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━━━━»•» act three. age of anguish

37. of herbs and stewed rabbit  «•« ━━━━

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ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ third age ━━ year 3019

𓇻 rohan; great west road

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THE PEOPLE OF ROHAN MOVED IN AN ORDERLY ROW ACROSS THE LAND. The cavalry protected the front, as well as the back. The infantry covered the middle and the convoy's flank. Far ahead of the convoy rode a group of scouts on horseback, to make sure Saruman's troops wouldn't attempt a surprise attack. As expected, they moved slowly. The road from Edoras to Helm's Deep was about 60 miles and given the number of children and elderly with them, Elgarain feared it would take them no less than three days to reach safety.

What she feared even more, was that Gyda might have been right about fighting Saruman's troops head on. They were vulnerable on the road, too vulnerable. Though, looking around, she couldn't possibly imagine winning such a battle. They were simply outnumbered without Éomer's banished soldiers around. And even then, they would make a small army. She felt selfish for thinking it, but Elgarain was glad she did not have to make the choice Théoden had been forced to make.

To distract herself from overthinking the situation any further, she gently squeezed Aragorn's hand. They'd been walking side by side at the back of the convoy, occasionally lending a helping hand to a stumbling elder or a cart stuck in the mud, but always finding their way back to each other.

When she received a soft squeeze in return, her heart felt as though it might burst. It was hard to think of the reasons they'd decided to break things off when walking beside him. Nothing had ever felt as right as being with him. Even in the middle of all the darkness they endured, he still felt like the brightest of lights. She couldn't ignore that pull any longer, nor did she want to.

"What's on your mind?" Aragorn whispered softly.

She sighed. "Am I such an open book?"

A small smile appeared on his face. "Some things never change," his finger traced a crease near her left eyebrow, sending shivers down her spine, "like that small frown you wear when a thought is plaguing you."

"I'll have to work on that then," she said lightly, hoping to distract him from his earlier question, despite knowing he would not be that easily tricked.

He simply looked at her, not impatient or annoyed, but with kind eyes that would accept her choice to either open up or leave it be. It was a look she wished she could master, though she was well aware she was far too easily frustrated for such patience.

"I was just wondering if I'm selfish for feeling relieved I haven't been forced to make the same decisions for my people that King Théoden has had to make," she said at last.

His grey eyes focused on the horizon, honestly considering her words instead of dismissing them with false comfort. "I don't believe so," he finally said. "I do not think it's selfish to see darkness and be relieved that your people are not confronted with it as well."

She looked at the trampled grass at her feet. "Perhaps, it's just that-" she inhaled deeply, considering her words. "Sometimes I fear I'm not where I'm supposed to be."

Aragorn frowned at her, silently waiting for her to go on.

"I've been so focused on this quest, on saving the people of Middle-Earth from this darkness that I- well what if my people need me more? What if I've just been making a fool of myself this whole time by pretending my place is here instead of in Lindon?"

"Elgarain," Aragorn said, coming to a halt to look her in the eye, "what is this really about?"

She bit her lip and looked away from that soul-piercing gaze.

Gently he placed his fingers beneath her chin and lifted her head, so she was looking at him once again. "Tell me," he whispered. "Please?"

Finally, she inhaled deeply. "What if Gyda is right? What if I am a fool?"

To her surprise she noticed a spark of amusement within his gaze. "Listen to me, I watched as she moved heaven and earth to find you after you were taken, how she fought to make sure you were all right. Gyda may not always agree with you, but she certainly does not think you're a fool."

Elgarain opened her mouth to protest, but Aragorn spoke first.

"I think we both know words spoken out of anger are not always the truth."

She pressed her lips together, thinking back to that day in Lothlorien and the way they'd hurt each other. All because they'd been too afraid to say what they really meant. If she could forgive him for that, could she not also forgive Gyda for questioning her judgement?

A sigh left her lips. "You're going to make me talk to her now, aren't you?"

He smiled and started walking again, gently pulling her along. "I don't think anyone can force you to do something you don't want to, anarinya."

She laughed. "I suppose that's another thing that hasn't changed after all these years."

"Tell me something that has changed then," Aragorn said and though he spoke casually, she could feel the burning urge to get to know the people they'd become. They had spent so much time apart after all, some things were bound to be different.

"Well," she started, desperately searching her mind for something to say. "I've gotten better at drawing someone's nose."

He chuckled, the sound sending a pleasant chill down her spine. "You'll have to show me that someday."

"I will," she said, squeezing his hand. "Someday."

