Under the Morning Moon
Chapter Three
Recovery, of sorts
***
Author's Notes: I found a time-gap to write this in from my studying. I hope you enjoy it as much as I actually did enjoy writing it. I think this chapter is pretty horrible, just the normal dull my-life-sucks-introspection bollocks…I'm going to write another one soon, adding some action, but I cut this one short when I realized how long I was taking to write it…Sorry! Don't flame….pleeeease.
***
Sleep was dark, and hideous, a gaping mouth filled with shadowy hands that grasped at a torn figure. Sleep was an infinite darkness in which a broken creature, unbleeding but clearly scathed, was suspended, as if undecided about whether to fall. Then, suddenly, the obscure touches from the dark turned into grabs, forcefully tossing Legolas' dream form about. Quivering, he lay suspended on an invisible platform, before, suddenly, falling…
Legolas shot bolt upright, his slight form surprisingly doused in perspiration, letting out a strangled cry into his hands. His bedroll clumped around his waist, he became aware once again of his surroundings. Slowly, cobalt eyes gleaming against the pressing dark, he looked about, unable to suppress the fear radiating from his pupils.
Unfortunately for the elf, the wary Aragorn was on watch. His head snapped towards the sleeping group, immediately plucking the somewhat sodden form of the blonde from the silhouettes. He rose without distressing the pebbles below, and knelt beside his friend.
The elf scooted away, hooding his eyes threateningly. Though fuming at having allowed himself to cause such a stress, and to still be quivering at the childish nightmare, he bared his teeth in an awkwardly feral way towards the man. His eyes were sharp, quite unlike the ordinary gentle that surrounded the elf's visage, and his voice contained a sharp malice that Aragorn hadn't before witnessed.
"Kela, Aragorn!" [Go away, Aragorn!] He hissed loudly, shifting backwards away from the outstretched hand of his friend. Aragorn nearly recoiled in horror at the satanic voice issued from such innocent lips, but instead leaned close, whispering frantically.
"Ed' i'ear ar' elenea, Legolas! Dina!" [By the sea and the stars, Legolas! Be quiet!] Legolas answered by widening his eyes, drawn from the trance of fear that had previously overtaken his judgment. He glanced fearfully around, eyes worried.
"Amin hiraetha, mellonamin…" [I'm sorry, my friend] Legolas replied quickly. He allowed his gaze to fall towards the ground. His hands shook violently, and he clasped them tightly together, biting harshly onto his lip. Aragorn glanced around, making sure each figure of the fellowship was sound, sleeping, before rolling a hand onto Legolas' shoulder.
"Do not fret. But please, don't deceive me, Legolas. You are unwell, it is obvious." Legolas nodded slowly, and touched his fingertips against his surprisingly gaunt cheeks. He barely recognized the sallow feeling of his face against his trembling fingers, and found tears in his eyes.
He felt like scolding himself, like slapping his face or twisting his wrist until the childish emotions went away. But for a terrifying moment, the bleak world was nothing, and Aragorn's face was blotted into oblivion. Legolas' reeled, crumpling forward.
Aragorn caught the slender elf by the shoulders, shocked at the form that now lay limply in his hands. Aragorn flipped the weightless lad so that he lay over a supportive arm, and traced his palm across the creature's face. The warm pallor of Legolas' face had been replaced by an almost bone white, his cheek sallow and hued with green. His eyes gleamed with something almost like the mortal fever, dangerously mad.
Legolas weakly let a hand touch Aragorn's cheek, desperately struggling to sit up. His fevered, frightened eyes searched for solace in the chocolate orbs on Aragorn's face. "Who am I, Aragorn?" Legolas breathed, his vision wiped away, only dimly aware of the arms that held him and the sleeping figures all around.
"You are Legolas, mellonamin," Aragorn replied, keeping the quiver from his voice. "And we need you now," he almost pleaded. Legolas nodded silently. Everything was still out of focus, and surreal, nothing quite existing through the eyes of the elf, but in his mind it was clear-Legolas couldn't let himself drift away like this again. He needed to keep Frodo safe.
Legolas slumped backwards into his bedroll, staring dazedly at the ceiling. He still couldn't hear life, and felt no warmth in the cold of the mines. And he still could feel the fresh memories of his long ago in Thranduil's home. But he wouldn't let himself go, not when Lothlorien was barely two days away.
~*~
When Gandalf finally remembered the way, Legolas was among the first to spring towards the stairwell, anxious to continue. They had wasted precious hours lingering on the plateau, smoking in unwavering silence.
