Hiro Hyn Hîdh Ab 'Wanath: Let Them Find Peace After Death
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Chapter 13: Is This Real?
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Two Weeks Later...
"I remember Anduril... but it is all rather clouded in my mind." Legolas said, leaning his head back against the pillows.
Aragorn sat beside him, mixing herbs, "I drew it to protect you."
"But I thought we had lost our weapons." the Elf replied, running his fingers over the smooth blade of one of his beloved knives.
"Yes, and no." Estel replied, setting the bowl down on the dresser. "We had lost them. However, when Gandalf's light spread over the floor, I found Anduril, sheathed, as well as your knives, quiver, and bow."
Legolas nodded, stretching his arm out to the side as Aragorn carefully unwrapped the bandages about his shoulder. The king had wrapped Legolas' arm and shoulder, a mixture placed upon it, before the Elf had ever awoken. Now was the first time it had been removed in two weeks. Aragorn wanted to see for himself how the prince's healing body was mending, and he wished to reapply the herbal mixture once more.
"So the spiders took our weapons... If only we had known!"
The bandage fell away as Aragorn gently rubbed the poultice over the Elf's still healing wound. It had closed little, only enough to keep it from bleeding. The skin about Legolas' shoulder was purple from severe bruising, but luckily no infection was present. It worried the king however, that the wound was taking such a long time to heal.
"The important thing, is that you are on the mend now, mellon nin." Aragorn said with a smile. "And that we are both alive."
Legolas was about to reply when he suddenly gasped, pushing his right hand as close as he dared to his shoulder.
"I am so sorry!" Aragorn stated, pulling his fingers away quickly.
The prince shook his head, his eyes closed in pain. "It is not your fault, Estel. The ache is from an old wound reopened."
Aragorn looked at his friend in confusion for a moment. "Old wound?" he asked.
Opening his eyes, Legolas nodded. "Aye. Do you remember that day long ago, atop Amon Sul?"
"How could I forget! You nearly died in my arms." the king replied, tying a new bandage over the Elf's shoulder.
Legolas watched the man's hands work. "Ungoliant's stab opened the Nazgul's wound. I can feel the burn of his blade once more."
"But you were healed."
"Iston... but evil upon evil... Ai, 'tis a lot for even my body to handle."
Aragorn nodded, "At least I will not have to change the bandage for a few days. Perhaps it was the poultice which slightly aggrivated your wound?"
"Is there athelas in it?" Legolas asked, closing his eyes and leaning back.
The king smiled, "There is. Evil does not like that weed it appears." he said, standing and walking to the door. "Get some sleep, mellon nin. I must meet with Faramir, but I shall return."
At this Legolas looked to the king, "How is he?"
Aragorn smiled, "Much better than you are now. So get some sleep."
With that, the man closed the door.
Looking up at the ceiling, Legolas let a sigh escape him. He was safe. Safe among friends once more.
Or so he thought...
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"Where am I?"
A soothing voice, one that the Elf recognized and trusted completely, spoke softly to him. "You are in your own bed, within the walls of your own room, ion nin."
Legolas blinked, letting the light filter through his fluttering eyelids as he took in his surroundings. There was a fireplace on the opposite wall, a table with chairs, and a desk and dresser and closet. The long curtains flew back with the breeze and the tapestries upon the walls rustled slightly. Upon the table sat a plate of strawberries, his favorite, and a crafe of Dorwinion's finest wine.
The prince was home.
"Ada?" he asked in confusion, his blue eyes locking with those of his father. "Ada... how did I get here?"
Thranduil smiled, "You have been here for some time, Legolas."
"But... How? When?" he asked, sitting up and finding himself a little dizzy.
"You came because Mirkwood was in need of help. You and King Elessar and that Dwarven friend of yours. You have been here for quite some time, but were injured in an Orc attack upon the palace." The Elvenking replied, standing from his seat next to the younger Elf.
Legolas stood as well, finding himself quite capable of moving even though he felt slightly dizzy.
"I... No, this can not be right. I was in Minas Tirith..."
"Yes, you were. You helped to destroy Sauron and for that this entire realm has celebrated. But you returned a few days ago." Thranduil moved to the table, pouring the fine wine into a crystal goblet and handing it to his son. "I am glad that you are well, ion nin."
The prince nodded, taking the wine and sipping it slowly, letting it's warmth encompass him. "I feel so confused and distraught." he whispered, looking towards the balcony.
Legolas made his way there, letting the sun's rays wash over him as he stood in the open air.
"That is to be expected." Thranduil replied, standing slightly behind the prince. "You have been through much, tithen Greenleaf."
