Fan Fiction ❯ Fairy Dust Dreams ❯ Another Road ( Chapter 9 )

Well I'm glad to know I have one true fan! Lol, thanx for reviewing! This is the last chapter that I have prepared to post. I'm afraid I won't be able to post another one for quite awhile since I will be away at work for the next 3 weeks. Try and be patient though, I will post another as soon as I can.

Thanx again for the review!

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Nine

Another Road

 

 

 

We were on the road again, this time though heading for Gondor, or I guess I should say Dunharrow, the encampment. I was not all too happy seeing as I couldn't stay up front with Aragorn, Theoden, and Legolas, but I knew it had to do with being or having `king' blood in you, so I didn't push. Instead I road off to the side of the neat and orderly line of men. I wasn't about to get into the midst of them, with my luck I would probably fall off Lightfoot and get trampled! I also didn't want to have a run in with Eowyn, so I kept to myself.

I wasn't at all sure how long it would take to get to Dunharrow. I figured it would take the day we left and a night and that we would make it there early in the morning… but I wasn't sure. For all I knew we could make it there by nightfall, or rather evening, but I really didn't care how long it took, I was glad to be outside looking at all the spectacular sights! The mountains were breath-taking and just so huge!

I road for awhile like this, so caught up in the beauty that I hadn't noticed it was getting late, and finally, after I realized that I could now hardly see the mountains I found so enchanting, I saw that it was dark!

The group of men at my left were slowing down and I wondered if we were going to stop and make camp. I hoped we would.

My hopes were not in vain and almost right away the order was given to stop. I searched around wondering what I should do next when I saw Legolas coming my way.

He smiled at me from atop his horse, and then with easy grace he dismounted. I smiled down at him from a top Lightfoot, feeling too tired to even move a muscle. Legolas then offered me his hand and taking it I was helped off the tired horse.

Without a word Legolas took Lightfoot's reins along with his own and made his way over to where others had already set up a horses post. I frowned slightly at his parting back; it was as if he knew I was incompetent. I shrugged my shoulders and then followed after him. He did know about my horse secret thingy, so that was probably it.

Once the horses were taken care of and tied securely to the pole, Legolas showed me where it was I was going to be sleeping. I was very surprised at how fast everyone was working! Tents were already up all over the place!

“This is it, Drea,” Legolas said indicating a rather large and elaborate tent.

I looked at it in awe, “This is where I'm going to sleep!” I said my eyes going over it, the thing was really big for only one person and I couldn't believe it would need to be so large.

Legolas smiled weakly, and I couldn't help but see just how tiered he looked.

“Thanks,” I said smiling slightly, “I can take it from here.” He nodded and walked away; I made a point of watching him go so I could hopefully see where it was he was sleeping, but I had no such luck as he disappeared into the crowd.

With nothing else to do I decided I might as well go to bed, or at least check out my sleeping chamber! I pulled back the tent flap and went happily inside, my eyes instantly going to the other that was already in the tent!

We started at each other, her eyes shining with disdain and mine shining with fear, and disbelief. I now knew why the tent was so huge, it really wasn't meant for me, but for Eowyn! I was just going to share it with her!

I decided one of us had to say or do something, and I could tell it wasn't going to be her. So taking my eyes away from her face I smiled slightly. This, though, did not ease the tension, but probably made it worse. I didn't know what to do now; I only knew that I didn't want to stay with her in this tent.

Eowyn still didn't say anything, and so turning on my heels I quickly dashed out of the tent. She didn't try to stop me, and I was thankful for that, and breathing a sigh of relief into the cold night air, I wondered what I would do now. I had no place to sleep!

I shrugged my shoulders absently and wrapped my cloak tighter around me, I would be fine, I was sure I could find a fire somewhere around here. I let my eyes go over the dark landscape, looking for a spark or any sign of fire. There was fire burning in something much like a torch, placed around here and there, but I couldn't find an actual fire with people around it.

