I did not want it4
Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR: I am justborrowing the
characters
A/N- Sorry about the delay this chapter refused to let itself be
written. I hope you make it past this chapter and the last one; it
should pick up from here-next chapter we get to Moria. I could use
another opinion- should I leave this chapter in or take it out all
together? More specific details will be gone into as necessary. If
I leave it in should I rewrite?
Also does anyone know if there is a way to see how many people have
read the story, not just who reviewed? I am not writing for the
reviews, but I would like to see if anyone is even interested in
this story. Thanks.
*******************************************************************
Legolas found himself unable to tear his eyes off his tossing and
turning friend. Next to him he was aware of Halbarad stifling his
yawns. "Go and get some rest. I will be fine for tonight." Before
the ranger could voice any protests he responded to them. He had
learned much from Aragorn over the years. "Tomorrow we can split
the watch."
Knowing better than to argue Halbarad nodded and turned to go. With
the door half opened he stopped. "Are we going to be able to do
this?" Purposely he kept his back turned away from his unusually
restless chieftain.
Just the opposite Legolas refused to allow himself to turn away. "If
we have to."
Nodding once Halbarad left without another word. Not wanting to face
his thoughts Legolas walked over to stare out the window. The land
was tortured and destroyed and cried out to him in its pain. The
same pain he felt deep in his soul when he thought about how this
all might yet end.
"I can feel the agony of the land as I never have before," Aragorn
commented quietly. Soft footsteps sounded as the ranger joined him at
the window. "It will take years to repair the damage." For a few
minutes they were both silent. "Tell me what happened after I was
taken."
That was the last memory that the elf wanted to relive.
After a moment he could feel Aragorn turn burning eyes on him. "I
have to know," their was a desperation in the ranger's voice that
the archer had never heard before. "I need to know," this time his
voice was a quiet plea.
Legolas nodded, closing his eyes in remembered pain. In his mind's
eye he saw the sun-coated shores of the Anduin. He had been relieved.
Aragorn had heeded his feelings of danger and agreed to make for the
eastern shore when they had realized that Boromir and Frodo were both
missing. His senses had been screaming at him as Aragorn darted into
the forest to find them with a last command for him to pack the boats.
"Find the halflings!"
At the gruff order Legolas had drawn his bow and raced into the forest
with Gimli, axe drawn, at his side. "Hide," he called back to Merry
and Pippin.
The next call had frozen Legolas' blood as he felt the challenge echo
beyond the immediate area, perhaps even as far as Mordor. "What of
Isildur's heir, would he not make a better prize?"
Aragorn had been surrounded but holding his own when Legolas and Gimli
came to his aid. The battle had been long and bloody and they had
almost lost Boromir, but with he and Gimli running interference
Aragorn had made it in time. It had been too late for the hobbits
though. Merry and Pippin had been taken. By the time they had made it
back to the shore Frodo and Sam had already crossed the Anduin.
Aragorn had prevented them from following. "Frodo's fate is no longer
in our hands. We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to-" His words had
been cut off by a blood curling cry from the sky. "Hide," Aragorn had
ordered, resignedly facing south, where the nazgul were approaching.
"Go and free Merry and Pippin."
"We will not abandon you!" Boromir had exclaimed.
Aragorn's eyes when he turned to face the remainder of the fellowship
had burned with conviction and fire. "Yes, you will. We do not have
time to argue or kindle a fire. Not a one of us can stand against all
nine nazgul." His eyes had turned south again. "They will not kill me,
but they will you." He turned his eyes back. "Save Merry and Pippin.
After that your path will be made clear." Drawing his sword he had
stepped closer to the shore, waiting.
Feeling like the worst of cowards Legolas had ducked down behind the
bushes, pulling Gimli with him. Boromir had reluctantly followed suit.
Camoflauged by the elven cloaks all they could do was watch in horror
as the nightmares landed. For a brief time Aragorn held his own, but
they were nine and the ranger had no way to drive them off. But he had
been correct: the nazgul were not trying to kill him, or harm him
permanently. A blade to the back of the head had taken him down. The
sight of the witchking on his nightmare steed flying away with his
friend tossed over the beast in front of him was an image that Legolas
saw in his dreams still.
"Now what?" Gimli had demanded, pulling himself angrily to his feet.
Aware that the dwarf was simply lashing out, not mad at him Legolas
had turned his attention to the woods. "We obey his command and free
the hobbits. Follow me."
