Note: All unknown characters are mine!
There Is Always Hope
Part 9
*****************************
Lothlorien
*****************************
Legolas and Aragorn awoke slowly, and realized that they were still inside the small garden. Morning had come, and the sun shone down on them.
They replaced their clothes quietly, before standing.
Legolas crossed the courtyard to stand next to the tree with the silver flowers on it. He saw with surprise that there was a claw mark across the tree, and Legolas touched it gently with his fingers.
Aragorn watched his lover as he murmured a soft spell in Elvish. He wasn't truly sure of how he felt about all this, but he would stand beside the one he loved.
The scratches remained, however, much to Legolas's surprise. He touched a single, perfect silver rose.
'You may take some roses with you, if you would like to,' Lady Galadrial said, as she joined Legolas by the tree. 'They remind us that even when the darkness is the worst, there is always hope.'
'Thank you, Lady Galadrial,' Legolas said softly.
Aragorn walked over to Legolas and placed a hand on his shoulder.
Legolas squeezed his lover's hand, before he drew his dagger and removed three silver roses from the tree. He was surprised when Aragorn took one from him, and held it.
'What are you doing?' Legolas questioned.
'I shall place it in my bag of healing herbs, Legolas. Perhaps it will bring me luck,' Aragorn told him. 'Everyone needs hope, now and then. Especially you.'
Legolas nodded slowly. 'Tis hard to hold onto hope when those you care for are in grave peril. But they must be alive.'
Galadrial watched the lovers compassionately. 'As I said, I have two gifts for you, Elessar.' Her gentle voice rang out clearly over the courtyard.
Legolas and Aragorn turned to her.
'Follow me, please,' Galadrial requested, as she turned and left the same way she had come in.
First, she led them to where breakfast waited, and where they could freshen up a bit.
Once they had washed their faces and eaten their fill, she gestured for them to come once more.
Aragorn and Legolas followed her slowly, as she led them into an inner chamber.
Once inside, Galadrial walked over to a small chest and opened it. She removed a small box from the chest carefully, before crossing the room and handing it to Aragorn.
Aragorn slowly opened it, and saw the most intricate necklace he had ever seen.
A silver charm with carved ruins and engraved Elvish words made up most of the necklace. Tiny, delicate leaves and vines were carved into the silver metal in a circular shape, surrounding the Elvish words. The ruins were above, below, to the right, and to the left of the carved leaves and vines, which encircled the words. An ancient, silver chain looped through the center piece.
'I can't take something this fancy,' Aragorn whispered in Elvish.
Galadrial looked at him gravely and remained silent.
Legolas, however, saw the necklace for what it was. He slowly read the words that were engraved. 'The light ordered that I should be made. Tis a gift and nothing more,' Legolas murmured. 'That's Seiren's writing. I'd know it anywhere.'
Aragorn looked at Legolas sharply, before turning to Galadrial. 'What does this mean?'
'Seiren knew that a time would come when he would be vulnerable and unable to help you. 'If something should happen to me, and Elessar and Legolas come to Lothlorien for aid, this necklace belongs to the King of Men.' So Seiren spoke,' Galadrial said.
Aragorn took the necklace in his hand. 'I will accept it, then.'
Legolas took the necklace from Aragorn and fastened it around his neck.
Aragorn felt a jolt of warm energy as soon as the necklace was in place.
He questioned, 'What was that?'
'Twas a protection spell, Elessar,' Galadrial reassured him.
Legolas nodded. 'Tis much like the one I gave you five years ago, Aragorn.'
Aragorn was slightly surprised. 'Does Seiren always predict the future?'
Legolas frowned as he thought for a few moments. 'On the rare occasions that he does, Seiren has always been right.'
Galadrial spoke softly. 'As for your second gift, Elessar, it lies on the table.'
Aragorn walked over and picked it up. A small mirror was what it appeared to be. It was small, with nothing seemingly special about it.
Puzzled, Aragorn looked at Galadrial. 'Tis a mirror, then?' he asked.
'Use it to look upon Legolas, Elessar,' Galadrial said calmly.
Aragorn did so, and was stunned when instead of seeing Legolas in the mirror, he saw something shining and shimmering, full of light.
Aragorn swore softly. 'What am I seeing, Lady Galadrial?' he asked.
'You see the soul of your loved one, Elessar. The mirror has the power to see into the souls of others. If the soul is evil, however, this mirror will force it to reveal its true form and weaken it. Use it well.'
Galadrial beckoned for the two to follow her, and they did so once more.
She led them to where Seiren's Elvish horse awaited them. The horse pawed the ground and snorted.
'Calmly, Saeru,' Legolas said in Elvish to the horse.
