1 Chapter 7 – "The Plan"
The Fellowship, now rested began on their journey to destroy the ring again. It had been three days since Legolas was lost, and everyone seemed to be getting along again, even Aragorn and Legolas oddly enough. It seemed as though Legolas was his normal self again. He wasn't acting pompous and rude as he had been acting those last couple of days. They all saw an adjustment in his attitude. But what they didn't know was that it was just a simple mind game taught to Legolas by the deceitful fairies of Lalelasill…
They eventually came upon a few stray Orcs as they kept getting closer to Mordor, but since there weren't many, it wasn't a hard fight. The little hobbits continued to get better and better at using their small swords as time went on, and the others were glad of this, for they needed help from everyone.
As they finally left the forest of Lalelasill, they entered a widespread plain. It was full of dust and dirt, scattered trees and bushes, but they were more at ease here than they were in the evil forest. It was now mid afternoon, and the sun was bright, with its rays continuously stretching farther and farther across the blue sky. It was quite hot, and the air swirled around them with warmth and humidity. They decided to take a brief break to sit and drink the small amount of water they had in their canteens. They were all unusually talkative seeing that no one hardly spoke all day.
Merry, Pippin and Sam were playing tag, while Aragorn, Gimli, and Boromir sat and drank their water, discussing what was ahead on their journey. Legolas, surprisingly wasn't sitting far away from the others, and Frodo sat next to him. Frodo decided to be the one to start a conversation between the two of them. Besides, they rarely talked to each other much anymore.
"So Legolas, tell me what happened in that forest. Did you find anything interesting? Did you see anything scary?" Frodo asked curiously, eyes widening at each question he asked. Legolas laughed lightly at Frodo's sudden curiosity in his secret adventure. "Hobbits shouldn't be so nosy, you know? I have no news for you I'm afraid, for I didn't see anything of interest. I'm sorry to disappoint you, Frodo." Legolas gave a playful frown and began to smile. Frodo shook his head and giggled. "Too bad." Frodo turned his attention to the shiny, gold ring that hung on a string around his neck. He moved his finger around it slowly, examining it. He couldn't pull his eyes from it. He just kept staring at it as if it were something beyond his own understanding.
Legolas soon took notice of this, and turned his own attention toward it. He first looked at the ring, and then at Frodo. His eyes moved back and forth for awhile, looking at both the ring and Frodo in wonder. Now is my chance, he thought. Everyone else was involved in their own side conversations with each other. If he could just get Frodo away for awhile, he could put his plan into action…
"Woo, it sure is hot isn't it?" Frodo stated out of nowhere, still fiddling with the ring. "Yes it is. You know what? Let's go take a little walk for a bit, just me and you. We hardly ever get to talk one on one. What do you say?" Legolas tried his hardest to look as innocent and sincere as possible and he knew Frodo was very gullible. "Sure!" Frodo replied excitedly. Legolas smiled and he was proud of himself for completing the first part of "the plan": getting Frodo alone.
Legolas and Frodo got up and without thought brushed all the dust off of them. They began to walk side by side, and engaged in a new conversation right away. Aragorn saw them get up and instinctively asked where they were going. "We're just taking a short walk. We'll be back in a bit." Frodo replied and flashed a thrilled smile at Aragorn. Frodo never felt as close to Legolas as he did to the others, and he always thought that the elf was somewhat standoffish. But now was his chance to get closer to him, at least try to. Aragorn wasn't as worried about this as he would have been if it were happening when Legolas was acting so strangely, so he let them go. Aragorn turned back to Boromir and Gimli. "It's nice to see everyone getting along as we were before, isn't it?" Gimli said with a big grin on his face. "Yes, it is very much so." Aragorn said blandly. Aragorn looked back at the two walking together, but he pushed his silly worries away and turned back around again.
So Legolas and Frodo walked for awhile. Legolas soon put the second part of "the plan" into action: getting the ring away from Frodo as smoothly and as quickly as possible.
They sat down under a nearby tree to get cool from the shade. They were silent for a moment, and Legolas was contemplating what he could say to get the ring from Frodo's possession. Frodo decided to break the silence, and he simply asked, "So…what shall we talk about now?" Frodo looked up at Legolas's face. Legolas merely shrugged. He didn't want to bring up the ring when they weren't even discussing it.
