Disclaimer: Why don't I own Lord of the Rings? *sigh* Well, until maybe the
Tolkien family takes pity on me, I do not own any of the characters or
places mentioned in this story. Please don't sue me! I know I am cruel to
them but I swear I will try to save them. Hope you enjoy!
Midnight jinx: Yay- so glad you're enjoying this! Thank you!
TrueFan: Thank you, nice person- see, I brought you more!
Crys Ritter: I know, I love to torture them. But I promise I will get them out of it .. eventually.
FrodoFan: Wish I had your name. :-) I liketh you too!
Shirebound: Thank you for noticing the little things- much appreciated. *sits in front of computer, waiting desperately for Friday or as I have named it 'Update Day'!*
Barmy-the-elf: Hee hee- have I broken the record yet? Hey, how do you know if I am a dog or not? *waves paws* Elvish Parachute Squadron? Please!! Tell me more!!
Jay of Lasgalen: Oh, ta! Pun appreciated. Its hard not to use your comments as inspiration for the story- you provide new ideas every day! Cliffie Queen? That's just the best.
~ Chapter Five ~
Aragorn stood poised over the hole, bow at the ready. Gandalf handed him the arrow with the message attached.
"Aim at a slight angle," he said, "We don't want to hit either of them by mistake."
Nodding, the ranger pulled back his bowstring and closed one eye. He released the arrow and it flew down the tunnel at great speed. They did not hear it strike. After several moments of tense silence, Gandalf stepped forward with a sigh.
"I am afraid that that is the best we can do. Now we just wait."
"We can't just wait!" Sam cried.
"Well, Samwise, what do you intend doing to help your master?" Gandalf asked gently.
The hobbit screwed up his fists and looked wildly around.
"I'll..I'll.." But it was no good. He let his whole body relax and he put a hand to his head. "I don't know."
Frodo gaped around at the huge chamber. There was a whole tower of collapsed scaffolding on the floor, showering the place with tonnes of mithril. Frodo was perched on a rock at the centre of a silver sea. He carefully climbed down and stood, ankle-deep, in the riches of the earth.
"If only Gimli could see this," he said in wonder. His hands began to get burnt from the fabric so he picked up a piece of broken timber and lit it at the tip. The flames bathed him in warm light. The cold dissipated from his limbs and he felt a lot better about his circumstances. Frodo wandered around, picking up the mithril pieces and holding them up to admire them. There were pieces of half-made jewellery. Flattened necklaces, blackened rings, armour with great holes bored into it. It was all so beautiful. He waded to the edge of the cave to an archway. By the light of his torch, he could make out a corridor leading upwards. He gave one last hopeful glance back to the tunnel from where he'd fallen then turned and made his way upwards.
Legolas could smell the smoke quite strongly now and it worried him. So badly that he knew he had to get down.
"Frodo!" he tried but in vain. There had been no reply for hours. Had he really lost the Ringbearer? Was it forever to lie in the depths of the mines? Or would the Ring betray Frodo ..? This was probably the thought that sent Legolas flying down the tunnel. He put his legs and arms out and cried out as the rock face clawed along his skin, tearing his shirt and skin. But after an eternity of falling, he slowed to a stop- an X shape marked into the tunnel. One foot had caught on another ledge. He grabbed frantically at the sides and pulled himself to a standing position. The elf managed even to crouch down. Just as he put his back to the wall, an arrow, fast as lightning, sped down from above and slammed into the rock just above his head.
"Ai! Attack, attack!" he screamed. But no more arrows seemed to be coming. There was no sound at all. Cautiously, Legolas reached up and tugged at the shaft. It came free. He gasped in amazement for the arrow was his own. The green feathered tips were just visible and the point had been blunted once before. There was a piece of rumpled parchment attached to one end. Legolas pulled it free and read it aloud to himself.
"'Friends, this note is a plea to you. We have not forgotten you or gone on without you. Please, if you are able, find a way of sending a message back to us. We will help. - G -'"
Legolas was overwhelmed with relief. So they had found the tunnel. There was hope at last. There was a tiny piece of coal folded into the bottom of the message and he pulled it free. On the blank side he wrote.
'I am safe. I am looking for Frodo down here. Be careful. Legolas.'
There was no way to return it. But he knew that he must. A strange thought came to him. It was an idea. He took off one boot and tucked the arrow inside, ramming the point into the sole. Then, he held it back over his shoulder and, mustering every ounce of strength within him, hurled it upwards and into the passage. It went spinning on and on until it was lost to view. He heard a slight clunk then quiet. He sighed. That was all he could do for now. So, he went on, working his way down. It hurt a lot with only one boot.
