Bound by Fate
Disclaimer: I own nothing (although, I wish I did! J)
A/N: Thanks for the reviews that I've received! Now for the shout outs to the reviewers:
elven archer Tiniwiel - Yes, Radagast was there on purpose, and more will be explained about that later. Sorry for the lack of sewers, I came up with an idea before I read your review.
Frodo Skywalker – More hobbits and more elves will be coming up. Also, Faramir will make another appearance, although not for a few chapters.
Cookies and creme - Sorry that took so long. I'm really, really sorry! If you want my excuses here they are: homework, ISU's, exams, a car accident, and physiotherapy. I'll try to be faster with the next one.
Darragh Tieraneux – I'm glad you like it! Hope this update meets your expectations.
Aislynn – Wow! My longest review! Amazing! In fact, it's almost a critique… I was quite impressed. Gandalf will appear soon, but everyone will have to wait for Gimli (I actually have a plan now! J). Originally, I was going to kill Thranduil, but I decided that it would be a waste of a perfectly good character (and besides, I don't want to have poor Legolas going insane… it would be very hard to write). For the whole Sauron thing, it's a twist that I felt I needed to make. He doesn't have the strength yet to get his body back (because he doesn't have the Ring), so he's sort of 'borrowing' Faramir's to suit his purposes. Faramir did not consent, and is not aware of the fact that Sauron is using him. Him being able to spy on Faramir's knowledge and thoughts is just a nifty side effect that will become important later.
{This is Elvish, when I don't want to spend the time with translations}
Chapter 5: The Prince's PlanBoromir woke to a hand shaking his shoulder. "Wake up, Boromir, it is sunrise," a light voice called to him. He tried to brush the hand off of him, but it persisted. "Wake up, False Prince," it called again.
He cracked one eye open and saw that it was Legolas, who was already dressed in his slightly tattered clothes. "It's too early," he mumbled, rolling over. "Wake me in an hour," he murmured into his pillow. He felt the hands shoving against his side, moving him; he soon found himself on the floor. "What was that for?" he asked of the elf who had just shoved him out of his own bed.
"It is time to get up and start planning. No one in Middle Earth except for you will benefit from you staying in bed," he stated. "Aragorn has arranged for breakfast to be brought to your room soon," he added, heading into the anteroom.
Boromir got dressed quickly and joined Aragorn and Legolas in the anteroom, where he found a platter of food waiting. "Did anyone come up with any brilliant ideas during the night?" he asked, only half-kidding.
"We will need some sort of cover. Something that your father will not question," Aragorn mused, munching thoughtfully on a piece of fruit.
Legolas seemed to think for a moment. "We could pretend that I'm giving you the information that you want: when there will be a meeting of Elves and Rangers. Of course, there will be no meeting, but it would make a good cover. We need to find a way to get the captives out of the dungeons," he said, looking pointedly at Boromir. "You promised."
"Yes, I promised. After we eat, we will go down there. But I will warn both of you right now: I will be pretending that everything is normal. If you do not act in a way that would be deemed appropriate, we will probably all be found out," Boromir said, glancing at Legolas. "Are you up to that?" he asked the elf.
Legolas smirked. "You want me rebellious, or tamed? I've learned after many years of being chased by your people that I am a fantastic actor," he said, a touch of sarcastic humour in his tone.
Aragorn responded faster than Boromir. "Tamed. That way it will be no shock when you are 'willing' to betray your people, as well as being allowed to walk around unchained," he explained.
"No self-respecting Elf would just submit to a Man, so we need to make me look the part. A couple of bruises, maybe even a split lip, would make it look believable," Legolas said. "Aragorn, you know the most about Elves. Hit me hard enough to bruise me, but not enough to break anything," he said, sounding almost like it was an order.
Aragorn nodded and stood up. "I'm sorry," he said quickly, then punched Legolas twice: once in the eye and once in the jaw; he managed to give Legolas a black eye and a split lip. "Will that be sufficient? For I refuse to hit you again, nîn mellon," he said as he sat back down. [My friend]
Legolas dabbed some of the blood from his lip and nodded. "That will be just fine," he replied. He soon buried his hands in his hair, pulling loose the braids and making it look as though rough hands had handled it. "Now all I have to do is look submissive," he commented.
