Title: How Does It Feel (28/?)

Author: palephoenix (palephoenix(underscore)6(at)yahoo.ca)

Genre: LOTR FP-het

Pairing: Legolas/OFC

Rating: PG for now...

Warning: Mary Sue... I'm in a Mary Sue mood... I can't fathom why anyone who doesn't like Mary Sues would read a fic clearly labelled as such... But apparently some have... -rolls her eyes- When you review telling me my story sucks because it's a Mary Sue all you end up doing is giving me my good laugh of the day.

Archive: ,

Disclaimer: Not for profit, purely for entertainment purposes. The characters belong to Tolkien and the actors belong to themselves. I'm just borrowing them. I don't know the actors; if I did I wouldn't be writing this... I'd be keeping Orlando in my bed for the next five years.

Feedback: pretty please with Orlando on top???

Notes: Eilish is pronounced 'eye-lish'... As far as I know it is the Irish version of Elizabeth... As in previous chapters, words in italics are in elvish, with the translation at the end of the paragraph. This chapter is written with canon events, not movie events. Any dialogue (and only dialogue) marked with an asterisk () is taken directly, word for word, from the book.

Summary: Labour and delivery nurse Eilish Bell is in a car accident and finds herself thrown into Middle Earth.

Chapter 28

As the day went on, the fog thinned. Aragorn and Legolas went ashore and it was decided they would walk a way, looking for somewhere the group might portage the boats and baggage past the rapids. It was decided, much to Eilish and Frodo's dismay, that the elf and man would explore for awhile, telling the others to wait for them for one day. If they hadn't returned by that time then those who remained should assume something had happened and should choose another leader and continue without them.

Eilish climbed out of the boat and hugged Legolas tightly. "Be careful," She whispered.

"I shall," Legolas said softly. "Amin mela lle, Caran," He said and kissed her deeply, then quickly started off with Aragorn. -I love you, Red-

Eilish watched them disappear into the mist and climbed back into the boat with Gimli, tears pricking her eyes.

"He'll be back, lass," Gimli said reassuringly. Eilish nodded, afraid to speak lest she start to cry.

She sat huddled in the boat, staring at the fog blankly. Much to her relief, Legolas and Aragorn returned within three hours. When Legolas climbed back into the boat Eilish immediately fell into his arms and kissed him.

"All is well," Aragorn said, climbing down the bank. "There is a track, and it leads to a good landing site that is still serviceable. The distance is not great: the head of the Rapids is but half a mile below us, and they are little more than a mile long. Not far beyond them the stream becomes clear and smooth again, though it runs swiftly. Our hardest task will be to get our boats and baggage to the old portage-way. We have found it, but it lies well back from the water-side here, and runs under the lee of a rock-wall, a furlong or more from the shore. We did not find where the northward landing lies. If it still remains, we must have passed it yesterday night. We might labour far upstream and yet miss it in the fog. I fear we must leave the River now, and make for the portage-way as best we can from here."

Again Boromir voiced his opposition, claiming it would be a difficult task even if they were all men. To which Aragorn replied that they would try it, regardless.

"Aye, we will," Gimli agreed. "The legs of Men will lag on a rough road, while a Dwarf goes on, be the burden twice his own weight, Master Boromir!"

"Damn straight, Gimli! And so will those of this woman!" Eilish exclaimed, sending Boromir utter irritation.

The portage indeed proved difficult, but the Fellowship got it done. The boats proved to be lighter than expected, Merry and Pippin alone able to carry their boat long the flat path. The two Men, though, had to carry them over the rough ground, while the rest of the group carried the baggage. Once the three boats were in the portage-way the group moved on together. Soon the portage-way moved back toward the water, meeting the edge of a small pool, that seemed to have been carved by the swirling water. By the time they reached the pool the afternoon was passed and dusk was closing in on the weary Fellowship. Worn out as they were, they decided they would have to rest there for the night.

Eilish wearily curled up in her blanked, and cuddled up to Legolas, thankful for the added warmth and needing the comfort of his closeness. Tired as she was, she soon drifted to sleep.

The night passed without incident, save for a drizzle of rain. When it was fully light the group started out once again. They took to the River in their elven boats, staying as close as possible to the western shore. As they went they could see the faint outlines of the cliffs on either side of the River. Around midmorning the clouds gathered and it began to rain heavily. The Fellowship pulled skin-covers over the boats to prevent them being flooded. Little could be seen through the sheets of water.

Thankfully the rain did not last long and the clouds soon broke, enabling the Fellowship to at last see their surroundings. The Company found themselves to be in a wide ravine, which soon grew narrower, causing the River to grow swifter. The boats moved down the River at a quick pace. A strip of sky could be seen above, ending before them in the dark hills of Emyn Muil.

Squinting hard, Eilish could see, far in the distance, two huge pillars of rock, lying on either side of the River. Soon a narrow gap could be seen between the pillars.

"Behold, the Argonath, the pillars of Kings!" Aragorn called. "We shall pass them soon. Keep the boats in line, and as far apart as you can! Hold the middle of the stream!"

Eilish was wide-eyed at the sight of the Argonath. "Whoa," she breathed, craning her neck to see the whole of the enormous statues. "That is incredible."

On the other side of the Argonath sheer cliffs reaching a dizzying height could be seen. Eilish saw Frodo and Sam shivering and huddling down in their boat.

"What a place! What a horrible place! Just let me get out of this boat, and I'll never wet my toes in a puddle again, let alone a river!" Sam moaned.

"Fear not!" Aragorn told them, a strange light in his eyes. "Long have I desired to look upon the likenesses of Isildur and Anarion, my sires of old. Under their shadow Elessar, the Elfstone son of Arathorn of the House of Valandil Isildur's son, heir of Elendil, has nought to dread!"

The boats were now in a deep chasm, long and dark, the sounds of the wind and water rushing echoing off the stone walls. The ravine curved to the west, leaving them in the dark for awhile. Finally a tall gap of light could be seen, growing as they came closer. The boats shot through the gap and out into the bright stream.

The sun was still bright in the sky, beginning to sink into the west. The River now spread out into a long lake, Nen Hithoel, bordered by steep, treed hills. At the southern end there were three large peaks, the centremost set before the others, surrounded by water. The roar of the Falls of Rauros could be heard, like distant thunder.

"Behold Tol Brandir!" Said Aragorn, gesturing to the centre peak. "Upon the left stands Amon Lhaw, and upon the right is Amon Hen, the Hills of Hearing and of Sight. In the days of the great kings there were high seats upon them, and watch was kept there. But it is said that no foot of man or beast had ever been set upon Tol Brandir. Ere the shade of night falls we shall come to them. I hear the endless voice of Rauros calling."

The Company rested for a while, drifting on the current that flowed through the middle of the lake. They ate a little, then took up paddles again. The sun was red, sinking in the west. A few pale stars could be seen in the growing twilight. By the time the group reached the foot of the hills darkness had fallen. Aragorn led them to the right fork of the River. The hills here were covered in green grass, from the foot of Amon Hen to the water's edge. A small spring tumbled down the hill to the river.

"Here we will rest tonight," Aragorn announced. "This is the lawn of Parth Galen: a fair place in the summer days of old. Let us hope that no evil had yet come here."

They dragged the boats up onto the grassy shore and made camp beside them. The tenth day of the journey was ended. They could go no further without making the choice of their path: east or west. The last stage out their journey was laid before them.