~ Shortcut ~
By Ola
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A/N~ Finally the next chapter, and will there be any Legolas here? Hee hee. Read on! I have added some more humor into this chapter, but I hope I didn't overdo it too much. Oops. *sheepish grin*
This will most probably be the next to last chapter, though it already has exceeded any of my expectations (thought this is not one of my favorite chapters. I think there's something…missing to it =(… but read it for yourself before I spoil anything and tell me what you think please). As always comments at the bottom. Now on with the story:
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Part 9~ River, sun, wind and snow
I was sitting on the ground, my hand on the frantic beating of my heart. A soft, sweet breeze cooled the sweat on my forehead.
Lorien. I was in Lorien again.
I looked up at Lady Galadriel, thousands of questions in my mind, all jumbled, and unable to utter a word. The past…minutes? Hours? Seemed a dream. A nightmare. What was real, and was the product of my imagination? I did not wish to see my future! I had hoped to see…to see what had befallen …Legolas. My friend. I…
"My Lady…" I averted my eyes. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Your heart knows the answer Estel." I closed my eyes. Yes, perhaps it does. But my mind does not wish to perceive it. "It may take time, young Estel. You know the answer. Believe in yourself and you shall not fail. Have hope."
Hope. How dear to the heart, and yet so far away from the mind.
"How long wish you to honor Lothlorien with the fellowship's presence?" I was startled into looking into the Lady's eyes before once again dropping them to the leaf-covered floor. So different form the yellow grass of the plains.
"We would leave tomorrow morning, my Lady, if that is no inconvenience."
"It is."
…err, what?... I might have chocked if I had been inhaling.
"Then, by you leave my Lady, we shall leave as soon as I rouse my companions." I bowed my head.
"Nay Estel."
...?... I was becoming quite confused and could not keep it from showing on my face. Although I assume Lady Galadriel was capable of reading even the most stony-faced fellow, be he human, dwarf, elf …or other.
"I ask of you and your friends two more days."
"I shall inform them of your wish my Lady, although Lorien, peaceful as it is, brings much sorrow into our hearts. Grief is still too near, and the fair-haired elves of your beautiful realm do not…they…"
~ Peace Estel. I understand. But do stay two days. I shall speak with the fellowship if malcontents arise over your decision. ~
"Ay my Lady." I bowed again and turned to leave.
~Estel~
I looked back at the Lady of the elves.
~In two days' time, at the hour of the setting sun, I desire to acquaint you with…a friend of mine. I shall come for you.~
I nodded, bowed, and with no other forthcoming wishes, left the clearing of the Lady's mirror, to find the peace of night…and of my own bed. I had no notion of the time, and Lorien's majestic trees screened the constellations from my sight, only to reveal a few twinkling stars; not enough for a mere ranger to group into known clusters and let him read the time of night.
Aii, Boromir…and Legolas. How long has it been since my father's council? At times it seems a day; at others, years. And what is a year to an elf? Nothing. But to you, Legolas? What is it now? Do you feel its passing? Sigh.
Everyone looked so peaceful in their sleep; as if the past fortnight has disappeared form their minds –although I knew it was not so-. Frodo was back in his blanket; Merry and Pippin lay next to each other, inseparable even in the land of dreams; Gimli tossed around and mumbled in his sleep, rolling closer to the border of stones that surrounded the little clearing we were given as our sleeping quarters, as if trying to receive any warmth and reassurance he could from the one thing he knew above all else. Boromir had not moved at all since I had left; his face was a painting of harsh lines even when unconscious. Like a noble statue. Like his noble heart.
I took my place among my companions, lay down and tried to rest. But even at this late hour, the haunting melodies of elves flittered through the air like mist; far away and at the same time very close, with words that twined together to form a beautiful whole of which I could not fathom the meaning no mater how fluent my knowledge of their tongue, for the words lilted and flowed together into one entity. I could not shut them out of my mind, even when pressing my palms against my ears, for I felt it in my soul.
I let their flow pull me like a leaf caught in a great river that slowly but inexorably made its purposeful way toward the sea. A river that tugged at the dam that held my emotions at bay…and that finally broke through it.
I curled into a ball and cried.
I cried for Legolas and Gandalf and for every other friend I had lost, I cried about my inability to help them in the time of their greatest need, I cried about the curse on my blood line, I cried about being so far away from Arwen…I even cried about the unfairness of life itself.
It felt good to cry.
