AUTHOR'S NOTE: The flower picture will be explained in story ;)

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~Chapter Eight~

'Rohan is Mine!'

Confronted with White Wizard, the blinding light shrouded him like a cloak of the sun resting on his shoulders. Aragorn had demanded the wizard to show himself. Answering the request, the light faded away, revealing a man they know so well. Gandalf, dressed in all white like a holy vision. Medlinya's eyes welled up in overjoyed tears, all the four trackers were astounded that he stood in front of them.

Legolas, Medlinya, and Gimli respectfully kneel in front of the wizard, "It cannot be. You fell." the Ranger whispered in disbelief lowering to the ground as well.

"Through fire and water." the living wizard agreed with a nod to Aragorn. "From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought with Balrog of Morgoth. Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me. And I stayed 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've been sent back until my task is done." The wizard explained.

"Gandalf!" Aragorn pronounced, still overwhelmed of the presence of the wizard.

"Gandalf?" the wizard asked, confused than remembrance flickered in his blue eyes, "Yes... That's what they used to call me, Gandalf the Grey. That was my name." The wizard smiled brighter than his light before.

"Gandalf!" Gimli gasped still in wonder of the sight of the wizard.

The White Wizard's eyes twinkled like stars, "I am Gandalf the White." Aragorn grinned at the new title, "And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide."

Overcome with euphoria, Medlinya sprinted to the White Wizard tackled him with a hug. Gandalf chuckled heartily and returned the hug to the she-elf, "The sun warms my heart to see you again, Medlinya, especially with no cloak."

The she-elf smiled up at the wizards, "It is good to see you alive, Cheater of Death."

Gandalf grinned and chortled at the she-elf's response. His blue eyes shimmered with joy, "Yes... I have definitely missed your company, young one."

With that, the White Wizard lead the four group through the forest after Medlinya and Aragorn gathered their weapons from the forest floor. Gandalf now wore a grey cloak over his white robes, "One stage of your journey is over, another begins. War has come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with all speed."

The company of five exit Fangorn Forest into an surrounding land of lush green hills, plains, and meadows. Gandalf whistles piercingly. An answering neigh echoes over the rolling mounds of earth. A white horse appears from the plain, answering Gandalf's whistle, "That is one of the Mearas, unless my eyes are cheated by some spell." Legolas stated in awe.

The horse trots around to stop in front of Gandalf, "Shadowfax." Hearing that name, Gimli bows to the horse. "He's the lord of all horses and he's been my friend many dangers."

Aragorn whistles for Arod and Hasufel. The two horses come thundering over the hills towards the company. "Gimli you ride with me." the Ranger ordered. The two Elves' faces simultaneously contort in confusion, causing the Ranger to chuckle. Medlinya softly shrugged and mounted onto Arod, waiting for Legolas to climb in front of her.

Legolas stood there, studying Aragorn carefully. When Medlinya had her back turned, the Ranger winked down on the Elf from his horse with Gimli behind him. A smirk appeared on the blonde Elf's and bowed his head quickly. Quickly, Legolas hopped onto Arod in front of the she-elf.

Watching the reins being gripped by Legolas' hands, the she-elf discovered a problem. How was she going to stay on the horse without holding onto the Elf in front of her? Startling the she-elf, Arod sprung off his hind feet instantly causing Medlinya to cling to Legolas. Her cheek pressed up against the back of the Elf. In her secure clutch, the Elf laughed at her.

Medlinya's cheek grew hot under the rosiness, "Dina!" she protested with a pout. Jabbing him in his side with two fingers to silence him, resulting no reaction besides more laughter from Legolas.[Be silent!]

Following Gandalf, the five began to ride across the plains to Edoras, the seat of the Kings of Rohan. Along the plains to the capital city, the two Elves conversed to each other like normal. Although it had been a long time since they were traveling to hunt down the hobbits and Gwiliweth. Medlinya also noticed another aspect. Legolas had not met her gaze when she looking at him. It was strange, it was like he did not want to lock eyes. Ignoring the thought, the horses halted as they see a distant hill with a fortress of a capital of Edoras ahead of them.

"Eduras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld. There dwells Theoden, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown. Saruman's hold over King Theodon is now very strong." Gandalf informed grimly to rest of the group.

