The Forgotten Princess

Rohan's Strength

Lessien did her best to be kind to Legolas. She kept telling herself not to let the kiss distract her and yet somehow it always did. She talked to him constantly, noticeably more than she had since the Fellowship departed. She couldn't help it. She was done fighting her feelings.

This being said, she often thought of the childhood she had led and how it had been pulled from under her and smashed to pieces in only a day.

With all of these thoughts turning in Lessien's head, they finally arrived at Edoras.

Théoden's fortress stood elevated on a hill. The King of Rohan, who had seemed so almighty, did not impress with his fortress. The city looked dry and dying, like the rest of the country of Rohan. It concerned Lessien and she hoped that Gandalf had some sort of plan.

She could not help but feel that Rohan was the closest thing she had to home. After all, ever since she had been a Ranger, her life had been traveling and the North wasn't really what she would call a home.

The horses seemed rather annoyed in Lessien's opinion to have such rash masters who raced them needlessly. So she slowed her own, letting it catch up with itself.

They reached the center of Rohan and traveled up to the palace. Dismounting, the small group returned their horses to the Horse Lords in the stables.

The group then proceeded to the fortress. The entrance was guarded by eight or so men. One of them went to greet Gandalf and the rest.

"It is a time of war in Rohan, if you request a company with the king, you must give up your weapons."

Legolas complied, promptly taking off his quiver and handing over his bow. Aragorn unsheathed his sword as Lessien did, and Gimli reluctantly gave up his axe.

All the while, Lessien had an array of daggers under her cloak, one in her boot, and one in its usual place tucked down her shirt.

She hoped the guard would be unsuspecting.

He was not.

He looked at her expectantly. "Take off the cloak."

"You didn't make any of us take ours off," Legolas interjected quietly.

"I agree. Why is it just me who has to do take off my cloak?" Lessien interrogated snidely.

By the guard's look on his face, Lessien knew she was not getting anywhere with this argument. She took it off reluctantly, revealing the four daggers she had stolen from Tom's strapped to her torso. She unsheathed them all and handed them to the guard. Bending down, she took out the dagger in her boot and then stood up, folding her arms. "Can we go now?" she asked angrily.

The guard stood his ground, holding his hand out and Lessien wondered how he knew. She paused, rolling her eyes, and then reached down her tunic, handing him the small dagger tucked between her breasts.

Legolas gaped. "By the Valar," he muttered.

Aragorn couldn't help but show a little grin.

Lessien stood there, rather humiliated.

"Impressive," Gimli whispered behind her.

At the comment her frown turned into a mild smirk.

Beside her, Gandalf chuckled. "She's rather good, better than any of you."

The guard who had confiscated all of Lessien's weapons began to take away Gandalf's staff.

"You wouldn't part and old man from his walking stick?" Gandalf argued and the guard waved the decision, deciding it was more trouble than it was worth.