I have received warm approval in all the reviews I've had, though I have
not gotten very many (hint hint), and because of their encouragement I am
going to continue this fic, and try to be worthy of the praise that
reviewers have given this story. Thank you to all of you who have been kind
enough to comment upon my little effort. I especially feel honored to have
reviews from Artemis15 and shirebound, as they are two of my favorite
authors (I practically worship them, they are so good). I am also much
indebted to both Beylar and shirebound for their example of how to have the
hobbits interact with other members of the Fellowship.
Chapter 2: First Watch
Merry was not at all enjoying his watch duty. The Fellowship of the Ring had been traveling together for only a few days, and tonight was the first night that it was Merry's turn to stand guard for orcs and any other enemies. When the moon climbed high up into the sky, he was to wake Legolas, who would then take over. Right now that time seemed very far away, as the crescent moon was just barely above the trees. Merry sighed, for the continuous march towards Mordor was wearing to someone who had never traveled farther in one day than from Buckland to Hobbiton before. He was envious of the slumber that the others in the Fellowship were enjoying, and wished that Pippin were awake to help lighten the monotony. Pippin was the source of all Merry's fun on this quest, but Pippin was fast asleep.
The camp was still and peaceful in the moonlight. The night was chilly, and Merry had to wrap his cloak around himself closely to stay warm. In spite of the cold he felt sleep drawing him in, beckoning to him. As an effort to stay awake, he walked around the sleeping Fellowship and made sure that nothing was creeping upon them from behind. The hobbits were together in the middle, with Frodo in the center, Sam close beside him, Pippin on the other side of Frodo, and a leftover space for Merry when his watch ended. Gandalf, Aragorn, and Boromir were sleeping on the outskirts of the group, forming a protective circle around the hobbits. Bill the pony was a few feet away, and all the Fellowship's gear and packs were next to him. And, separated from the others, lying underneath a large tree, was Legolas. Merry had often thought about the Elf's fondness for sleeping under trees. He couldn't seem to settle down unless he had a roof of leaves above him. Well, Merry thought, Mr. Bilbo did always say that Mirkwood had trees growing so close together that you could scarce ever see the sky, even more than in the Old Forest. But wait, Legolas can't be asleep, Merry decided. He could now see that the eyes of the Prince of Mirkwood were wide open. Though he had never really spoken to Legolas before, Merry would be glad for any companionship. He therefore sat underneath the tree, next to the Elf, and whispered, "Legolas!"
Nothing happened for a moment, then Legolas violently sat up. " Yrch! YRCH!" he shrieked, along with a few more words that Merry couldn't make out.
Naturally this strange outburst startled Merry, and he jumped back with his hands protectively held out in front of him, blurting, "Sorry! It's me, Merry Brandybuck! What did I do?" As he said this he realized that this wasn't a very intelligent thing to say, but he was afraid that Legolas might have gone mad and didn't have time to think about how to react.
At this Legolas blinked and relaxed his tense form. He rubbed his eyes as if there was a mist clouding them, then looked at the hobbit in front of him. "Forgive me, Meriadoc," Legolas apologized, a little embarrassed, "I was dreaming of Orcs, and must have become agitated enough to speak aloud. Is it now the time for me to relieve you of your watch?"
You did more than speak aloud, Merry thought to himself. You nearly scared me out of my wits! But he did not repeat this to Legolas. Instead he said, "No, there is quite a while left. I'm frightfully sorry that I disturbed you, but I thought you were already awake, and I spoke to you out of loneliness. How could you have been asleep though? I saw that your eyes were open." At the same time Merry glanced back at the camp. The Fellowship must have truly been exhausted, for none of them had woken despite Legolas' cry. Then again he hadn't shrieked very loudly, it had sounded more like a scream from a very long distance away than someone raising an alarm. Calming considerably, Merry sat between the tree roots again.
A small smile flickered on Legolas' face. "Did you not know that all Elves sleep in this matter?" he asked gently.
"Oh," Merry said, feeling foolish, "I didn't. Even though we hobbits have stayed with Elves before, I never saw any of them asleep, and neither Frodo nor Bilbo ever told me." He changed the subject quickly. "What happened in your dream? It must have been quite a nightmare to make you cry out like that."