Bolting forward, the horses take off for Edoras in great haste to help the King. Approaching the entrance of the gate in, the green flag of Rohan floats down to the ground near Aragorn. "Be careful what you say. Do not look for welcome here." the old wizard warned them before entering through the gate.

Mounted on their horses, they quietly and slowly trot through the town. Edoras is silent and depressed. Everyone is wearing black and stared at the newcomers in wary silence. Behind Aragorn, Gimli gazed around, "You'll find more cheer in a graveyard." the Dwarf mumbled, although the company heard him.

Dismounting the horses, the company climbed up the stairs to the hall and suddenly were met by the guards. "Ah." Gandalf muttered.

"I cannot allow you before Theoden-King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame. By order of Grima Wormtongue." The guard announced.

Gandalf nods understandingly and signals for the others to surrender their weapons. Aragorn hands over his sword and knives. Legolas gives a little twirl of his knives before handing them over to the guards, "Show off." Medlinya muttered as she gave the guards her most precious swords unwillingly. Gimli hands over his axes reluctantly.

The guards gestures towards the old wizard, "Your staff."

"Hmm?" Gandalf murmured, glancing down to his staff. "Oh. You would not part an old man from his walking stick?" the old man gazed at the guard, innocently.

The guard hesitated for a brief second and then gestures that they follow him into the hall. The old wizard gives Aragorn a tiny wink and enters the hall, leaning on Legolas' arm. An withering, bewitched man sat in the throne at the back of the Great Hall. Beside him was a strange man with raven black hair and piercing ice blue eyes, whispering into the King's ear.

"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Theoden King." Gandalf commented loudly, addressing the king in his throne.

As Gandalf approaches Theoden, the four others pull back and surveyed the hall and it's hostile occupants. A group of men start to follow their steps with hostility, glaring at the company of five.

Again the creepy man leaned into the King's ear, whispering. Theoden slowly gaze directly to Gandalf, "Why should I... welcome you, Gandalf... Stormcrow?" The troubled king looks to the creepy man for affirmation.

"A just question, my liege." the creepy man agreed wickedly. The man prowled over to Gandalf. "Late is the hour in which this conjurer chooses to appear. Lathspell spell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest." the man claimed sharply.

"Be silent! Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death to bandy crooked words with a witless worm!" Gandalf verbalized his distaste as he rose his staff against the man.

"His staff!" the man cried, backing away from Gandalf while addressing the guards. "I told you to take the wizard's staff!"

The hostile guards launched after the company. Aragorn, Legolas, Medlinya, and Gimli engage them in a fistfight as Gandalf continued to nearing closer to Theoden. Another guard tried to go forward, when he was stopped by the guard who had took their weapons just outside.

"Theoden, son of Thengel, too long have you sat in the shadows." Gandalf stated solemnly. The four of the company continued to kick down and knock the guards out of the wizard's way.

The creepy man, now on the ground, began to try to crawl away unnoticed, but Gimli catches him and pinned the coward to the floor, "I would stay still, if I were you." The Dwarf growled.

"Hearken to me! I release you from the spell." the wizard declared closing his eyes tightly, raising his hand toward the King.

Theoden menacingly laughed at the attempt, Gandalf opened his eyes in surprise. "You have no power here, Gandalf the Grey!" the king mocked. Gandalf sheds off his grey cloak, emitting a blinding white light. Theoden is thrown back against his seat, "Argh!"

The White Wizard points his staff toward the bewitched man, "I will draw you, Saruman, as poison is drawn from a wound."

A blonde woman rushed in, seeing the King being threatened. She tries to go to him, when Aragorn caught her in his grasp, "Wait." the Ranger replied.

Theoden's face contorts into anger, "If I go... Theoden dies." a new deep voice echoed throughout the hall.

Gandalf thrashes his staff sharply and Theoden flies back against the chair again, "You did not kill me, you will not kill him!"

Gripping the chair with all his strength, trying to fight off Gandalf's repealing spell. "Rohan is mine!" the voice vibrate once more, lifting himself from his chair weakly.

"Be gone!" the wizard commanded, attacking Theoden as the King lunged at him. Theoden is thrown back into the chair, like a rag doll. The figure moan and slumps forward in the chair. The woman broke from Aragorn's grip to the King's side, catching him before he fell. Theoden's head rises again and his face begins to change gradually into that of a much younger-looking man. Clarity and recognition returned to the blue eyes of The Rohan King.

