Chapter 10:
Almost two weeks had passed since the New Fellowship set out, and Lothlórien was where they were. The journey had been uneventful, despite the constant tension between the man and elf. The Hobbits had been trying to sort out the tension, Gimli too, but Legolas would be the one to walk away. The entire journey he kept to the trees, kept out of sight, and kept to himself. He kept his guard right enough, kept his watch, but that was the only time anyone really saw him. And most of that time was spent with birds, some carrying strips of parchment. But it was in Lorién that the tension finally broke…
Why now? Why now? Legolas's mind was reeling with the news. Galadriel had warned him of this madness… but why?
Unknowingly, his lithe form crashed into another's, Aragorn's. Without a word he continued on, his thoughts only on getting out of the Golden Wood. It was a place of life… he couldn't be there with this news.
Aragorn was startled out if his concentration when a body slammed into him, causing the feather, ink and parchment to cascade to the forest floor. Cursing, he looked up to see who had caused it.
"Legolas!" The elf didn't notice as he continued on. That was the last straw. "Come back here!" Aragorn started after Legolas, breaking into a run to catch up with the wild elf. Quickly, he reached out and grabbed the elf's arm, spinning him around. "Legolas, listen to me!" The king fell silent as he caught the look in the elf-prince's eyes; they were desperate. "Legolas?"
"Oh, shut up, Aragorn!" Legolas ripped his arm away, stumbling backwards. "You have no idea what in Valor is going on! You keep expecting me to be cordial and … and… prince like… where your eyes open at any time since we left the white ship? My hands have been tied all these years, Aragorn. Did you ever think why? Like why Gimli wasn't with us? He was dead! Samwise was mortally wounded!" He stopped to glare at the King of Men. "I don't believe you even noticed Frodo has nine fingers." Aragorn took a step back, looking at the elf with a shocked expression. He could only utter one word…
"Why?" Legolas looked away, anger clouding his features.
"Sméagol bit off his finger to get the ring."
"Not that, I meant why your hands were tied. Why Gimli…died… why Sam was wounded. Those were the questions I wished to ask." It was quiet possible the sound Legolas made was a growl.
"Sauron's spirit was granted access to the Lost Islands of my people; he was once an elf. WE tried to fight him off, but he struck me down. Gimli went to defend me and Sauron killed him." The normally stoic elf's voice hitched in his throat; he had drifted into the memory. "I couldn't even help him." His emerald eyes were glazed now as he spoke. "I struck blindly and Sauron saw it fit to remind me. He stuck across my face, blinding me in one eye for a time. Twas Gandalf who destroyed him with the Fire of Anor… But Gimli was dead, I had let him die." He closed his eyes. "I couldn't take it. Samwise was the first to me and I struck him hard in the chest, enough to shatter the bone. But I didn't even notice. My sanity had slipped away and already I was dieing of grief. Though… there is a problem in my people's lands…" His voice had gone eerily calm… and only the slight shaking of his body told Aragorn that he was still upset. "You cannot die. Perhaps the others knew, but I had convinced myself Gimli died. I was suffering needlessly, almost at the point of dieing. I even decided to help it along… Elrond decided to return to Middle Earth, and in pity, brought me along. He tried to support me because he knew I wished to die. He brought me to where I could but tried to keep me from doing so. I met Nazglas and actually wanted to live… Gimli was alive and finally I could see it. But now… the sickness is taking the lives of the twins. Elrond cannot heal them. I am loosing the one thing I wished to live for." A silver tear dripped from his eye, its path glimmering in the lamp light. Aragorn stood there, shocked; the calm, quiet, knowing, in-control Legolas was gone. For once, emotion showed in the elf's features. For once he was not silent, and when he spoke, his power shone greater.
"You keep too much hidden, Prince of Mirkwood. Do not hesitate to inform me of anything that plagues you." The man king carefully placed a hand on Legolas's shoulder. "I am sorry, mellon. I only wished to help and when you pushed away…" His face tinged red, "I became angry."
"Tis understandable. And I am sorry you did not know but I also could not bring myself to tell any one. Especially you." He opened his eyes and met Aragorn's. "They may have done wrongs in your kingdom, but I know only of what they have done while in my company." His sigh was as quiet as the breeze. "And I wish I could change their past to suit our lives better but alas, not even an elf prince has that power." Aragorn allowed a smile to grace his lips.
"For your sake, and theirs, I do not hold punishment for their deeds of the past. In my eyes it never happened, though my people may not be the same. Whatever the case, you have my blessing." The prince-ling seemed to find that statement amusing, for a smile graced his lips as well.
"I fear we are not to be wed, Dunadain." His smile faded. "Her illness and the quest put time against us." Aragorn pulled the elf into a brotherly hug.
"Then we will not tarry here. I shall inform the lady and lord that we continue in the marrow. I fear we have a vice of staying here far too long." With a smile and a quick squeeze of the shoulder, Aragorn disappeared towards the palace in the trees. Legolas watched him go before looking towards the tops of the trees.
