Days have now passed and we have spent the majority of them running. Fortunately for me, I didn't get out of breathe, I didn't sweat, nor smell.
Being an elf was truly remarkable, it definitely had its perks.
We continue our pursuit tracking the group of Uruk-hai that have Merry and Pippin, hoping they will lead us somewhere where we can snatch them back from within their clutches.
Aragon pauses as he moves to the ground, placing his head upon a rock to listen for the footsteps of the advancing Uruks.

"Their pace has quickened" Aragon says to us. "They must of caught our scent. Hurry!" He exaggerated as he began to run again.
I follow quickly behind him as I'm joined by Legolas. Every so often he would turn back to make sure Gimli was keeping up.

"Come on Gimli" he called back to the violently puffing dwarf behind us.

"Three days and nights pursuit. No food. No rest. And no sign of our quarry but what bare rock can tell." Gimli puffed, following after us.

Aragon suddenly comes to a holt as he bends down to pick up an Elven brooch from the ground.
I come to stand behind him where he puts the brooch into my hand.

"Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall" he said softly.

"They May yet be alive" Legolas piped from beside me.

"Less than a day ahead of us. Come!" Aragon exclaimed as he grabs my arm pulling him along with him.
Gimli stumbles from behind some rocks and falls to the ground.

"Come Gimli, we are gaining on them" Legolas calls to him.

Gimli who is now panting, gets back on his feet. " I am wasted on cross country! We dwarves are natural sprinters. Very dangerous over short distances". He yells.

"Rohan. Home of the horse-lords. There is something strange at work here. Some evil gives speed to these creatures, sets its will against us" Aragon said as we come to a stop at last, for Gimli's sake anyway.
I feel the warmth of the sun hit my skin as I look deeply into the plains that lie ahead.
Legolas moves onto a rock to get a view of the furthest distance.

"What do your elf eyes see" Aragon questions.

I observe Legolas as he stares sternly into the distance. Something about him truly fascinated me.
Suddenly a heavy panting is to be heard from beside me as I look down to find Gimli sweating and breathing loudly.

"Tell me..." Gimli begins to say "how is a lady elf quicker than me?"
I smile at him as he begins to feel patronised.
"You should not be so quick to judge" I reply as be both let out a small chuckle.

" the Uruks turn North East!" Shouts Legolas. "They're taking the hobbits to Isengard!"

"Saruman" I hear Aragon whisper from under his breath.

We all begin to run again across the plains of Rohan toward the direction of Isengard. Gimli is beginning to struggle as he still continues to puff from behind me.

"Keep breathing, that's the key, breathe...ho!" He let's out a sigh.

We continue to run throughout the night until the sun rises again the next day.
Legolas pauses to look up at the sky.

" a red sun rises. Blood has been spilled this night". He says wisely as I too now look up to observe the sky.
As the sun climbed higher, a sound of horses began to bound from the distance behind us.
Aragon runs to hide behind a rock, signalling us to follow.
I turn to grab Gimli pulling him along as I throw him to the ground behind the large stone.

A large group of horse-men appear, galloping quickly with their banners flying high throughout the air.
Aragon steps out as they pass, observing them as they go. We also all step out.

"Riders of Rohan, what news from the mark?" Aragon called after the horse-men.
The riders turn and head back our way. They make a circle, together in around us as they point their spears closely to our faces.
A man begins to speak to us. His name is Eomér. Leader of the riders of Rohan.

"What business does two elves , a man and a dwarf have in the Riddermark? He questions, looking down at us. "Speak quickly!" He adds.

"Give me your name horse-master and I shall give you mine" Gimli replies to him confidently.

"I would cut off your head, dwarf. If it stood but a little higher from the ground". Eomér remarked

Legolas, in a lightning quick move, pulls out an arrow and lifts it to his bow, pointing it toward Eomèr.

"You would die before your stroke fell" Legolas snapped.

"Enough of this!" I exclaim as I pull down my hood to reveal my face completely.

"Lady Eline!..." he exclaims as he dismounts his horse and the weapons from the men begin to retreat.

"Forgive me for I did not know it was you". He says as he pulls me into a hug for it has been a long time since I last saw him.
As he let's go I introduce my companions.