"Ah! It's that way!" Gandalf had said, and immediately the three heads of the elf, the Steward's son and the son of Arathorn turned simultaneously to the voice. Merry leapt up, having been bored preciously near to tears, and irritated with Pippin's constant prodding.
"He's remembered!" remarked the hobbit wistfully.
The Pilgrim shook his head, and laughed slightly despite his tense mood. "No-the air smells a lot less foul down there. When in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose," the Wizard joked. Kindly, he laid a hand on Merry's shoulder, guiding him down the stairs.
If only, Legolas thought wryly, but offered no indication to such a thought. Instead, he blankly turned towards the stairs, and followed Aragorn down.
***
Legolas expertly flicked one of his many Mirkwood arrows through slender fingers, notching the arrow. He aimed, eyes narrowed, waiting tensely for the precise moment where the ax would draw back…His arrow glanced soundlessly through the air, issuing a strangled squeal as it pierced the throat of an approaching Orc through an uneven hole in the door.
He loaded his bow again, waiting. Here, caught up in battle, Aragorn's bow singing alongside, Legolas near forgot all his ailments. This was too intense a threat to release on the haflings should any of his arrows fall short.
With a splintered groan, the door fell forth. A torrent of orcs, moving as one animate object as they surged through the gaping arch, screamed and raised their manufactured blades towards the fellowship. Trusting his instincts, the elf didn't bother to aim, swiftly releasing another arrow, promptly felling another beast.
The elf dodged aside from the Cave Troll, angling his bow upwards, and immediately striking the creature in the heart. Little effect, the elf thought angrily. He pranced aside, reaching to grab one of his shortknives. Aragorn shifted aside, vaguely murmuring "Quel marth, mellon!" [Good luck, friend] towards the elf, twisting away from another blow.
In the distance, Sam twisted, his pot clanging violently against the faces of his foes. Legolas tilted his head, narrowly avoiding a blow. "I'narr en gothrim glinuva nuin I'anor!" screamed Legolas viciously. Rapidly, he scaled an unkempt stairway, firing arrows towards the opponents below.
***
You could see it in his eyes; there was nothing uncertain about them. Though, sure, they still harbored an almost childlike innocence that Aragorn was still amazed by, they were grave, and perilous. Lacking the placid emotions of his culture, the Prince maliciously slammed the heel of his foot into the chest of his fallen foe, hastily jerking one of his spent arrows from a gaping wound. There was no uncertainty in the way he fought, only unleashed determination.
Aragorn ducked, quickly turning on heel to shove his Narsil into the gut of an orc behind. Somewhere close, Legolas' bow sang coldly, followed immediately by the shrill dying cry of an enemy. Lithe as usual, the unscathed elf notched another arrow, watching the Cave Troll now, waiting for the ugly creature to rear back his head, screaming, before promptly felling it with an arrow lodged in the throat.
"No," Aragorn allowed himself to breathlessly gasp, falling towards Frodo automatically. He swept the weightless hobbit upwards, his brain not even offering the thought that, perhaps, the innocent ringbearer might still be alive.
"He's alive," Sam realised hoarsely, taut as if ready to pounce Frodo, embrace his best friend, but clearly restraining himself for courtesy's sake.
Aragorn didn't even hear himself as he continued to speak, afraid of dropping the hafling's shoulder from his protective palm, relief spreading through his form like some liquid added to his blood stream-a type of warmth Aragorn rarely felt.
Frodo imperceptibly nodded his assent, grappling to untie his tunic. Shimmering in a breathtakingly etheral way beneath the no-longer-prim Shire garb there gleamed a magnificent vest of mithril links, the collar embossed with gold. "I'm all right," Frodo breathed. "I'm not hurt,"
Legolas beamed, tight-lipped and wild-looking compared to his normal state. He gently smoothed back his frayed hair with a hand, before letting it fall slack to his hand, still holding his bow in his hand. Suddenly, with vacant shock, the elf tilted his head, looking down at his palms, and marveled to find that, for once in the darkness and gloom that not long ago had seemed so overwhelming, his hands were sturdy, strong, and unshaking.
****
A/N: Sorry about that, I think that chapter was pretty crappy…As soon as I can get this lot out of the War of the Rings I can stop having to rake my brain for the lines-which I can recite while watching the film, but otherwise have a hard time remembering. I know that this last section of the story wasn't movie-loyal, but if you could find it in your hearts to pretend it was? LOL =^^= Sorry to all the movie-freaks, I know I'd spazzzz out after reading this chapter, and you're perfectly welcome to, I feel that awful ROFL.
