Note: None of these are my characters, except for Aradia, the Dark Elves,
and their unknown leader. All others belong to J.R.R. Tolkien. Some parts
may not be factual. Takes place about two days after Aragorn and Legolas
snuck out of Mirkwood.
Return of the Fellowship,
Part 4
Two days had passed since Aragorn and Legolas had left Mirkwood. Most of the time, they argued about different things. Who would stand watch, get wood, etc. They were on the trail of the dwarves, however. Gimli was rumored to be with them.
And the dark creatures were following them. Legolas had seen them once or twice as they circled the camp, not daring to come any closer because of the fire.
Aragorn looked at Legolas. "Are they there again?"
"Yes," Legolas said. "They are too afraid to come near when the fire is lit. And other eyes are upon us as well."
"Could it be the dwarves?" Aragorn asked.
"I am not certain," Legolas admitted. His hood was pulled over his face, to hide his glowing face.
Aragorn hated to admit it, but he missed being able to see how Legolas's skin glowed at night. It made him look regal and ethereal. Just like Arwen's had. It still hurt to think about her. His eyes flicked to the fire instead.
Legolas stood. "I'm going to get some more water," he said quietly.
Aragorn had to fight down a urge to tell the Elf not to go. He knew his over-protectiveness did not help his relationship with Legolas. He sighed. "Be careful."
Legolas nodded. "As always." He walked over to his things and picked up his water bag.
Aragorn heard no sounds as Legolas walked to the lake. His own hood was off his face, for unlike Legolas, he did not have a natural glow around him.
Legolas knelt beside the lake and refilled his water bag. He knew someone was standing behind him. "I know you're there," he said, as he slowly turned around. "You've been watching myself and my companion for almost five hours."
Gimli stood there, with several dwarves. "Who are you, stranger?" he demanded. The dwarves had their knives pointing directly at Legolas.
"Stupid dwarf," Legolas said, grinning, though Gimli couldn't see it.
"Legolas?" Gimli asked, disbelieving. He bravely walked forward and peered at the face hidden in the hood. Before Legolas could warn him not to, he removed the hood. "Crazy elf!"
Legolas's face glowed brightly, and he heard screeches. Fear crept over him. "No!" he shouted.
Several dark, shadowy figures leaped down from the trees and advanced on Legolas, who drew his bow and prepared to fight.
"What are these?" Gimli yelled.
The evil shadows whispered, surrounding Legolas, who quickly began shooting arrows at the creatures. Gimli and the dwarves attacked them as well.
"I will explain later, my friend," Legolas said, as he took the time to cover his face with the hood again. The glow vanished.
The creatures screeched, confused. Until Aragorn burst through the trees, Anduril drawn and in his hand.
They fled before him, taking to the trees and hissing down, glaring at all who stood below. Their eyes stayed focused on Legolas.
Gimli looked at them and then at Legolas. "Pray tell me, Legolas, why are they after you?" he asked.
"Follow us, Gimli," Aragorn said. "For it is not a light matter."
Legolas retrieved as many arrows as he could from the fallen creatures.
Gimli bid farewell to the group of dwarves, and followed Aragorn as he led the way back to the camp. Legolas trailed behind, placing his arrows back in his quiver.
Aragorn sat beside the fire, and beckoned Gimli to sit as well. After he had done so, Aragorn proceeded to tell him of all that had occurred; Arwen's death; the discovery that the creatures were after the Fellowship and had captured the hobbits; the news that the creatures wanted to steal Legolas's inner light, the essence of his soul; and the fact that they were now on a quest to rescue the hobbits.
Gimli looked at Legolas, who worked, repairing his broken arrows. He had not said a word the entire time.
"No wonder the elf hides his skin, to keep it from glowing. I led the creatures right to him, when I removed his hood," Gimli said. He looked at Aragorn. "I'm sorry for your loss, my friend. My axe and I shall gladly fight by your side once more, to rescue our small friends."
Aragorn nodded. "Thank you," he said.
Legolas sighed. The others turned and looked at him.
"A pity," he said quietly. He held up the arrows he had mended; he had only been able to mend five of the ten of the broken arrows.