Midnight jinx: Yay- so glad you're enjoying this! Thank you!
TrueFan: Thank you, nice person- see, I brought you more!
Crys Ritter: I know, I love to torture them. But I promise I will get them out of it .. eventually.
FrodoFan: Wish I had your name. :-) I liketh you too!
Shirebound: Thank you for noticing the little things- much appreciated. *sits in front of computer, waiting desperately for Friday or as I have named it 'Update Day'!*
Barmy-the-elf: Hee hee- have I broken the record yet? Hey, how do you know if I am a dog or not? *waves paws* Elvish Parachute Squadron? Please!! Tell me more!!
Jay of Lasgalen: Oh, ta! Pun appreciated. Its hard not to use your comments as inspiration for the story- you provide new ideas every day! Cliffie Queen? That's just the best.
~ Chapter Five ~
Aragorn stood poised over the hole, bow at the ready. Gandalf handed him the arrow with the message attached.
"Aim at a slight angle," he said, "We don't want to hit either of them by mistake."
Nodding, the ranger pulled back his bowstring and closed one eye. He released the arrow and it flew down the tunnel at great speed. They did not hear it strike. After several moments of tense silence, Gandalf stepped forward with a sigh.
"I am afraid that that is the best we can do. Now we just wait."
"We can't just wait!" Sam cried.
"Well, Samwise, what do you intend doing to help your master?" Gandalf asked gently.
The hobbit screwed up his fists and looked wildly around.
"I'll..I'll.." But it was no good. He let his whole body relax and he put a hand to his head. "I don't know."
Frodo gaped around at the huge chamber. There was a whole tower of collapsed scaffolding on the floor, showering the place with tonnes of mithril. Frodo was perched on a rock at the centre of a silver sea. He carefully climbed down and stood, ankle-deep, in the riches of the earth.
"If only Gimli could see this," he said in wonder. His hands began to get burnt from the fabric so he picked up a piece of broken timber and lit it at the tip. The flames bathed him in warm light. The cold dissipated from his limbs and he felt a lot better about his circumstances. Frodo wandered around, picking up the mithril pieces and holding them up to admire them. There were pieces of half-made jewellery. Flattened necklaces, blackened rings, armour with great holes bored into it. It was all so beautiful. He waded to the edge of the cave to an archway. By the light of his torch, he could make out a corridor leading upwards. He gave one last hopeful glance back to the tunnel from where he'd fallen then turned and made his way upwards.
Legolas could smell the smoke quite strongly now and it worried him. So badly that he knew he had to get down.
"Frodo!" he tried but in vain. There had been no reply for hours. Had he really lost the Ringbearer? Was it forever to lie in the depths of the mines? Or would the Ring betray Frodo ..? This was probably the thought that sent Legolas flying down the tunnel. He put his legs and arms out and cried out as the rock face clawed along his skin, tearing his shirt and skin. But after an eternity of falling, he slowed to a stop- an X shape marked into the tunnel. One foot had caught on another ledge. He grabbed frantically at the sides and pulled himself to a standing position. The elf managed even to crouch down. Just as he put his back to the wall, an arrow, fast as lightning, sped down from above and slammed into the rock just above his head.
"Ai! Attack, attack!" he screamed. But no more arrows seemed to be coming. There was no sound at all. Cautiously, Legolas reached up and tugged at the shaft. It came free. He gasped in amazement for the arrow was his own. The green feathered tips were just visible and the point had been blunted once before. There was a piece of rumpled parchment attached to one end. Legolas pulled it free and read it aloud to himself.
"'Friends, this note is a plea to you. We have not forgotten you or gone on without you. Please, if you are able, find a way of sending a message back to us. We will help. - G -'"
Legolas was overwhelmed with relief. So they had found the tunnel. There was hope at last. There was a tiny piece of coal folded into the bottom of the message and he pulled it free. On the blank side he wrote.
'I am safe. I am looking for Frodo down here. Be careful. Legolas.'
There was no way to return it. But he knew that he must. A strange thought came to him. It was an idea. He took off one boot and tucked the arrow inside, ramming the point into the sole. Then, he held it back over his shoulder and, mustering every ounce of strength within him, hurled it upwards and into the passage. It went spinning on and on until it was lost to view. He heard a slight clunk then quiet. He sighed. That was all he could do for now. So, he went on, working his way down. It hurt a lot with only one boot.