Chapter 4
The next few days passed without incident. Each night after the fellowship stopped to camp, Manquárë and Legolas would find somewhere where they could be alone and spend an hour or so just being alone with each other. Their relationship had grown stronger as they had journeyed and they had fallen deeply in love. Finally the fellowship reached the mountains and began the long journey over them. Manquárë stayed close to Legolas aware of Boromir behind her. She still didn't trust him and probably never would. As they moved higher up the mountains it grew colder and colder and snow began to fall. Manquárë shivered and pulled her cloak closer around her to try to keep warm. Legolas kept whispering words of encouragement to her to help keep her going. However the snow got heavier and heavier until the fellowship had to take cover under an overhang. Legolas pulled Manquárë close to him and she was grateful for his body heat as it kept her warm. Whilst they huddled under the overhang Legolas told Manquárë that no matter what happened on the remainder of the journey he would look after her
The fellowship found the going harder and harder and finally Gandalf had to admit that they would have to find another way to get to the other side of the mountain. Their only other option seemed to be to go under the mountains via the Mines of Moria. Frodo as the ring bearer was given the choice and he chose to go through the mines. Legolas muttered something in elvish, which Manquárë didn't quite hear. She guessed though that he was expressing his displeasure at having to go into a dwarven dwelling. She herself wasn't keen on the idea but knew that the fellowship had no choice. Legolas helped Manquárë work her way back through the snow as they made their way down the mountain.
"Legolas, I'm so glad I'm with you," she told him.
"As am I" Legolas replied.
Manquárë told him she would have worried a lot about him had she stayed behind.
Finally the fellowship reached the gates of Moria only to find them closed. There was an inscription over them which said 'Speak friend and enter' Gandalf uttered several different words none of which had any effect on the doors.
"Is this going to take long?" Manquárë asked Legolas.
"I couldn't say" Legolas told her.
The two of them moved away from the party slightly and whispered to one another and clasped hands.
"I want you to stay close to me at all times whilst we are in there ok a'maelamin" Legolas said.
"Sure I can do that" Manquárë said.
Legolas began to say something else only Aragorn beckoned to him.
"Remember melamin, never leave my side" Legolas said as they hurried over to Aragorn.
The party cautiously entered the mines and looked around them once their eyes had adjusted to the darkness. Manquárë was right beside Legolas as they entered. They hadn't gone very far when a slithering noise caused everyone to turn around. Manquárë shuddered when she saw the cause of the noise. It was a big creature with many tentacles and as she watched one shot out and wrapped itself around Frodo's leg. He found himself dangling upside down in the air. Instantly Aragorn and Legolas had pushed their way to the front of the party and began firing arrows and hacking at the creature. Manquárë stood transfixed as Legolas put an arrow in the center of the creatures' head. The creature let go of Frodo and he was able to scramble to his feet and back inside the mines. Legolas returned to Manquárë 's side and assured her that the creature wouldn't bother them again. However it suddenly surged out of the water and scuttled into the mines so everyone had to run. No sooner had they gotten past the first arch there was a thunderous roar and the entrance of the mines collapsed preventing the creature from reaching them. It also meant they had no choice but to go through the mines. Manquárë and Legolas had run side by side hand in hand. When the party came to a stop Manquárë looked at Legolas with huge eyes.
"What was that a'maelamin?" she asked her voice quavering.
"I don't know and thank the heavens that it's no longer menacing us"
"Oh gosh Legolas I'm getting scared" she said then burst into tears.
Legolas wrapped his arms around her and held her close as her shoulders shook with sobs.
"Manquárë it's ok I won't let anything in here harm you" Legolas said in her ear.
"Oh Legolas you make me feel much safer when you say that" Manquárë said.
She lifted her head and their gazes met. After a few moments Legolas dropped his head and his lips found hers. The kiss was a hungry searching kiss and it seemed to last for an eternity. Finally they came up for air, noticing Boromir watching them.
"Yes?" Legolas asked.
"Nothing" Boromir said continuing to stare at Manquárë.
"Nadorhun! (Cowardly dog!) I know you're staring at her. Well she's mine and don't you forget it" Legolas growled.
Boromir stalked off muttering about what he was going to do to Legolas.
"It's ok melamin he's gone," Legolas said seeing the look of fear on her face.
