We stood on top of the hill simply kissing and laughing, and for my part a little crying until the sun was almost fully risen. Also, we had to endure some teasing on the part of certain annoying...
"HOBBITS!" I yelled in frustration.
"Ellie and Legolas sitting in a tree, K.I.S.S.I.N.G! First comes love, then comes marriage, and then comes the baby in the golden carriage!" They sang. I give you Merry and Pippin, the most annoying hobbits in the whole of middle earth.
I blushed brightly as they finished their little song, but never let go of Legolas's hand, which I was squeezing to refrain myself from hitting one of them. Or rather, Legolas would not let go of my hand to refrain me from hitting them. Either way, the hobbits came out without a scratch.
"Legolas please let me get them..." I pleaded, but he shook his head.
"They will give up eventually, I hope." He said ruefully, looking at them, eyes twinkling.
We ate breakfast and set off on our journey towards the mines. I shuddered at the thought of them, and Legolas noticed.
"None of us wish to risk the mines, only the dwarf. Do not worry, I will be next to you, and so will Aragorn, Gandalf and the hobbits. Yes the hobbits, they can be serious if need be." He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. Smiling, we ran to catch up with the group, as we had fallen behind.
"When will we reach the mines?" Pippin asked Aragorn.
"Another half a day's journey, little one." The sun was high in the sky; it must have been at least lunch. Legolas and I walked hand in hand, talking about anything and everything we could think of.
I told him more of my family, and he told me of his, telling stories of he and his younger brother when they were smaller.
"Lee and I were rafting down the river, but he had forgotten about the waterfalls. They are only small, but If you do not have proper control, you fall out. He swayed about, and then fell headfirst into the plunge pool at the bottom. When he surfaced, all you could see was his hair. It covered his face, and he was spinning round trying to find me, it was hilarious." I giggled at his impressions.
"One day, I was out in the farmer's fields with Caralyn, and we had stolen some carrots to eat as snacks. He found us, and I started running, so did Caralyn. I only saw the hill as I was about to fall down it, and managed to stop in time, but Caralyn didn't, and she ran into the back of me, causing us both to roll down the hill. It was so funny when she got to the bottom and landed in a puddle, she was covered in water and mud. I was just covered in mud and mushy carrot. I looked like a monster!" We continued swapping stories and doing mad impressions to go with them until nightfall, when we reached the mines.
We walked cautiously inside, and I shuddered again.
"The walls of Moria..." Gimli said in awe.
"Well, let's see...Ithildin. It mirrors only starlight and moonlight." The wizard said softly, and the moon was slowly revealed as the clouds passed. I saw a faint outline of a door appear, shimmering with text and pictures.
"It reads: 'The doors of Durin, lord of Moria. Speak friend, and enter.'"
Merry looked up. "What do you suppose that means?" he asked.
The wizard's eyebrows rose. "Oh, it's quite simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password, and the doors will open." He said some words in Elvish, tapping his staff on the wall. Nothing happened.
He kept trying different things, and I rested against a wall, arms crossed with my eyes closed.
"Melamin." Legolas said shaking me slightly
"I'm not asleep, I'm resting my eyes." I mumbled, opening one eye slightly to look at him before closing it again.
"You stay like that then..." He said, and I smiled at him with my eyes closed, giving him a thumbs up.
"The mines are no place for a pony. Even one so brave as Bill..." Aragorn said to Sam.
"Bye-bye Bill." He said sadly.
"Go on, Bill, go on. Don't worry Sam, he knows the way home." Aragorn assured him, and I grinned,
I opened my eyes and watched Merry and Pippin attempting to skim stones across the lake.
Pippin was about to do another when Aragorn caught his hand. "Do not disturb the water..."
Gandalf sighed, taking off his hat. "Oh, its useless." He sat down on a rock, shaking his head.
I started thinking over the phrase. 'Speak friend and enter' over in my mind... what if...
