Disclaimer in chapter 1- Welcome, my Lords…
Sorry that the start is a little boring…Trust me, it gets better...Hopefully...
Ea na qwiil, mellon-nin
Chapter 4 – Fool of a Took!
As many hours went by, the great feast that was being held in King Théoden's golden hall came to an end. All the men, women and children had taken their leave, going home for some much needed sleep as many of the men had been drinking too much for their own stomachs to handle. The feast had gone on for a total of eight straight hours and so many were tired, or passed out by then that the King was forced to call it a night and for all those who didn't live within his halls were to go home and sleep peacefully until morn came.
The Fellowship, minus that of Frodo, Sam and the deceased Boromir, all slept within a large room. Only one bed was within it which Gandalf had taken a liking too. They couldn't stand the thought of an old man sleeping apon the cold, hard stone floor so let Gandalf take the bed. Gimli would sleep anywhere for the Dwarf was to out of his mind, unconscious from participating in the drinking game, that wherever he would be there he would sleep; may it be a haystack in the stables or outside on the path leading towards the hall. Wherever he was, he would not know, let alone care.
Merry was a fidget at first, trying to find the most comfortable position to sleep in. He would pat his make shift pillow, that was made up off Gandalf's and Gimli's cloaks, ever so often as he tried to rest, sleeping away the thoughts of the battle that was to come very soon. After many tries, the Halfling was able to find peace and began dreaming about his beloved homeland. Aragorn awoke and sat for a while, leaning up against the back of one of the wooden walls, thinking about what had happened ever since he had left Imladris to begin his journey in search of the Hobbits with Gandalf, Gimli, Legolas and Boromir. The thought of the Gondorian brought anger to his eyes for the foul things that Sauron had made him do and think but also sadness, for Boromir was a man he had grown to like.
The ranger looked around the room, studying everyone's backs and some faces and found that one was missing from the group and he smiled. "Looking at the stars." He thought as he came to the conclusion of where Legolas might be. Because the Prince of Elves hated sleep in every way possible, it was not a rare thing to find Legolas outside watching the many stars that seemed to dance in his presence. The future King of Arnor and Gondor got up from where he was sat, pulling off the thin blanket that Théodred had supplied the group with many, and walked towards the door, looking behind him to check if everything was well just before exiting in search of his dear friend.
But just as the ranger slowly closed the door behind him, Pippin awoke with a gasp. The Halfling sat up quickly and then brought a hand to his head as he squeezed his eyes tightly against a small throbbing at the back of his mind. He could swear he had heard a slight whisper that was none like he had heard before; it was dark, menacing and cold. Pippin sat for a while, trying to ease his breathing as he had woken painfully, the dream still lingering on in his vision. It started as a pleasant dream, the Shire in all its fine beauty, merry laughter from many Hobbits all around but then it turned sick. Hoards of Orcs came over the hills and began to kill everything they saw. The party tree was brought to the ground, crushing the unfortunate souls that were in its path of descent.
The young Hobbit shook the remaining pieces of his dream out of his awakened mind and looked around the room he was in along with his friends. Pippin moaned when a flash of the horrible scene was shown again along with a whisper he could make out as "Look." He furrowed his brow at the word and couldn't help but wonder what he was supposed to look at or for. The Halfling sighed and then as he saw the faces and backs of his friends, he noticed Aragorn and Legolas weren't there within the room and his furrowed brow relaxed as he thought they both must had gone outside to get some air.
Pippin didn't know how right he was.
Aragorn strolled through the golden hall and looked at it in amazement. It was mess free. In such a short time, the empty mugs had been cleaned and put away, the barrels of Ale were no longer out on tables but were wiped down and polished for morning meal. As he continued to walk, he noticed, that there, sleeping on a divan next to the fire was the fair maiden, Éowyn. He walked slowly, making sure he would not awake the sleeping women and knelt down beside the fire, picking up a piece of wood and prodding the burning ones within to make the hall warmer than it already was.
As the fire crackled, he looked towards Éowyn and saw the fair maiden's eyes open and looking straight at him. Aragorn sighed, shaking his head with a small smile "I am sorry if I woke you." He apologised, placing the piece of wood he was holding into the fire to join the others.
"Do not be sorry." Éowyn smiled politely, glad that she was woken by a pleasant face instead of one of her brother's or cousin's. The maiden then yawned, a hand covering her mouth as she did and then the soft laughter from the ranger made her blush with embarrassment. "Please, forgive me, that was rude."
