Ok, thanks to a wonderful book that I was given by a dear friend (The
Tolkien Companion by J.E.A. Tyler, published in 1976) I have discovered
that the people to inhabit the Blue Mountains were a bunch of Dwarves, but,
for the story purpose, I am going to overlook that and make up my own
thing! Lol.
Oh, and I was so happy, I had this whole course planned out for them to travel and I was going to take them by Lake Evendim (North-West of the Shire) and I was going to make it pretty and all, but then I was given this book, and it has a whole passage on it, who used to live there and the fallen city. And then, the best thing is that it then ties in with the Fourth Age, as, it says that Aragorn went out of his way to restore the beauty of Evendim and for the rest you will have to read on.
Also, again I remind you that it is not slash, I was just having a strange day and a few of the things turned out kinda cute...oh, and as pointless as the water scenes seems to be, it actually has a REAL purpose later on in the story. HINT: pay attention to detail in this chapter, especially near the end as it ties in with the very last chapter.
More ravings at the bottom...
Oh, I relented - I allowed Legolas to glow...
*****
The Eaters of the Dead
Chapter Six
Lake Twilight and the Tower of the Sunset.
*****
All eyes looked to Legolas, a feeling that the prince, while used to it, was utterly uncomfortable with. Sighing, he looked out over the lands that stretched before them, trying to work out the best path that they should take to reach their destination near the Bay of Forochel. As he should, Elrond had warned them of the dangers of the road that morning, telling them to keep away from as many human cities as possible along the way - especially Bree. Looking straight to the west and towards the location of the aforementioned town, Legolas knew that that path was then officially canceled, meaning that they could take the Old South Road and detour right around the human inhabited place...or they could head north-west and through the forsaken lands of Arnor, which was a much quicker route.
Looking at the Elves behind him and the human that sat upon his mount on his right, Legolas bit his bottom lip in concentration. He did not want to take the wrong road and make their journey any more perilous then what it already was.
He could feel Dúelen's eyes drilling holes in his back from the back of the company; Legolas took a deep breath and made up his mind.
"We shall travel North-West and approach the town directly," He only hoped that his voice held the confidence that he seemed to be lacking. He had been in many a battle, seen and lived through countless wars with the evils of his homeland, but, in experience, he was a diplomat. He was not taught to lead, be it an army or a small company. He had been taught to talk, to twist others to his will and to be able to discover anything about anyone. He had to make choices daily, had to chose the best way to approach a topic or, even in battle, a strategy, but it was always another giving the commands. Even if he had conspired them it was never he that told the soldiers of the way in which they would fight and, for some, die.
A scoff came from the back of the line, and -- before he even looked -- Legolas knew who it was.
"You plan to lead us to Fornost Erain?" Dúelen asked incredulously, while looking from Elf to Elf. Neither looked too impressed about the idea, but the Mirkwood Elf could not decide whether it was their path or his outburst that had deterred their spirits and put frowns upon their faces.
Fornost Erain was once the last fortress that stood against the Witch-King of Angmar and the stronghold of the Dúnedain in the North during the war that they waged with the dark presence in their land. Although the Witch- king was defeated by an army of the Dúnedain, Rivendell Elves and Men of Gondor, the old tower had never been re-established, thus reaming to become the desolate ruins that men now called 'Deadman's Dike.'
"If that is the way the prince says we go," Erestor cut in before Dúelen could continue with his protests, "then that is the way that we shall go."
"Well," Dúelen cried while looking around at the others, "I will not stay a single night at Deadman's Dike!"
Rolling his eyes, Legolas looked back at the Elf with an agitated pout.
"No one will be. We shall make camp in the Weather Hills and bypass it by day. Now, are there any more complaints or questions, or can we be on our way before we lose this early start?" Raising an eyebrow in emphases his question, Legolas looked from face to face, seeing nothing but trust in each (save for the few in the back: Dúelen and Rastur). "Good!" he exclaimed, while turning in his saddle and letting a soft whispered word pass between him and his horse.
As the company officially departed the borders of Rivendell, setting out on the journey to what may prove their end, Estel could not help but lean over to the blond Elf beside him.
"Deadman's Dike?" he asked with a gulp. As Legolas made to answer, his face glum, Estel once again spoke, "or is it one of the things that I should remain in blissful ignorance about?"
Laughing softly, Legolas gave him a wink and nodded his head, "Yes, Estel, you should add it to your ever growing list of topics that you are unknowing of."
Swatting playfully at the prince's head, Legolas only just managed to duck in time, avoiding the blow that would have, even though it had been in a lighthearted way, had enough force to cause a bruise. As the prince easily dodged the attack, all Estel's efforts brought him was the sound of Gilnen clearing his throat and shooting him a warning look. Apparently the Elf had decided to take it upon himself to protect his friend and prince, even if it was from Estel.
"Watch it," Gilnen mouthed over the prince's shoulder to the human before the Elf finally turned his gaze away.
Muttering a quiet "Sorry," Estel put his head down and looked to the ground. Feeling the slightest forms of rage build up inside of him, the human resolved to make a point of avoiding them for the rest of the day - especially Gilnen. He was one of them now, not some human who needed to be swatted away from the prince for safety purposes.
With that in mind, he continued to stare at the ground, his face set into a concentrated scowl and unknowing of the confused look that Legolas was sending him.
*****
"Oh come on, Estel, how long are you going to keep this up?" Legolas asked from the dark, causing Estel to jump.
The day had passed uneventfully as they made their way quickly along the path through the Trollshaws. Now that night had settled in, the Elves had pitched camp a little way off the road on the west side of the Last Bridge. All day Estel had kept up his vow of silence, knowing that it drove the prince insane with wonder. Legolas could not see why the human was not talking to him, and being the fact that even to Aragorn there was not real reason, it made the Elf's confusion all the more great and, as the human had seen, his annoyance even greater.
Once they had set up camp, Estel had wandered off on his own to fill up a number of the water skins in the Hoarwell River. Legolas, seeing the human go off alone and thinking that it would be the best time to gain the answers to what he sought, followed him.
"Keep what up?" the Man asked, while glancing quickly up to Legolas as the Elf almost stamped his foot in frustration. The Elf looked so young compared to the others, and, here under the moonlight with such a look etched upon his face, he appeared even younger...even younger looking than Estel.
"'What up?'" Legolas mocked in his deepest voice, trying to get the human to laugh, "You have been avoiding me all day! You have not said 'boo' to me or anyone and yet I can not think of what I could have possibly done to upset you so. Now speak!"
"I have not been avoiding you," he stated courtly and concisely.
