Duath uin Taur
"Darkness of the Forest"
By G. D. Gauss
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For disclaimer, rating, etc. see Chapter 1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, I think I've milked out all the reviews I'm gonna get on chapter 5. On to chapter 6! ^^ Yay! Okay, who saw Two Towers? (If you're reading this fic and you HAVEN'T seen it yet for no good reason, ARE YOU MAD????) *giggles* It was GREAT! *jumps up and down* *has had WAY too much sugar* I loved it when Legolas grabbed onto Arod's breastcollar and flung himself into the saddle at a gallop! *then begins sobbing* They killed Haldir!! I can't believe it!! Stupid script writers... They rule, dammit! LoL Anyway, keep reviewing, even if you have to review twice under different names, just do it! PLEASE!!! I'm desparate!!! *grovels* If you review and say something that makes me laugh, smile, blush, etc. I might write a silly fic later and put you in it! How does that sound? ^^ Eep, look at me, bribery. Yep folks, I'm sinking this low just so you'll review. Am I not pathetic?
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all! Enjoy this chapter.
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Chapter 6 Reminiscing
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Legolas was suddenly pelted into a dreamlike world. He no longer saw, thought, or heard what was real. He shut his eyes, not willing it to be true. He almost believed for a second that it was only a dream. a nightmare. and that we would wake up back in the forest alongside Aragorn.
When his eyes opened, however, he still saw his sister standing in front of him with tears streaming down her cheeks. It was very real.
The prince had no words. he had suddenly lost the ability to speak. No. it was not true. It couldn't be. Nothing like this could happen, could it? No. not now.
Legolas' face suddenly contorted with anger, sadness, despair, and frustration all at once. He shut his eyes tight trying to block the tears that were now uncontrollable. He felt gentle arms wrap around him and he let himself fall into them, his body convulsing with sobs.
Nanien held him tight, her own emotions spinning out of control. She had been faced with this months ago but it was not exactly something that would pass quickly. The grief was still there and going strong, showing no signs of leaving in peace. She had realized what this meant a while back, but at the moment being did not want to burden her brother with any more stress than was necessary.
Aragorn stared at the ground, a mortified look on his weathered features. He did not want to imagine what it would be like to live through a traumatic thing such as this. He looked up again as his friend, a great sadness rushing through him. He wished he could do something for Legolas. anything that could make everything better again, but there was nothing anyone could do. What was done was done and there was no going back now. He knew this but just couldn't accept it.
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That evening the prince lay across his bed, staring out into the gardens beyond his window as he had done the night before he left for Imladris. It had been several hours since he crept up to his room to think and cry and chide himself for not being here when his family needed him. To him, it was of course all his fault; if he had not joined the Fellowship of the Ring, he could have prevented this from happening. This only brought on a deep sob as he thought over again what had run through his mind a million times.
He also thought about what his return meant to his people. Nanien had been their temporary leader since the rest of the royal family was gone. Now that Legolas was back he had a responsibility to fulfill. He was now the King of Mirkwood.
A knock on the door made him jolt out of his thoughts, though he made no movement nor did he invite the inquisitor in. Just as he expected, the door slowly opened anyway and someone entered. Normally he would have known it was Aragorn because of his un-elf-like footsteps, but the prince was in no mood to pay attention to detail.
The ranger walked slowly across the room and sat on the edge of Legolas' bed, trying to be as quiet as possible. He knew that no matter how hard he tried the elf would hear him, asleep or wide awake. though he wished not to disturb his friend in the slightest bit. He even suddenly felt bad for just thinking of visiting.
Several long moments went by before Aragorn finally spoke. "We're. having dinner in the dining hall if you'd like to join us."
Legolas slowly shook his head. "No thank you. I'm not hungry right now."
Aragorn's heart filled with sorrow when he heard the soft elven voice coming out ragged and sore. He nodded slowly as he stood. Taking a last quick glance at the new king, he turned and left.
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The late morning sun spilled across the large cozy common room. Nanien sat with her legs tucked up on a long white sofa near the stone fireplace. As a soft, cool breeze blew through the silk curtains, Méndel walked in through the open doorway.
He sat down quietly in a white carved chair close to the sofa. "Did Prince Legolas ever come down for the evening meal last night?"
Nanien slowly shook her head, her eyes closed in thought. "I wish I never had to break anything like that on anyone."
"Like I told you?"
The princess opened her eyes again and smiled softy. "Yes."
