Through the Dark
by SkyFire
For disclaimer, see part 1
Thanks to everyone for the wonderful reviews! Sorry it's taken so long to post this chapter; the
plotbunnies have been either nipping about my other fic, posted and not, or are on vacation
without me. *sigh* They could at *least* have left me the Elf-clones....
Thoughts are in // //.
.
*****
Through the Dark
by SkyFire
Part 14
Thranduil glared at the hapless Peredhel. "*Yes,*" he growled, "I am searching for Legolas. *And*
your foster-son. I have a great deal to... discuss... with that mortal."
Elrond winced. From the Mirkwood elf's tone, he guessed that the 'discussion' Thranduil had in
mind would be less with words and more with sharp implements to Aragorn's soft areas.
//By the Valar, Estel! The things I have to get you out of!//
But he would. Somehow, he would talk Thranduil out of doing Aragorn bodily harm.
That was *his* job, after all.
//Estel has it coming this time!// Elrond thought even as he mentally organized the arguments he
would use to turn Thranduil to his way of thinking. //The legitimacy issue,// he thought to
himself, //Thranduil always stresses that point. If he does away with Estel, Legolas' child, the
future heir of Mirkwood, will have no chance at legitimacy. That should work.//
Knowing Thranduil, once he latched onto that thought, he would rush the two into a marriage bond
at the first available opportunity.
//At least it will not be a loveless match,// Elrond thought consolingly to himself. //If they
loved each other enough to lie together and get Legolas with child, no matter the impossible,
surely their love is great enough to enter into marriage together!//
Even as he grudgingly let the Peredhel follow him back into his tent to speak with him, Thranduil
kept an ear cocked, listening subconsciously for any sign of his son. Surely if Legolas had been
close, he would have seen the Mirkwood party's camp (since it was not hidden at all by Elven
standards) and come there to rest.
Even as Elrond began to speak, Thranduil could sense the gathering darkness of evil things on the
far bank of the river and gave brief thanks to the Valar that Legolas was not this far south yet,
nor on that side of the Anduin.
***
It was not yet full dark when Legolas' words or warning were proven true.
Far too late to change anything.
And so in the hills near to the Rauros, the Fellowship was shattered. Boromir, lost to death.
Merry and Pippin, captured by merciless orcs and Uruk-hai. Frodo and Sam, striking out on their
own during the confusion, heading alone for the Emyn Muir and Mordor.
By the time full dark fell, all that was left of the Fellowship in their ill-chosen camp were
Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. Aragorn and Gimli saw to their weapons and provisions, sharpening
this, packing that, leaving the other thing in an ever-growing pile of supplies to be left behind.
Legolas, having fought beside them against the black tide of evil creatures, lay limp upon his
blankets, deep in exhausted sleep. He had not spoken to Aragorn after the battle was over, had
not said a thing about his previous warning and the man's careless dismissal of it. He did not
speak the words aloud, but his eyes screamed them just the same.
Gimli, out gathering firewood when Legolas had given his warning, was left in the dark about the
reason for Legolas' vitreous glare and Aragorn's growing guilt. He did not know the reason, but
even he could feel the tension between the two.
The next morning, they made ready to depart. Aragorn and Gimli took up the greatest portion of
their supplies, leaving Legolas burdened only with a light pack. Legolas spoke no words of
accusation that morning either.
As they left the clearing, gradually increasing their pace, Aragorn broke the silence. "Legolas,
if you feel tired--"
"I will manage," came the clipped reply.
"But if you--"
"I. Will. Manage."
Aragorn subsided. Surely, Legolas would not risk harm to himself or the child by overexerting
himself. Especially after the day before. He sighed. Legolas was right to be upset; he should
have known to trust the warning the Elf had given, as Legolas was *not* one to overexaggerate
peril. But he had been so *sure* that it was just wild emotion; that one maternal gesture
overriding his better judgement.
He shook his head. When they stopped for a rest in a few hours' time, he owed Legolas an apology.
For his part, Legolas was content to run along beside the man and dwarf. Even he, son of
Thranduil and grandson of Oropher that he was, could not hold on to his ire upon feeling the
first little flutters from inside him. He still had no idea how he was going to tell his father
about his condition, nor any idea how the elder Elf would react to the news, but pushed that
troubling thought away.
His father, after all, was at home in Mirkwood, oblivious.
TBC...
.
;oP Hope you liked it! The next chapters will move forward through time in little jumps; the
next chapter should have L, A, & G in Helm's Deep, the next the battle at the Pelennor, the one
after that before the gates of Barad-dur, etc. That will hopefulls speed the story up some.
Like the chapter? Please take a moment and let the plotbunnies and I know what you think! Thanks!!