The next three days had drifted by in a haze of running and trying to
find tracks over hard ground. While he was an able tracker Legolas
readily admitted he was not the equivalent of Aragorn over the plains
of Rohan. Then had come the meeting with Eomer and word that the
uruk-hai raiding party had been destroyed, the hobbits with them.
Unable to accept that Legolas had led them to the bonfire, but he had
been unable to see anything to make him believe the hobbits had
escaped.
Then a miracle had happened. Gandalf had returned to them as Gandalf
the White. For a moment Legolas had felt his spirits lift, that was
until the wizard asked about Aragorn.
Barely able to meet his eyes Legolas had spoken the words that he had
refused to even think to himself. "He was taken by the nazgul." The
wizard had closed his eyes in what appeared to be defeat. "Those are
evil tidings. Does Sauron know his identity?"
Legolas had nodded. "That was why he was taken. A large party of
uruk-hai came upon us and he proclaimed his lineage to buy the
ringbearer time to escape."
"What is done is done, we must now make the best of the situation.
Come. We ride to Rohan. Saruman prepares his offensive." When they
met the Rohirrim the horselords were already in retreat to Helm's
Deep.
The next couple of days were when things began to get really
confusing. Scouts reported that the large force of Uruk-Hai had turned
around and headed back to Isengard and that Mordor orcs were marching
on Isengard, apparently for war. Word also came with the rangers of
the north who had ridden to join them that raiding parties had gotten
as far as the borders of Rivedell and Mirkwood before turning back
before they could be engaged.
"Do you have any kind of explanation?" Gandalf had asked Halbarad at
his hastily convened council. Aragorn's second in command shook his
head. "It makes no sense, but I think Lord Elrond knows something. He
is riding south with his children and a large party of Rivendell elves
including Glorfindel as we speak."
It was Legolas who made himself speak the words that none of them
wanted to admit. "Aragorn is leading them a merry chase."
"Yes," Elrond entered with his party at that moment. "He allows Sauron
to think he is broken and reveals plans only to contradict himself
during the next session." The elven lord looked to Gandalf. "King
Thranduril is keeping an eye on the northern lands and Galadriel and
Celeborn are marching to join us with a large complement of Lothlorien
archers. Dain and his dwarves are not more than a day behind us."
Gandalf looked at him in surprise. "An alliance?"
Sadly he nodded. "I will not permit my son's sacrifice to be in vain."
Slightly daunted in the august company Eomer made himself speak next.
"It appears that Sauron intends to take down Saruman."
Leaning back in his chair Gandalf nodded. "It fits. We must take this
war to Sauron before he regains his momentum." He turned to Theoden.
"Can you send a messenger to Gondor?"
"It will be done," Rohan's king signalled to his nephew and Eomer
quickly left.
Meeting the eyes of everyone around the table Gandalf's next words
had fallen into complete silence. "As soon as everyone is present
we formulate plans to invade Mordor."
In his mind's eye Legolas could still feel the pride and resolution
that had filled the army of light when they had set out three days
later. Elves, dwarves, and men all marching side-by-side. It had
taken surprising little arguement to agree to the formation of the
Alliance. Denethor had been the sole hold out but Boromir had argued
long and hard with his father. He would not let his king's sacrifice
go without a fight.
There had been no need to stop at Isengard. What little had been left
after the battle the Ents had completed the destruction. Saruman was
dead, Sauron had reached out through the Palantir to destroy the man
he believed had betrayed him. They had also picked up Merry and Pippin
at that point.
The next days had been almost constant running battles. However
Gandalf made good use of the rangers of the north and of Gondor. The
two forces worked easily as one and prevented any ambushes. Still
Legolas did not fool himself into believing they were invincible.
While Sauron's forces had stabilized since the army had started moving
south it was not a united army. Divisions would leave unexpectedly and
return just as randomly. Legolas had forced himself not to think about
what his friend was going through to buy them this time. He was also
careful to keep his distance from Arwen and the twins. He could not
have kept up his calm facade in the face of their concern. Aragorn's
brothers and betrothed fought as though on a personal crusade while
Elrond remained completely inscrutable.
Spirits had been high and optimism present when the force had stumbled
upon a bruised and heartbroken Sam just two days short of Mordor's
black gates. Opposition had faded to almost nothing in the last few
days. The gardener's news of the capture of the ringbearer and ring
was all the explanation they needed.
