Wow again. Really! I have NEVER had so many reviews. Not even the reviews for all my stories put together! Thanks as well for all the 'happy birthday's I'm getting really excited.
I hope you enjoyed the last chapter but apologies for the shortness. My lunch break was running out so I finished quick so I could get something to eat. (I'd started typing 'ham' instead of 'have' so I was getting hungry....then I missed lunch waiting for it to upload. Never mind. I annoyed all the teachers by eating my lunch outside the staff room windows later on! :o))
Thank you all for answering my question on the poisonability of an elf. That definitely shaped how this chapter came out. Oh and the last one. If my elf names aren't elvish enough send me some suggestions...I'm no good with names. Anyway I'll go away now and let you read Chapter Three since I'm guessing that's what you came here to do.
*****
Legolas stormed down the corridor fire smouldering in his deep blue eyes. He ignored the entreaties of Aragorn to wait and went out on to the battlements. He looked over the peaceful surroundings and thought about the messenger that Thranduil his father would have sent. When he and Gimli had returned to Mirkwood six months ago, his father had mentioned the possibility of sending an envoy to the city of Minas Tirith. Legolas had immediately recommended the perfect elf for the job.
His name was Gilgolas. He was as wild and as adventurous as Legolas and together as children they had wreaked havoc on Mirkwood and the surrounding areas. Legolas had known Gilgolas for as long as he could remember and in all that time they had been as close as brothers. Legolas had recommended him for the job, looking forward to the possibility of seeing his friend more often. Thranduil had agreed.
'Aramantae*, Gilgolas,' he said softly, his eyes clouded with grief.
He looked out seeing on the horizon the smudge of darkness that was the wood of Fangorn. He wondered if Gilgolas had seen the wondrous trees before he had passed on.
A group of men were riding towards the city from the direction of Mordor. Legolas focussed on them trying to see who was out there at such a late time of night. As they came closer he saw on their clothes the white 'S' rune that Sarumon used to mark his troops of Uruk-Hai before battle*2. He gathered that the warriors must be of the troops of the cult which Aragorn had told him of. Noting their small numbers Legolas ran to the stables picking up his quiver and bow from the armoury as he passed. He leapt onto Arod thankful that no saddle and bridle was needed.
'Noro lim Arod, 'he urged him, 'noro lim.' *3
Arod heard the urgency in his master's voice and flew across the plains to meet the warriors that approached.
Arod slowed s the group became close. They were not Orcs or Uruk-Hai but men in similar armour. The lead rider stepped forward to address Legolas.
'Elf, I come in the name of Sauron and Sarumon.' He paused as though expecting shock or surprise from the calm Elf before him.
'Sauron is dead,' Legolas stated flatly.
'Blasphemy!' the riders yelled as one drawing their swords.
Faster than the eye's of men could follow Legolas fitted an arrow to his bow and drew back the string. Seeing this new threat the men set upon him as one, their leader falling as Legolas released his bow. The remaining nine were close about him and Legolas pulled his sword from it's sheath the only thought occupying his mind was that these were of the cult which had been responsible for the death of his friend.
He fell into the graceful movements of Elven fighting slicing and cutting as the men set upon him. Then men set upon him from all sides but they were no match for an Elven warrior, especially one of such skill as Legolas. Eight more men fell beneath his blade and soon only one man remain.
'Go back to your masters.' Legolas instructed him harshly. 'Tell them that Minas Tirith shall not fall to their power and the deaths they are responsible for shall be avenged.'
The man snarled and charged the Elf. Almost lazily Legolas fitted and arrow and felled the man.
'Very well,' he said, 'I shall deliver the message myself.'
Legolas saw the carnage of the, rather one sided battle, and looked around for the trail the men had left. Despite the encroaching darkness his keen eyes found it easily and he made a mental note of its position so that he could return in the light of day with Aragorn and Gimli. The he mounted Arod preparing to return to Minas Tirith.
'Master Elf, do not move.'
A harsh voice came out of nowhere stopping Legolas in his tracks. Slowly he scanned the area, moving as little as possible hoping to spot the speaker.
'you may deliver your message to me now.' A torch flared and Legolas could at last see the face of his attacker more easily. He gasped. Instead of a man like he had expected, Legolas saw a ruined and twisted face, horribly scarred, but still, most definitely, an Elf like himself.
His eyes widened. Only once had he heard of such an Elf. When Sauron had taken the Elves, maiming them until they became Orcs, one Elf had been left alone, forced to stay in the dark for centuries watching the cruelties Sauron inflicted on his people until bit by bit his mind became dark and twisted.
Legolas never knew what had become of this Elf and assumed that he had died or was a myth passed down through time.