"Calm yourself, Legolas," Aragorn said. "Perhaps you can work better in daylight. Anyhow, it's my turn to sit watch."
Legolas frowned. "It is not, Elessar."
Gimli raised his eyebrows at hearing Legolas call Aragorn Elessar. That meant that the elf and Aragorn were still at odds. He shook his head.
Three nights later, he could see why Legolas was frustrated. Aragorn wouldn't let him do anything that might be remotely dangerous.
The elf finally yelled at Aragorn. "I'll stand for no more of this, King Elessar!" he said. "I will either pull my own weight on this mission, or proceed on my own. I do not need you to protect me like a child." He stormed off angrily, leaving his bow and arrows behind.
Aragorn looked after him. "Legolas, I-" He sighed and looked Gimli.
"Aragorn, he has a point," Gimli said softly. "You won't let him sit watch, or go anywhere alone hardly."
"I don't want to lose him, Gimli. I could not bear it, not after losing Arwen." Gimli touched Aragorn's shoulder.
"You're going to lose him another way, Aragorn, if you keep treating him like a child. He is much older than you," Gimli pointed out. "Now, you'd better go find him and take him his bow and arrows."
"You're right, Gimli." Aragorn smiled at the dwarf. "Thank you." He walked off to find Legolas, carrying the elf's bow, with his quiver slung across his back.
Legolas was angry. Aragorn treated him like a child. Just because those creatures were after him. He was so frustrated that he barely noticed when his Elven cloak caught on a branch and tore his hood off.
"Great," he said. His face was glowing again, like a little star. Legolas sighed and headed back towards the camp, to put on his spare cloak. The night seemed to be pitch black.
Legolas looked up as he heard a hissing sound. The shadowy creatures leapt out of trees around him. They screeched and hissed at him. As they approached, his skin glowed brighter. Legolas cursed himself. He'd stormed off, leaving his bow and arrows behind. He drew his short sword as the creatures, elves, and other shapes advanced.
He fought well with his short sword. But nothing could stop hungry soul- eaters, he soon realized. Legolas was getting tired. His sword was having no effect, save for angering them. He needed a light- like a fire. His glowing skin wasn't bright enough to scare them away. Legolas backed up slowly, as the creatures leapt on him and knocked him down.
The creatures ripped off his cloak, and touched his bare face. Agony soared through Legolas. He kept in his scream for less than five seconds.
Gimli and Aragorn heard a tortured cry, an Elvish scream of agony and pain. They raced towards the sound, drawing their swords.
God, it burned, Legolas thought. He was getting tired and darkness spun around him. His skin wasn't glowing too much any more, either. Screams erupted from his mouth as his world went entirely black.
Aragorn fired Legolas's own arrows at the creatures, who scattered and hissed at him. The arrows hurt them, but they were relentless.
He's ours, they whispered.
Gimli swung his axe at them, which had little effect. "Aragorn, only the arrows hurt them!" he shouted.
"I know!" Aragorn fired more arrows, as Gimli ran over to the elf. His skin still glowed faintly, barely enough for Gimli to find him. He tore his own cloak off and covered Legolas's face with it.
Once again, the creatures grew confused as the source of light was cut off.
Aragorn realized that it could be an advantage. He raced over to Gimli. "How is he?"
"He's breathing." Gimli said. "We'd better get him back to the camp."
Gimli and Aragorn carried Legolas back to the camp. The light of the fire drove away the shadows that chased them.
Aragorn removed the cloak from Legolas's face. The elf just lay there, motionless. "Legolas!" He touched the elf's face and found that it was ice- cold. "Damn," he said.
Legolas moaned. "Aragorn," he whispered softly. His eyes refused to open, as darkness swirled around him.
"Yes, Legolas?" Aragorn asked. He held the elf's hand tightly.
"Take me to Galadrial," the elf's faint voice said. His glow was weakening even more.
"Good idea." Aragorn looked at Gimli, who nodded and began packing up their things at once.
As soon as they were ready, Aragorn mounted his horse. Gimli handed Legolas up to him. The elf was pale and trembling.
Gimli climbed onto Legolas's horse, carrying his pack as well as Legolas's.