The King of Rohan gazes closely at the woman beside him, smiling tearfully. "I know your face. Eowyn... Eowyn."

As Eowyn weeps with joy, Theoden glances over to see the wizard standing there, "Gandalf?"

"Breathe the free air again, my friend." Gandalf replied with a smile.

The light in the hall brightened, as everyone marvels at the rejuvenation of the king. Theoden stands from his throne, gazes around him to all the smiling faces. "Dark have been my dreams of late." His eyes travel down to his trembling hands.

Gandalf stepped closer, still smiling magnificently. "Your fingers would remember their old strength better... if they grasped your sword."

The guard that took the company's weapons rushed over, holding the king's sword. Theoden reaches for the hilt of his sword with quivering hands. His fingers wrapped around the handle slowly and draws the sword, gazing upon the shiny metal as if it was his first encounter with a sword. In a corner, the pinned ex-advisor of Rohan's King trembles and tries to escape but is pulled back by Gimli. Theoden's gaze transfixed to the afraid man.

Two guards clutch the back of the robe of the man and drag him out of the Great Hall. The man is thrown out of the hall and down the stairs outside. The man tumbles down the stairs, landing with an 'argh', supplicating to the angered King, "I've only ever served you, my Lord!"

Medlinya stood beside Eowyn on the entrance porch with Legolas and Gimli on the other side of Eowyn, watching the scene below. Theoden advances towards the socercer, holding his sword firmly in his hand, "Your leechcraft would have had me crawling on all fours like a beast!"

Grovelling frightened, the sorcerer pleaded for his life, "Send me not from your side."

The King raised his sword to kill the coward, when Aragorn takes a hold of the arms of the King. "No, my lord! No my lord." the Ranger repeated, looking the King in the eyes seriously. "Let him go. Enough blood has been spilled on his account."

At that, the deceiver scrambled to his feet and pushes through the crowd of residents of Rohan watching their king, "Get out of my way!" the creepy man hollered as he scurried away.

"Hail, Theoden king!" one of the guards praised loudly. The crowd kneels in homage before Theoden, Aragorn kneels as well.

As Theoden turns to go back into the hall, his head pricked upward in realization, "Where is Theodred? Where is my son?" he asked.

The funeral for the beloved son of the King was held immediately. Medlinya had courteously dropped the head of a while flower down on the grave of Theodred. The Rohirrim warriors gathered to the streets of Edoras in enormous grieving flocks, creating a path leading the tomb just outside the great city. All was silent as the guards of the Golden Hall carry Théodred's body toward the tomb on a bier made of shields and spears. King Theoden and the company sorrowfully and slowly followed behind. 

The last march of Theodred.

Eowyn and Medlinya stood beside an empty tomb among other women waiting for the guards to carry Theodred's body out. The villagers stood outside of the city creating a long pathway to the crypt.

Gradually the dead prince was brought to the women carefully transferring the bier holding Thoedred. Eowyn, her cheeks moist with tears, sings while the men pass the body to the women, 

"Bealocwealm hafað fréone frecan forth onsended

giedd sculon singan gléomenn sorgiende"

(An evil death has set forth the noble warrior

A song shall sing sorrowing minstrels)

"on Meduselde þæt he ma no wære,

Þæt he ma nowere is, þurh niedig rest."

(in Meduseld that he is no more,

That he is nowhere anymore, for his necessary rest.)

"And mægen deorost.

Bealo…"

(And that he is the dearest kinsman. Killing took him…)

The King stayed in place, frozen as he watched his son get passed over to the women into the darkness of the tomb. Gandalf and Theoden stay at the shut-door of Theodred's closed tomb as the others left letting the King to mourn without an audience.

"Simbelmyne. Ever has it grown on the tombs of my fore-bearers." the King finally spoke, gazing at Gandalf with sad eyes, "Now it shall cover the grave of my son. Alas, that these evil days should be mine. The young perish and the old linger. That I should live to see the last days of my house." The King uttered as he swept his head back to looking at the grave of his son.

"Theodred's death was not of your making." Gandalf replied comfortingly.

The King whipped his head to the wizard, "No parent should have to bury their child." Seconds later, Theoden's walls broke and wept over his son.

