Meeting in the woods
Chapter Six
A broken elf
Author's note: I don't have enough parody scenes to actually make a story, but I thought I'd throw one in here to say thanks for all your beautiful reviews!
SCENE: The fellowship all flee from the fallen watcher into the mines of Moria. As the rocks begin to fall, barricading the only enterance, darkness falls over the fellowship. Legolas runs up behind Aragorn, and grabs his far shoulder. Soon thereafter, everything is merged with darkness.
The heavy breathing of the fellowship can be heard, but nothing else, until:
ARAGORN: (moans)
…Tee-hee, that was certainly disturbing, wasn't it?
In response to reviews I have received (YAAAY!):
Goma-Ryu: Rrrrrowl, that's cause he's my fave butt-kicking elf! LOL Thanks for your review! I didn't think it was lame at all.
Amethyst Silvermoon: Thank you so much! I'm glad my words aren't as rough as they seem to me…Thanks so much for your review! *giggles giddily*
Evil Spapple Pie: I just realized I think I've been spelling your name wrong in earlier chapters. Gaaah! Sorry!! Tee-hee…Thanks!
LAXgirl: *goes into blushing fit* You reviewers are going to give me such an ego problem! I'm glad you don't think my action scenes are horrible…LOL GAAH! I re-read the story…I didn't mean for it to be so I LOVE YOU ARAGORN TAKE ME AWAY! (from Legolas' POV). NOTE TO EVERBODY: It's not meant to be like that!! (see note written to Evil Spapple Pie on last chapter LOL). LOL But…hey…what can you do? How can I ignore your insane ramblings? They're so kind! *throws cookies at people* About the rape thing…It'll all come clear during more *mental spasms* LOL
Kaimelieamin: You think you're bad at action scenes? Do you have brain damage? LOL Yours are bloody amazing! Baahh…wipe away those tears, school started for me TODAY *bawls*…Not that I'm not sympathetic LOL
SharonToggle: Aaah! Guilt attack! *strokes Legly action figure again* Yay! The pair are headed off for Rivendell in this chapter—yaaay! Of course, not until I figure out a dirty and punish-ful way to re-kill that nasty bloke. OOOH! CATCH PHRASE CATCH PHRASE! "Now that everyone's favorite archer has a bow, it's
time for him to kick some serious ass!"…mind if I use that? XD Thanks very much for your lovely review!
Anduin: Awww…shucks! *giggles like it's the funniest thing ever* um…
Crys Ritter: Yaay! Seriously, ego problem in the making! *rubs blush from cheeks* I'm glad that Legolas didn't turn out to be a crappy fighter, too. LOL
Fairlady: LOL Hope this chapter doesn't dampen your (MUCH LOVED) enthusiasm!
Allora Gale: =^^= Well, if I ABSOLUTELY have to…
Bobo: Teehee! Thanks!
Seriously-everybody-your reviews are all so wonderful. I don't know how I ever had any self-esteem before everybody here came along and helped me out with it. You guys are all incredibly kind, and totally deserve…gold bricks or something. *nervous cough*
I already have a rough conclusion for this (part of the) story, but I'm not sure just when to blend it into the story. I've so enjoyed writing this story so far, and I'm so in love with all of your reviews, I know it'll be hard to draw this to an end.
This chapter isn't particularly action-filled, just offers some in-sight into (godlike) Legolas.
Anyway, enjoy this chapter!
***
"These woods speak loudly," Legolas murmured to Aragorn, tilting his head back. Though his gaze seemed distant to the eyes of the Ranger, he knew that their casual sweeping wouldn't miss a single leaf on the dense canopy. "They are glad to see us go. It seems, Aragorn, you left much behind when you went on this camping trip."
Aragorn stared at the Elf, bewildered, not by the intricate communication the blonde shared with the forest-he had witnessed it before, many times-but more in amazement that the forest could know such a thing. "I-" Aragorn replied, glancing nervously about the trees. Ridiculous as it felt, he lowered his voice. "I suppose I did."
Legolas smiled, nestling his shoulder blades against the tree. He had been slashed across the stomach by the dead man's blade, but the cut was not deeper than any he had already received in alternate places. Though the elf tried to urge Aragorn away from their familiar campsite, knowing the Ranger must have other places to be, the man only shook his head.
"Aragorn, son of Arathorn. I have heard of you, but only by name," Legolas murmured. Aragorn continued to pack up the belongings he had scattered about the clearing, packing them away. He paused at the elf's unexpected words, glancing over with the smallest of nods. "They say you are half-elf," Legolas continued, his brow knotting, expression puzzled. He glanced over Aragorn's form. "I suppose that's just in spirit."
Aragorn averted his eyes, knowing it was meant to be a compliment. He tossed a pair of rough wooden bowls into his pack. "I'm forgetting something," he said, vaguely. Legolas laughed gently.