The three quickly finished making their plans and eating breakfast, then headed towards the dungeons. Legolas kept his head bowed, looking at his feet, while Boromir walked with his hand wrapped around Legolas' upper arm. Aragorn (who had reminded them before they left the room to call him 'Strider') walked a respectful pace behind, seeming to be the perfect guard. When they arrived, Boromir stepped up to the desk where the dungeon keeper was. "I need to go in there," he said.
"That pretty Elf of yours giving you troubles, milord?" the keeper asked with a sneer, noting the bruise and the split lip. Legolas, playing his part perfectly, gave a startled whimper and hid behind Boromir.
Boromir glared at him. "That is none of your business," he growled. "I will need two lanterns so that I can see," he ordered. The lanterns were prepared and the three conspirators headed in. "Okay, who is it we need to talk to?"
The Elves shied away from the light and the entire room went silent. Legolas looked around. "Elrond? Ada? Where are you?" Legolas asked quietly. [Father]
A tall blonde Elf moved quickly towards them and wrapped his arms around Legolas. "Are you alright? How badly did he hurt you?" he asked, pulling Legolas away from Boromir. Unnoticed by Boromir another Elf, raven-haired, approached from behind them.
"Ada, I'm fine. It was Estel who did this to me, at my insistence, to make this façade look believable," he explained. "Are you better now?" he asked quietly. A nod was the only reply he received. As Legolas looked around, he noted that most of the Elves were at least sitting up. There were only several laying on the floor that were still fading.
"We have a plan to get you out of here, but we also need information from you. Legolas assured me that someone here named Elrond would know what to do," Boromir said quickly.
"What is it that Legolas thinks I know?" a quiet but stern voice asked from behind him. Boromir quickly turned around, and was shocked by the tall figure that had snuck up behind him.
Aragorn stepped up to Elrond and quickly embraced him. "We have explained the situation to Boromir. He had been taught the wrong history, which explains his cruelty to Elves. He now wishes to set things right, to help overthrow the Dark Lord," he explained.
Thranduil looked up from the embrace he still shared with his son. "What proof do you have that you can trust him?" he asked, his voice full of contempt and mistrust.
Aragorn sighed. "I told him of my ancestry last night. Considering that I am still alive, I think that we can trust him," he said, glancing nervously at Elrond. 'I hope he's not too mad,' Aragorn thought.
Elrond looked at Aragorn critically for a moment. "What possessed you to tell him such a thing?" he asked. "Were you certain beforehand that he would not betray you?"
"We were certain. We found old documents in the library, written before the Change," Aragorn explained. "They showed that the Stewards became Kings through deceit and treachery."
Elrond nodded his comprehension. "And now you want me to give you information. What sort of information do you need?" he queried, prepared to answer any question.
"We need to know how to overthrown Sauron," Boromir stated without preamble. "Do you know anything that could help us?" he asked.
Elrond nodded. "Sit down, for this is a long story. It spans over an age of this world," he explained. They all sat before Elrond continued. "It began at the beginning of this world. Sauron was a Maia who was corrupted by the words of Morgoth, the first Dark Lord, and became his lieutenant. After Morgoth was taken into captivity, Sauron re-emerged, using a form that was considered beautiful to sway people's minds. He had rings forged, the Rings of Power. Not many Men now remember the Verse of the Rings, but it is very relevant to your situation," he explained, and then recited,
Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule the all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
Thranduil took this moment to break in with more of an explanation. "Each ring had a gem on it, except for the One Ring. The others were given away to the rulers of each race, meant to corrupt them with the lust for power," he commented factually.
"The Nine in the rhyme belong to the Nazgûl, the Ringwraiths, who used to be great kings of Men. The rings worked on them, so now they serve Sauron, forever slaves to his will," Aragorn added.
Elrond joined back into the conversation. "The One Ring was forged in the fires of Mount Doom; Sauron poured his malice and his cruelty into it, using a great deal of his power. Now he is bound to the Ring; if he gets it back, then all of Middle-Earth is doomed. Of the Seven the dwarves held, we know that Sauron possesses three, and that the other are lost or in dragon's hoards. The Three were never touched by Sauron's hand. They are… well, suffice it to say that they are accounted for, and well hidden from the Enemy," he said, somewhat vaguely at the last point.
