Athëa - Queen of the Savages

Holes in the Ground

The travels had made the day seem even longer for the men and women of Rohan than the day before as they dragged their feet. The wind had gotten colder, though the sun was still embracing them in its warmth. 

"It's true you don't see many Dwarf women. And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance, that they're often mistaken for Dwarf men!" Gimli's heartfelt laughter eased the heart of the troubled Éowyn and she started laughing with him as she dragged the horse on which the dwarf was sitting. 

She turned to look at the dúnedain hoping for a stolen glance, as she had pointlessly done over a hundred times before. But this time her eyes were met with his and her heart skipped a beat as they shared a smile.

"It's the beards....", Aragorn mimed soundlessly making the lady laugh even harder.

"And this, in turn, has given rise to the belief that there are no Dwarf women. And that dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground! Which is of course ridiculous!", Gimli ended before the horse, suddenly frightened, kicked him off its back.

Éowyn hurried to his aid, though he tried to convince her that the humorous spectacle was indeed fully intended, as she helped him back on his feet.

For a moment Aragorn let himself get hypnotized by the beauty of the Rohirrim lady as her eyes caught his once more, while the wind caught her golden hair. 

"If one did not know any better, one could think that you have forgotten that your heart is already given to another", Athëa said lovingly walking up next to the man. "Be careful not to let her wish for a future by your side."

"One could say the same concerns you, dear friend", Aragorn replied, with disgust in his voice, looking to Legolas in front of them.

Athëa sighed and looked to the ground. His words had evidently affected her deeply, and she knew he was in the right. "Though I know it to be selfish, it would seem that I can not go on without him by my side." She looked to Legolas as he disappeared over a hill.

Aragorn regretted his own words when he heard the sorrow and remorse in her voice. He knew that the two had not spoken since Legolas had excused himself from the others last night, and he could see how it tore the souls of both elves. 

"I know in my heart, that he would never leave your side, even if you ordered him to", he said laying a hand on her shoulder.

Athëa smiled at his words, feeling his sincerity. "...and Eru knows I have tried ordering him to", she laughed. 

Suddenly commotion was heard in the front of the party. The two companions watched as Legolas reappeared from over the grass covered hill. "It's an ambush!", he warned to the warriors below, before he turned to fire arrows at an enemy yet to be visible to the others.

Aragorn and Athëa mounted their horses along side with the warriors of Rohan, and The Hidden City and rode to Legolas' aid.

As the others reached him, Legolas caught the reigns of Gimli's horse and swung himself effortlessly on it.

The otherwise green hills were in mere moments painted black by the presence of the soldiers and wargs from Mordor covering them.

Athëa fired arrows at the wargs, seeing them fall one by one, and their riders crashing to the ground with them. She put her bow back around her upper body and drew her sword, just before horses and wargs collided in a violent crash.

She swung her sword, beheading an orc, not noticing another throwing her of the horse. She landed on her stomach and turned to see the orc standing above her with its sword raised. She tangled her feet in its legs and turned swiftly on the ground, making the orc fall hard. In a fraction af a second she had pinned it down and forced her sword between its ribs.