"Legolas, I think..." I started
"It's a riddle... speak 'friend' and enter..." he said in hushed tones, slowly getting louder. "What's the elvish word for friend?"
"Hm? Mellon." Gandalf said, and the doors ground open.
I started to shake a little. I did not like the feeling of being closed in by walls, being trapped. I felt a quick push in the middle of my back, steering me inside. I reached round and grabbed the hand, spinning around to see Legolas.
"I really do not wish to go inside. I fear being completely surrounded..."
"Come, I will always be near you."
"Soon, Master Elf, you shall enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves! Roaring fires, malt beer, ripe meat of the bone. This, my friend, is the home of my cousin Balin. And they call it a mine, A MINE!" he boomed.
"Ripe meat off the bone?" I mouthed to Legolas, who nodded, rolling his eyes.
"This is no mine. It's a tomb." Boromir said suddenly, and I looked at what I was walking on.
"Oh no..." I said. There were dead bodies everywhere. I covered my hand with my mouth to stop myself from being sick.
"No...NOOOO!" I heard Gimli cry.
Legolas walked over to one of the nearest bodies and pulled out an arrow, examining it quickly.
"Goblins." He hissed, flicking his head around.
Boromir was panicking. "We make for the Gap of Rohan; we should never have come here! Now get out of here! GET OUT!"
We began backing out, but stopped as Frodo was grabbed by a long tentacle from the water.
"Frodo!"
"FRODO! HELP!" I couldn't make out who the voices belonged to, but I could identify the next one.
"STRIDER!" the ring bearer cried in anguish. I didn't hear any more as I had pulled out my sword and began slashing the creature with well executed strikes. I ducked as an arrow almost hit me. I turned around.
"WATCH WHAT YOURE DOING!" I yelled, not keeping my eye on the creature.
That was a mistake.
It grabbed my ankles and dragged me upwards, and I screamed.
"HELP ME! NO!" I screamed out, attempting to hit it with my sword, but it was pulled out of my grasp, and I heard it clang against the wall. I closed my eyes and screamed again, it was awful being swung around by whatever it was. I heard arrow after arrow whiz by me, but it didn't make the fear subside. Another tentacle wrapped around me, around my Lungs.
"LEGOLAS!" I managed to cry, hot tears falling, before the world was consumed in blackness.
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"She's breathing! Lucky that it didn't crush her..."
"Is she going to be ok?" a voice drifted through my ears.
"I do not know... Thank the Valar she is alive. My heart stopped when she was wrapped up... Melamin?" The world blurred in front of my eyes as I opened them, but it hurt too much, and my head was banging. I lost consciousness again. I didn't stay out for long. I felt cool liquid trickle down my throat, making me cough. My eyes fluttered, and everything came into focus slowly.
"Urgh..." I groaned, trying to breathe, but I couldn't. "Cant... breathe!" I gasped. I was quickly pulled into a sitting position, and a hand rested between my breasts, pushing up. I sucked in as much air as possible, breathing as deeply as I could.
"What happened?" I said faintly. "Why can't I breathe properly?" I was lifted up into someone's lap, off the cold ground. "Legolas?"
"Shhh, you are alive, that is all that matters. You have two broken ribs, your chest is bandaged. The monster, it almost killed you."
"Frodo, is he ok?" I asked, worried. Legolas smiled at me fondly.
"Alive and well. Rest, it is a 3 day journey to the other side. Unfortunately, Gandalf has us lost." I giggled painfully, and rubbed my chest. His arms wrapped around my shoulders, hugging me to him.
"I thought I had lost you..." He whispered at me, kissing my head. "I cannot loose you, my love..." I lifted my head enough so his lips could touch mine lightly. "When we get to Lothlorien, I can get you healed, and then, if you feel well enough... We may be able to bond at last..." He blushed, and I knew I wanted it; I needed to give myself to him. I loved him so much.
"I have never... been with anyone before. You are the first." I whispered back.
"I did not think anything else. I will be as gentle as possible when the time comes. It will hurt; I'll not hide it from you." He said quietly.
