Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story that appear in the world-renown bestseller, The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkein. I do, however, own any original characters seen here.
A/N: There is a part in here where Legolas has several flashbacks. Note that some of these flashbacks ARE movieverse, although I don't remember the exact words.
Storm Clouds
By
Brin~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 5: Game, Set, Match.
Eve didn't sleep that night. She arrived home around 9 o'clock. Trent was fast asleep in the living room with the TV on. After covering him with a blanket, she turned it off and went into her makeshift bedroom, which consisted of a mattress, a desk, a chair, a light, and her laptop. She immediately got online and went into the chat room where she got all her hints and resources.
You have entered Chat Room "1133387"
Eve12347: Hey all. I need some info.
ShadowandCape: Wut/Who about?
Eve12347: I need some1 to look ^ info on CHRIS BOWMAN, a Seattle police officer, and send it to me ASAP. All his records.
BlacknBluish5560: Y?
Eve12347: Cuz it's very important 2 me. Please!
GuyWitPasswords9999: Okay, I'm on it.
Eve12347: Thanx!
Eve sat back to wait and, sure enough, in about two minutes an email popped up on her screen from GuyWitPasswords9999. She opened it and began reading:
Name: Chris BowmanDOB: December 1, 1975
Birthplace: Manchester, London
Current Residence: Seattle, Washington
Occupation: Detective
Hair: BlondeEyes: Blue
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 145
Medical Conditions: None
Medical History: N/A
Blood Type: AB-
Body Markings: Tattoo of a broken arrow on left bicep
Crimes: Accused with suspected involvement with The Goblins, found not guilty.
Eve suddenly stopped reading. What?! Chris was trying to expose The Goblins, wasn't he? A wave of panic washed over her. But… but there were a few things about him that still confused her… like how he had shown up at exactly the right time in The Wood. Or why he was afraid of hospitals… And what was up with his giant castle in the middle of nowhere? She began to involuntarily shake and felt nauseated. It couldn't be… No, he wouldn't. He wouldn't work with The Goblins… would he?
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Legolas led Aeriela through his library, which contained even more books than his main hallway did. He went up and down the shelves, mumbling things to himself in Elvish, which was a language that Aeriela spoke only in bits and pieces despite her royal Elven blood. She caught only one familiar word, which happened to be a curse word that she didn't care to mention.
"Um, King Legolas, what exactly are you looking for?" she asked as he slid down another aisle, out of sight.
"The book Gandalf gave to me during our travels… it contains every piece of knowledge he could recover and some of his comments on the history of Middle Earth as well." He ducked farther into the maze of shelves. "I would ask Arthur, but he hasn't owned a phone since World War I and I wouldn't go down to his store right now if my very life depended on it."
"I'm afraid you must explain to me about the Book. I've heard the legends… but fact and fiction have become blended in my family," Aeriela admitted as she tried in vain to figure out where he kept darting off to.
Legolas's footsteps stopped for a split second, then he started moving back the way he came, towards Aeriela. "The Book is bound to my family through my father Thranduil, who wrote most of it… he filled it with the all his knowledge, including the history of Middle Earth and the coming of our current age, the Post-Devastation age. At the end he included his personal diary—his thoughts, his dreams, his nightmares—from the moment he learned to write to the day he died. I wrote the last entry for him." He suddenly popped out in front of Aeriela, making her yelp in surprise. "The Book is like the One Ring in the sense that it calls to me, its master, though it has no power like the Ring did."
"So… what is so special about it besides that?"
"Thranduil, in the thousands of years between the fall of Mirkwood and his death, created a new dialect of Elvish. Elrond and I are the only ones who can permanently read it."
"Permanently?"
"The Book awakens when it feels danger approaching its master, meaning me. Elrond is not bound to it, but since he has read the words inscribed in its pages he is often employed as its… messenger of sorts. He is, unconsciously of course, instructed by the Book to choose someone to awaken it. That person is temporarily gifted with the ability to read from its pages… then, he or she is to bring the Book to me." He sighed.
"Then why… why do you despair? The Book is warning you of what to come. I would see that as more of a blessing than a curse."
Legolas locked eyes with her. "Aeriela, the history of the Book delves deeper than I could ever explain. It drove my father to the point of insanity with its whispers of things that do not exist. And… and when I am near it I have no power over my mind as it invades my thoughts, my fears…" His voice trailed off and his eyes traveled from her face to the shelf directly above her. "You found it, Aeriela!" He jumped up and grabbed a book from right above her head and tucked it under his arm.
Aeriela grinned nervously.
"Come with me. I'll try to explain further." He walked at a more leisurely pace to a table in the middle of the library and opened the book and blew dust from the pages.
Aeriela looked over the text, written in Elvish. "Wow… this is… this is great!"
Legolas nodded and turned the page. "Gandalf told me that the immortal body requires immortal knowledge… this is everything he knew at the time we traveled together." He turned the page again and began to read out loud, only in Elvish. Aeriela marveled at the sound of her native tongue spoken to easily and smoothly.