"You've left somebody behind, Aragorn. Who is she?" Legolas tilted his head to the side, casually sweeping his hair off his shoulder. Though the answer was tremendously obvious to the observant elf, he knew that Aragorn needed to speak her name.
"She…" Aragorn hesitated, thinking back. He first laid eyes on her as a sister, eight years before, but immediately it was painfully obvious that his feelings breached beyond such. Her face was too fair, her eyes too playful, her soul too full of unguided mirth for Aragorn to settle having her as a sister. "She is the Evenstar," he replied. His words rose from his mouth like licks of flame, hot and untethered. "And she is what Lord Elrond calls my sister."
"She is an acquaintance of mine," Legolas replied, absently. "What mad you leave her in Rivendell?"
"I told Elrond of my feelings, but he wasn't exactly…courteous. He told me he loves me like a true son, not like one married into his family, especially via his only daughter. I wonder if he would except me if I wanted to be wed to Elladan?"
Legolas laughed gently, deftly braiding a strand of hair back as he listened to the story. Aragorn had sunk out of his squat to sit on the ground, leaning back on his hands, looking pensive, but surprisingly gaunt, a man once carved into stone now revealing the flesh that lay beneath.
"I fear that my love for the Evenstar will only lead me through destruction. Particularly if she doesn't return my feelings. How could I bear to be related to one I felt so differently about? And what would the world think if not only Arwen fell for a man, but one she was so nearly related to?" Aragorn broke off, and shuddered involuntarily at the fresh wave of emotion.
Legolas stood. "If you have not spoken to Arwen, how can you be sure your feelings for her are not mutual? Do not be so quick to despair, son of Arathorn," Legolas replied.
Aragorn nodded, then lifted his head, a quizzical expression set onto his chiseled face. "How did they know of Arwen?" asked the man, slowly, loosely gesturing towards the trees surrounding.
Legolas paused, stiffening, and quirked his head to the side, his eyelids gently dropping closed. Neck craned awkwardly to the side, he waited, as if listening to the whispers of a nearby soul (it later occurred to Aragorn that perhaps he was.). The elf smirked, opening his eyes.
"You talk in your sleep," he replied calmly.
~*~
Legolas had little memory of the forest, but combined with the skillful observations of the peculiar human he had alongside, Legolas managed to decipher long-ago tracks amidst the compressed dirt. Skillfully, he guided Aragorn through the dense trees, over a once-trodden path.
"The forest speaks of many things," Legolas commented idly. The two had been traveling since sunup, many hours before. Now, the sun blazed overhead, beams still warming though it seemed autumn descended faster every hour. "This autumn has come early," Legolas said airily. Carefully, he stepped around a finger-high plant growing from the ground, and then continued. "I fear this following Autumn will be a historical one."
Aragorn furrowed his brow, looking over the backside of the elf that led him. Woodland elves typically weren't blessed with the gift of foresight, particularly without the use of some magical instrument, but the statement the mysterious blonde had just uttered was so full of conviction, Aragorn couldn't help but wonder.
The woods thinned out, eventually dropping away to expose a wondrous plane. Though both in the party, the man, and the elf, had seen the meadow before, it remained a beautiful sight. Legolas had deep feelings for any woods, and he had shared his last week of freedom with these ones, forging a bond with them not unlike the one that urged him towards Rivendell.
"Mind if I ask a question?" Aragorn wanted to know, his eyes finally settling on the distant, as if scoping out the best path the two might take. Legolas shrugged encouragingly. "You seem anxious as I now am to return to Rivendell, yet I know from your demeanor it is not your home. Where is home for you, Legolas?"
Legolas hesitated, placing a hand on his side. His eyes closed, once again, though not so loosely this time. Concentration overwhelmed his placid expression, brow furrowed. A broken elf lay just beyond the barely-healed surface, a broken elf with throbbing wounds adorning his once-innocent spirit. A broken elf that resurfaced when Aragorn wasn't looking, that made Legolas secretly draw his knees to his chest, huddling against himself for comfort and warmth, as he sobbed the days away, shed months of torture. A broken elf that, when Legolas was sure nobody was around, made him creep into the trees, and pull the bandages off the wounds on his chest…
"Legolas?" Aragorn asked in concern. Legolas beat his eyes open, dazedly looking over the meadow once again.
"Home is Mirkwood," the elf replied, cradling a temple in a shuddering palm. Calm down! He thought strictly to himself, clenching his other hand tightly into a white-knuckled fist, to keep his hand from shuddering so. Crescent-moon nails bit into his palms, but he ignored the pain.
Aragorn either didn't notice the actions, or chose to ignore them. He nodded slowly, before pointing towards the horizon. "We travel that way," he said gently. Legolas nodded, concentrating on a spot at the top of his boot, not noticing Aragorn wince, just slightly, as the elf bit back tears.
***
Augh, not very exciting, eh? Another non-conclusive chapter…Guess I'd better write another =^^= Anyway, feel the love! And be PEACEFUL!
~Kayte