I nodded. "Yes, I know that. I trust you, with all my heart." I placed my hand on his chest. I felt his speeding heartbeat, he was nervous.
"Legolas, what is it? You are scared, nervous. What's wrong?"
"I... I do not know. I feel like...I do not know. I am still trying to overcome my fear of loosing you, perhaps."
"Maybe, but then, why would my heart be as fast as yours?" I asked simply, placing his hand just above my breast.
"I...I can't explain it." He said in wonder. I looked at the love that filled in his eyes.
"I can." I said softly. "It is the bond you spoke of, we share all our emotions. It is because of the talk we have just had, our bodies responding..." I trailed off as his lips claimed mine. I let my tongue slide over his bottom lip, and I felt him shiver, opening his mouth to deepen the kiss. I wrapped my arms around his waist, and he held me carefully so I didn't get hurt. I almost forgot that the others around. Until...
"Oi!" Sam called, and Legolas groaned.
"We always get interrupted, don't we?" He murmured into my ear. I nodded and turned around to see Merry, Pippin, Sam and Gimli staring at us.
"What?" I asked innocently.
"You just wake up and you're all over the elf!" Gimli huffed.
"Shut up, I think it's sweet!" Sam said to him
"I think it's nice for people to be happy!" Pippin announced.
"And I think Gandalf's remembered!" Merry piped up
"No, but the air doesn't smell so foul down here. When in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose." He said, smiling.
We walked down the steep pathway until we were in a large open area. I was leaning on Legolas, who had his arm under mine to keep me from falling, as I had refused to be carried.
"Let me risk a little more light." The light around us brightened, and I gaped.
"There's an eye opener, and no mistake." Sam said in awe.
"I definitely agree." I said. The ceiling was so high, and pillars ran for as far as I could see.
We began the long walk to the other side. We all spoke in hushed tones, Legolas and I stealing kisses whenever we rested. We had shared something so intimate, and had reached a new level in our love. As we were walking, Gimli suddenly ran ahead, shouting. He ran into a little room strewn with dead Orcs.
"No! Oh no. No!" I heard him begin to weep.
"'Here lies Balin, son of Fundin, Lord of Moria.' He is dead then. It is as I feared."
Legolas let go of me and walked over to Aragorn. "We must move on. We cannot linger." He gave me a swift glance.
"They have taken the bridge and the second hall. We have barred the gates but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes. Drums, drums in the deep. We cannot get out. A shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out. They are coming." Gandalf read from the book.
I turned, jumping suddenly as I heard a loud crash and a series of clanging. I flinched every time until it stopped. Everyone let out the breath they had been holding, and Legolas closed his eyes.
"Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time, and rid us of your stupidity!" Gandalf growled, and then stopped. I could hear drumming. I began panicking.
"Legolas..." He was at my side in a flash, and he got his bow out. I glanced at Frodo, who pulled out his sword. It was blue.
"Orcs." Legolas spat out the word in distaste.
I tried to find my sword, but it wasn't in my bag. It was in Legolas's. I pulled it out and got into a close guard, ready. I could hear their screeching.
Aragorn turned to the hobbits. "Get back! Stay close to Gandalf!" He ordered. Boromir had run to the door, and moved his head just in time, as two arrows had lodged themselves in the wood.
"They have a cave troll!" He yelled at us in warning.
Aragorn rushed to help Boromir bar the doors, then they backed away, weapons raised.
"Let them come! There is one Dwarf in Moria that still draws breath!" Gimli snarled.
I stood, breathing ragged as I watched the door shake and bang. I closed my eyes briefly, and then turned to kiss Legolas firmly.
"Just in case..." His eyes blazed.
"Don't you dare think like that. I will not let you die, Elanor. I will not." He said harshly. I took a steadying breath.
"I'm ok. I'm good. I'm not panicking..." I told myself, but all my fears disappeared as the room was flooded with Orcs. I began slashing, stabbing and kicking at anything that came near me.