Before answering the question, Legolas shifted to a more comfortable sitting position, folded his blanket, and set it aside next to his bow and quiver. "Mithrandir warned me of the curiosity of the periannath, but this is the first time I have seen evidence of it." Though his tone was mildly reprimanding, he didn't sound irritated at all. "You see, Meriadoc,"
"Just call me Merry," the hobbit interrupted. "Everyone has always done so except when they are angry at me, and I'd rather you didn't sound like you were. And as for curiosity, a Took or Baggins has never beaten a Brandybuck when it comes to asking questions."
Legolas smiled again. "Very well. You have heard accounts of Mirkwood, I believe."
"Yes. Bilbo used to tell us about it."
"Ah, then you might have a rather prejudiced view. Though my father, King Tharanduil, is sometimes overcautious in dealing with strangers, he is a wise ruler. It is seldom that I am needed to help him in his duties, which is one of the reasons that I was permitted to embark on this Quest. My main service to the kingdom is helping to fight the evil that has invaded our land."
"Invaded? You mean they came recently?"
"Perhaps not recent by the standards of mortals, but for the Elves it was scarcely yesterday. When well nigh a third of this Age had passed, a shadow slowly entered from the south. At that time there were none that knew the cause, but later we understood that the spirit of Sauron," Legolas uttered the name with pain, "had crept into our forest and lingered there. This power drew many fell beasts to my once peaceful home. You, Merry, heard of the monstrous spiders that dwell there, though thankfully their numbers have decreased much since when they first arrived. It was not uncommon for Orcs to march through, burning and destroying all they found. There were also creatures of darkness, having no true form, that could strike terror into all hearts-but I will not speak of them. After darkness fell upon my father's realm few dared to enter the forest, and only in the north could my people keep the evil at bay. The kingdom of Greenwood the Great became the dreaded wilderness of Mirkwood, and the singing under the trees gave way to the ominous croaking of fearful beings. The brightness remains, but it has diminished greatly, and we must fight nearly every moment to keep it alive." As he spoke Merry could hear the sadness in his voice, a longing for what had once been. The hobbit thought of the anguish he would feel if the Shire came to a similar fate, and felt a sympathy and affection towards this prince that he had not expected. He wished that he could say something to comfort the Elf, but could not think of the appropriate words. Legolas' eyes gazed off into the distance as if he was trying to see something with his keen eyesight yet could not find it.
"You said that there *were* creatures of darkness," Merry finally pointed out, "so what happened to them? Did you drive them away?"
"About sixty years ago the White Council, formed by the Istari, or the Wizards, as many call them, drove the shadow from Mirkwood. With it many of the more evil beasts left as well, but the borders of the habitable part of my father's kingdom still need fierce protection from our archers. This must have been heavy upon my thoughts this night, for I dreamed that I was patrolling the eastern edge of the kingdom, with many trusted warriors with me. We were resting after having found and slain one of the spider colonies that still remained in the forest. I heard the noise of what sounded like orcs behind us, and turned around to see a multitude of them, brandishing swords and trampling and hacking through all the trees. I tried to string my bow, but it had vanished, so I warned the others, shouting 'Yrch!' which is Elvish for 'Orcs'. None of them moved, and I realized that they could not hear me. To my horror, I saw that my father a-and many others whom I loved where with us, and were also oblivious to my warning. I screamed and did all I could to attract their attention and continued to search for my weapons-"
Legolas had begun to sound frantic, which was very unusual for the normally quiet and serene Elf, so Merry said, "You don't need to tell me any more, if it's upsetting you."
"Do not worry, it has passed. Usually I am not fearful of danger, only saddened by the decline of my home. That seems to be the fate of Elves, to witness the fade and decay of the lands they hold dear."
"If that is true than you must have depressing lives." Merry, though he had always been in awe of Elves, had not considered this aspect of them before. But, he thought to himself, how many Elves have I ever actually known?
