Chapter 10
Methlea
Legolas and Gimli, using Elven rope, tied the bow of the ship to a strong
tree. Gimli gathered wood for a small camp-fire, but Legolas searched the
ground.
"What are you looking for?" Gimli hollered from their camping spot.
"Water!" answered Legolas. Gimli looked confused, and looked all around
him. They were on a small island, and water was all around, the sea on one
side, the Anduin on the other. He didn't get it. Legolas searched the map
which Mithrandir gave him, but it did not show this island, only inside the
realm of Methlea. Then, he spotted with his keen elf eyes a rabbit a few
feet away. He shot it swiftly with his bow, and the moon rose just as he
was walking over to it. Gimli saw him walking, and hollered: "Legolas watch
out!" but Legolas did not see the small pool of water, or pay heed at first
to Gimli's warning. He fell in and could not get himself back out. It
looked much like a mere puddle, but it was deep as the sea itself. Legolas
swallowed a lot of water, and struggled to swim, as he knew he could, but
the water was pulling him in. His head fell under the surface of the water,
and Gimli cried with astonishment, for he knew Legolas could swim, but he
could be seen no more.
***
Legolas swung his arms, and kicked his legs, and struggled to breathe, but
the water and darkness closed in all around. He gave one last struggle,
and, to his surprise, his head broke through the surface, and he took a
huge breath, relieve at being alright. But he was not back on the small
island of Tolfalas. He saw mountains, lots of mountains. He swam to the
edge of the pool, and climbed out. He looked around fearfully. Then he
heard shouting, and the sounds of a large group crashing through the trees.
He saw before him Elves, of his own race, but they had green and red war
stripes painted on their faces. They had bows in hand, and were aiming at
him. Legolas reached for an arrow, but his quiver was empty; the arrows had
fallen into the pool. Legolas raised his arms in surrender. But as they
were chining his wrists, he grabbed for his knife, and threatened them with
death, and gave it to many. He fought for some time, but they did not seem
to die. When Legolas had started to loss hope, a battle cry came from the
foot of the nearest mountain. They all turned and looked at the form of the
man running toward them. He did not stop to fight, for he thought it quite
pointless to try and kill the dead, and bashed through them. The elves were
quite surprised, and the man just ran through, grabbed Legolas's hand, and
pulled him away. When the elves had saw that they were getting away, they
ran after, but stopped at the edge of the mountains. They would not cross
this way, and it was too far to the next crossing. Legolas and the
mysterious man climbed the mountain till safe out of reach, and did not
stop to talk or rest till they were out of sight of the evil elves.
When they did stop, the first thing Legolas did was give thanks to the
man, but had to ask then afterward who the man was. He lifted his hood, and
Legolas saw the pin of Lothlorien on his chest. He bore a shield of Gondor.
It was Boromir. And Legolas was in Methlea.
***
Legolas had many questions he wished to ask, but Boromir asked his
questions first. "Why are you here? Are you one of us, one of the dead?" He
asked.
"No, I am here to rescue a friend of mine." answered Legolas.
"I am sorry Legolas, I am content here. I do not wish to be rescued." he
said, giving him a sly smile.
"Actually, it is not you at all. It is a very close friend of mine." said
Legolas, starting to blush at Boromir devious smile.
"What is her name, perchance? I might know her." said Boromir.
"Well, she's new around here, I think.her name is Madai, she has red hair,
grey eyes, and she is supposed to be in Calea. Can you help me?" he asked.
"Well, seeing as she's in Calea, and you have only seventy-one hours left,
it will be hard. It is across the Jorkele Sea, you know. I believe I know
who she is. But we must get a ride from Winthor, at Mount Winthor, there on
your map. And we must be hasty. But you must not be scared of the Elseves,
or they will take you. It would slow us down." Boromir warned.
"The horses of Rohan couldn't stop me." said Legolas, and they went flying
down the side of the mountain. The Elseves did not see them; they were much
too occupied fishing arrows out of the pool, and Legolas and Boromir saw
before them a large river, which they had to suddenly stop for.
"The Mitrim River. One of the two rivers in Methlea, both as wide as the
mountains of Asterdoff. We cannot cross this way, but along the river that
way," Boromir pointed south, "is what us around here call a cutneck. In
this little island is a city, called Motrean. They have horses for us, and
we can cross by their ferry." explained Boromir. To Legolas this was
sounding like the only way to Calea was to go further away from it.
But Legolas knew he could not waste time, for seventy-two hours was not
enough time to get Madai and get out of Methlea, otherwise, he would become
one of the dead. And poor Gimli.Legolas shuddered at what his friend would
be going through right now. What if by chance he threw himself in after
Legolas, and is with the Elseves at this very moment. Legolas turned back
to look, but even his eyes could not longer see the pool. They had reached
Cutneck Ferry. They quickly jumped it, and rowed across. After they
crossed, they saw several wild horses in the valley outside the city.
Legolas did not want to waste time asking for them, so risking himself, he
hopped on a white mare, who looked much like Arod. Boromir chose a chestnut
stallion like those of Gondor.
They crossed the river on the other side, and ran at break-neck speed, to
the forest of Asheor.