I shrugged my shoulders again, it's still early in the night, someone probably just hasn't gotten around to it yet, I thought. I looked around again and then slowly began to walk over the way I had seen Legolas go. I smiled slightly; maybe I would run into him. I then frowned, thinking about Aragorn, he still hadn't told me about the whole `quest' thing. I shrugged my shoulders once again, apparently that was becoming a habit, and kept walking.

 

It was really dark now, and I knew I had to have been sitting in the cold grass for hours. I wondered if it would be safe to go back to the tent; that maybe Eowyn had fallen asleep, but I was afraid to go see.

There were fires all over the place now, with people laughing and talking around them, but I really didn't feel like talking to strange men so I stayed where I sat.

“Why is it I always find you awake when you should be sleeping?” I heard Legolas say from behind me, and I nearly jumped out of my skin.

“Legolas!” I said turning wide eyes on him, “You scared me to death!”

He smiled warmly, and then seated himself beside me, and after a moment of silence he turned his blue eyes on me. “Why aren't you sleeping? I know you were weary from riding.” He was looking at me so intently that it almost seemed as if he already knew why, and was seeing if I would lie to him. I smiled wearily up into his face.

“Eowyn is inside the tent.” I said deciding to play it safe. “She is angry with me, and I didn't want to have a confrontation with her.”

Legolas watched me a moment more and then nodded slowly, more silence then echoing around us.

“Legolas?” I said after a while, and he turned his eyes back on me, “The name, Legolas, is that really an elvin name?” I smiled at the confused look crossing his features. “Well,” I said laughing lightly at his expression, “what I guess I mean is, is it a normal name for an elf?” my smile deepened at his ever growing expression, “Not that I don't like your name!” I said now trying to redeem myself.

Legolas laughed lightly and then smiled, “What kind of name would you think an elf should have?” he said.

I thought a moment and then smiled again, “Well,” I said, “I have always thought that Nicolai was the perfect name for an elf.”

Legolas smiled warmly and then standing he reached down for my hand, “Come, I'll take you back to your tent.” I grasped his hand and he pulled me to my feet, “This time, though,” he said still smiling, “stay there and get some sleep!”

 

 

Morning rose early as I heard the excitement of people preparing to leave, in fact, everyone was in such a hurry that they were practically taking down the tent with me still in it!

I was glad to see that Eowyn was no where to be seen, I had been lucky last night as she was already asleep when I went back to the tent at Legolas's urging. I smiled warmly as I stood and ran a hand through my hair; it was a new day!

Soon we were on our way again, each taking their places, me once again off to myself. I couldn't wait to be away from Eowyn, I knew that after nightfall, if all went the way I hoped, I wouldn't have to see her again. I felt my conscious begin to prick at me and I frowned, I really wasn't being very nice to her. She only acted the way she did because she felt I was trying to steal `her' Aragorn. My frowned deepened, Stupid conscious!

 

We arrived at the encampment just as evening was beginning to set in and after a tedious walk up a rather steep and zigzagging trail; we made it to a spot higher up where it was we were going to sleep. I was dead tiered, but knew I couldn't afford to sleep tonight. This was the night Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli were going to ride into the Caves of the Dead and there was no way I would give them a chance to leave me behind!

I followed Legolas's horse over to where the horses were to be tighed up and dismounted along with him and Gimli, I was going to have to follow Legolas or Gimli around, and since I much preferred Legolas's company, I would choose him.

I looked around taking in all the beauty as I stood close to Legolas and Gimli, the horses around me seemed frantic but I hardly paid any attention to them, that is, until Legolas brought it up.

“The horses are restless,” he said looking to Eomer who had just come into the scene, “and the men are quiet.”

Eomer nodded slightly, “They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain,” he said looking briefly toward the path I knew we would end up going on.

“That road there,” Gimli said after a while, “where does that lead?”

“It is the road to the Dimholt, the door under the mountain,” Legolas said softly and I watched him carefully.

