𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐘━︎━︎L. Greenleaf ✓︎

❝CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE❞

▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 ━︎━︎ 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 encampment, tents set up all around from the men that had arrived before them. 500 men had come from the Westfold, 300 more were coming from Fenmarch, and none from Snowborn had come. It was not a good number, Ellaria knew that. They rode up the mountain where their specific encampment was, away from the others. Ellaria climbed down from her horse, petting his mine and feeding him an apple. She turned her head when some the horses began whinnying, freaking out.

Ellaria walked over to one that was trying to pull away from it's rider, struggling in his grasp. Ellaria placed a hand on the horses snout, whispering to in elvish and running a calming hand down the side of it's neck. She spoke to the horse until it calmed, running her hand over it one more time before walking away. She made her way to Gimli and Legolas who were looking around the camp.

"The horses are restless and the men are quiet." Legolas noted, looking at Eomer as he approached them.

"They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain," Eomer said.

Ellaria turned her head, her eyes finding a passage way going between the mountain. Gimli spoke first. "That road there, where does that lead?"

Legolas was the one who answered. "It is the road to the Dimholt, the door under the mountain."

Eomer added, "None who venture there ever return. That mountain is evil."

"That's comforting," Ellaria mumbled. She walked away from them, approaching the passageway.

"We say it is dangerous, and she goes towards it." Gimli grumbled.

Eomer stared after her. "And she is supposed to be a Princess?"

"It is merely a title," Legolas said, keeping his eyes trained on her. "She may be a Princess by birth, but she is a warrior at heart." When he saw her stop in front of the passage way, placing her hand against the rock he bowed his head and sighed before making his way to her. "Ellaria."

Ellaria didn't look at him, keeping her hand pressed against the rock and staring down the pathway. "It is not evil I sense here. It is something. . . different. Longing. Anger. It calls out for something, for someone."

"Let us not find out whom or what." Legolas said, gently grasping her shoulders. She turned her head to look at him. "We should eat." Ellaria nodded, letting him lead her away, glancing over her shoulder at the passageway once more before looking ahead of her. She found food easily, it was the distraction of what to do as they waited that truly bothered her.

The sun was lowered and Ellaria was standing face to face with one of Theoden's men. A crowd had gathered, every opponent she'd face landing on the ground and barely lasting a minute against her swordsmanship. She knocked him down, her sword placed against his throat. She chuckled as the men cheered, sheathing her sword and holding out a hand. The man took it, allowing her to help him up. Their supper was ready and they all scattered, eager for more food.