Her family had briefly started their own kingdom after Rivendell was all but deserted, but they had been too close to a city of Men and the kingdom hadn't lasted long. Only her great, great, great grandfather and grandmother understood Elvish fluently, and even then their speech was clipped and broken, like sticks were in their mouths as they spoke. She envied and admired Legolas at the same time for his ability to speak their language so naturally.
Legolas continued to read for about a minute, then he stopped and looked up at Aeriela. "Do you know what it is that I said?"
Aeriela shook her head. "I was not raised in the Elven tongue as you were."
"I said," began Legolas as they both sat down, "loosely translated: 'When the days grow dark and the nights stretch like a taut bowstring, the world remembers the shift in balance when Thranduil, King of Mirkwood, began work on the Book, which contained knowledge forbidden to most and unknown by almost all save a precious few. Into this Book he poured his soul's hostility and wisdom, his words forever burning in the minds of those who read the secret text.'" He stopped and turned a few more pages. "From there on is what I have already told you… and here is where we get to the good part…"
Aeriela peeked over his shoulder.
"'In the depths of Mirkwood, Thranduil has kept the Book a secret from all but Elrond, Galadriel, and I. Even his son Legolas does not know of its existence… but that will soon change. Thranduil has bound—through blood—the Book to himself and his posterity, leaving within them the duty to learn and study the terrible knowledge inside it. Should Legolas inherit this Book, I fear his mind will fall under its spell and he shall be fated to suffer the same empty life as his father.
"'But the worst thing I know of the Book is the fact that if it falls into the wrong hands at the right time it could be the strategic key to conquering Middle Earth, for Thranduil is no fool; he knows the art of war very well and has also added in the tactics of Lórien and Rivendell… making them weak to enemy attack.
"'The Book cannot be destroyed. It's power cannot be altered or doused. It is all at once the most destructive thing on Middle Earth and the key to rebuilding a broken universe.'" Legolas stopped and closed the book. "You must remember these words, Queen Aeriela, for should I die in this war we have started, I could think of no better person to keep this knowledge from the humans."
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Eve finally collapsed into bed around 5:00 AM, falling into a fitful sleep. Her mind was numb from worry and full of questions…
She woke up one hour later, took a cold shower, and went to school. The day seemed like a blur; the only thoughts going through her head were of Chris… Legolas… whatever his name was. Luckily, it was the last day before Winter Break. She got three weeks off to sort things out and, of course, investigate.
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"Look, Eve, I've got to get to work. A few people have gone out sick so I'm gonna have to be working overtime a lot. Will you be okay here?" asked Trent, gathering his coat into his arms.
Eve nodded. "I'll be fine."
Trent smiled and left, making sure to lock the door behind him. As soon as he was gone, Eve picked up the phone and dialed a number she had only used twice before.
"Hello?"
Eve bit her lip. "Hi, Eddie?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The night was cold and bitter, the wind hitting Eve's face like knives. She shivered and hugged herself as if it would make the cold go away. She had been walking for over ten minutes now, and her toes were growing numb.
"I'm gonna kill Trent for taking the car," Eve growled through chattering teeth. It wasn't long, however, before she reached her destination: an average-sized brick house with absolutely no landscaping. She bounded up the walkway and rang the doorbell before stepping back and waiting.
The door opened a crack and a single yellow eye stared out at her. "Who is it?"
"Eve," said the young woman. "Open up." She rattled the doorknob and the door flew open immediately.
An old man with one yellow eye and one white eye stepped out and hugged Eve as tight as he could manage in his old age. "Eve! How have you been?!"
"Just fine, Eddie," she said, hugging him back. "I see you're doing well."
Eddie smiled. "As well as an old man with one eye and half a brain can do." He stepped back, allowing her to come inside. "I understand you have a few questions to ask me about a certain police officer?"
"Well…" She took a seat on his couch. "That and something else."
"Let me get you some tea," the old man said, scurrying away.
"Um… you don't have to…" Eve stopped herself and just shook her head. There was no sense in protesting.
"So," called Eddie from his small kitchen, "Fire away. I'm ready for whatever you've got." The sound of clanking pots was heard.
Eve sighed. "Well, Eddie, about a week ago I met this detective named Chris Bowman and—"
Suddenly, Eddie emerged from the kitchen, a dripping tea bag in his hand. He stared, wide-eyed at the young woman a long time. "Did you just say Chris Bowman? The Chris Bowman?"
"Well, a Chris Bowman."
"About six feet, blonde hair, blue eyes, sock hat?"
Eve nodded. "Yeah, that would be him."
The tea totally forgotten, Eddie came over and sank down on the couch next to a perplexed Eve. He suddenly more withered and weak than before, his eyes filling with something akin to sorrow but closer to remorse. "Eve, Chris Bowman is the very symbol of disaster. You must stay away from him."
The young woman's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"
Eddie took her hand and patted it with a rueful smile. "Your hands are clean, Eve… there is no blood here. Chris Bowman's hands are covered with the blood of thousands, maybe millions."
"What? How is that possible?"
