Disclaimer: I do not own lotr. You probably have already figured that out. If you haven’t, you’re a little slow…
Authors note: A VERY short chapter I know but it’s just really a little prologue rather then an actual chapter. Next chapter is longer I promise.

Elf and Sheild Maiden

Chapter 1- Path to the White City

Legolas was riding to Gondor from his home in Mirkwood. For much of the journey he had been following the river Anduin but had now left that path to find a more direct route to Minas Tirith. He was traveling there to attend the wedding of Eowyn and Faramir. Eowyn was insistent that all the members of what was, during the war, the fellowship should be present. It seemed she was especially eager to see Merry again. Legolas smiled, the thought of being amongst his companions once more felt more like coming home then when he returned to Mirkwood after the war.

As his gaze swept the horizon his elvish eyes spied a figure in the distance, a woman on a horse. Urging his own horse onward he spotted a group of figures pursuing her on foot. As he crossed the plains he realised that the pursuing figures were a band of orcs. Leaderless and scattered now they had lost the war, orcs hid in the mountains. They came out from their hiding place to prey on unwary travelers. If they captured any the orcs would kill both the horse and rider for meat. One of their group shot and arrow and the horse collapsed sending it’s rider sprawling to the ground. The orcs had almost reached her but now Legolas was close enough to shoot the assailants. He slew three of them quickly, but when he came to the fourth and fifth he found them slain and the woman standing amongst the corpses with their black blood on her sword. It was unusual for a women to fight like that. There was only one woman he knew who could wield a sword so well. He looked at the face amongst all her flying golden hair and confirmed what he already suspected. It was Eowyn.

She heard footsteps behind her and turned, ready to fight. To her surprise she found that the sound she heard was not of an orc-stride but the light footfalls of elven-kind. She also noticed elven arrows sticking out of the back of three of her assailants. “Legolas,” she said “it seems I am indebted to your skill of aim” he regarded her carefully “I have your friendship do I not? Surely that pays any debts.” As her own horse had been slain bu the orcs, Legolas took her on his own and together they rode towards the white city.