Chapter 7
Finding the strength to endure
The creature moved surprisingly quickly towards the fallen elf crying with high pitch angry screams, his hands barely touching the lose stones as he crawled. Rolling himself onto his back, japing his toes into the mountainside Legolas could only watch as within seconds Gollum was upon him, his eyes blazing with deep anger and hatred.
"For he hates and loves the Ring as much as he loves and hates himself."
The creature pounced, cat like at the injured elf. His hands clawed at the elf's collar whilst Legolas willed his arms and hands keep the creature off of him, Gollum thrashed his arms frantically in an attempt to reach his goal. Wearily, tired and exhausted Legolas fought to keep the creature at bay, he would not allow this to end like this. He tightened his grip on the thin pale skin of Gollum, forcing his arms to work he threw the creature off and sent him crashing into the sharp, loss stones of Mount Doom. Gollum launched once more, once again catching the elf unawares and unprepared. He pounced from above pushing both foes further down. Rolling and turning down the mountainside the pair fought, neither achieving their goals - the Ring still strung around the elf's neck and Gollum still battling hard.
Locked together in battle the pair tumbled down the mountain side, crashing against protruding edges as they went. The impact of the landing forced the two apart and stunned the pair briefly. Gollum was first to recover. For a third time he pounced upon the elven form grasping of the chain, but this time Legolas was prepared. He shot out his right hand catching the creature around the throat and added pressure on his windpipe until the creature stopped wrestling and in death features of the creature face softened, a arrow stub in his thigh, a mark that Legolas had put looked ugly in the eerie light Sudden realisation hit Legolas hard, like being thrown from a wild horse; he instantly dropped the limp form of Gollum in disgust. The Ring had forced this to happen, it had taken over briefly. Silently he cursed himself for allowing the Ring to take over; he had lost control and now lost precious time for the battle at the gates still raged. Breathing deep lungs full of air Legolas stayed himself and bought himself out of the shocked trance of killing under the influence of the Ring and forced himself onwards and upwards.
Upon the battlefield the eagles dived and gilded amongst foes and allies each side equal orcs, men and eagles had fallen under the watchful eye of Sauron. Aragorn gasped and spun towards the wilderness of Mordor his heat thumping against his chest in a mixture of pain, heartache and adrenaline. Gilmi brushed past him and followed his friends gaze; he cocked his head towards the man's trying to read his expression. His eyes had a far away look, yet they were wide with fear and dimmed with pain. 'If eyes are the window to the soul Aragorn's would properly be crying, part broken and torn' the dwarf thought before turning back to the battle.
He knew he was nearing the summit when the Ring doubled its weight, its voice louder then ever as it carried out, more desperately to be in the hands of its master as it neared it destruction. Legolas stumbled under its weight, his body screamed for rest, but he would not allow it, if he rested he may never wake from it. He pushed on and tried to fill is wearily mind with happy memories, green tress and fields and shinning stars.
This images were suddenly snatched away, feeling overcome with a sudden weakness and fear above all fears he had ever felt he fell silent and still his mind freezing with the horror of the Eye staring at him from above, ordering him to wear the Ring and go against everything he had fought for. And everything he heard and saw was tempting, very tempting - he couldn't deny it.
Aragorn froze in mid swing, the orc who would have had his head removed smirked and ducked under the man's arm, raised its sword but was not allowed to find its target at the ash pole of Gandalf cracked its head. The wizard didn't even look at the man beside him, his face pale staring into the distance again. Instead he muttered words into a chant, his staff end glowing slightly. The nearest orcs backed away, afraid. The old man muttered and the clouds above grew in, darker then before. A sudden sharp pain shot up Aragorn's back motivating him into action once again, but the Eye now watching the battle once again. Gandalf had redirected the Eye of Sauron - away from Legolas left exposed, afraid, exhausted but so close to completing his goal.