"If he has the ring then why has he not openly attacked us?" Denethor
had demanded at the council decide what their next move should be.
Boromir had rolled his eyes at his father's disagreeability. "He is
waiting for us to get to the gates. He wants to show us his power and
how hopeless a position we are in."
Dain had nodded his reluctant agreement.
"We can not stop," Elrohir proclaimed forcefully. "Doomed to failure
or not we have to try!"
"And destroy ourselves?" Denethor shot back. "We have to pull back
and set up the best defensive positions that we can!"
His brow furled in concentration Gandalf had looked from one to the
other.
"I shall not retreat," Elrond stated quietly. "We came to fight for
the freedom of Middle-Earth. I, and mine, will not walk away."
Boromir exchanged a glance with his brother. "We will stay with those
loyal to us."
Denethor had shot an angry look at his two son's, promising
retribution.
"We did not come all this way to run!" Dain proclaimed.
Galadriel nodded. "We too came to see this evil destroyed or be
destroyed in the effort."
Boromir turned to his father. "They are right. If we are to have any
chance it must be now."
The steward glared at those around him then turned with a huff and
mounted his horse. "The final defeat is on all your heads."
It was in this cloud of black despair yet almost complete unity that
the Alliance of Light had reached the gates and come face to face with
the Dark Lord and his prize prisoners. Here Legolas stopped, he could
not make himself remember the horror of seeing his friend and Frodo so
tortured.
Aragorn continued for him. "When you reached the black gates Sauron
brought his prizes up to show off and in his arrogance he
underestimated a small hobbit who he thought he had broken who
took the chance offered him to save middle-earth."
"And a hidden king with no interest in ruling or power accepted a
burden he had refused his whole life to save his world," Legolas
completed the ranger's statement, turning to look directly at him for
the first time since there eyes had locked that morning on the
parapet.
The ranger bowed his head, one hand playing absent-mindedly with the
ring on his finger. "Yes." With effort Aragorn straightened his
shoulders, his usual calm and confident mask falling into place.
"Thank you."
Legolas nodded. "Get some rest. You have some long days ahead of you."
As the Lord of the Ring went back to bed Legolas continued to stare
out the window. How had they let it come to this?
A/N sorry about the delay I had formattting problems.
Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR: I am justborrowing the
characters
A/N- Sorry about the delay this chapter refused to let itself be
written. I hope you make it past this chapter and the last one; it
should pick up from here-next chapter we get to Moria. I could use
another opinion- should I leave this chapter in or take it out all
together? More specific details will be gone into as necessary. If
I leave it in should I rewrite?
Also does anyone know if there is a way to see how many people have
read the story, not just who reviewed? I am not writing for the
reviews, but I would like to see if anyone is even interested in
this story. Thanks.
*******************************************************************
Legolas found himself unable to tear his eyes off his tossing and
turning friend. Next to him he was aware of Halbarad stifling his
yawns. "Go and get some rest. I will be fine for tonight." Before
the ranger could voice any protests he responded to them. He had
learned much from Aragorn over the years. "Tomorrow we can split
the watch."
Knowing better than to argue Halbarad nodded and turned to go. With
the door half opened he stopped. "Are we going to be able to do
this?" Purposely he kept his back turned away from his unusually
restless chieftain.
Just the opposite Legolas refused to allow himself to turn away. "If
we have to."
Nodding once Halbarad left without another word. Not wanting to face
his thoughts Legolas walked over to stare out the window. The land
was tortured and destroyed and cried out to him in its pain. The
same pain he felt deep in his soul when he thought about how this
all might yet end.
"I can feel the agony of the land as I never have before," Aragorn
commented quietly. Soft footsteps sounded as the ranger joined him at
the window. "It will take years to repair the damage." For a few
minutes they were both silent. "Tell me what happened after I was
taken."
That was the last memory that the elf wanted to relive.
After a moment he could feel Aragorn turn burning eyes on him. "I
have to know," their was a desperation in the ranger's voice that
the archer had never heard before. "I need to know," this time his
voice was a quiet plea.
Legolas nodded, closing his eyes in remembered pain. In his mind's
eye he saw the sun-coated shores of the Anduin. He had been relieved.
Aragorn had heeded his feelings of danger and agreed to make for the
eastern shore when they had realized that Boromir and Frodo were both
missing. His senses had been screaming at him as Aragorn darted into
the forest to find them with a last command for him to pack the boats.
"Find the halflings!"
