Chapter XIV.: THE MARSHALL

Eomer stopped in his tracks. He could not believe his own eyes. Legolas was holding elusive Cyrene, kissing her in front of all those in the camp who just cared to look their way.

Eomer felt anger rising in him,-and betrayal burning in his veins-, as he saw the woman he wanted and had wooed being crushed by the arms of another man. And she obviously accepted it, since she had put her arms around the elf's waist.

The Marshall of Rohan took a deep breath and turned, leaving the place with wide strides, trying to banish the images from his head and not to give in to the despair and pain throbbing inside of him.

Cyrene had lost track of everything around them the instant Legolas' lips had touched hers. She was lost and she didn't want to find her way back into reality, enjoying the sensations he provoked and feeling cherished and safe in his arms. Cyrene was tempted to forget everything and just stay where she was, forever. But she couldn't, she had her duty and she had to leave soon. Sighing, she pushed herself away from Legolas. He released her mouth but didn't release her. "Cyrene …" he began.

"Legolas, I will come back" she said, and after brushing her lips tenderly against his once again, she turned to leave. But she didn't. She stood rooted there for a moment , as both were now aware of all the people staring at them.

The Amazon held her head up high, as she stepped to Gimli. She gave him a hug and a soft kiss on the rugged cheek, which made the dwarf blush furiously, and started to walk away to the horses she was riding into her journey.

As she reached Eomer's tent to bid him farewell, the guard told her to look for her friend at the King's tent. She went there and ended up walking straight into a heated discussion between Theoden and the Marshall. To her amazement, she was the subject of the discussion. Neither heard her entering the tent.

"Sire, you cannot allow her to ride alone!! It is a two and a half days ride until Dol Amroth and at least one more to Bel-Falas! And she will be riding into enemy territory. She will never make it to the Anduin-shores." Eomer was pledging with Theoden.

The King looked into his nephew's eyes, "You seem to think I am blind to your feelings for her, Eomer. I am not. But believe me, if anyone can make this ride, it is Cyrene. There are no more alternatives. And she is also the only one who can accomplish bringing the help we need. Would you prefer to lose all chances we have to defeat the Dark Lord from Mordor?"

Eomer's face showed his desperation. He had just heard of Cyrene's assignment from Dumetar, and had gone looking for her to convince her not to make the perilous ride. Then he had seen her with Legolas and, wishing to stop her from riding alone into the borders of Mordor, So he had come to talk to his uncle, hoping of convincing Theoden to call off his orders. He felt defeated. He had lost her heart and was now risking losing her. There was nothing left to do.

"I thank you again, Sire, for your confidence in me," said Cyrene from the tent's entrance.

Theoden and Eomer turned to her. Theoden's look softened and he smiled at her. Eomer's face was etched by pain. And she knew she was the cause of it.

"I will leave within the hour, Sire. But if you allow it, I would like to speak with Lord Eomer before I leave, "- she continued.

"By all means, captain. You shall speak to the Marshall. I have to speak to Lord Aragorn myself, to know what are his plans," and, after saying this, the king left them in his tent.

Eomer could read Cyrene's face. Her concern for him was there, as well as her sisterly love and her sympathy. He felt the ground shake under his feet. He had lost. He hadn't even fought the battle and already he had lost.

Cyrene approached him and took his hand. "You know I do not care for you as you do for me, Eomer. But it is better this way. I am not what you need, my brother. I am not the kind of woman you deserve."

"But why do you give to the elf what you deny me, Cyrene?" he said, and the pain in his voice tore at the Amazon's soul.

"Legolas and I shared a few special moments, Eomer, but there is no more to that. We share no commitments. And as soon as I leave it will be over," she explained. But as the words had left her mouth she felt like screaming that it wasn't true, that she would die remembering Legolas' touch and tenderness, and that it broke her heart and made her long for him and the feeling of belonging she had never felt before until she felt Legolas.

Eomer read in her eyes her resolve and knew he had no chance. But he also knew that he cared too much about Cyrene, to risk the friendship she gave him. "Cyrene, this ride is too dangerous. Please don't do it on your own."

She sighed loudly. This was going to be more difficult than she had ever imagined. She wanted to explain to Eomer that she was going to ride no matter what, when Theoden entered the tent, followed by Aragorn, Legolas, Elrohir and Elladan.

"Cyrene will not ride alone through the long roads of the Sagrary, Eomer. Lord Aragorn and the Dunedain will fulfill the prophecy and ride the Paths of the Dead. And she will join them in order to reach the coast in time to meet the reinforcements she is meant to lead into battle," said the king.

Eomer and Cyrene turned to look at the king, the Marshall with disbelief and Cyrene with confusion etched in their eyes. But both lowered their heads in acknowledgment of Theoden's orders.

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The Dunedain, the elves, the dwarf and the Amazon were ready for the ride, that would lead them back to Edoras and from there through the Paths of the Dead, from where no living man had ever returned. But they would be lead by Isildur's heir, and the prophecy said that he would not only survive the ride but also be able to awake the army of the dead to defend his heritage.