The three began to gallop hard, praying they would reach Galadrial in time, before it was too late.
To be continued
Return of the Fellowship,
Part 4
Two days had passed since Aragorn and Legolas had left Mirkwood. Most of the time, they argued about different things. Who would stand watch, get wood, etc. They were on the trail of the dwarves, however. Gimli was rumored to be with them.
And the dark creatures were following them. Legolas had seen them once or twice as they circled the camp, not daring to come any closer because of the fire.
Aragorn looked at Legolas. "Are they there again?"
"Yes," Legolas said. "They are too afraid to come near when the fire is lit. And other eyes are upon us as well."
"Could it be the dwarves?" Aragorn asked.
"I am not certain," Legolas admitted. His hood was pulled over his face, to hide his glowing face.
Aragorn hated to admit it, but he missed being able to see how Legolas's skin glowed at night. It made him look regal and ethereal. Just like Arwen's had. It still hurt to think about her. His eyes flicked to the fire instead.
Legolas stood. "I'm going to get some more water," he said quietly.
Aragorn had to fight down a urge to tell the Elf not to go. He knew his over-protectiveness did not help his relationship with Legolas. He sighed. "Be careful."
Legolas nodded. "As always." He walked over to his things and picked up his water bag.
Aragorn heard no sounds as Legolas walked to the lake. His own hood was off his face, for unlike Legolas, he did not have a natural glow around him.
Legolas knelt beside the lake and refilled his water bag. He knew someone was standing behind him. "I know you're there," he said, as he slowly turned around. "You've been watching myself and my companion for almost five hours."
Gimli stood there, with several dwarves. "Who are you, stranger?" he demanded. The dwarves had their knives pointing directly at Legolas.
"Stupid dwarf," Legolas said, grinning, though Gimli couldn't see it.
"Legolas?" Gimli asked, disbelieving. He bravely walked forward and peered at the face hidden in the hood. Before Legolas could warn him not to, he removed the hood. "Crazy elf!"
Legolas's face glowed brightly, and he heard screeches. Fear crept over him. "No!" he shouted.
Several dark, shadowy figures leaped down from the trees and advanced on Legolas, who drew his bow and prepared to fight.
"What are these?" Gimli yelled.
The evil shadows whispered, surrounding Legolas, who quickly began shooting arrows at the creatures. Gimli and the dwarves attacked them as well.
"I will explain later, my friend," Legolas said, as he took the time to cover his face with the hood again. The glow vanished.
The creatures screeched, confused. Until Aragorn burst through the trees, Anduril drawn and in his hand.
They fled before him, taking to the trees and hissing down, glaring at all who stood below. Their eyes stayed focused on Legolas.
Gimli looked at them and then at Legolas. "Pray tell me, Legolas, why are they after you?" he asked.
"Follow us, Gimli," Aragorn said. "For it is not a light matter."
Legolas retrieved as many arrows as he could from the fallen creatures.
Gimli bid farewell to the group of dwarves, and followed Aragorn as he led the way back to the camp. Legolas trailed behind, placing his arrows back in his quiver.
Aragorn sat beside the fire, and beckoned Gimli to sit as well. After he had done so, Aragorn proceeded to tell him of all that had occurred; Arwen's death; the discovery that the creatures were after the Fellowship and had captured the hobbits; the news that the creatures wanted to steal Legolas's inner light, the essence of his soul; and the fact that they were now on a quest to rescue the hobbits.
Gimli looked at Legolas, who worked, repairing his broken arrows. He had not said a word the entire time.
"No wonder the elf hides his skin, to keep it from glowing. I led the creatures right to him, when I removed his hood," Gimli said. He looked at Aragorn. "I'm sorry for your loss, my friend. My axe and I shall gladly fight by your side once more, to rescue our small friends."
Aragorn nodded. "Thank you," he said.
Legolas sighed. The others turned and looked at him.
"A pity," he said quietly. He held up the arrows he had mended; he had only been able to mend five of the ten of the broken arrows.
"Calm yourself, Legolas," Aragorn said. "Perhaps you can work better in daylight. Anyhow, it's my turn to sit watch."
