*gulp* hehe-HI guys. Suilad! Greetings! Cause, you know, Suilad is Greetings in- eh -Sindarin- you guys look umn- unhappy. ;) WELL SORR- eh -remorse, repentance, reformation, but NO regret. Hey, it was essential to the plot!…of course, then one is forced to ask "yeah, well WHO wrote the plot?!" To which I will hum innocently, and well…won't respond. ;)
I'm sorry that some of you had trouble accessing Chapter 5. Also, sorry to SilvenLegolas, Settiai, krisnkriss, and Golden Days, whose reviews for Chapter 4 didn't get in till last minute. Ergo, I didn't have a chance to answer them at the beginning of Chapter 5 with everyone else. Don't worry, girls! I've responded to them THIS time! ;)
Starting with YOU, SilvenLegolas…I'm so sorry you're dead. ;) BREATHE, SL! BREATHE!!! :D I'm blushing SO bad here, girl. :D "I love your writing!" Wow. THANK you SO MUCH! :) And as for Legolas and Aragorn…eh…well, I didn't do THAT much to them…really. Not quite, that is. Completely. Hm. ;) I'm glad you liked Iston! Actually, this is probably the best place to tell me that you liked it. I can respond to that here, but with Iston, I've finished posting it. You get the idea. ;) Hantach mellon nin!!!
*cough* Lynn, you are just OUT to get me!!! ;) Sorry 'bout your stupid computer. I can empathize!!! We don't have the greatest hunk of equipment either. As it is, I write all my stories on my laptop. Don't like to use our three HP models unless I have to. ;) Computers are the handiest, annoyingest, best, worst, easiest, hardest, brilliant pieces of JUNK ever. :P And- well, I prefer if you leave me alone, as far as 'punishment goes'. Can't get away without punishment? Hehe…watch me. I've got this GREAT alibi! See, no one can kill me, cause if they do, I can't post anymore! Yeah? :D…hehe…you're shaking your head no, but what you MEAN is…:P
No worries, krisnkriss! I wouldn't hurt our boys…THAT much. (don't worry, you're not supposed to be comforted by this. ;) And I'm afraid I'm notorious for "evil cliffies". It'd probably be my middle name, if it weren't for the fact that it's such a DUMB middle name. People look at me funny enough, thank you. ;)
DISEMBODY ME?!?!?! *leaps back twenty feet, and puts Grimi between her, and Golden Days* Now now, GD. May I call you GD? No? Okay, well, lets just stick with- eh -Golden Days? Sounds great! Golden Days, you can't go around trying to kill people. It'll get you into BIG trouble someday. Really. Don't- don't- don't look at me like that… ;) As to why Thranduil knew about the dream, well…you HEARD the guy. He "didn't" know about the dream. Lucky guess. Honest. ;)
*grins* You know, Cheysuli, I'm not so sure there are shrinks in Middle Earth either. In which case…yeah, Legolas is as-good-as-gone now. ;) Not to MENTION…well, never mind. :P
*giggles* Mae govannen, Enigma Jade! :) Oh…*frowns* You okay? *pulls EJ off the floor* Why don't you go and get a Legolas Band-Aid from Lina's Legolas Gift Shop? She's uhm…a little preoccupied right now, so I don't think you'll even have to pay for it. My treat. ;) Welcome!
