I've decided to write a new LOTR story completely different from my previous one, which I will probably take down when I get home from classes today or something. This new idea has been brewing in my head lately so I decided to give it a shot and see where this one will take me. I've always loved Legolas XD and I can't wait to see The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug when it comes out Friday! Anyone else going to watch it? Orlando Bloom is coming back XD
Summary: Laeriel had no recollections of how she came to Rivendell. The only thing she knows is Lord Elrond raised her as his own. When the Council of Elrond is called forth to determine the fate of all Middle-Earth, Laeriel joins the Fellowship in hopes of unraveling the mysterious threads surrounding her past. What she discovers will threaten to rip apart the lives of those whom she holds dear...
Laeriel is one of the translations of my real name, the source I used for this is a website called Council of Elrond.
Reviews are welcome!
Constructive criticism also welcomed!
Anything else shall be ignored and used to heat my house (aka flames).
I hope you all like this new story!
Rating: T
Pairing: Legolas/OC
Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR or any of its affiliated belongings!
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Those With Courage
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Battle Of Pelennor Fields II
"We are almost at Minas Tirith," Aragorn murmured as the looming White City came into view.
Laeriel had settled down a bit after the little argument she had with Legolas, and the two Elves were now standing next to one another on the stern of the ship. The elf-maiden had a hand pressed around her upper left arm, where the curse was beginning to bother and ache. She didn't dare tell Legolas this, but she could feel her strength fading with each passing moment. A warm sensation prickled her neck area, and Laeriel glanced down her tunic to see the necklace was glowing brightly. Whenever the necklace glowed, she could feel her strength returning and the aching subsiding.
"Do not fear. We will win this battle," Legolas answered.
"My axe is dying to kill some Orcs," grunted Gimli.
The elf-maiden smiled.
"Rally to me!" Théoden cried as they killed another Mûmakil. "To me!"
Looking upward at the sky the Rohan King spotted a giant Nazgûl flying right at him. His horse tried to run but the fell creature snatched up both Man and horse, tossing them into the air, where Théoden became trapped underneath his steed. Pinned and unable to move, he tried desperately to pull himself free but his strength was fading fast.
"Feast on his flesh," the Witch King breathed.
Théoden glanced up in agitation as he tried even harder to move away but his legs were pinned. Suddenly before the Nazgûl could reach down, a soldier stood in front of him with a sword and shield in hand.
"I will kill you if you touch him," the soldier hissed.
"Do not come between a Nazgûl and his prey."
The gigantic beast lunged at Éowyn but she side-stepped out of the way, cutting off the Nazgûl's head with her sword. It flailed about blindly until the Witch King was forced to dismount his beast. The maiden of Rohan hastily grabbed a wooden shield from the floor and turned, eyes widening as she stared at the morning star in the wraith's hand. The Witch King slammed it forcefully into her but Éowyn rolled out of the way. This happened for three more times, with the maiden ducking and jumping away from the weapon. However the morning star eventually caught her, breaking the wooden shield and her arm at the same time. She collapsed on the ground breathlessly as the Witch King towered over her.
Aragorn ordered them to hide below the sides of the ship so they wouldn't be seen as they neared the harbor. Anticipation and eagerness pounded through Laeriel's veins. This is it. This is the battle that will determine the fate of her cousin's city, and the elf-maiden would rather die defending it than see Gondor become another of Sauron's realms.
"Late as usual, pirate scum!" she heard an Orc bark as their ships stopped. "There's knifework here needs doing. Come on you sea rats, get off your ships!"
She looked to her cousin for the signal.
The Ranger inclined his head once.
Together Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Laeriel jumped off from the ship, startling the Orcs as their expressions morphed to one of shock.
"There's plenty for the both of us, may the best Dwarf win!"
They charged forward towards the Orcs while the undead army surged out from behind them. The look on the Orcs faces were enough to give hope to Laeriel as they crashed into the creatures. Firing arrow after arrow from her quiver, the elf-maiden made sure none escaped alive. What she couldn't shoot with her bow, she made up for with her twin blades, wielding them with deadly accuracy, slashing Orcs left and right with her weapons.
Éowyn gasped as the Witch King lifted her up by the throat, and she frantically tried to pry his hand away.
"You fool," it hissed in her face. "No Man can kill me. Die now!"
Her eyes fell upon Merry, who had crept up unnoticed behind the Witch King's back. The Hobbit raised his sword in the air and stabbed it into the wraith's back. He screamed in agony and fell backwards, clutching his sword arm while the Witch King dropped Éowyn and fell to the ground. Using this chance the maiden pulled off her helmet, revealing herself before the wraith.
"I am no Man!" she exclaimed.
With a loud yell she thrust her sword forward into the face of the Witch King. A spark emitted from the space between its helmet and her sword was thrown backwards. The Witch King gave a loud shrill yelp as it folded in on itself, and Éowyn watched as the creature disappeared from sight.
"Fifteen, sixteen," Legolas muttered as he fired arrows consecutively.