At the gruff order Legolas had drawn his bow and raced into the forest
with Gimli, axe drawn, at his side. "Hide," he called back to Merry
and Pippin.
The next call had frozen Legolas' blood as he felt the challenge echo
beyond the immediate area, perhaps even as far as Mordor. "What of
Isildur's heir, would he not make a better prize?"
Aragorn had been surrounded but holding his own when Legolas and Gimli
came to his aid. The battle had been long and bloody and they had
almost lost Boromir, but with he and Gimli running interference
Aragorn had made it in time. It had been too late for the hobbits
though. Merry and Pippin had been taken. By the time they had made it
back to the shore Frodo and Sam had already crossed the Anduin.
Aragorn had prevented them from following. "Frodo's fate is no longer
in our hands. We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to-" His words had
been cut off by a blood curling cry from the sky. "Hide," Aragorn had
ordered, resignedly facing south, where the nazgul were approaching.
"Go and free Merry and Pippin."
"We will not abandon you!" Boromir had exclaimed.
Aragorn's eyes when he turned to face the remainder of the fellowship
had burned with conviction and fire. "Yes, you will. We do not have
time to argue or kindle a fire. Not a one of us can stand against all
nine nazgul." His eyes had turned south again. "They will not kill me,
but they will you." He turned his eyes back. "Save Merry and Pippin.
After that your path will be made clear." Drawing his sword he had
stepped closer to the shore, waiting.
Feeling like the worst of cowards Legolas had ducked down behind the
bushes, pulling Gimli with him. Boromir had reluctantly followed suit.
Camoflauged by the elven cloaks all they could do was watch in horror
as the nightmares landed. For a brief time Aragorn held his own, but
they were nine and the ranger had no way to drive them off. But he had
been correct: the nazgul were not trying to kill him, or harm him
permanently. A blade to the back of the head had taken him down. The
sight of the witchking on his nightmare steed flying away with his
friend tossed over the beast in front of him was an image that Legolas
saw in his dreams still.
"Now what?" Gimli had demanded, pulling himself angrily to his feet.
Aware that the dwarf was simply lashing out, not mad at him Legolas
had turned his attention to the woods. "We obey his command and free
the hobbits. Follow me."
The next three days had drifted by in a haze of running and trying to
find tracks over hard ground. While he was an able tracker Legolas
readily admitted he was not the equivalent of Aragorn over the plains
of Rohan. Then had come the meeting with Eomer and word that the
uruk-hai raiding party had been destroyed, the hobbits with them.
Unable to accept that Legolas had led them to the bonfire, but he had
been unable to see anything to make him believe the hobbits had
escaped.
Then a miracle had happened. Gandalf had returned to them as Gandalf
the White. For a moment Legolas had felt his spirits lift, that was
until the wizard asked about Aragorn.
Barely able to meet his eyes Legolas had spoken the words that he had
refused to even think to himself. "He was taken by the nazgul." The
wizard had closed his eyes in what appeared to be defeat. "Those are
evil tidings. Does Sauron know his identity?"
Legolas had nodded. "That was why he was taken. A large party of
uruk-hai came upon us and he proclaimed his lineage to buy the
ringbearer time to escape."
"What is done is done, we must now make the best of the situation.
Come. We ride to Rohan. Saruman prepares his offensive." When they
met the Rohirrim the horselords were already in retreat to Helm's
Deep.
The next couple of days were when things began to get really
confusing. Scouts reported that the large force of Uruk-Hai had turned
around and headed back to Isengard and that Mordor orcs were marching
on Isengard, apparently for war. Word also came with the rangers of
the north who had ridden to join them that raiding parties had gotten
as far as the borders of Rivedell and Mirkwood before turning back
before they could be engaged.
"Do you have any kind of explanation?" Gandalf had asked Halbarad at
his hastily convened council. Aragorn's second in command shook his
head. "It makes no sense, but I think Lord Elrond knows something. He
is riding south with his children and a large party of Rivendell elves
including Glorfindel as we speak."
It was Legolas who made himself speak the words that none of them
wanted to admit. "Aragorn is leading them a merry chase."
"Yes," Elrond entered with his party at that moment. "He allows Sauron
to think he is broken and reveals plans only to contradict himself
during the next session." The elven lord looked to Gandalf. "King
Thranduril is keeping an eye on the northern lands and Galadriel and
Celeborn are marching to join us with a large complement of Lothlorien
archers. Dain and his dwarves are not more than a day behind us."
