Author Notes: Oh. My. God. Fanfiction.net hates me, really bad…I had 101 reviews and suddenly only 91…*cries brokenly*
*Wipes tears with sleeve* Thank you everyone who has reviewed!! It is still; far more than I could have hoped for…please don't stop?
English is my second language so I apologize for any spelling or grammar mistakes made on the story, quotes have been taken from the book and the elvish is pretty much the way I think it goes.
I also apologize for the lousy chapter that preceded this one; I am hoping this will be better.
Master in Deceiving
By Yours Truly
"Strange names you give indeed!" The guard at the gates of Edoras spoke "But I will report them as you bid and learn my master's will," he paused and gave the remaining fellowship a long glance. "Wait here a little while, and will bring you such answer as seems good to him. Do not hope too much! These are dark days."
He went swiftly away, leaving the strangers in the watchful keeping of his comrades.
{They look at you, as the rat you are}
{They do not know who I am}
{Do they need to know you? With a simple glance to your face, they can see the traitor inside of you. Do you wish to stop that?}
{Nay…I will not surrender again. I am in control}
{Or so you seem to think}
Legolas closed his eyes for the briefest of seconds, and focused his gaze on his friends. Aragorn glanced around silently, as if someone who has seen the place before now. Gandalf stood calmly, gently patting Shadowfax, as the proud horse remained still at his side, uncaring of the awe-filled gazes of those surrounding them.
He quickly averted his eyes from Gimli though, who he knew, was aware of more than what he let on.
Gimli glared back at the men whose gazes seemed to pierce them, uncomfortable by the stone silence that had fallen over the company, and unhappy for being mistrusted like a mere thief, when their quest had cost them so dearly, all for the safety of the land…this men's land, as well as his own. It did not seem fair. With a quick glance around, the dwarf sighed to himself and just stood there, looking everywhere but to the faces of those men that had offended them with mistrust…even when he knew he could not blame them, for this were indeed dark times, the darkest of his life.
His stony gaze fell on Legolas, and he forgot his train of thought. Since the events of the night before, when he had pretended to be asleep, he was greatly concerned for the elf that he had come to call a friend. The voice of the elf last night had not been Legolas. His words…had not sounded like him. And the tiniest of gazes he had of his face when he had been challenging Aragorn, believing the dwarf asleep, had most definitely not been his friend. When the ranger, elf and wizard had returned to the camp, obviously after some sort of battle, Legolas had answered the ranger with words that almost made Gimli send his sleeping act to the skies, and shake some sense into Legolas.
"What do you feel Legolas?" Aragorn had said
"Nothing" Legolas had whispered.
And no other voice had followed that word. The ride towards this gate had been a mostly silent one, with Legolas speaking with both, Aragorn and Gandalf quietly, answering some things, and telling some others. He had not spoken to Gimli, though, and the dwarf was starting to think that the elf knew he had been awake the past evening.
It was then, that the guard returned, breaking into everyone's thoughts. "Follow me!" he said. "Théoden gives you leave to enter; but any weapon that you bear; be it only a staff, you must leave on the threshold. The door wardens will keep them."
The dark gates were swung open. The travelers entered, walking in file behind their guide. They found a broad path, paved with hewn stones, now winding upward, now climbing in short flights of well-laid steps.
Legolas looked around as he walked, but saw no more than blurry shapes and fast moving shadows. The scenery was lost on his blue eyes that would have normally marveled at the beauty of such place.
{This is not right…I have heard this to be a beautiful place}
{You have heard right}
{Why I cannot see any of it? Only dark shapes move everywhere…}
{Light hides from shadow}
{Am I shadow?}
{Since the moment you doomed the ones you called friends, you are}
Many houses built of wood and many dark doors they passed. Beside the way in a stone channel a stream of clear water flowed, sparkling and chattering. Legolas could hear it; the water, and he wanted to weep, for he was unable to see even the slightest drop of it.
At length they came to the crown of the hill. There stood a high platform above a green terrace, which the elf was unable to see. He did see, however, Aragorn turning to see his reaction to what the elf assumed was a beautiful sight, and he took great care in looking as if he could not get enough of this view. The ranger seemed satisfied with what the mask showed him, and he grinned briefly in his direction, then turned around and walked ahead. The mask remained in place the whole walk.
Up the green terrace went a stair of stone, high and broad, and on either side of the topmost step were stone-hewn sea. There sat other guards, with drawn swords laid upon their knees. Their golden hair was braided on their shoulders the sun was blazoned upon their green shields, their long corslets were burnished bright, and when they rose taller they seemed than mortal men.
