Of Futures Past (Legolas)

40

As the others tended to Pippin, Legolas helped Alana back to her room. Legolas brushed the sticky hair out of her face gently.

"I will go ask Eowyn to help you bathe." He said, standing up to leave, but Alana caught his wrist in her hand.

"Do not wake her. I have bothered her sleep enough." Alana murmured. As Legolas hesitated, she looked up at him, her green eyes meeting his worried blue ones. "I trust you."

Legolas nodded, helping her through to the bathroom. As she slowly pulled her nightgown off, he turned his head to the side while holding her steady, then gently lowered her into the warm water. Taking the soap in his hand, he lathered it up and started rubbing it through her hair gently while she sighed. Adjusting so he was sitting more comfortably, he gathered water in his hands and began flushing the suds from her hair, detangling the strands as he went. While he cleaned her hair, she worked on her body, scrubbing violently at her skin until he reached down and grabbed her hand, stopping her.

"You'll make yourself bleed."

Alana's hand relaxed and she leaned her head back against his legs so she could look up at him. His eyes were pointedly staring at the wall. "Thank you." She whispered.

Legolas nodded, his eyes still looking away from her bare body. 

When she was clean and relaxed, Legolas helped her out of the water, immediately handing her a towel to dry herself with and a robe. It was only when the robe was fully on that he looked at her again.

"Do you feel any better?" He asked, stroking her cheek.

She nodded, smiling tiredly. 

"Would you like to sleep?"

"Only if you stay."

"Of course, meleth nin."

Laying down in her bed, they arranged themselves comfortably, Alana resting on his chest while his arms wrapped around her firmly but gently.

"Goodnight, Legolas."

"Goodnight, meleth nin."

They slept for only two hours before the sun started peaking through the window. Legolas gently nudged Alana awake and she pushed her head into his chest further, muffling her tired groan.

"Wake up, Alana." Legolas whispered, kissing the top of her head gently.

Sighing, Alana lifted her head and sat up, looking down at her robe, which had come half undone in the night. Looking down, she saw Legolas already respectfully looking the other way.

"Close your eyes while I dress." Alana yawned out, stepping out of bed and towards the wardrobe, thankful she had regained complete feeling in her muscles. Legolas complied with no complaint, facing the far wall.

Alana quickly put on a simple blue dress which, thankfully, did not have a corset, keeping her eyes on Legolas, who did not move.

"I'm decent now. We should leave, the meeting will start soon."

Though Alana no longer needed any help walking, Legolas pulled her close to him, grasping her hand in his own as they made their way to the throne room.

The others had already gathered, and Gandalf nodded grimly at them.

"Ah, just in time." the wizard remarked, before turning to Theoden. "There was no lie in Pippin's eyes. A fool but an honest fool he remains." Gandalf paused. "He told Sauron nothing of Frodo and the Ring. We've been strangely fortunate. Pippin saw in the Palantir a glimpse of the enemy's plan. Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith."

"And what of Alana?" Gimli huffed out, eyeing the elleth concernedly. The others all fixed their gazes upon her, and Gandalf nodded at her.

Alana took in a deep breath, releasing Legolas's hand as she stepped forward. "He is angry at me, but he will not hurt me so long as we win this war."

Aragorn stepped towards her, wearing a troubled expression. "What does he want from you?"

Alana hesitated. "It was always decided that if we lost this war, I would be taken to him as a slave and live out the rest of my days as such."

Gandalf's eyes were weary as he asked, "And what is it he told you last night?"

Alana stopped again for a moment, her hands trembling as she crossed her arms over her stomach. "He saw my dream... and he was angry. He... he told me that, in punishment, he would force me to marry him... and I spat in his face..." Alana opened her mouth to say more, then shut it, her eyes watering and lips quivering.

"And?" Theoden prompted apprehensively.

The members of the Fellowship all glared at him, but Alana took in a shaky breath and continued. "He... he said... he said that he would... consummate" Alana choked on the word, feeling nauseous, "the marriage... in front of y- in front of your dead bodies."

The room fell silent as they all looked at her in shock. Her chest rose and fell visibly as she attempted to regain her breath, and Legolas was hesitant to put his hand on her shoulder, but she grabbed it gratefully, taking an automatic step backwards towards him.

"Alana..." Aragorn trailed off helplessly as he looked at the woman he considered a younger sister, though she was older than him.

Alana forced herself to smile, looking backwards at Legolas as she calmed herself by focusing on his sea-blue eyes, full of love and determination and a promise. Alana looked back at Aragorn as her smile became somewhat genuine.

"I have faith in the Fellowship. And until we have lost faith, there is no point despairing." Alana soothed, her smile sincerely content as she made eye contact with each of her companions, especially the two young hobbits who had frozen since her explanation. Noticing the younger of the two still looking at the floor, Alana called out, "Pippin. Do not fret, I'm quite alright."

Pippin nodded solemnly, but Merry elbowed him and whispered something in his ear that made him straighten up and nod again, this time determinedly.

"If I may ask, Alana," Gandalf began, looking at her curiously, "What was the dream that made Sauron so angry?"

Alana blushed, glancing backwards at Legolas as the dream, bright and colourful and full of love, replayed itself in her mind. She glanced away quickly. "It was after the war ended and we had won. I think he views me as some sort of possession and was angry that I, in a way, disobeyed him by wishing for it."

Gandalf's eyes twinkled mischievously at her slight flustered appearance, before returning to their previous solemnity as they returned to the task at hand. "Sauron's defeat at Helm's Deep showed our enemy one thing. He knows the Heir of Elendil has come forth" Gandalf nodded towards Aragorn. "Men are not as weak as he supposed. There is courage still. Strength enough, perhaps, to challenge him. Sauron fears this. He will not risk the peoples of Middle Earth uniting under one banner.  He will raze Minas Tirith to the ground before he sees a King return to the throne of men. If the beacons of Gondor are lit Rohan must be ready for war."

"Tell me! Why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?" Theoden spat bitterly.

"I will go!" Aragorn declared.

"No!" Gandalf immediately denied.

"They must be warned!"

"They will be." Gandalf approached Aragorn closely and spoke in a low voice, which Alana strained to hear. "You must come to Minas Tirith by another road. Follow the river. Look to the black ships." He returned to speaking at a normal volume, addressing the others in the room. "Understand this, things are now in motion that cannot be undone. I ride for Minas Tirith" He turned to look at Pippin, "and I wont be going alone."