Yeah, Karri, who'da thought I could end a chapter without slapping, smashing, bashing, befuddling or beheading anyone! WOW!!! Concept! ;) Yeah, Thranduil's probably not high on anyone's favorite list right now, but he may get better. You NEVER know…:D
*laughs* Sorry, Ice Cube. :) You'll find that cliffies are kinda a THING with me. *sigh* sad, isn't it? ;) And you're right, this one wasn't AS bad as they tend to be. Let us look at the bright side! :)
What is it with me…*grin* Chris, I'm afraid there is not easy answer to that. That, and I frankly haven't the foggiest notion. ;) Yeah, I completely agree with the Mirkwood Elves thing. They always were a kinda nosy bunch, though. Otherwise, I wouldn't have written them that way. :) Oh, and whatever you do, DON'T SEND LINA AFTER ME!!!! PLEEEEEASE. My birthday is in 11 days, and, well, I'd like to see my 14th birthday. ;)
Welcome to the club, Firnsarnien! ;) Exasperated? Aw. Why? :P Duh, dumb question. Well, you can look at the bright side. As you've said, I don't take forever to post. Actually, I take the approach Cassia and Siobhan do. Every other day. So, there you go, you'll know when to look for my posts. :)
*hugs for Halo*…once she is conscious again. ;) Melthach! At least SOMEONE doesn't want to hurt me! Between you, Aurienia, and a few rocks chucked by Grimi we just MIGHT be able to keep me alive long enough to finish this story. ;) And don't worry about the Bengwiil…it's the least of their worries *evil laugh* ;) J/K I can't think of anything worse than Bengwiil right about now….I could make a contest "Can you come up with something WORSE than Bengwiil?" I bet no one would enter unless in sarcasm, but you never know. ;)
Can'ttellyoucan'ttellyoucan'ttellyou it's against my rules, Ithildin. ;) As for Thranduil, yeah I know what part in the Last Alliance you're talking about. Actually, my sister and I read an interview with Orlando Bloom, who confirmed that he DID In fact play Thranduil in the Last Alliance, but if that was him or not, is still arguable. And if you hate my portrayal of Thranduil, that's fine. But I think he'll get better after awhile. (I feel that Thranduil truly loves his son, so I wouldn't write him in a hateful manner) But right now, he- well, I can't say. *sigh* ah well. ;)
Here's your chapter within days! ;) *grins at Rivendell Mistress* I know what you mean, about Ara-Angst. I'm a HUGE fan of it myself (obviously ;) I'm glad you're enjoying it! :)
Sarah, you crack me up! 'crack me up' has nothing to do with going crazy, or having long crevices along ones body (which is not only gross, but unrealistic) 'crack me up' is a phrase that here means: "You make me laugh so hard, and I appreciate your brand of humor so much, even though you're turning my into another Lemony Snicket" ;) Ah! You've forgotten about GRIMI? You poor girl. Actually, you weren't there, so you wouldn't have 'forgotten' because you never- OH you get the idea. ;) Grimi (full name, Grimi-son-of-Grimy) is the so-called 'dwarved bodygaurd' I hired to help me with the Cliffie-Mob on Iston, I Know. He's back, and being no more help than usual. He's too short. ;)
Yes, you're a nice girl, None. You get a post. ;) I'm sorry, but I can't answer any of those questions you asked. *sigh* BUT, what I can do is hum innocently as though I have no CLUE what you're talking about! Yeah? No? Okay. ;)
Hey Larus! Nice to see you again. :) Yeah, pain to Aragorn tends to be inevitable, doesn't it? ;) Hey, is that quote of yours from Viidesviidettä runo? I was just wondering. It sounded familiar. :) Well, good luck on your exam! (don't let me distract you, and certainly don't let Legolas and Aragorn ;)
Don't worry, szhismine, everything will be answered eventually. Valar knows HOW many times you've been told that, but oh well. ;) No Bengwiil? Aw, you're so kind. *finishes feedback* eh…right, here's the post!! ;)
*grins* was that REALLY you and your sister, Malfina? If so, then you two sound SO much like my sister Hannah and I! :D Of course, the post in question is generally Cassia and Siobhan's, not mine, but you know. ;) I'm so glad you (two?) are enjoying this!!! :)
EEEEEEAH! Someone GET IN HERE! Kaeera's not supposed to KNOW about the ff.net conspiracy!!! ;) And you don't want to join my club? Well, I'm not hurt. You're a victim of it, and out of sympathy, I won't pester you. ;)
*giggle* THANK you Rosie! :) Yeah, my sister says that I'm going to give her nightmares. ;) I'm so glad you're enjoying it! Had a feeling about Bengwiil? Yeah, thought you might. Me too, so I wrote it. Doye. :P Hantach, mellon nin!
Hehe…got a lotta questions, eh Raven? ;) Well, let's see if I can answer some…
Q.) WHY!? WHY?! WHY?!
A.) Can't say, Never mind, and Wait and See!
Q.) Where in the name of Elbereth did Thranduil GET Bengwiil?
A.) Uh…someplace.