"Chris Bowman is not who he seems to be. I met him sixty years ago, when I was your age," explained Eddie quietly. "He was young and ambitious man fresh out of the navy… or he seemed to be, anyway. We became good friends over the course of two years and when I started getting into politics he gave me advice that was so good I could've won over the nation and become president over night… but, as soon I started running for office he disappeared. His records and files were all gone from the national database. It was as if he never existed."
"Did you ever find him again?" asked Eve quietly.
"Yes. Unfortunately I did," replied the old man, staring off into space. "I found him half-dead on the side of the road with a three-foot spear driven right through his leg and into the ground, pinning him there. He should've died from that, but he didn't. In fact, I took him to the hospital and he got surgery, then he escaped from his room and vanished once again. Of course, I went after him and located him in an old bookstore downtown called the Pinewood library." He took a deep breath and looked at Eve solemnly. "He was reading from a book in some strange language and when he did, his body healed over. Right before my very eyes. His wounds just closed, not even leaving a scar… but whatever magic, for lack of a better word, he used had obviously drained him because he fell to the ground and remained unconscious for a week."
Eve's eyes widened. "And… and what did he do after you saw this?"
"You've seen him do something like this too, haven't you?" asked Eddie, his voice full of fear.
"I've seen him attend a council full of people with jeweled crowns. I've seen him predict the exact moment a Goblin attack is going to occur…and I've seen his castle."
Eddie gasped. "You saw his castle? And you lived?"
"Yes… why?"
"The only reason I still stand here today is because Chris trusted me. I told him I would never tell a soul unless they inquired about him directly… and I reasoned with him that no on would possibly ask something like that about him so he agreed," said the old man. "I am sorry this burden has been placed upon you."
"What burden?"
Eddie put his hand on her shoulder. "Chris is a burden within himself. His presence brings nothing but pain and unanswered questions… have you read from the Book yet?"
"The Book…?"
"In the Pinewood."
Eve's chest tightened. "Yes, yes I've read the book."
"Then danger is coming. You must get out of Seattle, Eve! If you stay here you will face the same fate as me… to be dragged into an underground war between two ancient races so powerful we can't even fathom their existence!" urged Eddie.
"No. I can't just leave because of this!" protested the young woman, standing up. "I have to stay and fight!"
Eddie hung his head, knowing there was no arguing with Eve when she set her mind to something. "Very well then."
"Look, I gotta go," said Eve, moving towards the door. "Thanks for the info." She opened the door and was about to leave, when Eddie said:
"Eve."
She stopped and turned to look at him. "What?"
"Beware of the one who wields power greater than himself."
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"YAAAH!" Legolas locked swords with his sparring opponent, sparks flying everywhere from the impact. They began a test of strength, then Legolas brought his foot up and kicked his adversary in the chest, sending him reeling backwards.
"He fights like Men," commented Garuend as he watched Legolas and Therun battle. "It is shameful to watch an Elf use such tactics."
Elrond shook his head and winced a bit as Legolas punched Therun across the face with the hilt of his sword. "As long as it keeps him alive and kills the enemy, Garuend, we are in no position to criticize."
Therun recovered from Legolas's punch quickly and swung for Legolas's sword arm. Legolas stepped to one side and kicked Therun in the back of the knees, causing him to fall down, then hit him on the back of the head, rendering him unconscious.
"Impressive, Legolas," called Elrond. "It's been awhile since you've wielded a sword."
Legolas opened his mouth to say something, but a twig snapped behind him and he clamped his jaw shut. Elrond and Garuend, who hadn't heard it, looked at him strangely.
"What's wrong, King Legolas?" asked Garuend with a hint of a sneer in his voice.
Legolas smirked at him, then did a back flip and landed right behind the goblin who had been trying to ambush them. The goblin screamed and began to turn around, but as soon as it did—
THHHLCK!
Elrond and Garuend both cringed as the goblin's lifeless, bloody body hit the ground… and then its head.
"You were saying, Elrond?" asked Legolas, wiping his sword on the ground.
"I was saying," began Lord Elrond, shooting Garuend a smirk, "that it has been awhile since you've fought with the sword, but you have lost none of your touch."
Legolas nodded and stepped over the body. "I do my best."
Garuend crossed his arms over his chest. "How did that goblin get in here? You said your grounds were safe!"
"I told my guards to let one through," said Legolas with a shrug.
"Why would you do that?!"
"Because I can't fight my own guards to the death, now can I?" reasoned the blonde Elf as he sheathed his sword. "And I needed to see if my resolve to kill is still as fresh as it was thousands of years ago."
Elrond sighed and looked up at Legolas's huge castle. "Where is Aeriela? She said she'd be present."
Legolas walked over to his two elder Elves. "She said she had some business to attend to and will be back later. Come, we have much to talk about and very little time to do so."
"What do you mean?" asked Garuend, crossing his arms over his chest. "In case you have forgotten, King Legolas, we are immortal and have all the time in the world."
Legolas looked at Garuend for a long time, his eyes scrutinizing. When Garuend finally began to squirm under Legolas's intense gaze, Legolas spoke: "After living so long and through so much, it is easy to tell when you are about to die. There is a shadow of doom growing in my mind, and it tells me my end is near. Do you not feel that, Garuend?"
