Intersecting Paths

A/N: Okay, here's the deal. Waaaaayyyyyy back in Oct. 2004 when I first discovered LOTR, I was smitten (gasp!) with Legolas (oh come on - he's so pretty!). The first ever LOTR story I ever wrote, er...started to write, is below - and, yes, it is a Legomance. It is probably a bit Mary-Sue-ish, also. But I wrote about 25 pages of it before I abandoned it to move on to Eomer. Recently that got to bugging me, having it laying around unfinished, so I decided to try and wrap it up and get it posted (for good or ill). Not so simple as it sounds, since my knowledge of Tolkien was a bit slim at that point (you will find evidence of that below!). I did change some things that were easily fixed (now that I know better), including really bad names for people (well, okay, the horse didn't get a new name just because I kind of liked it and didn't want to bother figuring out a new name). And you'll have no trouble spotting how far I got into this story before I started being distracted by Eomer - he kind of starts taking over center stage... So, good literature this ISN'T! Possibly amusing, definitely fluff - read it if you haven't got anything better to do while you wait for me to write more Eomer stuff! (Okay, Jazzcat, you wanted to see this…)

Chapter 1

The trek from Edoras to Helm's Deep was a fairly solemn affair. Everyone felt the threat hanging over their heads, but with Theoden leading them once more and the prospect of the stronghold to protect them, few realized the bleak outlook they were facing. Only the three outsiders seemed to grasp what was coming, but they kept silent.

The attack by the Warg riders was unexpected and took a heavy toll. Aragorn, at first, felt relief that they had won this skirmish, though he knew it was merely a portend of much worse things to come. Gimli was moving toward him, wiping the blood from his axe, but there was no sign of Legolas. Aragorn's muscles tensed; where was the Elf? Frantically, his eyes began searching the vicinity for his friend, his voice calling out loudly, "Legolas?"

Gimli took up the cry as well and entered the search. Their worry eased when they heard an answering call from just behind a large rock. They raced forward and knelt by the Elf's side. There was an arrow in his left shoulder and a blade had made a cut in his right leg. Clearly he was in some pain, but he tried to smile reassuringly at Aragorn, "I am alright, my friend. It could be worse." Aragorn halfheartedly returned the smile but dashed off to get his horse. Together he and Gimli were able to get Legolas on the horse, in front of Aragorn, who raced for Helm's Deep at breakneck speed.

Before he had gone more than a few miles, he found the end of the straggling line of refugees. They turned eagerly at the sound of his horse's hooves to learn what news of the battle. As he drew the horse to a walk, a woman came toward him on horseback and reached toward Legolas, "Your friend is injured."

He nodded, "Are you acquainted in the ways of healing?"

"I am."

"Then, please, will you tend him? I am needed with the soldiers," he urgently replied.

She nodded and moved her horse closer so Legolas could transfer to her mount, pulling him in front of her. Aragorn smiled his gratitude, "Take care of him, please, and keep him safe." She nodded again and watched as he turned, but then he looked back at her, "Your name, my lady?"

"I am called Módwyn, my lord." He inclined his head to her and rode quickly away.

Legolas was struggling with consciousness due to his blood loss and she knew he would be difficult to manage if he blacked out. She glanced behind her toward the group heading to the Deep, and then, with a determined look, faced her horse in another direction. "Leander," she spoke to her horse, "we must go to the secret healing place. Quickly!" With a toss of his head, the horse wheeled northward and picked up his pace until he was in a rolling gallop.

It took over an hour for the trip and she was relieved to see no one, friend or foe, on the way. Leander slowed to a walk and moved quietly into the forest. A short distance in, he stopped beside much brush fronting a large rocky mound that towered several feet over their heads. Módwyn slid to the ground, steadying the still barely conscious Legolas with one hand. Leander pivoted to keep his side to her while she pulled away brush to reveal a cave entrance. Carefully, they maneuvered inside, going back some fifty yards before reaching the back wall. The outside light did not reach far along their path, but she knew the way well from previous use of this location.

