The Sunset Princess

Dawn light

I woke slowly on the day the world was due to end.

We had left the curtains open so we would wake with the dawn. Grey light filled the room from the arched window, but the sun had not yet risen. Fear soured my stomach, but it was not my only emotion. Buried underneath it, there was hope, too, as faint as the dimly glowing spark in the ashes of the fireplace, but with as much potential to cause a blaze.

Legolas pressed a kiss against my cheek from behind me. I turned over, switching my gaze from the remains of the fire to him, watching me silently. "It's time, my love."

I nodded, then kissed his lips, savouring the soft touch, the warm familiarity and taste of him. "No dirweg, mell nin Legolas. Annin" (S: Be careful, my beloved Legolas. For me.)

Legolas nodded slightly, then smiled with effort. "I will, I promise. Tiro ven Elbereth." (May Elbereth watch over us.)

We threw back the covers with identical sighs, and found some clothes. I pulled a clean undertunic and a red tunic on, then Legolas helped me into a mail shirt, before I pulled my red surcoat, with the Fëanorian star in the centre, over my head.

I crossed the room as Legolas finished dressing, taking his arm guards and lacing them up tightly. I secured leather pads on his shoulders, too, but he would take no other armour. The sea-longing may have taken hold, but he was still a wood-elf at heart, used to running and fighting in the trees, where plate armour was more cumbersome than useful.

We looked at each other once our weapons were on our backs and our hair braided. He had tied mine back in the same style as Helm's Deep, several braids combining to make one long plait down my back. His usual braids, above his ears and at the back of his head, I had done in minutes. There was no time left.

He pulled me into his chest, stroking my hair and kissing the top of my head. "You stay close. I'll keep you safe" He whispered. I nodded silently.

It took more strength than I knew I possessed to break the hug and step away from him. I mustered a smile, and held out a hand.

"Let's kill Sauron"

He laughed, taking my hand tightly in his, and we made our way to the courtyard on the first level of the city, just in front of the broken gates. A confusion of men, horses and Minas Tirith's population rushed here and there. Mithrandir and Imrahil were in the midst of Gondor's foot soldiers, ordering them into some sort of formation for marching. They greeted us with something like courage, and we replied in the same manner. The men would watch those of us who commanded them, and thus we must look confident, even if we were not.  

 We made our way through to the front, where we knew Aragorn would be.

Sure enough, he was there, mounted already. He nodded grimly to us, and we returned the gesture with equal solemnity. Long, indeed, it seemed since they had found me that evening at autumn's end, scared and starving in a tiny cave. Not even I could have foreseen that this was where we would come to. It was not all that long ago, after all, that I was that scared maiden in a torn nightgown. Now, I was one of the strongest warriors Aragorn had under his command, the last scion of the House of Fëanor. We had come so far, in so short a time, from those three light-hearted friends we had been. 

I walked up to Brego's left side, Legolas to his right. Aragorn took both our hands in his and squeezed, hard. He lent first to my hand, then to Legolas', kissing us. "Take care of yourselves and each-other, my sworn-siblings. Promise me that." 

"We have much to live for," Legolas said steadily, "and we do not plan to forsake it." 

"Nor should you." I added, looking up at Aragorn seriously. He smiled, and nodded, sighing.