Huffing slightly and moving towards the Man that was crouched by the riverbank, Legolas watched as the bubbles of air forced their way out of the bottles as they were submerged into the running stream. Seeing that the human was observing the same thing, he moved a little closer, and, dipping his hand into the cool water, splashed a generous amount up into the human's face.
Laughing at the look of pure shock that was on Estel's face, Legolas reached down to splash him again, determined to catch his attention. Though what Legolas did not expect was for Estel to catch him.
Seeing the Elf move, Estel hid his smile and, before Legolas had the time or misgiving to suspect anything, grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him off balance. Toppling over, and not quite grasping what was happening, Legolas let his arms lock around Estel's as he was thrown completely off guard and rather unceremoniously into the river.
Gripping the human tighter to him as he plunged into the stream, Legolas felt a rather heavy weight land on top of him, pushing his head under the cool water as the Man fell in.
Kicking under the water, Legolas swam out from underneath the human who, after realizing that he had fallen in on his Elven friend, was searching everywhere for him, worry in his eyes and voice. Surfacing, Legolas gasped in another silent breath and ducked under the water again, holding onto a rock at the bottom of the river to stop himself from floating up.
"Legolas?" Estel called, turning this way and that, his eyes trying to see through the rather deep water. Diving under, he allowed his hands to search out in front of him, hoping the grasp a lock of golden hair or an arm of his supposedly drowning friend.
Feeling his lungs screaming for air, he surfaced and called out for his friend again, still receiving no answer. Blind terror gripped at his heart as he mentally counted the seconds that Legolas had been under for, knowing that in all rightness he should be unconscious by now and that that would mean that he would be sinking.
"Legolas?" he called out again before submerging himself back into the cool water. Kicking down deeper, he forced himself to keep his eyes open, looking for any glint of golden hair in the murky depths of the river. He mentally thanked the Valar for the fact that, at this particular spot, the river had little to no current, thus giving him the glimmer of hope in knowing that his friend could not have drifted far.
Breaking through the surface and taking yet another deep breath, Estel felt the already present pounding at his temples from being so deep in the water and yet, pushing his discomfort aside, he vowed to keep searching till he found his friend, for the best or worst.
"Legol-" he was suddenly cut off when a great wave of water hit him from behind. Whirling around, the movement of his feet and hands the only things keeping him upright and afloat, he saw the golden Elf doing the same, a smile on his face and his tongue poking out.
Letting his heart slow down, Estel merely glared at the Elf while swimming towards him. "Never," he said, while grabbing the Elf's shoulders, "ever do that again!" Giving the Elf a small shake, he tried to rattle the smile off Legolas' face, but it seemed almost impossible.
"Oh, Estel," Legolas asked dramatically, "do not tell me that you were worried!"
"Of course I was worried, Legolas!" Estel said again, adding a few more shakes to emphasize his words. "I could not see you - I thought I had.that you had-"
"Estel!" Legolas said, trying to cut into the human's random ravings but with no success. "Estel." Once again his words were drowned out in the sea of baffled and unfinished sentences that Estel was randomly spitting out. Seeing no other option, Legolas just raised his hand and slapped the human upside the head. "ESTEL!"
"What?" the human looked stunned, holding his face and yet not really aware that the flesh was stinging.
"Calm down. I am fine. We Elves can hold our breaths for a great deal of time - there is nothing to worry about. Besides," he added with a sly smile, having seen that the human was once again in control of himself, "I thought you were not talking to me anyway!"
Pulling the Elf into a friendly hug, the human smoothed down a few strands of wayward golden hair before letting the prince go. "Of course I am - I just.was not at the time."
"And why would that be?" Legolas asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I just..." Estel started, building up the courage to make his complaint, "I do not like being treated like the enemy - as if I am going to hurt you and that I need constant watching from Gilnen."
"So that is it," Legolas stated, while swimming towards the bank, and hauling himself out and onto the grass in a dripping heap. Reaching down, he offered Estel a hand up, who gratefully took it. Before long, both were sprawled out on the grass, with Estel shivering slightly from the cool night. Glancing over at the human, Legolas saw the shivers that he was trying to hide and, boasting himself to his feet, he reached down and pulled Estel up as well. "Come on, let us get you into some warm clothes. And do not worry about Gilnen; he knows that you would never hurt me - it is just his way. Too many years of being in the same forest as Culdôr and me, I think."
*****
"What in the Valar's name happened to you two?" both Elladan and Elrohir asked at the same time. Frowning at each other, they took a step forward with their right foot only to stop, having seen that the other had done the same.
"Stop it," Elrohir exclaimed.
"Get out of my head and thoughts and I will," Elladan countered.
"Get out of my head first and you have a deal!"
"Fine."
"Good."
"Now what happened to you two?" Elladan asked after turning his attention back to Legolas and Estel.
"Hey, I was going to ask that!" Elrohir complained and when the two new arrivals cast a quick look to Gilnen, the other Elf just smiled.
"They have been doing this for ages," Nimneldor said with his own smile.
The camp was well set up, a small fire flickering in the centre with a roughly made cooking stand erected about it. Someone had obviously caught a number of small woodland birds while Legolas and Estel were 'filling the water bottles,' for a number of them were skewered neck to legs along a straight stick and were toasting over the dancing flames. The horses were tethered over near the edge of the small clearing, their heads down as they ate the lush green grass that lined the outer road. Bedrolls had been untied and lain out in a circle around the fire, with one in particular being closer then the others. Looking at it in the firelight, Legolas saw that it was Estel's.
Erthalion was sitting at the far end, a whetting stone in his hands as he concentrated on sharpening his two cutlasses, one of them balanced between his knees as he stroked the fine blade. The brothers Fëandil and Findûr were talking quietly in the background, Findûr obviously giving a few pointers to his brother in order to improve his defense. Arlhach, the Guard of Rivendell, seemed to be in charge of the food. As Legolas watched, he pulled out a small pot and filled it with ale before putting it near the fire to slowly heat. Rastur and Dúelen, by far the most interesting of the lost, were sitting at opposite sides of the camp, clearly glaring each other down as if they had an old feud that they had yet to settle. Erestor and Galdor were sitting next to Gilnen, swapping news of the world and their respective homes while Nimneldor seemed happy to just watch the twins argue about whom was invading whose head.
"What happened?" Elladan once again demanded, while both he and Elrohir reached down to retrieve blankets. Refraining from accusing the other of copying, they merely glared at each other as they (in perfect synchronization) wrapped the human and Elf in the warm, wooly cloths. Glaring at each other again, they shook their heads; glad that they were not always like this. As much as it seemed to amuse everyone else, it annoyed the hell out of them.
"Estel is what happened," Legolas said with a large smile aimed at the human.