Q.) Is he plot device, or CAN I PLEASE HURT HIM!!!?
A.) Yes, and NO! Yes, he's a plot device, ergo NO, can't kill him, sorry. ;)
Comment.) My friend is adoring Iston, and says thanks for writing it.
Response.) Oooh how SWEET of your friend! Tell her, thanks for reading it! ;)
Comment.) I found out that Mornaeg means "dark pain" in elvish and now am quite concerned....
Response.) "dark pain" mmm? Well, I must say that's VERY interesting…:D
Comment.) Please put up the next chapter before I go completely insane.
Response.) Woah, wait. GO insane? Are you implying that you AREN'T insane? Oh but RAVEN! You are one of my favorite nutsoid-reviewers! Don't stop now!! ;)
Awww, you're so NICE to me, Aurienia! You and Halo stand as the ONLY ones who stand up for me. Everyone else is having too much fun trying to kill me, but that's constructive too. ;) And I don't think you're evil. Just slightly strange. LIKE ME!! *hugs soul-mate* Thanks for standing by me! Here, have an Estel-plushie. ;)
*grin* SO glad you enjoyed it, Angel of the Elves! :) Hm…you've got some CREEPY ideas, girl! ;) Cool, though! REALLY cool. :D As to how accurate it is, well…*Cassia Grin* :O) Sorry! ;)
AHCK! *pulls Grimi out of Astaldocalwen's way* DON'T HURT MY stupid BODYGAURD!!! Please? ;) True, he's slow, ugly, not my friend, has bad eating habits, hates the color pink, and hides his York Peppermint Patty collection where it is NOT wanted (aka, my pillowcase) but he's STILL the only bodygaurd I've GOT! Oh yeah, and his father's name was, of all things, Grimy, but really. Can we hold THAT against him? :P
Yeah, you are BRIGHT, shauna! ;) Sorry, but as usual, I can't answer ANY of your questions. *sigh* ah, well. You'll find out eventually anyway. :)
*blink*…*blink blink* Woah, eepeepeep. Thank you? Okay, I don't know HOW to respond! ;) Blue-ribbon angst and drama? WOW! Hantach again and again, eep, or whatever it is people call you when they don't want to have to say eepeepeep. ;) But please, no Chloe-Cliffy chants. We'd like to keep it as quiet as possible around here, despite the growing mob. ;)
KELLEN!!!! My darling, dearest, daer (greatest). I missed you, GIRL! I'm glad you could make it to the computer, despite the construction workers. You're a braaave girl, Kellen! ;) You like Mornaeg? Oooh good! I had a fun time writing him. :) Most are assuming what you've suggested, though. "Mornaeg: bad guy in disguise!!!" ;) Evil? Creepy? Dark? Mysterious? Ooooh HANTACH, Kellen! :) You're so sweet. ;) No worries 'bout the Rule Book either. Especially since it seems that that ELF of yours has that under wraps. *pauses* THAT'S NOT FAIR! At least YOUR guide is TALLER than you!!! *kicks a dirt-clod across the ground at Grimi*…*it smacks the midget in the head, and knocks the pathetic excuse for a grasshopper of a bodygaurd over into a mud-puddle-sized heap*…figures. :| Wow, I can't EVEN begin to respond to all the fabulous feedback you gave me, girl. :) Thank you SO much!!! It's nice to have those sweet specifics on-hand at times. Makes one feel so GREAT inside, even when they're feeling crumby about their plots….I'm probably making ZILTCH sense, but oh well. ;) Hantach maer mellon nin, melthach im! (thank you my good friend, I love you!)
:)
Yeah, I've never DONE Thranduil Angst before, gwyn, so I hope it works. :) Sorry about your review. :( That happened to me once, when I was posting on one of Cassia and Siobhan's stories. The WHOLE 3-page thing got erased. (no, 3 pages isn't an exaggeration ;) Ah well. The thought's what counts, and I'm SO glad you were willing to write it all in the first place. :) Lego-plushie? FOR ME?! Wow, I'm going to be the Lego-plushie-QUEEN by the time this is over!…I don't know how to feel about that… ;)
Well, guys, once more, I've talked your ear off. Sorry! But here is the post, finally. ;)
Off we go!
