Disclaimer: LOTR belongs to the creative genius of JRR Tolkien, not me.
My Friend, My Brother
Chapter 11 The Way Forward
The Fellowship was broken. The three remaining companions could no longer help the Ring Bearer and his faithful friend, Sam. All they could do was watch helplessly as they disappeared into the woods on the eastern bank of the river, making their way into Mordor and whatever fate awaited them.
Rather than let despair overwhelm them, the three vowed to follow the soldiers of Saruman and try and rescue Merry and Pippin from his evil clutches. Leaving behind all but their weapons, the packs containing lembas and their water skins, they ran swiftly in the direction the Orcs had taken. It did not take Aragorn long to pick up the trail, for the foul creatures cared not whether they were followed.
"These Orcs are moving at a very rapid pace," Aragorn commented. "I fear they are well ahead of us already."
Legolas was filled with anger at the wanton destruction the Orcs left in their wake. They delighted in uprooting bushes and breaking the low hanging branches from the trees.
"When we catch our prey, I will gladly make each one pay for taking Merry and Pippin, but I will also have revenge for the needless damage they cause to all living things." He said with ice-cold fury in his voice, and a deadly look in his eyes. Gimli was impressed by just how fearsome a warrior his friend had become in his anger.
"I am glad I am his friend," he whispered in aside to Aragorn, who laughed quietly.
"As am I. He certainly makes a formidable foe, a quality I fear we will have need of in the future." Gimli grunted agreement.
Finally Aragorn called a halt, for they needed food and sleep, at least he and Gimli did.
"I have no need for sleep," Legolas said, "I will keep watch tonight." Something in his tone of voice disturbed Aragorn, but he said nothing. Everyone was on edge, and perhaps it was just his imagination, or a result of too much worry and too little rest.
When, for the third night in a row, Legolas insisted on taking the watch, Aragorn knew that the Elf was not himself. He was about to speak to Legolas when Gimli pulled him aside,
"Aragorn, I fear our friend is not well, something disturbs him deeply. Do you know what it is?"
"No, but why don't you get some rest while I see if he will tell me." Gimli agreed, not willing to admit openly that he found it difficult to keep up the swift pace of the taller man and Elf. Concern for his friend prevented Gimli from taking offence at the implication that he needed rest He settled into his bedroll, using a smooth flat rock as a pillow and was soon fast asleep.
Aragorn sat by the fire watching as Legolas wandered around the glade where they had made camp, singing softly to himself and every now and then staring up at the bright stars. Legolas felt Aragorn's eyes on him and turned to face his friend's worried stare,
"What is it Aragorn?" he asked, coming to sit beside him.
"I was just about to ask you the same thing. Both Gimli and I have noticed you are not your usual infuriating self, are you ill?" Legolas smiled and raised his eyebrow.
"You know Elves do not suffer illness."
"And that is an elvish answer," snorted Aragorn "now I know something is amiss, is it anything I can help you with?"
"I am not sure, for ever since I left Mirkwood I have felt the Shadow grow stronger. Its darkness threatens to envelope me. Do you remember the first time you came to my home?"
"Of course." Aragorn replied, slightly puzzled as to his friend's train of thought.
"What do you remember of my father?"
"I was a little scared of him at first, his demeanour was very intimidating." Aragorn said, "I realise now that my impression of the Woodland King is no longer the same. It is his strength as an Elf of Sindar origin that makes him appear so, and the certainty that he possesses enough power to hold the shadow at bay, even though he is not a bearer of an Elven Ring".
" Yes, and the longer I am away from the protection of my father's powers, the more my light seems to diminish."
"You are homesick," Aragorn stated.
"Perhaps. I admit that I long to be walking the paths under the trees of Mirkwood, or joining in a midnight feast with my Woodland kinfolk."
"Or even running through the tree tops?" asked Aragorn with fond memories of the day that Legolas convinced him to climb a tree.
