Author's note:
Hey guys! It's another forlorn Monday night and it couldn't be worse. It's WET and it's HORRIBLE and it's FREEZING. And my so-called FRIENDS are being mean and spiteful just because I got all the attention of this cute guy from youth group. APPARENTLY I don't deserve it because I'm UGLY and I'm such a FREAK. I think Courtney's jealous. I think she has a crush on this certain guy. Oh well. Disclaimer: Oh you KNOW this. I don't own Legolas or LOTR and never will. Oh yeah by the way- You probably don't know this (cos I haven't made it too clear) but this story is set just as Frodo, Merry, Pippin, Sam and Aragorn are in their little journey over Middle Earth to Rivendell, so there's going to be serious plot playing. And no, I'm not going to give the Fellowship a tenth wheel. That would be cheesy and besides, it's so been done. I give you chapter 16.
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Chapter 16 - Leaving Mirkwood.
Alice's own screaming seemed far away to her as she half dragged her heavy sword along the ground swiping at Orcs when she needed to in order to stop them from claiming Devon. It became her purpose in this battle. She hardly noticed Legolas gallantly parading in gloriously armed with a bow and arrow. She also hardly noticed when other elves came to assist. The Orcs seemed to have one purpose – caving in on Devon. Alice dragged heavy legs as fast as she could along the bumpy ground. Devon's body lay against a tree, pallid and lifeless, her head lying limp to one side. Devon was sporting an arrow wound, and bleeding heavily. Orcs fell left right and centre due to recouped forces of good and Alice managed to find her way to Devon virtually unscathed. She furiously scrambled for pulse points on Devon's neck and couldn't find any sign of life. Alice leaned against the tree gasping for breath, hardly noticing Devon had been borne away by the Orcs that had not perished at the tip of Elven arrows. It was sometime later that Legolas found her, still leaning against the tree. Alice noticed, in her groggy state, that his first action was a large, rather suffocating embrace that made her feel quite nauseous again.
"Do not ever concern me like that again!" He scolded. "You almost got yourself killed!"
"I was trying to save her," Alice whined. "She needed help Legolas. I couldn't just LEAVE her there. Do you think I want to be guilty for the rest of my life? No. I'm too nice."
"When you next choose to put others before where yourself, advise me prior, so I may help you," Legolas told her. Alice giggled.
"Ok." She replied.
"Are you able to find your feet?" He wanted to know. She tried to force herself off the ground but found there to be a sudden, roaring pain spanning from her right hip down to her knee.
"Yes.. um... Shit! No!" She complained. "Ow..." Legolas looked down to see traces of blood seeping through her dress.
"You are in no fit state to walk," Legolas proclaimed.
"Ok... Then you tell me how we're meant to get back home," Alice sniffled. As an answer Legolas picked her up and carried her down the stony path back to the halls of the Elven King.
"Ow!" Alice yelped at her wound, now stinging due to Elvish healing liquid.
"If you were not so foolish you would not be here," Elwaeglos snapped.
"I was trying to save your sister!" Alice spluttered.
"But you did not save her, did you Lindelë?" Elwaeglos taunted. "No she got taken by the Orcs. You possess no bravery, only folly and weakness."
"Elwaeglos, may I point out that Lady Lindelë slew 24 Orcs?" Legolas informed them.
"Twenty four?!" Elwaeglos and Alice exclaimed in unison.
"Twenty four heads were counted to have wounds from swords," Elrohir, who had arrived shortly after Alice had got to the healing chamber, explained. "We only carried a quiver and a bow. My daughter was the only one present carrying a sword." Alice couldn't help but grin self satisfied-ly. Stupid Elwaeglos. Alice watched as Elwaeglos's pretty face screwed itself up into a scowl and looked pretty ugly.
"I think I could faired better in saving my sister," Elwaeglos muttered.
"And I think that you could lay off just a little," Alice whined. Elwaeglos pressed on the wound hard unnecessarily and on purpose. "OW!"
"Bain nín!" Legolas exclaimed. "Are you well?"
"Yes..." Alice whimpered. "Elwaeglos made my leg sting like hell, but no I'm perfectly fine and dandy no thanks to her by the way."
"Elwaeglos," Legolas said. "You understand that it is harmful to press on a wound unnecessarily." Elwaeglos gritted her teeth. Alice simply shrugged, tipped her head and lay back against the pillows of the bed she was currently lying on.