It felt good to at least partially dry the seemingly bottomless lake that had formed in my soul. Partially, for it will always be there; like a healed scar that hurts in rainy days.
I cried and finally whispered what I had forbidden myself to think and say:
Legolas was dead.
"Good bye my friend. May your path to the Halls of Mandos be uneventful." My words were lost in the night. Just another voice among so many others.
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Two days. Two days to rest and think. The time I spent under the trees of Lorien was lighter and easier on my conscience now that I have accepted the inevitable. It still hurt -as I suspect it always will- but not in that original, gut-twisting way. My fellow companions also took the time to grieve; and their heart slowly began to mend. I could see it in their faces, and in the way they spoke. Oh, it would take many moons before they could openly talk about it and laugh at memories of Legolas, but it was a small step nonetheless. They had come to accept the truth. And for that, I believe I had the Lady Galadriel to thank. Eru knows how we would have fared had we not taken the time to rest and lay our sadness somewhat aside.
Two days. Almost two days. The second was still illuminated by the descending sun, a shimmering light through the golden Mallorns. Two hours before full darkness fell.
I heard Lady Galadriel's mental greeting before I saw or heard or footsteps, and my mind once again branched on the path of the Lady's friend. Did I know him? why did I think it was a him. Have I seen or heard about him previously? … … Would he –or she- join the fellowship? Many questions, all left unanswered, as I did not want to break the calm of the forest.
You don't want to assault her with questions she will found foolish. That is why.
Shush. Why was I gifted with a conscience that talks back to me? Sigh.
A moment later, I wondered whether Galadriel knew what was going on in my mind. I knew she could; but did she? Perhaps she shut out my babblings out of courtesy –or annoyance-… or eavesdropped, and barely managed to retain from giggling. No. Lady Galadriel would not giggle. How would you know? I DO know. It's…a matter of…obviousness. She …sniggles.
No such word exists.
It does now.
You cannot m…
When I come to Gondor, I will order the scribes to make a new word out of it.
Ha! So you are considering becoming a king?
Arrrggg!!!!!
I forced myself to look straight ahead, and count every tree. After the hundredth and eleventh, I was pleased to announce that I was completely immersed in the tally. No more thoughts of giggles, snickers, snorts, or sniggers –or elven friends-. In fact, I managed to become so disconnected with the real word that I did not notice that we had reached our destination until a cold breeze found a way under my shirt. A very cold breeze.
The ground out of the Golden Woods' boundary was covered in two feet of snow, while inside –I turned my head back once more to make certain I had not been deceived by a trick of the light- the land was free of the white flakes. There was no clear-cut line that delineated to border of Lorien. Rather, the snow drifts rapidly tapered off until none was left twenty yards in.
I mentally slapped my forehead with the heel of my palm. How could I have failed to notice this phenomenon? How could I have forgotten the snow when we slept under the stars, in an unprotected clearing and yet needed neither fire nor heavy blankets? It was a personal affront to my skills as a ranger.
It was strange how different the snow looked and felt now. The land was relatively flat as far as the eye –mine at least- could see, with the shade in the slight depressions tinted blue while mounds acquired a rosy hue. It felt so…peaceful, I could loose myself in simply watching the colors slowly change into deeper tones as the sun relinquished its heavenly kingdom to the stars. Is this how elves feel? As if everything is worth observing, seeing as it transforms itself into…something else? Unlimited time…to discover the unlimited treasures of Arda. Sigh. No, this was no task appointed to mortals; they are but a whirlwind of actions, only stopping for brief moments to admire a glorious sunrise or the way light filters through a fallen leaf. And that is as it should be. Eru made Arda and gave it life. It is for that life to find its own way through the time that is given to it.
We stood at the edge of the snow fall, both watching the horizon, each with different memories and thoughts. The sun caressed the earth with its round belly, the blue shades became bluer, the oranges redder.
I turned toward Lady Galadriel, about to ask whether her friend would come this day, when I saw him in the corner of my eye.
A dark silhouette against the scarlet sky, he stood tall and straight as he stopped atop the last hillock and gazed over Lothlorien; he leaned on a long thick staff.
I gasped and took a step back.
Gandalf?
No. I somehow knew it was not him. This person was too slim; a width of shoulders Mithrandir would never acquire, even after days of hunger and privations. A gust of wind picked up his blood-tinged hair around his shoulders, hallowing his head in crimson.