Garuend shook his head.
"Well then…I guess you are less perceptive than I thought."
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"Beware the one who wields power greater than himself," Eve repeated for the umpteenth time in the last five minutes. She was sitting on her couch, deep in thought. "What the hell could he mean by that?" A few more minutes passed before:
KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK.
Eve's head jerked up. She stared at the door as if it were going to jump to life and bit her head off. "Who's there?" she called nervously.
"It's Nicki. Eve, it's imperative that I speak with you."
Rising from the couch, Eve undid the deadbolt and opened the door tentatively. "What are you doing here?"
Nicki looked around to make sure no one was watching and entered the room. "Eve, were you the one to awaken the book?"
"What?"
"Eve, were you at the Pinewood library today?"
"Yes."
"Did you read from a book with strange writing?"
Eve hesitated a moment before quietly answering, "I did."
Nicki looked down at the ground. "Eve, what I have come here to do could get me exiled for all eternity, but I am willing to do it."
"What? Why?"
Nicki raised her eyes and stared into Eve's. "I am here to tell you all you wish to know about me, Legolas, and all the others." She licked her lips nervously. "The only reason I take this chance is because Legolas, or Chris as you know him, is in danger. That is why the Book has been awakened. And because you are the one who awoke it, you are the only one who can help him now."
Eve gulped. "Danger?"
"The Elves have waged war against the goblins. King Legolas is leading the defense, meaning any attack on our grounds will be met with a counter-attack from him."
"So you are an Elf," whispered Eve. "Please, sit down!"
Nicki nodded and tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing her ears completely. Eve gasped. They were not big, floppy ears as seen in Christmas cartoons, but delicately carved into a triangular shape. "You are wise and cunning beyond your ears, Daughter of Gondor. Not many discover our secret so quickly or so easily." She took a seat on Eve's couch, Eve quickly following.
Eve resisted the urge to touch Nicki's ears. "Wow this is… this is amazing, Nicki!" She paused long enough to frown. "But wait… is your real name Aeriela?"
"You may call me Aeriela if you wish, but in public I am always Nicki." Aeriela got down on her knees and bowed her head. "Daughter of Gondor, I ask one thing of you."
"What?"
"I, Queen Aeriela of the fallen kingdom of Deerwood, ask of you, Eve, Daughter of Gondor, to help me save the life of King Legolas of the fallen Mirkwood, by aiding me in persuading him not to fight in this war."
Eve's eyes widened. "Me? Why me? You're his girlfriend!"
Aeriela laughed. "His girlfriend? Eve, is that what you think?"
Eve shrugged, feeling like a foolish child as the blood rushed to her cheeks for shouting out something like that as if she had no manners. What business did she have in Chris's personal affairs, after all? Even as her mind reasoned this, however, a wave of jealously washed over her as she remembered how Aeriela and Legolas had talked so long and so emotionally with each other at that secret Council.
The Elf smiled and stood up. "King Legolas is like a brother to me and our age difference exceeds ten thousand years."
"Oh come on!" protested the young woman, eyes twinkling mischievously. "Don't tell me you haven't ever had a crush on him. I mean, he's pretty cute…"
Aeriela chuckled. "Once, three hundred years ago, Legolas and I were together." She looked down at her hands and her smile faded. "I remember it perfectly. We had just won a small war with a group of especially rebellious goblins who were destroying parts of New England, where we resided at the time. Legolas was so happy; happier than I had ever seen him. His father, Thranduil, was there and they were like best friends. We had known each other for about ten years by then. He asked me to dance and literally swept me off my feet. He's always been a charmer…"
Eve felt her heart tighten as Aeriela paused for a long while. "And?"
"And a few months later his ship disappeared at sea." She smiled ruefully. "He has always, always loved the sea. It's been like an obsession for him… but, anyway, the reports came in that he had hit a hurricane and his ship had sunk. It was one hundred years before I ever saw him again."
"How did he survive?"
Aeriela sighed and nibbled on her lip before replying: "He floated ten miles back to land, somewhere in Canada, and was caught up in some French war. After that, he wasn't allowed to return to New England because he had betrayed the French in an attempt to escape to New England."
Eve shook her head and patted Aeriela's hand. "You must've been heartbroken."
"I still had a piece of him with me. Two pieces, actually." She smiled. "One lock of his hair and his son, Chris."
Eve suddenly felt faint. She smacked her hand to her forehead. "His… you… you had his son?!" Oops, she thought, another invasion of privacy there, you idiot!
Aeriela guiltily stared down at her feet, a blush creeping up her neck. "Yes, I did. But," tears began to form in her eyes, "Young Chris drowned when he was accidentally knocked unconscious and fell into the water. He was age five in human terms when it happened."
"Oh. I'm sorry."
"Chris's death took its toll on us both. Legolas became a different man; colder, harder, and distrusting. We cancelled our engagement and became nothing more than friends as if nothing had happened between us. We have not even discussed our son's death since he died. So you see… the time for Legolas and me has been and gone."
Eve considered this carefully. "I—I didn't know."
