The old ways

“He is my husband. My beloved. He will die of a broken heart if he is not informed that I am still alive. Do you know where they are, or where they will be going?”
“No, I am not sure. But I think they will be going to Edoras in a few days. I could write a message for you and send it there. So when they arrive he will know that you are here and healing.”
“Yes, yes please I would be for ever grateful. I hope it’s not too late. Maybe he doesn’t know yet. Maybe we still have the time.”
Eowyn turned to Marna, who had been quietly talking to another wounded “Marna, please. Fetch me an blank scroll and ink and quill. Quickly!”
Marna was true to her word and left immediately having heard the distress in her Lady’s voice.
In the meantime Eowyn tried to calm down Haldir. She was mildly shocked at this unexpected turn of events. Two males married? It was a subject that was thought upon with tolerance and good will among man. She had heard of so called male ‘couples’, but they were not looked upon with a favoured eye and so they mostly lived in secrecy.
Why she waited for Marna to return with the utensils, she had told her to fetch, she dwelled upon these thoughts and after a while found it hard to understand the rejection those people experienced. Haldir seemed such a nice person and Legolas had been charming, a fabulous fighter and both elves had left her with the impression of gentleness and valour. Her thoughts about them hadn’t changed in the last minutes, now that she knew about them and their relationship. And if they were truly committed to each other, with all the consequences and joys of a bonding, what could possibly be wrong with that.
Anyhow, she would help them the best way she could and in return she would ask Haldir to tell her a bit more about them.

It was a dreadful night for all of them. Most of the Rohan riders were not able to rest peacefully. Aragorn was muttering in his sleep and Legolas cried out more then one time. Gimli sometimes dozed off but all through the night he stayed at the elf’s side, holding and comforting him. Rather early in the morning Aragorn got up and moved away from the camp. It seemed he needed to sort out a few things on his own.
Gandalf took the advantage of the situation and moved over to Legolas and Gimli. When he reached them, he saw something amazing and never had he witnessed such gentleness and devotion. Legolas head was resting in Gimli’s lap and a large and callused hand very lovingly stroking the elves belly, were the child grew. Gimli was whispering to it in a low and quiet voice, telling it of hope and its father’s desperation. Telling it how he, Gimli, and all the others would help Legolas to hold on and that it needed to make itself known from time to time, to give its father encouragement and the will to live.
Gandalf cleared his throat and smiled when Gimli removed his hand as if caught.
“How is our dear Legolas faring?”
Gimli’s voice was a low rumble “I think he doing better than yesterday night. His breathing is more regular than before. Do you think we should try and wake him?”
“Mhm, maybe yes. I will get us something to drink and eat.” Gandalf got up and moved over to their supplies.
Gimli touched the side of the elf’s face and spoke gently to him “Master elf, are you willing to wake up? Willing to join us for a little breakfast?”
It took Legolas some minutes to find his way back from the elven dream realm to the land of the living, he had felt save and warm, far away from the perils of the world. The pain had faded and he felt like Haldir was still with him. Like he was still here on Middle earth and he just had stretch out his hands to touch him. He wasn’t willing to leave the realm just yet, but Gimli was continuously talking to him and pulling him out.
Legolas opened his eyes and the first thing he saw were Gimli’s dark, smiling eyes.
“Good morning, my dear friend. I am glad to have you back. How are you feeling?”
But Legolas just stared at him to weak to speak. Tears were welling up in his eyes and he turned his head. “No, dear Legolas, you are not going tde fde from me. Come, let me help you up and you will get something to eat and drink.”
“Please, leave me alone. I don’t want anything.”
“Legolas, no! I am not going to leave you. I want you to get better. I don’t want to loose you.” Gimli held his friend by the shoulders and got him into a sitting position.
“Look at me elf! You are not going to give in. Not yet!” one hand left the elf’s shoulder and grasps one of the slender, pale hands. “Feel this. This is a part of Haldir. And a part of you. Do you want to risk its life as well??” with that he placed Legolas’ hand above the child and applied a bit pressure.
Just in that moment Gandalf had moved up behind them and knelt down. In his hands he held some bread, an apple and fresh water.
“I think I convinced our prince to have some breakfast.” Gimli nodded at the wizard.
“Legolas, we have not told anybody else about your condition. But please don’t ignore your pregnancy yourself. I know that your only wish now is to leave this world and meet your husband in the halls of Mandos. But we still have work to do here. Middle earth’s fate lies in our hands. The life of your child lies within the same fate. You will see Haldir again, I don’t know where and I don’t know when. But you will see him again, of that I am certain. And now, I think you should eat something. Gimli and Il bel be at your side to help and guide you. Aragorn is very upset and thinks that he is guilty of hurting you this much. He wishes that he hadn’t told anything about Haldir. I hope I acted in your interest when I told him, that it wasn’t his fault and you wouldn’t hold him responsible.”
Legolas shook his head slightly and his voice was barely audible “It wasn’t his fault. I am glad that he was there when Haldir...., when...” his voice cracked and he couldn’t continue.
“It is alright.” Gimli patted the elf’s back “We know.”