Farther away Laeriel was fighting near the fallen bodies of the riders of Rohan. Her eyes spotted an Orc moving towards a fallen soldier several feet away from her. Not wanting another to lose their life, the elf-maiden kicked the Orc coming at her, and then began running towards the one trailing after the person on the ground. Upon closer inspection as she neared, Laeriel realized it was not a soldier, but Éowyn. The maiden of Rohan had somehow disguised herself as a soldier and was frantically crawling away from the vile creature.
"Merry!" she heard her call.
"He won't make it," Laeriel murmured.
Drawing an arrow from her quiver, the Elleth quickly notted it and let it soar through the air.
The arrow pierced the Orc right through the throat.
"Legolas!" Aragorn shouted.
The Mirkwood Prince whirled around while his friend pointed at a Mûmakil coming straight for them. Steeling himself for this the nimble Elf ran forward towards the gigantic creature. Deftly leaping onto the fore feet of the beast, Legolas began climbing upward, leaping towards the hind legs when a trunk came swinging his way. Using the arrows protruding from its body as a ladder of sorts, he made his way towards the top of the Mûmakil and started pulling out more arrows.
"Thirty three, thirty four," he continued as bodies fell from the construction.
Haradrim began running towards him while others fired arrow in his direction, but the swift Prince was quicker and fought them off. Grabbing a swinging rope hanging from the side, Legolas swung down towards the thick ropes holding the construction on the beast's back. Keeping his grip on the rope firm as he spun around in circles due to the running, he quickly unsheathed one of his blades. Slashing twice at the coarse ropes keeping the construction in place, Legolas used the momentum to pull himself back up as the tent fell off and onto the ground, where the undead army swarmed around it. Left standing alone as the Mûmakil continued running without a guide this time, Legolas ran towards the head. Once there he grabbed three arrows from his quiver, sighted, and let them fly right into the beast's skull. The Mûmakil let out a loud roar as its legs buckled underneath. Legolas slid down the trunk of the beast coolly, landing safely right in front of Gimli as he cocked his head once to the side.
Gimli stared at the fallen beast. "That still only counts as one!" he exclaimed.
Laeriel made her way over to where Éowyn was just as the maiden of Rohan managed to crawl to where her uncle laid. Tears formed in the elf-maiden's eyes as she stepped back briefly, giving the two some privacy while making sure no more Orcs would disturb the two.
"I know your face," Théoden murmured while she gently stroked his face. "Éowyn," he smiled at his niece, "my eyes darken."
The smile on her face faded. "No," she said. "No. I'm going to save you!"
Théoden returned the smile. "You already did. Éowyn, my body is broken. You have to let me go," he whispered.
"No," she shook her head gently, fighting back tears which were threatening to pour down her face.
"I go to my fathers, in whose mighty company; I shall not now feel ashamed."
The King of Rohan gave his niece one final, loving look.
"Éowyn," he breathed.
His hand fell limply to his side. Éowyn burst into tears as she sat there, cradling her uncle's body against her own. Seeing this the elf-maiden knelt next to her friend, wrapping her arms around the maiden's shoulder while she mourned silently for Théoden's passing. She knew what it felt like to lose a loved one, after all her entire village was killed when she was a young infant. Hearing the tale from Hîrnagor's spirit made it difficult to bear. Together the two cried silently for the King who had bravely led his army to aid Gondor, and died an honorable death in the end.
With the Orcs driven back and Gondor safe from Sauron's forces, Aragorn stood face to face with the King of the Dead while the others watched on silently.
"Release us!" demanded the spectral.
"Bad idea!" Gimli spoke up as the King glared at the Dwarf. "Very handy in a tight spot these lads, despite the fact they're dead."
The King flicked his eyes back to Aragorn. "You gave us your word!"
Aragorn nodded. "I hold your oath fulfilled. Go. Be at peace," he said to the army.
The King of the Dead smiled at the Ranger. A strong wind began blowing through the army as Aragorn watched on, noticing how the spectral had a peaceful look on his face. Slowly the army began to fade from view until only the bony, skeletal remains of the King remained, and he too, vanished with the rest of his army. Aragorn turned around and looked at Legolas, who bowed low to him as the Ranger smiled.
Éomer walked amongst the dead bodies, searching for any signs of those he knew. Next to him trotted Pippin, the Hobbit also searching for traces of either Merry or Aragorn and the others. He came upon a cloak on the floor, one he recognized as belonging to his friend, and snatched it up from the ground.
"Merry!" he shouted.
"No!" Éomer gasped as he rushed towards the body of his sister.
Legolas noticed the commotion and rested his gaze upon two bodies on the ground. The first one he saw Éomer pick up and cradle, but the second was far too familiar for the Mirkwood Prince to ignore.
"Laeriel!"
His beloved was lying on the ground next to Éowyn, with three arrows protruding from her back. There were also slash marks and cuts all along her body. Judging from the way she was lying over the maiden, Legolas knew immediately Laeriel had protected Éowyn from an attack. Her Galadhrim bow from her grandmother lay a few feet from her hand, while her blades were covered with crimson blood. Whatever attacked her must have used her swords against her. The sight of her was enough to make his blood boil, and Legolas vowed silently to discover who had done this vile deed.
