Well exams are over and my marks are back, some bad and some good. I am
also back to continue writing if anybody is left who is still looking for
updates. I apologise profusely for the delay and hope that you will forgive
me, but anyway for those of you left..on with the story.
Chapter 3: Cleaning up and setting off
Legolas lay back in the warm scented water and sighed in contentment as the morning sun shone through the window. It was his fifth bath since they had been invited back to Roinu's home and the elf was finally satisfied that the evil funk which had invaded his hair and skin was gone.
His clothes too had been washed and pressed and lay folded on a chair across from where the elf reclined in the water.
There was to be a council meeting held with the elders that noon, but to Legolas that seemed a world away.
As he relaxed his left hand moved to his right and absentmindedly began to scratch it.
Legolas slowly opened his bright eyes and stared accusingly at the offending appendage. As he looked up he caught his reflection in the mirror and heaved a huge sigh at the wet spotty toad which stared back at him. The poison ivy's affects did not seem to be abating, after he had been cleansed of his foul coating he again longed to scratch it. As he stared at his reflection he noticed his hand now creeping up to his shoulder and hastily splashed it back into the water.
He must try not to think about it. Elvan will power he thought and looked about himself for that elusive soap on a rope
* * *
At noon the fellowship stood before the council of elders, headed by Roinu. Aragorn and Gandalf discussed with them the Orc's threat and where the cities army had determined their base to be.
It seemed to Legolas that they were also discussing new creatures which sometimes arrived with the Orcs though the elf was distracted and took little of this in.
As Aragorn, Gandalf, Gimli and the hobbits shared their knowledge with the elders the elf's mind was concerned with the persistent and seemingly perpetual itchiness of his skin.
It took all of his will to even look engaged in the conversation. It was in fact maddening.
Merry, who stood beside the elf looked up and noticed Legolas's transfixed smile and to his surprise the prince seemed to be developing a twitch.
Strider had begun to discuss tactics when Legolas further surprised the hobbit by suddenly breaking out of his motionless, twitching state and starting to madly scratch himself all over.
Legolas had suddenly snapped, and discarding all decorum had sought to ease his pain. He was now enthusiastically scratching his legs through his leggings when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
He looked up and quickly skipped over Aragorn's annoyed yet disturbingly sly gaze and turned to see the council starring at him perplexed.
He slowly straightened and addressed the council, trying to regain his equanimity.
"Ah, Aragorn you were saying?" he said and looked imploringly at the ranger.
Aragorn took pity on the elf and launched back into the discussion. The elders dismissed Legolas's behaviour as a peculiarity of people from distant lands. Elves were virtually unknown in these lands, appearing only occasionally if some what obscurely in some bedtime tale, noted mostly for being fair of voice and light of step. After the visit of the fellowship they were there after also remembered as being spotty of face and neurotic in behaviour.
The council of elders had decided with the fellowship that they should ride to the west to the base of the Orc's refuge.
The company readily agreed but declined their offer of men.
"We must help you some how" Roinu had exclaimed and had followed by proffering mounts to the company. This offer was accepted, most readily by the hobbits, who felt they had walked enough in the recent past for several life times. It had also been decided that Gandalf should remain in the city to protect the it should the Orc's attack again before the fellowship had sought them out.
.
The town healers, knowing nothing of elf physiology could not help the prince.
When Sam had politely asked over dinner what elvan healers had done in similar situations Legolas had somewhat reluctantly replied that there had never been a similar situation. Gimli had snorted his drink and loudly claimed
"No other elf has been dull witted enough to sit in it!"
Sam had wisely kept his mouth shut for the remainder of the meal.
After dinner every one had returned to their rooms for they were to leave early in the morning
Legolas though had slipt away before the meal was finished on his silent elvan feet. He was particularly weary and had not trusted the look on the rangers face after he had been caught scratching.
He crept as quietly through the halls and his foot steps were not even heard by the mice in the walls, nor was his departure noticed by anyone in the party. This was probably aided by the fact that they were for the most part quite drunk.
Slipping past a final pair of guards he quickly opened the Oak door of his room, slipt inside and closed it again with a quite * snick * of the catch. Leaning his back on the door he sighed in relief.
It was then that he heard a small noise and opened his eyes to see the ranger sitting on his bed grinning broadly. He lifted his arm to show the elf the jar which he held in his hand and his grin widened even further. The elf's eyes widened in fear and his mouth formed a silent 'o' of horror.
Back in the passageway the guards were startled by a sudden cry from the elf's room, much like the sound of a cat which someone has just thrown in the bath tub.
Shivers ran down their spines as they recalled the tales of the soldiers of the spotted-pointed eared creature which had felled a great number of Orc's as if they had been lamb's and then the tales of his comrades of how the same creature had suddenly gone berserk while standing before the elders. They looked at each other in the light of the torches and decided that neither of them were paid enough to go into that room and instead leant back against the wall and tried to ignore the subsequent shrieks.