"This is Aragon, son of Arathorn, Gimli son of Glóin and Legolas of the Woodland Realm.
We are all friends of Rohan and to Theodén your king."

"Theodén no longer recognises friend from foe, not even his own kin" Eomér says gravely as he removes his helmet.
"Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over these lands. My company are those loyal to Rohan and for that we are banished. The white wizard is cunning, he walks here and there they say as an old man, hooded and cloaked. And everywhere his spies slip past our nets".

"We are not spies. We track a party of Uruk-hai westward across the plain. They've taken two of our friends captive". Aragon retorted.

"The Uruks are destroyed, we slaughtered them in the night" Eomér replies.

* that would explain the foul stench I thought *

"But there were two hobbits, did you see two hobbits with them?" Gimli asks.

"They would be small, only children to your eyes" I stated.

"We left none alive, we piled the carcasses and burned them" he says as he points to a smoking pile in the distance.

"Dead?" Gimli inquired.

Eomér nods... " I am sorry".

We all hang our heads in the hope of what Eomér says isn't true as he begins to whistle to two horses.

"Hasufel! Arod! May these horses bear you to a better fortune than their former masters. Farewell!"
Eomér mounted his horse again.
"Look for your friends. But do not trust to hope, it has forsaken these lands."
He turns to address his fellow riders. We ride north!" He exclaims, as his men begun to leave us.

"Come on" Aragon said as we mounted our horses.
I rode with Legolas who was tense and in- talkative for the whole of the ride.
I could sense a large amount of jealousy come forth from him and only now did I recognise why.
The embrace I had with Eomèr could be the only reason why... a flush of red comes to my cheeks as I begin to realise that he cared for me.
* so he was a jealous elf * I thought. * he comes across so collected, I did not think he would feel this way*

The rotten smell of orc reached my nose yet again as we closed in toward the pile of burning corpses.
Although Legolas seemed mad at me, he still helped me off the horse nonetheless.

Gimli begins to pick through the bodies with his axe, moving each one out of the way until he comes across a small strap of belt.
Gimli turns to face us with it in his hand.

"It's one of their wee belts" He says almost sobbing.

"Hiro îth...ab wanath" Legolas said next to me. ( May they find peace in death).
I bow my head as he does too.

As we stand there, Aragon let's out a frustrated yell as he kicks a helmet and falls to his knees on the floor.
Legolas moves next to him, placing a hand upon his shoulder to console him.

I begin to close my eyes as the others remain in silent.
Visions flash before me, Merry and pippin running. My eyes batter open as I look to the floor where some tracks lay.
I kneel down to observe it.
" a hobbit lay here" I say as I brush my hand across the dirt. "And the other"
Aragon and Legolas come over to where I'm looking.
I begin to move following the tracks...
"Their bonds were cut" I say as I pull two ropes up and out from the ground.
"They ran over here". I continue to follow each and every step as my vision becomes clearer.
"They were followed!" I exclaim as I break into a run, looking left to right until I come to a stop.
I slowly look upwards and there before me stood Fagorn forest.
Legolas, Gimli and Aragon Stand beside me.

"Fangorn.." Gimli gasps. "What madness drove them in there"

Without a word, Aragon marches into the forest as we all continue to follow him.

" I did not know you had the gift of foresight" Legolas says curiously as he accompanies me throughout the forest.

"Oh, you're speaking to me now?" I say smugly as I watch Legolas move uncomfortably.
He does not answer. Only smile quaintly me as begins to move back toward Gimli.

" you drive the elf mad" whispers Aragon. I softly chuckle.

Gimli comes across a dark stain on a leaf, he runs his fingers through it and brings it to his mouth. *he spits it out* "Orc blood!" He exclaims in disgust.
I let out a snigger at Gimli who just huffs back at me.

"There are strange tracks" says Aragon as he looks at the trees and the ground that surround him.

"The air is so close in here" speaks Gimli who looks very agitated with his surroundings.

"The forest is old, very old, full of memory and anger" Legolas whispered as groans began to reverberate through the forest.
Gimli raises his axe.

"The trees are speaking to eachother" I announce as we all look frantically around us.
Aragon now whispers.

"Gimli, lower your axe" as he gestures his hand in a downward motion.
Gimli begins to lower it slowly.

