Same disclaimer as always, none of them is mine.... I try to stick to the
original story as much as possible.
THANKS for the reviews! You guys keep me writing....
After a night of little sleep, disturbed by the sudden appearance of the old man and the loosing of their horses the five walked into the forest. 'Fangorn' Legolas thought, 'how much would I have liked to be here in good times and have time listen to the forest.' A sad smile crossed the ageless face of the elf and Aragorn who saw it slowed his pace and waited until he was next to him. "What concerns you Legolas? Shouldn't you be happy to be back in the woods?" "I am happy to see this forest, which is older than anything I've ever seen, yet there is a weird tension in the air, it makes it hard for me to breathe." Aragorn looked at the elf and realized that he was paler than usual and his breathing indeed was slower. Before he could stop himself he had raised a hand and brushed some stray hairs out of Legolas face. The princes skin was soft and cold and unconsiously the movement that was ment to calm down became a caress.
Legolas didn't know what to do when Aragorn raised his hand, he half expected him to cloutch his shoulder in a reassuring geste, yet the hand moved to his face, brushing aside his hair and the elf closed his eyes when suddenly his cheek burned where the man's hand had touched it. When the hand didn't go away he oppened the eyes again only to meet Aragorn's stare. They didn't know how long they stood there, lost in each others eyes, Aragorn's hand still at Legolas cheek, frozen in place by the emotions that surged between them.
A cough brought them back into reality and Aragorn jumped back as if he had burned his hand. Had anybody seen them? To his relief Methos came through the bushes, his face expressionless and not at all concerned. "We found some traces, that could be from those hobbits. But neither me nor Duncan are as good in reading them as you are." Methos walked back to where they had found the things and traces and Legolas was just about to follow him, when Aragorn held him back. "We ... ... better follow him." And cursing his cowardice Aragorn turned and followed Methos. Legolas stood there for another moment, wondering what Aragorn really had wanted to say, could it be that it was not only him, could it be mutual?
Methos watched Aragorn while the looked at the traces they had found, not concerned what they meant, what he had just witnessed between the tall man and the beautiful elf interested him a lot more. Already yesterday he had seen the looks the man shot at the elf and vice versa and felt the tension between them. A wicked smile crossed the ancient's face, he loved matchmaking, he just loved it and he had millennia of experience. "That's going to be very interesting." He murmured and saw Duncan's smiling and silently shaking his head. His lover had most likely figured out what thoughts he just had had.
They followed the traces of the hobbits until they came to a cliff. On top of it they could see over the forest, when suddenly Legolas saw a grey figure walking towards them. " We walked so far and now we're caught." He told his friends, which now could see the man coming up.
"Shoot him, Legolas before he can curse us." Gimli urged his friend and Legolas lifted his bow, yet his arms were heavy and he could not move.
As the man was next to them, Duncan could feel the spell that had immobilized the elf, it was as if a voice in his head told him to stand still and not move. The thought that again his will was controlled by some outside force caused Duncan's heart to race, he began to sweat and closed his eyes as his mind began to show him pictures of Richie's headless body. His student killed, killed by himself.
Legolas sudden exclamation "Mithrandir, Mithrandir" brought Duncan out of his reverie and he realized where he was and that his body and mind were free again. When he felt a strong hand on his shoulder he turned and looked at the old man, who seemed to shine from inside.
"I have awaited you and your friend. Those are dark times and I am grateful that you joined our fellowship."
"Gandalf, what shall we do now? You told us the halflings were in good care but where will our next step lead us?" Aragorn was relieved to know that their leader was back and again Arwen's words came back to his mind. "When the living come back from the dead, you will know where your way leads you. You will find your other side and have to decide." "Your next step is given by the word you gave Éomer, you have to go to Edoras and talk to Théoden. We are needed there, the war has started and Andúril has to go and join the good side."
"We will all go, even if the first fellowship is broken this one will not break." Legolas' voice was the voice of a prince and as Aragorn turned to look at the elf he had the feeling to see Legolas the first time. He seemed even taller and the sun made his hair shine around him like a halo, it was a warrior and a prince he saw here and Aragorn realized that he had misjudged the elf once again. This was a proud and strong being, he would not allow himself to be broken. This person was indeed his equal in all the ways. 'My other side...' he thought understanding finally.
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It's Sunday night, next week will be hard at work. I hope to post a new chapter around Wednesday, but please have some patience!