"What of the One Ring? Where is that one?" Boromir asked impatiently.
"No one knows," Legolas said softly. "During the Battle of the Last Alliance, a Man named Isildur, who became King of Gondor, cut the Ring from Sauron's hand. Incidentally, that was how Sauron was overthrown the first time. Instead of destroying the Ring, however, Isildur fell to its lure and kept it. He was killed by Orcs on his way to Eriador, and from there none know where the Ring went," he explained.
Elrond nodded at Legolas. "Which is exactly the problem that you face in trying to defeat Sauron. As long as the Ring exists, Sauron will exist. You will need to find the Ring and destroy it; once you destroy the Ring, Sauron's power will end," he explained.
Boromir sighed, frustrated by the lack of information. "Then how are we supposed to find it? Do you even know what it looks like?" he asked.
Elrond nodded slowly. "The Three, the Seven, and the Nine each had their proper gem; the One, on the other hand, was a plain gold band. There are words inscribed on It, of course, but those are only visible after It is placed into fire," he explained.
"He… Sauron is looking for a plain gold ring. He said he lost it while battling Elves!" Boromir exclaimed, careful to keep his voice quiet. "Where was Isildur when he died?" he asked. "The Ring may still be there, waiting to be found," he suggested.
After searching his memory for a moment, Thranduil answered. "He was at the Gladden Fields. It probably fell into the Anduin; for all we know, it might be halfway across the Sea from here," he said. "You'll have to pass Dol Guldur to get there. It is a dangerous place, full of darkness. Make certain that you are armed before you pass that place. If you cannot find the Ring, you could rest in Mirkwood. The Old Forest Road is just to the north of there," he suggested.
"Or in Rivendell. The Old Forest Road runs east to west. The east leads to Mirkwood, but the west, over the High Pass, leads to Rivendell," Elrond added.
Legolas looked over at Boromir. "How are we going to get everyone out of here?" he asked quietly.
Boromir looked over at Legolas and smirked. "I'm going to create a distraction. During the confusion, the door can be opened with this," he said, handing a knife hilt-first to Elrond, "by taking the pins out of the hinges. You'll hear a loud bang, and then the guards will probably start yelling and run away. Once you're out, you must hurry, because there will not be much time. There are some old armouries down the hall, third door from the left. I'll make certain that it's unlocked. Disguise yourselves with the armour, and leave the palace immediately. Any questions?" he asked.
No one except Aragorn nodded. "What sort of distraction do you have in mind?" he asked, slightly wary.
Another smirk graced Boromir's lips. "You know that black powder? I'm going to set a barrel of it off in an unused storage room near the throne room," he explained. "I'll leave a long enough fuse that it will take about an hour to go off. We'll be out of the city, and out of suspicion. And if the throne room is damaged, it'll be too bad. Father has no right to it, so he will have no right to be upset about it," he commented, his smirk widening to a smile.
Aragorn grinned. "I like the way you think. Alright, all of our plans have been laid. Now, we have to execute them. Let's go talk to your father, and tell him that your 'slave' is willing to betray his people," he said.
"Wait!" a high-pitched voice called out. "What about us?" it asked, coming closer. As it approached, Aragorn recognized it as Pippin, one of the Hobbits he had brought from the factory.
Aragorn thought for a moment. "We could return you to the factory on our way out of Minas Tirith," he suggested.
Another one of the hobbits, Sam, came towards them and shook his head. "We can't stay there. Could you take us somewhere outside of the city? We could head home from there," he added, smiling as he thought about returning home to the Shire.
"Where is your home, little one?" Legolas asked. "If it is along the way, there should be no problem with you coming with us," he explained.
Sam looked at the ground and mumbled, " 'Bout a hundred miles west of Bree." He looked up at Boromir. "We could get there ourselves, if you got us out of the city," he suggested hopefully.
Boromir smiled and ruffled Sam's hair. "Of course you can come with us. What are you doing in here anyways?" he asked. "I thought that all halflings were working in the factory."