"Of course you didn't. It's okay to be curious, Eve, and I have developed enough patience in my lifetime to endure anything." She smiled. "But be careful. Legolas's charm can be used two ways: 1) to get what he wants and 2) to prevent himself from being put into uncomfortable or stressful situations."
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This was the last Council to be held before the Elves declared war on the goblins. There were delegates from every Elven bloodline present, plus a few special guests…
"Welcome, Madoc Baggins, Drogo Brandybuck, Meriadoc Gamgee, and Bungo Took, to the House of Legolas in what remains of the fallen Mirkwood," said Elrond, bowing his head as the four hobbits entered.
Legolas stared at the halfings intently, his eyes wide. They were the mirror images of the four hobbits who had traveled in the Fellowship, though a bit taller by necessity and obviously not quite as naïve of the terrors of the world as their ancestors. There were exactly three hundred seventy-three hobbits left in the world, most of them living in small farming or fishing towns in the more uninhabited parts of the world.
"Thank you for inviting us," said Madoc, shaking Legolas's hand. "Your story has been passed down for many generations, King Legolas. I hope you can tell us the truth about my ancestor, Frodo Baggins, for fact has become fiction and fiction has become fact over the years."
"Of course, Mr. Baggins," said Legolas, trying not to show emotion though his heart was unwillingly bringing back images of Frodo Baggins, causing tears to try and spring to his eyes… but, after thousands of years of practice, he easily got his emotions in check and put on a straight face.
The four hobbits sat down just as the door was opened and three more figures entered the room. Some of the older Elves visibly tensed.
"Welcome Oin, Balin, and Gimli, descendents of the Dwarf heroes bearing the same names," Elrond said, showing them to their seats at the circular table Legolas had set up in his library.
"King Legolas! It is because of your treaties that relations between Elves and Dwarves haven't worsened to warlike measures! We thank you!" rumbled Gimli, shaking the blonde Elf's hand before sitting down.
Everyone sat in silence for a few moments, then Elrond did something that surprised everyone in the room. He stood, looked at Legolas, and said, "Well, King Legolas, do you assume I will conduct every Council held for all eternity?"
Legolas stared at Lord Elrond, eyes full of shock. "Excuse me?"
"I have been the leader of every Council since the one which decided the fate of the One Ring, and you have come to assume I will continue to do this for the next twenty thousand years. But this is the day I retire from my roll as head Elf, Legolas… and I appoint you my successor."
The room was silent.
"Surely, Lord Elrond, you can't be serious about this decision!" protested Garuend, jumping to his feet. "King Legolas is not fit to have a position of this much power!"
"And what do you mean by that?" asked Elrond, raising his eyebrows. "Please, explain to us your view."
Garuend glared at Elrond, then Legolas. "His views will only get what is left of the Elven race annihilated! Just last week we were all opposing his proposition to kill only the leaders of the goblins, leaving the rest to live free, and now you are giving him power over all the Elven race?"
"What is done is done. King Legolas is not allowed to change any past decisions made by the Council, and if he should find a loophole the entire Council would have to support whatever he wants to do," Elrond reasoned.
"I will not have it!" continued Garuend, moving towards Legolas, who was just sitting there watching him. "You… you will ruin everything we've worked to achieve! I'd see you dead before I'd let you have that position!"
Legolas's eyes darkened. "Is that a challenge, Lord Garuend?"
"What if it is?" growled the older elf.
"Then I accept your challenge, Garuend," said Legolas
quietly.
"Good. A fight to the death then. You pick the location, I'll pick the weapon."
"The roof of my castle."
"Double swords."
"It is decided then," piped Drogo. "On this day, which will forever be remembered as a day of bloodshed, we will hold a death match between Lord Garuend and King Legolas over the position of head Elf."
Meriadoc stood. "Well, what are we waiting for? Competitors, prepare for battle!"
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Aeriela left Eve's house and drove back to Legolas's castle, hoping her absence hadn't been too noticeable. When she pulled through the gates and up to the castle, she was surprised to see most of the Council congregating outside. She got out of her car and walked up, her heart thumping with worry.
"What's happening?" she asked. "Why is everyone out here?"
The Council turned to face her. Aeriela noticed that there were seven new attendees: four hobbits and three dwarfs, but didn't pay that much attention to that fact.
"Queen Aeriela!" said Elrond, shouldering his way through the crowd. "Where have you been?" He grabbed her by the shoulders a little harder than he had intended.
Aeriela looked into Lord Elrond's eyes and, for the first time in all the years she had known him, he looked panicked. Her heart sank. "I had some things to take care of, why?"
Lord Elrond took a deep breath to calm himself. "Queen Aeriela, King Legolas is going to fight Garuend to the death. You are lucky to have shown up!"
"Wh—what?" asked Aeriela, eyes widening.
"Garuend challenged Legolas for the position of head Elf, which I had given to Legolas since I am retiring. They are going to fight on the roof of Legolas's castle with double swords."
Aeriela's bottom lip began to quiver. "But Legolas doesn't know how to fight with double swords!"
"Exactly. He's tried it once or twice, but having two swords causes him to shift off-balance and Garuend is a master with them! You've got to tell him that this fight is a lose-lose situation! You're the only one he will listen to!"
