Mistress of the Fellowship (LOTR)

* 52 * Wickedness of Men

52

Legolas found himself outside with an eerie feeling as he stared out into the distance while wearing his cloak although the feeling of affection toward the Alexzandron girl seemed to try and sway his mind in another direction.

Looking at her had given him great hope, especially now knowing the trials she had faced when she had been thrust from the fellowship yet she had returned triumphant.

It brought a smile to his lips recalling the sight of her dancing and it pierced his soul with euphoria as the memory of her voice sang in his heart. Forever he would remember the innocence of her beauty and the passion in her voice. A memory that would forever tug at his heart and demand more.

Aragorn soon approached the elven warrior in a manner unfamiliar to his companion.

"What is it weighing on your mind Edhelharn?" Legolas asked in this Elvish tongue

"I find myself thinking of Frodo often and where he may be. It haunts me not knowing. The oncoming war makes my mind continue to stir as does the thought of what is to come upon Gondor."

Legolas studied his friend a moment and said, "There is something else you cannot hide."

Aragorn nodded his head, "There is. That would be marriage."

Legolas smiled, "I shall do all in my power to see to it that day comes."

Aragorn shook his head, "You may try to talk me out of it."

"I don't see how you can honestly think that. You are a great man with a courageous heart and kind soul. I wish you all the happiness this world may give."

Aragorn smiled, "I'm not sure you will approve of my bride nor will most anyone but we have vowed to be wed when this war is over."

"I believe you will make any woman happy and everyone will celebrate your blessed union."

Aragorn took a deep breath and said, "It will take time but I have no doubt Ryker will be greatly looked up to and will find being Queen of Gondor to be fulfilling and rewarding and perhaps one day she will find it in her heart to love."

The words struck Legolas like a mountain falling on him. For a moment he could not breath, could not move, and his heart seemed to stop as his insides filled with a mix of shock and sorrowful disappointment.

Before he could utter his congratulations and wish him well he found something to the east causing him to turn and stare.

"The stars are veiled. Something stirs in the east. A sleepless malice." He and Aragorn looked at each other for a moment before their eyes shifted back to the east and Legolas continues, "The eye of the enemy is moving."

Meanwhile in the keep something was stirring causing many unease.

In one part of the castle, a hobbit, Pippin, awoke with the greatest of urges to look upon the stone Gandalf had been protecting while in the stables, a few men having had too much to drink were deriving a malevolent plan.

"He is here." Legolas said. Just before a mix of hobbit and animal screams pierced through Rohan. Pippin and... Cadeyrn.

Aragorn and Legolas rushed to the hobbit while a drunken Alexzandron flew from her room wearing nothing but a silk robe with her weapons slung around her body.

When she came upon the scene she was horrified as she saw the gruesome sight. There before her was Cadeyrn with ropes tied all around him as men laughed at the pitiful sight. The bastards had thought it amusing to take it upon themselves to geld her glorious friend in a most abominable way.

When they saw her they all froze with fear. With angry tears in her eyes she sliced the ropes free which caused some men to try and flee but her voice stopped them. It wasn't loud but they heard her icy words and were struck with great fear, "I know your faces. You can never run from me. If you try and run I swear on my blood that I will find you and make you suffer."

When she stood she pointed to them all and said, "If you hold your lives dear than you will find me what I need within the hour or so help me I will do this to you slowly and with a dull rusty knife now go."

Hate radiated through her as she tended to her last friend. How could they do this? Why did they do this? On and on the questions raged without any answers. Damned men! Perhaps it would be best if they were extinguished from the earth! How could she be such a fool and become blind to such evilness?

For a moment she wondered if perhaps it was time Middle Earth came to an end so all evil would wipe itself out and perhaps out of the ashes a new world could have a fresh start with peace.

Men had proved to be corrupt and the evidence was on her hands with the blood of her last connection with her old life and people. Why would they do such a thing to her beautiful stallion. How dare they to lay a hand on her Cadeyrn! The people of Rohan may have been known as horsemen but Cadeyrn was not one of their horses. They may find it a proper treatment to geld their stallions in hopes of taming them and causing them to calm down but Cadeyrn was not nor would he ever be a horse of Rohan.

It upset her even more as her thoughts went on as she thought of how easy it was for them to decide act upon such an idiotic deed, what was to stop them from trying to kill him just because he is high spirited and aggressive, just like her people.

For the remainder of the night she cared for Cadeyrn even as messengers came and insisted her presence in a meeting with King Théoden, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and others.