"12, 13, 14, 15..." I counted as I killed them, enjoying their pain. I swung my sword round, and let out a sigh when I saw the troll.
"Nice..." I began my assault, stabbing anything Orc-like that stood in my way.
"I think I'm getting the hang of this!" Sam yelled across the fray, and I laughed.
"It's not that hard." I shouted back, and he grinned over at me.
"FRODO!" I turned around, and stared in horror. The troll had Frodo, and was dragging him about.
"Shit." I cursed, and fought my way over to help. My ribs were hurting like mad, and it was making me dizzy.
"Aragorn! Aragorn!" The little hobbit yelled out.
I didn't hear much else; I could only hear the rushing in my ears as Aragorn managed to pull Frodo from its grasp. It hit Aragorn, throwing him aside. Frodo ran to his side, then turned to face the troll, which hurled a spear at him, pinning him against the wall.
I hadn't been paying attention, and an Orc so kindly picked me up and threw me against a wall, I tasted blood in my mouth as I slid to the floor. It leered at me, pulling out it's sword and raised it above his head, I screamed and stabbed it in the stomach.
"29!" I yelled and kicked it out of the way, spitting on it.
I saw the troll collapse, and winked al Legolas, who winked back.
"Score?" I shouted at him.
"34!" I stuck my tongue out at him.
"SHOW OFF!" he shot another Orc, and I rolled my eyes. The room was finally clear, and I rushed over to Frodo, who was still against the wall. I held my side, it was awful.
"He's alive!" Sam said in wonder.
Frodo sat up a little. "I'm alright, I'm not hurt." I let out a whoop.
Aragorn was staring. "You should be dead! That spear would have skewered a wild boar."
"I think there is more to this hobbit than meets the eye." I was now sat down on the chest in the middle of the room, holding my side, grimacing. He opened his shirt to reveal a shimmering white shirt.
"Mithril! You are full of surprises, Mr Baggins!" I leant over as the stabbing pains in my chest continued. I rubbed it, trying to ease it.
I heard a familiar squawking, and I put my head in my hands. "Not again!"
"To the bridge of Khazad-dum."
We ran as fast as possible, followed by Orcs that slowly surrounded us. We were stood in a circle, and I could hear their evil laughter. It stopped quickly, as a red glow was emitted from the end of the corridor, and they ran away quickly. Legolas raised his bow, but soon lowered it.
"What is this new devilry?" Boromir asked Gandalf, who was staring at the glow.
"A Balrog. A demon of the Ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. RUN!"
I ran as fast as I could, I did not intend to find out what this thing was. I whimpered as my chest stabbed with pain.
"Ignore the pain, keep running." Boromir said from beside me. Breathing deeply, I did as he said.
We came to a steep pathway, and I looked at Legolas who was running in front of us. He jumped a large gap, and I stopped dead.
"Gandalf." He shouted, waving at him to jump across. He jumped, and Legolas helped him over.
"Elanor! Come, you can do it!" I closed my eyes and jumped across into his arms. I turned, backing off. Boromir grabbed Merry and Pippin, jumping over. The rock crumbled, and Legolas caught Sam, who had been thrown over by Aragorn.
"Nobody tosses a Dwarf!" He tried to jump the gap, but didn't quite reach. Legolas managed to grab his beard, pulling him.
"Not the beard!!!" he screeched, but Legolas managed to pull him over.
Aragorn and Frodo were still on the other side, and the rock was beginning to break.
"Steady! Hold on." He said, grabbing the back of Frodo's shirt. The stone fully broke away, and was leaning at an angle onto the stone we stood on. "Lean forward! Steady."
"Come on! Now!" Aragorn held Frodo and managed to get across.
"Over the bridge! FLY!" We ran across, and I turned to see the most horrific creature, and I whimpered, holding on to the nearest person, who happened to be Aragorn. He looked at me, grasping my hand. Gandalf stayed stood in the middle of the bridge. I watched in horror, not knowing what to do.