The stallion snorted again, and then grew quiet.
'I wish you both well,' Galadrial said earnestly, as the two travelers began to prepare to depart again. She had ordered for fresh food and drink, as well as other items, to be placed in their belongings.
Aragorn placed the silver rose (he had put it in his pocket when he had picked up the necklace) into his bag of medicine.
Legolas placed the two he carried in his belongings, as well.
Aragorn mounted Saeru, and gave a hand to Legolas, who took it.
The elf put his arms around his lover, as they bid farewell to Galadrial, before they set off again.
Once they were out of sight, Aragorn stopped Saeru. He dismounted, as did Legolas.
Aragorn took his love in his arms, and kissed him, for he had not been able to do so before Galadrial had interrupted them.
Legolas responded with eagerness, his sense of hope renewed.
They stayed together like that for a few moments, before reluctantly separating.
They got back on Saeru, and rode off to rescue their friends.
*****************************
In An Unknown Location
*****************************
Seiren groaned softly as he weakly opened his eyes.
"Look, he's waking up," Frodo whispered.
Sam nodded. "Are you ok?" he quietly asked the now conscious elf.
Seiren stirred a little. 'F-Frodo? Sam?' he questioned softly in Elvish.
'You know us?' Frodo asked, surprised.
Seiren laughed a little, before wincing in pain. He hurt all over. 'I should hope so, Frodo, for you all know me. I am also known as Ullin,' he murmured.
Frodo quickly told Sam and the others what Seiren had said.
"Legolas said the same; that Seiren and Ullin were one," Gimli stated.
Gandalf nodded. "That explains why Motarasu dislikes him so, for Seiren is a powerful adversary. With Legolas's assistance, there would be very little that those two could not do."
Merry shot a puzzled look at Gandalf. "Why do you think that Seiren is powerful? He was defeated," Merry pointed out.
"He's still alive, young Hobbit, which could not be said for most of the victims of the particular monster that Motarasu used against him," Gandalf said. "Tis an ancient evil, which has not been seen for centuries."
Pippin gulped. "Lucky us," he muttered.
'Fear… not," Seiren told them quietly. "Once I get some rest… I'll free you." The elf was so tired that he fell asleep again.
Frodo and the Hobbits exchanged a worried look, as did Gandalf and Gimli.
Seiren didn't look like he could free himself, let alone them.
To be continued
There Is Always Hope
Part 9
*****************************
Lothlorien
*****************************
Legolas and Aragorn awoke slowly, and realized that they were still inside the small garden. Morning had come, and the sun shone down on them.
They replaced their clothes quietly, before standing.
Legolas crossed the courtyard to stand next to the tree with the silver flowers on it. He saw with surprise that there was a claw mark across the tree, and Legolas touched it gently with his fingers.
Aragorn watched his lover as he murmured a soft spell in Elvish. He wasn't truly sure of how he felt about all this, but he would stand beside the one he loved.
The scratches remained, however, much to Legolas's surprise. He touched a single, perfect silver rose.
'You may take some roses with you, if you would like to,' Lady Galadrial said, as she joined Legolas by the tree. 'They remind us that even when the darkness is the worst, there is always hope.'
'Thank you, Lady Galadrial,' Legolas said softly.
Aragorn walked over to Legolas and placed a hand on his shoulder.
Legolas squeezed his lover's hand, before he drew his dagger and removed three silver roses from the tree. He was surprised when Aragorn took one from him, and held it.
'What are you doing?' Legolas questioned.
'I shall place it in my bag of healing herbs, Legolas. Perhaps it will bring me luck,' Aragorn told him. 'Everyone needs hope, now and then. Especially you.'
Legolas nodded slowly. 'Tis hard to hold onto hope when those you care for are in grave peril. But they must be alive.'
Galadrial watched the lovers compassionately. 'As I said, I have two gifts for you, Elessar.' Her gentle voice rang out clearly over the courtyard.
Legolas and Aragorn turned to her.
'Follow me, please,' Galadrial requested, as she turned and left the same way she had come in.
First, she led them to where breakfast waited, and where they could freshen up a bit.
Once they had washed their faces and eaten their fill, she gestured for them to come once more.
Aragorn and Legolas followed her slowly, as she led them into an inner chamber.
Once inside, Galadrial walked over to a small chest and opened it. She removed a small box from the chest carefully, before crossing the room and handing it to Aragorn.
Aragorn slowly opened it, and saw the most intricate necklace he had ever seen.
A silver charm with carved ruins and engraved Elvish words made up most of the necklace. Tiny, delicate leaves and vines were carved into the silver metal in a circular shape, surrounding the Elvish words. The ruins were above, below, to the right, and to the left of the carved leaves and vines, which encircled the words. An ancient, silver chain looped through the center piece.