"He was strong in life. His spirit will find it's way to the halls of your fathers. Westu hal. Ferou, Theodred, ferou." Gandalf softly muttered. [Be-thou well. Go-thou, Theodred, go-throu]

Gandalf turned to go back to the hall and leaves Theoden to grieve in private. He spots two children on horseback. The boy collapses and falls off the horse.

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Later, inside the Golden Hall, the two children are eating at a table, and Eowyn stood behind them. "They had no warning. They were unarmed. Now the wild men are moving through the Westfold, burning as they go. rick, cot and tree." the woman announced to the King with a motherly protectiveness in her voice.

"Where's mama?" The little girl asked innocently back to Eowyn. Immediately, the woman soothed the child with a 'shh'.

Gandalf sat beside in a small chair of the advisor right next to the meditative King in his throne. Gimli sat on a small chair close by smoking on his pipe. Legolas stood quietly close by Aragorn as the Ranger leaned up against a pillar, while Medlinya sat at the table in front of the children serving them food when their little arms could not reach.

The wizard turned to the King, "This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash. All the more potent for he is driven now by fear of Sauron. Ride out and meet him him head on. Draw him away from your women and children." The wizard leaned forward, placing a gentle hand on Theoden's chair. Theoden stares at the hand warily. "You must fight." Gandalf added.

"You have two thousand good men riding north as we speak. Eomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king." Aragorn mentioned.

The King shook his head, "They will be three hundred leagues from here by now. Eomer cannot help us. I know what is it that you want of me. But I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war."

Gimli quietly takes a bite of his bread as he watches the exchange between Aragorn and Theoden. "Open war is upon you. Whether you would risk it or not."

Theoden stood up eyeing Aragorn, "When last I looked, Theoden, not Aragorn was king of Rohan."

Aragorn silences just as Gimli took a sip of a drink and burps. The wizard calmly watched the King of Rohan, "Then what is the king's decision?"

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Outside of Meduseld, the Golden Hall, "By order of the king, the city must empty. We make for the refuge of Helm's Deep. Do not burden yourselves with treasures. Take only what provisions you need." the guard by the name of Hama announced, loudly throughout the city.

All around them, people were moving about, gathering their belongings and preparing to move. Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Medlinya, and Gimli walk towards the stables. "Helm's Deep! They flee to the mountains when they should stand and fight. Who will defend them if not their king." Gimli protested, angered at such a decree.

"He's only doing what he thinks is best for his people. Helm's Deep has saved them in the past." Aragorn calmly commented to the Dwarf.

The five enter the stables as they watch Gandalf turn to Aragorn. "There is no way out of that ravine. Theoden is walking into a trap. He thinks he's leading them to safety. What they will get is a massacre. Theoden has a strong will but I fear for him. I fear for the survival of Rohan. He will need you before the end, Aragorn. The people of Rohan will need you. The defences have to hold." Gandalf stressed to the Ranger.

Aragorn nodded to the wizard, "They will hold."

The wizard quietly turned to Shadowfax and stroked the horse's nose. "The Grey Pilgrim... that's what they used to call me. Three hundred lives of men I've walked this earth and now I have no time. With luck, my search will not be in vain." The wizard mounted the white horse, gazing down to the Ranger, "Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the East."

Aragorn opened the stall gate, "Go."

Shadowfax reared back on it's hind legs before dashing out of the stall. Legolas jumped back as Gandalf rode out of the stables. Medlinya sauntered over to the entrance, watching the wizard hastily ride out of the city of Edoras through the gate.

"So it begins." Medlinya muttered mostly to herself, her hands wrapped around the hilts of her swords. Without a word, the she-elf exited the stables heading to the Golden Hall hastily.

Gimli peeked his head out of the stables, watching after Medlinya as she walked up the hill. "What's up with the lass?" the Dwarf asked curiously. Aragorn's eyes flickered over to the Elf beside him, in response Legolas shook his head clueless of what got into the she-elf.

Aragorn kept staring at the blonde Elf, "Legolas, have you told her yet?"

The Dwarf turned to the Man and the Elf intrigued. Legolas again shook his head, "I have not gazed into her eyes as well."

The Ranger was taken back, "Why not, friend?'