Images of eternal wealth and power flashed across his minds eye. He saw himself surpassing any other elven king and basking in riches above all ever made in all time. He became an idol for all mortal men, dwarf, hobbit, never fading, never aging, never suffering or feeling pain or sadness. He saw the elves return and live off the land more efficiently and profitable then every before. But the face of Galderial filled his mind, her beautiful flue less features were fading and ruined. Cuts ran across her checks, her blue eyes were filled with sadness and tears. A sudden memory past across his mind:
*Flashback*
Something woke him from his sleep in Lothlórien whilst the company stayed the night. He had been uncomfortable there, feeling sadness over the deaths of Frodo and Gandalf but he now carried the burden of the Ring and he most destroy it. It had become his quest, his duty. Maiden Galderial walked past the sleeping company, slowly and purposely casting an eerie light where ever she went. He followed her away from the company and deeper into the trees of Lothlórien. She descended down stairs, tree roots tying themselves around every inch of the floor and lined each root made stair. Moonlight glistened off the water feature in the corner, the gentle tinkle of water against water was soothing and relaxing to his trouble and raw mind. Silently he descended the root staircase and stood uncomfortably next to her.
She didn't to look at him, of mover her mouth for him to understand: "Will you look into the Mirror?" she asked, her hands moved in one fluid movement filling the metal jug and pouring the transparent liquid into the metal basin before them. Replacing the jug onto the stone wall around the water feature she looked up and locked eyes with Legolas. He crumpled under her gaze, both physically and mentally but he was able to remember his manners.
"What will I see?" he whispered.
"Things that are, things that have been and some things that have not yet come to pass" her answer came swiftly and softly and he noticed the strange twinkle in her eyes.
Nervously he stepped forward towards the water mirror; he took courage to peer over the rim into the water. There is own reflection rippled and faded, it was replaced with the pale ill face of Frodo under the watchful and caring eyes of Sam, Merry and Pippin and Aragorn standing the background, his face winked in disgust. The image rippled and faded like his reflection before. He saw woodland burning, villages over taken by the host of Mordor; the country of the Shire covered in a blanket of shadows each resident prisoner. The kingdoms of men brutally attack and blacked and smouldering with fire licking at corpses and buildings. Great fortressed reduced to rumble, everything good in this world gone, the once green fields black and dead, the whole land covered in a second darkness. But through the darkness came shadowy faces of people he knew; his father, Aragorn, Merry Pippin, Sam, Elrond, Arwen, Galderial, each burning in a pool of fire. The pit of fire became more vivid and real, one predominate shape grew sharper over the other burning images and Legolas stepped back wanted to rid his once peaceful mind of the evil watchful gaze of the Eye of Sauron.
He pulled himself away, his elven grace missing as he stumbled falling away from the mirror.
"I know what you saw, for it is also in my mind" Galderial spoke, her eyes not leaving Legolas' unnaturally pale and frighten face.
"I can not do this alone" he whispered.
"To be a Ring Bearer is to be alone"
*End of flashback*
Legolas' eyes snapped open, jerking his body out of a trance. He let the Ring drop against his chest. He would not allow his body sacrum to the desires and treachery of the Ring. He felt the gaze of the Eye leave him and return aboard, to hinder other poor folk. Taking deep steady breaths he forced his legs to move allowing him to take small steps closer towards the end of his quest. He could feel the heat of the fires through the ground, stinging his feet and touching his face, but his fingers remained bent and cold. The dark sky disappeared as he slipped into the cavernous passage leading towards the centre of the mountain itself. The walls spun and moved forcing him to stop and collect himself. The wound from the Nazgúl and the pressure from the Ring had betrayed his eyes. An elf relied on his eyes and without them he/she would be alone and venerable. But he could remember Aragorn telling him when the Ranger was just a child: "You can see without your eyes, Legolas". He didn't believe him, but he was curious. "How can you see without your eyes?", "With your heart". Seeing with your heart that was unheard of, but ironically he had no other choice . He used his hands to guide him, running them along the walls that did not really turn and move but stood strong and still, his feet shuffled slowly along the floor. Whilst he squinted with his blinding eyes, his skin prickling with heat of the fires of the mountain. Abruptly the walls on each side fell away and the fires burned far warmer then he expected. They burnt the very hairs on his skin under the elven garments, the lose threads of tunic turned away from the heat and shrivelled, the smoke wafted in his face, stinging his nose and making his blind eyes water fresh tears which he could not hold back.
The end of his journey was just a footstep away, but there he stood rooted to the ground his right hand clasping the Ring that hung around his neck that he could not feel. After all the travelling he had done he suddenly realised he couldn't do it.
It was his, his own.
"My precious"
Delighted the Eye shifted its gaze once more to watch it bearer break.
"No" Gandalf spun towards the East, the Eye of Sauron had moved its gaze back to Legolas, the Captains of Gondor stopped fighting and they too gazed up towards the mountain. The orcs too stopped and wondered. Middle-Earth held its breath.
