gave her identical confused looks but she just smiled and gave them a non-answer "/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"the story is moving forward and what is about to happen cannot be changed"/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" With that Nina nodded to them and went to check on Tala in the stables./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The stable hands gave the young elleth a wide berth and she was grateful for the distance. Brushing down Haldir's mare gave her time to really think about what she was about to do. She'd checked the mirror before leaving Lothlorien to find where she could meet up with the Galadhirm while Gandalf went in search of the Rohirim. Helms Deep was quite possibly one of the most important events she was going to try and change. The weight of responsibility was stifling and were it not her adoptive brother who she was braving battle for, Nina feared she may have chickened out. "We'll be seeing Haldir soon girl. Are you as excited as I am?" She muttered under her breath to the horse. At the name of the Marchwarden Tala threw her head and pressed closer to her elleth./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!-!/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Aragorn was distinctly uncomfortable in Rohan. He'd been there countless times before as a Ranger but he'd never been the center of so much attention; nor had he been forced to attend the funeral of a child prince. The ranger was unspeakably jealous of the two elves who had positioned themselves on the very farthest fringes of the assembly. Of course, his jealousy might have more to do with their closeness when he was so far from his beloved than their relative anonymity. It was clear to the man that something had shifted for the two elves since their time in Lothlorien. As much as he was happy to see his longtime friend finally showing some interest in an elleth Aragorn was worried./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nina was lovely but the Ranger couldn't help but wonder what she was hiding. Her background was foggy at best. She claimed he people were from a land far to the East and yet he had never heard of Elvin societies beyond the kingdoms of Middle Earth. Her manners and speech were also a curiosity he'd noticed in Lothlorien but stood out more glaringly in Rohan when she was surrounded by humans. The girl acted more like a human than an elleth with her emotional displays and relaxed speech (especially given how poor she was at Elvish). He was also confused by her foresight. From what he knew of Elrond foresight was not an exact practice. The elleth in their company was far too certain of the events she'd decided to change for this to be a normal Elvin gift. Aragorn could only assume Legolas had been given a more detailed account of the elleth and tried to content himself with following the ellon's judgment which had never steered him wrong./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The King had finished his tearful eulogy for his only son and the mourners were gathering to place flowers on the new grave. He noticed that the two elves kept their gaze trained on the western horizon and, in response to something their superior eyesight took note of, began running towards whatever it was that had their attention./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!-!/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Legolas really needed to stop being so surprised when Nina's foreknowledge played out in front of him. Just as the service for the prince ended a horse appeared on the horizon they'd been scanning. Nina turned to him and gave a wide grin before darting off to meet the newcomers with him close behind her. Within minutes they'd reached the children and Nina had quickly taken charge, depositing the young boy who looked as if he were about to faint in his arms and taking the smaller girl herself./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nina kept the horses lead in her hand as she hoisted the girl onto her hip and spoke to her "Are you well child?" Legolas could feel the soft concern in her voice and had an unbidden thought of how she would be a fantastic mother. The ellon pushed the traitorous thought down and focused on the situation at hand./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Is Eothain alright? I wanted to stop but he said we had to keep moving!" The girl craned her head over Nina's shoulder to catch a glimpse of her brother./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Eothain will be just fine Freda. Legolas is taking good care of him and we'll be in the city in just a few minutes. I bet you're hungry. How about we get both of you supper and then you can get cleaned up?" The same cooing voice appeared to settle the young girl down beginning to fall asleep as her brother had and Legolas noticed she never thought to ask the elleth how she knew her name./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"When they finally made it back to the city there was a large party of stunned people waiting for them. Aragorn, Gimli, and Gandalf regarded the pair of elves with a sort of calm understanding seeing as they knew of Nina's foresight to some extent. Eowyn and the five of so maids and servants behind her looked confused and Nina had to tap a stable hand on the shoulder three times before he took the horse from her. Finally coming out of the stupor, Eowyn and one of the maids came forward to relive the elves of the children clinging to them and Nina tried not to laugh as both clung to their current carriers, refusing to leave the relative safety of their rescuers arms./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I do not think they've eaten for several days. They've come from the river settlements which we attacked several days ago. Perhaps we could find them something to eat while your uncle is alerted to the raid?" Nina suggested calmly to a now slightly sour looking Eowyn. The lady nodded curtly and turned back to the great hall, expecting the elves to follow. Legolas caught Nina's eye after the Lady had turned away and raised a questioning eyebrow wondering if she knew what was wrong with their hostess but Nina simply shrugged and silently followed the older woman inside./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Once they'd gotten the children situated on the benches and they were distracted enough by the food in front of them to let go of their rescuers Legolas and Nina approached the heated argument currently taking place by Théoden's throne./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak. Eomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their King." Aragorn said to the King. Clearly they had arrived mid-conversation./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Théoden's face flickered for a moment as if considering the option of calling to the Rohirim before focusing his resolve as he stood "They will be three hundred leagues from here by now. Eomer cannot help us. I know what it is you want of me, but I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war." Legolas fought down his irritation. Was this man stupid? The enemy was roaming his lands unchecked and he didn't want to take action. Did he care nothing for his people?