Chapter Thirty-Seven

Legolas knew what had broken his fall when Gimli let out a loud grunt as he collided with him.

"Dratted elf, I am not your cushion!"

Legolas was quick to his feet and desperately turned around trying to work out where Amy would land.

"Are we all alright?" Aragorn's voice was distant but strong.

"I would have been if this blond lump had not landed on me."

"Quiet!" Legolas' voice was cold and harsh. Like ice it stole the breath from the man and the dwarf leaving nothing but silence.

His elven ears heard it then. The rasp of a terrified breath in the distance. "I can hear Amy. Stay here and stay quiet."

Aragorn and Gimli daren't even make a noise to agree and they did not hear Legolas' silent footfalls as he made his way towards the breaths.

A primal fear was striking her heart and she struggled for breath. Her throat felt as if it was closing up and she felt faint as her lungs screamed for air. With a small final rasp her breath failed her.

'Come on Amy.' Legolas thought to himself as the breath in the distance faded. He had no way of letting her know he was coming and no way of asking her to make some noise. 'Please Amy. Say something.'

Amy knew she was on the verge of passing out as her last breath caught in her throat. He had promised. He had promised he would not let go. He would come for her.

She clutched at her chest and willed herself to take one long breath in through her nose. It was trembling but it was something. "Legolas."

It was quiet, just a murmur in the dark but it was enough.

He was beside her in seconds and when she felt strong hands on her she knew that they belonged only to him.

Relief washed through her like euphoria and she buried her face in his chest whilst her arms wrapped around him hoping never to be parted again.

Legolas wished he could say something to her, something to soothe her, but he knew it was pointless. She was trembling violently and her breaths now came in quick harsh convulsions. He knew they could not stay where they were for long, and as much as he wished he could take the time to comfort her, this was not the place.

"Aragorn." He called out in the darkness. "I have her."

"The air moves along here, I think we should follow it." The ranger called back.

"Follow air!" Muttered Gimli. "Do we not have some light to follow?"

"There is a green glow in the distance. The air is being pulled towards it." Legolas' eyes could see further than that of his companions.

"Then we shall go."

He heard Aragorn and Gimli's feet begin to move carefully amongst the rubble but he could tell that Amy was reluctant to let him go. In a smooth movement, he hooked one arm behind her knees and brought her legs up, he would carry her.

Amy did not protest. She just buried her head in his neck and let silent tears fall. It was the first moment she wished that she had gone home when she had had her chance in Rohan.

She did not belong here, not in this darkness.

…..

She could see it now. A glimmer of light that grew with every step forward. Eventually she could clearly make out the outline of the man and dwarf before her. Amy looked up and despite only a little light Legolas' blue eyes glittered in the gloom.

She gently patted his shoulder and wriggled slightly indicating that she wanted to be put down.

He placed her down with a gentleness and tenderness that made her regret her decision, and she faltered when reluctantly she had to step away from him.

He watched her movements carefully. She was carrying herself at angle. She must be hurt, he thought. She held her left arm tightly to her body and as he encouraged her forward with a hand on her back he saw the slight limp in her right leg.

He snaked his arm around her waist and she felt him take some of her weight off of her feet. A soft heat begun to radiate from him at every point where their bodies touched. As she moved forward her mind could not help but stray back to yesterday.

"I love you."

He loved her. Why? How?

Is that why she was here? Were they meant to find each other? She did not know why but she found this thought comforting. They were meant to love each other, they just happened to be born on different worlds. So perhaps the fates had intervened and corrected their mistake.

But what a mistake it had been. Their worlds were so different. They were so different. He was immortal. She was definitely not. She would age and die. He would watch as she decayed. Then what would happen? She looked once more ahead to Aragorn. Arwen had chosen a mortal life for him. Is that what Legolas was doing, could he choose that? Could she let him do that?

He was supposed to live on. He was supposed to go to Ithilian and then eventually sail West. And what of her? What was she supposed to do?

Amy did not have any sort of life plan, but she had aspirations. She had made a small success of her business and had always dreamed of expanding it and having a shop. She did not think that was exactly achievable here but did she really just want to follow him wherever his path led.

She looked back up at him, his face now illuminated in the green light. Maybe she did want to follow him. Maybe they had a new path to take together.

….

Aragorn pulled the torch from the wall and hoped that this one would last longer than the last.

He held it up and strode forward through a hewn archway.

Soon the light seemed to burst forth illuminating a huge cavern that rose fifty feet into air and fell away in darkness.

He stepped forward onto the smooth rock outcrop that split the cavern in two and beckoned his friends forward.

There was a loud crack, like stone being sundered and the ghostly winds awoke once more swirling around their feet.

Amy knew why they were here. She had some recollection of what came forth in the books but neither of those things prepared her for when a spectral figure stepped out from the solid stone rock face.

It was as if all the blood in her body had left her standing weak and dizzy.

Legolas instinctively pushed her behind him and drew his bow. Aragorn held his sword aloft and Gimli snarled in defiance clutching his axe tightly.

At first she thought it was a thick fog forming around them but as it grew closer she could make out the figures more clearly.

Eyeless sockets, toothless mouths, fingers without flesh, an army of spectres that clutched at weapons as if they were their last link to life.

"Who enters my domain?"

Aragorn stepped forward unflinchingly. He was ready for this. "One who will have your allegiance."

"The dead do not suffer the living to pass." He became clearer, the wraithlike King of the Dead.

Amy felt as if ice ran through her veins instead of blood. The dead surrounded her and it was so deeply human to be afraid.

She watched Aragorn continue to step forward. She could also see clearly that the King in him was also present.

"You will suffer me!"

It rang through the cavern, a malevolent laugh that held no joy. It filled every crack and Amy could feel it ring through her body, vibrating in her chest.

The figures surrounding them moved closer and revealed the tattered banners of the King they betrayed.

"The way is shut . . ." The temperature in the cavern dropped. "It was made by those who are Dead and the Dead keep it . . .The way is shut. Now, you must die."

Legolas knew they were surrounded. He said a silent prayer to the Gods that Aragorn had a plan. He drew his bow and notched an arrow knowing it was a futile move, but every instinct was telling him to fight, to protect her.

Aragorn struggled to stop his desperation being heard in his voice. "I summon you to fulfil your oath!"

"None but the King of Gondor may command me!"

Anduril glittered in the gloom and when it collided with the spectral sword of the King of the Dead, it was not just the ghost that was shocked.

None, but Amy, could really have expected the power that sword would have in the hands of their friend despite all they knew of the expectations that lay on his head.

"It cannot be, that line was broken!" It was time for the King of the Dead to be fearful.

Legolas lowered his bow and holstered it on his quiver as Aragorn confronted the King. He took hold of Amy's hand as he felt the tension at a peak in the cavern.

"It has been remade! Fight for us and regain your honour! What say you?" Aragorn yelled. "What say you?!"

Amy could see that Gimli was talking but she had no will to concentrate on what he was saying. She wanted to hide, she wanted to disappear. For the second time since entering the darkness of this place she wanted to go home.

She felt the ground begin to shake, but before she could react Legolas had pulled her into a sprint.

…..