'I see you know who I am.' The dark Elf commented, 'that is good. I will not have to waste time explaining myself to you. I am coming to exact revenge or your kind. Killing you slowly as I was left to die by your people. I was responsible for the death of the Elven messenger but you shall be a far more suitable demonstration. Legolas son of Thranduil and one of the Nine Walkers. Yes, you shall suit my purpose most admirably. The messenger took three days to die. I wonder whether you have the strength to last longer.'
***
Aragorn knocked loudly on the door of Gimli's chambers. The dwarf answered quickly mumbling about it being past the hour for visitors.
'I apologise Gimli but I am searching for Legolas.'
'He is not here. In fact I have not seen him all evening.'
Aragorn looked troubled.
'Nor have I. I was forced to impart some bad news to him and I have not seen him since. Nor it seems has anyone else. I only hope he has not done anything foolish. Come Gimli we will go to the stables and see if we can find his steed.'
A short while later they discovered that Arod was gone.
'Oh Legolas,' Aragorn sighed, 'Why were you so foolish?'
Quickly he tacked up Hasufel, his grey Rohan horse and assisted Gimli up in front of him. Gimli held a lamp and it was not long before the keen eyes of Aragorn picked up Legolas' trail. Quickly they set off into the unknown.
***
Legolas saw the dark Elf reaching for his bow and reached for his quickly. He drew back the string aware his opponent was at the point of releasing his. As he was about to release the string he saw the arrow spiralling towards him. It slammed into his should and his bow flew up as he fell the arrow flying harmlessly above his enemy. The last thing he heard as he hit the ground was the insane laughter of the dark Elf as he fled.
* I couldn't hear exactly what Legolas said in his lament for Gandalf but that's as close as I can remember and so if anyone knows what it really is please let me know.
*2. I know in the film they all have the white handprints but I'm almost 100% positive that in the books it's a rune instead. I may be wrong. I have a poor head for details. Again if anyone knows for sure drop me a line.
*3. Pretty certain that this amounts to 'Get a move on!'(in a direct Yorkshire translation! :o)) in the Elven tongue or 'Ride hard,' ( the more accurate translation) . Glorfindel said it to his horse and if he can do it then so can Legolas =P. If I'm wrong let me know.
Last Thing... I need a name for the dark Elf. If anyone can think of one I would gladly appreciate all suggestions. I'd probably give him a name that meant Happy Elf or something. If you can help...Thanks!!
I hope you enjoyed the last chapter but apologies for the shortness. My lunch break was running out so I finished quick so I could get something to eat. (I'd started typing 'ham' instead of 'have' so I was getting hungry....then I missed lunch waiting for it to upload. Never mind. I annoyed all the teachers by eating my lunch outside the staff room windows later on! :o))
Thank you all for answering my question on the poisonability of an elf. That definitely shaped how this chapter came out. Oh and the last one. If my elf names aren't elvish enough send me some suggestions...I'm no good with names. Anyway I'll go away now and let you read Chapter Three since I'm guessing that's what you came here to do.
*****
Legolas stormed down the corridor fire smouldering in his deep blue eyes. He ignored the entreaties of Aragorn to wait and went out on to the battlements. He looked over the peaceful surroundings and thought about the messenger that Thranduil his father would have sent. When he and Gimli had returned to Mirkwood six months ago, his father had mentioned the possibility of sending an envoy to the city of Minas Tirith. Legolas had immediately recommended the perfect elf for the job.
His name was Gilgolas. He was as wild and as adventurous as Legolas and together as children they had wreaked havoc on Mirkwood and the surrounding areas. Legolas had known Gilgolas for as long as he could remember and in all that time they had been as close as brothers. Legolas had recommended him for the job, looking forward to the possibility of seeing his friend more often. Thranduil had agreed.
'Aramantae*, Gilgolas,' he said softly, his eyes clouded with grief.
He looked out seeing on the horizon the smudge of darkness that was the wood of Fangorn. He wondered if Gilgolas had seen the wondrous trees before he had passed on.
A group of men were riding towards the city from the direction of Mordor. Legolas focussed on them trying to see who was out there at such a late time of night. As they came closer he saw on their clothes the white 'S' rune that Sarumon used to mark his troops of Uruk-Hai before battle*2. He gathered that the warriors must be of the troops of the cult which Aragorn had told him of. Noting their small numbers Legolas ran to the stables picking up his quiver and bow from the armoury as he passed. He leapt onto Arod thankful that no saddle and bridle was needed.
'Noro lim Arod, 'he urged him, 'noro lim.' *3
Arod heard the urgency in his master's voice and flew across the plains to meet the warriors that approached.
