Feä Bond (Legolas x OC)

Back to square one

After several hours of tough riding, the company eventually made it to Edoras. The sun was low; its orange glow enlightened the city, reflecting on the golden hall of Meduseld and setting its roof on fire. Frances sighed, unable to marvel at the sight such was her exhaustion. The healing process was taking its toll on her, and the fever was receding slowly, leaving her sweaty and aching.

Her sore muscles did nothing to help the condition, and the deep pain coming from her leg was tiresome. During hours she had been trying to find a way to lessen the ache, but the dull sensation that came from the constant moving of the ride was torture. It was also the first time she travelled by herself and, needless to say, that she wasn't very proficient in the art of riding.

Frances grit her teeth. Had she been home, this whole ordeal would have been much simpler. A ride in the back of a car with her leg propelled in front of her would have done the trick. And the distance would have been covered in less than an hour. An hour! When it had been a full day of struggle on this blasted beast. Not that her mount didn't make any effort to make her comfortable, bless the Rohirrims' horses. But still, she was tired of it. Tired of moving no faster than an ant on those immense plains, tired of being incapacitated like this.

She was, by all means now, a cripple. Perhaps it would not be permanent. Surgery and a few physio sessions could probably do the trick once she made it home. Perhaps, even, that the reconstruction of her body through the blue portal that took her hom would be enough to set things right. But for now, her inability was enough to feed her frustration. One moment of inattention! One single little moment, and there she was. She couldn't even walk on her own save this blasted cane! Like an elderly woman! It was the first time that she suffered such a crippling injury. And the inefficiency of her body made her mad. She that, last week, was able to climb an impossible cliff under heavy rain, could not even bend to fasten her shoelaces. Not that she had some, mind you!

As the company entered the city, one of her body guards set her down and she smiled her thanks. To be honest, she could not remember his name, nor any of the guys that had been watching over her during the long and painful process of coming back to the capital. She had no memory of names, and had met more people than ever in those last few days. Most of them were blond, and she recognised them by their features mainly, knowing which ones were nice or grumpy.

However, whichever their characters, all of them had shown a great deal of kindness, and she suspected that her friends had been distributing threats in case of mistreatment. It had taken all of Mithrandir's will power to persuade Legolas to accompany them to Isengard and leave her in Helm's deep in the care of healers, so she guessed that the elf and his friend had left a few instructions.

"You have my thanks," Frances said as the guy unloaded her pack.

"You are welcome my lady," he answered with a nod.

My lady. Right. Daughter of a communist and a socialist teacher, grand daughter of factory workers. My lady. She snorted.

Her guide spared her a curious glance before he handed her two wooden sticks; they would help her walk.

"Would you care to enlighten me?", she eventually asked.

The soldier frowned; what was that all about? Ensuring the welfare of a woman was one thing, but he was altogether out of his league with all the new people that had shown her recently. Elves, kings, dwarves, and now her.

"I will if I can."

"Who did you get your instructions from?"

The well-disciplined Rohirrim gave her his most convincing blank look.

"I do not know of what you speak my lady."

"Come on," she cried, tapping the ground with one of her sticks.