Leander bent his legs and slowly lowered himself to the ground. After spreading a blanket and easing Legolas onto it, Módwyn hurried back to conceal the cave entrance once more. When she returned to the horse and Elf, she had an armload of pitch-plant. With it she set about lighting a smokeless fire and soon the cavern blazed with light.

Going through her supply of herbs and plants, she saw she had too little of those she needed to stop the bleeding and help fend off infection. Pulling some of each into her hand she moved toward the horse. "Leander," she told him, holding out the two plants, "I need more of these. As much as you can find." She removed his bridle and riding pad, then held out a large loose bag to him. Together they moved to the cave entrance and she cleared an exit for him. "Be careful," she whispered to him as he moved quickly outside and she re-covered the hole.

Along the back wall of the cave, water trickled into a pool at the base and she pulled a pot free from her belongings and brought some water to the fire. When it was heated, she removed his tunic and began her examination of the Elf's wounds, then set about cleaning what she could of them.

As Legolas was still mildly conscious, she mixed a tea of painkiller and helped him drink it. He would need it when it came time to remove the arrow. She took some Athelas plant and packed it in the wounds until Leander returned with the plants she needed. The Elf looked up at her with hooded eyes that didn't really seem to be taking in what was happening. She fidgeted fretfully, anxiously awaiting her supplies.

Impatiently she stood and returned to the cave entrance, and was relieved to hear Leander's soft whinny just as she approached it. She quickly admitted him and they moved back to the firelight. Working swiftly, her fingers familiarly prepared the needed medications. Then, taking a deep breath, she set about removing the arrow from the Elf's shoulder. Even though he was largely unconscious by then, he let out a soft moan of pain as it was pulled free, then lay palely quiet on the blanket. In minutes the wound was cleaned, and packed with infection-fighting plants and others to stop the bleeding. Once his shoulder was bandaged, she set to work on his leg wound.

Several minutes later, she sat back and gave a sigh. Now all she could do was wait. After sitting watching him for several minutes, she set about preparing her campsite and fixing a meager meal.

xxxxx

When the soldiers reached Helm's Deep, Aragorn immediately set about looking for Legolas. To his consternation, no one he asked had seen the Elf. For a moment panic began to overtake him; where could they be? There had been no further trouble in reaching the stronghold.

More determinedly he asked the refugees if they had seen him or if they knew of the woman, Módwyn. At last he found an old woman who had been nearby when he had brought Legolas to the group. "Yes, I know Módwyn, my lord. After you left, she rode off toward the north with your friend."

Aragorn stared at her with alarm and confusion, "What? Why?" Without realizing what he was doing, he grasped the woman by the shoulders.

Calmly she placed her hands on his arms and patted him reassuringly, "Don't worry. Your friend is in good hands. Módwyn is a healer of both man and horse. She will take good care of your friend."

He dropped his hold on her and bolted to the nearest tower, gazing off into the distant north. He hadn't really expected to see anything and so was not surprised when he didn't. Softly he whispered to the wind, "Be well, Legolas. Be well."

xxxxx

As night settled on the forest, the chill seeped into the cave. While pitch-plant burned smokelessly and virtually odor-free, it gave off more light than warmth. Módwyn built several fires in a large circle around them to help fight back the cold, then brought out all her blankets. Laying down next to the Elf, she slid close to him and wrapped them both in the blankets. His hands were very cold and she rubbed them to try and get his circulation working. Had he been awake, she would have given him some hot soup to help warm him, but that wasn't presently an option, so all she could do was try to generate as much body warmth between them as possible.

She had left enough room in the fire circle for Leander to join them, and she called to him softly, "Leander, come lay down here." The horse moved to opposite of the Elf from her and did as instructed, providing a barrier of warmth on that side of her patient.