"I cannot wait until we destroy this hideous ring! Don't you feel the same?" Frodo said bluntly. He honestly wanted to get rid of the ring, and he felt it was a burden to himself and everyone else. "Well, if I was wearing it around my neck so much, I guess I would feel the same." Frodo looked confused. "What do you mean?" Legolas struggled not to smile, for he knew in his mind the plan was working. "All I know is if I had to wear that ring around my neck all the time, I would hate it. Honestly! Anyone that sees you knows you as 'The Ringbearer', and no one wants to have anything to do with someone that holds that evil ring. Do you see what I mean?" Frodo slowly nodded, for he did see Legolas's point. "You're right, Legolas. Why do I have to wear the ring? I mean, I don't want to be seen as someone as hateful as Sauron!" Frodo grew angry, realizing the evil that had been hanging from his neck for quite some time now.
"No one wants to be seen as Sauron, Frodo. I would be upset if I were you, too, so don't feel bad. If you didn't want to feel this way anymore, you could do something…" Frodo turned his head toward Legolas. "Oh, really? What could I do then? I'm sick of this ring, and I personally wish it would just go away. But since it can't, what's a temporary solution?"
Legolas was loving this. He was just ecstatic that he could easily manipulate Frodo. He was unsure if he could get away with it, but so far it was working. "It's rather simple actually, Frodo. Just ask someone else to wear the ring for you for awhile. Sure, it's a huge favor to ask of someone, but if you ask someone you truly trust and care for, I'm sure they would do it for you!" Legolas gave an honest and encouraging smile.
Frodo smiled back. Frodo thought it was a good idea, and decided he would give it a try. "Alright, I will then! But whom shall I give it to? I trust all of you so much, but I'm not sure who I should ask…" Frodo appeared to look puzzled. This was it, Legolas thought. The one chance he has to get the ring away from him, so he took it…
"Frodo, you know you could give it –"
Legolas felt a hand grab his shoulder by surprise, and he turned around swiftly. "Did I scare you two?" Aragorn asked grinning. "Of course not! You don't scare me!" Frodo giggled and jumped up punching Aragorn playfully. "Good! We have to start moving again. Come along."
Legolas didn't say a word. He was too frightened to say anything. He got up and continued on with the others, but he was scared out of his mind. Did Aragorn hear all that he was saying to Frodo? He hoped not. If he did, wouldn't Aragorn say something to him? As scared as he was at that moment, he was also just as furious. Aragorn ruined everything. Everything was going fine until HE came along. Legolas walked behind Aragorn and dug his eyes into the back of his head, hoping Aragorn would feel it…
The Fellowship, now rested began on their journey to destroy the ring again. It had been three days since Legolas was lost, and everyone seemed to be getting along again, even Aragorn and Legolas oddly enough. It seemed as though Legolas was his normal self again. He wasn't acting pompous and rude as he had been acting those last couple of days. They all saw an adjustment in his attitude. But what they didn't know was that it was just a simple mind game taught to Legolas by the deceitful fairies of Lalelasill…
They eventually came upon a few stray Orcs as they kept getting closer to Mordor, but since there weren't many, it wasn't a hard fight. The little hobbits continued to get better and better at using their small swords as time went on, and the others were glad of this, for they needed help from everyone.
As they finally left the forest of Lalelasill, they entered a widespread plain. It was full of dust and dirt, scattered trees and bushes, but they were more at ease here than they were in the evil forest. It was now mid afternoon, and the sun was bright, with its rays continuously stretching farther and farther across the blue sky. It was quite hot, and the air swirled around them with warmth and humidity. They decided to take a brief break to sit and drink the small amount of water they had in their canteens. They were all unusually talkative seeing that no one hardly spoke all day.
Merry, Pippin and Sam were playing tag, while Aragorn, Gimli, and Boromir sat and drank their water, discussing what was ahead on their journey. Legolas, surprisingly wasn't sitting far away from the others, and Frodo sat next to him. Frodo decided to be the one to start a conversation between the two of them. Besides, they rarely talked to each other much anymore.
"So Legolas, tell me what happened in that forest. Did you find anything interesting? Did you see anything scary?" Frodo asked curiously, eyes widening at each question he asked. Legolas laughed lightly at Frodo's sudden curiosity in his secret adventure. "Hobbits shouldn't be so nosy, you know? I have no news for you I'm afraid, for I didn't see anything of interest. I'm sorry to disappoint you, Frodo." Legolas gave a playful frown and began to smile. Frodo shook his head and giggled. "Too bad." Frodo turned his attention to the shiny, gold ring that hung on a string around his neck. He moved his finger around it slowly, examining it. He couldn't pull his eyes from it. He just kept staring at it as if it were something beyond his own understanding.