"It is very difficult, isn't it? When he asked to see his father, I could feel my heart breaking over again. I hope I did the right thing by letting you tell him."
Nanien nodded. "Yes, you did, Méndel. Thank you. That was my duty as his sister."
They both looked up when soft and tentative footsteps where heard just outside the doorway. They both smiled when Legolas entered the room. His face was no longer streaked and he was not nearly as pale as he had been the night before. He moved slowly across the room, not making eye contact with either of them, then sat in the over- stuffed chair by the window that now faced in towards the room.
After several long moments, he looked up to Nanien. "Have I missed breakfast yet?"
His sister shook her head. "No, it should be ready soon. I'll bet you're hungry."
Legolas nodded and gazed down at the floor. An even longer silence passed before he spoke again. "How did it happen?"
Nanien looked up. "What?"
"You said. they were found in the woods. What happened? Do you know?"
Nanien was a bit taken back at first. She hadn't expected her brother to be so willing to talk about it for several weeks, maybe even months. Though, she noticed that his voice was flat, expressionless, even forced a little.
"Well." She took a deep breath. Even she was reluctant to relive what was told to her two or three months ago. ".father and our brothers went out one morning to hunt. They hadn't been out in. years and father wanted to spend some time with them. Also, our stores had been getting low and we needed more food to last us through the winter. They left and. when they didn't return after a week, a small search party went out to look for them. I wasn't too worried, as everyone expected that they only decided to stay out longer than planned. Then, not too far from the palace, they found father."
She paused for a moment to glance at her brother. She was afraid to go on, though he was staring into the flames of the fireplace, completely motionless except for a blink every now and then. Nanien went on.
"He was alive when they found him, though he was. in terrible condition. He couldn't walk and he had been crawling back to the palace for days. They helped him inside, cared for him as best they could, and asked him where his sons were. For the first few hours, they couldn't get much out of him except that he kept mumbling Tadrielas' name. After he slept for a while, he was finally able to tell them what he could. They had been attacked, by what he didn't know. It was an animal of some sort, many of them. They were huge, he said. He had seen them kill Ryldor and Legandir, but he and Tadrielas managed to get away. Their horses had fled and they were not able to move quickly enough. They were attacked again. This time, both of them were hurt badly and were separated. He said he searched long for Tadrielas, but in the end could barely drag himself back to the palace grounds. He then said that he was almost certain that Tadrielas did not make it. After he had told them this, he became very weak and could not even keep his head up by himself. He died the next morning."
While she had been talking, she only slightly noticed another being walk into the room. Now, she looked up and saw Aragorn leaning against the door frame. His eyes were closed as he had been listening intently. Nanien then glanced at Legolas once more. He was now gazing across the room at the ranger. She could not detect a hint of despair in him, but his eyes were filled with sadness.
She then finished. "The search party went out again to look for Tadrielas but could not find him. They did, however find the bodies of Ryldor and Legandir. They were buried next to father in the grave yard between the north and south gardens." She sighed deeply. "Since the heir to the throne was presumed dead, and you were gone away, I led the royal court as best I could until you were to return. And now. you're back." She gazed deeply at her brother. He looked up at her in turn. "You do know what this means now, don't you?" She let a hint of a smile curve the line of her mouth.
Legolas did not smile, but nodded slowly. "I am aware. and am prepared to accept my duties without delay."
Again, Nanien was a bit surprised by her brother's attitude and willingness. She then stood. "Well, breakfast should be served any moment now. Shall we go to the dining hall, then?"
Everyone slowly stood and made for the doorway, Legolas last in the group. As he came to the door, Aragorn came up beside him and took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. He whispered softly. "Are you nervous?"
Legolas nodded softly. "I think so. I. can't be too sure. This is quite a new feeling and I'm not sure how to react about it at the moment."
"Well, don't worry. It'll come to you soon enough. I'm only very surprised how you've handled all this being thrown at you so quickly. You just. take in stride. I know I would have never been able to do that with as much grace. Be proud. for I'm very proud of you, as are many others I'm sure." He smiled to his friend and clapped him on the back.
They both left the room and followed Nanien and Méndel to the dining hall for a well-earned breakfast.
As they neared the hall, Legolas suddenly grasped at Aragorn's arm and pulled him away from the group.
"What is it?" Aragorn's brows were furrowed.
Legolas stared hard at the marble floor. "Tadrielas. Nanien said he couldn't be found."