"Hey, you splashed me first!" Estel protested up in his own defense, "It was not my fault you fell in!"
"You fell in?" Erestor laughed while casting the wet Elf a comical look. Glancing around, it seemed as if all eyes were locked onto Legolas, their corresponding faces all trying to hide the amusement that they found in the human's statement.
"He pushed me!" Legolas shrieked while pointing at Estel through the blanket.
"Did not!" Estel said as all eyes were back on him. Needless to say that his smile quickly fleeted.
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Oh, enough already!" Arlhach said from over near the fire. "Both of you come over here and have some of this - it will warm you up nicely."
Bowing their heads as if they had been scolded by a father figure, they moved over to the smiling guard and took the offered cups of warmed ale. As soon as the strong liquid slipped down their throats, both seemed to immediately feel better. As the others moved in to get the evening meal that Arlhach was now serving, Legolas for once let his mind wander off the subject of what was to come once they reached the Bay.
*****
Days seemed to mingle into the nights, and then back into the days as the group of Elves and one human traveled across Middle-Earth. Estel found it hard to believe that it was actually their eighth day of traveling. Due to their great hurry, it was a common practice for them to stop early in the night and yet be up and moving once the moon was high in the sky, which allowed Estel, the only one who needed sleep, just enough to sustain his body. Even though the Elves insisted that they too needed the few hours of rest, Estel could not help but think that they only did it for him and that, to some degree, he was slowing them down. To his credit, he never once complained, just being glad that they actually gave him the time that they did.
There had been no more protests from Dúelen, just as there had been nothing to suspicious about Rastur and his actions towards the prince within the last few days. All in all, everything had been as if it were just a typical group of traveling friends that were off on a joyous sightseeing trip.
It was fast becoming colder as they entered the once evil overrun land of Arnor, where the strange chill still lingered in the air, day and night. Pulling his hood tighter over his head, Aragorn looked from Elf to Elf as they rode in an organized group. None of the Elves seemed to be cold or even heeding of the frozen chill that lingered in the air and, not for the first time, he envied the Elves for all that they held over the humans.
It was as if it were the touch of a cold evil that seemed to slice through his clothing and skin, chilling him to the very bones. He had heard rumors about this land, about the evil that had once lived there not that long ago and, during this journey, had picked up on more information concerning the area from the talk of the Elves.
On the distant horizon, Estel could just make out a large, crumbling tower piercing the sky, its roof all but destroyed. It seemed as if it would have once been a thing of great beauty, something built to protect and aid those in need. But now... now it seemed to be cloaked with the darkness that had once infested it, turning its past friendliness into an overbearing sense of malice and hate. Stretching out on either side of the shadow-darkened temple, the dim outline of a fortified wall could be seen, some patches dipping lower then the others -- an obvious sign of the hardships of time and desolation.
Shivering involuntary, he tightened his grip on the front of his cape, pulling the two sides in together, thus making it tighter fitting, in an attempt of keeping out the strange cold.
Behind him he could hear Elrohir muttering to himself, speaking softly in his native language about how this was an evil land. To his left, Elladan did the same, only with words of encouragement - to his mount or to himself was unknown. The rest and their actions were unknown to him due to their placing and the quietness of the muttered words, if there had in fact been any.
Legolas rode at the front of the line, Gilnen by his side, and both were ever watchful. Eyes would dart this way and that, heads move from right to left and hands ever twitching, always ready if they should have a need to grab at their swords.
Even though they traveled for a good five hours past the ruins before setting up and rough camp for the reminder of the night, all, even Estel, could still feel the lingering evil that seemed to taint the air. After only a few hours in which even the exhausted human could find no rest, they hastily made their way onwards, fearing to stay too near the overthrown fort for longer than need be.
*****
They rode along the eastern side of the Brandywine River for a good twenty miles, using the snaking path of water as a guide to the Lake of Evendim where Legolas had decided they would stay for the night, and maybe much of the next day. To Estel he kept saying that the horses needed rest, but the human, not as folly minded as most thought, knew better. Legolas was doing it for him; so that he could have at least one full night sleep before they came to whatever terror was to befall them when they got to this human civilization.
Though, through all this, Estel could not say that he was ungrateful. A number of times one of the other Elves had found him asleep in his saddle, his head lolled to the side and his eyes squeezed tightly closed against the sun. Never before had he ridden so far and with lacking so much in the way of necessary sleep and rest - his human body was not made for that.
So, when Legolas proclaimed that he could see the Lake from the front of the line, it was with a degree of renewed excitement that Estel sped his horse up just a little, so that he would be next to the prince's right side.
It had been two days since the fort faded even out of Elven sight and senses. But Estel could still feel the cold to the point that he had to admit that, as they came closer to the Ice Bay, it was quickly getting colder. He knew that Legolas and the twins were aware that he was cold. Often when he woke from the few hours of rest that he was granted, he would find an extra blanket spread over him, or one of the twins curled up next to him, trying to keep him warm with their own heat.
Feeling his eyes shut involuntarily yet again, Estel felt Legolas' hand wrap around his arm, the Elf keeping him from falling from the saddle. Trusting the Elf to do just that, Estel kept his eyes blissfully closed, feeling his body draw strength just from the form of rest. As the demanding tug of sleep tightened his grip about his mind, Estel could do naught to refuse it. His mind finally walked away from his body, and he fell to the left.
Knowing that his self-appointed charge was about to slip out of consciousness, Legolas sojourned both their horses, and, wrapping an arm around the young Man's waist, Legolas pulled him off his horse just as he fell. Positioning the human in front of him on the saddle, he felt Estel snuggle into him, seeking warmth and comfort. Tightening his hold on the man, he spurred his horse on faster. Whistling over his shoulder, he heard all the Elven horses speed up whether their rider had instructed them to or not and making sure that Estel's mount still followed them, the entire company picked up the pace into a quick canter.
*****
When Estel finally woke, he was rather shocked to find himself lying on a soft bed, with mounds of blankets wrapped around his body and keeping him warm. Looking up, he received a great look at a high, arched ceiling carved with veins and leaves and for a moment he thought that he was in fact back in his room at Rivendell. After looking at the design closer, however, he knew it to be different to the one at his home while appearing older and in a state of disrepair.
Propping himself up on his elbows, he saw that he was in a large room, bigger then any at the Last Homely House. The bed was large and spacious yet hardly seemed to take up a fraction of the room. It was so large that he could not see the end of the space through the darkness. Looking to the window, he saw two things: One was that it was now deep into the night, the moon high in the sky and shining like a silver medallion surrounded by a thousand twinkling, illuminated jewels. The second was another illuminated object, this time much closer then any stars.