“None who venture there ever return,” Eomer said his eyes suddenly coming to rest on mine, “that mountain is evil.”

Legolas also turned his eyes on me as I watched as Eomer then turned and left, my eyes then suddenly locked on the path. I never was one to be spooked by ghost stories, or things such as that, but I couldn't help wonder what it would be like to actually see one; a ghost, that is. I frowned slightly, of course, though this was just a dream.

“Drea?” Legolas said after a minuet and I turned my eyes on him, “are you alright?” he asked.

I smiled as I nodded, “I'm fine,” I said sweetly, “I was just wondering what exactly the Dimholt road was like…”

 

The night seemed to stretch on forever! And constantly I felt my head begin to droop, even as I stood! Legolas was not far from my sight, but I knew I could lose him at any minuet, so I made sure I at least had the Caves in my sight as well.

I smiled slightly as I looked briefly up into the night sky, wondering what Aragorn would say when I told him I meant to go as well. He would probably tell me to stay, or that where he intended to go was no place for a woman, or -and more likely- he would say both. I suddenly frowned wondering what I would tell him in return. I had no idea… and I was almost certain that Legolas would agree with him on this account.

I pushed the thought away as I suddenly realized I hadn't been paying attention to where Legolas was, and turning my eyes in his last known spot my frown deepened. He wasn't there! I searched the area hopping he hadn't gone far, but found nothing.

I was on the verge of panic now, and turning my eyes in every which way I began to walk around. There was no one near the Caves, but there was really no way for me to be sure that was the only passage… I felt my heart sink, I couldn't be left behind!

Suddenly from behind me I felt someone grasp my shoulder and I nearly tore his/her arm off as I turned around in terror.

Not exactly sure why I was so scared at that point, but I figured it had to do with thoughts of being left behind, that or the fact that I was staring so intently into the mouth of the Caves; caves, of course, which were haunted.

The terror, though, was unnecessary and much to my relief I found I was looking into Aragorn's face. He looked unbearably tired and I felt sorry for him.

“Drea,” he said softly, “I did not mean to frighten you.”

I smiled in pure relief! “Aragorn!” I said breathless, and then seeing he was alone I realized he hadn't had a run in with the elf and dwarf, as of yet. I noticed also his horse with him all saddle and prepared, and I smiled slightly.

“Where are you going?” I asked him and at his silence I let a frown take over my features.

He sighed, “Drea, you must stay here, I mean to go alone.”

“But what of Legolas and Gimli!” I said looking helplessly up into his eyes, “What of me?”

Aragorn smiled slightly as he study my face, “Where I go is dangerous…” he said softly, “I would put no one but myself at such a risk.”

There were quite a few things I could have said to this last statement, things that would probably just of made Aragorn angry, so I stuck with the simple things.

“Aragorn… there is no safe place,” I paused looking intently up into his eyes, “and the safest place for me, is with you, Legolas and Gimli…” I paused again smiling slightly, “If you will not let me come with you, then allow me to go where ever Legolas goes.”

“I would not have it any other way,” Aragorn said, “Legolas and Gimli will protect you, listen to them.”

I nodded and he smiled with what seemed to be relief, and with a parting look he began to walk way. I, though, was not far behind.

After a moment of silence with only the clopping of Aragorn's horse, I finally heard what I had been waiting to hear!

“And where do you think you're off to?” I heard Gimli say, and the clopping of Aragorn's horse stopped.

“Not this time,” Aragorn answered, “This time you must stay, Gimli.”

Legolas walked by then and I followed his horse out, “Have you learned nothing of the stubbornness of dwarves?” the elf asked and I let myself be seen then.

Aragorn's eyes where on Legolas and then on me, I smiled slightly at him and shrugged my shoulder, “You said to go where ever Legolas goes.” I said innocently, and the elf turned his eyes on me.

Gimli smiled up at Aragorn, “You might as well except it, we're going with you, laddie.”