I got photo's in my profile! I found an awesome picture by John Howe of Gimli and Legolas at Helm's deep, and another one of a female elvish archer. Hopefully the links work!
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with Tolkien or profit from this (except for my reader reviews). Only the plot twists and OC's are mine. :)
Recap: Elmarta realizes that now they are following the movie version. As they are awaiting for the Orcs to arrive at Helms Deep, a troop of elves arrive to help. Elmarta saves Haldir (much to his discontent).
Author's Notes: Hmm. . . I have a few more shocking twists up my sleeve, so don't get complacent :-) College is getting frantic right now; I still plan to update once a week, but leave me reviews to keep me alive and motivated!
Chapter 26: Long Sought Explanations
The army left Helms Deep and started back across the plains to Edoras. Gandalf and Theoden held a council and decided that they would go to Isenguard to deal with Sauruman. The fellowship followed Gandalf hoping to find Merry and Pippin along the way.
"It has been far to long since we saw them," Boromir said happily to Elmarta in Sindarin. "I am glad that the battle is over. Soon, mellon nin, we shall be going home if all goes well."
"You are eager to return home?" Elmarta asked. "Your Sindarin is excellent, Boromir. You are an apt pupil."
"Thank you. The four of you were excellent tutors. Far better than the ones I suffered growing up. And yes, of course I long to return home. Are you not eager to return to your home as well? How can you not? It is a wonderful place," Boromir said remembering back to their stay there.
"U-ethelithon," she said softly. (A/N: I will not return) Boromir was shocked.
"How do you know such things?" He asked.
"By the time this war is over, my home will have been attacked 3 times. Those of my kin who are not fighting are leaving for the undying lands. When this is over, I shall join those who left before me," she said vaguely. She spoke the truth, but said it so that Boromir would think she was going to sail away with her kind. She didn't want to worry him that she was planing on going to Valinor the other way, to the Halls of Mandos.
The Company rode on to Isenguard. Legolas, Elmarta, Boromir, Aragorn, Eomer with Gimli, Gandalf, and Theoden (A/N: Haldir, Elrohir, and Elladan stayed with the rest of the army who are camping elsewhere) rode up through the murky waters as Gandalf approached Treebeard.
"Hello my lords and lady!" Merry called out to them from where he and Pippin were sitting. Elmarta couldn't help but laugh. At least this was going according to plan, which meant that, hopefully, Frodo and Sam were too.
"What? Here you are eating . . .and smoking!" Gimli called from behind Eomer.
"What is going on here?" Boromir asked, equally happy to see the hobbits were well.
"Treebeard has taken over Isenguard," Merry said.
Gandalf rode Shadowfax over to the base of Sauruman's tower. He and Wormtongue could be seen from below.
By this time, Elmarta decided just to go with the flow. Now she was in Peter's version and she knew that just as well as the book version.
"Sauruman!" Gandalf cried out.
"Ah, Theoden king. You have long made peace with your enemies, can we not sit down and talk this over?" he asked.
"We will have peace once you have paid for your crimes," Theoden called up.
Elmarta listened to the exchange. It was obvious Sauruman would not give them any information and the longer she sat listening to them, Elmarta got angry, knowing that later the white wizard would escape with his henchmen and pillage and burn the shire.
I'm already condemned, so why not try to help out Frodo while I can? While I am still alive?
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Everyone was losing patience with Sauroman and would like nothing better than to just let him rot up there.
"Shoot him and be done with it," Gimli told Legolas.
Before the words died from Gimli's throat, Wormtongue plunged over the tower and fell down into the murky water. An arrow pierced directly into his heart.
Everyone sat there stunned. No one moved for a moment.
Finally, it was Elmarta's voice that broke the silence. "Do your worse Sauruman, but do it without the aid of your cowardly servant," she called up, and then she led her horse away from the tower.
Everyone was stunned. Pippin, who couldn't seem to take his eyes off the body, saw out of the corner of his eye a glow coming from his left. He slid off his horse and went treading through the water to get it.
"Peregrin Took, give that to me," Gandalf said and wrapped it in his cloak.
The others followed after Elmarta and Legolas (who left after her).
"By the Valar, what was that about?" Legolas asked.
"Are you telling me he didn't deserved it?" Elmarta asked.
"You were never one to act like that," Legolas said.
"He was the one who told Sauruman how to destroy the keep. He knew the weakness. Plus, he will continue to act as Sauruman's puppet, and they will bring about even greater evil for the hobbits before this is through."
"Melethril, what is going on?" he asked. Elmarta shook her head. "Not now," she whispered as the others rode up.
"I have no idea why you did such a thing as that, my lady, but your aim was impeccable," Eomer said.
"I missed," Elmarta said lightly, causing the others to look startled. "I was aiming for the white wizard," she said with a laugh.
No body moved.
"I was only joking. Although it would have been better if I did shoot him instead," Elmarta said.
"You confuse me, my lady," Eomer confessed. "Ever since that day on the plains I have yet to understand you."
"Even after all these months she still surprises me," Boromir told him with a grin.
"Surprises are the fruit of life. They keep one feeling young and refresh, even after ages of the earth," Elmarta said.
