Chapter 3
The Darkness of my mind
"You might what to see this Captain" "What is it?"
"We have found a prisoner"
"I don't have time to talk with orcs who claim for peace"
"It is no orc, sir"
Faramir turned to his Lieutenant beside him, his eyes were flashing dangerously Mordor was far more active then he could have ever imagined.
Lieutenant Rogers lead Faramir towards the prisoner, Faramir's pace slowed as his stared at the captive unconscious in front of him.
"An elf? You bring me an elf?"
"He was wondering the lands, sir. He tried to attack the men. We surrounded him and he gave in"
"Who is he?" The young captain asked not taking his eyes away form the elf he lay dripping wet form the onslaught of rain.
"I don't know sir. He carried these" Rodgers pointed to the bow of Lothlórien and twin knives the other soldiers carried.
Faramir expected the craftsmanship of the bow open eyed. "Such beauty" The elf started to stir. A whisper escaped his lips as his eyes began to focus, "Boromir?"
"How is it you know of Boromir, elf?"
"He was a member of my companion"
"Then it will grieve you to realise that he is dead."
"Dead?"
"He was my brother. And I know he attended the council of Lord Elrond in Rivendell, tell me why!" His voice nearly shouting, "tell me what is your name?" he added, more softly.
"You are my captor, you first"
Anger was building again in Faramir; he pushed it away and answered.
"I am Faramir, a steward of Gondor"
The elf sighed, Boromir never talked about a brother only of his father.
"I am Legolas of the Woodland Realm"
"How was it you knew Boromir?"
"As I have said he was a member of my company. Nine there were in total, three men, four hobbits, halflings and a dwarf."
"And where may they be?"
"I do not know. I know now that three are dead." "Three?"
"Yes, Gandalf the Grey"
"Gandalf?"
"A hobbit Frodo Baggins and Boromir"
"Rodgers"
"Yes sir"
"Find Legolas some dry clothes"
Faramir turned to Legolas, "You will stay here for the reminder of the night, and then we will talk in the morn"
Legolas nodded, water dripping from his fringe.
Faramir watched Legolas out of the corner of his eye he muttered to Rodgers. "Boromir told me why Elrond held the council and I want to see if it is true" Nearby Legolas pulled off his soaked tunic, his chest pale felt cold and shivered in protest to being uncovered. The Ring and chain clearly visible upon his breast shone dimly. Faramir eyes widened. "So it is true"
Pulling a dry tunic over his head he felt the watchful eye of Faramir upon him. Dressing quickly he turned to leave but the damage had already been done. The trees spoke of the captain's greed that only Legolas could hear
In the dead of night Faramir gazed around the campsite he could not sleep for the One Ring filled his mind. He crept silently over to where Legolas slept and stretched a hand out to grasp the power of the Ring.
Lightening fast reactions stunted the Capitan momentary the elf had pinned his arm behind his own back and held a blade the to the mortals throat.
"Tis lucky elf's do not sleep deeply, if I were a mortal I would have killed you my now. But I see how important you are to these men"
Faramir was unable to speak as the elf locked eyes.
Slowly Legolas released his grip and placed the knife back in its sheath over his right shoulder. Faramir felt his insides scream for they must have the Ring. Faramir lunged unexpectedly the Ring has taken him.
"Give it!" he wheezed as the elf pushed against his windpipe.
"Do you want to know how Boromir died?"
Faramir stopped struggling and listened his eyes budging.
"He tried to take the Ring, it corrupted him like it is to you"
"No!"
Rage spilled out from the young captain like water. His fist were too fast even for the elf as they slapped into his cheeks.
"I only want to save my people," he whispered dangerously tracing his fingers down the chain.
"No one can weld it but Sauron"
"You lie!"
Legolas moved faster this time, Faramir's fists hit hard ground he roared in anger and pain and lunged at the elf again.
"Guards!" he shouted.
