Fan Fiction ❯ Fairy Dust Dreams ❯ The Wait ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter Eight

The Wait

 

 

After telling Aragorn to wait for the signal fire from Gondor, and leaving him with explicit instructions as to what he was to do, Gandalf left us taking with him a very sad Pippin.

No one really knew how long the wait would take, except for me of course. I knew it would take Gandalf three days to get to the White City and that he wouldn't wait around to light the fire. I guessed that approximately on the dawn of the fifth day that all of Edoras, or at least most of Edoras, would know and be getting ready for war.

But of course the wait on television was only a matter of minuets, while here, in this ever-feeling-real dream, it was all of those hours! The first day, though, wasn't hard to get over!

I was seated outside on the steps leading into the King's hall, just enjoying the wind and the sights of the city, when suddenly the elf was there looking down at me! I stared up at him, startled, and then frowned. He had a huge smile on his face, and I wondered why.

“Legolas,” I said now beginning to smile myself, “what is so funny?”

Legolas seated himself beside me, “It will take Gandalf at least a few days to get to the White City,” he said, but I already knew this and nodded, “How would you like to take me on a tour of the area?” He said this as if he were going to see some amazing grand structure that he had always dreamed of visiting. My frown was coming back. Why did Legolas want a tour of something like Edoras? I mean he was an elf; elves had much more amazing structures than what was here! And then another thought struck me. I didn't know anything about Edoras! All I knew was that it was on a big hill!

I smiled nervously at him now, wondering if I should know anything about Edoras, seeing as I was from a different town. I didn't know if everyone from Rohan would have made it to Edoras at sometime in their lives… I knew I had to at least know something of its history… which I most certainly didn't!

“Why do you want a tour of something like Edoras?” I asked, deciding to play along as if I did know. “I mean, elves have greater things than that are here… don't they?”

Legolas nodded they did, “Yes, but I would like you to show me some of your home land.” He said and I couldn't help but smile sweetly at this. Then before I could say another word he was back up on his feet, “Come, I have our horses already saddled, we can start by roaming the hills!” he had my hand in his in an instant as he pulled me to my feet, “Are you ready?” he asked smiling down at me, and I found all I could do was nod. He let go of my hand then and started for the stables, leaving me with nothing to do but follow.

 

 

We walked our horses for some time, the silence dragging on, I knew I should do something to break the silence, but figured he was thinking on something important. His face was serious and his eye strait ahead, he seemed almost scared of something, and I wondered what had happened to cause his good mood to fade. After a while more, I decided the silence had gone on enough, and turning my full attention on Legolas I smiled warmly.

“Well,” I said causing him to turn his attention on me, “we are now on the hills, was there something special you wanted to see?” He smiled slightly at me and I was glad to see that the good mood hadn't completely vanished.

Legolas turned his eyes on the landscape as if looking for something in particular, and then turning his eyes back on me his smile grew. “This is fine.” He said dismounting quickly, and I frowned at the back of his head. Why is he dismounting? I thought, I thought we were “touring”. I smiled slightly now as I also dismounted and ran a hand down Lightfoot's neck. Maybe this is all the touring we will do. I thought feeling a little more at ease.

“Let's set the horses free to graze.” Legolas said suddenly bringing me back to where we were, and I turned my eyes on him. He was already busy with his horse's saddle, and I quickly began to fumble with my own.

After a while of fumbling with it, I finally figured it out and was able to get the saddle off before Legolas could make much of my dilemma. And turning, probably a bit too proudly, to Legolas, I smiled.

“You will need to take the bit out of her mouth.” He said now watching me intently and I had a horrid feeling he was evaluating me!

I managed to smile sweetly despite the feeling, and turned back to the horse. Not too many years ago, I had been at a riding camp, where I was told I would get to learn how to ride. One of my life dreams! But before I had even a chance to place a saddle on the horse of my choosing that horse had turned his gigantic head and placed his whole mouth around my wrist.

The horse, who I had been told was very tame and good for beginners, didn't bite down, but had just simply stared at me, his huge mouth clamped firmly on my flesh. I had been beside myself with fear, and the two of us had just stared at each other until the trainer saw what was going on, and coaxed the horse's mouth off me. I had left right after, taking what the horse had done as a threat, or perhaps a warning. I only knew I wasn't going to learn how to ride!

“Are you alright?” Legolas said suddenly beside me staring at my pale face. I turned startled eyes on him and smiled nervously.

“Hu? Oh, yes… yes, I'm fine…” I turned my attention back on Lightfoot, her two big eyes watching me like I was crazy, and I wondered just how long I had been standing there looking at her with horror. Lightfoot had been a great horse, true, -except, of course, when she threw me- and I did not want to get anywhere near her mouth!

“She won't bite you,” Legolas said softly.

“Yeah, you're probably right,” I said lamely, and then another thought struck me. I didn't know how to get a bit out! And they certainly looked more complex than a saddle!

