It took a few days for the people of Rohan to grow used to the giant cat prowling among them. Theoden had to gather them together and get Namir to change forms in front of them for them to be reassured that the beast was not going to attack them. Which was good, because cat form was what he stayed in for a few days. He felt safer that way, with claws and teeth and sharper senes. The scare with the palantir having left him on edge and being a cat calmed him slightly. Legolas was fine with it, enjoying the rumbling purrs that emanated every time he scratched behind Namir's ears. The sound soothing and loving. 

Merry enjoyed it too. Ever since Pippin had left with Gandalf to Minas Tirith, the hobbit had been feeling down by himself. Visibly nervous and concerned without his friend. He had stuck to Namir's side, seeming to enjoy hanging around with the cat and exploring the city of Rohan. His little hobbit form leaning against Namir's back as the cat dozed on the grass, or bringing him plates of food in the great hall. Legolas and Aragorn had taken it upon themselves to help with Rohan's army, collecting supplies and sharpening weapons. Gimli helping in the smithy and criticising the human way of forging. The elf often riding with the patrols around the city during the day, leaving Namir to wander the streets. 

Once the elf found him and Merry surrounded by giggling children. The huddle of them reaching out to take turns stroking the soft fur of Namir's head and giggling at the rumbling purrs and the twitching of his tail. Merry keeping wayward hands from poking or pulling at the fur while Namir just sat on the grass and let the children explore their curiosity. They were young and fresh and their innocence soother him. He didn't mind when their fingers brushed over the fur hiding his scars, not when they shrieked in excitement at the sight of his teeth. Children were irritating but healing in some ways. He didn't mind their company every now and then. Though, he had only been able to stand them for an hour before Legolas came to rescue him. The children distracted by the golden haired elf. 

Though one child stayed. She was a young one, only about two or so with pale skin and gleaming red hair. She seemed to really like the feel of his fur and once he woke from a nap to find her curled at his side and deep in slumber. He had shifted back to human and pulled on the clothes that Merry now carried around with him for whenever Namir needed to change forms, picked the toddler up and carried her back to there parents. The mother relieved to see her. Legolas had found the whole thing endearing. 

It was the fifth day since Gandalf and Pippin had left when Namir looked up from his lounge point in the grass at the base of the steps of the great hall. He yawned widely, whisker twitching and blinked lazily at the mountains in the distance. There was a speck of glittering orange there. A distant bonfire. His eyes widened as he realised what the sight was and he leapt to his feet, startling Merry who had been seeing some clothes on the steps above him. "Namir?"  The hobbit called as he began bounding up the stairs. "Namir wait!" 

But the cat was already reaching the top of the stairs and bursting into the great hall. Heads turned and Theoden stopped speaking as in-between one step and the next, Namir changed forms. Cat sinking in and stretching out till the man was standing there, long curtains of dark wavy hair the only thing covering his modesty. "The beacons are lit!" He grinned at them, pupils still blow wide. 

"Gondor calls for aid!" Aragorn exclaimed and turned to the king. 

"And Rohan shall answer!" Theoden boomed. Cheers went up and Namir snarled in surprise as a pair of trousers hit him in the back. Merry panting from the sudden sprint. 

"Put some clothes on!" The hobbit snapped. "I've seen way too much of you than I've seen of anyone". 

Namir laughed as he pulled not he trousers but neglected the shirt or the shoes. Instead he bounded across the floor towards Legolas. The elf reaching out to catch him as the cat threw himself at him. "Do we get to fight?" Namir asked excitedly as he wrapped his arms around the elf's neck. They hadn't seen each other all morning due to Legolas being on patrol. "I want to rip some orcs to pieces", he grinned sharply. "I have simply been dying to tear something apart". 

"Weren't you satisfied with Saruman and Wormtongue?" The elf hummed as he tried to brush the other man's long hair back into something more neat. The waves all loose and spilling over bare shoulders. The burn scars around his neck stark against still pale skin, but Namir had regained a bit of weight so his bones didn't look so sunken and there was a healthy flush to his cheeks that brought great joy to Legolas' heart. 

"No. I was kept at the mercy of Saruman under Sauron's instructions. I want to tear apart as many orcs as I can until the great evil is gone". He could still, in the dead of night, feel hints of dark and foul magic. It lingered in his dreams and hovered in the edges. He knew that Legolas could feel the affects of it too. 

"That!" Gimli barked at their side. Both men glanced down at him as the dwarf grinned. "Is something I agree with. To breaking every orc into pieces!" He held up a pint of beer and began to down it. 

"You definitely won't hear any arguments from me", Aragorn smiled as he drew closer. "We shall need to pack our bags. We ride at dawn". 

Namir chirped excitedly and Legolas chuckled. The elf glad to see some familiar lightness returning to his love. The fearful skittishness from when they reunited fading away piece by piece. He doubted that the skin-changer would ever be healed fully, things like that scarred a person mentally. But he was glad that despite the twenty years of captivity, it had not broken him. The Namir he knew before was returning, and the Namir he was learning now was healing. It warmed him and the elf couldn't help but think again how deeply in love he was with this man. 

unedited 

urgh I love them so much. Writing Namir regaining some of his old childish excitement at things, even fighting, is so lovely. He deserves the world.