Annoyed with himself and the mortal Legolas struck him and swore in colourful Elvish as reinforcements rushed to restrain him. They pulled him away, stripping him of his weapons and binding his wrists.
Faramir watched him struggle amused wiping a trickle of blood from his bottom lip. He would not take the Ring now with his men watching.
"I know of a nice, dark place for you" he lent forwards spitting each word in the elf's face. "I know elves don't dwell well in the dark."
(Darkness. This is the darkness of my mind. Dark no matter if my eyes are open or closed.)
"My precious"
(Aragorn and the others, I wish I knew where they were) "Its my precious. My own"
Distant was the hissing sounds in the darkness, images continued to flash before his eyes. A great battle in the lands of Rohan, Faramir had talked about it - Helms Deep. Thousands of orcs marched there. Saruman and Sauron were adding pressure to Middle Earth in all directions.
"Nasty Elves stole my precious"
(Precious?)
"Nasty Elves with bright eyes, stole my precious"
(Gollum.)
"And we wants it!"
Clammy hands fell onto Legolas pale skin waking him instantly, they clawed up his chest.
Blue eyes snapped open and hit Gollum away, shrieking and cursing into the darkness. Quickly the eleven hands felt his surroundings. His heart sunk. He was underground, in the darkness laying on a flight of steps.
He had to move Gollum would be return. Feeling the earth wall beside him he slowly climbed down the reminding stone steps. His head spun from making contact with the stone; if it hadn't been for the earthen wall he would have fallen down the remaining stairs.
(How far down am I?)
He felt his knees shake as he descended. In the darkness his senses sharpened there were hissings not far away a reminder that Gollum still lurked.
"Nasty elves stole my precious," he purred somewhere in the darkness.
Suddenly overwhelmed by nausea from his head wound and the pain in his shoulder the elf slipped down five stairs or more onto the 'ground'.
Catching his breath Legolas tried in vain to pierce the darkness that surrounded him. It seemed darker in here then in Moria. The Ring felt like a boulder hanging from his neck. In the darkness he heard Gollum laugh, "Silly elf fell down"
Silently Legolas drew his bow and notched an arrow. Of course it is too dark to shot underground that is why an elf must rely on his senses.
"Elves don't like the dark," he was closer now planning another attack.
Tap. Tap
(That's it just a little bit closer)
Twang!
Silence.
"Naughty elf tried to shot at precious"
"Next time I won't miss"
Suddenly without warning Gollum was gone.
Sighing Legolas sat on the dirt floor gathering his thoughts and controlling his laboured breath. Gollum and Faramir were right, Elves don't like the dark.
Some time later Legolas had been wondering using the wall as a guide blindly around hopping to catch Gollum.
"Elf breathes so deep anything could hear him"
He had not noticed his breathing become so loud, it was a natural thing to do when one was afraid he could remember Aragorn breathing heavily in the night one time when he was a child. He was afraid they were lost in the night. He had comforted him by teaching him the names of the stars and how to find his way using them at night.
He closed his eyes against the unnatural darkness and imagined the night star shinning brightly in a attempt to control his raged breath. The pain in his shoulder never dimmer and the darkness drew closer, despite this now being the darkness he had demanded to calm himself The darkness seemed to chill his very skill and sink into his insides like clear icy waters. In the darkness which he invited he blocked out the pain of his wound, and concreted on the hissing sounds form the creature that still lurked somewhere in the cavern.
"My precious" Gollum hissed somewhere in the darkness, the darkness that the elf still feared.
No matter what Aragorn had said in Moria there was still no light in the dark places of the earth. Gollum was closer now. Loading his bow for the second time Legolas took his time in locating his target, he was close. He did not intend to kill the creature yet, though he knew it would be hard to fight the urge not to.
With the string taught and relying only on his senses Legolas listened. With his stealth ness returned he fired, this time not missing.
If Legolas' breathing was loud that was nothing to the screams and curses from Gollum. Snapping open his eyes, though useless in the darkness he caught the screaming creature in a attempt to silence him.
