GACK! Borimir…I can't believe I did that…anyway, it's fixed. Thanks for catchin' it! Grumbles *that's what I get for typing on the phone…*
I'm glad to see that everyone seems to be enjoying so far. There's even speculation! Woo Hoo! Guess that means I'm doing something right.
Sorry if it seems a bit confusing, it wasn't meant to be. A bit mysterious, yes, but not confusing. Again, sorry. Everything should be cleared up by the end of the story…unless a sequel presents itself, and then, well…ya know…
A big round o' thanks go out to everyone what voted (not to mention reviewed). Guess who won?
…I have to appologise for this chapter. I was going to put it up on Sunday, but I also wanted to get some of the big juicy plot development in there, so I just kept going, and it wasn't getting anywhere, and I'm being attacked by the finals bug (but after this week there's a nice long break yay) so not a whole lot happens in this chapter, and not very much at all is learned, but the next chapter should be chalked full of question-answering little tid bits.
On a last note, I'm in a bit of a hurry, so this hasn't been edited. *bangs head against wall*
-Man's Road-
by Odele
Ch. 2
A Warm Welcome
A.K.A.: Trust Company
Legolas sighed. He had been aware that they were following in someone's wake for nearly two days. There were not enough of them to be bandits, and besides, they covered their tracks well enough to suggest experience in doing so. His conclusion had been a hunting party, but still he had not wanted to run into them, just to be safe.
Of course, 'safe' was more a state of mind than a physical condition when one was being followed by something that screamed 'dark' and 'evil' at all of ones senses. Now if traveling so close to an unknown contingent was not enough cause to find the road and take the long way around, then Legolas was sure that a pack of rabid, vicious, blood-thirsty, wholly evil monsters—or something to that effect—was more than enough to make up the difference.
The only problem was that he felt sure this blatantly foul presents had not just happened to come this way. It was following someone and Legolas knew that it was not himself and the boy, leaving only those ahead of them. He also felt sure that they were unaware of being followed.
Oh, the weight of morality was a heavy one.
"We must hurry now," Legolas whispered into the boy's ear as he swept him into his arms and quickened his pace.
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They had been traveling for nearly six hours straight with the promise of camp once they reached a secluded copse that would provide some shelter should the gathering clouds decide to lighten their load. One of the halflings let loose a soft groan, causing another to sigh wearily. "Courage little ones, we are not far now," Boromir said. At least, that was what Aragorn had told him. Boromir himself was unfamiliar with this territory.
"'Not far' is too far as far as I'm concerned," Merry quipped.
"'Not far' is where you'll all be going if you continue on this course," a new voice spoke up. That got everyone's attention.
The company stilled and tensed, eyes roaming about them for the source of the voice. Weapons were made ready for defense.
"Who are you?" Aragorn asked loudly, a frown creasing his brow. He had not known anyone was there, and that disturbed him greatly. Glancing at the Hobbits, he saw that they were huddled near Gandalf, their backs together for protection.
"It does not matter, who I am. What is important is that you are being followed," the voice now came from a different direction. Everyone spun around only to find that there was still no one there.
"Well that seems a little obvious," Gimli growled, glaring at the trees in front of him. "But now we've found you so you might as well come out!"
"Ah, and there you are wrong on two accounts, Master Dwarf," the voice said evenly from yet a new direction. "I found you and not the other way around. Neither am I the one following you. I am merely a messenger."
"And why would a stranger go out of his way to warn us of danger if he did not have a hand in it?" Boromir queried, his sword still at the ready.
"A competent question, though misplaced." The voice had moved yet again. "I am here only to give you warning. Whether you heed me or not is your choice. I've done my part, my conscience is clear," the voice sounded slightly irritated.
"And my aim is true," Glorfindel spoke. His bow was drawn tight, arrow pointed at the trees overhead. Even so, the others could not see at what the Elf aimed.
"Not as true as some, if memory serves," this time the voice had not moved, and there was amusement in the words.
"Perhaps not, but true enough to fell you if you do not end this charade and show yourself immediately," the Eldar's voice was hard-edged.
"As you wish then," was the casual reply.
There was motion above, then a blur descended from half way up the tree, Glorfindel following it with his arrow.
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Stupid, stupid, stupid Legolas berated himself. The sight of such a motley crew had immediately sparked his curiosity and he had been quite unable to avoid a bit of mischief. It had been fun at first, to see their confused faces searching for him and finding nothing. Even more so when he put the Dwarf in his place. But in his fun he had made a grave error.
Legolas had not dismissed the Elf out of hand as he had most of the others, nonetheless he had been confident in his ability to remain elusive. His mistake had been allowing himself to grow annoyed at their continuous disregard for the warning of danger that he had gone out of his way to give them. In his annoyance he had lingered too long in one place and the keen eyes of the party's Elvin member had easily followed the sound of his voice.
