At the Sign of the Prancing Pony

Chapter Ten

So this is the final chapter! I am blown away and so thankful to all the wonderful people who took their time to read and review this story, it means the world to me, and especially to those who have stuck with me for so long- you know who you are and you're amazing. Hope you're all doing well.

I have another short story lined up for publishing after this, and then I hope to continue with We Can Make It If We Run and other stories I have in the works. I've been taking a little break from lotr fic at the moment, to clear my head, but I hope to get back to it soon. I promise, I'm not going anywhere.

As always, reviews are very welcome. I hope you enjoy.

0-o-0-o-0

Pippin had been focusing so much on simply putting one foot in front of the other, he didn't notice when everyone stopped until he walked into Merry's back. He looked up.

Warm light spilled from the doors and windows of the large house in front of them that reached up into the darkness above their heads. Tall figures were silhouetted against the light as they hurried down the steps towards them. Pippin stumbled, realising with not a little bit of shock that they'd finally arrived at Rivendell.

"I didn't think we'd ever actually make it here," he murmured, and Merry hummed in agreement. The courtyard seemed to warrant whispers, and they kept their voices low as they were ushered forwards towards the bright light and, finally, safety.

"Frodo," Sam murmured, hardly daring to ask in case it was bad news. But the elf in front of them smiled and nodded. Sam almost staggered with relief, and Merry and Pippin joined him as their steps suddenly quickened, eager to see Frodo now that they knew he was safe.

Strider brushed past them, one of Legolas' arms slung over his shoulder and bearing what looked like most of the elf's weight. "Please tell me the healing wards are ready," he said wearily. "I'd like to make sure this elf doesn't die on me from a Morgul wound or something equally stupid he's neglected to tell me about."

Legolas muttered something in reply, but Pippin was pretty sure it was in some type of Elvish. Strider huffed, and turned briefly to them.

"You're safe here," he said to the three of them, his expression briefly softening. "This valley is sheltered from evil. You can rest now."

"Do not worry about the future now," a grave voice said from ahead, and they turned to see a tall stern-faced elf step forwards, a silver circlet set in dark hair glinting in the torchlight along the walls. "Rest, and ease your worry over your friend. The future can wait, for a few days."

"I am Lord Elrond," he continued. "And this is my house. Mithrandir can tell you everything you would like to know."

"Mithrandir?" Merry asked.

Elrond smiled slightly. "The name that he bears with you is Gandalf," he said, and the hobbits felt like they could collapse under the second wave of sheer relief upon hearing his name.

"I'll take you to him," Glorfindel said, stepping forwards. He spoke briefly to Elrond, before gesturing to the hobbits to follow him. Pippin glanced back as they did so, watching Strider adjust his grip on Legolas to stop the blond elf falling.

"Go on, Pippin," Strider said, a small smile curling the corners of his lips. "We'll be fine. Go and see Frodo."

Elrond watched as the hobbits hurried away, following Glorfindel further into the house. "They are surprisingly resilient," he murmured. "Frodo bore that wound for a long time without succumbing, and those three are no less steadfast than him."

Aragorn nodded. "Frodo is certainly Bilbo's nephew," he said. "But enough of that. The healing wards are ready, aren't they?"

Elrond nodded, gently tilting Legolas' chin up with one hand. "Lord Elrond," Legolas murmured. "I wish this was under slightly better circumstances."

"It is always like that, I suppose," Elrond said. "One day you must stop so readily offering pieces of yourself up to the enemy."

Legolas shrugged, as best he could when he was half leant against Aragorn, one arm slung over his shoulders. "It's my job," he said. "Besides, I'll always do it readily enough for my family and for yours, and for anyone who needs protecting."

"A soldier through and through," Aragorn muttered. "Come on, these discussions of duty and everything we always end up arguing about can wait until later. I'd quite like to get you somewhere with actual healing supplies and a bed."

"I won't say no to a bed," Legolas said with as much of a grin as he had energy to muster. "Lead the way."

Aragorn rolled his eyes. "Lead the way," he muttered, shaking his head. "As if you could lead the way. You'll fall over if you take a step without me here supporting you." Legolas shifted, and he tightened his grip on the elf. "That was not a challenge for you to try!" he said, beginning to walk down the corridor slowly, Legolas limping beside him. "Is everything a bet to you?"

"When you say it, of course it is," Legolas replied. "Speaking of, you owe me a rematch for last time."

"You're not going within ten feet of a weapon until you've healed, or I swear I will hobble you," Aragorn said.