Snatching the small creature up before he scampered into the thickness the elf shook him, flashing a knife towards him.
"You know the way out?" he questioned the squirming creature.
"Nasty Elf!"
"Show me the way Sméagol"
Gollum lay still under his glare suddenly.
"Sméagol?"
"Yes, that is your name or was"
"Sméagol?"
"You will lead me out of this underground hell"
Gollum suddenly smiled, a expression that had not been shown for years, Legolas was sure it would scare any other living creature, for it made him shudder slightly
"Sméagol will show you"
"Swear it!"
"I." Gollum's small eyes searched around, looking for something to swear on. There was no defining feature on the walls or floor. His eyes rested on the one thing he longed for more then anything else
"We swear on the precious"
"The Ring will hold to your promise"
Gollum made little sound after he had been realised from Legolas's grasps and scuttled on the earthen floor and quickly out of sight.
"Sméagol!" Legolas called after him, fearing to be trapped in this place of the rest of his time.
"Hurry elf!"
He was about to throw something at him when he felt something in his pockets. Pulling the item out and touching with his long slender Elven fingers he was surprised it was still in one piece and that the men had never removed it form him: Phial of Galadriel.
"May it be a light for you when all lights go out"
Just at the thought of the Lady of the Golden Woods made the glass phial shine dimly, never had he before thought about his gift that would have been for Frodo. Turning the jewel in his fingers he felt new strength rise inside of him, numbing the pain in his shoulder, lightening the weight of the Ring and filling his heart with joy that he had long forgotten.
He raised the phial above his head and in a clear strong voice spoke the words that filled the air with bright light: "Ayia Eärendil Elenion Ancalima!"
Gollum froze in front and briefly turned towards the elf, a face full of disgust. "Stupid elf and his light" he muttered moving on.
With a renewed feeling of courage and hope Legolas followed Gollum onwards, now though aware of the feeling they were being watched form the deep. It had been a long time since elves last passed her lips.
Something was in their path; Gollum stopped and shuddered at the sight of the obstruction in front. It was a spider's web. Sméagol looked up at the elf above him, he touched the web not showing any facial expression.
"Spiders," he declared quietly. "I am not afraid for there are many in my lands" he continued drawing a blade from behind his shoulders and began to cut the strings. For the first time he noticed the blood soaking through his tunic around the sword wound. The presence of Galadriel had filled him with such emotion he had long forgotten the wound he bore. It should be fatal, or turn him into a Wraith at least, but it seemed his Elven residence was strong.
The stench of death became stronger, but the light of Galadriel never faltered as the pair continued to walk on. Suddenly, without warning the earthen walls fell away into a great open space, so large that the beams from the phial did not reach the other side. Gollum stopped, frozen like a frightened creature. Something moved. Something large and very, very close.
Without thinking Legolas pulled out his bow and loaded it, smiling at the phial as it floated where his hand had dropped it. There was nothing to been seen. The archer's eyes flickered back to Gollum - but his was gone!
"Sméagol?" he whispered.
"Has been many a years since I tasted Elven flesh" an aging voice spoke form the shadows the light could not reach.
He pulled the string taught ready to fire.
"I am not afraid, show yourself"
"Oh, I think you are my young elf. You breath more deeply then any dwarf!"
True his breathing had become labored once more with the stench of death closer then ever.
"None the less, I will allow you to see who is to be your killer"
Out of the shadows that the phial could not lighten stepped the large hairy legs of a giant spider, its many eyes glistening in the light, a large rounded stomach dragging on the earthen floor. The pincers at the mouth twitched with aspersion, for she felt his death was near.
She was smaller then the spiders in Mirkwood, but fighting in the enclosed space of her underground lair would not be a simply task especially if she knew all the shortcuts to this place.
All he could do is fight, for he is of royal blood, he would not go down without a fight.
He would die fighting. For honour, for his people, for his family, of his lands, for Estel, for the people of Middle Earth.