Legolas considered this for a moment. His tone became thoughtful, and rather bittersweet at the same time. "No," he answered, "our lives are not filled with tragedy. There are many sorrows and burdens that come with immortality, but there is also joy. I have seen many things in my life, which may seem long to you, though I am still a youth to my people, and some were terrible, and some were pleasant. No life is unmixed by pain, only we have more life than others do. Though I witnessed darkness fall upon the woods I love, if I had not lived this long I would not remember its former greatness and beauty. Even now there is hope, courage, love, and friendships, that make me feel life is worth continuing. Sometimes I wonder what mortality is like, but I am willing to accept my fate as it is now. Who knows? Perhaps Mirkwood may become Greenwood the Great once more." He spoke this in a way that made Merry think he had realized this for the first time, and was telling this to himself more than to his companion.
"When we finish this Quest," Merry told Legolas, looking up at the fair Elf beside him, "you are quite welcome to come to the Shire and visit Brandy Hall. It is a mite crowded, but by then I will be close to being Master of Buckland and should be able to find a way for you to stay. And if you want help with killing the spiders I know a few lads back home with the very un- hobbitlike desire for adventure."
Legolas did not laugh, for he knew that Merry was being serious, but the thought of him surrounded by hundreds of halflings was a bit too much. "Thank you," he said to Merry, "I will remember your offer. As I said before, friendship is one of the reasons I do not regret the length of my years."
"Are we friends then?"
"Yes, Merry."
"I am happy to be your friend. Oh! I'm sorry I kept you awake, now it's your turn to resume the watch!" Indeed it was. The moon was now high over the trees and hills.
"I do not begrudge that," Legolas laughed softly, "I do not need much rest, and with such ill dreams as I have had, it was better to have woken before I shot everyone in my sleep. You should go and sleep now, for I know you are unaccustomed to walking far distances."
Merry grinned. This was the first time Legolas had made any sort of jest, and he felt that he would become very fond of this Elf. "Are you sure you don't mind?"
"Yes. Sleep well, and do not worry about me. I have many matters to ponder."
As Merry lay down in his appointed place and felt himself slipping away into slumber he could hear a melodious voice singing quietly in Elvish. Legolas was singing into the night, a lovely song that was deep and wide and beautiful, it's beauty coming chiefly from the entwined immeasurable sorrow, undying hope, and everlasting joy that somehow combined together more harmoniously than anything the hobbit had ever heard.
Chapter 2: First Watch
Merry was not at all enjoying his watch duty. The Fellowship of the Ring had been traveling together for only a few days, and tonight was the first night that it was Merry's turn to stand guard for orcs and any other enemies. When the moon climbed high up into the sky, he was to wake Legolas, who would then take over. Right now that time seemed very far away, as the crescent moon was just barely above the trees. Merry sighed, for the continuous march towards Mordor was wearing to someone who had never traveled farther in one day than from Buckland to Hobbiton before. He was envious of the slumber that the others in the Fellowship were enjoying, and wished that Pippin were awake to help lighten the monotony. Pippin was the source of all Merry's fun on this quest, but Pippin was fast asleep.
The camp was still and peaceful in the moonlight. The night was chilly, and Merry had to wrap his cloak around himself closely to stay warm. In spite of the cold he felt sleep drawing him in, beckoning to him. As an effort to stay awake, he walked around the sleeping Fellowship and made sure that nothing was creeping upon them from behind. The hobbits were together in the middle, with Frodo in the center, Sam close beside him, Pippin on the other side of Frodo, and a leftover space for Merry when his watch ended. Gandalf, Aragorn, and Boromir were sleeping on the outskirts of the group, forming a protective circle around the hobbits. Bill the pony was a few feet away, and all the Fellowship's gear and packs were next to him. And, separated from the others, lying underneath a large tree, was Legolas. Merry had often thought about the Elf's fondness for sleeping under trees. He couldn't seem to settle down unless he had a roof of leaves above him. Well, Merry thought, Mr. Bilbo did always say that Mirkwood had trees growing so close together that you could scarce ever see the sky, even more than in the Old Forest. But wait, Legolas can't be asleep, Merry decided. He could now see that the eyes of the Prince of Mirkwood were wide open. Though he had never really spoken to Legolas before, Merry would be glad for any companionship. He therefore sat underneath the tree, next to the Elf, and whispered, "Legolas!"