"Oh well," Alice said. "As long as she doesn't try to do that again." Elwaeglos picked up the cloth to do exactly that until Alice set her occasionally quick co-ordination skills into gear and grabbed the cloth before it set a searing pain up her leg again.
"Come, Elwaeglos," Legolas said. "I understand your parents request an audience with you regarding your sister." He bore Elwaeglos away while Alice sat, looking up at the ceiling. A laugh escaped from her mouth as she couldn't stop it. She cut it off short, feeling tears spring to her eyes. She didn't want to break down in a hysterical sobbing mess. As with anyone who has been brought up in the twenty first century, killing twenty-four Orcs somewhat unnerved her. Alice had never been one for killing, even if the creatures were evil and bound to be killed by self respecting Elves anyway.
"Tell me daughter," Elrohir began. "How was your first taste of battle?" Alice sobered and continued to stare up at the ceiling.
"Awful," She responded, after reviewing all possible answers. "Bloody awful. Don't ask me to do that again. I hate killing. And don't say it's because I'm a girl and I'm weak. I just really hate killing okay?"
Elrohir chuckled. "Do not fret, it is perfectly natural."
"Yeah okay," Alice accepted. "Dad?"
"What do you wish to know?"
"What the hell was that stuff that Elwaeglos put on my leg?"
For the next week, Alice was restricted to her bed. She found this quite frustrating especially since the weather was especially gorgeous and she could not enjoy it. Legolas would constantly come in and visit her and monitor her. On the third day of being confined to her bed, Legolas told her that Devon had been found.
"Where?" Alice asked. "And why did they take her in the first place?"
"Bain nín, Nwalya's mother was also captured by a band of Goblins, years ago, and it was said one of them ... used her to their advantage," Legolas explained.
"You mean basically the guy tried to seduce her," Alice corrected.
Legolas looked uncomfortable. "That is the truth,"
"So Devon has goblin blood in her," Alice stated. Legolas nodded. "That explains a whole lot." That derived a chuckle and a huge grin from Legolas.
"That is correct," Legolas replied.
"So she was kidnapped by these Orc guys because she could have evil blood in her?" Alice asked. Legolas nodded.
"They are attempting to use Nwalya for the forces of the Dark Lord Sauron," Legolas said. "They presume she could be of use."
"That's not good at all," Alice remarked. "Even though she wouldn't be any use. Are they going to go save her?"
"Father has appointed a search party," Legolas informed her. "He does not wish for me to go. My father has received word from Rivendell asking him to attend the council of Elrond. He wishes me to attend in his place as his messenger."
"Did it sound important?" Alice wanted to know, with good reason in herself. It was obvious that Alice enjoyed Legolas's company, and being here in Mirkwood, despite having her grandparents around (Who had sent her lots of gifts once they heard Alice had been injured.), would be pointless if he wasn't here. Legolas nodded in reply to Alice's question.
"I have not been informed precisely what it is," Legolas said thoughtfully. "I have suspicions it might be related to Lord Sauron and the dark forces."
"Sounds lovely," Alice replied, quite sarcastically. "Do I have to return to Rivendell too?"
"I do not believe so," Legolas told her
"Oh," Alice said in reply. "How long will you be gone?"
"I know not bain nîn," Legolas said softly. "But I will miss you like the sun misses the flower at dawn." He then wrapped his arms around her and embraced her tightly.
For the next few weeks, Alice remained in Mirkwood living with her grandparents. Word from Legolas didn't arrive and Alice didn't expect it to. She didn't know how the mail system worked in Middle Earth. After she was allowed to get out of bed it rained solidly for days. Calenawar was working through betrothal negotiations with her parents so there was little to do. Alice made note to find the library, which she did. The mediocre library in the house of Thranduil was boring. Alice found a few books in English but all the lettering was messed up and confusing. She understood little before discovering the books were obviously written with female categories and male categories much like French except much more difficult to comprehend, as Alice had never seen it happen in English before. So Alice stuck to reading maps and drawings, which were far more interesting than ones she'd found in the twenty first century. These maps and drawings were beautifully drawn and scripted and a feast for the eye. She spent hours pouring over them nit picking them over, yet finding very few faults, until she got really, really bored as you do. Finally a messenger came from Rivendell bearing a message demanding Alice's return. The messenger found her riding around on her new white horse (whom Alice had decided on calling Etoile meaning star in French) who had been a gift from her grandparents, in the forest in the rain.