A laugh escaped Legolas' lips. "I have not been called that in some time, ada." he said with a smile, drinking more of the wine. "Not for a long long time it seems."
Absently, the prince traced the intricate lines of his goblet, letting his mind wander over this and that. Suddenly however, one prominent thought brought itself to his attention.
"Ungoliant..." he whispered.
Thranduil looked at him strangely, "What?"
Turning in near panic, Legolas locked eyes with his father again, "Ai! What of Ungoliant? That monster is still out there! This... I can not be at home! This can not be real!" the prince shook his head, "No... no it is all wrong... I can not be here. This must be a dream!"
A pain set itself up in Legolas' chest. The goblet slipped from his hands as he grasped the front of his tunic. He struggled for breath as he felt himself crash to his knees.
"Ada..." the prince choked out in a gasp.
Thranduil stood before him, his face an impassive mask. "Guliable child." the Elvenking said with a sneer. "Yet you are a stubborn one as well."
A sword was in the elder Elf's hand now, it's tip pointed directly under the prince's chin. Legolas looked up, his eyes locking with those of his father.
"Ada? No.... Not you too.... Please..."
"Beg." Thranduil spoke, his eyes hard and cold, now devoid of life. "I want to hear you plead before the wine's poison takes your life, tithen nin Greenleaf."
"NO!" Legolas cried out as the king's sword swung down upon him.
Once more the prince's blood mixed with his spilt wine.
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Legolas sat on the bed, shaking from the shock of his nightmare. His knees were curled up to his chest and his face burried in his hands. His golden hair, in disaray, cascaded down around him as he took in deep uneven breaths.
"Tell me what you saw." Aragorn said, standing next to the bed.
He had heard the Elven prince's cry of horror shortly before the archer had awoken. Startled from his own sleep just down the hall, Aragorn had rushed into Legolas' room, only to find him in dire distress.
The Elf shook his head, "Two weeks, Estel. For two weeks I have not dreamt of dark and evil thoughts. Till this night." he looked up, locking eyes with the human. "Why does Ungoliant torment even my happy memories?"
"I do not know." Aragorn replied, sitting next to his friend. "Was it me?"
"Nay... 'twas my father."
The king closed his eyes at the news. "Ai, Legolas..."
"He poisoned me then... then, with his sword he... he pierced my heart." Legolas replied, his eyes looking out the balcony and into the predawn mists. "Ada..."
Aragorn gazed at him for a moment before speaking. "Thranduil is expected here today."
The prince turned and stared at the man, his eyes sharp. "What?"
"Gandalf sent for him two weeks ago. He is expected to arrive this morn."
Legolas' heartbeat sped up. How he longed to see his father, yet now... now after the dream he was so afraid...
"I think Ungoliant knows that we seek to destroy her now." Aragorn replied, "She preys upon you, to drive you from us and into yourself. She knows what has the power to destroy you, so she seeks to steal from you everything you hold dear. This is why she took your immortality before, as a first step toward the breaking."
Legolas' eyes hardened. "She cannot break me."
"She almost did." Aragorn reminded him. "In that lair of hers, she almost did, Legolas."
There was silence for a long time. Neither companion spoke, for each was lost in his own thoughts. The sun climbed into the sky slowly and the hustle and bustle of Minas Tirith began before either said a word.
"Who else comes?"
"Elrond, Glorfindel, Galadriel, and Cirdan." Aragorn replied. "They all come to destroy Ungoliant."
Legolas stood abruptly. He was slightly unsteady, but he placed his hand upon the bed's banister to regain his footing.
"What are you doing?" the king asked, watching his friend.
The Elf just walked towards the dresser. "I wish to be presentable before my father arrives." he answered, taking out a new tunic and leggings, "He must not know."
"Know what?"
Legolas looked at his friend as he dressed. "He must not know how very close I have come to giving up my immortal life, Aragorn. Do NOT mention it to him. If I can pull myself together, I..."
"Legolas, listen to you!" the king replied, standing as well and coming to stop in front of the Elf. "Listen to what you speak, mellon nin! He is your father! He has a right to know!" he finished, putting his hands on his friend's shoulders.
"NO!" the prince pulled away from the man's touch.
"Legolas, he shall not think you weak for it, nor shall he believe you to be unworthy of his love because of this." the king argued.
The Elf shook his head, "Ada loves me and I know this with all my heart." Legolas lowered his voice to a mere whisper. "He is not as Denethor was to Faramir and I strive not to prove myself to him."
Not long after the War of the Ring, both Aragorn and Legolas had counseled the young Steward as he searched for a reason behind his father's madness in those last dark days. They had learned of the previous Steward's dislike of his youngest son. The conversation had made Legolas shudder to imagine how Faramir's life had been.