{At least I can see them…}
{It's beauty you're denied…if you must continue to slaughter your friends, then you must not miss the other possible victims…}
{I will not slaughter anybody…}
{You already have. Or do you believe the hobbits safe? Do you see Boromir admiring the beauty of this place?}
{…In Mordor…and dead…}
{That is right}
"There are the doors before you," said the guide. "I must return now to my duty at the gate. Farewell! And may the Lord of the Mark be gracious to you!"
Legolas heard a murmur, and glanced at the retreating guard.
{Did that man say something?}
{Nay}
Gandalf stepped forward and Legolas looked at him. Another murmur, he realized, and saw how the guards turned the hilts of their swords towards the travelers in token of peace. A green blur was all he could see on them. Then one of the guards stepped forward and spoke.
Legolas frowned when he heard just a soft whisper, on which he could discern no words.
"I am the Doorward of Théoden," he said, as Legolas struggled to hear. "Háma is my name. Here I must bid you lay aside your weapons before you enter."
{Why is the guard speaking so softly…I can barely hear him…weapons?}
{Give him your bow, Legolas}
{What is happening?}
{It may be the custom of the Mark, to speak so low, little Prince. Remember what the other guard had said about your weapons? Hand your weapons to him}
Legolas gave into the guard's hand his silver-hafted knife, his quiver and his bow. "Keep these well," he said, "for they come from the Golden Wood and the Lady of Lothlórien gave them to me." His voice was steady, his face was normal and his hands did not shake. He did not know if it was happiness or grief what he felt when he realized he was getting better at this with each passing day.
Wonder came into the man's eyes, and he laid the weapons hastily by the wall, as if he feared to handle them. Then he murmured again, and Legolas stopped his face from frowning, and only nodded, for whatever the man had said, had not sounded ill.
He saw Aragorn hesitate and say something, just as softly as the guard spoke.
{This must be some strange custom in these parts. These men have a keen hearing, indeed.}
{You cannot hear their words, nor see well, can you now, princeling?}
{Nay, for some reason…am I ill?}
{You are far better than you deserve to be}
The guard, who had seemed far friendlier than the last ones, was suddenly blocking the way for them and seemed to be challenging Aragorn. Confused he turned to his friends, who were all very focused on what was transpiring.
{How can they hear and I cannot?}
Feeling returned back into him with a speed that made him weak. Fear, was the feeling he now could sense on his every bone...a fear he suppressed as best as he could.
{Are they murderers? Have they betrayed you?}
Gandalf spoke, and the tone of his voice sounded clear on his ears. What his words were he did not know. Legolas began to get alarmed at the defensive stance of Gandalf, and the determined faces that Aragorn and the guard of the gate, now wore. More murmurs of Aragorn and the guard, more things he did not understand. Then another tone broke into the apparent argument.
Legolas panicked. It was Gimli, and any day the elf would have heard his words had they had a mountain between them. Today, the dwarf's words were another of the many whispers, the many low voices, and the many blurry shapes that to him was this castle.
They were allowed to walk into a hall, than to the elven eyes was no more than a cloud of mist. Horrified he realized that one by one the clouds were darkening, and the murmurs slowly began to fade. He stood there, mask in place, eyes focused and back straight, as he was suddenly blind and deaf in the hall of a king he could not see, with friends he could no longer hear, and in a position that would require him to be able to do both.
{Let me out} his voice sounded deafening in the sudden silence
{You are outside}
{I am blind…I am deaf…I am not outside}
{'Tis you}
{But the darkness…}
{It is all that *you* are allowed to see}
Scared beyond his long years, Legolas stood there, and saw nothing, and heard nothing, did nothing… until he surrendered.
{I must keep up appearances…}
{You must wear your mask, then}
{I do not have it on?}
The mere thought of the fear he felt being reflected on his face was terrifying him. Aragorn would send him back…his father would despise him…
{I know not if you do}
{You go out…I will stay inside}
{Good, princeling…}
And the elven prince was not there, anymore. Not when the king stood and heard the words of wisdom, not when the food was served, not even when he, Legolas, spoke a few words.
And Gimli saw.
And Aragorn saw.
And Gandalf saw.
They had seen enough, for shadow could now be clearly seen on the blue orbs. It was time for war…extremely soon. Sooner than any orc they could battle against, of that they were certain.
To be continued.
Extra author Note (more like question): is this too bad?
*Wipes tears with sleeve* Thank you everyone who has reviewed!! It is still; far more than I could have hoped for…please don't stop?
English is my second language so I apologize for any spelling or grammar mistakes made on the story, quotes have been taken from the book and the elvish is pretty much the way I think it goes.
I also apologize for the lousy chapter that preceded this one; I am hoping this will be better.
