Author's Note:
Disclaimer: Tolkien's work do not belong to me. Plotlines and OCs are mine.
This is not romance. Kindly respect this viewpoint.
Explanations:
This is actually a sequel to my story "Over Time We Are Brothers". The story was nearly complete (40 chapters with plenty followers) but a hacker got into my account and deleted the chapters one by one and I had no backup. I am restarting it but it will be a while before it is completed.
While this is the sequel, there is not really a need to read that one to understand this one because I will try to explain the storyline accordingly.
Introduction:
A year passed by since the War of the Ring. Eryn Lasgelen was starting to thrive after the destruction of Dol Guldur, making the elves enjoy their well-earned freedom. Still bathed in the blissfulness of the downfall of the Dark Lord and the consequent victory, there was not much for the elves to worry.
Legolas, however, was a little concerned of hearing the absence of the sons of Elrond, who seem to have taken off without telling anyone. No one knew their whereabouts but unbeknownst to them all, the twins had visited Legolas, telling them they had something to do in the West, promising to return in two years. Legolas held them to that promise.
Worrying letters arrived from Aragorn and later from Éowyn on Rohan and its king until finally they asked him to visit the lands and see if he could be of any use. Perhaps Éomer would accept his help if he would not take it from any other. Slightly unsure of the plan but willing to go along with it, Legolas accepted the idea and reached Rohan with his company.
Series of events took place one after another and what misgivings the Elven Prince and the Rohirric King were weathered down bit by bit. The impossible task of getting the kingdom back on its feet was taken care of, and amongst the work and the daily routine, the ground was leveled for the foundation of friendship. Months passed by and at last, before the first snow came, Legolas and his company took their leave. And where they met nearly as adversaries, they parted as friends.
I have not explained everything, preferring to leave it for this story.
Enjoy. :)
~S~
Prologue:
The plains of Gondor,
"The stars are bright tonight." Legolas noted, drawing his knees close to his chest and wrapping his arms around them. Faramir stoked the fire, sitting across him, wrapped in his own cloak.
"Aye," Faramir agreed, glancing up. "That is what I love the most about my work. I spend more time outdoors than I ever do in buildings made of stone or wood."
"Although, I am guessing buildings will now give you a completely different meaning." Legolas suggested, smiling at the Ranger sitting across him. Faramir caught the hidden meaning and smiled again.
"Éowyn and Elboron both will have a special place in my heart. I will always go back to where they are."
A comfortable silence fell between them and they both gazed into the fire. They had not cooked anything that night, preferring to eat the hard bread and the nuts they had brought with them. Meat sticks that the Rohirrim usually kept in their supplies was something they both abhorred, so neither of them carried that. Bread with salt and water with a little bit of nuts was enough for the night. It was bitterly cold and Faramir felt that they could risk a fire. Legolas involuntarily shivered and drew his cloak closer around him. Across him, Faramir stifled a smile.
"Smile all you like." Legolas told him dryly, his voice still a bit friendly. "Even elves feel the cold."
Faramir only shook his head.
"It is not even fully cold yet."
"I do not understand it. I have survived the harshest winters that my forest could give me, the most terrible of blizzards in the shades of a tree's roots but I cannot control my chills in this cold wind."
"Your body reacts differently to different places." Faramir said. "I find summers in Minas Tirith quiet pleasant but a summer in Dol Amroth can leave me sweating profusely, even when my cousins swear that summers by the sea are most pleasant." Faramir shook his head again. "I will never believe them."
They settled back to quiet again. Their horses stood close by, tethered. Their breathing was even, catching up to sleep they needed. Close to them was a cluster of gnarled, knobby rocks from where they heard occasional hoots and light cries.
"Your hawk is not planning on resting any time soon, is she?" Faramir asked, glancing over to the rocks, where a hawk having silver feathers instead of gold sat, crooning softly as she cleaned her wings and straightened her feathers.
"I suppose not." Legolas said. Turning slightly while keeping his weight balanced by putting on hand on the damp soil beneath him, he said in Sindarin, "Go and get some rest, Silverclaw. I will need you in the morning."
The hawk only crooned again and ignored him.
"Arrogant bird." Legolas muttered under his breath before turning back to the man when he heard him chuckle.
"She is stubborn."
"Something that I usually do not encourage in our hawks." Legolas replied. Then he fell silent before he spoke up again. "So tell me, Faramir. What can you tell me of these… religious cults?"
"Is there something from the meeting that was left to be explained?" Faramir asked, confused by the question, but Legolas shook his head.
"I understood fine but I want to know what you know about these cults from experience. What are they? Who are they? And what do you know about them from your travels?"
Faramir frowned as he stared into the campfire, his face caught in fiery red glow.
"To be honest, there is not much to tell you about them." Faramir said at last. "These people are far from our larger towns and cities. They are scattered across an area of land, and they are the closest inhabitants to the borders we share with Mordor. That is partial reason for the cult, I suppose. I admit I never truly gave them much of my attention but when I did, they worried me. Worshipping the fell creatures like orcs and such… it never sat well with me. Mostly we let them be, for they caused no harm or unrest and they did not bear us ill will."
"So why the sudden attention?"
