Inspiring quotes: "I want my freedom!" "But are you willing to pay the price your freedom will cost?"
Characters: Legolas, Thranduil, Aragorn, Arathorn, Boromir, Denethor, Pippin, Merry, Frodo, Sam, Elrond, Arwen, Elladan, Elrohir, Galadhriel, OC's
Summary: In separate corners of Middle-earth, four rebellious beings long for one thing, freedom. Legolas, the Eldest Prince of Mirkwood, longs for freedom from his father's palace. Aragorn, heir to the throne of Gondor, wants to be free from all the expectations of him. Boromi, the heir to the Steward of Gondor and best friend to Aragorn, wishes to be free from his over bearing father. Pippin, a hobbit from the Shire, wants to be free from the non-adventuring rules of the Shire. Those that are closest to them attempt to get them to just forget about it. Aragorn and Boromir accept that their land needs them but still dream about freedom. Pippin, in a huff, runs into the Old Forest and cries because him family wants him to abandon his only dream. Legolas, the stubborn and foolish Elf, disappeared into his forest home along with his sisters. However, a few years later, creatures began to appear to the freedom-seekers. Legolas, instead of the peaceful creatures, is confronted by the reason for the appearances, the demon Caorthannach. Legolas journeys to Lothlorien to seek council with the Lady of the Wood. Pippin runs to Rivendell after the creatures predict the destruction of the Shire to seek the way to save his home. Boromir and Aragorn throw themselves into saving their home when evil forces seek to destroy Gondor.
Pairings: Aragorn/Arwen (few times! Few times!) Boromir/Legolas, ? (not sure who else)
Notes: This idea has came in my mind several times after watching Disney's Brave but this is the only one I have got around to writing. I hope that this won't turn out like rubbish, but it might… The demon in this story, I have borrowed its name from Irish mythology. Gimli and Gandalf might be appearing but I don't know at the moment. This is in an alternate universe where Isildur destroyed the One Ring. Anywho, on with the story!
"Miniel,Tadiel, Neliel, I'm going out riding!" Legolas called out to his triplet sisters.
"We wanna go! We wanna go!" Legolas was tackled by three little blonde haired elflings.
"Okay, penneths, you may come." Legolas laughed as he gently set the elflings on the ground. The young ones giggled as they ran to the stables to get their horses.
"You really need to pay attention to the affairs of the people instead of riding away from it." Legolas suppressed a growl as he turned and faced his father.
"I learn more about the very basics when I inspect them myself. Besides, I don't get to spend much time with my sisters. I'm not passing this up." Legolas said.
"You need to pay attention to your studies!" Thranduil snapped. "There will be plenty of time to spend with your sisters,"
"Like there was plenty of time to spend with nanneth!" Legolas nearly shouted. "She was killed by orcs and I barely knew her! Plenty of time will turn into the girls growing up, and sailing for Valinor or death!" Legolas knew that he was getting to his father by the look on his face. Unknown to them, Miniel was standing listening to their argument.
"You're acting like a spoilt child!" Thranduil roared. Legolas clenched his fist and lowered his voice.
"I want my freedom." He said at a normal volume yet the defiance remained.
"But are you willing to pay the price your freedom will cost?" Thranduil's voice and face softened.
"Depends on the price," Legolas replied as he walked away.
"I hate it when you and Ada argue." Miniel whispered as she grabbed Legolas' hand.
"I'm sorry little one." Legolas scooped her up and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"Will you still ride with us?" Miniel curled up in her older brother's arm.
"Of course, I wouldn't miss it for the world." Legolas smiled.
In the Shire
"Why are you so foolish?" Sam hissed at Pippin.
"Adventuring like you want to do is likely to get you killed!" Merry snapped. Pippin held his head high.
"I want to be away from this boring society! I want to see the world! IWANT MY FREEDOM!" Pippin said defiantly.
"But are you willing to pay the price your freedom will cost?" Frodo said to his younger cousin. Pippin turned around and ran away. He ran into the Old Forest, heedless of his cousins' and friend's cries. He soon curled up beneath a large oak tree and sobbed.
"They want me to give up my dream, but I won't let them convince me to." Pippin whispered. "What's that?" Pippin looked where he saw a little blue light.
"Ooh!" the light suddenly disappeared.
"I must be seeing things…" Pippin mumbled as he trudged to his cousin's house in Crickhollow.
"Pippin! Don't you ever go back in there alone, you hear me?" Sam scolded as he pulled Pippin into a hug. "You had us all so worried when you didn't come back. We thought something had happened to you."
"I'm fine, Sam. But I think I need some sleep… I think I started seeing things." Pippin mumbled into his friends shoulder.
"The forest might sometimes play tricks on someone's mind, Pip." Merry said as he looked the younger hobbit over. "Who knows, there might be something out there. No one knows what exactly is out there."
"But please, don't go out there alone again. Especially since there have been strange sightings in there." Frodo sighed. Pippin nodded.
In Minas Tirith, Gondor, the Steward's home
"Father!" Boromir groaned.
"You need to focus on your city, not on some idea such as freedom!" Denethor growled at Boromir.
"One needs to be free from everything for a little while!" Boromir snapped.
"You need to make sure the city is protected! You need to serve your people!" Denethor roared.
"I want my freedom!" Boromir roared equally as loud.
"But are you willing to pay the price your freedom will cost?" Faramir whispered. He was always quiet and never yelled.
"My people…this city…." Boromir looked down and said no more. He accepted that his people needed him more than he needed freedom, but they couldn't stop him from dreaming about freedom. "I'm going to go check on Blaze. I think he might have sprained his ankle." Boromir left and walked towards the stable where his horse Blaze rested.
In Minas Tirith, Gondor, the King's Palace
"You are a Prince, my son, not a Ranger." Arathorn sighed as he watched his only child knock an arrow and let it fly into the target.
"I know." Aragorn said as he knock another arrow and loosed it.
"Then, why must you go on and on about the freedom that you wish for?" Arathorn asked.
"I want my freedom." Aragorn said as he shot another arrow.
"But are you willing to pay the price your freedom will cost? Think about it, what will Gondor do without her king when the time comes? What would become of your friends and other family? What will your people do?" Arathorn asked his son.
"You're right. My people need me more than I need my freedom." Aragorn sighed. "But that doesn't stop me from dreaming about it."
"Just as long as your people remain well taken care of, you can dream as much as you want, my son." Arathorn smiled.
"I'm going to check on Brego." Aragorn said as he retrieved his arrows and walked towards where his horse was along side Blaze.