Chapter 6
Impossible Circumstances
If Legolas' mouth went dry, he didn't notice. His heart sank into the pit of his stomach, and for a moment he didn't breathe. Thranduil sat beside him, completely silent after the revelation. He had known that Legolas wouldn't take it well, and waited for his son to begin yelling. But when Legolas spoke, his voice was broken, and the sound ripped the elven father's heart in two.
"Father? Tell me you have not." Thranduil wanted to run from the room, but looked up to meet his son's gaze. The look in Legolas' eyes was heartrending.
"Legolas, I thought- he is well now!"
"He is not. He can't be…" the door swung open at this, and father and son looked up. Aragorn stood in the doorway. His blue gaze went slowly from Thranduil's pale completion, to Legolas large, and frightened eyes. He turned away at this last look, for he just couldn't stand it.
"You have told him." Was all he said, and he slowly closed the door behind him.
"I have." Thranduil responded wearily, and looked a little relieved to have Aragorn with them. Surely Legolas would be more at ease once Aragorn explained everything. But his hopes were in vain.
"You…knew?" Legolas' voice shook, and his silver eyes pierced Aragorn's blue ones as the human approached the huge bed. "You knew. You let them use Bengwiil. After all we went through, Aragorn! After all that, you *let* them use Bengwiil on you?! Have you forgotten those horror-filled nights in Gabil Gû ndu? Have you?!"
"Legolas, please." Aragorn sat down on the bed, slowly, never once taking his eyes off Legolas'. "I did not *let* them. They forced me to. But it *was* the only thing to do." He added quickly, when Legolas' sharp eyes hit his father. "I would have definitely died, had your father not given me Bengwiil, Legolas. You know this. It was the only thing that could be done."
Legolas held his friends gaze a long moment, and then let go of it, closing his eyes with a heavy sigh. "Then there is no hope. You are not back. My father has only bought you more time."
"No, Legolas." Aragorn reached for Legolas' knee, but the gesture didn't give the elf any comfort. "I *am* back. I am well."
"You can't be well." Legolas' voice was low and heavy with disappointment. "It can't make you well, Aragorn. Bengwiil is no medicine. It is a poison."
"You'll see, Legolas. You'll see I am well now. Perhaps I didn't eat enough of it to affect me that much."
"Minaeg, the first elf to eat this plant, he only ate one leaf, and it tormented him until his death, Aragorn. And you are a human! The affects will be, if anything, worse for this reason. Not better."
The three were silent a moment before Aragorn spoke next. "I'll prove it, Legolas. You will agree soon enough. I am well. Well, Legolas. Truly and permanently well." Aragorn tried to put every ounce of reassurance and honesty he possessed into his words, but Legolas was clearly unmoved. He sat still as ice, a fixed expression of stony acceptance on his face.
Aragorn, giving up, rose from the bed, patting Legolas' knee a few times before leaving. "Come, your majesty. Perhaps your son needs only some rest."
"Yes, Aragorn, thank you." Thranduil nodded to Aragorn, and smiled. The look was a little too fake-looking, though the elfking tried to look reassured. Anyone could tell, by looking at Legolas, that he hadn't taken any of the comfort his father and friend offered him. Only the horrible truth.
Thranduil too rose from the bed, and leaned over to Legolas' pointed ear. "He went through a lot that night, Legolas. It was not an easy thing for him to accept that he'd taken Bengwiil. He is better than before. You are making it harder on him to stay that way. You must control yourself, Legolas." Thranduil hoped that the sharp tone would maybe get through to his son. If it did, it didn't show on Legolas' face that he could see.
Thranduil laid a brief hand on Aragorn's shoulder as he left the dark room. Aragorn nodded a goodnight to him, and turned pale eyes back on Legolas. The elf still sat completely still except for the rise and fall of his chest.