I turned helpless eyes on Legolas, “I'm sorry,” I said slightly, “can you take it out?”

Legolas didn't say anything as he searched my face, and then turning he placed both his hands against the horse's mouth, and with a slight pull the bit came out. I stared wide-eyed at him while he finished; I had had visions of placing my hands inside the horse's mouth to bring the bit out! I felt completely stupid.

Legolas turned his eyes back on me and asked the obvious question, “Are you afraid of horses?” He said it so sincere that I blushed and turned away from the horse to make my way over to the edge of the hill we were on. Legolas followed me so I couldn't escape the question.

After a moment of silence I turned back to the elf, and smiled shyly, “I'm not really afraid of them,” I started out, “I was once bitten by one, and since then I haven't been able to trust them or for that matter, get near their mouths.” I turned my eyes on Lightfoot, who still stood there as if listening to us talk, “Lightfoot is a great horse, and I like her… I just don't want to get near her mouth…” I trailed off as I looked back up into Legolas's eyes, and smiled weakly, “Yeah, I know what you are thinking…” I turned completely to look out over the landscape, letting the wind blow my hair wherever it saw fit, “Me, a maiden of Rohan, being afraid of a horse!” I laughed weakly trying to ease the tension.

“I wasn't thinking that,” he said quietly, and I turned back to face him, “some horses bite, but not all…” He smiled so suddenly that I couldn't help but smile myself. “Come.” he said moving off a ways, and I followed right behind, “Do you see that marker?”

I looked and sure enough there, quite a ways away, was a large marker with a giant X across it. It stood up by itself, leaning on two legs, this was obviously some sort of archery training thing, and I turned my eyes on the elf.

“How did that get out here?” I asked and his smile grew.

“I had it brought out here this morning after Gandalf left.” He took his bow off and handed it to me, “I want to teach you how to shoot an arrow…” he paused and smiled again, “Without the use of magic.”

“Without your magic,” I said disappointedly, “but won't it take forever the other way? And besides, I liked the way the magic worked.”

Legolas laughed, and I finally took the bow, “It won't take forever,” he said now handing me an arrow, “and you can still call the target, just as I've should you before, only it will be harder for you to try.”

I nodded I understood and then placing the arrow to the bow, I pulled it back.

 

Legolas spent that day showing me how to call the target on my own, and after a hundred times of missing the target completely, I finally made one count! I was so happy; I could have died with delight! So elated, in fact, that I squealed for joy and wrapped my arms around Legolas's neck! Although I quickly blushed and apologized profusely!

The next couple of days, though, were not nearly so memorable and seemed to pass much slower… so much so that I seemed to have no concept of the time! I was inside the King's hall, sitting at one of the small tables wishing I had a cup of coffee, when suddenly Aragorn came bursting through the doors.

“The beacons of Minas Tirith! The beacon is lit! Gondor calls for aid!” he bellowed his eyes locked on the king. I was up and standing the moment the doors had burst open, so happy that finally the wait was done! I turned my eyes on the king as well, knowing full well what he would say.

“Then Rohan will answer!”

 

I was holding the reins to Aragorn's horse, as Aragorn was busy with the saddle. He was silent, and I realized then that he still hadn't told me what was going on with Frodo and the Ring. I frowned slightly at him, wishing he would hurry up and tell me, but I knew I should wait for him to do so instead of trying to get it out of him.

Just at that moment Eowyn came over with her horse and I watched as Aragorn gave her a startled look.

“Will you ride with us?” he asked and I watched as she smiled sweetly at him.

“Just to the encampment. It's tradition for the women of the court to farewell the men.” She then turned her eyes on me a look of complete victory shining on her face. I then realized she thought that I wasn't going! Of course she would think this though, seeing as I wasn't a `woman of the court'. I smiled slightly; boy did she have a surprise coming!

I hardly paid any attention to the rest of Eowyn's conversation, or to the fact that Aragorn had found her sword; my eyes were on Legolas and the two horses he pulled after him.

Legolas handed me the reins to Lightfoot with a smile; it had been him who talked Aragorn into letting me come, apparently thinking that I would get into some kind of trouble here by myself. I smiled sweetly at the elf, nodding my thanks, and then turning my eyes back around on Eowyn; I gave her a smile of my own. She turned frantic eyes on Aragorn.

“Aragorn…” she whispered to him, “why is she coming?” I could suddenly feel her eyes boring into my back and I was thankful I had turned back around!

“She is not a woman of the court!” she continued to whine.

“She may not be a woman of the court, lady Eowyn, but she is my responsibility.” Aragorn said lightly.

“She is not your responsibility, my lord, Aragorn! She is of Rohan! Not Gondor!”

There was a moment of silence, and I was afraid that I had missed something.

“Her family was massacred. Slain by wild men!” there was more silence. “She has no one… I will not leave her here. She is coming with me.” with that, said Aragorn quickly mounted his horse and road off, Legolas did the same and I certainly wasn't going to be left alone with Eowyn!