Elgarain did not like thinking of the future, of what fight might await them tomorrow. But this, thinking about days spent with him doing nothing of importance except just being together, that she could daydream about forever.

"What about you?" she asked after a moment of walking in comfortable silence.

He frowned. "You know that tea you used to make for me? Spearmint I think it was?"

"Yeah?"

"It's no longer my favourite."

She gasped, pretending to be awfully hurt by his confession. "Estel! How dare you reject my tea!"

A laugh fell from his lips and at the mention of his old name his eyes seemed to sparkle with warm memories of his youth.

"You have to tell me your favourite now so I will not embarrass myself the next time I make you tea."

His thumb traced circles across her hand. "You could never embarrass yourself by making me tea."

She suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. "I see your endless patience with me is another thing that hasn't changed."

A mischievous smile spread across his features, making him look years younger. "It still can."

With a fake cry of outrage, she shoved him against his arm, giggling like a young Elfling all the while.

"All joking aside though, what is it?" she asked once she'd gathered herself again.

"Lemongrass."

She nodded, storing the information so she could remember to take some with her should she come across some.

The fast beating of hooves came galloping towards them, tearing her from the blissful happiness of their conversation. For a moment her nerves spiked, her hands reaching for her spear, only to remember she'd lost it during her time as a captive. But her state of alert lessened when she saw the guard approaching them, didn't look all that worried.

"We make camp here for the night! Please make sure to stay together!" he called out before turning around and racing back down the convoy.

The people of Rohan set out to work and without having to exchange a word, Elgarain and Aragorn set out to help get several fires going. There was a stream nearby and Elgarain filled several pots and pans with warm water. Sadly, she hadn't brought any herbs for tea, only thinking of bringing the absolutely necessary ones for healing. But the people of Rohan had thought to bring enough food. She could smell several broths being prepared all throughout the camp.

Once her help was no longer needed, she headed over to where Aragorn and Gimli were seated, both smoking their pipes. She hadn't wanted to admit it during the walk, but her body still ached. It felt as though her skin was bruised all over and if she was honest with herself, it slightly scared her how slowly she was healing. And though she tried to hide it, she couldn't completely stop herself from wincing when she settled herself next to Aragorn.

Those watchful eyes of his studied her carefully but she was saved from any questions when Gimli looked their way. "You two finally talked things over then?" The way he was staring at her from beneath his bushy eyebrows made her feel like being talked to by a very stern family member.

"I dare say there probably wasn't a lot of talking involved, my friend," a smug voice joined the conversation.

With red cheeks Elgarain looked over her shoulder and was met with Legolas' sparkling blue eyes, a smirk tugging at his lips. Gyda lingered behind him, eyes looking everywhere but at Elgarain.

"I take it my services to provide a distraction are no longer necessary then?" he asked lightly.

Despite her best efforts, she couldn't stop a blush from colouring her cheeks. "They are not, but I thank you all the same."

He grinned, bowed his head and took a seat next to Gimli.

Elgarain briefly met Gyda's gaze, but her guard looked away and joined the Ellon near the fire. She was most definitely still mad, or at the very least not wanting to admit defeat first. Though the development of her being anywhere near Legolas didn't escape Elgarain's notice.

Aragorn turned to look at her with a raised brow, taking her attention away from her friend. "Do I want to know?"

She scoffed. "Don't pretend like you have no idea what he meant. We both know subtlety is not my strong suit."

Slowly, a smile spread across his features. "Ah, the day we were planning our route..."

Her embarrassment quickly made way for a laugh. She just couldn't help it when he was smiling like that, like he didn't have a care in the world, like there wasn't a war waiting for them.

"Yes, that day."

"Any more alliances I should know about?" he asked, still smiling.

Briefly her eyes flickered towards Gimli, but the dwarf gave the tiniest shake of his head, grinning beneath his beard. No, him sharing his flask with her would remain their secret.

"Not that I can think of right now," she said, putting on the sweetest smile she could manage.

Aragorn took a long drag from his pipe. Of course, he didn't believe her, but he decided against asking any questions and stretched his legs instead. He might've been one of the Dúnedain, capable of more than any ordinary man, but days spent running across the grasslands of Rohan and now the long walk to Helm's Deep was bound to tire even him.

Soft footsteps joined their little campsite and Elgarain looked up to see Eowyn approaching them, holding a steaming kettle. "I made some stew. It isn't much, but it's hot. Gimli?" she asked.

The dwarf eagerly looked inside but his face quickly fell. He held up his hands in surrender. "I couldn't."