"I have proven my strength to him many a time and he loves me the same in my strong moments as he does in my weak ones. But if I let him know I was so very close to commending my spirit to Mandos, it shall break his heart."
"Legolas..."
"I do not wish that hurt upon him. My mother departed this world for Valinor long ago and it devestated ada. I can not and will not let him know that his only son and heir to his kingdom nearly left him as well. Not after the grief Legolia's near death brought him. Not after my disappearance and possession by Saruman. I could not bear to trouble him so again."
Aragorn's gaze softened as the Elf before him turned to finish dressing. "I did not know... I merely thought..." the man sighed, "Forgive me."
A slight sigh escaped Legolas as he looked back at the human. "I lay no fault on you, Estel. But please... keep what happened in Ungoliant's lair a secret. It is my tale to tell, if the time ever comes."
"As you wish." the king replied, turning and walking toward the door. "Breakfast will be served shortly. I hope to see you there."
Legolas smiled, "You shall."
With a slight laugh, Aragorn left the Elf to finish dressing.
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Disclaimer: Refer to Chapter 1 for this.
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Reviews:
Deana: It only took me about a week and a half to update this time! GO ME! I think... I hope... Anywho... Yeah, Legolas is still having nightmares, and now they've branched out to include others besides Aragorn. Freakiness! How can my poor poor Legolas decide what is real and what is a dream?
Anttiqah Greenleaf/Gensui: Yeah, I escaped... though you won't see that in my Author's Note because due to a stupid... *sighs* Oh just read my AN and you'll see why my muses have yet to appear.
Cherazz22784: Yeah umm... I haven't quite worked out the final confrontation part yet so ummm... yeah... I'll have to get back to you on that one. Yay! I'm funny!
aussiesportstar: Mine would laugh if I tried that. They'd look at me, call and evil muse, and walk off to get takeout. So not breathing might be a bad idea. But my muses may not return because of the stupid FFdotNet rule. Read my Author's Note for a bit more on why I'm currently pissed off with this website.
Coolio02: She may go down and she may not... I haven't worked the ending out yet... *laughs evily*
Sparrow Greenleaf: Naw... Arwen would never do that. J/king. I just got my new posters in.. YAY! But the one I got of Legolas (it's new and a headshot from ROTK when Aragorn runs into Edors talking about the Becons of Gondor) looks like my friend Adam... so I'm kinda freaked out now...
Tears of Eternal Darkness: Is this soon enough?
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Author's Note:
A few words to be aware of...
Tithen = Little
Nin = My
Iston = I Know
Ion = Son
Mellon = Friend
Ada = Father
Like you guys didn't already know those. But I thought it would look stupid to just translate those simple words. Also, you guys will find a couple huge references to my shorts stories, "The Presta Chronicles" as well as two referenes to "Natha Daged Dhaer". The Nazgul attack Legolas spoke of is from the first story, as is the term Tithen Greenleaf. It's like Legolas' nickname when he was younger. Laegolas (the formal spelling) means Green Collection of Leaves. Therefore, I'm using his name translation of "Greenleaf" as the nickname by which Thranduil calls him (as do those in Rivendell sometimes). You should notice the Strawberries and the Wine from the second story, especially where the Wine falls and what mixes with it yet again.
As another note... and a slightly sadder note... I think FFdotNet has gone a bit too far this time with their latest "Rule".
Here's what they say...
"Please note that FanFiction.Net's content guidelines apply to the entire story. For example, if you have chat or keyboard dialogue in author notes but not the story, the entire story will be considered for removal. To sum it up, everything you upload is subject to the content guidelines and TOS."
So, I'm hoping that this doesn't mean that I'll have to stop my beautiful discussions between me and my muses. I know Jazi got her story, "The Lounge" taken off because it was her original LOTR characters, Daemir and the gang, discussing this and that and whatnot. I haven't gotten around to reading it off her site yet, but I will. Anywho, my point is that it's stupid that they deleted that story of hers. It's as much fanfiction as anything and, from my humble opinion, FFdotNet is getting quite annoying with their rules. I can understand not being able to use real people because I bet there are quite a few out there who would write things that would make those real people have a heart attack. I can understand not having an entire chapter to answering reviews or an author's note. But this new bit's just plain stupid.
Okay, there's my ranting and raving about their new, and rather stupid, "Rule". And, due to this new rule, I shall have no muse discussion at the end of my chapter. That and because they are off making picketting signs. I just hope they don't write them in Sindarin this time. AI! It's sooooo hard to read! Anyway, I think everyone should e-mail them and tell them that they should delete this rule so author's, like myself, can put a bit more humor into their otherwise very humorous stories.
Fight the power!
Hannon le