Elrond felt a smile tug at his lips, where he walked on Legolas' other side. "It is good to see you again," he said to Aragorn. "It is always good to have you back, Estel."

Aragorn glanced over at him, and for a brief moment he looked like the young man Elrond remembered sending on his way, so full of hope and fight. "It's good to be back," he said. "I've missed home."

0-o-0-o-0

After weeks of constant movement and running, of watching over their shoulders for black shapes coming at them out of the shadows, it felt strange to sit around and do nothing. Sam spent hours sitting at Frodo's bedside, waiting for him to wake up, but hour after hour nothing changed.

It had been days now. Elrond had finally removed the last piece of the Morgul blade from Frodo's shoulder in the night, and Frodo was sleeping peacefully enough. Yet still Sam couldn't help but worry.

"Come on, come and get some breakfast with us." Merry gently grabbed Sam's arm and pulled him up from his chair. "Elrond said he won't wake until this afternoon at the very earliest, and I'm sure Frodo won't want to wake to find you looking like you do right now."

Sam sighed, and let Merry tug him away. Pippin sat down in the chair with a decisive nod, watching Frodo, and that made Sam feel slightly better. He followed Merry through the hallways towards the hall they'd eaten in the past few days.

Even in his tired and worried state, he couldn't help but be nearly overcome by awe of the house around him. Rivendell was everything he'd imagined it would be. He didn't know how else to describe it.

Tapestries stretched down the walls, bathed in the early morning light, and as Sam walked past knights rode out across verdant fields, banners raised high against the approaching hordes. A maiden stood in front of a dark lord and defied him for the brightness in his crown that did not belong to him. Great beasts leapt out of the darkness and greater men and women strode forwards to meet them, shining steel raised high. Defiance and life repeated in a thousand different ways, old and faded but still there.

The sun was spilling through the high windows in the hall when they arrived, long beams slanting across tables laden with food and drink. There were already elves and others besides present in the hall, and light chatter filled the air.

As they had done every day since arriving, Merry and Sam skirted around the edge of the hall towards an empty table, sticking close to the wall. There were a few curious glances, but it seemed like the newest curiosity of Rivendell had already worn thin for the people already here.

Gandalf was nowhere to be seen, which wasn't exactly unexpected. Sam had spent many hours curled up in a chair or on the floor whilst Gandalf and Elrond discussed high and mighty things over his head, and now that Frodo was healed and merely sleeping, Gandalf and Elrond had disappeared together, probably to talk about more high and mighty things some more, without the distraction of the hobbits.

Those were Pippin's thoughts, and Sam thought he was being a bit unfair, but still Gandalf wasn't anywhere to be seen in the hall. Merry pushed him onto a bench and sat down next to him, pulling over a basket full of fresh bread.

"Eat," he said, nudging Sam with his elbow. "You need it." He eyed a plate of bacon appreciatively, and then gave into temptation and pulled it over, spearing a few pieces with his fork to put onto Sam's plate. "At least they know how to do a proper breakfast here."

"It's not quite the same," Sam said, but he still picked up a piece of bacon and reached for the bread. "Still good, but not quite the same."

"Sure, but nothing ever beats a homecooked meal," Merry said easily. "Have you tried this fruit? I've no idea what it is, but it's delicious."

Sam eyed it apprehensively, but let Merry push some onto his plate. He stabbed a piece with a fork and lifted it up. "It doesn't look right," he said. "Not natural, anyway."

"It's called a lychee, and it's delicious."

Sam and Merry both jumped as Legolas slid onto the bench opposite them. He looked much better than the last time they'd seen him, staggering inside with Aragorn's arm looking like the only thing holding him up. Legolas picked up a fork and stabbed a piece of what was apparently lychee. "It grows here, when they can get it to," he said, taking a bite. "My home's too far north for it to grow properly, but the valley here is sheltered enough."

Sam took a tentative bite of the fruit, and after a moment his eyes widened in surprise. "It's good," he said. "A bit odd, but good."

Legolas nodded, and reached for a bread roll. "I heard Frodo is doing better," he said. "He'll wake up soon, won't he?"

"This evening, Lord Elrond thinks," Merry said. "I don't think Lord Elrond is wrong much."

Legolas laughed. "No, he's not, but then he's Elrond. He's probably forgotten more than pretty much anyone else could ever know." He paused. "Except Mithrandir, but then that applies to a lot of situations." He huffed a laugh, and tore apart the bread roll in his hands to slather butter on it.