Eowyn turned to her. "My lady?"

On any other occasion, Elgarain would've said yes immediately but the fact that Gimli refused a hot meal had her suspicious. She tried to look at the contents of the kettle as subtly as possible and was met with the sight of several parts of a rabbit that did definitely not belong in a stew.

"Ehm, apologies my lady, but Elves do not eat meat." She could all but feel Legolas and Gyda stare at her and hoped they weren't stupid enough to intervene.

Eowyn looked truly guilty. "I am so sorry. I will make sure something else is sent your way."

"That won't be necessary," Legolas said kindly and reached into his pocket. He took out a loaf of Lembas, still wrapped in a large green leaf. "We still have some of our own waybread."

Eowyn nodded. That left her with only Aragorn, and she turned to face him. "My lord?"

It was impossible for him to have missed their strange dismissals of the stew. So, Elgarain concluded, he was either too gentle to refuse, or he thought himself brave enough to stomach it. Living in the wild as much as he had, he must've eaten far worse.

Aragorn nodded and Eowyn handed him a bowl and a spoon. "Thank you," he said.

Elgarain had to force herself not to look at Gimli, knowing she'd be unable to hold in her laughter. Instead, she watched as Aragorn bravely sipped at the brown mixture. He put the spoon in his mouth and paused. He met her gaze from the corner of his eye and Elgarain raised a brown, silently judging his decision to accept. Then, slowly, he swallowed.

Meanwhile Eowyn looked at him expectantly.

"Mmm," he finally managed. "It's good."

"Really?" the woman sighed with relief and turned to leave.

As soon as her back was turned to him, Aragorn moved to spill what was left of the stew on the ground. But Eowyn turned back around suddenly. Elgarain quickly hit his arm and he held the bowl up straight again, but in doing so, spilled the hot liquid all over his hand.

"My uncle told me a strange thing," Eowyn said as she approached them once again.

Aragorn looked at her with a slight grimace on his face and Elgarain folded her hands in her lap to prevent herself from taking care of those burns.

"He said that you rode to war with Thengel, my grandfather. But he must be mistaken."

The atmosphere changed immediately as Aragorn smiled wistfully. "King Théoden has a good memory. He was only a small child at the time."

Eowyn frowned. "Then you must be at least sixty."

Aragorn shook his head, his smile turning into somewhat of an awkward grin and Elgarain was once again reminded of the strange thing that was time to humans.

"Seventy?" Eowyn tried again. "You cannot be eighty!"

He looked at her for a moment. "Eighty-seven," he said at last.

Her eyes widened as the pieces fell into place. "You are one of the Dúnedain. A descendant of Númenor, blessed with long life. It was said that your race had passed into legend."

Aragorn nodded, his smile fading. "There are few of us left. The Northern Kingdom was destroyed long ago."

"I'm sorry," the white lady muttered. "Please eat!"

He could do nothing but accept and so was forced to put another spoonful into his mouth, but this time, after watching him swallow it, Eowyn truly did leave. As soon as she was out of sight, he threw what was left of the stew into the fire. Then quickly poured some cold water from his flask over his hand.

"I did not think even you would go that far to spare the lass' feelings," Gimli grinned.

Aragorn didn't reply and turned to look at Elgarain instead. "Since when do you lie that easily?"

She shrugged. "Since I looked in that kettle and saw the rabbit staring back at me."

Gimli broke out into roaring laughter while Legolas looked rather sick. Elgarain dared a quick look at Gyda, who seemed torn between laughing and scolding. And despite the fact that so many of them were missing, Elgarain felt her heart glow with happiness. Even on this dangerous quest, on the darkest path she'd ever taken in her life, she'd found happiness.

With a smile, she settled her head on Aragorn's shoulder, and he gently pulled her closer.

"I believed it too, as I was under the impression Elves didn't eat meat," Gimli said once he'd wiped the tears from his eyes. "I remember my father complaining about the leaves they were fed during their stay in Rivendell."

"Most of us indeed prefer not to eat meat," Legolas said while throwing another piece of wood on the fire. "But, and I'm sure the same can be said about Dwarves, not all Elves are the same."

"Also, I'm fairly sure Lord Elrond requested there be no meat served as long as the company of Thorin Oakenshield remained in Imladris," Gyda said with a grin.

They broke out into laughter once again, while Gimli grumbled beneath his breath with fake hurt. As the laughter faded, a comfortable silence was left behind. Legolas handed out the Lembas and even Gimli seemed content to eat the Elvish bread.