Legolas frowned. "It is not, Elessar."
Gimli raised his eyebrows at hearing Legolas call Aragorn Elessar. That meant that the elf and Aragorn were still at odds. He shook his head.
Three nights later, he could see why Legolas was frustrated. Aragorn wouldn't let him do anything that might be remotely dangerous.
The elf finally yelled at Aragorn. "I'll stand for no more of this, King Elessar!" he said. "I will either pull my own weight on this mission, or proceed on my own. I do not need you to protect me like a child." He stormed off angrily, leaving his bow and arrows behind.
Aragorn looked after him. "Legolas, I-" He sighed and looked Gimli.
"Aragorn, he has a point," Gimli said softly. "You won't let him sit watch, or go anywhere alone hardly."
"I don't want to lose him, Gimli. I could not bear it, not after losing Arwen." Gimli touched Aragorn's shoulder.
"You're going to lose him another way, Aragorn, if you keep treating him like a child. He is much older than you," Gimli pointed out. "Now, you'd better go find him and take him his bow and arrows."
"You're right, Gimli." Aragorn smiled at the dwarf. "Thank you." He walked off to find Legolas, carrying the elf's bow, with his quiver slung across his back.
Legolas was angry. Aragorn treated him like a child. Just because those creatures were after him. He was so frustrated that he barely noticed when his Elven cloak caught on a branch and tore his hood off.
"Great," he said. His face was glowing again, like a little star. Legolas sighed and headed back towards the camp, to put on his spare cloak. The night seemed to be pitch black.
Legolas looked up as he heard a hissing sound. The shadowy creatures leapt out of trees around him. They screeched and hissed at him. As they approached, his skin glowed brighter. Legolas cursed himself. He'd stormed off, leaving his bow and arrows behind. He drew his short sword as the creatures, elves, and other shapes advanced.
He fought well with his short sword. But nothing could stop hungry soul- eaters, he soon realized. Legolas was getting tired. His sword was having no effect, save for angering them. He needed a light- like a fire. His glowing skin wasn't bright enough to scare them away. Legolas backed up slowly, as the creatures leapt on him and knocked him down.
The creatures ripped off his cloak, and touched his bare face. Agony soared through Legolas. He kept in his scream for less than five seconds.
Gimli and Aragorn heard a tortured cry, an Elvish scream of agony and pain. They raced towards the sound, drawing their swords.
God, it burned, Legolas thought. He was getting tired and darkness spun around him. His skin wasn't glowing too much any more, either. Screams erupted from his mouth as his world went entirely black.
Aragorn fired Legolas's own arrows at the creatures, who scattered and hissed at him. The arrows hurt them, but they were relentless.
He's ours, they whispered.
Gimli swung his axe at them, which had little effect. "Aragorn, only the arrows hurt them!" he shouted.
"I know!" Aragorn fired more arrows, as Gimli ran over to the elf. His skin still glowed faintly, barely enough for Gimli to find him. He tore his own cloak off and covered Legolas's face with it.
Once again, the creatures grew confused as the source of light was cut off.
Aragorn realized that it could be an advantage. He raced over to Gimli. "How is he?"
"He's breathing." Gimli said. "We'd better get him back to the camp."
Gimli and Aragorn carried Legolas back to the camp. The light of the fire drove away the shadows that chased them.
Aragorn removed the cloak from Legolas's face. The elf just lay there, motionless. "Legolas!" He touched the elf's face and found that it was ice- cold. "Damn," he said.
Legolas moaned. "Aragorn," he whispered softly. His eyes refused to open, as darkness swirled around him.
"Yes, Legolas?" Aragorn asked. He held the elf's hand tightly.
"Take me to Galadrial," the elf's faint voice said. His glow was weakening even more.
"Good idea." Aragorn looked at Gimli, who nodded and began packing up their things at once.
As soon as they were ready, Aragorn mounted his horse. Gimli handed Legolas up to him. The elf was pale and trembling.
Gimli climbed onto Legolas's horse, carrying his pack as well as Legolas's.
The three began to gallop hard, praying they would reach Galadrial in time, before it was too late.
To be continued
