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!
Shirebound: Wow- thank you! It was actually very hard writing that message. I wrote it as if Gandalf would be very worried about the enemy finding the note- I'm so glad you noticed that. And- fantastic idea- I am including that!! Oh, but copyright to you, of course.
Tiggivon: Yay- you have left such lovely reviews for me on a lot of my work. Thank you! So happy you're enjoying this.
MagicalRachel: Hello again! Thank you for all your wonderful comments. What do you mean? You're fantastic at writing! Way better than me! And as for Elijah's hairstyle- I have GOT to see it.
LilyBaggins: Thank you- I like updating quickly. Because I often don't know what's going to happen next either.
Barmy-the-elf: No, I am writing this as I go. And feeling very guilty too. I don't always finish my homework just so I can write another chapter. Yay- I broke the record! Super hero me! Sorry I didn't answer your question before- I'm pleased that it makes sense. :-)
~ Chapter Six ~
Frodo walked for what felt like an age. His legs were still so very painful from his awkward fall. His neck throbbed and he put a hand to it, trying to dull the ache. The corridor continued to swerve up and around. Frodo never strayed from the main route, ignoring all other doorways he passed by. More and more bodies were appearing and the stench was growing worse. There were voices. But the hobbit could tell even from this distance that they were not of his friends.
"Yaar, Ishtû- and that's a direct order, you slug. Don't you defy me!"
There was a crack of a whip and a snarl. Footsteps were approaching now. In a panic, Frodo flung himself into a side passageway and flung the torch down the passageway. An eerie light was approaching down the tunnel.
"That whinin', measly Revtaz," a different voice echoed, "If I was in charge, I'd make him-"
"Shurrap, ya fool. Ya want him to hear? The quicker we move, the faster this'll be over."
"Yar! What would you know, filth? You who don't even know what wizard means! R'aha! He'll frazzle you to pieces!"
There was a smack and then some whimpering. A stolid silence washed over the scene. Frodo pressed himself closer to the wall, holding his breath.
"Hey, whassis?"
The footsteps stopped.
"Wharis it?"
In the sickly green glow, the hobbit could make out the shadows of two orcs standing before something that glinted on the floor. It was the Ring.
Legolas reached the bottom of the shaft and lay gasping on the slab, breath coming raggedly in his throat. Swallowing, he looked back up at the tunnel he had fallen from. When he caught his breath, he staggered upright and squinted into the darkness. He could see far clearer than any mortal and could make out the fallen scaffolding and the archway beyond.
"Frodo!" he called wildly. His voice rebounded off the walls and mixed into a choir of song. Chiming like bells. He waited as the silence settled again- like sifting sands. But there was no sound in response. Legolas slipped down from the rock and was surprised to find himself sinking into the ground.
"Mithril," he breathed in awe, "All the wealth of a dwarven king!"
He loped across the chamber to the only other exit. There was another path made through it. And a tiny stain of scarlet on the floor near the corridor.
"Frodo!" the elf cried- softer this time. His voice sang along the tunnel and up and around every corner. Still no reply. With deep misgivings at wandering further from his companions, Legolas moved up in pursuit of Frodo.
There was a thump. It echoed up into the chamber and they all sat up in astonishment.
"What was that?" cried Pippin in alarm. Aragorn rushed across to the hole.
"I cannot make anything out."
Gandalf held up his staff, casting silvery light down to the empty space below. It was a leather boot- of elven make with intricate gold markings along the cuff.
"It's Legolas' boot," Aragorn announced. The Fellowship all crowded round. Boromir, with the longest arms, reached desperately out for it and nealry toppled in before the hobbits grabbed his cloak.
"Not nearly close enough. Gandalf, your staff would be."
"Stand back then," the wizard ordered and they moved out of the way. He dipped the end of the light into the hole and for the moment all of them were blinded by the dark. But then Gandalf let out a shout of glee and raised the boot aloft. Once again in the light, Aragorn plucked the note from the arrow within.
"I am safe," he read, "I am looking for Frodo down here. Be careful. Legolas."
There was hush. The elation at knowing Legolas was alive was dulled by the knowledge that Frodo had disappeared. Boromir saw Sam's face and engulfed the little hobbit in his broad arms.
