Feä Bond (Legolas x OC)

Hail to the dead

Charlie, home, the fellowship... an elf ? All thoughts mingled in her head, and she couldn't make much sense of it.

Time to man up! Ignoring the stinging pain that spread around her upper leg and her sore hips, the redhead lifted herself up and walked to the bowl of water... lukewarm, at best. Frances shuddered, washing herself thoroughly. The process was difficult at best, but she eventually managed to remove the grime and dust out of her skin.

Then she passed on the linen shirt and the velvety dress over her head. Tightening the ribbons, Frances was happy to be able to do it by herself without calling the maid. After such a long wait, the girl must have wandered off to the party. The young lady fastened the belt around her waist and contemplated her reflection in a stained mirror. The heavy fabric could not match elven silk but it was soft enough and flowed on her hips with grace.

Dark blue was a nice shade for her to wear, even if the last days of fever had robbed the colours from face. Unbraiding her hair, Frances slid a few claps in it so as to keep it away, and then she realised how long it had grown in the past few months. On the road, it was always braided. The fierce colour contrasted so much with the dark velvet that she considered tying it back again to avoid attention. But she felt no danger here in Rohan, and therefore let it flow freely around her small frame. The tips of fire brushed her back below the waist. This would have to do.

Late was the hour when Frances passed the doors of the great hall. A ceremony was happening and she hid in the back. She also wanted to pay her tribute to the dead of Rohan, bitterly regretting the massacre that had taken so many lives. As Theoden spoke of loss and courage, the young woman scanned the crowd for familiar figures. At the front was sitting Aragorn, and a bit further she spotted Gandalf in his bright robes. When people stood up and presented their pint in honour of the fallen, Frances closed her eyes, attempting to chase away the memories of the dead bodies scattered on the cold ground, that same image that plagued her dreams. Then people started to move around, and the sound of instruments indicated that the party had begun. Without waiting for anybody to acknowledge her, Frances crossed the huge room, sneaking through soldiers and nobles.

As she slid through the crowd, weird stares were sent her way; she dismissed it as curious glances due to her status in the fellowship. In truth, men were quite dumbfounded by her limping figure, and most of all by the burning colour of her hair. Oblivious to this unwanted attention, Frances was looking for her friends, and eventually spotted Gandalf's white cloak towering against a pillar. Laugher filled the air, and as she came closer Frances saw the two hobbits thrashing down a table with their dragon dance. A cloud of drunken men surrounded them and clapped in rhythm and Gandalf... Gandalf actually laughed. The sigh of the wizard smiling was quite enough to lighten her mood. The wizard spotted her and addressed her a gentle smile. Surprisingly, he did not greet her formally; instead pulling at her arm and hugging her. The almost fatherly gesture startled her, but soon the young woman could relax, and she watched the two hobbits dance and yell as she rested her battered body against her much bigger companion.

As a soft hand gently brushed her back; she knew at once that Aragorn had returned. After so much time travelling with him, she could actually feel his presence like she had learnt to recognise the twins. The ranger appeared beside her, his smile genuine. A second later she was pulled into his strong embrace, and collided with the red sleeves of his tunic for an instant before he released her.

"It is good to see you again mellon nin"

"Likewise" she answered, a light grin spreading on her features.

It seemed like he was going to add something, but loud applause started from the hobbits table, and the trio joined in with a good heart. Then Pippin lifted his eyes to them, and his face lightened in an instant.