Disclaimers: See the Author's Notes! This is an AU! The R Rating is in effect! Elvish is in ''. Sorry for the delay.
Reasons To Fight, Reasons To Wed
Chapter 37. Bitter Trust
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Somewhere in Mordor
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"Come with you?" Haldir repeated incredulously, with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, and disbelief in his eyes. "I don't think so, Rissan." Anger and betrayal were written across his face, which shocked Legolas, for he had never seen Haldir look so furious before. "We're not going anywhere with you."
Legolas wondered at such anger from his friend, because he didn't know much about Rissan, except that Haldir feared and hated the ebony-haired Elf. And from what had been seen earlier, Haldir had reasons to loathe Rissan, because Rissan had tried to kidnap him earlier, on the boats, just as Meron had tried to kidnap him.
'Haldir, please, calm down a little,' Legolas told his friend, to keep him from doing anything foolish. Haldir looked ready to fight Rissan, though Rissan possessed magic, and the consequences of that could be dire indeed. There was no way a non-magical Elf could win a fight against one that had magical powers.
Rissan was not at all surprised at how Haldir spoke to him, though he hid his pain at that, another invisible blow against him that no one saw. "Haldir, this is no time for an argument. Meron is probably fighting Elena right now, and while she's keeping him busy, I'm to bring you into Mordor, where your friends are waiting."
"Elena?" Legolas gasped, horrified that a Hobbit child would be fighting against Meron. "He'll kill her! Why is he fighting her, Rissan?" he pleaded, regretting that he had brought a child along with them on their quest.
"Because she's not what she seemed to be," Rissan answered, glancing at the Elven Prince that Meron desired to have, willing or not. "Elena told me to bring the two of you to the heart of Mordor, while she freed your friends. I don't know if she'll manage to do that with Meron still there."
Haldir positioned himself in front of Legolas, for he was certain that this was nothing more than a trap. "Just a short time ago, you were helping Meron to kidnap us and try to kill our friends. And after what you did to me in Lothlorien all that time ago, you just expect me to forget it and forgive you, like it never happened? To come with you, like it never happened? I will never forgive you or trust you again, Rissan. So go back to Meron and tell him that his plan has failed, that we are not that stupid." He spoke condescendingly to the one he hated, for ruining his innocence.
Rissan lowered his gaze and quietly said, "I'm not offering apologies, which would be worthless, nor am I offering excuses for what I did, Haldir. You wouldn't believe me, either way. What I am doing is offering you a chance to be reunited with the ones you both love- Prince Legolas loves the future King of Gondor, Aragorn, and you, Haldir, are in love with Lord Glorfindel of Rivendell." He sighed, and then pointed out, "I'm asking you to come, though I do have the power to force you to. But I won't. The decision is up to both of you."
Gollum crawled over, standing next to where Haldir suspiciously looked at Rissan, distrust still in his eyes. Gollum didn't understand why one of the ones who had hurt his precious was here, speaking to the two Elves, but he was suspicious as well.
"Nasssssty Elf… Hurtssssss precioussss," Gollum hissed at Rissan, baring his teeth.
Haldir frowned at Rissan, and it was obvious that he was still very suspicious. He knew that Rissan had a point- he had the power to make them come, if they didn't want to, yet he was not doing so. But Haldir still did not trust Rissan; he would trust Gollum before he trusted Rissan ever again.
Legolas had gone slightly pale, as he shifted his feet, which were numb from the lack of movement. The twins were kicking him again, and the Elven Prince winced, rubbing the spot carefully with one of his hands. He desperately wanted to see Aragorn again, and Legolas was not afraid to risk going with Rissan. At least he'd be able to see the one he loved again, if nothing else, for grief was inside of him, because he missed Aragorn so, so much that had Haldir not managed to ease his pain with reassurances that Aragorn was fine and that they would find the ones they loved, Legolas believed that the grief would have overwhelmed him, putting his life- and his unborn childrens' lives in danger.
The golden-haired Prince was also troubled because of the exchange between Rissan and Haldir. From the way they had been talking, Rissan had done something to terribly hurt Haldir once, a long time ago, and whatever he had done must have been truly bad, because Haldir refused to forgive Rissan for it. So Legolas was now concerned about Haldir, having never seen a fellow Elf so angry and bitter before, especially when he knew that Haldir actually had a calm and strong personality. What could Rissan have done to hurt Haldir so badly, to make him so upset? Legolas wasn't sure, but he intended to find out, for Haldir had become a good friend to him.
He also wasn't certain if Rissan could be trusted, not just because of how he had obviously hurt Haldir in the past, but because Haldir was right- Rissan had been working with Meron just a short time ago, so it made no sense that he was suddenly not helping Meron any longer. It was very suspicious indeed, Legolas thought. Yet he was torn, because he wanted to see Aragorn so badly, and his agony from being separated from his husband was not helping his pregnancy at all. His back was aching fiercely now, and he wished that Aragorn were here to give him a backrub, to soothe the pain away.