Why did you show me the mirror, Galadriel? You knew it would show me her death…
Almost two weeks had passed since the New Fellowship set out, and Lothlórien was where they were. The journey had been uneventful, despite the constant tension between the man and elf. The Hobbits had been trying to sort out the tension, Gimli too, but Legolas would be the one to walk away. The entire journey he kept to the trees, kept out of sight, and kept to himself. He kept his guard right enough, kept his watch, but that was the only time anyone really saw him. And most of that time was spent with birds, some carrying strips of parchment. But it was in Lorién that the tension finally broke…
Why now? Why now? Legolas's mind was reeling with the news. Galadriel had warned him of this madness… but why?
Unknowingly, his lithe form crashed into another's, Aragorn's. Without a word he continued on, his thoughts only on getting out of the Golden Wood. It was a place of life… he couldn't be there with this news.
Aragorn was startled out if his concentration when a body slammed into him, causing the feather, ink and parchment to cascade to the forest floor. Cursing, he looked up to see who had caused it.
"Legolas!" The elf didn't notice as he continued on. That was the last straw. "Come back here!" Aragorn started after Legolas, breaking into a run to catch up with the wild elf. Quickly, he reached out and grabbed the elf's arm, spinning him around. "Legolas, listen to me!" The king fell silent as he caught the look in the elf-prince's eyes; they were desperate. "Legolas?"
"Oh, shut up, Aragorn!" Legolas ripped his arm away, stumbling backwards. "You have no idea what in Valor is going on! You keep expecting me to be cordial and … and… prince like… where your eyes open at any time since we left the white ship? My hands have been tied all these years, Aragorn. Did you ever think why? Like why Gimli wasn't with us? He was dead! Samwise was mortally wounded!" He stopped to glare at the King of Men. "I don't believe you even noticed Frodo has nine fingers." Aragorn took a step back, looking at the elf with a shocked expression. He could only utter one word…
"Why?" Legolas looked away, anger clouding his features.
"Sméagol bit off his finger to get the ring."
"Not that, I meant why your hands were tied. Why Gimli…died… why Sam was wounded. Those were the questions I wished to ask." It was quiet possible the sound Legolas made was a growl.
"Sauron's spirit was granted access to the Lost Islands of my people; he was once an elf. WE tried to fight him off, but he struck me down. Gimli went to defend me and Sauron killed him." The normally stoic elf's voice hitched in his throat; he had drifted into the memory. "I couldn't even help him." His emerald eyes were glazed now as he spoke. "I struck blindly and Sauron saw it fit to remind me. He stuck across my face, blinding me in one eye for a time. Twas Gandalf who destroyed him with the Fire of Anor… But Gimli was dead, I had let him die." He closed his eyes. "I couldn't take it. Samwise was the first to me and I struck him hard in the chest, enough to shatter the bone. But I didn't even notice. My sanity had slipped away and already I was dieing of grief. Though… there is a problem in my people's lands…" His voice had gone eerily calm… and only the slight shaking of his body told Aragorn that he was still upset. "You cannot die. Perhaps the others knew, but I had convinced myself Gimli died. I was suffering needlessly, almost at the point of dieing. I even decided to help it along… Elrond decided to return to Middle Earth, and in pity, brought me along. He tried to support me because he knew I wished to die. He brought me to where I could but tried to keep me from doing so. I met Nazglas and actually wanted to live… Gimli was alive and finally I could see it. But now… the sickness is taking the lives of the twins. Elrond cannot heal them. I am loosing the one thing I wished to live for." A silver tear dripped from his eye, its path glimmering in the lamp light. Aragorn stood there, shocked; the calm, quiet, knowing, in-control Legolas was gone. For once, emotion showed in the elf's features. For once he was not silent, and when he spoke, his power shone greater.
"You keep too much hidden, Prince of Mirkwood. Do not hesitate to inform me of anything that plagues you." The man king carefully placed a hand on Legolas's shoulder. "I am sorry, mellon. I only wished to help and when you pushed away…" His face tinged red, "I became angry."
"Tis understandable. And I am sorry you did not know but I also could not bring myself to tell any one. Especially you." He opened his eyes and met Aragorn's. "They may have done wrongs in your kingdom, but I know only of what they have done while in my company." His sigh was as quiet as the breeze. "And I wish I could change their past to suit our lives better but alas, not even an elf prince has that power." Aragorn allowed a smile to grace his lips.
"For your sake, and theirs, I do not hold punishment for their deeds of the past. In my eyes it never happened, though my people may not be the same. Whatever the case, you have my blessing." The prince-ling seemed to find that statement amusing, for a smile graced his lips as well.
"I fear we are not to be wed, Dunadain." His smile faded. "Her illness and the quest put time against us." Aragorn pulled the elf into a brotherly hug.
"Then we will not tarry here. I shall inform the lady and lord that we continue in the marrow. I fear we have a vice of staying here far too long." With a smile and a quick squeeze of the shoulder, Aragorn disappeared towards the palace in the trees. Legolas watched him go before looking towards the tops of the trees.
Why did you show me the mirror, Galadriel? You knew it would show me her death…