/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"It appeared as though Aragorn was thinking the same as him as he pointed out the folly of the King's statement "Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The King looked down at Aragorn with clear irritation "When I last looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was King of Rohan."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"When it looked like Aragorn was going to rise to the bait of Théoden's words Gandalf interceded "Then what is the King's decision?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""We will move the city to Helms Deep. I dare the enemy to try and challenge us there!" With that said he strode away from his small council of foreigners and went to confer with Hama, who was waiting by the door for orders. Nina shook her head in resignation and walked back to the children with Legolas tailing her./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Where is Mama? She promised she would be here!" Freda yelled at Eowyn who was trying to get her to go with her to bathe. Eothain was nowhere to be seen but his food was gone so Legolas assumed he'd been taken away by a servant with less fuss. The little girl saw Nina approaching and wriggled her way out of Eowyn's grasp to clutch at Nina's legs. "Lady! Where is Mama?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nina smiled sadly at the clearly overwrought little girl. "Your mother is waiting for you in Helms Deep. You have to behave yourself and do what Lady Eowyn says alright? She and the maids will be looking after you and your brother until you see your mother again. If you stay with your brother and do as you're told I promise you that you will see her again." Legolas saw Eowyn's face sour at the word Promise but the young girl nodded trustingly and went to take the hand of the maid Eowyn had been trying to give her to earlier./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Once Freda was out of earshot Eowyn turned to face the elleth. "What are you doing, giving a child such assurances? Her mother is probably dead and you just PROMISED her that she was waiting in Helms Deep!"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I only make promises that I can keep Milady. Their mother is waiting at Helms Deep. They will be reunited not twenty paces inside the gate." Nina's voice was surprisingly calm, but Legolas caught the frustrated and slightly affronted look in her eye./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You cannot possibly know that! And when the hopes you've built up come crashing down who is supposed to take care of the children?" Eowyn was truly yelling now and Legolas was uncomfortably aware of how many eyes were watching the dramatic scene and decided to intervene./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""My Lady, if Nina says that the children will be reunited with their mother, they will. She has the gift of foresight and has never been wrong. Her warning is the reason your brother and his men got to the settlements in time to stop further destruction." Apparently Legolas's attempt to be reasonable was unsuccessful as Eowyn turned on her heel and all but stormed out of the hall./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""She truly does not like me." Nina stated in awe as the Lady slammed the entrance door behind her. Legolas nodded in agreement and together they returned to Gandalf, Aragorn, and Gimli who had been watching the scene with rapt attention./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""What is our next move?" Gimli asked, breaking the slightly awkward moment of silence following the theatrics./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Gandalf is leaving to find Eomer" Gandalf nodded in agreement, "and I am going with him to meet up with some friends who may be of some assistance." All four males protested this at once. "I must. I cannot be there for your journey to Helms Deep and I need to speak with someone before the battle."/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Then it is settled." Gandalf said, cutting off any further protests from the still unconvinced man, elf, and dwarf. "Will you be ready to leave in one hour?" Nina nodded. "Then I will meet you in the stables. And we should all pack as the rest of you will be moving out come morning." With that they went their separate ways and after a moment of hesitation Legolas went to his own room to gather his belongings. He would find Nina before she left but he needed a moment to himself first./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-! -!-!-!-!-!/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nina stared down at the paper, ink, and pen set before her. Aragorn was going to fall off a cliff and, even if he came back eventually, Nina had her doubts that Legolas would forgive her for leaving him in the dark on this one. She wanted to give him a note or something, she could tell him to open it after the fall or something equally vague. Aragorn needed to fall to be in a position to give Théoden an accurate number of enemies but that didn't mean their friends needed to suffer unnecessary grief. Finally, it came to her. 'Aragorn marries Arwen Evenstar. Members of the Fellowship always find their way back.' was printed boldly on a small scroll of paper and, on a whim, she added '/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"see you soon/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"' underneath it in Elvish. She hoped he shared this with Gimli when the time came, the dwarf would be frustrated to no end by the two languages. On several occasions he'd actually encouraged Nina to stop trying to learn the language so that more of their conversations could be in the common tongue./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"The message written, Nina gathered her pack and strapped on her weapons before heading in the direction of Legolas's room, message in hand. Her hand had barely knocked on the surface of Legolas' door before he opened it and smiled, stepping back to let her in. Her desire for privacy over propriety won out and she shut the door behind herself. "I have something for you but you have to promise not to open it until the time is right." When he nodded she handed him the paper. "I'm giving this to you, knowing that if you break your promise it will change everything for the worse. You should open this at the cliff when hope seems lost." She knew it was vague but there was no better way to describe the right time without possibly influencing the event./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I swear I will not open it until the time is right." Legolas tucked the roll of paper into his neatly filled