The sky had turned from orange to a dark blue and one by one the stars became visible. All around them chatter slowly quietened down as the people of Rohan tried to get some rest on the uncomfortable floor.

Elgarain pulled up her legs and wrapped her arms around her knees in order to hold on to some warmth. Noticing her discomfort, Aragorn stroke her arm in order to return some heat to her limbs. There was no shelter from the wind on the open plains and so she could already tell it was going to be an uncomfortable night. But she hardly cared, for it would be a night spent in Aragorn's arms. Which, for the first time in a long time, made reality more comfortable than her dreams.

The mention of Rivendell awoke memories of nights such as this one, seated around fires, wrapped in each other's arms. Whenever they sat beneath the stars like that together, she had always requested him to do one thing...

"Sing me a song?" she whispered.

She could hear the smile in his voice when he answered. "Which one, my love?"

"Something to remind me of home."

She could feel Gyda's eyes resting on them, Legolas' quiet anticipation and Gimli's hidden curiosity. They could all use a distraction at this moment, something to encourage their bravery in face of the darkness awaiting them.

For a moment all was quiet, then Aragorn took a breath and sung softly:

Gil-Galad was an Elven-king
Of him the harpers sadly sing
The last whose realm was fair and free
Between the mountains and the sea

His sword was long, his lance was keen
His shining helm afar was seen
The countless stars of heaven's field
Were mirrored in his silver shield

But long ago he rode away
And where he dwelleth none can say
For into darkness fell his star
In Mordor where the shadows are

Now his daughter rules the land,
With kind word and a healing hand
But peace was never meant to last
She bravely followed her father's past

But hope remains for those who wait,
The queen might show still at their gate
For silver light shines through the night
And darkness bows down to its might

For a moment all was silent, as if the entire camp was holding its breath. The stars seemed to glimmer even brighter, awakened by the song. She had always loved Aragorn's warm voice, especially since her own singing was absolutely terrible. Many nights she'd spent listening to him sing or recite poems. Which was why she hadn't expected for the soft tune he started singing to pierce her heart as though she was listening to him for the first time. Or maybe it was the words and the meaning they carried.

She tried to swallow her tears and then whispered: "I've never heard those last two verses."

Gyda cleared her throat, "Galion wrote them—he wished for you to remember that your father's strength was in you as well...he never got the chance to sing it to you himself." She paused, "He could probably explain it better too."

Thinking of the archer came with both a warmth and a stab of missing. "Hopefully I get to thank him one day," she said softly. "He always was the better singer out of the three of us."

"He has always had a gentle soul." She chuckled as if lost in a memory.

"He's good at hiding it though," Elgarain said, carefully watching her guard. "Always making jokes, trying to cheer us up, get us to understand each other."

Gyda's gaze flickered to the fire. "I wish he was here."

"So do I," she whispered. She could feel Aragorn pull her a little closer to his side, telling her without words that he was right here with her.

Legolas watched Gyda with a conflicted gaze before speaking softly: "That is why we fight, is not? To make sure we have a home to return to and see our loved ones again."

From her right side, Gimli nodded resolutely. "Well said, lad."

A small smile appeared on her face as she looked around the campfire. She could remember it clearly now, why she had decided to join this Fellowship. Even if she could have done some good back home, this was where she was supposed to be. It was useless to dwell on thoughts of what if. This was the path she'd chosen and with these people at her side, she would see it through.

She would follow in her father's steps, even if their paths had turned out to be quite different.

°∴,*⋅✲✦ ( ♕ ) ✦✲⋅*,∴°

𝕬𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝕹𝐎𝐓𝐄 . . .

We're back!!

Chloe and I finally had some time to write again and I'm so happy to return to Elgarains story! I had so much fun with this chapter. Elgarain and Aragorn are finally back together, everyone is happy, it was a breath of fresh to write after all they've been through honestly. 

I also really wanted to include a song. We all know how Tolkien loved his songs and poems and I couldn't resist putting one here. The first three verses of this song were written by Tolkien himself and I take no credit for them. As you can see though, I've added my own two verses to the original poem! I based my own verses on the melody sung by Clamavi De Profundis. Listen to their cover of the song in the video at the start of this chapter!

For this chapter title, I also took inspiration from Tolkien. "Of herbs and stewed rabbit" is the name of The Two Towers, Book four, Chapter four. I take no credit for this name either!

Now that's all out of the way, please leave some comments! I'd love to hear from you guys! Hope to see you all again soon.

xx Nelly