"Just so. I stay awake at night now so that I can draw strength from the stars, but even they do not always offer comfort." A sad sigh escaped his lips.
"Do you wish to return home? As Elrond said, there is no disgrace in leaving if you wish, especially now, since the Fellowship is no more."
"No. I swore to help rescue Merry and Pippin, and I have no wish to break my pledge to be at your side until you find your destiny. In regards to my feelings, I am merely being a 'mysterious Elf' as Boromir would say. Have no fear, Aragorn, I will overcome the darkness within me, I still intend to sing at your wedding, you know!" Aragorn was not surprised at the mercurial change of mood and he was pleased to see the cheerful gleam return to his friend's eyes.
"As you wish," he laughed. "Shall I stand watch tonight?"
"No, you should get some sleep while you can, for I have a feeling that there will be little chance to do so in days to come." Aragorn closed his eyes, as the comforting sound of sweet Elf song drifted over him.
Gimli awoke the next morning to see Legolas cheerfully unpacking the lembas and water that was to be their breakfast, as it was, to Gimli's dismay, also every other meal.
"I am glad to see you have recovered from whatever it was that ailed you, Master Elf. If you ask me, you might consider taking up smoking the pipe, it is a very good way to relax," he said as he puffed away on his. Legolas graced him with a look of pure disgust.
"I thank you for your concern, but let me assure you, friend Gimli, that I will never resort to such a disgusting pastime."
"Humph!" muttered Gimli.
"I see you two are back to your usual selves this morning," he commented, having overheard the conversation.
"Good morning to you, Aragorn. I was just trying to help, but this crazy Elf will not listen to common sense." Aragorn laughed heartily, and replied,
"If I were you, Gimli, I would not waste my time, for Legolas is also a very stubborn Elf." Legolas chose to ignore them both and glanced into the cloudy sky instead.
"I can feel that the sun has already risen. It is time we were on our way. It pains me to think of the Halflings being forced to endure their captivity any longer than necessary." He said as he handed out the morning's ration of lembas which they ate as they followed the trails that lead them ever closer to Isengard and Saruman.
My Friend, My Brother
Chapter 11 The Way Forward
The Fellowship was broken. The three remaining companions could no longer help the Ring Bearer and his faithful friend, Sam. All they could do was watch helplessly as they disappeared into the woods on the eastern bank of the river, making their way into Mordor and whatever fate awaited them.
Rather than let despair overwhelm them, the three vowed to follow the soldiers of Saruman and try and rescue Merry and Pippin from his evil clutches. Leaving behind all but their weapons, the packs containing lembas and their water skins, they ran swiftly in the direction the Orcs had taken. It did not take Aragorn long to pick up the trail, for the foul creatures cared not whether they were followed.
"These Orcs are moving at a very rapid pace," Aragorn commented. "I fear they are well ahead of us already."
Legolas was filled with anger at the wanton destruction the Orcs left in their wake. They delighted in uprooting bushes and breaking the low hanging branches from the trees.
"When we catch our prey, I will gladly make each one pay for taking Merry and Pippin, but I will also have revenge for the needless damage they cause to all living things." He said with ice-cold fury in his voice, and a deadly look in his eyes. Gimli was impressed by just how fearsome a warrior his friend had become in his anger.
"I am glad I am his friend," he whispered in aside to Aragorn, who laughed quietly.
"As am I. He certainly makes a formidable foe, a quality I fear we will have need of in the future." Gimli grunted agreement.
Finally Aragorn called a halt, for they needed food and sleep, at least he and Gimli did.
"I have no need for sleep," Legolas said, "I will keep watch tonight." Something in his tone of voice disturbed Aragorn, but he said nothing. Everyone was on edge, and perhaps it was just his imagination, or a result of too much worry and too little rest.
When, for the third night in a row, Legolas insisted on taking the watch, Aragorn knew that the Elf was not himself. He was about to speak to Legolas when Gimli pulled him aside,
"Aragorn, I fear our friend is not well, something disturbs him deeply. Do you know what it is?"