Nothing happened for a moment, then Legolas violently sat up. " Yrch! YRCH!" he shrieked, along with a few more words that Merry couldn't make out.
Naturally this strange outburst startled Merry, and he jumped back with his hands protectively held out in front of him, blurting, "Sorry! It's me, Merry Brandybuck! What did I do?" As he said this he realized that this wasn't a very intelligent thing to say, but he was afraid that Legolas might have gone mad and didn't have time to think about how to react.
At this Legolas blinked and relaxed his tense form. He rubbed his eyes as if there was a mist clouding them, then looked at the hobbit in front of him. "Forgive me, Meriadoc," Legolas apologized, a little embarrassed, "I was dreaming of Orcs, and must have become agitated enough to speak aloud. Is it now the time for me to relieve you of your watch?"
You did more than speak aloud, Merry thought to himself. You nearly scared me out of my wits! But he did not repeat this to Legolas. Instead he said, "No, there is quite a while left. I'm frightfully sorry that I disturbed you, but I thought you were already awake, and I spoke to you out of loneliness. How could you have been asleep though? I saw that your eyes were open." At the same time Merry glanced back at the camp. The Fellowship must have truly been exhausted, for none of them had woken despite Legolas' cry. Then again he hadn't shrieked very loudly, it had sounded more like a scream from a very long distance away than someone raising an alarm. Calming considerably, Merry sat between the tree roots again.
A small smile flickered on Legolas' face. "Did you not know that all Elves sleep in this matter?" he asked gently.
"Oh," Merry said, feeling foolish, "I didn't. Even though we hobbits have stayed with Elves before, I never saw any of them asleep, and neither Frodo nor Bilbo ever told me." He changed the subject quickly. "What happened in your dream? It must have been quite a nightmare to make you cry out like that."
Before answering the question, Legolas shifted to a more comfortable sitting position, folded his blanket, and set it aside next to his bow and quiver. "Mithrandir warned me of the curiosity of the periannath, but this is the first time I have seen evidence of it." Though his tone was mildly reprimanding, he didn't sound irritated at all. "You see, Meriadoc,"
"Just call me Merry," the hobbit interrupted. "Everyone has always done so except when they are angry at me, and I'd rather you didn't sound like you were. And as for curiosity, a Took or Baggins has never beaten a Brandybuck when it comes to asking questions."
Legolas smiled again. "Very well. You have heard accounts of Mirkwood, I believe."
"Yes. Bilbo used to tell us about it."
"Ah, then you might have a rather prejudiced view. Though my father, King Tharanduil, is sometimes overcautious in dealing with strangers, he is a wise ruler. It is seldom that I am needed to help him in his duties, which is one of the reasons that I was permitted to embark on this Quest. My main service to the kingdom is helping to fight the evil that has invaded our land."
"Invaded? You mean they came recently?"
"Perhaps not recent by the standards of mortals, but for the Elves it was scarcely yesterday. When well nigh a third of this Age had passed, a shadow slowly entered from the south. At that time there were none that knew the cause, but later we understood that the spirit of Sauron," Legolas uttered the name with pain, "had crept into our forest and lingered there. This power drew many fell beasts to my once peaceful home. You, Merry, heard of the monstrous spiders that dwell there, though thankfully their numbers have decreased much since when they first arrived. It was not uncommon for Orcs to march through, burning and destroying all they found. There were also creatures of darkness, having no true form, that could strike terror into all hearts-but I will not speak of them. After darkness fell upon my father's realm few dared to enter the forest, and only in the north could my people keep the evil at bay. The kingdom of Greenwood the Great became the dreaded wilderness of Mirkwood, and the singing under the trees gave way to the ominous croaking of fearful beings. The brightness remains, but it has diminished greatly, and we must fight nearly every moment to keep it alive." As he spoke Merry could hear the sadness in his voice, a longing for what had once been. The hobbit thought of the anguish he would feel if the Shire came to a similar fate, and felt a sympathy and affection towards this prince that he had not expected. He wished that he could say something to comfort the Elf, but could not think of the appropriate words. Legolas' eyes gazed off into the distance as if he was trying to see something with his keen eyesight yet could not find it.