:oD
by SkyFire
For disclaimer, see part 1
Thanks to everyone for the wonderful reviews! Sorry it's taken so long to post this chapter; the
plotbunnies have been either nipping about my other fic, posted and not, or are on vacation
without me. *sigh* They could at *least* have left me the Elf-clones....
Thoughts are in // //.
.
*****
Through the Dark
by SkyFire
Part 14
Thranduil glared at the hapless Peredhel. "*Yes,*" he growled, "I am searching for Legolas. *And*
your foster-son. I have a great deal to... discuss... with that mortal."
Elrond winced. From the Mirkwood elf's tone, he guessed that the 'discussion' Thranduil had in
mind would be less with words and more with sharp implements to Aragorn's soft areas.
//By the Valar, Estel! The things I have to get you out of!//
But he would. Somehow, he would talk Thranduil out of doing Aragorn bodily harm.
That was *his* job, after all.
//Estel has it coming this time!// Elrond thought even as he mentally organized the arguments he
would use to turn Thranduil to his way of thinking. //The legitimacy issue,// he thought to
himself, //Thranduil always stresses that point. If he does away with Estel, Legolas' child, the
future heir of Mirkwood, will have no chance at legitimacy. That should work.//
Knowing Thranduil, once he latched onto that thought, he would rush the two into a marriage bond
at the first available opportunity.
//At least it will not be a loveless match,// Elrond thought consolingly to himself. //If they
loved each other enough to lie together and get Legolas with child, no matter the impossible,
surely their love is great enough to enter into marriage together!//
Even as he grudgingly let the Peredhel follow him back into his tent to speak with him, Thranduil
kept an ear cocked, listening subconsciously for any sign of his son. Surely if Legolas had been
close, he would have seen the Mirkwood party's camp (since it was not hidden at all by Elven
standards) and come there to rest.
Even as Elrond began to speak, Thranduil could sense the gathering darkness of evil things on the
far bank of the river and gave brief thanks to the Valar that Legolas was not this far south yet,
nor on that side of the Anduin.
***
It was not yet full dark when Legolas' words or warning were proven true.
Far too late to change anything.
And so in the hills near to the Rauros, the Fellowship was shattered. Boromir, lost to death.
Merry and Pippin, captured by merciless orcs and Uruk-hai. Frodo and Sam, striking out on their
own during the confusion, heading alone for the Emyn Muir and Mordor.
By the time full dark fell, all that was left of the Fellowship in their ill-chosen camp were
Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. Aragorn and Gimli saw to their weapons and provisions, sharpening
this, packing that, leaving the other thing in an ever-growing pile of supplies to be left behind.
Legolas, having fought beside them against the black tide of evil creatures, lay limp upon his
blankets, deep in exhausted sleep. He had not spoken to Aragorn after the battle was over, had
not said a thing about his previous warning and the man's careless dismissal of it. He did not
speak the words aloud, but his eyes screamed them just the same.
Gimli, out gathering firewood when Legolas had given his warning, was left in the dark about the
reason for Legolas' vitreous glare and Aragorn's growing guilt. He did not know the reason, but
even he could feel the tension between the two.
The next morning, they made ready to depart. Aragorn and Gimli took up the greatest portion of
their supplies, leaving Legolas burdened only with a light pack. Legolas spoke no words of
accusation that morning either.
As they left the clearing, gradually increasing their pace, Aragorn broke the silence. "Legolas,
if you feel tired--"
"I will manage," came the clipped reply.
"But if you--"
"I. Will. Manage."
Aragorn subsided. Surely, Legolas would not risk harm to himself or the child by overexerting
himself. Especially after the day before. He sighed. Legolas was right to be upset; he should
have known to trust the warning the Elf had given, as Legolas was *not* one to overexaggerate
peril. But he had been so *sure* that it was just wild emotion; that one maternal gesture
overriding his better judgement.
He shook his head. When they stopped for a rest in a few hours' time, he owed Legolas an apology.
For his part, Legolas was content to run along beside the man and dwarf. Even he, son of
Thranduil and grandson of Oropher that he was, could not hold on to his ire upon feeling the
first little flutters from inside him. He still had no idea how he was going to tell his father
about his condition, nor any idea how the elder Elf would react to the news, but pushed that
troubling thought away.
His father, after all, was at home in Mirkwood, oblivious.
TBC...
.
;oP Hope you liked it! The next chapters will move forward through time in little jumps; the
next chapter should have L, A, & G in Helm's Deep, the next the battle at the Pelennor, the one
after that before the gates of Barad-dur, etc. That will hopefulls speed the story up some.
Like the chapter? Please take a moment and let the plotbunnies and I know what you think! Thanks!!
:oD