Legolas was draped over an old padded chair, his golden head buried into the back and his feet dangling much like how Elrohir liked to sit or sleep. He was under the window, his eyes open and glowing slightly like his skin, a reaction to the dark, the moon, and the light of the stars that he was under. This strange glowing never ceased to amaze Estel, no matter how everyday it was for one of the fair folk. Legolas was defiantly no exception as he, strangely enough, seemed to glow even more then any other Elf Estel had ever seen. His eyes, so bright even in sleep, seemed to leave small spots of blue light against the cushioned chair and as the breeze trickled in through the window, it lifted up light strands of what appeared to be gold and allowed them to dance upon the air like fireflies near cool water.
Pulling the blankets off himself and placing his now bare feet to the floor, Estel almost instantaneously felt the cold air bite through his thin shirt and breeches. Grabbing the top blanket, he pulled it around his shoulders and stood, the length of the cover dragging behind him as he made his way over towards the window and his friend.
Looking down on the Elf that he had known for little over a fortnight, Estel felt his heart open up to the glowing being. He knew that he could trust Legolas, that the Elf would always try to be there for him - and, as his current position showed, Legolas had already proved this true. Observing the Elf in his sleep, the human vowed to do the same for the prince. He would be there if he ever needed him, keep him from harm and protect him from whatever may prove to be a threat.
Seeing the Elf shudder slightly as the wind picked up, Estel unwrapped the blanket from his shoulders and tucked it gently up around the prince's chin, jamming it into the chair to hold it in place. Though Legolas' eyes neither cleared nor moved, Estel heard a small whimper as the bond pushed himself further into the chair, his slim right hand wrapped around the blanket and pulling it closer.
Hugging his arms to himself, the human moved around the chair and peered out of the window. Not much could be seen of the surroundings in the darkness of the night, but he could make out a reflection of the moon on what was obviously the lake. To him, it seemed as if the lake reached the very door of the building for, no matter where he looked, there was a starry mirror image of the sky above. Faintly, in the light of the moon, he could see what must have been some species like that of the mallorn trees of Lothlórien, their golden and silver glow akin to that of his slumbering friend.
The building itself seemed to stretch on right around the lake, enclosing it as if it were a mere courtyard. It had high towers that seemed as if they pierced the very sky, their tops showing of poles that once held fluttering flags of silk, embroidered with the emblems of Elendil.
The sound of a shifting body drew his attention back into the room and, looking down, he found a still asleep Legolas trying to hide further into the chair, his face riddled with discomfort. Smiling down at the Elf, the human moved in next to the chair, and, as careful and smoothly as possible, picked the young- looking creature up, blanket and all, and carried him towards the bed. Legolas stirred at the initial movement but after that, he just let his head fall unceremoniously onto Estel's shoulder. Laying the Elf out on the bed, he found one of Legolas' arms still draped around the back of his neck and, as much as he tried to shrug out of the hold, every time he moved he only found that the grip tightened.
Grunting in frustration, he pulled the blankets up and, as the Elf became slightly distracted with the new addition and feeling around his chin, Estel slipped his head out of the arm with a triumphant smile. Grabbing one of the many blankets that suggested the Elves had gone of a raid throughout the whole castle, Estel walked quietly over towards the chair that Legolas had just been sleeping upon.
"Do not even think about it!" a quiet voice made him stop mid-step, his left foot still held in the air. Slowly turning around, he saw Legolas looking at him, his blue eyes blinking slightly as one illuminated hand rubbed at a glowing face and eyebrow.
"Shh," Estel hushed the Elf before Legolas had the chance to become wide awake, "go back to sleep."
Yawning, Legolas nodded his head slightly while beckoning Estel back towards the bed. "The chair is as uncomfortable as Udûn!"
Letting out a slight laugh, Estel moved back over to he bed while Legolas moved over, towing the blanket with him. Settling down next to the still yawning Elf, the human cast him a slightly worried look, knowing that the last time Legolas had been so tired was because he had been drugged. But then again, the symptoms were set to last for awhile, so it must just be the aftereffect.
Pushing his head deeper into the pillow, Estel cast a quick look back to the window before pulling the blanket tighter up around his chin.
"Legolas?" he whispered, not daring to look at the Elf.
"What?"
"Can you pull your blanket up higher please?" the human's voice was small and almost scared-sounding as he made his rather unusual request. Sensing Legolas' confusion, he quickly added, "You glow too brightly - I do not think that I shall be able to get to sleep."
Groaning, Legolas pulled the blanket right over his head and turned over, rolling his eyes to himself.
"Thank you," Estel said softly while pulling his blanket further around himself. Once again his eyes studied the pattern on the ceiling, utterly fascinated with it. Above the bed there was a carved or added piece, which he could not tell, in the shape of a ring. From the soft light of the moon and the glowing bundle of cloth beside him, he could just make out its detail: it was of leaves, each one shaped like an autumn leaf; every second was gold, while the others remained silver. At the top of the Ring, positioned over the top of the bed, there were three gems, two green and one blue, placed into the silver leaves, the golden left bare.
Looking at it reminded him of Legolas - Green Leaf as his name meant - and for some reason, thinking of the ring and his friend was a comforting thought.
"Legolas?" he questioned again, before his mind could tell him to do otherwise.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you," he said softly, not really knowing why he was saying what was coming from his lips, "for all that you have done for me - I mean, especially through this trip." A slight movement came from the other side of the bed and, before he had time to turn and see what it was, Estel found the archer's slender hand in his, giving it a tight squeeze and saying the words that he could not.
"Legolas?"
"Shut up!"
*****
Tbc.
Sorry it was such an uneventful chapter, but I had to get them from A to B and sadly, I had to do it with all of them alive and able to fight so that meant no dangerous Orc attacks, no run-ins with a Ringwraith, no more assassination attempts (that needs to be saved for later...) and the such. It was quite boring for me to write too, so I hope that it was all right for you to read.
NOTE ABOUT ALL STORIES: due to the fact that I am back at school (and my final year at that), I regret to announce that it may take me even LONGER *hears loud groans* to update them, and for that I am really sorry. I shall try to do the best that I can for I am not giving up on them and will always be here to annoy the hell out of you all!
Good news though, Yours Truly and I have another story coming up, and believe me, it will be both different, frightening and never before even contrived...want a preview...?
"he is running...he is running...he is - Yours Truly comes in - running, he falls flat on his face and dies a slow death when every bone in his body breaks suddenly and he bleeds to death on the floor.
The End."
Ok, so not quite how we envisioned it, but close enough...kinda...not really...at all.
Last thing, if you have not already hear, I am running a 'Dark Fanfiction' contest. Info and details are on my bio page as well as a link to the site and you still have plenty of time if you would like to enter.