"The trees have feelings too my friend" I say to Gimli humorously.

"Aragon, Nas nâ ennas!" (Something is out there) Legolas whispered.

"Man cenich?" (What did you see?) Aragon asked softly

I now come to their side. "The white wizard approaches" I say quietly.

Aragon's emotion changes. " Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us".
He wraps his hand around the hilt of his sword, slowly beginning to withdraw it. Gimli tightens his grip around his axe as me and Legolas both bring an arrow to our bows.

"We must be quick" Aragon says.

With a yell, we all turn around to attack. A bright white light projects towards us, making it hard for us to aim correctly.
Gimli's axe and Legolas's arrow are deflected. I feel my hands begin to shake as I'm made to drop my bow and Aragon's sword becomes red hot, causing him to throw it to the ground.
We all shield our eyes as the bright light emanating from the white wizard becomes stronger.

"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits" a loud voice bellowed.

"Where are they" Aragon yelled.

"They passed this way, they day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" The voice asked.

"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragon demanded.

Suddenly the bright light began to dim, revealing Gandalf, all dressed in white.
We all stood there outstanded.

"Forgive me, for I thought you were Saruman" says Legolas as he kneels down bowing his head.

" it cannot be. You fell" Aragon says, shocked.

" Through fire and water. From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak. I fought with the Balrog of Morgoth" Gandalf said, almost as if he were recalling everything in his mind. "until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me and I strayed out of thought and time. Stars wheeled overhead and everyday was as long as a life-age of the earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I have been sent back until my task is done."

I let out a sigh of relief "Gandalf" I say as I breathe outwards.

"Yes...that's what they used to call me..Gandalf the grey. That was my name"

"Gandalf!" Gimli cried.

"I am Gandalf the white and I come back to you now at the turn of the tide" he says smiling.

We begin to walk through the forest with Gandalf leading the way, now wearing a grey cloak over his white robes. I happily link his arm as we go.

"One stage of your journey is over, another begins. War has come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with all speed." He said as a light beamed down onto my face. We were out of the thick forest and in an open field.
Gandalf begins to whistle piercingly as an answering neigh is heard from the distance and suddenly a white horse comes galloping towards us from the skyline.

"That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell" Legolas says quietly as he watches the horse near closer.

"Shadowfax!" Gandalf announced "he's the lord of all horses and he's been my friend throughout many dangers".
He mounts the horse as do the others when Legolas stretches his arm out to me. I look up to him as the corner of his mouth begins to turn into a smile.

"Ride with me?" He asks, arm still outstretched.

I roll my eyes and let out a small giggle as he pulls me up onto the horse.
I sit behind him as I wrap my arms around his waist to stop me from falling off and with that we set off towards the city of Rohan.
I rest my head upon Legolas's back as I hear his heart beat quicken slightly from within his chest. I smile to myself, I enjoyed making him nervous.

We ride for a few hours before coming to a pause to look upon the plains of the city.

"Edoras and the golden hall of Meduseld. There dwells Thèoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Thèoden is now very strong. Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here". Gandalf explains as well as continue to ride on towards Edoras.

Me and Legolas talk quietly amongst ourselves as we gallop along with the others.

"What do you plan to do when our journey is complete?" He asks.

"I hadn't yet thought about it. Although we are doing a lot of travelling right now...I would love to travel some more, it's a big world out there and for yet I have not seen any of it." I reply to him as yet again I feel his heartbeat begin to quicken.
"What about you? What are your plans?" I asked.

" I'd also like to travel. I hear of a Great Lake somewhere in the midst with nothing but snow drops guarding it." He responded.

"Sounds beautiful" I reply softly to him. "I may have to venture there too" I add.

"I'll lead the way." Legolas replies back to me with a smile evidently in his tone.

Within a matter of minutes, we reached Edoras.
The place was silent and somber. Everyone is dressed in black, staring at us in a wary silence.

"You'll find more cheer in a graveyard" Gimli remarked as I bit back my smile.
We dismounted our horses and climbed up the stairs to the hall where we were met by the guards at the top.

———————————————————————————

An extra long chapter!! I kinda got carried away with writing so I hope you enjoy it!

Legeline are staring to blossom. Will Legolas tell her his feelings??

Which do you prefer Legeline or Elineolas?