Chapter Thirty - Southwards

The was a glare from behind the crouched figure, obscuring its features. But there was no denying the wild hair and long, sharp fingers, nor the deep violet skin.

A Reaper.

Legolas did not know what to do. His weapons were all out of reach and he could not get to his long knives without releasing Caled. He had no desire to alert her to the creature's presence, shaken as she was.

The Reaper cocked its head, a soft murmur of a chuckle showing its amusement at Legolas' inner struggle.

Legolas fought to keep from leaping at the foul being. Was this the reason the servant's head exploded? Just the memory of that sent a shiver of disgust through Legolas. Had the Reaper meant to kill the maid?

Or had it been aiming for Caled? Had its intent been to kill her instead?

As if sensing his thoughts, the Reaper soundlessly moved off the railing. It silently advanced toward them, topaz eyes flashing above a grinning mouth.

Legolas steeled his nerves, knowing there was no other way but to fight-

A form shot up from the ground, placing itself between the Reaper and Legolas and Caled. It streaked across the distance, barreling into the Reaper. It was thrown back, striking the railing with a loud 'CRACK.'

Caled whirled around, jumping slightly.

Hunched a few feet away, eyeing the dazed Reaper, was a second Reaper. This one drew Legolas' attention for a couple of reasons. Namely the fact that the mane was black streaked with silvery white instead of just having the front striped. Another was a sudden thought that this Reaper was wearing clothes. Taken they were ragged, filthy, and big on the thin frame, but it was the first time he recalled even noticing clothes on one of them. Which of course brought the realization that none of the Reapers had features that separated them as 'male' or 'female.'

Then another realization drove all other thought away. Legolas knew this Reaper. He had seen it in visions. He had conversed with it.

"You," Caled whispered, taking a small step toward the Reaper.

The Reaper spun around, white-on-black eyes wide and filled with fear. There was something slightly feminine about the face, making Legolas believe it was indeed female. She jerked her eyes from Legolas to Caled, tense.

A shiver ran down Legolas' spine. A tickling voice whispered.

/...useless...feeble...unworthy of her own gift, the foul thing...

Then the Reaper slowly backed away. When she reached the first Reaper, she grabbed it by the arm.

Before their eyes, the two vanished.

Mornie returned shortly after with Elrond, Gandalf, and several others. Legolas and Caled had moved out of the room, not wanting to be in there with the body any longer. Caled was still shaking slightly but was otherwise fine. Legolas took her to his room, insisting she take a drink of wine to settle herself. He took some as well, surprised to see how uneasy his own grip was.

After they had a few cupfuls, Caled took a breath. "What was that about?" she said, raising her eyes from the wine in her cup to look at Legolas.

"No idea," he said, shrugging.

Caled lowered her eyes for a moment then said hesitantly, "Do you think they know?"

Legolas did not have to ask what she meant. The thought had crossed his mind as well: Zage, if he was indeed a leader of the Reapers, could have gotten word about their plans to investigate the Harnen River and decided to eliminate them. After all, they had just seen two Reapers vanish in to thin air, no doubt retreating.

"I would not doubt it," he answered. "It was good luck that you tripped when you did, else-"

"I didn't trip."

Legolas blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

Caled's gaze was unwavering yet she bit her lip, considering her words. "I didn't trip," she said again. "There was nothing on the floor for me to trip over. I-I felt something grab my foot. I think it was a hand." The last sentence she whispered, as if unsure she should say it.

Legolas mulled her words over, frowning. "You're saying that someone or something made you trip?"

Caled flushed yet not from embarrassment. "This may sound even crazier, Elf, but-" she glanced at the door to make sure it was closed. She scooted to the edge of the chair she was sitting in, leaning closer to him. "I know that Reaper, the one with black and white hair."

Seeing as how he too had recognized it, Legolas did not reply and waited to see if she would elaborate.

She did. "In Orthanc, in my cell, there was this mirror-I'm sure you saw it," she added, voice becoming a bit sadder. "It's the one thing I know is a fact about those days: I had a mirror in my cell."

Legolas nodded. "I saw it," he said simply.

Caled shifted, absently turning her cup between her hands. "At times, like I said before, I felt that someone was watching me from the mirror. Or around it, one of the two. Maybe both. Anyway, the day Orthanc was attacked, when the Orc was sent to kill me, a Reaper came through the mirror and saved me. That Reaper. I've never seen another Reaper with black and white hair. And those eyes," she raised her red orbs back to Legolas, pity washing through them, "I don't think I'll ever forget those eyes. Even remembering them months later I would feel like crying. She just radiated remorse and loneliness. Even though I was not in my right mind I felt sorry for her."

"You believe she's a female?" Legolas inquired.

Caled stopped, blinking. "I never thought of that before. Yes, I do think she's a she. It was just one of those things about her I noticed." She gave a semi-shrug with one shoulder, sipping her wine. She frowned, "Like the fact she's clothed."

Legolas could not help the laugh her words brought out. It took a second before Caled laughed softly at herself as well.

An intensive search of Rivendell and the surrounding area was conducted. Yet it was in vain. The Reaper responsible for the servant's death and the Reaper that escaped with it were nowhere to be found. Everyone was disturbed by the hideous incident, wondering what new evil had befallen the land.

At Gandalf's insistence, Caled, Legolas and Mornie left before dawn of the decided day. It was a silent affair, all tense in case one of the Reapers reappeared. Elrond gave them a few last instructions and a map to aid their travel.

Their tentative path was to follow the Bruien until it crossed the old North-South Road at Tharbad. Then they would follow the road south, through the Gap of Rohan, then east into Gondor. There they would inquire about the surest route, whether to go through the mountains or follow the trail into Minas Tirith. Regardless, the whole journey would take at the very least another year.