Legolas soon took notice of this, and turned his own attention toward it. He first looked at the ring, and then at Frodo. His eyes moved back and forth for awhile, looking at both the ring and Frodo in wonder. Now is my chance, he thought. Everyone else was involved in their own side conversations with each other. If he could just get Frodo away for awhile, he could put his plan into action…
"Woo, it sure is hot isn't it?" Frodo stated out of nowhere, still fiddling with the ring. "Yes it is. You know what? Let's go take a little walk for a bit, just me and you. We hardly ever get to talk one on one. What do you say?" Legolas tried his hardest to look as innocent and sincere as possible and he knew Frodo was very gullible. "Sure!" Frodo replied excitedly. Legolas smiled and he was proud of himself for completing the first part of "the plan": getting Frodo alone.
Legolas and Frodo got up and without thought brushed all the dust off of them. They began to walk side by side, and engaged in a new conversation right away. Aragorn saw them get up and instinctively asked where they were going. "We're just taking a short walk. We'll be back in a bit." Frodo replied and flashed a thrilled smile at Aragorn. Frodo never felt as close to Legolas as he did to the others, and he always thought that the elf was somewhat standoffish. But now was his chance to get closer to him, at least try to. Aragorn wasn't as worried about this as he would have been if it were happening when Legolas was acting so strangely, so he let them go. Aragorn turned back to Boromir and Gimli. "It's nice to see everyone getting along as we were before, isn't it?" Gimli said with a big grin on his face. "Yes, it is very much so." Aragorn said blandly. Aragorn looked back at the two walking together, but he pushed his silly worries away and turned back around again.
So Legolas and Frodo walked for awhile. Legolas soon put the second part of "the plan" into action: getting the ring away from Frodo as smoothly and as quickly as possible.
They sat down under a nearby tree to get cool from the shade. They were silent for a moment, and Legolas was contemplating what he could say to get the ring from Frodo's possession. Frodo decided to break the silence, and he simply asked, "So…what shall we talk about now?" Frodo looked up at Legolas's face. Legolas merely shrugged. He didn't want to bring up the ring when they weren't even discussing it.
"I cannot wait until we destroy this hideous ring! Don't you feel the same?" Frodo said bluntly. He honestly wanted to get rid of the ring, and he felt it was a burden to himself and everyone else. "Well, if I was wearing it around my neck so much, I guess I would feel the same." Frodo looked confused. "What do you mean?" Legolas struggled not to smile, for he knew in his mind the plan was working. "All I know is if I had to wear that ring around my neck all the time, I would hate it. Honestly! Anyone that sees you knows you as 'The Ringbearer', and no one wants to have anything to do with someone that holds that evil ring. Do you see what I mean?" Frodo slowly nodded, for he did see Legolas's point. "You're right, Legolas. Why do I have to wear the ring? I mean, I don't want to be seen as someone as hateful as Sauron!" Frodo grew angry, realizing the evil that had been hanging from his neck for quite some time now.
"No one wants to be seen as Sauron, Frodo. I would be upset if I were you, too, so don't feel bad. If you didn't want to feel this way anymore, you could do something…" Frodo turned his head toward Legolas. "Oh, really? What could I do then? I'm sick of this ring, and I personally wish it would just go away. But since it can't, what's a temporary solution?"
Legolas was loving this. He was just ecstatic that he could easily manipulate Frodo. He was unsure if he could get away with it, but so far it was working. "It's rather simple actually, Frodo. Just ask someone else to wear the ring for you for awhile. Sure, it's a huge favor to ask of someone, but if you ask someone you truly trust and care for, I'm sure they would do it for you!" Legolas gave an honest and encouraging smile.
Frodo smiled back. Frodo thought it was a good idea, and decided he would give it a try. "Alright, I will then! But whom shall I give it to? I trust all of you so much, but I'm not sure who I should ask…" Frodo appeared to look puzzled. This was it, Legolas thought. The one chance he has to get the ring away from him, so he took it…
"Frodo, you know you could give it –"
Legolas felt a hand grab his shoulder by surprise, and he turned around swiftly. "Did I scare you two?" Aragorn asked grinning. "Of course not! You don't scare me!" Frodo giggled and jumped up punching Aragorn playfully. "Good! We have to start moving again. Come along."
Legolas didn't say a word. He was too frightened to say anything. He got up and continued on with the others, but he was scared out of his mind. Did Aragorn hear all that he was saying to Frodo? He hoped not. If he did, wouldn't Aragorn say something to him? As scared as he was at that moment, he was also just as furious. Aragorn ruined everything. Everything was going fine until HE came along. Legolas walked behind Aragorn and dug his eyes into the back of his head, hoping Aragorn would feel it…