"But…"
"Aeriela, look at me," said Elrond firmly. "Do you want Legolas do die?"
"No."
"Then just try and see if he will be convinced not to fight."
Aeriela nodded, but deep in her heart she knew Legolas's sense of pride was stronger than any bond she had ever shared with him… he would not be wavered.
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Legolas was sitting on the bed in his bedroom with his shirt off, staring at the ground when Aeriela opened the door and entered.
"I don't know what I'm doing," he whispered, looking up at her with eyes full of confusion and, of all things, fear. "I'm not fit for head Elf. I should just give the position to Garuend and save myself the trouble of dieing."
Aeriela opened her mouth to say something, anything, but the words didn't come. She hadn't been expecting that. She had been expecting him to put up a fight and ramble about his honor or something like that. Instead… he was giving up.
"I'm such a fool, Arie," he continued as he turned his eyes back to the floor.
"You—you called me… Arie," Aeriela whispered. "You haven't called me that since…"
Legolas shook his head. "Since our son died."
Aeriela, shocked at his sudden openness, took a seat on the bed next to him as far away as possible whilst being right next to him. "Legolas, how did you get yourself into this?"
"Pride. Anger. Same way I get myself into a lot of things," he said, looking down at his hands. "What are you doing here?"
"Helping an old friend in a tight spot," Aeriela said softly. "Legolas, you said yourself that you can call this whole thing off. You know you can't fight with double swords."
"I can fight with them, just not very well. If the blades were shorter, I would be fine."
Aeriela reached up and touched his cheek. "I know that somewhere in there is the Legolas that I planned on marrying all those years ago. The Legolas that showed compassion for the weak and stopped to smell the flowers… What happened to the old Legolas?"
"That Legolas is long gone. He died along with our son. He died when he killed Thranduil. I have tried to find him many times before, by my efforts are useless… he is dead; lost from this realm," said Legolas, leaning into her hand.
Aeriela stroked the side of his face. "No, he is not dead. The old Legolas is alive in my heart, and in the hearts of many. He wanders Mirkwood, trying to find his way home and, eventually, he will return. You will see. The old Legolas is not lost forever."
"Yes, but for the moment the new Legolas has taken over… and the new Legolas must defend his stupid pride." He kissed her on the cheek. "And in case I die, I give you this." In her hand he placed a necklace with a heart-shaped locket.
Aeriela tentatively opened it and gasped. "How did you…"
Legolas smiled ruefully. "A king has many resources."
The she-Elf was speechless. Inside the locket was a small colored portrait of their son, drawn with delicate detail and amazing accuracy. He was wearing the traditional garb from the 1700s, his ash-blonde hair poking out from the rim of his hat. Hot white tears sprang to Aeriela's eyes. "Thank you, Legolas."
He smiled and stood up. "It was the least I could do for the pain I caused you. Now, I must go."
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"YAAAH!" Garuend sliced upward with his right hand and downward with his left.
Legolas shouted in pain as Garuend's swords grazed his collarbone and kneecap, almost exposing the bone. They had been fighting for about three minutes now, and this was the first blood to be drawn.
"Give it up, Legolas!" shouted the older Elf, thrusting his right sword forward.
Legolas used both of his swords to trap Garuend's, but Garuend was quick; he brought his left sword around and slashed Legolas's arm.
"You can't win!" continued Garuend as Legolas stumbled back. He jumped after his adversary and kicked him in the back of the knees, causing him to fall. "Give me the position and I will spare you." Garuend placed both swords at the blonde Elf's neck, ready to take his head off.
Legolas stared up at Garuend for a moment. "No."
"Then you have chosen your own destruction!" His hands tightened their grip on the two swords.
Before Garuend could chop off his head, however, Legolas threw his upper body backwards so that his legs were bent all the way behind him and his shoulders touched the ground. Garuend sliced thin air and was momentarily shocked. Taking advantage of this distraction, Legolas jumped to his feet and dropped both swords.
"The rules state I can fight with the weapon you choose or none," Legolas said before his opponent could protest. He punched Garuend with all his might, sending the darker Elf reeling backward to the edge of the roof. Clouds began to cover the sun.
Garuend spit blood at Legolas and rose to his feet. "Lucky break."
"So you might think."
They ran at each other again. Garuend dipped his whole body, ready to chop off his adversary's legs, but Legolas jumped into the air and kicked him in the face. Garuend shouted in surprised and brought both swords up, slicing Legolas's legs as he came back down. Legolas ducked, jumped, ducked, ducked, and jumped again, then kicked one sword from Garuend's hand. As Garuend took a moment to realize what had just happened, Legolas knocked the other one away.
Garuend glared at him. "You think you're so smart. Let's just see." He jabbed Legolas in the face three times in one blur, causing the Silver Elf to stumble backwards and land on the very edge of the roof, the right side of his face beginning to swell. Garuend ran over and punched Legolas again as he tried to get up. "This ends here!" The older Elf shoved his rival over the edge.
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From the ground, Aeriela became numb with terror as Legolas was sent over the edge of the roof. "NO! LEGOLAS!" she shrieked, running forward.