Sam grumbled something inaudibly and Strider sighed. "I was told to bring them here because they started singing Elvish songs while working," he explained. "We could get them before we leave, saying that they are to be returned to the factory. Of course, they would never make it there…" he added, smiling at Sam.
Nodding, Boromir said, "Sounds good. We'll need to pack provisions, and have three horses…" his voice trailed off as he saw that the other two hobbits had crept up. "As well as four ponies waiting for use. Weapons, of course, in case of trouble. Daggers would serve as swords for the little ones; what is your weapon of choice, Legolas?" he asked, looking at the Elf.
"You took my weapons from me yourself," he responded. "My weapon of choice is my bow, although I am skilled with all of the weapons I carry," he continued. There was no trace of arrogance in his voice, only pride at his skills.
As Aragorn and Boromir discussed the plan further with Thranduil, Elrond beckoned for Legolas to come with him. {You are aware that the three Elven rings can track the One?} Elrond asked without preamble. Legolas merely nodded, uncertain why Elrond was mentioning this. {If you cannot find the One Ring, go to Rivendell, take Vilya, and use Vilya to track the One Ring,} he told Legolas, handing him a piece of folded parchment and a key on a string. {Show the paper to my sons, it will explain what I have asked of you. The key will open the box.}
Legolas shook his head. {I cannot take something so important as Vilya!} he exclaimed as he tried to hand the key and paper back to Elrond.
Sighing, Elrond drew himself up to his full height. {Just because you are not addressing me as Lord does not mean that I am no longer one. This is an order, Thranduillion. You will obey,} he stated. "Now go back to the others, but tell them nothing of this," he said, moving so that he was standing with the group once again. [Thranduillion = son of Thranduil]
Legolas hastily put the key around his neck, under his clothes, and returned to the others. "Is there anything left to discuss?" he asked.
Aragorn and Boromir looked at each other for a moment before Aragorn nodded. "When we go to see Denethor… you will be expected to be leashed. Can you handle that?" he asked gently.
Legolas shook, remembering the last collar that Boromir had put on him, but stopped himself quickly. "I should be fine, as long as it is not too long," he stated. "For I know that no malice is meant by it," he added.
"Good," Boromir announced. "We're ready to go see my father."
~*~
After Legolas had been leashed, the three went to the throne room. Strider stood at the door, like a proper guard was supposed to. Legolas acted much like a trained animal, allowing Boromir to bring him in front of the throne. When they stopped, Legolas immediately fell to his knees and bowed his head in a gesture of submission. Boromir bowed slightly to his father. "I have excellent news, father. This elf," he said, pulling Legolas' chain slightly, "is willing to betray his people by leading me to the next meeting in the Drúadan Forest." There was pride in his voice, and his features were almost gleeful. Denethor would never be able to tell that Boromir was actually nervous.
Denethor's face lit up at the news. "Wonderful! I shall assign you an escort immediately, you shall leave at once," he ordered, preparing to send a page to gather the troops.
"No escort, father. That is the one condition that he has made," Boromir said firmly.
Sighing, Denethor asked, "You would trust an Elf? It is probably lying!" he added. "It has probably arranged for you to be captured on the way."
"I have made no such plans, Your Majesty," Legolas said softly, his head still bowed. "Rangers and Elves never travel to meetings in more than groups of three, for it is far too dangerous to have large groups of us in one place," he explained. "Your son would be in more danger if he brought an escort," he added.
Denethor looked at Legolas quizzically. "You have only been here one night. Why would you already be willing to betray your people?" he asked, slightly suspicious.
Legolas looked up for the first time and said, "Prince Boromir said that he would kill my Ada if I didn't cooperate with him." He then showed his true acting skill as tears began to well up in his eyes. "Please, I just want to be with my Ada, I'll do anything!" he sobbed, looking very pathetic and almost child-like.
Denethor seemed pleased by the show of tears, taking it as a sign that elves were weak and would be overcome eventually. Boromir took a risk and decided to make the tale seem a bit more realistic. "I discovered that this Elf is only fifty, and considered a child by his people. Taking into account what I have heard of family connections in their culture, I decided that threatening this Elf's father would be highly effective. As you can see," he concluded, gesturing at the still-weeping Legolas, "it was."