Finding the strength to endure
The creature moved surprisingly quickly towards the fallen elf crying with high pitch angry screams, his hands barely touching the lose stones as he crawled. Rolling himself onto his back, japing his toes into the mountainside Legolas could only watch as within seconds Gollum was upon him, his eyes blazing with deep anger and hatred.
"For he hates and loves the Ring as much as he loves and hates himself."
The creature pounced, cat like at the injured elf. His hands clawed at the elf's collar whilst Legolas willed his arms and hands keep the creature off of him, Gollum thrashed his arms frantically in an attempt to reach his goal. Wearily, tired and exhausted Legolas fought to keep the creature at bay, he would not allow this to end like this. He tightened his grip on the thin pale skin of Gollum, forcing his arms to work he threw the creature off and sent him crashing into the sharp, loss stones of Mount Doom. Gollum launched once more, once again catching the elf unawares and unprepared. He pounced from above pushing both foes further down. Rolling and turning down the mountainside the pair fought, neither achieving their goals - the Ring still strung around the elf's neck and Gollum still battling hard.
Locked together in battle the pair tumbled down the mountain side, crashing against protruding edges as they went. The impact of the landing forced the two apart and stunned the pair briefly. Gollum was first to recover. For a third time he pounced upon the elven form grasping of the chain, but this time Legolas was prepared. He shot out his right hand catching the creature around the throat and added pressure on his windpipe until the creature stopped wrestling and in death features of the creature face softened, a arrow stub in his thigh, a mark that Legolas had put looked ugly in the eerie light Sudden realisation hit Legolas hard, like being thrown from a wild horse; he instantly dropped the limp form of Gollum in disgust. The Ring had forced this to happen, it had taken over briefly. Silently he cursed himself for allowing the Ring to take over; he had lost control and now lost precious time for the battle at the gates still raged. Breathing deep lungs full of air Legolas stayed himself and bought himself out of the shocked trance of killing under the influence of the Ring and forced himself onwards and upwards.
Upon the battlefield the eagles dived and gilded amongst foes and allies each side equal orcs, men and eagles had fallen under the watchful eye of Sauron. Aragorn gasped and spun towards the wilderness of Mordor his heat thumping against his chest in a mixture of pain, heartache and adrenaline. Gilmi brushed past him and followed his friends gaze; he cocked his head towards the man's trying to read his expression. His eyes had a far away look, yet they were wide with fear and dimmed with pain. 'If eyes are the window to the soul Aragorn's would properly be crying, part broken and torn' the dwarf thought before turning back to the battle.
He knew he was nearing the summit when the Ring doubled its weight, its voice louder then ever as it carried out, more desperately to be in the hands of its master as it neared it destruction. Legolas stumbled under its weight, his body screamed for rest, but he would not allow it, if he rested he may never wake from it. He pushed on and tried to fill is wearily mind with happy memories, green tress and fields and shinning stars.
This images were suddenly snatched away, feeling overcome with a sudden weakness and fear above all fears he had ever felt he fell silent and still his mind freezing with the horror of the Eye staring at him from above, ordering him to wear the Ring and go against everything he had fought for. And everything he heard and saw was tempting, very tempting - he couldn't deny it.
Aragorn froze in mid swing, the orc who would have had his head removed smirked and ducked under the man's arm, raised its sword but was not allowed to find its target at the ash pole of Gandalf cracked its head. The wizard didn't even look at the man beside him, his face pale staring into the distance again. Instead he muttered words into a chant, his staff end glowing slightly. The nearest orcs backed away, afraid. The old man muttered and the clouds above grew in, darker then before. A sudden sharp pain shot up Aragorn's back motivating him into action once again, but the Eye now watching the battle once again. Gandalf had redirected the Eye of Sauron - away from Legolas left exposed, afraid, exhausted but so close to completing his goal.
