A Monster Like Me ~ Legolas

The Storyteller

Aragorn slowed his horse to a trot as he approached the small village. It was surprisingly peaceful considering the misery he had ridden through. Farmers were working the fields, laundry was drying on rope strung between houses. It was a poor town, that he could tell. The drying clothes were littered with patch work and the fields seemed dry. 

He slowed his horse even further, now walking as he entered the streets. His horse kicked up dust as they wandered, searching for signs of life inside the village. He was unsure if he wished to disturb the farmers as they worked. 

A young woman was the first one to greet him, holding a sword obviously balanced for someone else and pointing it at Aragorn. She closely resembled the people of Rohan, with hair the color of straw pulled back so it clung to the nape of her neck. Aragorn raised his hands at the sight of the weapon, the village he had entered was obviously not as peaceful as he had thought. 

"What are you doing here?" The woman demanded, her arms shaking with the effort of holding the sword. She was untrained but her spirit was there and that Aragorn could admire. 

"I am searching for help," Aragorn responded. "I come from Edoras." The woman lowered her sword slightly. 

"We have no warriors here," She said.

"I am not searching for warriors," Aragorn answered. "Only useful information. Have you books of legends? Dragon Riders? A storyteller?"

"Aye." The woman eyed him suspiciously. "We have a storyteller."

"Does your storyteller recount the tales of dragons and their riders?" Aragorn motioned that he wished to dismount his horse. The woman agreed, but kept her sword raised in his direction.   

"When I was a child, yes," The woman finally put down her sword. "But no longer. She does not tell many stories these days I am afraid."

"May I speak with her?"

"I suppose." The woman motioned for Aragorn to follow her and he did so, tying his horse quickly to the nearest hitching post. 

"May I ask why the legends interest you?" She asked as they walked together. 

"All legends hold some truth," He said, the weariness of constant riding finally catching up to him. 

"You are weary," The woman noted. Aragorn only nodded. "You have ridden far for this legend?" 

"Aye," Aragorn agreed grimly. "Many villages have not survived attacks from Orc armies."

"Many have flocked to Edoras for protection," The woman agreed. "Their village defenses are no where near strong enough to withstand attacks from armies. But there are rumors regarding the king, and so the elders of our village deemed it safer to stay."

"Do you agree with this decision?" Aragorn inquired. 

"I have no choice but to," The woman opened the gate to the garden of a well maintained home. "Many of us are too weak to walk the distance and we do not have enough horses to make the journey." She stopped before opening the door. "Be careful with Maerrith, she has not told a story for many moons. I do not know if she will change her mind for a stranger." She opened the door to the house and motioned for Aragorn to walk in. She followed him inside, shutting the door behind her.

"Saewyn?" An old woman croaked from her seat in a chair near the window. It took Aragorn mere seconds to realize the elderly woman was blind. 

"Aye, Maerrith, it is I." The woman responded, approaching the woman cautiously. "I have brought a visitor, he wishes to hear some of your stories."