Chapter two.
Disclaimer: I think you can guess whether or not I own Narnia or LOTR.
Important chatter: Hello hello! I am finally posting another chapter! Quick shoutout to Zekariah C-L- Schron for reviewing my chapter one! I hope I answered your questions in my reply, and thanks for letting me know I need to fix my summary!
Warnings: nothing here!
Eowyn glared at Arwen for the hundredth time. Why did she have to be so noble all the time? Now they were in the hands of people who hated them, being taken to what she gathered to be a talking lion. She bit back another groan.
As always, Arwen ignored her.
"Why did you stop me?" Eowyn hissed. "Now-"
"I suppose you did not see the creatures behind us." Arwen cut her short.
"The…?"
"There were more of the strange creatures in the brambles behind us." Arwen sighed. "far too many to attempt any escape."
Eowyn's eyes widened. Then our chances of returning home are slimmer than I believed, she thought. As though reading her thoughts, Arwen gave a grim nod.
They stopped outside an official-looking tent, which Orrius called 'Aslan's tent'. Eowyn figured that Aslan was a leader, or someone important.
A centaur that Orrius called 'general Oreius' stood outside the tent, as though guarding.
Eowyn noticed a peculiar sight.
Two girls, one no more than nine years old, and a boy approached the tent. The boy drew his sword and raised it, the flat facing Aslan's tent.
"We have come to see Aslan," He declared, though Eowyn was sure she heard his voice shake just a little.
A great golden Lion emerged from the tent, fierce and proud. Yet in his golden eyes there was such immeasurable kindness that Eowyn suddenly felt very small. The whole crowd of Narnians bowed.
"Welcome Peter, son of adam." He nodded to the boy. "Welcome Susan and Lucy, daughters of eve." He gave the beavers standing next to the children a gentle smile. "And welcome to you, beavers. You have my thanks." the two beavers murmured excitedly. Aslan turned back to the children. "But where is the fourth?"
The boy rose and sheathed his blade. Eowyn could've sworn that she saw a hint of fear in the boy's eyes.
"That's why we're here sir," he said. "We need your help." He and the girl shared a nervous glance before the girl spoke up.
"We had a little trouble along the way." she shared another nervous glance with the boy, silently asking him to continue. Finally, the boy did.
"Our brother's been captured by the white witch." He admitted.
"Captured? How could this happen?" The Lion asked grimly. Though Eowyn was sure she saw a knowing look in the Lion's eyes. The boy and the two girls fell silent, reluctant to answer. Finally the beaver standing next to the children answered.
"He… betrayed them, your majesty." A sudden fire sprang to the eyes of general Oreius. He gripped the hilt of his sword.
"Then he has betrayed us all!" The crowd began to murmur and shout, but Aslan silenced them with a growl.
"Peace, Oreius. I'm sure there's an explanation." he fixed the boy with his great golden eyes, as though waiting for the boy to speak.
"It's my fault, really. I was too hard on him." The boy admitted. The older girl laid a hand on his arm in a comforting gesture.
"We all were." she said quietly.
"Sir, he's our brother." The younger girl said, her voice pleading with the lion to help.
"I know, dear one. But that only makes the betrayal all the worse. This may be harder than you think."
The children managed a 'thank you anyway' and the boy lead the two girls away.
Eowyn watched as the children left, her curiosity piqued. But Orrius was not going to wait. He shoved Eowyn and Arwen to stand before the lion.
"We found these two in the woods, they say they're from Middle-earth!" he spat the words, as though they had a foul taste.
Aslan fixed the girls with his great golden eyes.
"Leave us." He said at last. "I wish to speak with them alone." Orrius gave a reluctant nod and left. The great lion then turned to Arwen and Eowyn. Eowyn seemed cautious but in awe, and Arwen seemed to recognize him.
"Eru," She breathed. The Lion smiled. (how on Arda can a Lion smile, Eowyn thought)
"Ah, I see that you have guessed my name in middle-earth. Here, I am called Aslan. I have a name in every world, so you must learn to call me by the one I have here." He said gently.
Eowyn froze as she heard this. Eru? A talking lion of all things? A burning question came to mind.
"Iluvatar? A talking Lion?" She spluttered. "But why a Lion?" Aslan (or Eru) smiled, not seeming at all offended by the question.
"As you may have noticed, half of Narnia is populated by talking animals. It is best to come as one of them, to be close and to hear them."
"Then- then why did you not come to us? Why did you stay distant when we suffered under Sauron?" Eowyn quickly shut her mouth and felt her face grow warm. Why oh why had she said that? It would not do to insult Eru!
Yet Aslan didn't seem offended. His eyes filled with a deep sadness.
"Many people of Middle-Earth have hardened their hearts. They would not receive me. And yet I did not leave you, for who do you believe sent Gandalf, who discovered that Frodo held the one ring? Who do you believe guided Aragorn, and protected him through his journeys? Who do you believe put Merry in your path, who saved you from Angamar?" Eowyn fell silent.
He had been there.
He had been there. There, the whole time. There, with her, guiding her! Who was she that the one beyond the circles of the world would see her, let alone guide her?
Her eyes filled with tears from a mix of shame and joy.
The lion reached out an enormous paw and pulled her close. He let her tears fall on his mane. Eowyn stiffened, as she hadn't been expecting such a thing, but then threw her arms around him.
Arwen hesitantly came forward, her face looking pensive.
Aslan gave her a gentle smile and pulled her into the embrace. Arwen seemed startled, but quickly relaxed into the embrace.
o0o0o0o
Legolas awoke, his head spinning. He struggled to gather his thoughts. How did he get here? He slowly recalled the past events. The shaking. The snowy forest. The tall woman. The wolves. The fall.
He glanced around, taking in his surroundings. It was cold. Very cold. The whole room had a translucent ethereal glow to it, almost as if…
Ice.
With a start of horror he realized he was stuck in a room entirely made of ice. He bit back a groan. For a moment he wondered dryly what kind of person builds rooms out of ice.
o0o0o0o
That's it for this chapter! So… we'll see what happens to Legolas in Ch3, but it seems Arwen and Eowyn are safe… for now at least. Evil grin
Now, the question I'm sure you're all asking: where are the others? Why aren't Aragorn Faramir, Gandalf, and the hobbits here? Well, I can safely say that we'll see them later!