"You might what to see this Captain" "What is it?"
"We have found a prisoner"
"I don't have time to talk with orcs who claim for peace"
"It is no orc, sir"
Faramir turned to his Lieutenant beside him, his eyes were flashing dangerously Mordor was far more active then he could have ever imagined.
Lieutenant Rogers lead Faramir towards the prisoner, Faramir's pace slowed as his stared at the captive unconscious in front of him.
"An elf? You bring me an elf?"
"He was wondering the lands, sir. He tried to attack the men. We surrounded him and he gave in"
"Who is he?" The young captain asked not taking his eyes away form the elf he lay dripping wet form the onslaught of rain.
"I don't know sir. He carried these" Rodgers pointed to the bow of Lothlórien and twin knives the other soldiers carried.
Faramir expected the craftsmanship of the bow open eyed. "Such beauty" The elf started to stir. A whisper escaped his lips as his eyes began to focus, "Boromir?"
"How is it you know of Boromir, elf?"
"He was a member of my companion"
"Then it will grieve you to realise that he is dead."
"Dead?"
"He was my brother. And I know he attended the council of Lord Elrond in Rivendell, tell me why!" His voice nearly shouting, "tell me what is your name?" he added, more softly.
"You are my captor, you first"
Anger was building again in Faramir; he pushed it away and answered.
"I am Faramir, a steward of Gondor"
The elf sighed, Boromir never talked about a brother only of his father.
"I am Legolas of the Woodland Realm"
"How was it you knew Boromir?"
"As I have said he was a member of my company. Nine there were in total, three men, four hobbits, halflings and a dwarf."
"And where may they be?"
"I do not know. I know now that three are dead." "Three?"
"Yes, Gandalf the Grey"
"Gandalf?"
"A hobbit Frodo Baggins and Boromir"
"Rodgers"
"Yes sir"
"Find Legolas some dry clothes"
Faramir turned to Legolas, "You will stay here for the reminder of the night, and then we will talk in the morn"
Legolas nodded, water dripping from his fringe.
Faramir watched Legolas out of the corner of his eye he muttered to Rodgers. "Boromir told me why Elrond held the council and I want to see if it is true" Nearby Legolas pulled off his soaked tunic, his chest pale felt cold and shivered in protest to being uncovered. The Ring and chain clearly visible upon his breast shone dimly. Faramir eyes widened. "So it is true"
Pulling a dry tunic over his head he felt the watchful eye of Faramir upon him. Dressing quickly he turned to leave but the damage had already been done. The trees spoke of the captain's greed that only Legolas could hear
In the dead of night Faramir gazed around the campsite he could not sleep for the One Ring filled his mind. He crept silently over to where Legolas slept and stretched a hand out to grasp the power of the Ring.
Lightening fast reactions stunted the Capitan momentary the elf had pinned his arm behind his own back and held a blade the to the mortals throat.
"Tis lucky elf's do not sleep deeply, if I were a mortal I would have killed you my now. But I see how important you are to these men"
Faramir was unable to speak as the elf locked eyes.
Slowly Legolas released his grip and placed the knife back in its sheath over his right shoulder. Faramir felt his insides scream for they must have the Ring. Faramir lunged unexpectedly the Ring has taken him.
"Give it!" he wheezed as the elf pushed against his windpipe.
"Do you want to know how Boromir died?"
Faramir stopped struggling and listened his eyes budging.
"He tried to take the Ring, it corrupted him like it is to you"
"No!"
Rage spilled out from the young captain like water. His fist were too fast even for the elf as they slapped into his cheeks.
"I only want to save my people," he whispered dangerously tracing his fingers down the chain.
"No one can weld it but Sauron"
"You lie!"
Legolas moved faster this time, Faramir's fists hit hard ground he roared in anger and pain and lunged at the elf again.
"Guards!" he shouted.