The fellowship cautiously moved through the mines eventually reaching a hall containing a stone slab with a shaft of light streaming down on it. Gimli had pushed his way to the front and quickly ran over to the slab then sunk to his knees and sobbed. It was the tomb of his cousin and he was distraught. Meanwhile Gandalf had found a book and was reading from it. It turned out that the dwarfs had dug too deeply in the mine and had unleashed a Balrog. Both Legolas and Manquárë blanched when Gandalf mentioned the Balrog. Legend had it that the Balrog were a kind of policeman for the elves and the elves detested them.
"I hope we don't encounter the Balrog" Manquárë said to Legolas.
"Likewise" Legolas said.
"Manquárë could see that he was concerned but not frightened.
Suddenly Pippin knocked a skeleton on the edge of a well and it fell down the well with a resounding clanging sound.
"Fool of a Took. Next time throw yourself in and rid us of your stupidity" Gandalf thundered at him.
The two elves looked at each other and almost burst out laughing. It took a supreme effort from them to control themselves. Suddenly their enjoyment of the situation turned to fear as drums began booming. Everyone prepared for battle and Legolas tossed Boromir some spears to bar the door with. No sooner had he done so then some arrows embedded himself in the door near his face. Legolas and Manquárë fired instantly and several Orcs by the door fell. Suddenly the door fell and to everyone's horror the Orcs had a cave troll.
Everyone found himself or herself fighting an orc including Manquárë. She was back to back with Legolas and the two of them made a great team. Finally the Orcs were defeated leaving only the troll left to kill. Legolas waited sensing that he would get his chance and finally his chance came. The troll's chain caught around a pillar and Legolas darted up it. Balancing precariously on its head Legolas loaded his bow and pulling back the bowstring put an arrow into the troll's head. It roared and lurched around so Legolas quickly leapt down off its head landing lightly on the floor. Manquárë rushed over to him.
"You gave me a heck of a fright melamin, are you ok?"
"I'm fine a'maelamin" Legolas assured her.
He had to turn his attention away from her again as the troll was still lurching around. The elves seemed to fire as one and the troll fell to the ground two arrows sticking out of its throat.
"Great minds think alike eh melamin," Legolas said smiling at her.
The fellowship quickly ran from the room and down a maze of passages until they came to a long flight of stairs. They began descending them only to be stopped by a chasm separating the flight of stairs into two parts. Legolas looked at Manquárë and she nodded knowing what he intended. She grabbed his hand and they took a running leap at the chasm clearing it easily. Boromir quickly followed and just as Gandalf was about to jump an arrow came hissing down. Legolas and Manquárë turned as one loading their bows and firing at their unseen assailants. Two Orcs fell from above their foreheads pierced by an arrow. The elves turned back to the fellowship and Gandalf leapt the gap. More arrows rained down.
"Manquárë! Tuup amin!" (Manquárë! Cover me!) Legolas said urgently.
Manquárë immediately turned loading her bow and began firing at the unseen enemy. Orc after orc fell felled by her arrows while the rest of the fellowship cleared the gap. Finally only Aragorn and Frodo were left. A large piece of the stairway had fallen away leaving their piece teetering.
"Lean forward" Aragorn ordered Frodo so he did.
Their piece of the stairway slowly fell forward until it touched the rest of the stairway. They quickly joined the rest of the fellowship and hurried down the rest of the stairs as the piece they had been on fell into the chasm.
They ran along the corridor to the bridge of Khazad Dum and across it, Manquárë and Legolas holding hands. Once the fellowship had crossed the bridge Gandalf turned and planted his staff in the middle of the bridge and standing there firmly thundered,
"You shall not pass"
To everyone's horror a flaming monster rose up from the darkness of the chasm below where Gandalf was standing. Gandalf kept telling it, it couldn't pass and it eventually released a flaming whip, which caught Gandalf around the middle and yanked him over the edge. He clung to the edge for a moment just long enough to see that the fellowship had not moved.
"Run you fools" he snapped then disappeared.
"Gandalf! Noooo! Frodo yelled making to run to the chasm.
Boromir grabbed him and carried him screaming out of the mines. Manquárë couldn't believe he had gone and had tears running down her cheeks as she exited the mine, Legolas just behind her. The company paused to have a rest and Manquárë leant against a rock and sobbed. Legolas seeing that she was distraught took her in his arms and held her close whispering gentle words of comfort. She clung to him deeply saddened by the loss of Gandalf. Legolas caressed her head and continued to whisper words of comfort. Finally Manquárë dried her eyes and lifted her head finding Legolas lips with hers. He shared a tender kiss with her. Manquárë noticed Boromir watching their kiss but decided not to worry about it.