* * *
The next morning the fellowship was presented with its mounts.
Aragorn was handed a large blue roan, while Legolas was given an elegant grey mare. The hobbits were each given a pony and even Gimli, who had previously been accustomed to riding with Legolas, was given a stout shaggy black mountain pony. Despite his misgivings about horses the dwarf seemed to like his new companion and his complaints were minimal.
Legolas was already astride his mare. He rode up to Aragorn who was packing his own horse with much baggage.
"I should be careful Aragorn" the prince said "strong as he is I don't think that horse can carry both you and all that baggage"
The ranger simply smiled at Legolas in reply and continued to secure the packs.
Legolas raised and eye brown and road off to check on the hobbits.
The hobbits, who for the most part were accustomed to riding ponies in the Shire were trying to give the dwarf some pointers on steering. Though Gimli had frequently been a passenger on Arod he knew little on how to control a horse of his own. Despite his apparent (and baffling,) affection for the shaggy black beast Gimli was still reluctant to leave the ground.
The hobbits though had persuaded him on and he was quite successfully getting the creature to obey him.
As Legolas felt his presence was not required here he urged his mare back to where Aragorn was still loading his horse.
"Aragorn!" he exclaimed with laughter "You will never be able to ride him! There isn't' even room for you to get on!" he said with mirth.
The man did not seem phased but again looked strangely at the elf.
"That is alright" he said "I don't plan to" and with that he sprang onto the back of Legolas's steed and took the reigns from him.
Flabbergasted Legolas tried to glare at Aragorn but found it was difficult to do so to a man sitting directly behind you.
"What are you doing?" he cried.
"Keeping an eye on you Ivy boy"
Legolas couldn't' tell if Aragorn was getting more disrespectful or if it was just the events of late. He had to admit that Aragorn did have a point though and after yesterdays meeting with the elders…
"At least think of the poor beast" Legolas said
"You are as light as a feather my friend, I doubt that she is troubled much" Aragorn replied with a smile
"Why am I continually bester with by you?" Legolas groaned as the ranger urged Legolas's horse forward towards the rest of the fellowship.
The hobbits, Legolas saw, would not meet his eye but he could see their shoulders shaking with laughter.
Gimli who had been in a similar position on Arod offered no support and so it was in this manner that the fellowships bid goodbye to a chuckling Gandalf and a sniggering crowd of villagers and set off into the distance.
Next chapters: Up into the mountains or at last along the rode. Please review as not only do I love reviews but I also need them to see what u like and don't like and to decide what I am going to write in the next chapter so be kind and review
Chapter 3: Cleaning up and setting off
Legolas lay back in the warm scented water and sighed in contentment as the morning sun shone through the window. It was his fifth bath since they had been invited back to Roinu's home and the elf was finally satisfied that the evil funk which had invaded his hair and skin was gone.
His clothes too had been washed and pressed and lay folded on a chair across from where the elf reclined in the water.
There was to be a council meeting held with the elders that noon, but to Legolas that seemed a world away.
As he relaxed his left hand moved to his right and absentmindedly began to scratch it.
Legolas slowly opened his bright eyes and stared accusingly at the offending appendage. As he looked up he caught his reflection in the mirror and heaved a huge sigh at the wet spotty toad which stared back at him. The poison ivy's affects did not seem to be abating, after he had been cleansed of his foul coating he again longed to scratch it. As he stared at his reflection he noticed his hand now creeping up to his shoulder and hastily splashed it back into the water.
He must try not to think about it. Elvan will power he thought and looked about himself for that elusive soap on a rope
* * *
At noon the fellowship stood before the council of elders, headed by Roinu. Aragorn and Gandalf discussed with them the Orc's threat and where the cities army had determined their base to be.
It seemed to Legolas that they were also discussing new creatures which sometimes arrived with the Orcs though the elf was distracted and took little of this in.
As Aragorn, Gandalf, Gimli and the hobbits shared their knowledge with the elders the elf's mind was concerned with the persistent and seemingly perpetual itchiness of his skin.
It took all of his will to even look engaged in the conversation. It was in fact maddening.
Merry, who stood beside the elf looked up and noticed Legolas's transfixed smile and to his surprise the prince seemed to be developing a twitch.
Strider had begun to discuss tactics when Legolas further surprised the hobbit by suddenly breaking out of his motionless, twitching state and starting to madly scratch himself all over.
Legolas had suddenly snapped, and discarding all decorum had sought to ease his pain. He was now enthusiastically scratching his legs through his leggings when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
He looked up and quickly skipped over Aragorn's annoyed yet disturbingly sly gaze and turned to see the council starring at him perplexed.
He slowly straightened and addressed the council, trying to regain his equanimity.
"Ah, Aragorn you were saying?" he said and looked imploringly at the ranger.
