CHAPTER 29 - Pleas and Promises


As the two brothers paced together to reach the boats Tadion imparted the latest tidings. "There appears to be a company of them, from what Orophin scouted. Not close enough to the hidden way as to have discovered it, but still roaming in the vicinity. It is unsure whether they will set camp or whether the dispatch of Mordor has increased in the area." His words were measured and even, a soldier delivering vital details to his better.

"How many in their group?" asked Legolas.

"A larger number than fifteen, which is unusual."

Legolas cursed under his breath. They could not risk having the way to the isle discovered. Though that which kept them well hidden from fell incursions may be sufficient, they could never take the risk of having the enemy inspect and linger around the immediate edge of land to the left of the Mouths of Anduin.

"Is everyone underway?" he asked.

"Of course," Tadion supplied stiffly.

The silence which followed was heavy, grating.

"Say your piece. I know you burn to," Legolas muttered as they strode side by side.

"Only answer me this. Are you so lonely?" Tadion threw, though with less spite than before. "Are you so miserably alone that you cannot rein yourself?"

"You never disappoint," Legolas hissed, the words cutting through as only Tadion could muster. "My life has never been your business, and it will not become so now. I will also thank you to cease your interference and your threats. They are lowly and hateful, all of which is unbecoming of your line and legacy."

"How can you trust a whelp of Mordor!" his brother cried, inflamed. "You, Legolas, one who shows no mercy, who swore to fight against them until your dying breath and yet here you were, tending to that half-breed brat!"

Legolas suddenly stopped and faced his brother. "Curb your slander before I do." The curt tone and lightning in his stare broke no room for argument.

Tadion clamped his mouth shut, but not without a scowl of disdain, looking menacingly after his brother as he regained his steps. He followed.

"Do you think it not strange that no such peril plagued us for many a year, and now that she is here, we have this to contend with?"

The older elf dared not entertain the possibility. "Presupposition is a dangerous slope, brother," was all he said to an increasingly tumultuous Tadion.

"I only hope, you are still in a condition to lead us, blind as you are," Tadion grumbled, depleted. "I am heading to get us spare arrows." And with that he left his brother and commander, his gaze a dark wild green reminiscent of blackened, dangerous forests.

As he was hurrying to join the others to the crafts Legolas heard another set of rushed light steps. He sighed. Turning his head he saw, as expected, Kal approaching him in fast strides. Her sword hung at her hip. He had left so suddenly when Tadion retrieved him that the elf had not even said his farewell, and in a way he welcomed the sight. But Legolas also dreaded what he would have to do now.

Kal ran to join him and he saw her face was still a pale greyish hue from the night's happenings.

The elf braced himself with the decision against whatever power told him differently. "You stand down," he shook his head. "You are in no shape to fight." He felt her hand on his forearm, urging him to cease his trek.

When meeting her eyes the elf saw brief astonishment, but also steely determination, and defiance. The sweet, wild kind of defiance, which only younger beings seemed to ever possess. He knew it well for he had been much the same. "I wish to aid you. I must aid you. I know their ways, remember?" Kal asked, her voice hard, the complete opposite to her eyes.

The elf stared at her for a moment. "There is no time for this. You very well know how to adhere to a chain of command, Kal of the Black Land. And I have just given you your order. We will return," and with that he dismissively turned away, only to be held back in that strong grip the elf knew she was capable of.

"There is no sound reason for this, I am on my feet!" Kal spewed in one breath, so utterly dismayed at being left behind when she knew of the usefulness her contribution would bring. "You cannot do this," she seethed.

She felt his body go taut as the elf roughly pried his arm from her hold. "I am the head military in rank here," Legolas followed sternly. "I assure you that I can."

"Why do you insist on this Legolas?" Kal asked despairingly and with no little amount of vexation, appealing not to the commander but to the one who was her friend.

He only gaped at her and turned to walk away again, but Kal was undeterred. She followed him with a determined gait, though her head felt the weakening spin anew.

The elf sharply whirled to face her, and there was ire and again, that blasted plea in his eyes which left her raw and wanting. "Here is your reason," his hand came around her nape, and all dimmed as he leaned closer to her face. "I would have no harm come to you."

Through a feat of strength unrecognizable Kal propped her own palms against his chest. His heartbeat fueled her resolve. "And you think heading into peril alone achieves that?" she said steadily, barely keeping from swaying under his gaze. "Not a worthy enough reason," she choked.

"It is, to me," came the retort.

Kal sighed in frustrated agony, distracted by the way his fingers now trailed through her tresses as he released her. It was a wearisome fight, and she had lost.

"I will not be alone," he spoke into her stare. "Please," and then her posture crumbled under the weight of that one word, his eyes, and his voice, so different than before. "I need..." the elf paused, as if angry with himself for some self-inflicted slight. "I need to know you are safe." And then a new thought brimmed in his mind. There was never any certainty with these endeavors. Anyone could perish. He could perish. "Kal, there is but one matter I would ask of you. Please tell me what you know, as it holds great import to me. What was that place you saw last before you fall? The one I felt from you?"

Kal swallowed the bothersome knot depriving her of words. The memory was rekindled, and her face became strained with it. "Why?"

"I know that place, I have seen it before, in my... in my nightmares."

Her mouth dropped agog. "You have seen... the-the Tower?"

The world was become too heavy, too much. And it was crashing all around him. "The Tower?" his eyes gleamed wildly as the elf caught her by the arms, bringing her to him without thought. "That place was the Tower? Barad-dûr itself?"

"It was," Kal said softly, watching so many different meanings flit across his face.

"It cannot be," the elf whispered, staring through her. But it was. It very well could be. He was... could he? The implications made his head swim dangerously, but now there were other matters to focus on. "In the Tower... he may be..."

"What are you saying, elf?" Kal demanded uneasily, his faraway stare unnerving. Such an unpredictable creature he could be.

His eyes refocused on her. "Much gratitude," the elf said solemnly, "We will speak more of this on my return."

"Come back alive," was all she said as Legolas took two steps back from her.

"I usually tend to," and the corners of his mouth curled upward. He then bowed and saluted her in his strange way, and turned to leave.

"Alive and well," Kal whispered listlessly as she watched him walk away on swift and weightless steps, the fretting and need within reaching disproportionate heights.

She neared slowly, loath to be witness to all the preparation she was denied to participate in. But still Kal went towards the harbor area and saw a few men, as well as Legolas, Tadion and two other elves she had not seen until then. Gimli the dwarf was there also. He bore a great battle axe and was speaking in uneven terms of how they would crush the evil wretches, and how he would enjoy it. They were armed and ready, having proceeded with swift efficiency. The men were laden with bows and quivers as well as blades.

Kal watched as they all embarked. Her eyes roamed and set on the elves, and particularly on the one who had been the prince of his people.

Watching him leave had never felt so wrong.