Arod slowed s the group became close. They were not Orcs or Uruk-Hai but men in similar armour. The lead rider stepped forward to address Legolas.
'Elf, I come in the name of Sauron and Sarumon.' He paused as though expecting shock or surprise from the calm Elf before him.
'Sauron is dead,' Legolas stated flatly.
'Blasphemy!' the riders yelled as one drawing their swords.
Faster than the eye's of men could follow Legolas fitted an arrow to his bow and drew back the string. Seeing this new threat the men set upon him as one, their leader falling as Legolas released his bow. The remaining nine were close about him and Legolas pulled his sword from it's sheath the only thought occupying his mind was that these were of the cult which had been responsible for the death of his friend.
He fell into the graceful movements of Elven fighting slicing and cutting as the men set upon him. Then men set upon him from all sides but they were no match for an Elven warrior, especially one of such skill as Legolas. Eight more men fell beneath his blade and soon only one man remain.
'Go back to your masters.' Legolas instructed him harshly. 'Tell them that Minas Tirith shall not fall to their power and the deaths they are responsible for shall be avenged.'
The man snarled and charged the Elf. Almost lazily Legolas fitted and arrow and felled the man.
'Very well,' he said, 'I shall deliver the message myself.'
Legolas saw the carnage of the, rather one sided battle, and looked around for the trail the men had left. Despite the encroaching darkness his keen eyes found it easily and he made a mental note of its position so that he could return in the light of day with Aragorn and Gimli. The he mounted Arod preparing to return to Minas Tirith.
'Master Elf, do not move.'
A harsh voice came out of nowhere stopping Legolas in his tracks. Slowly he scanned the area, moving as little as possible hoping to spot the speaker.
'you may deliver your message to me now.' A torch flared and Legolas could at last see the face of his attacker more easily. He gasped. Instead of a man like he had expected, Legolas saw a ruined and twisted face, horribly scarred, but still, most definitely, an Elf like himself.
His eyes widened. Only once had he heard of such an Elf. When Sauron had taken the Elves, maiming them until they became Orcs, one Elf had been left alone, forced to stay in the dark for centuries watching the cruelties Sauron inflicted on his people until bit by bit his mind became dark and twisted.
Legolas never knew what had become of this Elf and assumed that he had died or was a myth passed down through time.
'I see you know who I am.' The dark Elf commented, 'that is good. I will not have to waste time explaining myself to you. I am coming to exact revenge or your kind. Killing you slowly as I was left to die by your people. I was responsible for the death of the Elven messenger but you shall be a far more suitable demonstration. Legolas son of Thranduil and one of the Nine Walkers. Yes, you shall suit my purpose most admirably. The messenger took three days to die. I wonder whether you have the strength to last longer.'
***
Aragorn knocked loudly on the door of Gimli's chambers. The dwarf answered quickly mumbling about it being past the hour for visitors.
'I apologise Gimli but I am searching for Legolas.'
'He is not here. In fact I have not seen him all evening.'
Aragorn looked troubled.
'Nor have I. I was forced to impart some bad news to him and I have not seen him since. Nor it seems has anyone else. I only hope he has not done anything foolish. Come Gimli we will go to the stables and see if we can find his steed.'
A short while later they discovered that Arod was gone.
'Oh Legolas,' Aragorn sighed, 'Why were you so foolish?'
Quickly he tacked up Hasufel, his grey Rohan horse and assisted Gimli up in front of him. Gimli held a lamp and it was not long before the keen eyes of Aragorn picked up Legolas' trail. Quickly they set off into the unknown.
***
Legolas saw the dark Elf reaching for his bow and reached for his quickly. He drew back the string aware his opponent was at the point of releasing his. As he was about to release the string he saw the arrow spiralling towards him. It slammed into his should and his bow flew up as he fell the arrow flying harmlessly above his enemy. The last thing he heard as he hit the ground was the insane laughter of the dark Elf as he fled.
* I couldn't hear exactly what Legolas said in his lament for Gandalf but that's as close as I can remember and so if anyone knows what it really is please let me know.
*2. I know in the film they all have the white handprints but I'm almost 100% positive that in the books it's a rune instead. I may be wrong. I have a poor head for details. Again if anyone knows for sure drop me a line.
*3. Pretty certain that this amounts to 'Get a move on!'(in a direct Yorkshire translation! :o)) in the Elven tongue or 'Ride hard,' ( the more accurate translation) . Glorfindel said it to his horse and if he can do it then so can Legolas =P. If I'm wrong let me know.
Last Thing... I need a name for the dark Elf. If anyone can think of one I would gladly appreciate all suggestions. I'd probably give him a name that meant Happy Elf or something. If you can help...Thanks!!