Nepenthe [Legolas]

17

They left Edoras the same day.

The walk was slow and deliberate. A death march, where little cheer was exchanged between the people as they walked, bags heavy on their backs, in their hands, hooked drawn and heads low as they walked. They looked down at the ground below them instead of the path before then and Viridis wondered just how many of them were going to make it out alive. With too few soldiers and too many enemies, there would be bloodshed. Viridis would do his best to make sure the only blood spilled was that of the enemy.

Despite the audible sorrow and quiet that seemed to plague the journey, Gimli was chattering away, just pleased that Eowyn who was walking beside him as he rose atop a horse, was listening.

"It's true." The Dwarf said. "You don't see many Dwarf women. And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance that they're often mistaken for Dwarf men."

"It's the beards," Aragorn added in with a grin. He'd found the entire encounter frankly well entertaining and listened in with a smile.

Viridis was glad to see Aragorn smiling again, to see the color in his cheeks each time Eowyn spared a glance at him.

Legolas, who was on the horse beside Viridis, leaned toward him, voice whispering. "Gimli has sent me a number of strange looks." He pondered. "I'm beginning to think I've said something wrong."

Viridis let out a light laugh, lips lifting as he rose. "If I'm not mistaken, it was you who fell for the very mistake that Gimli speaks of now. Years ago, before Erebor, I believe you insulted the individuals in Gloin's locket. Gimli, who just happened to be one of the frames, was the recipient of being called a goblin mutant."

Legolas visibly paled as he recalled the moment. "I best apologize then."

Viridis agreed.

"And this in turn has given rise to such a belief that there are no Dwarf women-" Gimli continued on. "And that Dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground." At this, Eowyn laughed. A light laugh of unprecedented happiness. "Which is, of course, ridiculous." He threw up his arms and released his hold from the reigns.

His horse, however, misinterpreted the movements and took off on a gallop, throwing Gimli off its back and to the ground.

Eowyn called out with a laugh as Gimli rolled onto the ground, heavy metal landing with a resounding clang.

"That was deliberate!" He called out as he attempted to push himself up. "It's alright, nobody panic. I'm fine!" He reassured them all as he was helped up.

Viridis only laughed as he passed them, moving to the head of the path. It would bring him comfort to be able to look ahead without obstacles, to see far past the horizons toward their destination. If he saw nothing, he would breathe again.

Legolas, wordlessly, joined his side as Viridis dismounted his horse, walking by its side instead.

"What do you see?" He asked lowly. Should the answer be anything more than concerning, the didn't want to city folk to grow unnerved.

Viridis scanned the path before them. He saw nothing apparent. Though the numerous hills and valley peaks of which he could not see behind made for an excellent vantage point. He gave his horse's reigns into the hands of a man near him and moved forward, silently gesturing for the prince to follow.

"I want to check from above." He explained as they went ahead. "Staying on the path leaves too much to chance."

Legolas nodded. "Something is watching us. There is no other reality in which we are free to travel without issue,"