Aragorn took pity on the elf and launched back into the discussion. The elders dismissed Legolas's behaviour as a peculiarity of people from distant lands. Elves were virtually unknown in these lands, appearing only occasionally if some what obscurely in some bedtime tale, noted mostly for being fair of voice and light of step. After the visit of the fellowship they were there after also remembered as being spotty of face and neurotic in behaviour.
The council of elders had decided with the fellowship that they should ride to the west to the base of the Orc's refuge.
The company readily agreed but declined their offer of men.
"We must help you some how" Roinu had exclaimed and had followed by proffering mounts to the company. This offer was accepted, most readily by the hobbits, who felt they had walked enough in the recent past for several life times. It had also been decided that Gandalf should remain in the city to protect the it should the Orc's attack again before the fellowship had sought them out.
.
The town healers, knowing nothing of elf physiology could not help the prince.
When Sam had politely asked over dinner what elvan healers had done in similar situations Legolas had somewhat reluctantly replied that there had never been a similar situation. Gimli had snorted his drink and loudly claimed
"No other elf has been dull witted enough to sit in it!"
Sam had wisely kept his mouth shut for the remainder of the meal.
After dinner every one had returned to their rooms for they were to leave early in the morning
Legolas though had slipt away before the meal was finished on his silent elvan feet. He was particularly weary and had not trusted the look on the rangers face after he had been caught scratching.
He crept as quietly through the halls and his foot steps were not even heard by the mice in the walls, nor was his departure noticed by anyone in the party. This was probably aided by the fact that they were for the most part quite drunk.
Slipping past a final pair of guards he quickly opened the Oak door of his room, slipt inside and closed it again with a quite * snick * of the catch. Leaning his back on the door he sighed in relief.
It was then that he heard a small noise and opened his eyes to see the ranger sitting on his bed grinning broadly. He lifted his arm to show the elf the jar which he held in his hand and his grin widened even further. The elf's eyes widened in fear and his mouth formed a silent 'o' of horror.
Back in the passageway the guards were startled by a sudden cry from the elf's room, much like the sound of a cat which someone has just thrown in the bath tub.
Shivers ran down their spines as they recalled the tales of the soldiers of the spotted-pointed eared creature which had felled a great number of Orc's as if they had been lamb's and then the tales of his comrades of how the same creature had suddenly gone berserk while standing before the elders. They looked at each other in the light of the torches and decided that neither of them were paid enough to go into that room and instead leant back against the wall and tried to ignore the subsequent shrieks.
* * *
The next morning the fellowship was presented with its mounts.
Aragorn was handed a large blue roan, while Legolas was given an elegant grey mare. The hobbits were each given a pony and even Gimli, who had previously been accustomed to riding with Legolas, was given a stout shaggy black mountain pony. Despite his misgivings about horses the dwarf seemed to like his new companion and his complaints were minimal.
Legolas was already astride his mare. He rode up to Aragorn who was packing his own horse with much baggage.
"I should be careful Aragorn" the prince said "strong as he is I don't think that horse can carry both you and all that baggage"
The ranger simply smiled at Legolas in reply and continued to secure the packs.
Legolas raised and eye brown and road off to check on the hobbits.
The hobbits, who for the most part were accustomed to riding ponies in the Shire were trying to give the dwarf some pointers on steering. Though Gimli had frequently been a passenger on Arod he knew little on how to control a horse of his own. Despite his apparent (and baffling,) affection for the shaggy black beast Gimli was still reluctant to leave the ground.
The hobbits though had persuaded him on and he was quite successfully getting the creature to obey him.
As Legolas felt his presence was not required here he urged his mare back to where Aragorn was still loading his horse.
"Aragorn!" he exclaimed with laughter "You will never be able to ride him! There isn't' even room for you to get on!" he said with mirth.
The man did not seem phased but again looked strangely at the elf.
"That is alright" he said "I don't plan to" and with that he sprang onto the back of Legolas's steed and took the reigns from him.
Flabbergasted Legolas tried to glare at Aragorn but found it was difficult to do so to a man sitting directly behind you.
"What are you doing?" he cried.
"Keeping an eye on you Ivy boy"
Legolas couldn't' tell if Aragorn was getting more disrespectful or if it was just the events of late. He had to admit that Aragorn did have a point though and after yesterdays meeting with the elders…
"At least think of the poor beast" Legolas said
"You are as light as a feather my friend, I doubt that she is troubled much" Aragorn replied with a smile
"Why am I continually bester with by you?" Legolas groaned as the ranger urged Legolas's horse forward towards the rest of the fellowship.
The hobbits, Legolas saw, would not meet his eye but he could see their shoulders shaking with laughter.
Gimli who had been in a similar position on Arod offered no support and so it was in this manner that the fellowships bid goodbye to a chuckling Gandalf and a sniggering crowd of villagers and set off into the distance.
Next chapters: Up into the mountains or at last along the rode. Please review as not only do I love reviews but I also need them to see what u like and don't like and to decide what I am going to write in the next chapter so be kind and review