THANKS for the reviews! You guys keep me writing....
After a night of little sleep, disturbed by the sudden appearance of the old man and the loosing of their horses the five walked into the forest. 'Fangorn' Legolas thought, 'how much would I have liked to be here in good times and have time listen to the forest.' A sad smile crossed the ageless face of the elf and Aragorn who saw it slowed his pace and waited until he was next to him. "What concerns you Legolas? Shouldn't you be happy to be back in the woods?" "I am happy to see this forest, which is older than anything I've ever seen, yet there is a weird tension in the air, it makes it hard for me to breathe." Aragorn looked at the elf and realized that he was paler than usual and his breathing indeed was slower. Before he could stop himself he had raised a hand and brushed some stray hairs out of Legolas face. The princes skin was soft and cold and unconsiously the movement that was ment to calm down became a caress.
Legolas didn't know what to do when Aragorn raised his hand, he half expected him to cloutch his shoulder in a reassuring geste, yet the hand moved to his face, brushing aside his hair and the elf closed his eyes when suddenly his cheek burned where the man's hand had touched it. When the hand didn't go away he oppened the eyes again only to meet Aragorn's stare. They didn't know how long they stood there, lost in each others eyes, Aragorn's hand still at Legolas cheek, frozen in place by the emotions that surged between them.
A cough brought them back into reality and Aragorn jumped back as if he had burned his hand. Had anybody seen them? To his relief Methos came through the bushes, his face expressionless and not at all concerned. "We found some traces, that could be from those hobbits. But neither me nor Duncan are as good in reading them as you are." Methos walked back to where they had found the things and traces and Legolas was just about to follow him, when Aragorn held him back. "We ... ... better follow him." And cursing his cowardice Aragorn turned and followed Methos. Legolas stood there for another moment, wondering what Aragorn really had wanted to say, could it be that it was not only him, could it be mutual?
Methos watched Aragorn while the looked at the traces they had found, not concerned what they meant, what he had just witnessed between the tall man and the beautiful elf interested him a lot more. Already yesterday he had seen the looks the man shot at the elf and vice versa and felt the tension between them. A wicked smile crossed the ancient's face, he loved matchmaking, he just loved it and he had millennia of experience. "That's going to be very interesting." He murmured and saw Duncan's smiling and silently shaking his head. His lover had most likely figured out what thoughts he just had had.
They followed the traces of the hobbits until they came to a cliff. On top of it they could see over the forest, when suddenly Legolas saw a grey figure walking towards them. " We walked so far and now we're caught." He told his friends, which now could see the man coming up.
"Shoot him, Legolas before he can curse us." Gimli urged his friend and Legolas lifted his bow, yet his arms were heavy and he could not move.
As the man was next to them, Duncan could feel the spell that had immobilized the elf, it was as if a voice in his head told him to stand still and not move. The thought that again his will was controlled by some outside force caused Duncan's heart to race, he began to sweat and closed his eyes as his mind began to show him pictures of Richie's headless body. His student killed, killed by himself.
Legolas sudden exclamation "Mithrandir, Mithrandir" brought Duncan out of his reverie and he realized where he was and that his body and mind were free again. When he felt a strong hand on his shoulder he turned and looked at the old man, who seemed to shine from inside.
"I have awaited you and your friend. Those are dark times and I am grateful that you joined our fellowship."
"Gandalf, what shall we do now? You told us the halflings were in good care but where will our next step lead us?" Aragorn was relieved to know that their leader was back and again Arwen's words came back to his mind. "When the living come back from the dead, you will know where your way leads you. You will find your other side and have to decide." "Your next step is given by the word you gave Éomer, you have to go to Edoras and talk to Théoden. We are needed there, the war has started and Andúril has to go and join the good side."
"We will all go, even if the first fellowship is broken this one will not break." Legolas' voice was the voice of a prince and as Aragorn turned to look at the elf he had the feeling to see Legolas the first time. He seemed even taller and the sun made his hair shine around him like a halo, it was a warrior and a prince he saw here and Aragorn realized that he had misjudged the elf once again. This was a proud and strong being, he would not allow himself to be broken. This person was indeed his equal in all the ways. 'My other side...' he thought understanding finally.
-------
It's Sunday night, next week will be hard at work. I hope to post a new chapter around Wednesday, but please have some patience!