"Legolas? Legolas, please don't be angry with me. I- I didn't want them to do it. That is why I started screaming for you. I was so frightened…but it's over now. I see that. Perhaps-" Aragorn stared at Legolas his whole speech, but never once did the prince so much as blink. Frustration rose up inside of the human, and he couldn't contain it anymore. "So I cannot even speak with you now?! You are *so* sure that you know what is wrong. You are completely unwilling to look past your own fear and see that truth! All day I have tried to get through to you, to make you feel better. It is not I that has changed, but you. *you* are the one who is closed up in your frightening memories! I can't talk to you, Legolas. Don't you think that hurts me?!" Aragorn couldn't take the unchanging look on his friend's face anymore. "Goodnight." He finished flatly, and turned from the room, closing the door loudly.
Legolas didn't move for awhile. Both his father's and his friend's words had struck him too deep for it to show on the surface. He didn't know what he'd looked like to them, but pain, fear and complete despairing disappointment had clouded his heart. He wasn't thinking much of anything accept the simple truth. Aragorn was going to die, and the human didn't even know it. And now, all Legolas could do was watch and wait for his friend to leave him.
His eyes began to sting, and he was forced to blink. A salty tear rolled down his cheek, sliding smoothly into the crease of his lips. He barely noticed the faint salty taste on his tongue, being too wrapped up in his thoughts.
He *wanted* to believe Aragorn. He wanted to think he was going to be fine. But he knew better. Bengwiil could only kill it's victim. There was no way he could think of to save his friend. Unless…
Legolas mind whirled back unwillingly, but excitedly to that long-ago night in Rivendell. Elrond! Of course.
Brushing his tears hastily away, Legolas staggered out of bed, and ran down the hall. He pushed open the all-too familiar door, and ran into the room. "Aragorn?"
The human was already sitting on the edge of his bed, getting into his borrowed night-tunic. He slid the tunic the rest of the way over his head, and turned, surprised, to Legolas. "Legolas. What is it?" His eyes were expectant, and Legolas suddenly understood the cause of his unexpected outburst a few moments ago. The sudden frustration he'd felt seemed to wash away in expectation. Legolas realized that he was relieved to see his friend happy again. Truly happy.
"Aragorn." Legolas moved to the bed, and leaned against on of it's four posts. "Listen. I know how we can fix all of this. I will take you to your father. He can heal you, surely."
"I don't *need* to be healed, Legolas." Legolas was surprised at Aragorn's sudden sullenness. The human looked into his lap, and didn't raise his voice above a grumble, but the elf tried to carry on with his plan.
"My father has bought you some more time. It should be enough time to make it through Mirkwood, over the Misty Mountains, and to Rivendell again. It will work, Aragorn."
"But as I've said, I don't need to, Legolas. Why bother?"
"It would ease my mind at the least." Legolas sighed, looking at the back of Aragorn's head pleadingly. There was a long silence, before Legolas received his answer.
"No."
Legolas couldn't believe his ears. "What?"
"I will not be dragged back to my home, my father and brothers, all because *you* are getting worried over me. What would he do anyway? Take one look at me, say I am indeed better? All that for nothing."
"Is my peace nothing, Aragorn?" Legolas didn't want to speak of such things, but couldn't help the automatic question. His tired heart seemed to push the words out of his mouth. Aragorn finally looked up, and his gaze was torn between shame at his quick words, and determination to stay by them. But he did not answer, and only looked away again.
Finally, he spoke, but still said nothing of Legolas' comment. "I am well now, Legolas. You must believe me. Just trust me, my friend. Just trust me, please?" His voice was finally calm and more like the tone Legolas recognized in him.
But the prince couldn't take this phrase over and over. He was tired of hearing "I am well, Legolas." How could he believe it? He knew just too much about Bengwiil to take even his best friend at his word.
Leaning his head against the bedpost, he sighed and closed his eyes. "It is all wrong, Aragorn. Can you not feel it? You cannot possibly-"
"I am *well* Legolas!" Legolas opened his eyes again, and touched Aragorn's angry gaze with his own tired one. "Why must I keep saying this? Do you not believe me?"
Legolas shook his head slowly, and studied his feet awhile. "Aragorn, don't you think I *want* to believe you? Don't you think I want to believe you are indeed well? But I cannot. I can't because I know what Bengwiil can do. I know it too well, Aragorn." He looked up again, gazing hard at Aragorn. "It is not I that must believe you, my friend, but you must believe me now. This plant has not healed you. It will do you no good."