And sorry for having such a delay in this update; I had the third chapter mostly written on Thursday, but didn't get the chance to upload…I hope that none of you were so angry that you deleted my story from all your to-read lists and sent me flaming letters or something…that'd be rather unpleasant. But I guess I had it coming *guilty smile*
I have a movie recommendation! For all of you Elrond/Agent Smith fans, check out "Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert." Fab fab FAB film, bloody hilarious, we get to see what Elrond did on his 'off' days, or at least I like to think of it like that.
In response to your reviews:
Anduin: Tee-hee…I guess the third chapter sort of did, too. Hope it wasn't too horribly boring…Thanks for your review, and I hope the next chapter isn't such crap *guilty little laugh* XD
Legolas' Lover: LOL I'd let you come help out your hot-(godlike)-elfness, but…At leas for now…He's MINE! *strokes action figure possessively* BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Erm…*cough* Yes…Thanks so much for your review! LOL! Legolas!
Reginabean: You know what's good? Coffee. WheeeeeeeeeeeeAAAAA!!!! LOL Sorry to have kept you up, and I indeed don't hold the coffee against you as I found your review flattering and not at all odd-well, maybe a bit, but in a *GOOD* way LOL =^^=
Kasandra: LOL Sorry to have kept you waiting for the sequel/this chapter, and I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks =^^=
Shauna: LOL I did write more…I sort of had a vague hint in this chapter about all of his *issues* Hope you liked this chapter despite…everything that made it horrible ROFL. Enjoy the upcoming ones!
Tithen Min: Tee-hee! *blushes* Glad my return is at least not condemned…that would be too flamey for my tastes. I can't believe it! No exclamation points! I'll just have to make up for it myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! …Tee-hee, coffee.
Celestra: Augh, but this one wasn't out very fast, was it now? Sigh. Glad my chapter was spiffy! I've never gotten that one before LOL I had a hamster named Spiffy…Gave him to my friend, and my friend's brother micro-waved him. Story of my life ROFL LEGOLAS PLUSHIE! MUST FINISH SHRINE! *explodes* =^^=
Elentari Manwe: Sorry about the OOC Aragorn/Legolas stuff… Don't think it particularly improved in this chapter, but I WILL Try. I will! LOL! Mmm…Orlando Bloom…All of his movies except for Pirates of the Caribbean that are coming out/he has been in (except for Calcium Kid, I think LOL) have been based on books! Just shows how smart-like he is! ROFL now that that bit of stalker information is over…THANKS!!!! For your brilliant review =^^= Made me smile like that without the whiskers.
Evil Spapple Pie: Used a bit less crazy talk in this chapter, I reckon. I tried hard. LOL Legolas does seem distant…sexily distant…*muses* *coughs* I mean…Yes, I have reasons for that in upcoming chapters! I swear, I *DO* LOL Same with the stars, it's the reason I love camping. It's just more reassuring to have the stars and the trees everywhere to keep you safe…but then the ice weasels come……
Mouse: *blushes* Aww…thanks. I'm glad that this isn't turning out to be a slash too ROFL Umm…to get me to update again…Well just send 35$ preferably American (worth more) or 35 Quid (Worth exceptionally more) to the c/o…No mate, I kid LOL Your reviews make it worth-while J
Ithildin: Well…if you wrote that review like naught seconds ago I guess this update would be right now, but considering I got your review on what…the eighteenth? The twentieth? I guess I'm a bit behind…SORRY L LOL But thanks for reading the other two chapters.
Bobo: ROFL I watched all the DVD things, very crude, but there was all that stuff in the trailer that wasn't in the film! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO *breathes* OOOOOOOH! I can't WAIT till November to see all the deleted scenes and comentary! But I guess I have to L Thanks for your review, hope you got good grades on your homework LOL
ElvenBabyEvenstar: Though I am still miffed by the whole mountain-dwelling junk, I think I can incorperate in to the story. Thanks for clarifying that. I've yet to read Unfinished Tales and the Silmarilian, but once I do I ASSURE you all no more of this continuity mistakes will exist. Well, at least less of them. Well at least less frequently. Blah…No promises, sorry ROFL Waiting anxiously still for bribe-fic, and I bet it'll be brilliant, no matter how long it takes =^^=