Finally done, over and out, have no more to say...whatever...
Minka.
P.s. hope you liked the chapter and please review!
Oh, and I was so happy, I had this whole course planned out for them to travel and I was going to take them by Lake Evendim (North-West of the Shire) and I was going to make it pretty and all, but then I was given this book, and it has a whole passage on it, who used to live there and the fallen city. And then, the best thing is that it then ties in with the Fourth Age, as, it says that Aragorn went out of his way to restore the beauty of Evendim and for the rest you will have to read on.
Also, again I remind you that it is not slash, I was just having a strange day and a few of the things turned out kinda cute...oh, and as pointless as the water scenes seems to be, it actually has a REAL purpose later on in the story. HINT: pay attention to detail in this chapter, especially near the end as it ties in with the very last chapter.
More ravings at the bottom...
Oh, I relented - I allowed Legolas to glow...
*****
The Eaters of the Dead
Chapter Six
Lake Twilight and the Tower of the Sunset.
*****
All eyes looked to Legolas, a feeling that the prince, while used to it, was utterly uncomfortable with. Sighing, he looked out over the lands that stretched before them, trying to work out the best path that they should take to reach their destination near the Bay of Forochel. As he should, Elrond had warned them of the dangers of the road that morning, telling them to keep away from as many human cities as possible along the way - especially Bree. Looking straight to the west and towards the location of the aforementioned town, Legolas knew that that path was then officially canceled, meaning that they could take the Old South Road and detour right around the human inhabited place...or they could head north-west and through the forsaken lands of Arnor, which was a much quicker route.
Looking at the Elves behind him and the human that sat upon his mount on his right, Legolas bit his bottom lip in concentration. He did not want to take the wrong road and make their journey any more perilous then what it already was.
He could feel Dúelen's eyes drilling holes in his back from the back of the company; Legolas took a deep breath and made up his mind.
"We shall travel North-West and approach the town directly," He only hoped that his voice held the confidence that he seemed to be lacking. He had been in many a battle, seen and lived through countless wars with the evils of his homeland, but, in experience, he was a diplomat. He was not taught to lead, be it an army or a small company. He had been taught to talk, to twist others to his will and to be able to discover anything about anyone. He had to make choices daily, had to chose the best way to approach a topic or, even in battle, a strategy, but it was always another giving the commands. Even if he had conspired them it was never he that told the soldiers of the way in which they would fight and, for some, die.
A scoff came from the back of the line, and -- before he even looked -- Legolas knew who it was.
"You plan to lead us to Fornost Erain?" Dúelen asked incredulously, while looking from Elf to Elf. Neither looked too impressed about the idea, but the Mirkwood Elf could not decide whether it was their path or his outburst that had deterred their spirits and put frowns upon their faces.
Fornost Erain was once the last fortress that stood against the Witch-King of Angmar and the stronghold of the Dúnedain in the North during the war that they waged with the dark presence in their land. Although the Witch- king was defeated by an army of the Dúnedain, Rivendell Elves and Men of Gondor, the old tower had never been re-established, thus reaming to become the desolate ruins that men now called 'Deadman's Dike.'
"If that is the way the prince says we go," Erestor cut in before Dúelen could continue with his protests, "then that is the way that we shall go."
"Well," Dúelen cried while looking around at the others, "I will not stay a single night at Deadman's Dike!"
Rolling his eyes, Legolas looked back at the Elf with an agitated pout.
"No one will be. We shall make camp in the Weather Hills and bypass it by day. Now, are there any more complaints or questions, or can we be on our way before we lose this early start?" Raising an eyebrow in emphases his question, Legolas looked from face to face, seeing nothing but trust in each (save for the few in the back: Dúelen and Rastur). "Good!" he exclaimed, while turning in his saddle and letting a soft whispered word pass between him and his horse.
As the company officially departed the borders of Rivendell, setting out on the journey to what may prove their end, Estel could not help but lean over to the blond Elf beside him.
"Deadman's Dike?" he asked with a gulp. As Legolas made to answer, his face glum, Estel once again spoke, "or is it one of the things that I should remain in blissful ignorance about?"
Laughing softly, Legolas gave him a wink and nodded his head, "Yes, Estel, you should add it to your ever growing list of topics that you are unknowing of."
Swatting playfully at the prince's head, Legolas only just managed to duck in time, avoiding the blow that would have, even though it had been in a lighthearted way, had enough force to cause a bruise. As the prince easily dodged the attack, all Estel's efforts brought him was the sound of Gilnen clearing his throat and shooting him a warning look. Apparently the Elf had decided to take it upon himself to protect his friend and prince, even if it was from Estel.
"Watch it," Gilnen mouthed over the prince's shoulder to the human before the Elf finally turned his gaze away.
Muttering a quiet "Sorry," Estel put his head down and looked to the ground. Feeling the slightest forms of rage build up inside of him, the human resolved to make a point of avoiding them for the rest of the day - especially Gilnen. He was one of them now, not some human who needed to be swatted away from the prince for safety purposes.
With that in mind, he continued to stare at the ground, his face set into a concentrated scowl and unknowing of the confused look that Legolas was sending him.
*****
"Oh come on, Estel, how long are you going to keep this up?" Legolas asked from the dark, causing Estel to jump.
The day had passed uneventfully as they made their way quickly along the path through the Trollshaws. Now that night had settled in, the Elves had pitched camp a little way off the road on the west side of the Last Bridge. All day Estel had kept up his vow of silence, knowing that it drove the prince insane with wonder. Legolas could not see why the human was not talking to him, and being the fact that even to Aragorn there was not real reason, it made the Elf's confusion all the more great and, as the human had seen, his annoyance even greater.
Once they had set up camp, Estel had wandered off on his own to fill up a number of the water skins in the Hoarwell River. Legolas, seeing the human go off alone and thinking that it would be the best time to gain the answers to what he sought, followed him.
"Keep what up?" the Man asked, while glancing quickly up to Legolas as the Elf almost stamped his foot in frustration. The Elf looked so young compared to the others, and, here under the moonlight with such a look etched upon his face, he appeared even younger...even younger looking than Estel.
"'What up?'" Legolas mocked in his deepest voice, trying to get the human to laugh, "You have been avoiding me all day! You have not said 'boo' to me or anyone and yet I can not think of what I could have possibly done to upset you so. Now speak!"
"I have not been avoiding you," he stated courtly and concisely.
Huffing slightly and moving towards the Man that was crouched by the riverbank, Legolas watched as the bubbles of air forced their way out of the bottles as they were submerged into the running stream. Seeing that the human was observing the same thing, he moved a little closer, and, dipping his hand into the cool water, splashed a generous amount up into the human's face.