Knowing it might be a long night, she tried to relax and perhaps sleep. Eventually she did drift off, but was awakened several hours later by Legolas' restless tossing and turning. Feeling his forehead, she noted his temperature was elevated. Quickly, she rose and built up the fires again. Then she set about recleaning and draining the wounds of any signs of infection. She repacked them with fresh medication and rebound them. For almost an hour she sat watching him, and when his fretfulness eased and he felt slightly cooler to the touch, she lay back down and pulled him close again.

Even without his disturbing her with his tossing, she awoke several times in the night and repeated her earlier ministrations.

xxxxx

When Legolas tried to turn over he found himself snugly wrapped in blankets. There was a large, warm object on his right side and something much smaller on his left, close to his side. There was little light but after a few moments his eyes adjusted enough that he could see the larger object must be a horse. He turned his head the other way and realized it was a woman sleeping at his side. A furrow creased his brow and he tried to remember how he had gotten here and who she might be. There was a vague recollection of a long horse ride, but he could not bring the particulars sharply into focus. He turned to look at her again and as he did, he realized her arm was resting across his chest. A smile tweaked his mouth as it struck him amusing that he was lying there so intimately with someone he could not remember.

Suddenly she drew a deep breath, and her eyes opened to see him staring at her. Quickly she sat up and gave a pleased smile, "You are awake! That is a good sign."

He wasn't sure at first what she meant by 'a good sign', but then when he attempted to move a jab of pain in his shoulder and leg warned him of injuries. "What happened?" he asked her. "Where am I, and who are you?"

She rose and wrapped the blankets around him, "In a moment. Let me build up the fires a bit and warm things up." She disappeared out of his sight for several minutes and returned with an armload of plant that she placed on each fire, stoking the blaze. He was grateful for the additional warmth.

Grabbing a small pot, she drew water from the pool and began heating a broth. When it was ready she brought a cup to him. "Here, drink this. It will help warm you." She assisted him in sitting up and took a seat in front of him.

"My name is Módwyn. You were wounded on the way to Helm's Deep. I brought you here to tend your wounds."

"Aragorn – where is Aragorn? He will be worried. Does he know where I am?" Legolas asked.

She shook her head, "There was not time to explain. I did not have the needed medicines, so I came to a place where I knew I could get them. I will gather more before we go back. They will be needed during and after the battle."

"Will anyone tell him where we have gone?"

Again she answered negatively, "This place is known only to me." She paused then added, "Do not worry. He entrusted you to my care. They will tell him I am a healer, and he will have to trust I will return you safely and well."

Somehow that didn't ease Legolas' mind. He knew Aragorn would worry no matter the assurances. When Módwyn turned to get some broth for herself, he rose and looked around until he spotted his quiver and long knives. He moved over to them and tentatively tested his shoulder's movement in working them, but winced almost immediately. She turned and spotted him, "What are you doing? You are not well enough for that yet!"

He looked at her with grim eyes, "Forgive me, my lady, but I am needed at Helm's Deep. I will have to be well enough."

She stood staring at him for a few moments, then nodded. "Uncover your shoulder and let me check your wound. It is a half day's ride to Helm's Deep. I will do what I can to have you ready to fight by the time we arrive."

Dropping the blankets, he shivered somewhat in the coolness of the cave. "Move closer to the fire," she told him. "You will be warmer and I can see better. By the way, what is your name?"

"I am Legolas, of the Woodland Realm," he answered, while doing as instructed. He drank more of the broth while she examined his wound. Turning from him, she heated something in another pot and gave it to him to drink. "What is this?" he asked.

"Something for the pain. Let it take effect and then I will clean and redress the wound. There is still much seepage." She slipped a blanket around his shoulders and reseated herself next to him. "Let me see your leg."

He glanced down. The shoulder had hurt the most and he had forgotten the twinge he felt there. Hesitantly he asked, "Do I need to remove my..."

With a slight blush, she shook her head, "No, that is not necessary. I can treat it well enough. It is not so severe as your shoulder." Her fingers moved gently over the wound, then she looked up at him, "Does it hurt?"

"It aches a bit, but it does not hurt."