"There was nothing rude about it." Aragorn replied, raising his eyebrows as the smile still lingered on his face "You are simply tired and have done a good deed of cleaning up the hall." He watched as his words made Éowyn blush more for his words were like praise. "When did you fall asleep?" He asked.
"I fell naught but ten minutes ago." Éowyn answered and then quickly added "Do not worry; it is not your fault that I awoke. I merely had trouble trying to sleep. What time is it?" She asked, wanting to avoid worrying the ranger with her reason for not being able to sleep.
"Not yet dawn." Aragorn answered simply, walking towards the maiden and then pulling the thick baby blue blanket over her feet and fully onto her small shoulder. "Man prestidh den?" *What troubles you?* He asked in the fine grey tongue of the Elves. He knew the maiden wouldn't understand but sometimes the language of the fair beings always calmed those who thought it was a beautiful speech.
As if Éowyn knew what the ranger had said, she answered him, shocking herself as she almost understood what he had said "I dreamed I saw a man. He was stood, looking out into the horizon and he watched as a great wave began to climb over Greenland's and many hills. I saw myself, standing beside him, hand-in-hand, on a brink. It was utterly dark in the abyss before our feet." She looked at the future King of Gondor and watched as he furrowed his brow, kneeling down so that they were almost eye level. "A light shone behind us but we could not turn. We could only stand there, together, waiting." A lone tear fell from her eye. She never wanted to burden the man that was burdened already by so many, to have her problems also weigh down his shoulders.
"The night changes many thoughts. It is Sauron's domain and he can choose when to send nightmares into the hearts of yours and my people." The ranger slowly placed a hand apon Éowyn's cheek "Sleep, no more nightmares will plague you now. You have my word."
Éowyn nodded and slowly began to close her eyes. As her eyes shut, she could see the man get up from where he was kneeling and then walk towards the great doors, pulling them open and disappearing behind them. She finally found peace in her dreams after the soft, soothing words of the man that was to become a great King.
Aragorn walked through the grand doors and looked into the distance; the many mountains that circled the city of Edoras were even a breath-taking site in the late hours of the night. He sighed as a sudden smile graced his lips, one star within the sky had caught his attention and he immediately saw the star shining with all the light it held. The ranger had heard many tales about the stars that grace the night skies from Elrond from when he was but a child. He could remember the Elven Lord saying:
"It is always the oldest stars that shine the brightest. They give you hope and strength, wishing any being that gazes apon them, the greatest luck they could possible wish for."
"You are troubled."
A voice from the rangers left made Aragorn raise an eye brow. He looked at the slender, cloaked figure and began to walk towards him. "Indeed, I am." He answered when he came to a stop beside the figure, facing the hooded being and then smiling as he saw Legolas smile back.
"You will not be troubled much longer, mellon." Legolas looked up at the night sky "The war will soon begin but it will soon be over."
"Aye, you are right." Aragorn was dreading the war that was to take place in the very near future. He couldn't help but think about what Sauron had shown him, a vision from his future. If it was truly going to happen then there wasn't anything he could do to prevent it from doing so.
"Your thoughts haunt you, I see." Legolas smiled as he saw the ranger, at the corner of his eye, look at him, wide eyed. "You have too many thoughts on your mind. You need to stay relaxed, Estel."
Aragorn then shook his head, a small smile appearing on his face as he did. "Are you relaxed, Legolas?"
"No." The archer answered simply, not wanting to lie to his good and dear friend for that would just cause Aragorn to keep pestering him. The future King was truly like a mother hen. "Winter is still apon us, it is only a couple more days till spring arrives."
The future King of Gondor and Arnor whipped his head around to face his golden haired friend, wide eyed as the Elven Prince had said those very words "Spring? That means in…" He then began to count the number of days within his head "…Eleven days. Legolas in eleven days, you will be…"
Legolas held up his hand, stopping the ranger from saying anymore "Yes, Estel. Eleven days in extremely short and I am dreading it as much as you are. The first day of spring is the day I hate most. I do not wish for there to ever be that day again."
"You cannot simply force away the past, Legolas. Without spring, you wouldn't even exist."
"Even if that is true, I still will never stop hating on that time of year."
"That time of year, was the day you were born. You cannot simply keep holding on to the past. You have to let it go!" The next thing Aragorn knew was happening was that Legolas grabbed him by the collar and pushed him roughly up against the nearest wall, that being the wall that kept the golden hall in place, sheltering it from many harsh winds that attacked it every so many times a year.