The ranger suddenly realized what he meant. "Legolas! The body we found on the way."
By G. D. Gauss
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For disclaimer, rating, etc. see Chapter 1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, I think I've milked out all the reviews I'm gonna get on chapter 5. On to chapter 6! ^^ Yay! Okay, who saw Two Towers? (If you're reading this fic and you HAVEN'T seen it yet for no good reason, ARE YOU MAD????) *giggles* It was GREAT! *jumps up and down* *has had WAY too much sugar* I loved it when Legolas grabbed onto Arod's breastcollar and flung himself into the saddle at a gallop! *then begins sobbing* They killed Haldir!! I can't believe it!! Stupid script writers... They rule, dammit! LoL Anyway, keep reviewing, even if you have to review twice under different names, just do it! PLEASE!!! I'm desparate!!! *grovels* If you review and say something that makes me laugh, smile, blush, etc. I might write a silly fic later and put you in it! How does that sound? ^^ Eep, look at me, bribery. Yep folks, I'm sinking this low just so you'll review. Am I not pathetic?
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all! Enjoy this chapter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 6 Reminiscing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Legolas was suddenly pelted into a dreamlike world. He no longer saw, thought, or heard what was real. He shut his eyes, not willing it to be true. He almost believed for a second that it was only a dream. a nightmare. and that we would wake up back in the forest alongside Aragorn.
When his eyes opened, however, he still saw his sister standing in front of him with tears streaming down her cheeks. It was very real.
The prince had no words. he had suddenly lost the ability to speak. No. it was not true. It couldn't be. Nothing like this could happen, could it? No. not now.
Legolas' face suddenly contorted with anger, sadness, despair, and frustration all at once. He shut his eyes tight trying to block the tears that were now uncontrollable. He felt gentle arms wrap around him and he let himself fall into them, his body convulsing with sobs.
Nanien held him tight, her own emotions spinning out of control. She had been faced with this months ago but it was not exactly something that would pass quickly. The grief was still there and going strong, showing no signs of leaving in peace. She had realized what this meant a while back, but at the moment being did not want to burden her brother with any more stress than was necessary.
Aragorn stared at the ground, a mortified look on his weathered features. He did not want to imagine what it would be like to live through a traumatic thing such as this. He looked up again as his friend, a great sadness rushing through him. He wished he could do something for Legolas. anything that could make everything better again, but there was nothing anyone could do. What was done was done and there was no going back now. He knew this but just couldn't accept it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That evening the prince lay across his bed, staring out into the gardens beyond his window as he had done the night before he left for Imladris. It had been several hours since he crept up to his room to think and cry and chide himself for not being here when his family needed him. To him, it was of course all his fault; if he had not joined the Fellowship of the Ring, he could have prevented this from happening. This only brought on a deep sob as he thought over again what had run through his mind a million times.
He also thought about what his return meant to his people. Nanien had been their temporary leader since the rest of the royal family was gone. Now that Legolas was back he had a responsibility to fulfill. He was now the King of Mirkwood.
A knock on the door made him jolt out of his thoughts, though he made no movement nor did he invite the inquisitor in. Just as he expected, the door slowly opened anyway and someone entered. Normally he would have known it was Aragorn because of his un-elf-like footsteps, but the prince was in no mood to pay attention to detail.
The ranger walked slowly across the room and sat on the edge of Legolas' bed, trying to be as quiet as possible. He knew that no matter how hard he tried the elf would hear him, asleep or wide awake. though he wished not to disturb his friend in the slightest bit. He even suddenly felt bad for just thinking of visiting.
Several long moments went by before Aragorn finally spoke. "We're. having dinner in the dining hall if you'd like to join us."
Legolas slowly shook his head. "No thank you. I'm not hungry right now."
Aragorn's heart filled with sorrow when he heard the soft elven voice coming out ragged and sore. He nodded slowly as he stood. Taking a last quick glance at the new king, he turned and left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The late morning sun spilled across the large cozy common room. Nanien sat with her legs tucked up on a long white sofa near the stone fireplace. As a soft, cool breeze blew through the silk curtains, Méndel walked in through the open doorway.
He sat down quietly in a white carved chair close to the sofa. "Did Prince Legolas ever come down for the evening meal last night?"
Nanien slowly shook her head, her eyes closed in thought. "I wish I never had to break anything like that on anyone."
"Like I told you?"
The princess opened her eyes again and smiled softy. "Yes."