Annoyed with himself and the mortal Legolas struck him and swore in colourful Elvish as reinforcements rushed to restrain him. They pulled him away, stripping him of his weapons and binding his wrists.
Faramir watched him struggle amused wiping a trickle of blood from his bottom lip. He would not take the Ring now with his men watching.
"I know of a nice, dark place for you" he lent forwards spitting each word in the elf's face. "I know elves don't dwell well in the dark."
(Darkness. This is the darkness of my mind. Dark no matter if my eyes are open or closed.)
"My precious"
(Aragorn and the others, I wish I knew where they were) "Its my precious. My own"
Distant was the hissing sounds in the darkness, images continued to flash before his eyes. A great battle in the lands of Rohan, Faramir had talked about it - Helms Deep. Thousands of orcs marched there. Saruman and Sauron were adding pressure to Middle Earth in all directions.
"Nasty Elves stole my precious"
(Precious?)
"Nasty Elves with bright eyes, stole my precious"
(Gollum.)
"And we wants it!"
Clammy hands fell onto Legolas pale skin waking him instantly, they clawed up his chest.
Blue eyes snapped open and hit Gollum away, shrieking and cursing into the darkness. Quickly the eleven hands felt his surroundings. His heart sunk. He was underground, in the darkness laying on a flight of steps.
He had to move Gollum would be return. Feeling the earth wall beside him he slowly climbed down the reminding stone steps. His head spun from making contact with the stone; if it hadn't been for the earthen wall he would have fallen down the remaining stairs.
(How far down am I?)
He felt his knees shake as he descended. In the darkness his senses sharpened there were hissings not far away a reminder that Gollum still lurked.
"Nasty elves stole my precious," he purred somewhere in the darkness.
Suddenly overwhelmed by nausea from his head wound and the pain in his shoulder the elf slipped down five stairs or more onto the 'ground'.
Catching his breath Legolas tried in vain to pierce the darkness that surrounded him. It seemed darker in here then in Moria. The Ring felt like a boulder hanging from his neck. In the darkness he heard Gollum laugh, "Silly elf fell down"
Silently Legolas drew his bow and notched an arrow. Of course it is too dark to shot underground that is why an elf must rely on his senses.
"Elves don't like the dark," he was closer now planning another attack.
Tap. Tap
(That's it just a little bit closer)
Twang!
Silence.
"Naughty elf tried to shot at precious"
"Next time I won't miss"
Suddenly without warning Gollum was gone.
Sighing Legolas sat on the dirt floor gathering his thoughts and controlling his laboured breath. Gollum and Faramir were right, Elves don't like the dark.
Some time later Legolas had been wondering using the wall as a guide blindly around hopping to catch Gollum.
"Elf breathes so deep anything could hear him"
He had not noticed his breathing become so loud, it was a natural thing to do when one was afraid he could remember Aragorn breathing heavily in the night one time when he was a child. He was afraid they were lost in the night. He had comforted him by teaching him the names of the stars and how to find his way using them at night.
He closed his eyes against the unnatural darkness and imagined the night star shinning brightly in a attempt to control his raged breath. The pain in his shoulder never dimmer and the darkness drew closer, despite this now being the darkness he had demanded to calm himself The darkness seemed to chill his very skill and sink into his insides like clear icy waters. In the darkness which he invited he blocked out the pain of his wound, and concreted on the hissing sounds form the creature that still lurked somewhere in the cavern.
"My precious" Gollum hissed somewhere in the darkness, the darkness that the elf still feared.
No matter what Aragorn had said in Moria there was still no light in the dark places of the earth. Gollum was closer now. Loading his bow for the second time Legolas took his time in locating his target, he was close. He did not intend to kill the creature yet, though he knew it would be hard to fight the urge not to.
With the string taught and relying only on his senses Legolas listened. With his stealth ness returned he fired, this time not missing.
If Legolas' breathing was loud that was nothing to the screams and curses from Gollum. Snapping open his eyes, though useless in the darkness he caught the screaming creature in a attempt to silence him.