"Actually, Aragorn and I have been speaking about it longer than we made mention of him to you." Faramir admitted. "When my father was the Steward, he usually laughed off whatever concerns I expressed and while my brother was much kinder in his response, he thought the same as the Steward my father."
"Then why take an action of it now?"
Faramir sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"I am just not comfortable by the idea that they are still thriving there, so close to the borders of Mordor when they know we have defeated the Enemy. Cults die out after they lose their purpose. So why did they not? If anything, they grow stronger. And it worried me. I expressed my worries to Aragorn when he first came to office but he told me to wait and see. Two years have passed by since and I see no change in them. Aragorn then decided to send me and investigate." Faramir then smiled wryly. "Although, I must tell you they will not be kind when they know who I am."
"Why is that?"
"I… kept sending what men I could spare now and then to keep an eye on them. The Enemy I did not trust and these cults I trusted even less. Orcs and such could easily take advantage of their fear and devotion, however twisted it may be, to have them as spies and turn against us. A thorn that is still growing is still a danger before it reaches its full size. I do hope you do not mind coming with me." Faramir added, looking at Legolas. "It would help if you become familiar with the terrain and the people of Gondor. I also felt that I needed hands more capable than my Rangers and I could only think of you."
"I do not mind." Legolas said. He felt significantly warmer now that the fire was in flames with full force and the cloak was close around him. He straightened out his legs and leaned back, resting his weight on the palms of his hands. His cloak spread with the movement. "Dorián has been far too dreamy-eyed and wistful for the past few weeks. It would not hurt to have something to do before his wedding. Anything to escape the betrothed couple." Legolas added, making Faramir laugh.
They settled into silence for a while until Faramir stirred.
"One of us should get some rest. It will do neither of us any good is we awake late tomorrow."
"You rest and I will take the first watch." Legolas interrupted as soon as Faramir opened his mouth again to speak. "It is reasonable. I am fresher than you."
"Alright," Faramir conceded.
The Ithilien Ranger was just getting up when the air seemed heavier. The night seemed darker and the stars seemed to shine more dimly than before. The fire was burning low.
Elf and man exchanged glances. Faramir continued his motion to stand, casually pulling out his bow and placing an arrow on it. Legolas got up as well, in an ordinary manner. There was something sinister about the situation. The fire burned lower still, casting long shadows. The horses snorted loudly, feeling the unease radiating off their masters. Silverclaw was letting out a low threatening croon.
"Something is out there." Legolas said quietly, placing an arrow on his own bow. Raising his voice, he said, "Who goes there?"
There was no reply. The wind blew, feeling heavy and bitterly cold as it did.
"Who dares approach our camp?" Legolas tried again.
There was large gust of wind, so forceful that the campfire blew out till it was reduced to burning embers and they were left in the dark. The heard Silverclaw give a cry, this time more of fear and anticipation that of challenge.
"I am nearly blind in the dark." Faramir spoke softly. Legolas did not reply but searched with his eyes across the plains without moving his head too much. He saw nothing out of the ordinary, but his instincts tugged on him, telling him he was missing something.
That was when they heard a shrill shriek. Silverclaw leapt into the air, her wings fanned out and her silver wings catching the moonlight. She attacked a large form rising from the grass and the fight was hard for Legolas to make out what the figure was.
Instincts made Faramir raise his bow and shoot. Legolas did the same, slightly impressed by the man's ability to pinpoint where their opponent was in spite of unable to see too well in the dark. Silverclaw, he guessed, Faramir could see. But that was the least of his problems. With a frustrated sound, the opponent batted Silverclaw away. The hawk flew through the air before hitting the ground with a pained cry. Quickly unsheathing his twin blades and hearing Faramir take out his sword, they readied themselves for a duel. Legolas stepped forward first but he was immediately batted away with enough force to cause him to hit the ground breathless. He lost hold of his twin blades in the fall.
Something was not right, he thought in a daze and he watched Faramir retreated slightly, a sword in hand as the opponent advanced. There was something drastically wrong here. That force was not the kind a man would possess and no elf could change the surroundings around him to something of a darker nature.
"Ai Elbereth." He breathed, getting up on fours before standing completely upright. The daze of the fall had now disappeared, quickly being replaced by understanding and horror. His breathed words had the same effect as it always did. The stars shone a little brightly and the air seemed lighter. In the light, he was able to tell more of their opponent while no mortal would have found the difference in the meager increase of light. The dark figure was indeed dark and one hand held a naked dagger. Immediately, Legolas was galvanized to action.
"Faramir, no! It is not what it seems! Get back!" Speed was his friend and he was able to push Faramir out of the way as the figure lunged forward.
Legolas gasped and convulsed at the pain radiating from his side. He felt cold then agonizing warmth filled him. Through the haze of his pain, he saw Faramir grab hold of his shoulders and shout something at him but the darkness threatened to overtake him and he surrendered to it.
Faramir looked up from the limp body of the elf, his sword forgotten.
"What are you?" He hissed. The figure pushed forward, bringing its face close to the Steward's until they were inches apart and Faramir paled.
"It-it cannot be…" Faramir said, fear grabbing hold of his heart. "Yo-you were s-su-sup-supposed to be dead."
The figure placed one wasted hand on Faramir's shoulder and gave a loud scream.
~S~
Author's Note:
List of OCs is on my profile.
That button down there looks lonely. Talk to it, please? :)