"Good. I think we were able to prevent any infection there. It bled out. The shoulder is the biggest problem." She medicated and rebandaged his leg. Moving back to his shoulder, she pulled the blanket off and set to work draining some remaining pus and repacking the wound before applying a fresh bandage.

Rising she said softly, "Up, Leander. Let us get ready." The horse rose and moved away from them before shaking himself all over. She signalled the horse after her, "Go and eat, and then we will pack up." She let the horse out of the cave and returned to collect the blankets and supplies that were scattered about. Once the camp was struck, she motioned for Legolas to follow her and they slipped out of the cave, re-covering it and removing any evidence of its existence. Moving quickly, she began gathering more of various plants into two sacks that she carried. Legolas could only trail along behind and watch since he did not know what precisely she was gathering or why.

At length she finished and gave a piping whistle. A moment later Leander trotted into view and stopped in front of her. Within minutes he was bridled and packed and they mounted, with Módwyn riding in back. "South, Leander, to Helm's Deep," she told the horse and he set off at an easy canter. After a good hour and half, she could feel Legolas' muscles tensing and suspected he was tiring and possibly beginning to feel some pain.

She reached up and removed his bow from his back and then took an arrow from his quiver. "What are you doing?" he asked as he felt her movements behind him.

"We need to eat." Then to the horse she said, "Leander, raise some birds." Leander veered to the right toward a low brushy area. Módwyn instructed Legolas, "Lean forward along his neck as much as you can." Within a few moments, a bird was startled up from the brush and she quickly shot it. A second one followed and met the same fate. "That is enough, Leander." The horse swung back and came to a stop near the second fallen bird. While Módwyn retrieved it, the horse moved toward the other bird and she followed on foot. Removing the arrows, she handed them and the bow back up to Legolas, and put the birds in a sack across the horse's withers.

Suddenly, Leander's head jerked up and he let out an alarmed snort. Módwyn's head snapped around, searching for the cause of his warning. Legolas seemed to realize there was danger and offered his arm for her to swing up. Almost as soon as she did, he heard them – the pounding of many feet and spotted the small party of orcs headed in their direction. "Go, Leander!" she instructed and the horse wheeled and set off. Orc arrows began whizzing nearby.

"Can you ride and shoot at them?" Legolas called to her over his shoulder.

"No, not backwards. I'm not that good," she answered.

"Move back as far as you can," he instructed. As she did, he slid back as well, then turned to look at her over his right shoulder. "Reach up and grab around my neck. I am going to swing you in front of me." She nodded her understanding and did as she was told. His right arm caught her tightly around the waist and for an instant she was suspended alongside him. Quickly he pulled her forward and she settled in front. "Are you secure?" he asked, and at her nod, he strung an arrow and began returning fire at their pursuers.

She leaned along the horse's neck, "Faster, Leander! Outrun them!" A few moments later, Legolas stopped firing, realizing they had gotten out of range. He kept an eye on their followers until finally they slowed and veered off toward the east.

"They are breaking off," he advised her. She let the horse ease his pace, but they continued on some distance until a hill hid them from view, and then swung into a rocky area and stopped. Immediately, Legolas slid down and found a vantage point to check their surroundings for any other dangers. Finding none, he returned to where she was building a fire and sat down on a nearby rock.

He was startled a moment later to see her stroke each bird and whisper something over them before she prepared the meat for cooking. Elves always honored the sacrifice of any animal to provide food, but it was something he rarely saw done among Men.

The meal was quickly cooked and while they were eating, she was heating water and provided him with another brew of painkiller. In the rush of the attack, he had forgotten the discomfort he had been feeling but now it was beginning to be far more noticeable. She cleaned up the eating utensils while it took effect, then rechecked his wounds and redressed the shoulder.

When they continued their journey, he had her ride in front in case they encountered any further attacks. This time she urged Leander to greater speed. She had avoided pushing him because of the distance and carrying double, but now it seemed more urgent to get within the walls of the stronghold. There would be time for resting then.

from the Old English mód meaning "heart, mind."; the Old English words wyn meaning "joy."; Módwyn means heart of joy