Laughing at the look of pure shock that was on Estel's face, Legolas reached down to splash him again, determined to catch his attention. Though what Legolas did not expect was for Estel to catch him.
Seeing the Elf move, Estel hid his smile and, before Legolas had the time or misgiving to suspect anything, grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him off balance. Toppling over, and not quite grasping what was happening, Legolas let his arms lock around Estel's as he was thrown completely off guard and rather unceremoniously into the river.
Gripping the human tighter to him as he plunged into the stream, Legolas felt a rather heavy weight land on top of him, pushing his head under the cool water as the Man fell in.
Kicking under the water, Legolas swam out from underneath the human who, after realizing that he had fallen in on his Elven friend, was searching everywhere for him, worry in his eyes and voice. Surfacing, Legolas gasped in another silent breath and ducked under the water again, holding onto a rock at the bottom of the river to stop himself from floating up.
"Legolas?" Estel called, turning this way and that, his eyes trying to see through the rather deep water. Diving under, he allowed his hands to search out in front of him, hoping the grasp a lock of golden hair or an arm of his supposedly drowning friend.
Feeling his lungs screaming for air, he surfaced and called out for his friend again, still receiving no answer. Blind terror gripped at his heart as he mentally counted the seconds that Legolas had been under for, knowing that in all rightness he should be unconscious by now and that that would mean that he would be sinking.
"Legolas?" he called out again before submerging himself back into the cool water. Kicking down deeper, he forced himself to keep his eyes open, looking for any glint of golden hair in the murky depths of the river. He mentally thanked the Valar for the fact that, at this particular spot, the river had little to no current, thus giving him the glimmer of hope in knowing that his friend could not have drifted far.
Breaking through the surface and taking yet another deep breath, Estel felt the already present pounding at his temples from being so deep in the water and yet, pushing his discomfort aside, he vowed to keep searching till he found his friend, for the best or worst.
"Legol-" he was suddenly cut off when a great wave of water hit him from behind. Whirling around, the movement of his feet and hands the only things keeping him upright and afloat, he saw the golden Elf doing the same, a smile on his face and his tongue poking out.
Letting his heart slow down, Estel merely glared at the Elf while swimming towards him. "Never," he said, while grabbing the Elf's shoulders, "ever do that again!" Giving the Elf a small shake, he tried to rattle the smile off Legolas' face, but it seemed almost impossible.
"Oh, Estel," Legolas asked dramatically, "do not tell me that you were worried!"
"Of course I was worried, Legolas!" Estel said again, adding a few more shakes to emphasize his words. "I could not see you - I thought I had.that you had-"
"Estel!" Legolas said, trying to cut into the human's random ravings but with no success. "Estel." Once again his words were drowned out in the sea of baffled and unfinished sentences that Estel was randomly spitting out. Seeing no other option, Legolas just raised his hand and slapped the human upside the head. "ESTEL!"
"What?" the human looked stunned, holding his face and yet not really aware that the flesh was stinging.
"Calm down. I am fine. We Elves can hold our breaths for a great deal of time - there is nothing to worry about. Besides," he added with a sly smile, having seen that the human was once again in control of himself, "I thought you were not talking to me anyway!"
Pulling the Elf into a friendly hug, the human smoothed down a few strands of wayward golden hair before letting the prince go. "Of course I am - I just.was not at the time."
"And why would that be?" Legolas asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I just..." Estel started, building up the courage to make his complaint, "I do not like being treated like the enemy - as if I am going to hurt you and that I need constant watching from Gilnen."
"So that is it," Legolas stated, while swimming towards the bank, and hauling himself out and onto the grass in a dripping heap. Reaching down, he offered Estel a hand up, who gratefully took it. Before long, both were sprawled out on the grass, with Estel shivering slightly from the cool night. Glancing over at the human, Legolas saw the shivers that he was trying to hide and, boasting himself to his feet, he reached down and pulled Estel up as well. "Come on, let us get you into some warm clothes. And do not worry about Gilnen; he knows that you would never hurt me - it is just his way. Too many years of being in the same forest as Culdôr and me, I think."
*****
"What in the Valar's name happened to you two?" both Elladan and Elrohir asked at the same time. Frowning at each other, they took a step forward with their right foot only to stop, having seen that the other had done the same.
"Stop it," Elrohir exclaimed.
"Get out of my head and thoughts and I will," Elladan countered.
"Get out of my head first and you have a deal!"
"Fine."
"Good."
"Now what happened to you two?" Elladan asked after turning his attention back to Legolas and Estel.
"Hey, I was going to ask that!" Elrohir complained and when the two new arrivals cast a quick look to Gilnen, the other Elf just smiled.
"They have been doing this for ages," Nimneldor said with his own smile.
The camp was well set up, a small fire flickering in the centre with a roughly made cooking stand erected about it. Someone had obviously caught a number of small woodland birds while Legolas and Estel were 'filling the water bottles,' for a number of them were skewered neck to legs along a straight stick and were toasting over the dancing flames. The horses were tethered over near the edge of the small clearing, their heads down as they ate the lush green grass that lined the outer road. Bedrolls had been untied and lain out in a circle around the fire, with one in particular being closer then the others. Looking at it in the firelight, Legolas saw that it was Estel's.
Erthalion was sitting at the far end, a whetting stone in his hands as he concentrated on sharpening his two cutlasses, one of them balanced between his knees as he stroked the fine blade. The brothers Fëandil and Findûr were talking quietly in the background, Findûr obviously giving a few pointers to his brother in order to improve his defense. Arlhach, the Guard of Rivendell, seemed to be in charge of the food. As Legolas watched, he pulled out a small pot and filled it with ale before putting it near the fire to slowly heat. Rastur and Dúelen, by far the most interesting of the lost, were sitting at opposite sides of the camp, clearly glaring each other down as if they had an old feud that they had yet to settle. Erestor and Galdor were sitting next to Gilnen, swapping news of the world and their respective homes while Nimneldor seemed happy to just watch the twins argue about whom was invading whose head.
"What happened?" Elladan once again demanded, while both he and Elrohir reached down to retrieve blankets. Refraining from accusing the other of copying, they merely glared at each other as they (in perfect synchronization) wrapped the human and Elf in the warm, wooly cloths. Glaring at each other again, they shook their heads; glad that they were not always like this. As much as it seemed to amuse everyone else, it annoyed the hell out of them.
"Estel is what happened," Legolas said with a large smile aimed at the human.
"Hey, you splashed me first!" Estel protested up in his own defense, "It was not my fault you fell in!"
