Summary : His painful past has made Legolas very wary of men. But he and the broken fellowship are venturing into Edoras to lend their strength to the people of Rohan. Will his strong resolve defeat his fear?
Hello, hello! I'm back, and I'm sorry for the delay. A little tight on schedule here with my office work. I hope I didn't make you guys waiting too long! Anyway, here's another prequel to LOTR story. This story is based on the book AND the movie. You'll find several familiar scenes as well as some UNFAMILIAR scenes. He! He! Yes, I made some changes of the Tolkien's original work. I hope he's not mad at me! Heck! I hope YOU guys will not get mad at me!
Yeah, whatever! Read on if you still want to know what I've done with this one!
NOTE ; This is an un-betaed story due to some technical difficulties. I'll make the adjustments when I'll get it right.
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One afternoon, on the western bank of the River Anduin near Amon Hen….
"Where's Frodo?" Merry suddenly asked.
Legolas and Aragorn, who were talking softly to each other at one side, halted instantly and looked around them. True enough, the Ring bearer was missing.
Samwise Gamgee bounded to his feet and called out frantically, "Mr. Frodo?"
"Anyone saw where he went to?" Aragorn asked. The rest of the fellowship shook their heads.
"Where can he be?" Gimli frowned. "This is not a safe place to wander all alone."
"Maybe he's not alone," Legolas said quietly. "Boromir is not here either."
The ranger and the elf exchanged knowing looks. They both had detected the change in the other man during the long boat ride from Lothlorien coming here to Amon Hen. The son to the Steward of Gondor could not resist the temptation of the One Ring, no matter how hard he fought it.
"I'll go look for them," Legolas finally said.
Aragorn nodded and watched as his friend took off into the woods beyond. If anyone could find Frodo, it would be Legolas. The elf prince was once a manyan, the one with a mystical healing touch. He might not have the magical touch anymore after the gift was robbed off him viciously over a hundred years ago, but the manyan blood that still ran through his veins could trace the evil power of the ring from distance away. He will find the Ring bearer, no doubt about it.
Aragorn also prayed that Legolas would find Frodo soon because Gimli had been right. This was not a safe place to wander around. Legolas had just told him of the evil presence that he felt was approaching fast towards them. The fellowship needed to cross to the eastern shore as soon as possible before they got caught in unwanted skirmish with the impending threat. They had had more than enough rest already and it was time to move on.
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Legolas walked under the thick canopy of trees, following the slight presence of evil that only he could feel. In doing so, he took a deep breath of fresh forest air and smelled the wonderful scent of the trees and earth around him. He greatly hoped that the woods would prevail against the arising dark forces of Sauron. He prayed that the magnificent Mother Nature would still be here thousands of years from now.
For that, we must destroy the ring. We must not let it return to Sauron! he mentally vowed.
Legolas shook his head when he thought of Boromir. The man had gone far too deep. Men! So weak and easy to bend!
Legolas had been very wary of the race of men since he was a child. They had once kidnapped him and used his healing ability for their own benefit, nearly killing the manyan prince in the process. Several hundred years later, they abducted him again. And this time, they took away his innocence and left his soul in shreds. Legolas would never trusted men anymore…except for Aragorn, that is.
Since their departure from Rivendell several weeks ago, Legolas had kept watchful eye on Boromir, never staying close to the man from Gondor until it was necessary. He knew that sooner or later the man would fall under The Ring's call. Still, Legolas knew Boromir was not to be fully blamed. The Ring was too powerful that even the strongest heart of a man would not be able to ignore it. Its power would slowly claim one's emotion, his mind, and lastly his soul.
Legolas also knew that Boromir was not that easily submitted. He had seen how the man struggled to keep his desire for The Ring under control for many days now. How Legolas pity the man. To be so overpowered by an alien force was the most degrading position one could ever imagine. Legolas was grateful that he was immune to the cursed ring due to his true-blue manyan blood. It was the only thing that the Dark Lord Sauron would never conquer; not the first time thousands of years ago, and not ever until all eternity.
His ears suddenly caught the sound of two persons arguing. He quickened his pace, identifying the voices as Boromir's and Frodo's. As he stepped into a clearing, he saw that the man was already on top of the little hobbit, grappling about for the chain that was attached to The Ring.
"Boromir!"
In lightning speed, Legolas snatched an arrow from his quiver and nocked it to his bow, aiming it at the man. "Get away from him, Boromir!"
The man froze. Frodo took the opportunity to scramble away from under him and rushed to hide behind Legolas. Boromir turned to glare at the elf, his eyes bloodshot and his face flushed red with fury. "What are you going to do, elf? Kill me? Go ahead!"
"Frodo, get back to the others," Legolas whispered urgently.
The hobbit hesitated. "Legolas…"
"Go, Frodo!"
The hobbit took off then, running through the woods towards the bank of the river where the rest of the fellowship were waiting. Legolas lowered his bow, but his eyes never left Boromir.
The man sneered. "The mighty elf coming to the rescue," Boromir spat sarcastically. Then his snide features changed abruptly. There was despair and plea in his eyes as he gazed forlornly at Legolas. "Kill me and be done with it. I hate this weakness that's eating me whole! Please kill me!"
Legolas shook his head. "Your life is not mine to take," he said softly, taking several steps backward. "I could never kill you, unless I have no other choice."
Boromir began to weep. "What becomes of me now? The Ring is taking over me. I can't fight it anymore. What becomes of me…?" he whimpered pitifully. Legolas didn't know how to answer to that.
Then came a cry of terror from behind him.
"Frodo!" Legolas whirled, recognizing the voice instantly. At that same time, the threatening shadows that had been clouding his mind appeared from every direction in the form of hundreds of ugly and nasty beasts; the Uruk Hais and the orcs.
Boromir hastily got to his feet, raising his sword and prepared for battle. Legolas turned back to him, "You are still one of the fellowship, that's what you are."
The man stared intently at the elf, and he nodded. "The fellowship." Then he swung his sword determinedly, yelling, "The fellowship!!!"
Legolas pivoted and dashed towards Frodo's cries, shooting arrows in rapid succession to the approaching Uruk Hais. He never missed his shots even when he was running at high speed. The beasts instantly collapsed on every hit. Legolas wasted no time to celebrate, though. He feared to discover the fate that had befallen the hobbit on his way back to the river.
He found Frodo trying valiantly to fend off the beasts' attackers using his small sword, Sting. The hobbit was still some distance away from the rest of the fellowship. It was up to Legolas to bail him out of the deadly skirmish.
Legolas came running; shooting madly yet perfectly. He reached Frodo and pushed the hobbit forward. "Go now, Frodo! Run! Hide yourself!" the elf shouted, indicating the opening he had provided for the Ring bearer to escape.
Frodo wasted no time to obey. Without looking back, he sped away as fast as he could, leaving the wild din behind him. He momentarily lost his bearing, uncertain which way was the correct path to the river. Still, he ran on, crashing through the thickets and bushes, jumping over roots and rocks. He was breathing hard in exertion but dared not pause or look behind him.
TBC…