Exodus
By: Alilacia
Rating: PG13
Feedback: None that I can think of. In fact, this story is pretty much entirely AU, so I doubt it. I shall let you know if there is.
Beta reader: Ying
Disclaimer:
I do not own Lord of the Rings, or anything to do with the film or books. That honour goes to Peter Jackson (et all) and J.R.R Tolkien. I have no permission what so ever to use these characters, will not receive any money for this, and I am doing this for my own enjoyment. And to pass the time between working during the day.
Note: The Characters (and concept of) Dehlfalhen and Glamferaen were created by Cassia and Siobhan and they were kind enough to let me borrow them for this story.
The story in which they were first introduced was called Siege of Dread and is posted here: http:www.aragorn-legolas. these characters (and concept) are not mine, and if one wishes to use this (or any of the characters or concepts from the Mellon Chronicles series) email Cassia at or Siobhan at Have also just been informed (thanks Cassia :D) that Saelons are indeed another invention of Cassia and Sio. So all the above wording applies to them as well.
Summary:
"Strider, you have to understand a lot of things. There is much that I cannot tell you, much that only they can tell you. If you can find them. Only know that there was a darkness within them that they had been fighting with for so long, and when they found his body lying there..."
Events put into motion, the beginning of the end started long before it could be stopped. In all his years he had never considered what the loss of one life could have on the world, none of them had. It should have come to no surprise to him really, that when a pivotal figure was lost forever that his life was turned upside down, and nothing was the same again.
And do you know what the worst part was... it really was all his fault.
Exodus
Part Eleven - Voices of the Forest
The pair made it back fairly quickly, with Hethu leading the way back this time. There was a certain amount of fear that was dogging Hethu's steps and Legolas rolled his eyes.
As soon as they were within the warmth of the fire Aragorn had started, Hethu immediately sat down and grabbed a piece of meat that had been roasting for a while next to the fire. Aragorn had prepared the rest of the meat and it had been divided up between his and Legolas' packs.
Legolas sat down next to Aragorn. The elf held no real love for meat, instead preferring the taste of natural fruits and berries. It was his nature that if it was offered to him outside of his home, the elf would suddenly love the meat and eat it without word, even offering his praise to the cooks once the meal was over. Aragorn had witnessed this a fair few times, and had at first questioned Legolas on it. Initially, Legolas had not answered him. But as Estel had persistently questioned and badgered, Legolas told him why he ate the food which he did not like.
"Along the path where the stream is talking,
I breathe the mist and continue walking.
The wood it whispers in a language of its own."
- The Despair Factor, A.F.I
"You are young yet, my friend, and you will soon learn many valuable things that will aide you later in your life." Legolas leaned in closer, pulling Estel in closer to his side. Estel looked up to him, his eyes wide in the firelight, huddling as close as he could while the wind whistled around them. "When you are travelling, you will find yourself in many different places with many different people. When feasting in another's house, do not forget that any food presented before you is something that someone has been working on for you to eat. Their hard work has been poured into each little piece of that meal, and to say that you do not want it... no matter the reason, it is discourteous to push away the toils of someone's labour." Legolas stopped speaking, catching the grimace that crossed Estel's face. He laughed softly, knowing how fussy Estel was with his food. He hoped that this was something that the child would grow out of, for not everywhere would have the high standard of food he was used to in Imladris. But for now, Estel was still a child, and Legolas would let him eat all the foods he liked the best. "If you remember nothing else, Estel, please remember this. Everything holds a soul. The rivers, the trees, the sky"
"Nature." Estel interrupted, fisting his fingers into Legolas' cloak.
Legolas had chuckled, wrapping his fingers against Estel's, letting his own body heat chase away the chill. "Yes my friend, nature." His smile was fond.
"Even the rocks"
Legolas' nose wrinkled a little as he honestly thought about it. "In my own experience, I would say no. For the rocks are stagnant things, used only in building work and to be crafted by human and dwarven hand. If they do indeed have a life all of their own, it is so deeply buried that no elf can find it."
"A dwarf would say differently."
"But I am no dwarf." Legolas was amused by the comment"and neither are you little one. All you have to remember is to treat every living thing- alright, even rocks" Legolas added quickly when Estel opened his mouth to speak. The elf pressed a kiss against the downy head resting against his side and continued. "You must treat them all as you would treat any of your other friends. When you wish something, say some firewood or food to eat, just ask. Open your heart, speak your wish, and you will get your answer to your plea."
"But, my brothers told me that only an elf can speak to the trees." Estel's voice was sad. Legolas curled his finger under the child's chin and gently raised it up. "I'm not an elf." The small human admitted slowly.
Legolas' smile was gentle. "I know that you are not an elf, my dearest friend. It matters not to me what you look like or what kind of blood runs through your veins" Legolas paused, running his fingers softly along the curve of Estel's ear, then passing through his tangled hair to rest on his friend's shoulder. After a moment, he moved his hand to rest over Estel's heart. "The only thing that matter to me, oh brother of my heart, is what is in here. You could be the ugliest, silliest human to walk the earth and I would not care." His nimble fingers reached down, catching Estel in the sides, tickling his sensitive skin. Estel curled in on himself for a moment, trying to evade the tickling fingers. The torrent of laughter that broke past Estel's lips made Legolas smile and he only stopped when Estel was breathless. The human's cheeks were flushed and all thoughts of his earlier melancholy were forgotten. "You have a good heart, Estel. Let no-one tell you otherwise."
Estel smiled softly, but there was something in his eyes that was not so sure. Legolas turned around slightly, pulling Estel with him. The trunk of the tree was directly to their left now and Legolas pulled Estel into his lap. The child was uncertain, but did not hinder Legolas as the elf gripped his hand and rested it against the tree trunk.