"You fell in?" Erestor laughed while casting the wet Elf a comical look. Glancing around, it seemed as if all eyes were locked onto Legolas, their corresponding faces all trying to hide the amusement that they found in the human's statement.
"He pushed me!" Legolas shrieked while pointing at Estel through the blanket.
"Did not!" Estel said as all eyes were back on him. Needless to say that his smile quickly fleeted.
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Oh, enough already!" Arlhach said from over near the fire. "Both of you come over here and have some of this - it will warm you up nicely."
Bowing their heads as if they had been scolded by a father figure, they moved over to the smiling guard and took the offered cups of warmed ale. As soon as the strong liquid slipped down their throats, both seemed to immediately feel better. As the others moved in to get the evening meal that Arlhach was now serving, Legolas for once let his mind wander off the subject of what was to come once they reached the Bay.
*****
Days seemed to mingle into the nights, and then back into the days as the group of Elves and one human traveled across Middle-Earth. Estel found it hard to believe that it was actually their eighth day of traveling. Due to their great hurry, it was a common practice for them to stop early in the night and yet be up and moving once the moon was high in the sky, which allowed Estel, the only one who needed sleep, just enough to sustain his body. Even though the Elves insisted that they too needed the few hours of rest, Estel could not help but think that they only did it for him and that, to some degree, he was slowing them down. To his credit, he never once complained, just being glad that they actually gave him the time that they did.
There had been no more protests from Dúelen, just as there had been nothing to suspicious about Rastur and his actions towards the prince within the last few days. All in all, everything had been as if it were just a typical group of traveling friends that were off on a joyous sightseeing trip.
It was fast becoming colder as they entered the once evil overrun land of Arnor, where the strange chill still lingered in the air, day and night. Pulling his hood tighter over his head, Aragorn looked from Elf to Elf as they rode in an organized group. None of the Elves seemed to be cold or even heeding of the frozen chill that lingered in the air and, not for the first time, he envied the Elves for all that they held over the humans.
It was as if it were the touch of a cold evil that seemed to slice through his clothing and skin, chilling him to the very bones. He had heard rumors about this land, about the evil that had once lived there not that long ago and, during this journey, had picked up on more information concerning the area from the talk of the Elves.
On the distant horizon, Estel could just make out a large, crumbling tower piercing the sky, its roof all but destroyed. It seemed as if it would have once been a thing of great beauty, something built to protect and aid those in need. But now... now it seemed to be cloaked with the darkness that had once infested it, turning its past friendliness into an overbearing sense of malice and hate. Stretching out on either side of the shadow-darkened temple, the dim outline of a fortified wall could be seen, some patches dipping lower then the others -- an obvious sign of the hardships of time and desolation.
Shivering involuntary, he tightened his grip on the front of his cape, pulling the two sides in together, thus making it tighter fitting, in an attempt of keeping out the strange cold.
Behind him he could hear Elrohir muttering to himself, speaking softly in his native language about how this was an evil land. To his left, Elladan did the same, only with words of encouragement - to his mount or to himself was unknown. The rest and their actions were unknown to him due to their placing and the quietness of the muttered words, if there had in fact been any.
Legolas rode at the front of the line, Gilnen by his side, and both were ever watchful. Eyes would dart this way and that, heads move from right to left and hands ever twitching, always ready if they should have a need to grab at their swords.
Even though they traveled for a good five hours past the ruins before setting up and rough camp for the reminder of the night, all, even Estel, could still feel the lingering evil that seemed to taint the air. After only a few hours in which even the exhausted human could find no rest, they hastily made their way onwards, fearing to stay too near the overthrown fort for longer than need be.
*****
They rode along the eastern side of the Brandywine River for a good twenty miles, using the snaking path of water as a guide to the Lake of Evendim where Legolas had decided they would stay for the night, and maybe much of the next day. To Estel he kept saying that the horses needed rest, but the human, not as folly minded as most thought, knew better. Legolas was doing it for him; so that he could have at least one full night sleep before they came to whatever terror was to befall them when they got to this human civilization.
Though, through all this, Estel could not say that he was ungrateful. A number of times one of the other Elves had found him asleep in his saddle, his head lolled to the side and his eyes squeezed tightly closed against the sun. Never before had he ridden so far and with lacking so much in the way of necessary sleep and rest - his human body was not made for that.
So, when Legolas proclaimed that he could see the Lake from the front of the line, it was with a degree of renewed excitement that Estel sped his horse up just a little, so that he would be next to the prince's right side.
It had been two days since the fort faded even out of Elven sight and senses. But Estel could still feel the cold to the point that he had to admit that, as they came closer to the Ice Bay, it was quickly getting colder. He knew that Legolas and the twins were aware that he was cold. Often when he woke from the few hours of rest that he was granted, he would find an extra blanket spread over him, or one of the twins curled up next to him, trying to keep him warm with their own heat.
Feeling his eyes shut involuntarily yet again, Estel felt Legolas' hand wrap around his arm, the Elf keeping him from falling from the saddle. Trusting the Elf to do just that, Estel kept his eyes blissfully closed, feeling his body draw strength just from the form of rest. As the demanding tug of sleep tightened his grip about his mind, Estel could do naught to refuse it. His mind finally walked away from his body, and he fell to the left.
Knowing that his self-appointed charge was about to slip out of consciousness, Legolas sojourned both their horses, and, wrapping an arm around the young Man's waist, Legolas pulled him off his horse just as he fell. Positioning the human in front of him on the saddle, he felt Estel snuggle into him, seeking warmth and comfort. Tightening his hold on the man, he spurred his horse on faster. Whistling over his shoulder, he heard all the Elven horses speed up whether their rider had instructed them to or not and making sure that Estel's mount still followed them, the entire company picked up the pace into a quick canter.
*****
When Estel finally woke, he was rather shocked to find himself lying on a soft bed, with mounds of blankets wrapped around his body and keeping him warm. Looking up, he received a great look at a high, arched ceiling carved with veins and leaves and for a moment he thought that he was in fact back in his room at Rivendell. After looking at the design closer, however, he knew it to be different to the one at his home while appearing older and in a state of disrepair.
Propping himself up on his elbows, he saw that he was in a large room, bigger then any at the Last Homely House. The bed was large and spacious yet hardly seemed to take up a fraction of the room. It was so large that he could not see the end of the space through the darkness. Looking to the window, he saw two things: One was that it was now deep into the night, the moon high in the sky and shining like a silver medallion surrounded by a thousand twinkling, illuminated jewels. The second was another illuminated object, this time much closer then any stars.