Could it…could this be…
I took another step back, my heart somewhere in my throat.
The figure's head snapped towards the sudden movement, he picked up the staff –carrying it now rather than using it as a walking assistance- and resumed his walk toward Lorien.
Only one person I knew walked with such pride, while trying to hide a noticeable limp.
I took a step forward, then another, and slowly walked out of the protection of the woods, my breathing shallow and quick, a lump in my throat.
And then I broke into a run.
Legolas!
As the sun sank behind the hilltop, the dark silhouette resolved into elf I knew.
Except he did not look exactly the same.
Too thin, too raged, too pale, too…tired…
…Too much a mortal.
All my old grief and guilt came back as I looked into his blue-gray eyes, and my floundering dash in the snow slowed considerably, until we stood a few meters apart. Apart… like two strangers not knowing what to say to each other.
One part of me screamed at my immobility, ordering me to reach out to my friend and touch his face; …make sure this was no dream. How could I stand here, facing him; a bothersome barrier between him and the warm safety of Lorien?
But how could I hold him, knowing that it was my fault he was so cold, forced to brave the cold bite of winter in a sleeve shirt? Why did I not order the fellowship to turn back and look for him? Why did I take away his cloak? Why did I not leave him some food? I shivered, and not only from the cold.
The ends of his hair were stained crimson although the sun had set some time ago, dragging with it any redness it may have earlier imparted on the snow or the golden head.
He wavered slightly.
I hurried to his side and engulfed his thin shoulders in a strong embrace. I felt the cold of his hands penetrate through the shirt on my back, as he returned the hug.
"Legolas."
His head dropped to my shoulder and I wondered whether he was considering me a good enough friend to show me his weakness, or whether he was simply too exhausted to hide it.
Have you not hurt him enough that you wish to make him stand at the mercy of the elements? What are you thinking!!
"I am back, mellon nin." I could feel him smile softly thought his voice barely reached my ears. I squeezed his frail frame before letting go of him.
His eyes glimmered brightly once again, and I did not notice the strange film that had glazed them until it was gone, and I was unable to discover what had troubled him, though my heart whispered many possibilities, one worse than the other. I suppressed a sigh. It was time to go.
"Come. Lorien is waiting."
…though I am not yet in a hurry to talk of my failures with you my friend, even though they burden and gnaw at my heart, for I fear you will not understand…that you will turn away with pity and contempt.
The maelstrom of confused thoughts inside my head was no less than the strong, cold wind that raged outside.
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A/N~ Sigh. Poor Aragorn. Still unsure of himself. Will Legolas help? =) And by the way, what IS wrong with Legolas! Oh oh…
-Skywise- stay warm eh? Excellent advice for my poor tortured fingers =) thanks so much! I hope this chapter wasn't too much of a disappointment though.
-Amia- nope, he didn't pee in his pants. But hey, he still might! Will have to think about how I could put that in the plot *evil grin* =)
-camlost- weeee! Lol. Thanks so much *blushes in the corner* =) hee hee, there, you got some more Legolas =) (and I think he is most people's favorite too =) I mean, come ON!!! Who wouldn't like such a gorgeous, talented, nice, charismatic… (ok ok I'll stop now before the list becomes longer than the chapter =)
-crazygirly- tomato soup eh? Lol. Yummy. Love that too =) sigh. Everyone seems to be getting sick here cough*mysister*coughcough =) I'm glad you like this story! =)lol at least I'm making someone happy =) mmmm, you killing the warg? Hey, I might put you in the story! And you'll help Legolas with that beastie! Eh? What do you think? =) *grins* there will be more of him in the next chapter. I promise.
-shauna-confusing? Tell me what's confusing so I can change it and make it…less confusing! =)
-evil spapple- Legolas in a pool. *mmm, gets dreamy look as images flash before her eyes* =) hope you liked the humor in this chapter *looks around, not knowing what to expect*. There will be more in the next one too! *every one ducks and runs for cover* =)
-xzing- yup. Legolas is in. =) he'll be in the next one too.
For everyone: the next chapter will also have some more hobbits, dwarf, humans, elves… =) humor, guild, talking, thinking, eating…mmm drinking? *evil grin and hilarious ideas* we'll see. If you have a cool idea, I'll be happy to put it in, if it won't stretch the ending I have in mind too much =)
All right! This is it. Pfff, finally! And below is a nice little box where you can tell me what you think now =) *grins and waves good bye*
~Ola~