Images of eternal wealth and power flashed across his minds eye. He saw himself surpassing any other elven king and basking in riches above all ever made in all time. He became an idol for all mortal men, dwarf, hobbit, never fading, never aging, never suffering or feeling pain or sadness. He saw the elves return and live off the land more efficiently and profitable then every before. But the face of Galderial filled his mind, her beautiful flue less features were fading and ruined. Cuts ran across her checks, her blue eyes were filled with sadness and tears. A sudden memory past across his mind:
*Flashback*
Something woke him from his sleep in Lothlórien whilst the company stayed the night. He had been uncomfortable there, feeling sadness over the deaths of Frodo and Gandalf but he now carried the burden of the Ring and he most destroy it. It had become his quest, his duty. Maiden Galderial walked past the sleeping company, slowly and purposely casting an eerie light where ever she went. He followed her away from the company and deeper into the trees of Lothlórien. She descended down stairs, tree roots tying themselves around every inch of the floor and lined each root made stair. Moonlight glistened off the water feature in the corner, the gentle tinkle of water against water was soothing and relaxing to his trouble and raw mind. Silently he descended the root staircase and stood uncomfortably next to her.
She didn't to look at him, of mover her mouth for him to understand: "Will you look into the Mirror?" she asked, her hands moved in one fluid movement filling the metal jug and pouring the transparent liquid into the metal basin before them. Replacing the jug onto the stone wall around the water feature she looked up and locked eyes with Legolas. He crumpled under her gaze, both physically and mentally but he was able to remember his manners.
"What will I see?" he whispered.
"Things that are, things that have been and some things that have not yet come to pass" her answer came swiftly and softly and he noticed the strange twinkle in her eyes.
Nervously he stepped forward towards the water mirror; he took courage to peer over the rim into the water. There is own reflection rippled and faded, it was replaced with the pale ill face of Frodo under the watchful and caring eyes of Sam, Merry and Pippin and Aragorn standing the background, his face winked in disgust. The image rippled and faded like his reflection before. He saw woodland burning, villages over taken by the host of Mordor; the country of the Shire covered in a blanket of shadows each resident prisoner. The kingdoms of men brutally attack and blacked and smouldering with fire licking at corpses and buildings. Great fortressed reduced to rumble, everything good in this world gone, the once green fields black and dead, the whole land covered in a second darkness. But through the darkness came shadowy faces of people he knew; his father, Aragorn, Merry Pippin, Sam, Elrond, Arwen, Galderial, each burning in a pool of fire. The pit of fire became more vivid and real, one predominate shape grew sharper over the other burning images and Legolas stepped back wanted to rid his once peaceful mind of the evil watchful gaze of the Eye of Sauron.
He pulled himself away, his elven grace missing as he stumbled falling away from the mirror.
"I know what you saw, for it is also in my mind" Galderial spoke, her eyes not leaving Legolas' unnaturally pale and frighten face.
"I can not do this alone" he whispered.
"To be a Ring Bearer is to be alone"
*End of flashback*
Legolas' eyes snapped open, jerking his body out of a trance. He let the Ring drop against his chest. He would not allow his body sacrum to the desires and treachery of the Ring. He felt the gaze of the Eye leave him and return aboard, to hinder other poor folk. Taking deep steady breaths he forced his legs to move allowing him to take small steps closer towards the end of his quest. He could feel the heat of the fires through the ground, stinging his feet and touching his face, but his fingers remained bent and cold. The dark sky disappeared as he slipped into the cavernous passage leading towards the centre of the mountain itself. The walls spun and moved forcing him to stop and collect himself. The wound from the Nazgúl and the pressure from the Ring had betrayed his eyes. An elf relied on his eyes and without them he/she would be alone and venerable. But he could remember Aragorn telling him when the Ranger was just a child: "You can see without your eyes, Legolas". He didn't believe him, but he was curious. "How can you see without your eyes?", "With your heart". Seeing with your heart that was unheard of, but ironically he had no other choice . He used his hands to guide him, running them along the walls that did not really turn and move but stood strong and still, his feet shuffled slowly along the floor. Whilst he squinted with his blinding eyes, his skin prickling with heat of the fires of the mountain. Abruptly the walls on each side fell away and the fires burned far warmer then he expected. They burnt the very hairs on his skin under the elven garments, the lose threads of tunic turned away from the heat and shrivelled, the smoke wafted in his face, stinging his nose and making his blind eyes water fresh tears which he could not hold back.
The end of his journey was just a footstep away, but there he stood rooted to the ground his right hand clasping the Ring that hung around his neck that he could not feel. After all the travelling he had done he suddenly realised he couldn't do it.
It was his, his own.
"My precious"
Delighted the Eye shifted its gaze once more to watch it bearer break.
"No" Gandalf spun towards the East, the Eye of Sauron had moved its gaze back to Legolas, the Captains of Gondor stopped fighting and they too gazed up towards the mountain. The orcs too stopped and wondered. Middle-Earth held its breath.