And now I am at their mercy, Legolas thought. Not a good place to be considering their heightened wariness.
Legolas further berated himself for not realizing from the start just who this other Elf was. He had beaten Lord Glorfindel—among others—in an archery contest over a thousand years ago. He could only hope that the other did not recognize him.
As Legolas straightened to face judgment by this strange band, a barely audible gasp came from the cluster of Hobbits and the old man. Looking up, Legolas felt his heart plummet to somewhere around his stomach as his mouth went suddenly dry. The Elf had thought him no more than an old man, but now his grounded position allowed him to see beneath the wide-rimmed hat. As his eyes locked with those of the Istari he had known well in his youth, all his apprehension of being murdered and leaving a boy alone in the middle of nowhere was overshadowed by the fear of being identified. For it was recognition as well as surprise that he saw in those ancient eyes.
*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
Aragorn was hardly surprised to see that the voice belonged to an Elf. It was quite fitting really. That though, was no reason to lower his guard and apparently the others concurred for none had lowered their weapons.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Aragorn reiterated. The Elf in question gave a sigh and suddenly, to the Man's eyes, a shroud of weariness begotten only by countless years of living, fathomless to even a mortal such as he, covered the strange Elf. Aragorn was sure he must collapse from the strain, but instead those ageless eyes stayed riveted on Gandalf as he spoke.
"I have told you. Who I am matters not." The Elf's gaze now passed between the rest of the Fellowship. "I was traveling a course quite near your own when I noticed a presents, dark and foul, following somewhere behind me. I've no reason to believe it pursues me, so I thought it prudent to inform you of my discovery. I assure you, I harbor no ill intent."
"Why should we trust you?" Boromir asked.
"I know not, for you do not know me," he said looking again at the Wizard. "But neither do I know you, so I ask, why should I trust you?"
"If you didn't think you could trust us then why would you risk an encounter?" Frodo wondered aloud.
"Forever is a long time to live with a guilty conscience, Master Hobbit," the Elf replied.
There was and extended moment of silence then, broken only by the Istari's commanding voice. "If there is indeed something on our trail, then we should not waste any more time in useless conversation. How far behind us would you say this evil is?"
"No more than half a days journey," the Elf replied.
"Then we must make haste. I doubt a change of course would do much good; we cannot afford the time to go so far out of our way for whatever it is that follows us to loose our trail. We must quicken our pace," Gandalf said decisively, sheathing his sword.
"What of him?" Gimli asked, gesturing to the still unnamed Elf with his axe as the others followed the Wizard's initiative, putting up their weapons.
"He will come with us."
"What!?" was the chorused exclamation.
"It has been made apparent that we do not trust each other. It would then be unwise to allow him the chance to give away our location. We might be trailed, but in so knowing we have gained the upper hand. It would not be in our best interest to loose that," Gandalf explained.
"What if that's what he wanted all the time!?" Gimli had not yet released his hold on the axe.
"Then it is the lesser of two risks," the Wizard said.
"Should we not at least relieve him of his weapons? The Halflings—"
"I would remind you Master Dwarf that the lack of trust goes both ways," the Elf's voice was terse. "I do not see that I should surrender my only line of defense when the odds are so obviously in your favor," he gestured to encompass all nine members of the Fellowship. "If I am to be forced into your company, I should hope my word that I will not harm you unprovoked would suffice."
"Indeed, that—" Gandalf stopped, hearing a rustling noise from somewhere behind the Elf. Immediately weapons were once more drawn and ready.
"No, wait!" The Elf cried in alarm, gesturing for them to put their weapons away. "Please," he said in an effort to calm them. Turning around he called out gently, "Imman. Imman, it's all right, come out."
Hesitantly, a dark haired boy no taller than the Hobbits came out from behind a cluster of bushes. At a silent gesture from the Elf, the boy hurried over and attached himself firmly to a gray clad leg, burying his face in the hem of the Elf's jerkin.
"Please," the Elf again motioned them to put away their weapons as he placed a comforting hand on the boy's head. They did, if somewhat sheepishly.
"We wouldn't harm him. We was just startled is all…" Aragorn was fairly sure that had come from Sam. It was hard to say as all the Hobbits were blushing slightly, looking abashed.
"If you've no more surprises for us," Aragorn directed that at the Elf, then turned to Gandalf, "then we should be on our way."
Gandalf took the lead, followed by the Hobbits and Gimli. Behind them walked Aragorn and Boromir, silent guards for the nameless Elf who carried the boy, whispering soothing words. Glorfindel came last as rearguard.
*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
Californian logic #2: 'Pop' does not equal 'Soda.'