Elrond caught her arm and pulled her back. "Aeriela, Aeriela stop! You must stop! There is nothing you can do now!"
Aeriela quit struggling and turned away. Elrond embraced her sympathetically and also turned away, not wanting to see the death of one of the greatest Elves he had ever known… But then something happened neither of them expected. The people around them began… cheering. Elrond whirled around and broke into a smile. "Aeriela, look!"
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Legolas's arms and legs flailed helplessly as he fell, face-up. He saw Garuend looking over the edge, a triumphant smirk on his face. His life flashed before his eyes.
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"Hold the bow in your left hand and pull the string taut with your right. Be careful of snapping yourself," instructed Lord Drago, Thranduil's head archer, demonstrating with his own bow, which was a heavy black metal one made many years ago when he fought against the Dark Lord Sauron alongside Lord Elrond. "Hold the arrow level." He let the arrow go and it hit the target dead center one hundred yards away.
Legolas fumbled with his bow, unable to hold the bow and the arrow in the proper place at the same time. The pressure on his arms caused by keeping the bowstring taut was making him grow fatigued, and sweat rolled down the side of his face. He was growing frustrated. "Lord Drago, the arrow doesn't stay still!"
Drago adjusted the arrow and stepped back. "Okay."
The young elf let the bowstring go and watched in dismay as his arrow flew a few feet then faltered and landed not three yards away. Adding to his distress, the bowstring snapped his hand and he cried out in pain. It felt like he had been whipped and a red line began to form across his knuckles.
"Bad start. Try again," said Lord Drago, handing the prince another arrow.
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"You're always on guard duty these days. What, are you going to save Mirkwood from some lone goblin come to kill us all?" teased Thrandus, Legolas's best friend.
Legolas smiled to himself but didn't say anything.
"Oh, so now you know something that I don't?" asked Thrandus as he pulled an apple from his pocket and bit into it. "Pray tell what great knowledge you possess that I don't."
"Watch out behind you," said the prince, moving on as Thrandus came to a halt.
Thrandus hesitantly turned around and came face to face with…
A goblin.
"AAAAAH!!!" screamed the Elf, running to catch up with his friend. "AAAH!! It's gonna get me! Prince Legolas, spare me!"
Legolas was doubled over with laughter as he watched his friend cower behind him, hands clamped over his eyes. He walked back over to the 'goblin,' which hadn't moved, and tapped it on the head. "It's just a bust, you idiot!" he exclaimed.
Thrandus peeked over his friend's shoulder and noticed that, indeed, it was just a bust of a goblin. He then remembered that the busts had been placed there to ward off young children wandering out of their bedrooms at night. He scowled. "I knew that."
"Sure you did," said Legolas, shaking his head.
----------------------
"I will take it!" shouted Frodo above the shouting of the Council, all of whom grew suddenly very quiet. "I will take the Ring to Mordor. Although… I do not know the way."
"I will help you bear this burden, for as long as it is yours to bear," said Gandalf, coming to stand next to Frodo.
"If by my life or death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword," said Aragorn.
"And you have my bow!" Legolas volunteered, joining the group.
"And my ax!" cried Gimli, rising from his seat.
Legolas rolled his eyes at the dwarf, who gave him a 'ha!' look as he stood next to the nearly twice as tall Elf.
"Hey!" shouted a voice. Sam emerged from the bushes and ran over to Frodo. "Mr. Frodo ain't going nowhere without me."
"Indeed, it is highly unlikely that you two can be separated even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not," said Elrond, more amused than irritated at the moment.
"Wait! We're coming too! You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" shouted two more hobbits as they ran from their hiding places as well, earning surprised and irritated looks from Lord Elrond. "Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this mission… quest… thing."
"Well that rules you out, Pip," said Merry.
Elrond shook his head, then studied the group with wonder. "Nine companions. Very well then… you shall be the Fellowship of the Ring."
"Great. Now where are we going?" asked Pippin.
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But all save Legolas said that they must now take their leave and depart either south or west. "Come, Gimli!" said Legolas. "Now by Fangorn's leave I will visit the deep places of Entwood and see such trees as are nowhere else to be found in Middle-earth. You shall come with me and keep your word; and thus we will journey on together to our own lands in Mirkwood and beyond." To this Gimli agreed, and with no great delight, it seemed.
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"I'm sorry, Prince Legolas, he is dead."
Legolas stared down at the lifeless body of his son. Aeriela began to sob. "No. He can't be dead!" he slammed his fist on the table. "Get him back!"
Elrond sighed. "'Tis a pity, Legolas, and we all mourn him, but do not grow angry!"
"A pity?! My son is here lost to me and you say I should restrain myself?!" He turned and headed towards the door. "I will kill the one who did this."
"But it was an accident!" exclaimed Elrond, grabbing Legolas's arm. "Do not act rashly like this! Think sensibly!"
Legolas jerked away. "All the more reason for the one who did it to die… the reckless killing of my son will not go unpunished."
