Feä Bond (Legolas x OC)

A tough decision

Frantic preparations gave Frances some time to consider her options. She could either go to the caves with the women or stand and fight with her friends. Both choices frightened her. Were she to hide and survive, would she lose what remained of the fellowship in this hopeless battle? Around her, wives held their beloved husband; it put into perspective her own attachment to Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas. From the original company only three remained by her side. The loss of Boromir, still heavy on her soul, would leave a scar. As a result, an even stronger bond had formed between the survivors.

Aragorn, for his gentle presence and kindness, had nearly adopted her. Gimli, with his gruff exterior, treated her like a companion. And Legolas ... with his intense blue gaze and enchanting glow... Her fingers flexed where, but an hour ago, his hand had touched them so softly. Frances shook her head; she didn't know why her attachment to the elf was so strong, but he was the one she feared losing the most. Yet she could not interrogate her feelings. The turmoil was too overwhelming to handle, especially when she faced this difficult decision.

Lost in her thoughts, Frances separated from her group. Her steps led her to a set of stairs that she started climbing, higher and higher on the walls until she reached the very top. There, she dominated the fortifications as well as the plains of Rohan. Walking on the deserted square, she came upon a smaller wall that overlooked the valley. There she sat, wondering why her feet had brought her here. Did she hope to gain perspective over the situation?

Her survival instinct screamed to hide and flee. What would her parents do if she died here? They would never find her body and believe she had disappeared, elaborating all sorts of scenarii where, raped or starved, she would have suffered before dying. They might even wait for her return for the rest of their lives. How cruel to them! A few tears escaped her eyes at the souvenir of her loving parents and brothers.

She needed to find a way to leave a message in her cupboard in case she didn't make it next time. The necklace always sent her back at the exact same time that she left. Thus, all those months spent in whatever mission were non-existent. It made her older than she was on earth. She kept a thorough count of the days in those alternate dimensions to keep a tab on her age. It was, also, a reminder of all of those she had lost on the way: the dead as well as the ones she would never see again.

Her thoughts spiralled downwards from there. Even is she did fight and survived alongside her friends, there would come a day when she would leave. The fleeting nature of this strange magic embedded in the necklace was the cause for so much heartache! Maybe she needed to learn not to be sad. Maybe she had to accept that even after she left, the people she had come to love were safe and happy, that even without being by their side they would have a good life. Now though, with the impending doom, she couldn't help but feel deeply connected to the fellowship. How would she handle their loss, getting back to this absurd life of studying, after walking through battle and death?

Gandalf's words had never been truer.

I have not passed through fire and death to brandy crooked words with a serving man.

Adjusting to studies, with teachers who sometimes fed their own ego by crushing their students, was going to be difficult.

But she couldn't leave said life behind. Parents, friends, even her cousin were counting on her to come back. Yet, in the short span she had been here, she felt a strong connection to middle earth. Well, of course, the absence of running water and infrastructure was annoying. Still, she had adapted fairly quickly to the ancient manner of speaking, the food and the habits. Everything was slower done here. The air was so pure, unlike at home where all was polluted by the presence of their kind. It would come, eventually. Or not.