The Elf sighed, looking towards the ground than back up to Aragorn, "I wait for the flawless, unsurpassable moment."

Gimli glanced back and forth between this exchange, "What am I missing?" the Dwarf questioned, hating to be left out of conversations.

Aragorn gazed down to the Dwarf, "I'm sure your ears have heard of 'Faenod'."

Gimli's mouth curved into an 'O' as his dark blue eyes gaped at the Elf. Aragorn also glanced at the Elf, with a smile and clapped a hand on his shoulder, "Let's hope that moment comes soon."

Legolas smiled brightly and bowed his head to Aragorn. The Elf wished for the same, for so long now that Medlinya had shed her cloak he fought the urge to gaze deep into her eyes. The urge ate within himself, he so desperately wanted to see her eyes sparkle and the beautiful blue shade of her eyes. He had to leash his urges on a tight chain. Never had he felt this much passion for one mere person. The moment must be coming soon, if it does not Legolas knew he would give up and look into her eyes to finally get this itch for the she-elf under some type of control. With a sigh, the three men trekked their way to the Golden Hall.

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Medlinya hovered around the banquet table with the children that still sat there. Her motherly instincts kicked in as she began to stroke their hair, to comfort them. The children were afraid. They had not known what was going on. So much innocence up until now, their minds must be consumed by the shadow of threat and death. Just as Sauron would want.

Eowyn opened a chest, inside was a sword. She unsheathes the blade and began to practice. She swings around and is met by Aragorn, who blocks her parry. "You have some skill with a blade."

With a swift move, Eowyn swings her sword and renders Aragorn vulnerable, gaining the upper hand. Aragorn grinned in amusement as the woman stepped back and slid her sword into it's scabbard, "Women of this country learned long ago; Those without swords may still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain." the woman plainly explained.

"What do you fear, My Lady?" the Ranger questioned with interest.

"A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them and all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire." the woman replied honestly.

Aragorn stared at Eowyn long and hard, "You are a daughter of kings, a shieldmaiden of Rohan." Quickly he sheathes his knife, "I do not think that would be your fate."

Mutely the Ranger bows to the woman as Eowyn gazes after him as he walked away. Medlinya turned her attention to the young children, "Let's get you ready to leave." she softly whispered with a smile.

Barely a few minutes later, the people of Rohan began to move out of Edoras towards Helm's deep, with Theoden leading the way. Medlinya rode on Arod behind Legolas, holding on lightly while Aragorn rode beside the Elves on Hasufel. The company of four Aragorn, Legolas, Medlinya, and Gimli traveled closer the front of the massive throng of Rohirrim men, women, and children. The pace was that of a leisure stroll through a beautiful rose garden, one must take their time to really capture the merit of the elegance of the rose. In this setting, they had to be steadily for the older persons of Edoras could keep up.

In front of the two elves, Gimli sat on a horse, chatting with Eowyn who is leading the horse by it's reins. "It's true you don't see many Dwarf women. And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance." Gimli chuckled in spite of himself, "That they're often mistaken for Dwarf men."

The woman smiled and glanced back to to Aragorn. The Ranger gestured to his chin, "It's the beards." he whispered. Medlinya giggled at such comment, then focused back to the Dwarf.

"And this, in turn, has given rise to the belief that there are no Dwarf women. And that dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground!" Both women laugh merrily at the Dwarf's tale in response. Gimli laughs as well, "Which is of course of ridiculous... Whoa!"

The horse suddenly rears up and gallops away as Eowyn loses her hold on the reins. Gimli falls off after a short distance and lands with a loud thump. "Ooh!" Eowyn gasped, laughing. Rushing forward to the struggling Dwarf, "It's alright. It's alright. Nobody panic. That was deliberate. It was deliberate." Gimli repeated to brush off his embarrassment.

Eowyn helped Gimli up, laughing as she brushed him up. Medlinya witnessed as Eowyn and Aragorn lock eyes. The she-elf smiled as she saw this interaction, though she began to feel worried. Eowyn is falling for the Ranger very fast, with Arwen in the picture the woman of Rohan has no chance. Resting her head against the back of Legolas, she felt compassion of the unsuspecting Eowyn.