"No, but why don't you get some rest while I see if he will tell me." Gimli agreed, not willing to admit openly that he found it difficult to keep up the swift pace of the taller man and Elf. Concern for his friend prevented Gimli from taking offence at the implication that he needed rest He settled into his bedroll, using a smooth flat rock as a pillow and was soon fast asleep.
Aragorn sat by the fire watching as Legolas wandered around the glade where they had made camp, singing softly to himself and every now and then staring up at the bright stars. Legolas felt Aragorn's eyes on him and turned to face his friend's worried stare,
"What is it Aragorn?" he asked, coming to sit beside him.
"I was just about to ask you the same thing. Both Gimli and I have noticed you are not your usual infuriating self, are you ill?" Legolas smiled and raised his eyebrow.
"You know Elves do not suffer illness."
"And that is an elvish answer," snorted Aragorn "now I know something is amiss, is it anything I can help you with?"
"I am not sure, for ever since I left Mirkwood I have felt the Shadow grow stronger. Its darkness threatens to envelope me. Do you remember the first time you came to my home?"
"Of course." Aragorn replied, slightly puzzled as to his friend's train of thought.
"What do you remember of my father?"
"I was a little scared of him at first, his demeanour was very intimidating." Aragorn said, "I realise now that my impression of the Woodland King is no longer the same. It is his strength as an Elf of Sindar origin that makes him appear so, and the certainty that he possesses enough power to hold the shadow at bay, even though he is not a bearer of an Elven Ring".
" Yes, and the longer I am away from the protection of my father's powers, the more my light seems to diminish."
"You are homesick," Aragorn stated.
"Perhaps. I admit that I long to be walking the paths under the trees of Mirkwood, or joining in a midnight feast with my Woodland kinfolk."
"Or even running through the tree tops?" asked Aragorn with fond memories of the day that Legolas convinced him to climb a tree.
"Just so. I stay awake at night now so that I can draw strength from the stars, but even they do not always offer comfort." A sad sigh escaped his lips.
"Do you wish to return home? As Elrond said, there is no disgrace in leaving if you wish, especially now, since the Fellowship is no more."
"No. I swore to help rescue Merry and Pippin, and I have no wish to break my pledge to be at your side until you find your destiny. In regards to my feelings, I am merely being a 'mysterious Elf' as Boromir would say. Have no fear, Aragorn, I will overcome the darkness within me, I still intend to sing at your wedding, you know!" Aragorn was not surprised at the mercurial change of mood and he was pleased to see the cheerful gleam return to his friend's eyes.
"As you wish," he laughed. "Shall I stand watch tonight?"
"No, you should get some sleep while you can, for I have a feeling that there will be little chance to do so in days to come." Aragorn closed his eyes, as the comforting sound of sweet Elf song drifted over him.
Gimli awoke the next morning to see Legolas cheerfully unpacking the lembas and water that was to be their breakfast, as it was, to Gimli's dismay, also every other meal.
"I am glad to see you have recovered from whatever it was that ailed you, Master Elf. If you ask me, you might consider taking up smoking the pipe, it is a very good way to relax," he said as he puffed away on his. Legolas graced him with a look of pure disgust.
"I thank you for your concern, but let me assure you, friend Gimli, that I will never resort to such a disgusting pastime."
"Humph!" muttered Gimli.
"I see you two are back to your usual selves this morning," he commented, having overheard the conversation.
"Good morning to you, Aragorn. I was just trying to help, but this crazy Elf will not listen to common sense." Aragorn laughed heartily, and replied,
"If I were you, Gimli, I would not waste my time, for Legolas is also a very stubborn Elf." Legolas chose to ignore them both and glanced into the cloudy sky instead.
"I can feel that the sun has already risen. It is time we were on our way. It pains me to think of the Halflings being forced to endure their captivity any longer than necessary." He said as he handed out the morning's ration of lembas which they ate as they followed the trails that lead them ever closer to Isengard and Saruman.