"There isn't much time left," Rissan told both Haldir and Legolas earnestly. "If you are not going to come with me, then you should leave Mordor, before it's too late."
Haldir rolled his eyes. "Why should Legolas or I listen to someone like you? A few days ago, you were all ready to help Meron kidnap Legolas and to take me prisoner as well, and now, all of a sudden, you've suddenly changed your mind, Rissan?"
It was obvious to Rissan that Haldir wasn't going to believe that he had changed, and the ebony-haired Elf did not blame him. His actions had been inexcusable and cruel, which was why he wasn't offering an apology, for he knew that Haldir would never accept it. All he wanted to do now was to make things right, while he still could.
"I changed my mind a long time ago, Haldir, when I saw you with Lord Glorfindel, after everything that had happened. I knew then that I'd lost you and that I would never have you again, which was why I never came back. I'd ruined your life enough and you didn't need me around to remind you of that," he finally said. "I have spent the last millennia reliving what I did to you every day, because of the spell that the Lady of the Golden Wood placed on me, and it will haunt me for the rest of my life, however long that is, and suffering from the calling of the Sea, but I will never go West. I could spend ten thousand years suffering as I have this last thousand years, and I know it would never be enough for you to even consider forgiving me. I won't ask you to, for I don't deserve it. All I can say is that I truly am sorry, but I know you won't believe me."
Sighing, Rissan stood carefully, not wanting to hit his head again, and prepared to teleport himself back into the heart of Mordor. If he could not help Haldir and Legolas by taking them to the ones they loved, perhaps he could help Elena, for he was not certain if she could keep Meron distracted for too long.
"Wait!" Legolas cried, as he struggled to his feet. "Take me with you. I can't stand to be apart from Aragorn anymore. I don't care if you're evil or whatever, I need to be with the one I love. Trap or not, being apart from him is killing me, Haldir." His eyes shone with his grief over being separated from Aragorn so long, as well as love for him, as they looked into Haldir's.
Wincing slightly, as his back continued to ache, Legolas awkwardly walked over to Rissan. By no means did he trust the other Elf, but if he was kept from Aragorn much longer, his grief would prove fatal, and though Legolas knew it was most likely a trap, he could not risk the lives of his unborn children. Whatever happened, it would be worth it to see Aragorn again.
Haldir paled and protested, "Legolas, you can't! Rissan is… is worse than even Meron! You don't know what he's capable of!" The 'Lorien Elf could see, however, that Legolas would not be swayed and surprisingly, he saw a wince cross Rissan's face at his words. Glaring directly at Rissan, Haldir stated, "If this is a trap, Rissan, I pity you, for it proves that you will do anything to get what you want." He was positive it was a trap, and they were walking right into it, but Haldir could not let Legolas go with Rissan alone.
He climbed to his feet and walked over to Legolas. Seeing his friend wincing, he mouthed, 'Are you okay?' The slightly younger Prince merely smiled weakly and nodded, biting his lower lip as he did so.
Gollum scampered over to the two Elves, his strange eyes blinking. "Precioussss will come, to sssseesss if Elvessss need help."
Rissan was relieved that they were even coming, though he stung from Haldir's remark. Once, long ago, he would have done anything to get what he wanted, but he would no longer do so. It would bring him only shame and guilt. His dark eyes were haunted, as Rissan cast the teleportation spell, returning the four of them back to the heart of Mordor
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Heart of Mordor
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Elena was only defending herself, as Meron attacked her with magic, and it was a simple matter for her to block the spells. Her mind was racing, for she knew that if she hurt or killed Meron, the timeline would be ruined again and all of her hard work would be for nothing. Everything had been leading up to this point in time, and now she had to free Aragorn, and the others, and let him be the one to settle things with Meron.
Then, and only then, would everything be all right again. She, Elena knew, would then have to make certain that Meron was truly defeated, he couldn't be allowed to come back again and ruin everything. The nightmare had to end, it could not continue any longer.
Meron had no idea of what the strange female Elf was thinking as he flung spells at her, growing angrier as she blocked them easily. Who was she, Meron struggled to figure out, but it was impossible, since he did not know anything about her. How did she know who Aragorn had been? It was impossible for anyone to have made that connection between the Aragorn of now and the Elessar of then, for not even Lord Elrond, Lady Galadriel, or Lord Celeborn had done so.
They didn't know that Elessar and Lasgalen had been reborn into the world again, that Lasgalen's dying words had been true, when he had promised Elessar that they would find each other again and fall in love once more.
Meron gritted his teeth at that memory, and rejoiced as he remembered killing Elessar with his own sword, his dead lover in his arms. It had served him right, for daring to love one so far above him that he was unworthy to even breathe in his presence. Such beauty and grace wasted on a mere Man, albeit one with a blood connection to Lord Elrond.