For a moment, Estel felt really foolish sitting like this and looked up at Legolas. His friend merely smiled, placing his fingers tightly over Estel's, and closed his eyes. The seconds passed and Estel heard nothing. Then suddenly his fingers started to tingle and felt very warm. He started and almost pulled away, but Legolas' fingers tightened, keeping his hand there. Then the warmth touched at his mind but this time Estel was a little more prepared, despite his continuing wariness.
His fear faded as a vision suddenly bloomed in his mind and he saw through someone else's eyes. He could feel the wind brushing against the rough surface of his skin, could feel the leaves swaying in the breeze and brushing against his body, and somewhere higher he could feel a creature moving amongst his higher branches.
With a start, he realised that he was staring down at himself and Legolas. He stared at his friend, seeing clearly for the first time the glow that truly surrounded his friend. The elf was shining and he looked like something the young child had never seen before. It was then that he also realised that something was not quite right with the picture, with the world as he was seeing it now.
It had no colour.
Muted greys, blacks and whites made up his vision. With the brightest white surrounding Legolas. Strangely enough, the picture seemed to be constantly changing. As Estel stared and struggled to figure out why, he realised that the moving shadows matched the feeling of the wind against his branches.
Now he knew that the trees did not see like the elves, men and other creatures of Arda, but they saw all the things that were not there. They saw all the things that were hidden from human eyes. Such as the aura that enveloped Legolas. The wind aided them, allowing the trees to see what blocked its winding path over the plains and through the valleys.
It seemed unfair to be asking so much of this tree that Estel found himself pulling away without really realising it. Legolas sensed that Estel had seen enough and closed the bond with a final word of thanks to the ancient being before them.
Seconds later, Estel jumped into Legolas' arms, squeezing the elf tight. Legolas heard the whispered "thank you" and turned so his back was resting against the tree. He wrapped his cloak around Estel's form, feeling the human relax in his arms.
"You're welcome, mellon nín." Legolas whispered softly as sleep claimed his human charge.
Aragorn smiled softly, looking over to his friend. Legolas smiled back as he leant back onto the green floor and stared up at the stars.
Thinking back, Aragorn could not remember fully the first time that he had met Legolas. He had to have been young, maybe even a babe. Legolas had never told him the exact year that he had first seen him, only saying that he had been there for most of his childhood and it had been the most memorable years of his life so far.
Aragorn did not know if that was good or bad but knew that he would never get anything out of Legolas. His friend was willful and stubborn and no amount of coaxing and questioning would get the answer out of him. He knew now that the only reason Legolas had told him all those things so long ago was that the elf did not mind Aragorn knowing, and that there was a lesson underneath it all that had aided Aragorn in the past, and would surely aid him in the future.
"What course of action do we undertake now" Aragorn asked Legolas softly.
The elf frowned for a moment before answering in Sindarin. "I know not. Perhaps it would be best to rejoin the Anduin and walk with it south."
"That is a sound plan" Aragorn nodded"but there is nothing there. I do not see why my brothers would head as far south as Emyn Muil. Such a barren land holds nothing, not even orcs."
"Perhaps Rohan is their goal." Legolas frowned again, thinking of all the major settlements to the south in his mind. "Or maybe it is their intention to rejoin the world of men."
"My brothers would prefer to travel amongst all things green, as would you. Nay, I do not believe Minas Tirith is their aim."
"Mordor then"
"By Eru, I hope not." A rush of fear spread through Aragorn at the thought that his brothers had ventured anywhere near the black lands.
"Perhaps we should seek aide elsewhere." Legolas suggested softly"the Galadhrim are not far. A little more than two day's journey. The White Lady may hold some answers that shall help determine the correct path to take."
"I have heard of the wisdom of the Lady of the Golden Woods, but I would not risk it. Hethu would still be travelling with us and I would not willingly reveal Lothlórien's secrets to one such as he."
"You are right Strider, forgive me for suggesting it. Should we send Hethu on his way? He has no more knowledge to impart to us and we can travel faster with two rather than three."
There was a moment of troubled silence as the two friends thought. Across the fire, Hethu watched them with growing apprehension. He didn't dare move, for he knew he wouldn't get far, but he couldn't shake the fear that they were talking about him. His apprehension grew when he heard the elf say his name.
"Esgaroth." Aragorn looked over to Legolas, understanding what his friend was implying. But still...
"Legolas, Lake-town is far away and he does not know the way."
"Which is why I shall inform one of the patrols and he shall be escorted across the woods to Esgaroth. I shall return with news." Before Aragorn could say anything, Legolas ran into the trees. Aragorn shook his head and sat down next to Hethu. The trader had tracked Legolas' sudden flight into the woods and it had made him uneasy.
"Where's he gone"
"To walk amongst the trees."
TBC...
The thing with the trees seeing through the wind and seeing what is not there is my invention. I have no idea how trees see things, even if they do see at all. But this is Middle-earth -grins- if we have Ents and things, then surely we can have trees that can 'see' their surroundings.
Reviews:
Beling - First of all, I'm so sorry about your hamster! I know how pets can become like family and it's always hard to lose them, even when we know its best for them. :( hugs Thank you
I don't think he's evil...and maybe, just maybe with a little help from a certain ranger and elf he'll be able to become a ranger himself! I don't think that that's a bad idea -g- but when I'd written this chapter, I had another thing in mind for poor Hethu. He'll be fine -grins-
How Aragorn kept from laughing is beyond me! A lot of practise winks grins lol
I like the way you write Legalos and Aragorn. You've captured the easy camaraderie they share. I'm glad about this, thank you for saying so. I love the easy friendship that is portrayed in the movies, so I always try to capture it in my writing. It really is an honour and a joy to write about a friendship so strong -smiles-
Thank you for your review, and I hope you enjoy this chapter -grins-