Denethor nodded. "I understand. Take your guard with you for protection, though. Willing or not, never trust an Elf," he stated, as though he were doling out age-old wisdom. "Leave as soon as you are packed for a journey. I will tell the kitchen to prepare some food for your journey."
"Thank you father," Boromir replied. "If I have your leave?" he asked, gesturing towards the doors. When Denethor nodded, Boromir pulled at the chain he held. Legolas stood, wiping away the few tears still on his face, and went with Boromir out the door; Strider followed the two out. They walked silently to Boromir's rooms, and spoke again only after the door was closed.
Legolas was the first to speak. In fact, he began with a laugh. "Fifty years old? Is the so-called King of Gondor so stupid to think that I look fifty?" he asked, laughing. "Although, I must admit that it was a creative response," he added, thoughtfully.
Boromir smiled. "And you saying that I threatened to kill your father? That was… inspired," he replied. "Now, let's start packing. How long will we be?"
Legolas sat down on the floor. "I have no idea how long it will be. Pack for a week, we can wash clothing in the river if it's any longer than that," he suggested.
"What do we need in terms of food?" Aragorn asked. "Taking the hobbits into account, of course," he added. "There are the outposts with food if we need it, or hunting, but we need food to start with."
After some quick calculations, Legolas answered, "Ask the kitchen for about two weeks of food. Adding the little ones, that will amount to a week of food." He thought for a moment before speaking again. "When will the distraction be set?"
"After we are packed, have the food, and have the hobbits with us. We will walk past there, and I shall light the fuse," Boromir replied. He looked up from his pack. "I'm ready. Strider, are you done?" he asked. After seeing Aragorn nod, he told Legolas, "You pack is under the bottom of the bed. You weapons are in it as well."
Legolas retrieved his pack, checked through it to make sure that everything was there, and put it on. He carried his bow in his hand, unstrung so as not to alarm anyone, and Aragorn wore Legolas' quiver. The three left the room, and headed to the dungeons to get the hobbits. There were no problems removing the hobbits from there, and they soon moved off to the storage room. Boromir went in with a flint, and came out with a smirk on his face. "If this doesn't get their attention, nothing will," he commented. They went to the kitchen to retrieve the food, and then moved out to the stables.
When they got there, Legolas' face registered a cross between happiness and anger. "Arod!" he called, dashing over to a riding ring where a light grey horse was being abused for disobeying.
Boromir ran after Legolas and grabbed his arms. "What are you doing?" he hissed into the Elf's ear. "I told you not to run off!" he said loud enough for the stable hands to hear.
Remembering his role, Legolas bowed his head. "I am sorry, master, but that was my horse, before you captured me. He should not be beaten for not wanting a saddle or reins, for he was never raised to wear them," he explained.
Boromir thought for a moment, and then called to the trainer trying to keep the horse from rearing, "Hey you! Are you so incompetent that you can't keep a simple horse quiet?"
The trainer, Stephan, looked over at Boromir, trying to hide the anger in his eyes. "I am sorry, highness, but this one just does not want to be restrained," he replied.
Boromir smirked. "Oh really? I dare say that my slave could calm that horse without a whip," he challenged haughtily.
Stephan stood up to his full height. "I'm willing to watch him try," he called back. Boromir released Legolas' arms and Legolas jumped into the riding ring. The Elf quickly placed himself in front of Arod and murmured gently in Elvish, and the effects were immediate. Arod stopped rearing and came up to Legolas, nuzzling the Elf's hand as if looking for a treat. After a few quick pats and a brisk check for injuries, Legolas mounted the horse and walked it around the ring a few times. Stopping next to Stephan, he dismounted while commenting, "You could try being kind to the horses. They respond better that way." With that, he walked back to where Boromir was standing and exited the ring. "I'm sorry, I just couldn't watch Arod being treated like that," he said apologetically.
Stephan walked over to where Boromir was standing. "What is it that the Prince needs today?" he asked calmly.
"I need three horses and four ponies," Boromir replied. "How soon can you have them ready?" he asked.
Stephan shook his head. "We've only got two ponies, Highness. We only ever keep two in the stables," he commented. "But they're strong ponies. If you can make do with two, I can have you ready as soon as the horses are chosen and have their gear put on," he added.
