Cat of the Fellowship // Legolas x OC, Boromir x OC

29. The Seeing Stone

When Legolas came back to Kat a while later, his step was light and his face cleaved by a smile from ear to ear. He invited me to see his home! And I can bring Gimli too, after I explained he only cuts orc necks with his axe. Oh, I cannot wait for the war to be over!

That's great. Kat tried not to sound jealous.

Even in his excitement, there was no hiding things from Legolas. Anything wrong?

Of course not.

He regarded her closely, and then nodded thoughtfully. You want to come with us.

Don't be silly. I don't even know if I'll still be here after I finish my quest, or whether I'll be a cat or a woman, thought Kat with feigned indifference.

An unwed woman cannot travel alone with two males; that would be very improper, but if we defeat Sauron, and you are still a cat, and linger in this world – then I would be glad to explore Fangorn with Gimli and you.

Those are many ifs. Kat sighed. I do want to travel with you, no matter in what form, she admitted. Maybe I could bring a chaperon... Or how it's done around here.

We'll see. Legolas looked a bit uncomfortable. But let us not speculate about the future. We know nothing of it.

/\_,,_,.
( ಠ_ಠ )

It was sunset when they left Isengard to the care of the ents, who promised to guard the tower and its two inhabitants well. Gandalf had decided to return to Helm's Deep. What they would do when they arrived, he could not yet say – it all depended on Sauron's next move. His eye would probably turn to Isengard and Rohan now when Saruman was defeated.

The ambience when the company departed was quite different from when they came. On the way here, everyone had been somber and silent, full of thoughts of the battle, and mourning the loss of their friends. They must still feel those things, yet now they joked and laughed, glad to know that at least one of their enemies could not threaten them anymore.

Kat felt happier than in a long time. It was satisfying that part of the Fellowship was reunited, and she looked forward to spending time with the hobbits again. She just had to make sure they really were okay after their trauma. Especially Pippin – who was unusually silent where he rode behind Aragorn.

"Do you think Saruman is still a threat?" asked Aragorn after a while. "I know the ents will guard him, but what if he seduces them with his voice? It seemed quite influential."

"The ents are resistant," Gandalf replied. "But even so, Saruman's power was broken with his staff. Should he escape somehow, he might dupe people, and perhaps he can do some mischief that way – but never again can he do any lasting damage. I do not worry about Saruman."

"Ha!" Gimli chuckled. "They'd have to be very gullible indeed to trust his slick words. Right, lad?" He slapped Legolas' shoulder in a comradely fashion. "Your tree-friends are not so stupid, I'm sure."

"Uh, nay, I am sure they would not be fooled." Legolas blushed hotly.

"Quite a shame Saruman will go unpunished though," said Gimli.

"I agree." Éomer was riding beside them. "Gandalf is a kinder victor than I would have been."

"Oh? I dare say his punishment is most severe," said Gandalf mildly. "He has lost everything: his army, his staff and rank in the Order, his freedom, his power. Proud as he is, it must be horrible to live with that knowledge. He also worries over what Sauron will do to him after his failure, and as if all those things are not enough, he is imprisoned together with Wormtongue who will nag and argue with him endlessly."