Gandalf looked at him in surprise. "An alliance?"
Sadly he nodded. "I will not permit my son's sacrifice to be in vain."
Slightly daunted in the august company Eomer made himself speak next.
"It appears that Sauron intends to take down Saruman."
Leaning back in his chair Gandalf nodded. "It fits. We must take this
war to Sauron before he regains his momentum." He turned to Theoden.
"Can you send a messenger to Gondor?"
"It will be done," Rohan's king signalled to his nephew and Eomer
quickly left.
Meeting the eyes of everyone around the table Gandalf's next words
had fallen into complete silence. "As soon as everyone is present
we formulate plans to invade Mordor."
In his mind's eye Legolas could still feel the pride and resolution
that had filled the army of light when they had set out three days
later. Elves, dwarves, and men all marching side-by-side. It had
taken surprising little arguement to agree to the formation of the
Alliance. Denethor had been the sole hold out but Boromir had argued
long and hard with his father. He would not let his king's sacrifice
go without a fight.
There had been no need to stop at Isengard. What little had been left
after the battle the Ents had completed the destruction. Saruman was
dead, Sauron had reached out through the Palantir to destroy the man
he believed had betrayed him. They had also picked up Merry and Pippin
at that point.
The next days had been almost constant running battles. However
Gandalf made good use of the rangers of the north and of Gondor. The
two forces worked easily as one and prevented any ambushes. Still
Legolas did not fool himself into believing they were invincible.
While Sauron's forces had stabilized since the army had started moving
south it was not a united army. Divisions would leave unexpectedly and
return just as randomly. Legolas had forced himself not to think about
what his friend was going through to buy them this time. He was also
careful to keep his distance from Arwen and the twins. He could not
have kept up his calm facade in the face of their concern. Aragorn's
brothers and betrothed fought as though on a personal crusade while
Elrond remained completely inscrutable.
Spirits had been high and optimism present when the force had stumbled
upon a bruised and heartbroken Sam just two days short of Mordor's
black gates. Opposition had faded to almost nothing in the last few
days. The gardener's news of the capture of the ringbearer and ring
was all the explanation they needed.
"If he has the ring then why has he not openly attacked us?" Denethor
had demanded at the council decide what their next move should be.
Boromir had rolled his eyes at his father's disagreeability. "He is
waiting for us to get to the gates. He wants to show us his power and
how hopeless a position we are in."
Dain had nodded his reluctant agreement.
"We can not stop," Elrohir proclaimed forcefully. "Doomed to failure
or not we have to try!"
"And destroy ourselves?" Denethor shot back. "We have to pull back
and set up the best defensive positions that we can!"
His brow furled in concentration Gandalf had looked from one to the
other.
"I shall not retreat," Elrond stated quietly. "We came to fight for
the freedom of Middle-Earth. I, and mine, will not walk away."
Boromir exchanged a glance with his brother. "We will stay with those
loyal to us."
Denethor had shot an angry look at his two son's, promising
retribution.
"We did not come all this way to run!" Dain proclaimed.
Galadriel nodded. "We too came to see this evil destroyed or be
destroyed in the effort."
Boromir turned to his father. "They are right. If we are to have any
chance it must be now."
The steward glared at those around him then turned with a huff and
mounted his horse. "The final defeat is on all your heads."
It was in this cloud of black despair yet almost complete unity that
the Alliance of Light had reached the gates and come face to face with
the Dark Lord and his prize prisoners. Here Legolas stopped, he could
not make himself remember the horror of seeing his friend and Frodo so
tortured.
Aragorn continued for him. "When you reached the black gates Sauron
brought his prizes up to show off and in his arrogance he
underestimated a small hobbit who he thought he had broken who
took the chance offered him to save middle-earth."
"And a hidden king with no interest in ruling or power accepted a
burden he had refused his whole life to save his world," Legolas
completed the ranger's statement, turning to look directly at him for
the first time since there eyes had locked that morning on the
parapet.
The ranger bowed his head, one hand playing absent-mindedly with the
ring on his finger. "Yes." With effort Aragorn straightened his
shoulders, his usual calm and confident mask falling into place.
"Thank you."
Legolas nodded. "Get some rest. You have some long days ahead of you."
As the Lord of the Ring went back to bed Legolas continued to stare
out the window. How had they let it come to this?
A/N sorry about the delay I had formattting problems.