The refugees of Rohan continued to march northwest towards the 'safety' of Helm's Deep until dusk crept closer as dark threatened to cover the land. The flock of Rohirrim people camped on the rolling hills of West Emnet. Medlinya set her sleeping bag down beside the white stallion, Arod. The horse quietly lowered himself to the ground, to rest his legs after such a long day of traveling. The she-elf stroked the horse gently, "Lle ume quel." she whispered to the horse. [You did well.]

In response the tired horse whinnied mellowly.Aragorn bowed his head to the she-elf as Hasufel followed Arod to the ground. Legolas and Gimli had set their camp around the horses as well. The Dwarf, who finished setting up his bed was quietly smoking from his pipe. 

Eowyn carries a pot of stew to the Dwarf, "Gimli?"

Gimli smiles at the woman and shook his head, "No, I couldn't. I really couldn't."

With a polite smile, Eowyn bowed her head to the Dwarf than approaches Aragorn, "I made some stew. It isn't much, but it's hot." Gently she gives him a bowl of stew and a wooden spoon.

The Ranger inclined his head to the Woman of Rohan,  "Thank you." Aragorn brings the spoon of stew to his mouth tasting it. Watching the Ranger closely, Medlinya could see Aragorn gaze up to Eowyn trying not to grimace at how unappealing the stew is. Aragorn being a gentleman nodded his head at her, "Mmm. It's good."

A bright smile appeared on the fair face of Eowyn, "Really?"

"Mmm." The Ranger replied sticking to his act.

Eowyn begins to walk away to give stew to other villagers. Casually Aragorn turns to pour out the stew, but unexpectedly Eowyn turns back around to the Ranger. He recovers, spilling some stew on his hand.

"My Uncle told me a strange thing. He said that you rode to war with Thengel, my grandfather. But he must be mistaken." The woman vocalized. 

A grin stretched across the face of Aragorn, "King Théoden has a good memory. He was only a small child at the time."

Eowyn stared at him, confused by his words, "Then you must be at least sixty. Seventy? But you cannot be eighty!"

"Eighty-seven." Aragorn corrected with a nod.

The Woman of Rohan gaped at the Ranger, "You are one of the Dúnedain. A descendant of Númenor, blessed with long life. It was said that your race had passed into legend."

Sadly Aragorn bobbed his head, "There are few of us left. The Northern Kingdom was destroyed long ago."

A flash of worry and guilt appeared on her gentle features, "I'm sorry. Please eat!"

Eowyn spun around with her pot of stew and walked towards Medlinya, "Would you like some?"

'I wouldn't if I were you,' Medlinya's eyes spotted the Ranger staring back at her. The she-elf locked eyes with the Woman of Rohan politely and smiled, "I'm not that hungry, Lady Eowyn. Though I appreciate your kindness to nourish me."

The blonde haired woman beamed at Medlinya's words and nodded, "It is my pleasure." 

Medlinya studied Eowyn as the Woman of Rohan left with her pot of stew to her people. Tentatively the she-elf approached the Ranger with a look of curiosity, "Was the stew that putrid?"

Aragorn met her gaze with a faint sickly expression, "It certainly does not taste of an Elven feast."

The she-elf shook her head at the Ranger, "At least she tried." Her sapphire eyes spotted Eowyn feeding some elderly folk, "From what I've seen, many with noble blood would never be so generous to their subjects." 

Gimli sitting nearby solemnly nodded his head at her words as did Legolas and Aragorn. 

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The sun was threatening to slip behind the rolling hills as the Rohirrim refugees settled more into their camp. Legolas and Aragorn were speaking quietly to each other in Elvish. Although the she-elf did not pay any attention to their conversation. Yes she was curious on why they were being so secretive, but her interest to find out was quite thin.

With a smile to the sleeping horse, Medlinya rose to her feet, as she turned her eyes were meet with a small, innocent eyes of a group of curious girl children. A young girl, not even close to the age of five, approached the she-elf with a bright smile. She had big Pacific blue eyes with curls of blonde hair. Medlinya's eyes twinkled at such a sight, lowering herself to the ground face to face to the child, "May I help you, little one?"

The little blonde bobbed her head, "Are you a princess?"

Medlinya beamed at such a question, "No unfortunately."

The child tilted her head to the side skeptically, "But... only princesses can be pretty as you."