Snatching the small creature up before he scampered into the thickness the elf shook him, flashing a knife towards him.
"You know the way out?" he questioned the squirming creature.
"Nasty Elf!"
"Show me the way Sméagol"
Gollum lay still under his glare suddenly.
"Sméagol?"
"Yes, that is your name or was"
"Sméagol?"
"You will lead me out of this underground hell"
Gollum suddenly smiled, a expression that had not been shown for years, Legolas was sure it would scare any other living creature, for it made him shudder slightly
"Sméagol will show you"
"Swear it!"
"I." Gollum's small eyes searched around, looking for something to swear on. There was no defining feature on the walls or floor. His eyes rested on the one thing he longed for more then anything else
"We swear on the precious"
"The Ring will hold to your promise"
Gollum made little sound after he had been realised from Legolas's grasps and scuttled on the earthen floor and quickly out of sight.
"Sméagol!" Legolas called after him, fearing to be trapped in this place of the rest of his time.
"Hurry elf!"
He was about to throw something at him when he felt something in his pockets. Pulling the item out and touching with his long slender Elven fingers he was surprised it was still in one piece and that the men had never removed it form him: Phial of Galadriel.
"May it be a light for you when all lights go out"
Just at the thought of the Lady of the Golden Woods made the glass phial shine dimly, never had he before thought about his gift that would have been for Frodo. Turning the jewel in his fingers he felt new strength rise inside of him, numbing the pain in his shoulder, lightening the weight of the Ring and filling his heart with joy that he had long forgotten.
He raised the phial above his head and in a clear strong voice spoke the words that filled the air with bright light: "Ayia Eärendil Elenion Ancalima!"
Gollum froze in front and briefly turned towards the elf, a face full of disgust. "Stupid elf and his light" he muttered moving on.
With a renewed feeling of courage and hope Legolas followed Gollum onwards, now though aware of the feeling they were being watched form the deep. It had been a long time since elves last passed her lips.
Something was in their path; Gollum stopped and shuddered at the sight of the obstruction in front. It was a spider's web. Sméagol looked up at the elf above him, he touched the web not showing any facial expression.
"Spiders," he declared quietly. "I am not afraid for there are many in my lands" he continued drawing a blade from behind his shoulders and began to cut the strings. For the first time he noticed the blood soaking through his tunic around the sword wound. The presence of Galadriel had filled him with such emotion he had long forgotten the wound he bore. It should be fatal, or turn him into a Wraith at least, but it seemed his Elven residence was strong.
The stench of death became stronger, but the light of Galadriel never faltered as the pair continued to walk on. Suddenly, without warning the earthen walls fell away into a great open space, so large that the beams from the phial did not reach the other side. Gollum stopped, frozen like a frightened creature. Something moved. Something large and very, very close.
Without thinking Legolas pulled out his bow and loaded it, smiling at the phial as it floated where his hand had dropped it. There was nothing to been seen. The archer's eyes flickered back to Gollum - but his was gone!
"Sméagol?" he whispered.
"Has been many a years since I tasted Elven flesh" an aging voice spoke form the shadows the light could not reach.
He pulled the string taught ready to fire.
"I am not afraid, show yourself"
"Oh, I think you are my young elf. You breath more deeply then any dwarf!"
True his breathing had become labored once more with the stench of death closer then ever.
"None the less, I will allow you to see who is to be your killer"
Out of the shadows that the phial could not lighten stepped the large hairy legs of a giant spider, its many eyes glistening in the light, a large rounded stomach dragging on the earthen floor. The pincers at the mouth twitched with aspersion, for she felt his death was near.
She was smaller then the spiders in Mirkwood, but fighting in the enclosed space of her underground lair would not be a simply task especially if she knew all the shortcuts to this place.
All he could do is fight, for he is of royal blood, he would not go down without a fight.
He would die fighting. For honour, for his people, for his family, of his lands, for Estel, for the people of Middle Earth.