'Nooooo!" Frodo yelled, as Boromir lifted him and began to run. Aragorn and Legolas stared at the bridge, in utter shock. Arrows started flying again as the orcs came closer, and they quickly turned to follow the others out of the east gate of Moria. Once they made it out, the hobbits fell to the ground crying at the loss of Gandalf. Gimli was furious, grief affecting him differently, and Boromir tried to control him. Legolas was speechless, having know Gandalf for millennia. Death had always been a difficult thing for him to accept, being of an immortal race. His legs suddenly seemed to lose their strength, and he felt Aragorn lowering him to sit on the ground.
The human looked around; making sure that everyone was in sight before looking again at Legolas, at how the Elf's good arm was still wrapped around his ribs. "Let me see, mellon-nin
style="font-size: 18pt;"." (My friend) Legolas moved his arm. He felt tears prickling his eyes and closed them, not caring when they slipped down his cheeks. Aragorn found that two of Legolas' cracked ribs could now officially be called 'broken'. He sighed, as Boromir came
over to help. Together, they wrapped Legolas' ribs again and checked the rest of his injures. The Elf was fortunate that his lungs didn't seem to be punctured, though his breathing was understandably harshband painful.
"Boromir, get them up," Aragorn said, motioning towards the hobbits. "By nightfall these hills will be swarming with orcs. "We must reach the woods of Lothlórien." Boromir nodded and headed off towards them. "It is unfortunate that we have no horses," Aragorn said to Legolas. Legolas couldn't help but agree. With his injures, he wasn't looking forward to walking again. Boromir reached them again with Gimli and the hobbits. Aragorn helped Legolas stand and supported his weight as they walked on, leaving Gandalf behind. Occasional sniffs could be heard from their party as they mourned him, and hardly anyone spoke.
They had to make many short stops for Legolas' sake, though he never complained. His strength was rapidly failing and just when he thought that he would collapse and never rise again, elves appeared from behind the trees, aiming arrows at them. "The dwarf breathes so loud, we could have him in the dark," they heard. An "Elf, his bow not drawn, walked over to them. Even in the darkness of night he recognized the injured member of their party, and he hurried closer. "What has happened to you, Legolas?" The hobbits and dwarf watched, wondering how this stranger knew the Mirkwood Elf. Legolas tried to sigh, but it hurt too much. "There is much that needs telling, Haldir." Haldir nodded, but looked at Frodo. "You bring great evil with you." He looked at Aragorn. "You can go no further. Leave Legolas with us; we will care for his injures and you may go on your way."
"We need your protection," Aragorn said, shaking his head. "The road is very dangerous." Haldir hesitated, before eventually nodding. "Follow me." They obeyed, and Haldir lead them to a felt, where Galadriel and Celeborn met them. The hobbits were in awe of the elves, and Galadriel smiled at them. "The enemy knows that you entered here," Celeborn told them. "What hope you had in secrecy is now gone. Eight are here yet nine there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf, for I much desire to speak with him. I can no longer see him from afar." "Gandalf the Greynfid not pass the borders of this land," said Galadriel. "He has fallen into shadow."
"He was taken by both shadow and flame," said legolas, unable to keep pain out of his voice. "A balrog of Morgoth; for we went needlessly into the bet of Moria." "Needless were none of the seeds of Gandalf in life. We do not yet know his full purpose," said Galadriel, studying Legolas as he leaned against Aragorn with his good arm slung over the human's neck. "You are injured." She looked at all the members of the Fellowship, seeing how tried and haunted they appeared. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest, for you are wearybwith sorrow and much toil. Tonight you will sleep in peace." Everyone fave sighs of relief at her words, including Legolas, who felt do much more peaceful here that he forget how his ribs would react.
Galadriel walked forward and laid a hand on Legolas' chest. "Come, you need healing." That is quite an understatement, Legolas thought, as he slumped against Aragorn with his eyes shut tightly from the pain. Haldir ushered Boromir, Gimli, and the hobbits in one direction as Aragorn and Legolas followed Galadriel in another. They stopped and watched as the injured member of their party was taken away, and they looked at Haldir anxiously. "Fear not for the Prince," said Haldir. "He is strong, as you no doubt have realized. I bring you to take some refreshments. You will see him later."
Mention of food changed the expressions in the hobbits' faces, and they followed the Elf more eagerly.
Please vote and comment, hope you enjoyed reading this. The last chapter will be coming up soon.