pack next to what looked like leftover lembas which reminded her of something else she should probably share with him./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Also, while you're traveling it might be wise to avoid any food Eowyn has hand in cooking. She's never set foot in a kitchen before and that is probably for the best." She tried to smile teasingly and could actually feel herself failing./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""You've been out of sorts all day Nina. What troubles you?" Legolas asked, taking her hand and leading her to sit on the bed as they had the night before. Nina had thought she was hiding her trepidation well but apparently not if the Prince had tuned into her discomfort./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I suppose it is one thing to plan to interfere in a war between good and evil and quite another to actually do it. Would you think less of me if I told you I am absolutely petrified?" The elleth was staring at her hands cursing herself for saying such a thing to an ellon who'd been in more battles than days she'd been alive./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""If you were not frightened I'd be concerned. You've dedicated your entire new life to the coming war, which is quite a lot to be riding on the shoulders of any one person." Legolas pulled her into his arms and Nina enjoyed the closeness that hadn't felt so natural since Lothlorien. "Is where you are going safe? I know you cannot tell me what you will be doing but I will spend the entire journey concerned for you if I do not know something." Nina smiled softly at his concern and felt her heart give a small squeeze of the emotions she was more and more certain were too deep to keep running from./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I'll be seeing you again before the real danger starts." Again, that was vague enough but managed to reassure him if the relaxing of his tense shoulders was anything to go by. "I need to get Tala saddled. Are you coming to see us off?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""Of course. Tala is going to miss me. I have to say goodbye to her." His joking grin served to lighten the mood a bit and Nina squeezed him tightly for a second more before extracting herself from his embrace and gathering up her things she'd left by the door. They walked to the stables in uninterrupted comfortable silence./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Almost fifteen minutes before Gandalf was set to appear Nina finished the tack on her horse and had strapped her pack and weapons to their appropriate places, leaving her bow and quiver on the ground for her to sling over her back when they were ready to ride out. Nina rechecked all of her straps for the last time while Legolas had what appeared to be a very engrossing one sided conversation with Tala in hushed Elvish. When she came around and made to exit the stall Legolas looked up with an almost excited or agitated gleam in his eyes. "Are you done?"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""We simply have to wait for Gandalf now and…" she trailed off as Legolas grabbed her hand and proceeded to drag her out of the stable and around the building to the back. He stopped there and spun around to face her. When he approached her and invaded what little personal space she had left she took an involuntary step backwards towards the stable wall. "Legolas what on earth-"/span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"She did not get the chance to finish her sentence as Legolas had closed the remaining distance between them and kissed her. Whereas their first kiss had been short, embarrassing, and completely spur of the moment, this kiss was none of those. Legolas eliminated any and all space between them as one arm wrapped around her waist and the other cupped the back of her neck. Whereas Legolas had frozen up when she kissed him in Lothlorien, Nina's reaction was a startled gasp which turned into more of a muted moan as Legolas took advantage of her parted lips to deepen the kiss, slipping his tongue into her mouth to tangle with hers. The elleth, once she'd figured out what was happening, threw herself into the kiss with enthusiasm./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"By the time they parted for more than a few breathless moments to gulp in air Nina had somehow ended up pinned to the stable wall with her fingers tangled in the ellon's hair (that incidentally was as soft as she'd imagined it would be) and was more than pleased by the situation. "So..." she trailed off, not sure how to ask what she was trying to clarify./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I am going to miss you and the next time we see each other we need to figure this out even if the middle of a war is not the ideal setting." He lowered his lips to hers again and placed a series of sweet chaste kisses on her slightly swollen lips./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Nina was just about to deepen the kiss when she heard the telltale gruff tones of Gimli on the other side of the wall. "The lass' horse is done up. Where did she and the elf get to?" Both elves froze before carefully separating as reality intruded on their stolen moment./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;""I guess that means it is time." Nina whispered and took his hand in hers as they began walking around the stable. She paused just before they turned the corner, still out of sight from anyone on the main road. Rising onto her toes she kissed him one more time before pulling away to put his disheveled hair in some sort of order (she was lucky she'd thought to braid hers back). "I'll be seeing you soon." With that last remark thrown over her shoulder with a smile that was way more confident than she actually felt, Nina turned the corner. 'Just two days' she thought to herself; equal measures panicked at the thought of battle and elated at the thought of a reunion with the ellon she loved./span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"AN: So, Eowyn bashing was unintentional but just sort of happened. I figured the two of them would be jealous of each other in equal parts since Nina is treated as an equal by the men in her company which Eowyn wants and Eowyn doesn't suck at being a girl in Middle Earth which Nina has been having problems with…Unfortunately Tolkien doesn't give us much to play with for Female characters and one main OC is more than enough for me. Everyone is very stressed and Nina is an elf which naturally makes the humans suspicious. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Anyways you all got some Nina-Legolas love at the end there. Chapter 12 will have Haldir being an overprotective brother, some more fluff, and oh right the battle./span/p
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p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Let me know what you thought! Reviews are excellent motivation to keep updates quick :)/span/p