"Is there any way, whatsoever I can convince you otherwise, Legolas?" Aragorn's voice was tired, and sounded as frustrated as Legolas felt.
"Go to Elrond, Aragorn."
Aragorn held his friend's gaze a long moment, and for that moment, Legolas thought that maybe he was actually going to agree. But he then turned away. "No, Legolas. I will not go back to Rivendell."
Legolas nodded, and the lump growing in his throat began to hurt. He couldn't stay in here any longer. It was too much for one evening. It had been too much hours ago when he had laid down to sleep, but now it seemed overwhelming to the point that he had to get away.
He went quickly to the door, and swung it open, but stopped. He turned to Aragorn again, desperate to get through. "If you die, I am going to have to stand by and know that I could do something about it. Don't you understand this? You *are* going to die!" Legolas couldn't hold back the tears in his voice, and his almost chocked on his last words. "You are going to leave me here with nothing but a head-full of bitter memories. You're going to die, Aragorn. You're going t-" His throat seemed to close-up, and he turned, and fled down the hallway.
Legolas flopped hard onto his bed, and buried his face in his arms. He couldn't take this! Since the day they'd left to hunt in Mirkwood what seemed like eons ago, everything had gone wrong. And it had taken them here. Here where Aragorn would die. He just couldn't take it anymore. And slowly, tear after tear slid down the elf's face, and spattered the mattress bellow with salty watermarks.
**********
"I'm sorry, Legolas, I'm sorry! I did not mean it. Any of it. I'm sorry." Aragorn dried his eyes on his sleeve and tried to steady his shaky breath. "I-I'll go with you. I will go to Rivendell with you, Legolas, I will." The human finally decided it was silly to lie here, apologizing to his pillow rather than his hurting friend. Swallowing his pride with a deep breath, he pushed himself off the bed. He didn't know why he'd said all that to Legolas anyway. He didn't mind going back to his father *that* much. Not really.
For a moment, the fleeting thought that Bengwiil *had* in fact altered his mind, flashed through his thoughts. But he up this suspicion away for now.
Aragorn's head whirled, and a sudden nausea overtook him. He stumbled numbly back onto the bed, and laid down. Perhaps he had cried himself sick. Though, he hadn't cried that long…at any rate, he would tell Legolas of his decision in the morning. And with a slightly lighter heart, Aragorn stared into the darkness of his room, and thought hard over what Legolas had said about the Bengwiil. Until sleep came.
His friend was not so fortunate. Legolas lay awake for hours, weeping until he was too tired to even whisper to himself anymore. He lay, looking out at the night-sky, wishing that the clouds weren't covering the canopy of stars. Slowly, his weary mind came to a conclusion. He would leave. He had to leave. He'd argued with himself for hours enough over whether to stay or go. He wanted desperately to stay by Aragorn to the end, but knew he would never be able to stand being beside him while he lived the rest of his days ignorance of his fate.
Legolas nodded, and buried his face in his arms again. He would go to Rivendell early the next morning. Perhaps he could tell Elrond of his son's illness, and the father could come there in time to say goodbye. But it would be too late to save him then, and Legolas knew it.
So this was it. He would never see Aragorn again.
This was his final thought, accompanied by the last words Legolas could remember speaking that night. "It's not fair, Aragorn. You deserved better. You would have been great, son of Isildur, I know. You would have…I know…Iston…"
:D I know, you're probably thinking: "What in the WORLD is she doing, coming back here like this? Ah well, perfect opportunity to SHOOT her anyway. She of the AWFUL cliffies and…"
*gulp*
…and something like that…
BUT, I wanted to do a little helpful advertising for Cassia and Siobhan. Some of you may not have read Cassia and Sio's stuff (likely MOST of you have at least heard of them) But at any rate, they have this new store going on their site to help raise money to keep the Mellon Chronicles site running.
Now, you don't HAVE to have read Mellon Chronicles to enjoy this stuff. You like Legolas? Aragorn? Just take a look at their Elf and Ranger merchandise! It's really cool, AND it would be a huge help to them if you could contribute by buying from it. :)
Take a look!
If you have any questions, contact Cassia at: cassia_a@hotmail.com
Well, I think I should go into hiding for now.
NIRO LIM, GRIMI! Pick up your feet!!!…