It was all Sam could do not to stare. Gone was the silent soldier that he had seen the past week, the elf that had seemed so deadly. Legolas looked young, almost, surrounded by Rivendell's light. "You seem in a good mood, if you don't mind me saying," he ventured cautiously.

Legolas shrugged. "It's a nice day," he replied. "Elrond made me take something for the pain, and nobody has tried to kill me in the past few days."

There was an amused huff, and then Strider appeared out of nowhere to sit down next to Legolas on the long bench. "You set the bar very low, mellon-nin," Strider said with a grin.

Legolas laughed. "I like to give myself an easy goal," he replied. "Have you seen Mithrandir at all? I want to ask him something on behalf of my father. He's been worrying over some of the southern defences, and I thought I'd ask Mithrandir's advice. Without my father knowing, of course."

"Trust Thranduil to not want to ask anyone for help," Aragorn said with a snort. "It's almost impressive how deep his stubbornness runs, if it wasn't so annoying sometimes."

Legolas laughed. "You're talking to the person who always gets pushed into the room when he's being so stubborn he can't see the actual facts. I'm well aware of how annoying it is; I'm the one who has to convince him otherwise most of the time."

"Wait…" Merry said slowly. "Your father is…Thranduil?"

"Thranduil?" Sam asked. "As in, the Elvenking?"

Legolas nodded, taking another bite of the bread in his hands, and Aragorn stifled a grin at Merry and Sam's shocked expressions.

"You're a prince?" Sam blurted out. He clapped his hands over his mouth almost as soon as he said it, a blush slowly spreading across his face. "Sorry…milord."

Legolas waved a hand. "Please, just call me Legolas," he said. "Nobody who knows me ever uses my titles. It's not important." Aragorn huffed a laugh, and Legolas shot a glare at him. Sam watched rather incredulously as Aragorn grinned, and snatched a piece of some other fruit that he didn't recognise from his plate.

Legolas arched a brow. "Give it back," he said. "You know that's my favourite."

Aragorn laughed, and popped the piece in his mouth. "Too late." He yelped as Legolas cuffed him around the head, and shoved an elbow into Legolas' side in retaliation. Legolas winced, hand going to his side, and Aragorn rolled his eyes.

"I know for a fact that the wound is on your other side," he said. "I helped my father stitch it up literally two days ago. You don't fool me."

Legolas laughed. "It was worth a try," he said with a grin. "That's reminded me though, I need to speak with him about Mirkwood's defences as well. Wherever he is, Mithrandir is probably with him as well."

"I'll help you find them," Aragorn said, getting to his feet. "I've got nothing better to do."

Legolas laughed again, and got to his feet with a slight wince. "I hope that Frodo wakes up soon," he said to the hobbits. "I'm sure I will see you all soon." Aragorn nodded in agreement, and then the two of them walked off, Aragorn slinging an arm around Legolas' shoulders and tugging him close.

Sam watched until they disappeared through the doorway. "I wonder what they were like," he mused softly.

"When?" Merry asked, his mouth full of toast. Sam shrugged, rubbing at the back of his neck.

"I don't know," he muttered. "But they seem so different here than when we were journeying. Do you think that's what they were like, well, before they started it all?"

Merry shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "Maybe? Why does it matter?"

"I don't know," Sam muttered, even though he did. He didn't really know what was going to happen now, and a small part of him whispered that they weren't finished yet, and they couldn't just return to the Shire, forgetting everything they now knew. He supposed it was comforting, in a way, to see someone who had fought for so long still be able to laugh.

0-o-0-o-0

A few days later, Legolas watches as Frodo stands up and quietly announces that he will shoulder the fate of them all, do what he suspects nobody else will be able to do. It might be foolish, it might be suicidal, but it's the best chance that they have and he's willing to take it.

Aragorn catches Legolas' eye, and raises an eyebrow. It's barely a gesture, but to Legolas, who has watched Aragorn grow up and become the leader Aragorn is so uncertain he can be, it's a question, and a complicated one. For him, though, the answer is easy.

He nods slightly, and Aragorn looks relieved. Legolas knows what he is asking; this is a suicide mission, after all, which means that following Frodo is most likely going to lead to his death. But he thinks it might not be so bad. He's been prepared to die in service of his country for a while now, and he thinks this isn't going to be so different.

Sam jumps out from where he had been hiding, surprising everyone except for Gandalf and Frodo as he declares Frodo won't be going anywhere without him. Legolas finds a smile slowly curling his lips.

It's a very different kind of bravery, he thinks. But it gives him hope nevertheless.

finis