His anger even greater now, Meron flung a gust of wind at Elena, who threw a shield around herself, though the backlash from the wind caused her long, light brown hair to flow behind her, her locks hanging unbound and free, much as her father's did.
Why wasn't she attacking him? Meron couldn't understand this, and he really hated it when he didn't understand something.
Elena looked up when Rissan reappeared, along with Legolas, Haldir, and the strangest looking creature she had ever met. Her eyes focused on Gollum for a few moments, before she looked at Rissan, a knowing look in the depths of her grey eyes. She nodded, and then turned to the two golden-haired Elves.
"Please follow me, Prince Legolas and Haldir of Lothlorien. We haven't much time, but we must free the others, before Sauron and Saruman return from wherever they have gone," Elena requested.
Legolas and Haldir were staring at the female Elf in puzzlement and wondering where Elena was, but at her words, they both nodded. Questions would have to wait, until this was settled, though both Haldir and Legolas wondered how this stranger knew their names, as she quickly led them around Meron. He tried to cast a spell, to stop them, but Rissan blocked it and shook his head.
"It's over, brother, one way or the other…" Rissan's voice was low and quiet, as he stepped in front of the departing group. He did not want to die, but he had no reason to live any longer, and the constant pulling of the Sea to his soul was a heavy burden that he could no longer take. More, Rissan did not want to die badly, for he knew of only one that would miss him, and that one meant everything in the world to him- his son.
Meron snarled, "So you choose death, brother."
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Dungeons
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Aragorn, Glorfindel, Thranduil, and Boromir were surprised when a group consisting of Haldir, Legolas, a strange Elf that none of them had seen before, Gimli, and the kidnapped Hobbits entered the dungeons they were being held in. Legolas, Elena, and Haldir had freed them before coming after the others, though the delay had upset Haldir and Legolas.
Aragorn's eyes went directly to the one he loved and he smiled, happy to see him once more, but that smile turned into a frown when he saw how pale and tired the one he loved looked. A wince was in those beautiful blue eyes, which were gazing at the brown-haired half Elf, yet love was present there as well.
Elena concentrated, murmuring a soft spell in Quenya, while her hands hovered in front of the lock of the cell holding Glorfindel and Aragorn. A faint, bluish cast surrounded her delicate-looking hands, before the cell unlocked, and she moved onto the next one.
In a matter of moments, Aragorn had Legolas in his arms, holding him tightly as though he would never let him go. *I was so worried about you, beloved. I'm so glad that you're all right,* he sent, using their special mental bond to communicate his fear and love to the Prince that meant more to him than life itself. *I love you so much…*
*I love you, too,* Legolas returned softly, a tender note in his mental 'voice'. *I missed you so much, Aragorn…* He then frowned. "Why were you worried about me? I'm not the one who got captured and locked up in a cell!"
Aragorn sighed and firmly kissed Legolas, to silence his protest. As his lips covered his husband's sweet mouth, he thanked every Valar he could think of that Legolas was safe with him again, in his arms. At long last, they were together again, and Aragorn did not ever want to be parted from Legolas ever again. His hand rested on where their children was growing, but he did not break the kiss as Legolas returned it passionately.
Nearby, Glorfindel and Haldir were having a similar reunion, their mouths locked together, until they had to breathe, but they held each other in their arms, Haldir leaning against Glorfindel. It had been so long, to his mind, though it truly hadn't been as long as he had thought it had been.
"What's wrong?" Glorfindel questioned, one of his hands under Haldir's chin, tilting his face up towards his. He could see something was bothering the younger Elf that he loved, and it concerned him.
Haldir sighed, before he replied, "Rissan… was the one who brought Legolas and I this far into Mordor, to save all of you. He claims to have changed, but I don't believe him. Yet he did just as he said he would… It makes no sense to me."
Boromir and Thranduil were watching the happy reunions between Aragorn and Legolas, and Glorfindel and Haldir, along with Frodo, Sam, and Merry. Gimli was grumbling a bit about how he had not cowered before Meron, while Elena stood there silently.
But all eyes turned towards the door to the dungeons, when a cry was heard, a cry born of pain and torment, of agony and torture. It echoed through Mordor, a chilling sound that was cut off just as suddenly as it had begun.
"That's…" Legolas gasped, before looking at Haldir, his eyes wide in shock and horror.
Haldir lowered his gaze and nodded. "That's… Rissan." No emotion was in his voice, though the sound had disturbed him just as greatly as it had the others.
Elena lowered her head. It was destiny, she knew, and though she hated this part of destiny, some things were meant to be. And right now, Rissan's fate was out of her hands- the ones who had been reunited had to make that decision.
Would they save him… or would they let him die, for atonement of his past deeds?
To be continued