"We have tarried here long enough," Theoden said, and led them back to the rest of his army.
"What has happened?" Elrohir asked as they rode up.
"What makes you think anything happened?" Boromir asked.
They pointed to Elmarta and Legolas. "Something is wrong between them. They seem more distant," Elrohir said.
Haldir walked up and held Elmarta's reigns as she dismounted. "What did you do?" He asked wearily.
"Why do you think I did anything?" She asked.
Haldir just stared at her. Elmarta shrugged. "Let them explain, it will be more exciting hearing it from them," she said.
Elmarta went looking for Legolas. "Melethron," she called out.
"I am tired of you keeping this from me," Legolas said.
Elmarta sighed. "You are not the only one who does not know. Not even Khanwen, Lothiriel, and Theodwyn know everything."
"Like why you went to that Earth in the first place," he said. Elmarta nodded. "So?" he asked.
"You want to talk about it here?" She asked but she could tell by Legolas' stance that he wasn't going anywhere until Elmarta told him. She matched his posturing. "You want the truth? I angered the Valar and now I am being tested, probably failing miserably too," Elmarta said.
Legolas's arms fell to his sides. "What?" he asked. "How could you have angered the Valar?" he asked surprised.
"What did you expect me to say?" She asked. Legolas shrugged. "Not that," he said.
There was a pause for a long time. "What did you do that could have angered the valar?" he asked finally.
"I challenged them," she admitted.
"Melethril . . ." Legolas said softly. He was sorry for her. "What did you do?"
"It wasn't something that I did, more like something I said," Elmarta paused before continuing. "You know that the Noldorin were banished for their defiance of the Valar . . ."
"For leaving Valinor and returning to Middle Earth," Legolas said.
Elmarta nodded. "Then the kinslaying happened. My mother was not apart of that, and yet for following her brothers and wishing to find her own place in Middle Earth she was forbidden to return to Valinor. My father knew this and yet he was willing to stay here, on Middle Earth, with my mother even now when our time is ending. I watched as my uncles were killed and passed on to Valinor. Even Glorfindel was forgiven for his acts by the Valar. They even re-incarnated him on Middle earth. I was angry that they would not even test my mother. For an age now she has been battling Saurun on her own. She has protected the people of Lorien. She wasn't even a part of the Kinslaying, and they would not test her or restore her grace. I was angry and spoke out against the Valar," Elmarta confessed.
"She has passed her test now, you told me," he said.
"Yes, after I returned, so it was worth the entire challenge," Elmarta declared.
"The others do not know this?" He asked.
Elmarta shook her head. "Khanwen refused to let me go by myself. The other two were chosen to accompany me. They don't know why, although by now they will probably have their suspicions."
"There is more to this?" Legolas asked with a grin.
"Why are you smiling?" Elmarta asked.
"Because you confided in me first, it is a selfish reason," he admitted. "You are being tested you said?" He asked, his tone serious again. Elmarta nodded. "When?"
"Why?"
"I want to help you," he said.
Elmarta shook her head. "I must do this alone. Not even the girls know I am being tested."
"When is this test, though?" he asked.
"Now."
Legolas practically jumped. "You are being tested now? And . . . what if you fail?" he asked.
"I don't think it is a matter of passing or failing. I think it is more that my outcome will . . .if I am forgiven when it is over, I may find peace in the undying lands."
"Melethril," Legolas said softly. "I will remain here with you."
"That is easy to say now, for you do not know the calling of the sea. Not yet, at least."
"I will go wherever you go," he said firmly.
Elmarta laughed. "I will hold you to that," she said.
They stayed there together for awhile before they rejoined the others. Haldir gave them a knowing look. "Does Haldir know about this test?" Legolas whispered. Elmarta shook her head.
"No. He knows what I am doing, just not why I am doing it."
"And he disagreed, that is why you were arguing earlier," Legolas said. Elmarta nodded.
"I have more questions, but we have time for that later," Legolas said. "Your nephews are worrying about you," he said, and indeed, Elrohir and Elladan looked confused as they talked with Haldir, Boromir, and Eomer.
"That does not sound like Elmarta," Elrohir said.
"Nay, Aunt was not like that . . .before," Elladan said.
Haldir just said nothing as he watched Elmarta approach them. "You certainly seem to take matters into your hands lately," he said.
"So they told you about Wormtongue did they?" She said. She grabbed some of the food Boromir offered her. "Ah, imagine your reactions if I killed Sauruman!" she joked.
Legolas quickly changed the subject for her. She gave him a grateful smile.
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Author's Notes: Well, another chapter done! I'm not sure on the reaction to this chapter, but my beta insisted I keep it. Like I said in my AN way at the top, there is still one major plot twist coming up! (wink, wink!) And Lothiriel and Eomer meet coming up in the next chapter. :-)
MarinaWings-- I am glad I am not boring you yet! Thanks for all your constant reviews!
Childofthekng-- as a reader, I hate cliffhangers, but as an author, I love them. I try not to leave to many cliffies in my stories, but there are a few that will be to irresistible to resist. Thank you for all your constant reviews!