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"Thrupolan is right, Legolas," said Garuend, shaking his head. "We cannot show mercy to the very incarnates of evil! It would be like rewarding the wolf who has killed off your entire flock of sheep! They are half the reason for the Great Devastation!"
"And the race men are the other half of the reason yet you do not hunt them down like game birds and slaughter them without a shred of mercy, do you?!" roared Legolas, moving towards Garuend. "Why is that, Garuend?!"
Garuend looked down, unable to provide a good answer.
"Listen to me, all of you!" shouted Legolas. "I fought all of Mordor, the Dark Lord, Isengard and its Uruk-hai warriors! And I lived; I prevailed! Yet you do not listen to my words now! Gollum, the very creature Frodo Baggins wished Bilbo had killed when given the chance…Bilbo showed Gollum mercy that most would not and because of Gollum, the One Ring and the Dark Lord are no more."
"You do not simply decide to wage war on the Orcs," said Thrupolan, rubbing his temples. "They are…poisonous beings. Their breath is filled with disease and death, their blood riddled with natural venoms. Against the goblins, we would prevail…but the Orcs are intelligent, agile, and guarded by thousands of goblins, whom we will have to kill whether or not we want to. Not with a thousand elves could you do this. It is better to just pick of the goblins until the Orcs are left alone and then finish them off."
Legolas smiled. "Ah, dear Thrupolan, my friend…you utter the same words that Boromir once did in the Council of Elrond. Yet you were not there. You do not have the same genuine passion behind your voice that he once did. For that reason, I cannot and shall not take your words as seriously as I did Boromir's."
---------------------
Then, Legolas's right hand hit something hard. Instinctively, he swung his other hand around and grabbed it. His body stopped falling. Pain shot through his entire being from the sudden change of direction, but he ignored it and hung there from the statue of a goblin sticking out of his castle, the situation most ironic. A loud cheer erupted from below and he looked down to see the Council smiling up at him. He then turned his head upward and saw the furious face of Garuend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Garuend, infuriated and embarrassed at not having killed Legolas, tossed away his sword and began to climb down the castle wall. Legolas had fallen from the top floor all the way to the first floor, which was five or six stories. It was possible he could die from falling the thirty feet to the ground, but Garuend didn't want to take that chance. He hopped from balcony to balcony until he reached the floor just above Legolas. From there, he became more cautious. Legolas was much better with all-terrain combat than Garuend was, and the older Elf knew it.
Legolas looked up when he heard the 'thump' of Garuend's body hitting the balcony above him. He smirked and began climbing up.
"It is most unfortunate that you didn't hit the ground," said Garuend with so much bravado that he sounded fake even to himself. "Because now you'll have to suffer."
Legolas flipped him off.
"Well that's pleasant," mumbled Garuend. The two reached each other, both hanging by one arm from the balcony railing about forty feet off the ground.
The Silver Elf smirked and said, "The only one who is going to suffer is you." He brought his foot up and kicked Garuend in the face. Garuend's head snapped back and his grip on the balcony loosened, but he didn't fall.
Garuend punched Legolas with his other hand, then kicked him in the stomach. Legolas groaned and his grip faltered, but he quickly grasped it with his other hand. Not wasting any time, Garuend punched Legolas again, this time hooking his jaw. Legolas felt his neck almost snap and his lip bust wide open from the impact, blood trickling down his chin. Both his hands rapidly began to lose their grip.
"Goodbye, King of Mirkwood," growled Garuend, raising his hand to strike Legolas for the last time.
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion for Legolas. He turned his head a bit and looked down to see Aeriela and Elrond standing there, horrified, then he looked back up at Garuend's triumphant face. "No," he said firmly. As Garuend's hand came down, he brought both feet up and kicked Garuend in the chest with all his might.
Time righted itself as the darker Elf went flying backwards and landed on the ground in front of the Council, his back audibly breaking. He lay there, dead, with his eyes wide open and shocked. The skies opened up and rain came pouring down.
Legolas bowed his head and slowly climbed down. As soon as his feet were on the ground, two arms wrapped around his neck in a vice-grip.
"Don't you ever do that to me again you idiot!" shouted Aeriela, hugging him as tightly as she could. "I'll kill you myself next time!"
Legolas coughed and pulled on her arms, loosening her hold
on him. "I'm sorry, but it had to be done, Aeriela."
She sighed. "I know…"
"You gave us quite a scare, Master Elf," said Gimli, approaching. "I don't know how you saved yourself, but you did. You are quite the warrior."
Legolas nodded in thanks and turned to Garuend's lifeless body, droplets of rain pooling along his pale skin. "Give him a proper royal burial," he said to Therun, who was standing nearby.
"It shall be done, sir," said the guard, bowing.
Aeriela rested her head on his chest. "It's okay, Legolas. It's his fault that he died. He challenged you to a fight to the death, knowing what was at stake!"
"No, Aeriela, it's mine. He didn't kill himself… I did." He removed himself from her arms. "I'm going to clean myself up." As he walked away, the rain came down harder, drenching everyone. And then… Legolas cried, his tears mixing with the rain falling down his face.
But it won't matter how much I wash my hands, he thought bitterly, they'll always be covered in blood.
TBC…