"How can I let, the day my mother died, go?!" Legolas yelled, glaring dangerously at the ranger as he was but a few centimetres from Aragorn's face. "I was taken that day so many years ago. I watched as she was tortured by so many Orcs and then she was left in that clearing where only her blood was found by my father! No one knows what happened to her body! She was my life Aragorn, she was my everything!"
Aragorn couldn't tear his eyes away. The pure hatred and killing intent Legolas held within his eyes was truly terrifying. In all his years of being with the fair being, he had never seen something like this. There were no other emotions except these feelings the Elf now had. Aragorn could swear that Legolas would kill him right here at this very moment but knew that the Prince wouldn't be able to do something so simple for their friendship was deeper than any bond on Middle-earth.
The ranger watched as Legolas' breathing had increased but slowed when silence met both their ears. "Say something." He heard the Prince say but he did not want to speak. Aragorn just watched as Legolas loosened the grip he had on him and then slid to the floor. "Why won't you say anything?" He heard the Elf question but still he did not answer. He lowered himself as well, placing a gentle hand on Legolas' shoulder as he did.
"You say that I need to let the past go…" The Mirkwood Prince spoke in a small voice, his anger had risen so high that sadness had taken over in its place. "…That I can't keep holding on to it but Aragorn, you still do not know much about me."
"You don't know anything! No matter how many years go by, Estel, you still do not know much about him! When will you ever grow up and deal with the fact that you cannot save everyone you hold dear!"
Aragorn blinked as the memory of Elladan yelling at his young form resurfaced. He was but a teen, a young adult that was about to turn twenty one that summer. That time, all those years ago, was something he to never forget. So many things happened, Elladan and Elrohir were badly injured and the more Orc sightings than ever before were reported. All the clues that they were given was that the beasts of Sauron were looking for the one they called "The King of Men." Aragorn was told that summer, about his linage and had done the foolish thing and ran away from the safe haven of Imladris.
More troubled followed and soon after he returned, the bloody figure of his dear Elven friend, that had gone after him, hanging from his side and the many cuts and broken bones he had himself, Elrond had scolded him. He couldn't look at his brothers the same way, Legolas was unconscious for many days and he couldn't handle everyone's constant stares so he left once more; joining with the rangers up in the North, he became their chieftain. He wanted to forget about the people who had raised him when he had no one to turn to.
The future King lowered his head "I am sorry Legolas but there are indeed something's you must forget. Even in your long life, there are possibly some things you must have forgotten, erased because your mind could not hold the memory any longer." He spoke with kind words, his voice gentle for he did not want to hurt his dear friend any more.
Legolas faced Estel and then asked suddenly "Do you still remember your parents dying, Estel?"
Aragorn was taken back slightly from the question but answered "I remember my father but a little bit. I remember the day of his death, the companions of my father bringing him back on a stretcher, a bandage covering his eye, blood seeping through it. He had died within the next hour or so, leaving the people and myself, including my mother to find a new chieftain. I remember Elladan and Elrohir taking us to Imladris and then, about five days later, my mother died. Her grief far too great for anyone to heal."
"There are just some things that are supposed to stay within your mind and the deaths of those that are close to you are ones that you must always remember, no matter how gruesome and sick they are." Aragorn finally began to understand what the Elven Prince was saying. It was always a thing with the mind; wanting you to always remember the worst of times instead of the good. Legolas wanted to forget no matter what but he just couldn't. The memory of the person he loved the most would vanish instantly and he did not wish for something like that to happen.
The ranger was just about to stand when Legolas' hand caught his. Aragorn looked deeply into Legolas' eyes and saw that they were glazed over, a faint white cloud hovering within them. The cloud blocked the brilliant blue that resembled the sea.
"The stars are veiled." Legolas said, clinging onto the ranger as if he was the very last line that connected him to this world "Something stirs in the east. A sleepless malice." Aragorn furrowed his brow, never once leaving the Prince's unusual stare. Legolas' eyes only glazed over in sleep or if Sauron had decided to make an appearance within his head, but this was different. Legolas was very much awake. "The eye of the enemy is moving. I can feel him…He is getting closer and closer to where we are now but I can't pinpoint where. He creeps like a mouse, searching for the one thing he loves most. He is waiting, waiting to be answered."
Then, suddenly, Legolas jolted forwards. He quickly looked up and into the eyes of Aragorn and with much fear and anger he said "He is here."
Aragorn then bolted towards the great doors of the King's golden Hall. He slammed open the doors, Legolas right behind him, and ran towards the room where the few members of the Fellowship were staying. He and the Elf behind him paid no attention to Éowyn waking and shouting after them. They focused their attention completely on getting towards the room where a screaming voice was now being heard.