Legolas was draped over an old padded chair, his golden head buried into the back and his feet dangling much like how Elrohir liked to sit or sleep. He was under the window, his eyes open and glowing slightly like his skin, a reaction to the dark, the moon, and the light of the stars that he was under. This strange glowing never ceased to amaze Estel, no matter how everyday it was for one of the fair folk. Legolas was defiantly no exception as he, strangely enough, seemed to glow even more then any other Elf Estel had ever seen. His eyes, so bright even in sleep, seemed to leave small spots of blue light against the cushioned chair and as the breeze trickled in through the window, it lifted up light strands of what appeared to be gold and allowed them to dance upon the air like fireflies near cool water.
Pulling the blankets off himself and placing his now bare feet to the floor, Estel almost instantaneously felt the cold air bite through his thin shirt and breeches. Grabbing the top blanket, he pulled it around his shoulders and stood, the length of the cover dragging behind him as he made his way over towards the window and his friend.
Looking down on the Elf that he had known for little over a fortnight, Estel felt his heart open up to the glowing being. He knew that he could trust Legolas, that the Elf would always try to be there for him - and, as his current position showed, Legolas had already proved this true. Observing the Elf in his sleep, the human vowed to do the same for the prince. He would be there if he ever needed him, keep him from harm and protect him from whatever may prove to be a threat.
Seeing the Elf shudder slightly as the wind picked up, Estel unwrapped the blanket from his shoulders and tucked it gently up around the prince's chin, jamming it into the chair to hold it in place. Though Legolas' eyes neither cleared nor moved, Estel heard a small whimper as the bond pushed himself further into the chair, his slim right hand wrapped around the blanket and pulling it closer.
Hugging his arms to himself, the human moved around the chair and peered out of the window. Not much could be seen of the surroundings in the darkness of the night, but he could make out a reflection of the moon on what was obviously the lake. To him, it seemed as if the lake reached the very door of the building for, no matter where he looked, there was a starry mirror image of the sky above. Faintly, in the light of the moon, he could see what must have been some species like that of the mallorn trees of Lothlórien, their golden and silver glow akin to that of his slumbering friend.
The building itself seemed to stretch on right around the lake, enclosing it as if it were a mere courtyard. It had high towers that seemed as if they pierced the very sky, their tops showing of poles that once held fluttering flags of silk, embroidered with the emblems of Elendil.
The sound of a shifting body drew his attention back into the room and, looking down, he found a still asleep Legolas trying to hide further into the chair, his face riddled with discomfort. Smiling down at the Elf, the human moved in next to the chair, and, as careful and smoothly as possible, picked the young- looking creature up, blanket and all, and carried him towards the bed. Legolas stirred at the initial movement but after that, he just let his head fall unceremoniously onto Estel's shoulder. Laying the Elf out on the bed, he found one of Legolas' arms still draped around the back of his neck and, as much as he tried to shrug out of the hold, every time he moved he only found that the grip tightened.
Grunting in frustration, he pulled the blankets up and, as the Elf became slightly distracted with the new addition and feeling around his chin, Estel slipped his head out of the arm with a triumphant smile. Grabbing one of the many blankets that suggested the Elves had gone of a raid throughout the whole castle, Estel walked quietly over towards the chair that Legolas had just been sleeping upon.
"Do not even think about it!" a quiet voice made him stop mid-step, his left foot still held in the air. Slowly turning around, he saw Legolas looking at him, his blue eyes blinking slightly as one illuminated hand rubbed at a glowing face and eyebrow.
"Shh," Estel hushed the Elf before Legolas had the chance to become wide awake, "go back to sleep."
Yawning, Legolas nodded his head slightly while beckoning Estel back towards the bed. "The chair is as uncomfortable as Udûn!"
Letting out a slight laugh, Estel moved back over to he bed while Legolas moved over, towing the blanket with him. Settling down next to the still yawning Elf, the human cast him a slightly worried look, knowing that the last time Legolas had been so tired was because he had been drugged. But then again, the symptoms were set to last for awhile, so it must just be the aftereffect.
Pushing his head deeper into the pillow, Estel cast a quick look back to the window before pulling the blanket tighter up around his chin.
"Legolas?" he whispered, not daring to look at the Elf.
"What?"
"Can you pull your blanket up higher please?" the human's voice was small and almost scared-sounding as he made his rather unusual request. Sensing Legolas' confusion, he quickly added, "You glow too brightly - I do not think that I shall be able to get to sleep."
Groaning, Legolas pulled the blanket right over his head and turned over, rolling his eyes to himself.
"Thank you," Estel said softly while pulling his blanket further around himself. Once again his eyes studied the pattern on the ceiling, utterly fascinated with it. Above the bed there was a carved or added piece, which he could not tell, in the shape of a ring. From the soft light of the moon and the glowing bundle of cloth beside him, he could just make out its detail: it was of leaves, each one shaped like an autumn leaf; every second was gold, while the others remained silver. At the top of the Ring, positioned over the top of the bed, there were three gems, two green and one blue, placed into the silver leaves, the golden left bare.
Looking at it reminded him of Legolas - Green Leaf as his name meant - and for some reason, thinking of the ring and his friend was a comforting thought.
"Legolas?" he questioned again, before his mind could tell him to do otherwise.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you," he said softly, not really knowing why he was saying what was coming from his lips, "for all that you have done for me - I mean, especially through this trip." A slight movement came from the other side of the bed and, before he had time to turn and see what it was, Estel found the archer's slender hand in his, giving it a tight squeeze and saying the words that he could not.
"Legolas?"
"Shut up!"
*****
Tbc.
Sorry it was such an uneventful chapter, but I had to get them from A to B and sadly, I had to do it with all of them alive and able to fight so that meant no dangerous Orc attacks, no run-ins with a Ringwraith, no more assassination attempts (that needs to be saved for later...) and the such. It was quite boring for me to write too, so I hope that it was all right for you to read.
NOTE ABOUT ALL STORIES: due to the fact that I am back at school (and my final year at that), I regret to announce that it may take me even LONGER *hears loud groans* to update them, and for that I am really sorry. I shall try to do the best that I can for I am not giving up on them and will always be here to annoy the hell out of you all!
Good news though, Yours Truly and I have another story coming up, and believe me, it will be both different, frightening and never before even contrived...want a preview...?
"he is running...he is running...he is - Yours Truly comes in - running, he falls flat on his face and dies a slow death when every bone in his body breaks suddenly and he bleeds to death on the floor.
The End."
Ok, so not quite how we envisioned it, but close enough...kinda...not really...at all.
Last thing, if you have not already hear, I am running a 'Dark Fanfiction' contest. Info and details are on my bio page as well as a link to the site and you still have plenty of time if you would like to enter.
Finally done, over and out, have no more to say...whatever...
Minka.
P.s. hope you liked the chapter and please review!