"My Lady Lindelë," He began. "I bear a message from Rivendell."
"Finally!" Alice exclaimed. "What is it?"
"Lord Elrond and his son Lord Elrohir request your presence," The messenger informed her. Alice said a silent "yeessss", clenching her fist and pulled her arm down in a self congratulatory manner.
"Excellent," She said to the messenger. "Could you send a return message?"
The messenger nodded. "Of course my lady,"
"Great! Thanks so much!" Alice squealed. "Ok, could you tell Elrond and Dad that I'll be home as soon as possible. Is Master Legolas in Rivendell?"
"Yes my lady," The messenger replied.
"Good. Tell him to await my return," Alice instructed. "And that I love him with all my heart and that I miss him..." she grinned at the memory "...like the sun misses the flower at dawn."
"I will do my best Lady," He replied. "I must say, I admire your camaraderie for riding in the rain unaccompanied."
Alice smiled. "Thank you,"
The messenger bowed. "Rivendell awaits your return."
The next day Alice prepared to return to her home in Rivendell. Her grandfather, Arodhîr, accompanied her back home. They talked of many things ranging from her mother to the races of Middle Earth. Alice learnt that men and dwarves existed along with a short, mouse like folk called halflings or hobbits. Arodhîr had heard of hobbit exploits sixty years ago with Bilbo Baggins and his merry troupe of dwarves. He wondered if they still existed. They rode hard and barely stopped and made good time. They were in Rivendell by sunrise on the fourth day of travelling. Alice's heart eased immensely. The shadow of Mirkwood disappeared and now she had returned to Rivendell. She was greeted by Elrohir, Elladan, Legolas and Nimithil who trussed her up to bathe, dress and sleep in that order. When Alice awoke, she found two people by her bed, Elrond and Mithrandir or Gandalf the Grey.
"Good Afternoon my dear," Gandalf greeted. "It is a pleasure to finally meet the elusive Lindelë."
"This is Mithrandir," Elrond informed her. "Part of the Istari. Also named Gandalf the Grey in some parts as well as many other aliases."
"I have heard about you Mr Gandalf," Alice said. "It's great that I finally get to meet you. Did you by any chance know a little guy, a thing called a halfling or a hobart, hobbat or something, called Bilbo Baggins?"
Gandalf chuckled. "Bilbo Baggins is an old friend of mine. I believe he recently found his way here. He is one hundred and twenty eight years old."
"ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY EIGHT?!" Alice exclaimed sitting bolt upright.
"You yourself are already 1600 years or so child," Elrond told her. Alice almost checked her hands for wrinkles until she remembered elves were immortal.
"And I thought I wasn't a day over sixteen. Literally," Alice mumbled. Elrond and Gandalf shared a smile.
"Mithrandir has been travelling with some hobbits," Elrond said. "They have encountered trouble. Glorfindel has gone to bring them here."
"I hope they'll be okay," Alice said sincerely. The hobbits sounded quite cute from what she'd been told form Arodhîr. Even though Alice wasn't an awfully religious person, she made note to say a little prayer for them in hope they'd make the journey here. She spent the afternoon in counsel with Elrond and Gandalf until dusk fell about Rivendell, making everything a pretty coral pink colour. Elrond and Gandalf bid her farewell and a trail of maids prepared her for the feast that night to welcome her. Carenmeril and Nimithil came to greet her also.
"Legolas gave me a request to ask of you," Nimithil said, grinning. "He wanted to know if he could escort you to dinner."
"My answer is yes," Alice said, smiling shyly as mirth was slowly but surely bubbling up within her. She would be able to see Legolas again! What heaven. Seems like this time, she wouldn't be in Rivendell to avoid him.
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Phew! Now THAT took a long time to pen under my hand. I've decided to intertwine this story into Fellowship of the Ring for my own indulgence. And as I said earlier, I'm NOT going to add Alice into the Fellowship, it's been done and the story would be killed. Besides, the Fellowship is a whole plot to enhance the masculinity of males and really, a guy's ego shouldn't be wrecked by a Mary Sue coming along as a kick ass fighter and taking over Middle Earth and the hearts of the Fellowship excluding Aragorn, as he's already taken.
Anyway. Translations.
Arodhîr – Noble Lord (Yes I know it's lame, but you try thinking up names)