"She protected her from harm," the Mirkwood Prince said flatly.
"I...I am sorry for this Legolas...I had no idea Éowyn..." Éomer trailed off.
Sliding his arms underneath her body Legolas gently picked up Laeriel after pulling the arrows from her back.
"We must get them back to the city."
With the wounded brought to the Houses of Healing within Gondor, Aragorn walked slowly over to his cousin first. Legolas was gently washing the blood from her wounds while a healer worked to bandage her abdomen. Wordlessly the two looked at one another, with the latter narrowing his eyes briefly before going back to attending to his beloved. The Ranger knew Legolas would not rest until he discovered who had done this to Laeriel, and he himself would feel guilty if he didn't help his friend discover the truth.
A few feet away sat Éomer who was watching over the body of his sister. She had been dressed in a brown robe, and laid out flat across the floor. Aragorn approached and took a seat, gently lifting her damaged arm to look at it. The sight of her broken arm caused Aragorn to bow his head. Squeezing water out of a cloth sitting in a basin, he began to bathe her head with it while Éomer watched in grief. Suddenly Éowyn breathed heavily and her eyes opened to look at the Ranger.
With a sigh, you turn away,
With a deepening heart no words to say.
You will find that the world has changed forever.
Several weeks had passed since the battle of Pelennor Fields. Éowyn had since then recovered from her injuries, and was standing near a window. She moved to walk closer and stare at the rising sun, while Faramir quietly watched her from where she stood.
And the trees are now turning from green to gold,
And the sun is now fading, I wish I could hold you closer.
Pippin was the only one still on the battlefield that evening, as he continued to search for the body of Merry.
"Merry!" he cried, running forward to where his friend was.
Rolling an Orc body off his friend which had concealed him from view, Pippin cradled Merry's body on his lap, noting the blood on the corner of his friend's lips.
"Merry it's me," he whispered as the Hobbit opened his eyes to look at him. "It's Pippin!"
"I'd knew you'd find me," Merry whispered hoarsely as he smiled.
"Yes," Pippin nodded vigorously.
Merry frowned slightly at his friend. "Are you going to leave me?" he asked.
"No Merry, I'm going to look after you."
He covered his friend with the fallen cloak and helped him back towards the gated city of Minas Tirith.
"How is she?" Aragorn asked, entering the room where Laeriel was resting in.
Legolas had his head bowed and his hands gripping those of his beloved. It had been at least three weeks and still Laeriel showed no signs of waking up. No matter what they did or tried, the elf-maiden hadn't moved since being brought into the Houses of Healing. Even Gandalf was at a loss. Externally all her wounds had healed up without any complications, but for some reason that eludes even him, the White Wizard could not fathom why Laeriel isn't awakening.
"Will she remain like this?" Legolas asked brokenly.
Gandalf sighed heavily and leaned on his staff. "I cannot say for sure Legolas, but I have a feeling she will awaken soon."
The Mirkwood Prince pressed his forehead against her hand.
"Look!" Aragorn suddenly cried.
All eyes in the room turned to Laeriel's body with Legolas being the most intent. To their horror blood began trickling out of the corner of her mouth. The Mirkwood Prince made to wipe it up but Gandalf held him back, having sensed it was no ordinary blood.
"No!" he snapped. "Do not touch her!"
He pushed Legolas out of the way and stood over the elf-maiden, raising his staff and pointing it at her. Legolas lunged forward at this point but Aragorn grabbed his arms, restricting his friend's movements while the Mirkwood Prince thrashed violently about.
"Be calm my friend," Aragorn tried to reason.
"Leithio nin Aragorn!" spat Legolas angrily.
"Boe de nestad, Legolas."
Legolas struggled once more but stopped when he realized what Aragorn said was true.
"Come forth foul beast! I command you to leave her body!" Gandalf roared.
Laeriel's body convulsed and arched violently off the bed as her eyes flew open. However they were not her eyes, and Gandalf felt the urge to hasten with his actions lest they forever lost the elf-maiden to Sauron's hold.
"Begone!" he commanded.
She began to laugh.
But it was not her laugh.
It was full of evil and darkness.
"She belongs to me!" the voice of Sauron said.
"How dare you speak with her body!" Legolas shouted.
"Aragorn, soon you will bow to me!" cackled the possessed elf-maiden.
Gandalf shoved his staff in front of him just like he did with Théoden. "Leave her body and never return!"
"Laeriel is mine! I have marked her since she was little!"
"Begone!"
The White Wizard whirled his staff around him, striking Laeriel in the head as the elf-maiden let out a gasp. Wrenching himself free from Aragorn's hold, Legolas ran forward and caught his beloved while Gandalf lowered his staff and exhaled loudly.
"Laeriel! Laeriel!"
Her eyes fluttered open again and this time they were blue.
"Legolas?..."
To be continued...
Review?
How's the story so far?
I'm debating on if I should have Laeriel kidnapped by Sauron or not.
What do you all think?
See you all next chapter!
I am going to bury myself in my blankets now, since it is freezing here where I live.
Shadow Songstress~