The ranger opened the door and looked on horror as Pippin convulsed, screaming in pain as the Palantír within his hands glowed dangerously. He ran towards the Hobbit and grabbed the orb out of the Halfling's hands. He felt all the strength in his body leave him, he could not feel the supporting hands of the Elven Prince trying to steady him but then, as if magic, darkness filled his mind in an instant and he fell to the floor. The Palantír let out a terrifying laugh and many words in the black speech flowed out of it. The marble orb rolled out of Aragorn's hands and onto the floor, the eye of Sauron still within it as it rolled away.
"Legolas!" Gandalf yelled as he through the archer a cloak.
Legolas let go of his unconscious friend and caught the cloak, running towards the moving orb. Just a he was about to place it over the Palantír, the eye looked at him and the laugh became more louder. Legolas felt a stab of pain at the back of his head and then dropped the cloak onto the seeing-stone, falling to his knees as he tried to calm his now ragged breathing.
"Fool of a Took!" Gandalf yelled as he looked towards the young Hobbit. He knelt down beside Pippin and looked on in shock as he saw the paleness of Pippin's skin, the darkness of the Halfling's eyes and the mouth that still constantly moved as if he was speaking to someone. The Istari placed a hand on Pippin's forehead and mumbled some words underneath his breath.
Merry looked on in fear for his cousin. He also then fell to his knees, the silence of the room unbearable and soon darkness took him as well. The look on Pippin's face was enough to haunt his dreams and the oldest cousin just couldn't bear to see such a blank face anymore.
Gandalf looked around as he heard the thud and saw Merry now apon the floor. The Wizard would have gone to see the Hobbit but Pippin was far more important now. He began to chant another spell, seeing as though the last did not work, and hoped that this would do the trick in waking the Halfling up.
Legolas couldn't seem to control his breathing. Small beads of sweat began to form on his brow and the pain from his mind still pained him greatly. He slowly stood, tearing his eyes away from the cloak that now covered the Palantír and made his way, slowly, towards Aragorn. He checked for a pulse and sighed with relief when he found one but it was fast and it needed to be calmed. He saw Merry apon the ground and knew that the Hobbit had only fainted from seeing his cousin in such a state. The archer then looked to Gimli and was glad that the Dwarf was still out from all the alcohol he had consumed.
Many footsteps from down the hall were heard coming towards the room and Legolas looked up to see the twin sons of Elrond along with Éowyn, Théoden, Théodred and Éomer. He sighed with relief and watched as they all split to go to various people within the room.
"Legolas, what happened?" Elladan and Elrohir asked in unison, kneeling down next to the Prince and checking on their unconscious brother. They saw the pain that Legolas was in and could only think about helping their foster brother at this point.
"Sauron…" Legolas said, that one name would answer the many questions that Elladan and Elrohir had. He heard Elladan curse and he smiled but that only seemed to worsen his pain. He moaned as the throbbing became greater and felt as though he might just faint then and now.
A small gasp was made and everyone turned their attention to the small Halfling that Gandalf was with. The white Wizard sent a prayer to the Valar for Pippin awaking but it was not just the awaking that Gandalf feared. It was the information that the Halfling was about to give him that was.
"Gandalf?" Pippin whispered, seeing the Istari directly before him, a worried and slight anger within his old eyes. Pippin continued his uneasy breathing, gasping for more air as he was near the stages of hyperventilating.
"Get the others to the healing wings." The King ordered and watched as Éomer lifted Merry from the ground, Éowyn following but sending Pippin a worried glance before disappearing with her brother down the hall. Elrohir lifted Aragorn and Elladan, with the help of Théodred, helped Legolas to stand for the Prince was near to passing out as well from the pain in his head.
Once all had left, Théoden turned his attention onto that of Gandalf and Pippin, kneeling beside the Wizard and old friend as the Old Istari began to talk to the small being.
"What did you see?" Gandalf asked. He saw the fear in Pippin's eyes but shook the Hobbit gently when Pippin turned away from him. "I must know what you saw, Pippin."
Pippin nodded painfully, his breathing began to slow as he said "A tree." He opened his eyes, never knowing they were shut and continued "There was a white tree in a courtyard of stone." Théoden watched as Pippin's features screwed up, his eyes wide with fear "It was dead. The city was burning, screams from women and children could be heard from all around me." A tear fell from Pippin's eyes as he thought of the cries and screams that would haunt his dreams for a very long time.