'I can't take something this fancy,' Aragorn whispered in Elvish.
Galadrial looked at him gravely and remained silent.
Legolas, however, saw the necklace for what it was. He slowly read the words that were engraved. 'The light ordered that I should be made. Tis a gift and nothing more,' Legolas murmured. 'That's Seiren's writing. I'd know it anywhere.'
Aragorn looked at Legolas sharply, before turning to Galadrial. 'What does this mean?'
'Seiren knew that a time would come when he would be vulnerable and unable to help you. 'If something should happen to me, and Elessar and Legolas come to Lothlorien for aid, this necklace belongs to the King of Men.' So Seiren spoke,' Galadrial said.
Aragorn took the necklace in his hand. 'I will accept it, then.'
Legolas took the necklace from Aragorn and fastened it around his neck.
Aragorn felt a jolt of warm energy as soon as the necklace was in place.
He questioned, 'What was that?'
'Twas a protection spell, Elessar,' Galadrial reassured him.
Legolas nodded. 'Tis much like the one I gave you five years ago, Aragorn.'
Aragorn was slightly surprised. 'Does Seiren always predict the future?'
Legolas frowned as he thought for a few moments. 'On the rare occasions that he does, Seiren has always been right.'
Galadrial spoke softly. 'As for your second gift, Elessar, it lies on the table.'
Aragorn walked over and picked it up. A small mirror was what it appeared to be. It was small, with nothing seemingly special about it.
Puzzled, Aragorn looked at Galadrial. 'Tis a mirror, then?' he asked.
'Use it to look upon Legolas, Elessar,' Galadrial said calmly.
Aragorn did so, and was stunned when instead of seeing Legolas in the mirror, he saw something shining and shimmering, full of light.
Aragorn swore softly. 'What am I seeing, Lady Galadrial?' he asked.
'You see the soul of your loved one, Elessar. The mirror has the power to see into the souls of others. If the soul is evil, however, this mirror will force it to reveal its true form and weaken it. Use it well.'
Galadrial beckoned for the two to follow her, and they did so once more.
She led them to where Seiren's Elvish horse awaited them. The horse pawed the ground and snorted.
'Calmly, Saeru,' Legolas said in Elvish to the horse.
The stallion snorted again, and then grew quiet.
'I wish you both well,' Galadrial said earnestly, as the two travelers began to prepare to depart again. She had ordered for fresh food and drink, as well as other items, to be placed in their belongings.
Aragorn placed the silver rose (he had put it in his pocket when he had picked up the necklace) into his bag of medicine.
Legolas placed the two he carried in his belongings, as well.
Aragorn mounted Saeru, and gave a hand to Legolas, who took it.
The elf put his arms around his lover, as they bid farewell to Galadrial, before they set off again.
Once they were out of sight, Aragorn stopped Saeru. He dismounted, as did Legolas.
Aragorn took his love in his arms, and kissed him, for he had not been able to do so before Galadrial had interrupted them.
Legolas responded with eagerness, his sense of hope renewed.
They stayed together like that for a few moments, before reluctantly separating.
They got back on Saeru, and rode off to rescue their friends.
*****************************
In An Unknown Location
*****************************
Seiren groaned softly as he weakly opened his eyes.
"Look, he's waking up," Frodo whispered.
Sam nodded. "Are you ok?" he quietly asked the now conscious elf.
Seiren stirred a little. 'F-Frodo? Sam?' he questioned softly in Elvish.
'You know us?' Frodo asked, surprised.
Seiren laughed a little, before wincing in pain. He hurt all over. 'I should hope so, Frodo, for you all know me. I am also known as Ullin,' he murmured.
Frodo quickly told Sam and the others what Seiren had said.
"Legolas said the same; that Seiren and Ullin were one," Gimli stated.
Gandalf nodded. "That explains why Motarasu dislikes him so, for Seiren is a powerful adversary. With Legolas's assistance, there would be very little that those two could not do."
Merry shot a puzzled look at Gandalf. "Why do you think that Seiren is powerful? He was defeated," Merry pointed out.
"He's still alive, young Hobbit, which could not be said for most of the victims of the particular monster that Motarasu used against him," Gandalf said. "Tis an ancient evil, which has not been seen for centuries."
Pippin gulped. "Lucky us," he muttered.
'Fear… not," Seiren told them quietly. "Once I get some rest… I'll free you." The elf was so tired that he fell asleep again.
Frodo and the Hobbits exchanged a worried look, as did Gandalf and Gimli.
Seiren didn't look like he could free himself, let alone them.
To be continued