"Damn Legolas. I wish she were mine" Boromir thought.
While they rested Boromir plotted to get even with Legolas. He intended to see to it that the Orcs captured him. Manquárë sensed his enmity towards Legolas and leaning towards him warned him about him.
"I'm well aware that he means to get even with me. I'm keeping my guard up" Legolas assured her.
Towards noon Aragorn decided to get everyone moving and asked Legolas to help him get the hobbits up and moving. He gently told Frodo they should get moving and Frodo reluctantly got to his feet. Everyone began moving intent on reaching Lothlorian by nightfall. Manquárë jogged alongside Legolas and the two of them whispered to each other. They were halfway to Lothlorian when a party of Orcs ambushed them and the pleasant walk they had been enjoying turned into confusion. Manquárë yanked her bow from her back and quick as lighting loaded it and began firing at the Orcs. Legolas was determinedly firing arrow after arrow felling many Orcs. Manquárë kept firing at the Orcs until Boromir ordered her to run. Everyone else was running so Manquárë did, as he commanded not stopping to look back. After what seemed to be an eternity everyone stopped running. Aragorn informed them that they weren't far from Lothlorian and would seek sanctuary there. Manquárë looked around for Legolas but to her surprise and horror he wasn't with them.
"Where's Legolas?" she demanded.
"I saw him fall and I suppose the Orcs got him" Boromir said, "I'm sorry Manquárë I know you love him but I doubt if we'll see him again.
Manquárë sunk to the ground sobbing. She couldn't believe it. How could Legolas who was so light and elegant on his feet just fall? She supposed he'd tripped on a root or something. However she felt certain he hadn't tripped and continued to mull over the possibilities of what could have happened.
What had happened was this: As everyone had begun running, Boromir had turned around and punched Legolas squarely in the jaw. He had fallen, knocked unconscious by the blow and had been left behind. The Orcs following had of course captured him and taken him to Mordor for interrogation. Legolas woke, finding himself in a darkened cell.
Where was he and how had he got there? As his head cleared he remembered what had happened.
"Boromir lle utinu en lokirim! Amin nauva ndengina lle manka lle ikotane sai vee' very a' cron he." (Boromir you son of snakes! I will kill you if you so much as dare to hurt her.) Legolas growled pacing the floor. He knew he had to escape from where he was as he was imagining Boromir doing all sorts of things to Manquárë. Examining the cell he determined that the only way out was the door. Then he realized that his weapons had been taken away.
"Curse you Boromir," he growled.
Suddenly his keen elf hearing heard footsteps coming towards his cell. He positioned himself behind the door so when it opened he could jump the Orcs and escape. He poised himself ready to spring into action as the door opened. With an elven war cry he launched himself onto the Orcs. Taken completely by surprise they put up very little resistance and soon Legolas was free. He cautiously made his way down the corridors of Mordor by good chance coming across his weapons lying unattended in an empty room. He quickly slung his quiver over his shoulder buckling it on as he strode down the hall. Yanking an arrow out he quickly loaded his bow and held it ready.
At the same time Manquárë was mulling over what had happened to Legolas and suddenly she realized what had happened. Boromir must have done something to him enabling him to be captured. Springing to her feet she whipped one of her knives out and before Boromir knew what had happened she had the knife against his throat.
"Ok Boromir, start talking and make it quick. I'm not in the mood to be mucked around with. What did you do to him?"
"I just arranged it so he'd be captured and out of my hair" Boromir said.
"What did you do damn you" Manquárë said tightening the knife against his throat.
"Knocked you pretty little boyfriend silly that's all. Oh and I hope I ruined his good looks"
"Amin feuya ten' lle." (You disgust me.) Manquárë declared.
"I'm sure you'll learn to love me," Boromir said eyeing her.
"Auta miqula orqu." (Go kiss an Orc.) Manquárë said.
I'd rather kiss you actually," Boromir said.
Manquárë jerked the knife away from his throat.
"You're lucky I'm not in the mood to waste my time killing you although to be honest I should kill you"
"As if I could care," Boromir said.
"Legolas won't be as reluctant to kill you as I" Manquárë warned.
"As if he'd escape the Orcs" Boromir said laughing.
Manquárë slapped him hard before striding away sheathing her knife as she did so. She was furious with Boromir and swore that if the Orcs killed Legolas she wouldn't hesitate any longer to kill him. In the meantime there was nothing to do but wait. She did however inform Aragorn of what had happened and he took Boromir aside and gave him a good dressing down.
Chapter 5