Legolas marveled at how different the start of their travel was to their previous one. The atmosphere, though tinged with apprehension of Reaper attacks, was more light hearted and comfortable between him and Caled. Conversation was easy going, the silent spells were not thick with the expectation of a verbal fight, and Caled was no longer avoiding him. The only thing that was similar was the way Caled referred to him.

Elf.

The Woodland Prince could not understand her refusal to say his name. It was the one barrier she kept between them. Every time she said it, he had to hold back his questions. After all, he did not want to risk the bond they now shared. It was far too precious to him so wager on so little a thing.

Still, it did get annoying.

After only a week's travel, they had passed the conjunction of the Bruien and Mitheithel. They paused for a rest beside the flowing river around midday. Caled and Mornie were laying on the grass while Legolas resting against a tree, keeping an eye on the trail.

"Your homeland is Mirkwood, correct?" Caled unexpectedly asked, twisting her head to look up at Legolas. Mornie shifted in his sleep, curling against her side.

"Yes, it is," Legolas said. "What you saw a while back was a poor example of it."

"Oh?" Caled smirked. "It's not really so dreary? Well, shatter my image of the place, why don't you?"

Legolas snorted. "Dreary? Mirkwood? Oh no. You should see it in the peak of spring, Caled. When all the trees are in their finest of green colorings. The flowers and vines that erupt on the ground are quite a surprise. They have a short life, you see," he added.

Caled closed her eyes, resting her head on a hand. "Tell me about it, then. What other surprises does it hold?"

For maybe an hour or so, though it felt shorter, Legolas told her of Mirkwood and its annual changes. About the festivals and harvest banquets. The variety of animal life. The huge spiders and tales of when he and his brothers tried to take on a whole flock of the giant arachnids. Of when travelers still walked the Old Forest Road. About the great Eagles and even Beorn.

Legolas hardly noticed the time passing. Nor could he recall when Caled had sat up and moved closer to him, her face alight with interest. Just as she absorbed every word he spoke, he simply enjoyed the chance to drink in the sight of her sitting there.

For a moment the weight of their destination was lifted. For just that short stretch of time, they were simply Legolas and Caled-Veleg, resting beside a river and talking to one another. Merely enjoying each other's company.

Caled let out a sigh, plucking at the grass beneath her. "I wish I could see it," she said in a quiet voice. "Mirkwood, I mean. In the spring..."

"I'll show you."

Caled tensed slightly, a slight frown marring her face for a second. She searched Legolas' face for any sign humor.

There was none.

"I'll show you Mirkwood in spring," Legolas said. His gaze was steady, holding hers intently. "And summer. And fall. And even winter." His hand reached out, lightly resting on hers.

Caled did not retreat.

"I'll show you all you want to see, coramin."

A flush colored her cheeks. "I'd-"

A sharp cry pierced the air.

The two jerked back, instantly on their feet. Caled activated the whip she had been given and Legolas gripped his long knife, ready to confront whatever it was.

Yet both froze at the sight that met them.

A woman was huddled on the ground. She was a ways down the trail and slightly off of the path. A basket was laying on the grass beside her, fallen bundles of plants and leaves scattered around her.

A second later, as the woman let out another cry, they saw her hand clasped against her swollen belly.

Caled rushed to the woman, calling, "What happened? Are you all right?" Mornie hastily changed into his young man form while Legolas activated his disguise ring.

The woman looked up, her strained face barely showing any surprise at seeing them there. "H-Help me," she gasped. "It's-I think it's time!"

Caled's eyes widened, staring at the woman's belly. "You mean-baby?" she stammered.

The woman nodded, gritting her teeth against another wave of pain. "I thought I had another week," she ground out. "Please, my home is not far, can yo-" She stopped, her words stretching into a groan.

Caled and Legolas exchanged a worried glance, wondering what on earth they should do. Neither had much experience in birthing a child and did not think they could handle it adequately.

Mornie quickly gathered up the woman's fallen basket then said to Legolas, "Pick her up. We may be able to get to her home before too long. Hurry!" he insisted when the Elf did not move.

As it turned out, the woman's village was just a short distance away. They arrived in the nick of time. Not even ten minutes after they walked through her doorway the house was filled with the cry of a newborn.

The delighted father insisted on rewarding the three of them. They tried to decline, saying they were on an important errand. When they mentioned Tharbad, the man told them that there was a caravan in town that would be heading that way in two days. He stated that in such dangerous days, traveling in numbers was wise.

Unable to dissuade the man, Legolas, Caled, and Mornie agreed to wait for the caravan. In return for ensuring the safe delivery of his son, he gave them lodgings in his estate. As they were being led to the estate, they noticed preparations for what looked to be a celebration.

"Is something going on?" Caled inquired of the man.

He stopped to frown at them in puzzlement, his thick eyebrows forming a single line. "You do not know? This is the yearly Winter Moon festival. Tomorrow night is the time the moon is at its brightest. We shall celebrate its glory all night without rest."

"Why is it we have the weirdest luck?" Caled murmured to Legolas. "We seem to always find some kind of obstacle we can't avoid."

Legolas shrugged. "Look at it this way: would the Reaper openly attack us with this many people around?"

"I've never know the Reapers to be considerate of innocent lives," Caled said dryly. "Yet I don't think they will." She rolled her eyes. "Let's hope this caravan doesn't try to go with us all the way to Harnen. Or con us into going wherever they go."

Mornie grinned at Caled, his golden eyes flashing. "Perhaps you might actually enjoy this festival. It could do you some good."

Something about the sureness in his tone made Legolas pause. What was he scheming this time?

A. N. - Ick, not happy with all the transitions here. Or the cut off. Still, some stuff is better left in whole chapters.