Merry was staying behind with Theoden. Aragorn had convinced him that he would be more useful with the Rohirrim than on a hard ride through the perilous passages of the Sagrary.

Eomer approached Cyrene, who was ready to mount up. "Tell Eowyn we will be meeting shortly in Edoras and give her my love. Take care, my sister. And fulfill your mission, Amazon. I will meet you in Minas Tirith"

"I will, my brother. As long as there is any breath left in my body, I will be there. You have my word as a warrior." And knowing that it might be the last time they saw each other, Cyrene embraced Eomer, who held her close to his heart.

Legolas watched the embrace feeling jealousy's bite. But he said nothing as he helped Gimli up on the horse and mounted up in front of his friend.

They started a long and hard ride towards Edoras.

Cyrene and the others rode harder and faster than Theoden and the Rohirrim, for the King was raising troops along the way. Throughout the ride, Legolas kept looking back to Cyrene, but she seemed to be distracted by her own thoughts

When they reached the city, Legolas and Gimli were riding next to Aragorn, while Cyrene had fallen behind, riding on her own right in front of the Dunedain.

The moment they got to the city, though, Cyrene rode past them through the city gates and jumped from her horse to embrace her friend Eowyn that was awaiting them on the foot of the stairs of Meduseld castle.

Eowyn was swept into the fierce hug of her friend and felt like laughing.

"My sister, it is so good to see you again! I heard about the victory at Helm's Deep and was wondering when you would be coming back. My brother and uncle, are they well?"

"Yes, Eowyn, they are well and will reach the castle tomorrow. I am riding with Lord Aragorn and his rangers on an assignment to the coast. How have you been? You look well, my sister!" said Cyrene.

By then the others had arrived at the castle. Eowyn walked to Aragorn and bowed before him. He greeted her likewise.

"Welcome back in Edoras, Lord Aragorn. Though I had little time to prepare for your arrival, I already gave orders to have quarters for you and your men. Rest, and dinner will be ready shortly."

"I thank you for your kind efforts, Lady Eowyn, but we will leave in the morrow. We will ride from the Sagrary on to the Paths of the Dead."

Eowyn went pale. Since the Rohirrim had come to Rohan, many centuries ago, there had been a legend about the cursed Paths of the Dead, from where no living soul ever returned. And Aragorn was going to ride with his men and Cyrene into that damned trail? That was not possible. "But Lord Aragorn, you know that no living creature has ever returned from there, you cannot mean to ride into certain death!"

Aragorn smiled sadly at the concern he saw in Eowyn's beautiful eyes. "Milady, we will ride through them and come back, do not fret for us. For it is my destiny to be the one who will survive the journey and I would never lead men and women who entrusted their lives to me into their doom. "

Eowyn blushed, for she recognized she had doubted his leadership in front of his own men. "Forgive me, Milord, I forgot my place. Please enter the castle and rest, for you will need strength for the journey ahead of you. Your dinner will be served shortly."

As the company of the Dunedain, Aragorn, Gimli and the Elves walked up the stairs, Legolas noticed that Cyrene was nowhere to be seen.

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Since the Dunedain were silent by nature, they shared a placid dinner, served by the Rohirrim women, Eowyn and Cyrene. They seemed not to worry about the journey ahead of them, and as such enjoyed the moment, by sharing a good meal in a pleasant place.

Legolas kept looking to Cyrene, who was serving wine to the guests. She was clad in a light green gown, her hair held together at the nape of her neck by an ebony-clasp, flowing from there down her back.

He had seen her dressed in womanly clothes before, even though it seemed to have happened a very long time ago, but it was as if he was seeing her for the first time.

And when his eyes met hers, for a moment Legolas thought That Cyrene seemed uncomfortable, but soon she smiled at him. Cyrene served him wine, and as he reached for the goblet, their fingers met briefly. She pulled her hand away and left the room.

"What is wrong with Cyrene?" wondered Legolas as he walked out to the castle's garden after dinner. All his companions had retired for the night. But he was restless, confused and lost when it came to his feelings regarding the Amazon. After they had kissed in Helm's Deep, he had been sure she reciprocated his feelings. When he had seen her with Eomer again, he hadn't been very comfortable with the situation, but decided to wait until a proper occasion to talk with Cyrene about it. But when she had avoided him during the whole journey, at least so far, and now even running from him at dinner, Legolas was starting to doubt his judgment. Maybe she didn't want anything to do with him anymore. Maybe she had realized she loved Eomer. Or maybe, just maybe, Cyrene had decided that she wasn't ready for a relationship with any male. This thought almost broke his heart. Legolas knew he had fallen badly for Cyrene, and the possibility that she might not return his feelings hurt him deep.

He was so engrossed in his thoughts, that he never heard the one stalking him. And he was really caught by surprise by the person that stepped out of the dark and threw him against a tree trunk.