"Minas Tirith, is that what you saw?" Gandalf never received an answer when he saw Pippin features turn to fear, his eyes completely covered in the feeling as more tears slipped out unnoticed by the one that made them.
"I saw…" Pippin stuttered, not wanting to relive what he had seen "I saw him. He looked like the same being that we saw within those mines." He saw the Wizard's eyes widen, never seeing those of Théoden's widen as well. "I could hear his voice inside my head."
"What did you tell him?" Gandalf urged, afraid that the pained and terrified Halfling told the dark Lord something he shouldn't.
"He knelt down in front of me, so that he was at the same height as me. Everything around me was burning, I hardly saw he come." Pippin then licked his dry lips "He asked me my name. When I didn't answer him, he yelled and grabbed my throat. He lifted me into the air and slowly his hand got tighter."
Théoden watched as Pippin's breathing became much faster. He saw the Wizard gently pull the collar of the Halfling's tunic down, revealing four bruised marks on the side of the Halfling's neck and one on the other. Dark purple they were but they also seemed to give of heat. The King furrowed his brow and kept note of asking the Wizard about this later.
"What did you tell him about Frodo and the Ring?" Gandalf almost shouted, shaking Pippin more roughly as he saw the Hobbits eyes drop, the small being finally giving into unconsciousness.
The Wizard cursed and then lifted the Hobbit into his arms. The King followed him down the hall and into the healing rooms where the rest of the broken Fellowship, all except Gimli, where.
I brought it! The Hobbit DVD came out yesterday in the UK and I had to buy it, no, I needed to buy it *-* Anyway, I hope you have all enjoyed the chapter :) It took me awhile to write this but it was fun too :D Sorry about the late update once again!
If it seemed boring I am sorry also :/
Things you need to know? ^^
1. Sauron – I know you all love him but it is very hard to try and put this guy in :L It is difficult to know when I should place him and when I do, I don't because it doesn't fit into the story then :o Forgive me, but I will try to next time? :D
2. The man in Éowyn's vision – Not going to tell you who it is…You have to guess ;)
That's it I think? 0^0
Reviews;
Jasperslittlesister; Yeah, she is a cutie :3 Thank you, I am glad you liked it :D I love it as well :') Possible the best part in the whole movie :'D Aww thank you once more :'3 I hope this was soon :D x
ArwenElf16; I am glad you liked it :D I know *-* I can't wait to write that chapter! It's going to be so good *-* Leggy is the boss! Poor Gimli still out of it xD Ah, you like that little surprise then? ;) I am changing it a bit because I feel like Gollum needs to get his life back :D The greatest song ever! ;D Ahhh We don't know about Mirkwood yet ;D I will definatly do like a whole chapter on that battle :D Thank you again and I hope this was a good chapter also :')
Calemireth; I love those too, always makes me laugh :') Yeah, I must agree with you but every story must have a boring bit within it ;) Ahaha I wouldn't, mellon :D Ahahaha It is always Sauron's fault ;D I will try to add him in but it depends when I am in the mood for some evil...ness...evilness. It's a fine word ;D I hope this was soon? :)
Nardhwentheelf; Thank you and I am sorry :/ I was just loosing it for some time and didn't know how to expand it etc :L I would like to know what would happen to Leggy as well ;) Ahaha I hope this update was soon :D
BrightWatcher; Thank you :D Yeah, I wanted to make Éowyn not like Aragorn because I want her too see Faramir and be like "Omg?! He is so hot! *-*" Ahaha :3 Thank you again :D
Enim Vivis; WE MUST BE! *Glomps back* Ahahaha that's just amazing :') Thank you very much, that makes me happy ^o^ You didn't make that unclear, mellon ;) I am glad a fellow Sophie is reading and liking my story :'D
Glorelwen; Hello :D You will have to find all that out soon, friend ;) It will be awhile but trust me, it will be soon :D Thanks for reviewing ^.^
Thranduil: So the battle for Mirkwood had begun? Very good, very good indeed.
Urm, it started some time ago actually... I would have thought you, of all people, would have known.
Thranduil: *Gasps* What? When? What was I doing?
I have no idea. Anyway, don't get yourself killed. Lothlórien and Imladris are on their way :)
Thranduil: They are?! :O
Ops, sorry, that was a spoiler for you... heehee?
Thranduil: There will be a day when I will kill you, Sophie. -.-
Join the line. Legolas wants to as well :'(
Thranduil: I brought him up well.
Namarie!