The she-elf giggled at the cuteness of the small child, "We are all princes and princesses then, little one." Glancing up to the group of children behind the little girl, her sapphire eyes full of wisdom gazed back to the curious child, "Come." Medlinya spotted a closed bud of a flower on the ground in front of the children. The she-elf walked to the group with the little girl close beside her.

Medlinya knelled down gazing at the sprout. Curious eyes of adults and parents watch the she-elf smiling. The group of children shot peeks to the bud and Medlinya. "Closed from the world, this bud is. Just a sprout, a young life hiding it's potential from the beams of the sun. Now, watch closely."

The she-elf held out her hand beside the bud. With a flick of her fingers, the bud slowly began to grow. "Slowly and surely, the bud grows taller and gloriously. Enriched by years of life more and more does the beauty wanting to expose itself." Medlinya explained as the sprout wiggled, the children giggled at the sight.

Finally, the bud gradually blossomed into a Niphredil, a small white flower shaped as a star. The children gasp in awe at the sight of the flower causing a bigger smile on the she-elf's face, "When the bud finally revealed it's grandeur, the light nurturing that bud all along will be astonished by the beauty inside." Medlinya concluded. The she-elf paused letting the young children to soak up her lesson.

The eyes of the children met her sapphire eyes in wonder. "From the outside, one would see a common flower budding among the familiar." Medlinya spoke, gesturing to the common Rohirrim sunshine yellow flowers on the ground. "It takes a very special flower to shine among the common. Beauty from the outside is unparalleled to the contents of inside. The inside truly counts making every single one of you are a princess. No matter what you look like."

The group of children watch as wind plucking the Rohirrim flowers. Stringing stem by stem, the flowers assembled several separate circlets. The wind swept each circlet to each head of the children, causing a squeal of excitement from each of them.

Medlinya rose to her feet smiling dazzling as she watched the children skip around with their 'crowns' of flowers, acting to be princesses. The she-elf felt accomplished as she crossed her arms across her chest as the blonde child ran around with fellow girls. A gentle hand clasped the she-elf's shoulder, causing Medlinya to peer back to see Eowyn smiling.

"You bring happiness to the innocent and to the knowledgeable." the woman observed. Eowyn had spoken true, the older eyes who had seen evil were all smiling at the children. The mothers joined in with their daughters, frolicking through the grass laughing. The fathers viewed on with a forgotten smile, finally finding it's way to their faces.

Medlinya bowed her head to the woman, "Indeed I have. It's a relief for one to see such darkness for so long to see light."

Eowyn nodded her head knowing all to well with a serious expression. A smile broke out on her lips as she jogged over to the children. Medlinya beamed and watched the joy from a distance. Unbeknowist to the she-elf, three pairs of eyes watched her instead.

"The lass is a beauty outside as in. The rarest jewel in the mine." Gimli commented. Aragorn inclined his head to the Dwarf with a soft smile.

"A jewel who belongs to someone already, Master Dwarf." the Ranger teased.

Gimli darted his eyes to Aragorn in shock. Seeing the grin, Gimli batted his hand at him, "I would never do such a thing, laddie. The lass is far out of depth for a Dwarf."

Legolas gaped at Medlinya, quietly. The blonde child unnoticeable to Medlinya approached her with the Niphredil flower behind her small back. When the beautiful elf sloped her head down noticing the child's presence, a sweet smile etched itself on her lips. With an guileless smile, the child revealed the flower to the she-elf.

"You are the special flower." the girl expressed with wisdom beyond her years. Medlinya's eyes filled with tears of incalculable elation from the little girl's words. The she-elf delicately retrieved the Niphredil from the child's tiny hands.

"Thank you." Medlinya whispered, struggling to keep her composure. Legolas' heart lurched in his chest, seeing the she-elf being so deeply touched by the child's gesture.

The little children eventually were put to bed by their mothers as the darkness of night crept blanketed the land. Medlinya placed the Niphredil flower in her hair as she strolled over to her sleeping bag where Legolas was waiting for her. The Elf had laid in his bed, pretending to be asleep as Medlinya got herself into bed. Every now and then, Legolas would crack his eyes open just enough to see the sleeping form of the she-elf.

It was not long till he fell into slumber himself,

'You are a special flower, Medlinya. Truly.'

(End of Chapter Eight)

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! <3 I'll get the next all ready when I can.