"It is very difficult, isn't it? When he asked to see his father, I could feel my heart breaking over again. I hope I did the right thing by letting you tell him."
Nanien nodded. "Yes, you did, Méndel. Thank you. That was my duty as his sister."
They both looked up when soft and tentative footsteps where heard just outside the doorway. They both smiled when Legolas entered the room. His face was no longer streaked and he was not nearly as pale as he had been the night before. He moved slowly across the room, not making eye contact with either of them, then sat in the over- stuffed chair by the window that now faced in towards the room.
After several long moments, he looked up to Nanien. "Have I missed breakfast yet?"
His sister shook her head. "No, it should be ready soon. I'll bet you're hungry."
Legolas nodded and gazed down at the floor. An even longer silence passed before he spoke again. "How did it happen?"
Nanien looked up. "What?"
"You said. they were found in the woods. What happened? Do you know?"
Nanien was a bit taken back at first. She hadn't expected her brother to be so willing to talk about it for several weeks, maybe even months. Though, she noticed that his voice was flat, expressionless, even forced a little.
"Well." She took a deep breath. Even she was reluctant to relive what was told to her two or three months ago. ".father and our brothers went out one morning to hunt. They hadn't been out in. years and father wanted to spend some time with them. Also, our stores had been getting low and we needed more food to last us through the winter. They left and. when they didn't return after a week, a small search party went out to look for them. I wasn't too worried, as everyone expected that they only decided to stay out longer than planned. Then, not too far from the palace, they found father."
She paused for a moment to glance at her brother. She was afraid to go on, though he was staring into the flames of the fireplace, completely motionless except for a blink every now and then. Nanien went on.
"He was alive when they found him, though he was. in terrible condition. He couldn't walk and he had been crawling back to the palace for days. They helped him inside, cared for him as best they could, and asked him where his sons were. For the first few hours, they couldn't get much out of him except that he kept mumbling Tadrielas' name. After he slept for a while, he was finally able to tell them what he could. They had been attacked, by what he didn't know. It was an animal of some sort, many of them. They were huge, he said. He had seen them kill Ryldor and Legandir, but he and Tadrielas managed to get away. Their horses had fled and they were not able to move quickly enough. They were attacked again. This time, both of them were hurt badly and were separated. He said he searched long for Tadrielas, but in the end could barely drag himself back to the palace grounds. He then said that he was almost certain that Tadrielas did not make it. After he had told them this, he became very weak and could not even keep his head up by himself. He died the next morning."
While she had been talking, she only slightly noticed another being walk into the room. Now, she looked up and saw Aragorn leaning against the door frame. His eyes were closed as he had been listening intently. Nanien then glanced at Legolas once more. He was now gazing across the room at the ranger. She could not detect a hint of despair in him, but his eyes were filled with sadness.
She then finished. "The search party went out again to look for Tadrielas but could not find him. They did, however find the bodies of Ryldor and Legandir. They were buried next to father in the grave yard between the north and south gardens." She sighed deeply. "Since the heir to the throne was presumed dead, and you were gone away, I led the royal court as best I could until you were to return. And now. you're back." She gazed deeply at her brother. He looked up at her in turn. "You do know what this means now, don't you?" She let a hint of a smile curve the line of her mouth.
Legolas did not smile, but nodded slowly. "I am aware. and am prepared to accept my duties without delay."
Again, Nanien was a bit surprised by her brother's attitude and willingness. She then stood. "Well, breakfast should be served any moment now. Shall we go to the dining hall, then?"
Everyone slowly stood and made for the doorway, Legolas last in the group. As he came to the door, Aragorn came up beside him and took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. He whispered softly. "Are you nervous?"
Legolas nodded softly. "I think so. I. can't be too sure. This is quite a new feeling and I'm not sure how to react about it at the moment."
"Well, don't worry. It'll come to you soon enough. I'm only very surprised how you've handled all this being thrown at you so quickly. You just. take in stride. I know I would have never been able to do that with as much grace. Be proud. for I'm very proud of you, as are many others I'm sure." He smiled to his friend and clapped him on the back.
They both left the room and followed Nanien and Méndel to the dining hall for a well-earned breakfast.
As they neared the hall, Legolas suddenly grasped at Aragorn's arm and pulled him away from the group.
"What is it?" Aragorn's brows were furrowed.
Legolas stared hard at the marble floor. "Tadrielas. Nanien said he couldn't be found."
The ranger suddenly realized what he meant. "Legolas! The body we found on the way."