Shirebound: Wow- thank you! It was actually very hard writing that message. I wrote it as if Gandalf would be very worried about the enemy finding the note- I'm so glad you noticed that. And- fantastic idea- I am including that!! Oh, but copyright to you, of course.
Tiggivon: Yay- you have left such lovely reviews for me on a lot of my work. Thank you! So happy you're enjoying this.
MagicalRachel: Hello again! Thank you for all your wonderful comments. What do you mean? You're fantastic at writing! Way better than me! And as for Elijah's hairstyle- I have GOT to see it.
LilyBaggins: Thank you- I like updating quickly. Because I often don't know what's going to happen next either.
Barmy-the-elf: No, I am writing this as I go. And feeling very guilty too. I don't always finish my homework just so I can write another chapter. Yay- I broke the record! Super hero me! Sorry I didn't answer your question before- I'm pleased that it makes sense. :-)
~ Chapter Six ~
Frodo walked for what felt like an age. His legs were still so very painful from his awkward fall. His neck throbbed and he put a hand to it, trying to dull the ache. The corridor continued to swerve up and around. Frodo never strayed from the main route, ignoring all other doorways he passed by. More and more bodies were appearing and the stench was growing worse. There were voices. But the hobbit could tell even from this distance that they were not of his friends.
"Yaar, Ishtû- and that's a direct order, you slug. Don't you defy me!"
There was a crack of a whip and a snarl. Footsteps were approaching now. In a panic, Frodo flung himself into a side passageway and flung the torch down the passageway. An eerie light was approaching down the tunnel.
"That whinin', measly Revtaz," a different voice echoed, "If I was in charge, I'd make him-"
"Shurrap, ya fool. Ya want him to hear? The quicker we move, the faster this'll be over."
"Yar! What would you know, filth? You who don't even know what wizard means! R'aha! He'll frazzle you to pieces!"
There was a smack and then some whimpering. A stolid silence washed over the scene. Frodo pressed himself closer to the wall, holding his breath.
"Hey, whassis?"
The footsteps stopped.
"Wharis it?"
In the sickly green glow, the hobbit could make out the shadows of two orcs standing before something that glinted on the floor. It was the Ring.
Legolas reached the bottom of the shaft and lay gasping on the slab, breath coming raggedly in his throat. Swallowing, he looked back up at the tunnel he had fallen from. When he caught his breath, he staggered upright and squinted into the darkness. He could see far clearer than any mortal and could make out the fallen scaffolding and the archway beyond.
"Frodo!" he called wildly. His voice rebounded off the walls and mixed into a choir of song. Chiming like bells. He waited as the silence settled again- like sifting sands. But there was no sound in response. Legolas slipped down from the rock and was surprised to find himself sinking into the ground.
"Mithril," he breathed in awe, "All the wealth of a dwarven king!"
He loped across the chamber to the only other exit. There was another path made through it. And a tiny stain of scarlet on the floor near the corridor.
"Frodo!" the elf cried- softer this time. His voice sang along the tunnel and up and around every corner. Still no reply. With deep misgivings at wandering further from his companions, Legolas moved up in pursuit of Frodo.
There was a thump. It echoed up into the chamber and they all sat up in astonishment.
"What was that?" cried Pippin in alarm. Aragorn rushed across to the hole.
"I cannot make anything out."
Gandalf held up his staff, casting silvery light down to the empty space below. It was a leather boot- of elven make with intricate gold markings along the cuff.
"It's Legolas' boot," Aragorn announced. The Fellowship all crowded round. Boromir, with the longest arms, reached desperately out for it and nealry toppled in before the hobbits grabbed his cloak.
"Not nearly close enough. Gandalf, your staff would be."
"Stand back then," the wizard ordered and they moved out of the way. He dipped the end of the light into the hole and for the moment all of them were blinded by the dark. But then Gandalf let out a shout of glee and raised the boot aloft. Once again in the light, Aragorn plucked the note from the arrow within.
"I am safe," he read, "I am looking for Frodo down here. Be careful. Legolas."
There was hush. The elation at knowing Legolas was alive was dulled by the knowledge that Frodo had disappeared. Boromir saw Sam's face and engulfed the little hobbit in his broad arms.