Boromir furrowed his brow slightly. 'If the hobbits ride double, then it should be no problem,' he mused. "That will be fine," he replied. "I will ride my usual mount. Strider, pick a horse from the stable," he ordered. Legolas looked wistfully at Arod, a movement that Boromir picked up readily. "Little Elf, would like that one?" he asked, pointing to Arod.
Legolas' eyes lit up at the prospect, but he remembered that he was supposed to be a slave. "Yes, master, I would," he said quietly.
Stephen groaned. "Highness, we haven't managed to put a saddle or reins on that one yet. It is said that this particular one had an Elf for a rider, and we all know that Elf-trained animals are hard to tame," he explained carefully.
Boromir glared at Stephan for a moment before pulling the hair away from one of Legolas' ears. "He is an Elf, you fool! Not only will this save you the trouble of training it, but also it will allow him to think that he is useful. Do you understand that?" he asked in a low tone.
Stephan gulped and nodded. At that moment the two ponies as well as the two other horses were brought out. Legolas and Strider helped the hobbits mount the ponies, Sam and Frodo on one, Merry and Pippin on the other, before Strider mounted his own. "What are the names of these mounts?" he asked Stephan, stroking his horse's neck.
"The horse is named Hasufel. The ponies are known as Bill and Jim," he replied. "Highness, should I go get the other horse from the training ring?" he asked, looking nervously at the horse.
He had every right to be nervous. The moment Arod noted that the cruel trainer was looking at him, he snapped his teeth while glaring straight at the frightened Man. "No, perhaps his rider should," Boromir replied. Legolas jumped back into the ring, mounted Arod, and had Arod jump the fence surrounding the ring. Boromir mounted his horse, Brégo. He walked his horse beside Legolas' and procured a piece of rope. "I would have just held your reins, but since you have none, I shall have to tie you to me," he commented, tying the rope around his waist, and then around Legolas'.
Legolas didn't seem to like the idea of being tied to Boromir, but dealt with it calmly. They started the horses at a brisk walk and began to leave Minas Tirith. Boromir looked back wistfully at the city as they left the last circle. "It will never be the same again," he lamented quietly.
Legolas looked over at him, astonished by Boromir's sentimentality. "What do you mean by that? If you refer to the distraction, your home can be rebuilt," he added.
The Man shook his head. "But I grew up there. I knew every stone in that hall, every crack and crevice on the walls. And it's not just that, Legolas. Before, I thought that I was a Prince, destined to rule Gondor one day; I now know that my family and I are the result of one Steward's greed. Never will I look upon the throne room, rebuilt or not, the same way. Everything has changed," he explained, looking forward once more. After a moments thought, he reached over towards Legolas.
Legolas felt the Man's hands on hi waist, but could not see what they were doing. "What are you doing?" he asked.
Instead of a verbal answer, Boromir held up the rope that had previously been tied to the Elf. "I didn't think you would mind me untying you," he said simply as he coiled the rope up again.
A little ways ahead, Aragorn was keeping a close eye on the Hobbits. Sam had made Frodo sit in front of him, just to be certain that his friend wouldn't fall off. Merry was chattering happily with a very enthusiastic Pippin. "Merry, am I going to see the stars tonight?" he asked happily. "I can't remember the stars, and I really want to see them," he added, looking over at Frodo and smiling.
"If it is not cloudy, you shall see the stars," Merry affirmed. "And even if it is cloudy, you'll get to hear all of the night noises that nature makes," he continued.
Aragorn rode up beside Merry and Pippin's pony and said, "If it would please you, Pippin, I could show you some of the constellations," he offered with a grin.
Pippin's eyes widened to the size of saucers. "Really?" he exclaimed. "I would love that!" he cried. Aragorn reached out and ruffled his hair in a friendly gesture before turning his attention to his surroundings.
No one looked back as an explosion rocked the palace, although Boromir did sigh. "Well, I guess the plan worked," he murmured quietly to himself.
And so the group left the city, heading into the unknown, in high spirits. For none of them could tell just how long and perilous this journey would be, or what price the completion of it would be.