"You said that there *were* creatures of darkness," Merry finally pointed out, "so what happened to them? Did you drive them away?"
"About sixty years ago the White Council, formed by the Istari, or the Wizards, as many call them, drove the shadow from Mirkwood. With it many of the more evil beasts left as well, but the borders of the habitable part of my father's kingdom still need fierce protection from our archers. This must have been heavy upon my thoughts this night, for I dreamed that I was patrolling the eastern edge of the kingdom, with many trusted warriors with me. We were resting after having found and slain one of the spider colonies that still remained in the forest. I heard the noise of what sounded like orcs behind us, and turned around to see a multitude of them, brandishing swords and trampling and hacking through all the trees. I tried to string my bow, but it had vanished, so I warned the others, shouting 'Yrch!' which is Elvish for 'Orcs'. None of them moved, and I realized that they could not hear me. To my horror, I saw that my father a-and many others whom I loved where with us, and were also oblivious to my warning. I screamed and did all I could to attract their attention and continued to search for my weapons-"
Legolas had begun to sound frantic, which was very unusual for the normally quiet and serene Elf, so Merry said, "You don't need to tell me any more, if it's upsetting you."
"Do not worry, it has passed. Usually I am not fearful of danger, only saddened by the decline of my home. That seems to be the fate of Elves, to witness the fade and decay of the lands they hold dear."
"If that is true than you must have depressing lives." Merry, though he had always been in awe of Elves, had not considered this aspect of them before. But, he thought to himself, how many Elves have I ever actually known?
Legolas considered this for a moment. His tone became thoughtful, and rather bittersweet at the same time. "No," he answered, "our lives are not filled with tragedy. There are many sorrows and burdens that come with immortality, but there is also joy. I have seen many things in my life, which may seem long to you, though I am still a youth to my people, and some were terrible, and some were pleasant. No life is unmixed by pain, only we have more life than others do. Though I witnessed darkness fall upon the woods I love, if I had not lived this long I would not remember its former greatness and beauty. Even now there is hope, courage, love, and friendships, that make me feel life is worth continuing. Sometimes I wonder what mortality is like, but I am willing to accept my fate as it is now. Who knows? Perhaps Mirkwood may become Greenwood the Great once more." He spoke this in a way that made Merry think he had realized this for the first time, and was telling this to himself more than to his companion.
"When we finish this Quest," Merry told Legolas, looking up at the fair Elf beside him, "you are quite welcome to come to the Shire and visit Brandy Hall. It is a mite crowded, but by then I will be close to being Master of Buckland and should be able to find a way for you to stay. And if you want help with killing the spiders I know a few lads back home with the very un- hobbitlike desire for adventure."
Legolas did not laugh, for he knew that Merry was being serious, but the thought of him surrounded by hundreds of halflings was a bit too much. "Thank you," he said to Merry, "I will remember your offer. As I said before, friendship is one of the reasons I do not regret the length of my years."
"Are we friends then?"
"Yes, Merry."
"I am happy to be your friend. Oh! I'm sorry I kept you awake, now it's your turn to resume the watch!" Indeed it was. The moon was now high over the trees and hills.
"I do not begrudge that," Legolas laughed softly, "I do not need much rest, and with such ill dreams as I have had, it was better to have woken before I shot everyone in my sleep. You should go and sleep now, for I know you are unaccustomed to walking far distances."
Merry grinned. This was the first time Legolas had made any sort of jest, and he felt that he would become very fond of this Elf. "Are you sure you don't mind?"
"Yes. Sleep well, and do not worry about me. I have many matters to ponder."
As Merry lay down in his appointed place and felt himself slipping away into slumber he could hear a melodious voice singing quietly in Elvish. Legolas was singing into the night, a lovely song that was deep and wide and beautiful, it's beauty coming chiefly from the entwined immeasurable sorrow, undying hope, and everlasting joy that somehow combined together more harmoniously than anything the hobbit had ever heard.