Master in Deceiving
By Yours Truly
"Strange names you give indeed!" The guard at the gates of Edoras spoke "But I will report them as you bid and learn my master's will," he paused and gave the remaining fellowship a long glance. "Wait here a little while, and will bring you such answer as seems good to him. Do not hope too much! These are dark days."
He went swiftly away, leaving the strangers in the watchful keeping of his comrades.
{They look at you, as the rat you are}
{They do not know who I am}
{Do they need to know you? With a simple glance to your face, they can see the traitor inside of you. Do you wish to stop that?}
{Nay…I will not surrender again. I am in control}
{Or so you seem to think}
Legolas closed his eyes for the briefest of seconds, and focused his gaze on his friends. Aragorn glanced around silently, as if someone who has seen the place before now. Gandalf stood calmly, gently patting Shadowfax, as the proud horse remained still at his side, uncaring of the awe-filled gazes of those surrounding them.
He quickly averted his eyes from Gimli though, who he knew, was aware of more than what he let on.
Gimli glared back at the men whose gazes seemed to pierce them, uncomfortable by the stone silence that had fallen over the company, and unhappy for being mistrusted like a mere thief, when their quest had cost them so dearly, all for the safety of the land…this men's land, as well as his own. It did not seem fair. With a quick glance around, the dwarf sighed to himself and just stood there, looking everywhere but to the faces of those men that had offended them with mistrust…even when he knew he could not blame them, for this were indeed dark times, the darkest of his life.
His stony gaze fell on Legolas, and he forgot his train of thought. Since the events of the night before, when he had pretended to be asleep, he was greatly concerned for the elf that he had come to call a friend. The voice of the elf last night had not been Legolas. His words…had not sounded like him. And the tiniest of gazes he had of his face when he had been challenging Aragorn, believing the dwarf asleep, had most definitely not been his friend. When the ranger, elf and wizard had returned to the camp, obviously after some sort of battle, Legolas had answered the ranger with words that almost made Gimli send his sleeping act to the skies, and shake some sense into Legolas.
"What do you feel Legolas?" Aragorn had said
"Nothing" Legolas had whispered.
And no other voice had followed that word. The ride towards this gate had been a mostly silent one, with Legolas speaking with both, Aragorn and Gandalf quietly, answering some things, and telling some others. He had not spoken to Gimli, though, and the dwarf was starting to think that the elf knew he had been awake the past evening.
It was then, that the guard returned, breaking into everyone's thoughts. "Follow me!" he said. "Théoden gives you leave to enter; but any weapon that you bear; be it only a staff, you must leave on the threshold. The door wardens will keep them."
The dark gates were swung open. The travelers entered, walking in file behind their guide. They found a broad path, paved with hewn stones, now winding upward, now climbing in short flights of well-laid steps.
Legolas looked around as he walked, but saw no more than blurry shapes and fast moving shadows. The scenery was lost on his blue eyes that would have normally marveled at the beauty of such place.
{This is not right…I have heard this to be a beautiful place}
{You have heard right}
{Why I cannot see any of it? Only dark shapes move everywhere…}
{Light hides from shadow}
{Am I shadow?}
{Since the moment you doomed the ones you called friends, you are}
Many houses built of wood and many dark doors they passed. Beside the way in a stone channel a stream of clear water flowed, sparkling and chattering. Legolas could hear it; the water, and he wanted to weep, for he was unable to see even the slightest drop of it.
At length they came to the crown of the hill. There stood a high platform above a green terrace, which the elf was unable to see. He did see, however, Aragorn turning to see his reaction to what the elf assumed was a beautiful sight, and he took great care in looking as if he could not get enough of this view. The ranger seemed satisfied with what the mask showed him, and he grinned briefly in his direction, then turned around and walked ahead. The mask remained in place the whole walk.
Up the green terrace went a stair of stone, high and broad, and on either side of the topmost step were stone-hewn sea. There sat other guards, with drawn swords laid upon their knees. Their golden hair was braided on their shoulders the sun was blazoned upon their green shields, their long corslets were burnished bright, and when they rose taller they seemed than mortal men.
{At least I can see them…}
{It's beauty you're denied…if you must continue to slaughter your friends, then you must not miss the other possible victims…}
{I will not slaughter anybody…}
{You already have. Or do you believe the hobbits safe? Do you see Boromir admiring the beauty of this place?}
{…In Mordor…and dead…}
{That is right}
"There are the doors before you," said the guide. "I must return now to my duty at the gate. Farewell! And may the Lord of the Mark be gracious to you!"
Legolas heard a murmur, and glanced at the retreating guard.
{Did that man say something?}
{Nay}
Gandalf stepped forward and Legolas looked at him. Another murmur, he realized, and saw how the guards turned the hilts of their swords towards the travelers in token of peace. A green blur was all he could see on them. Then one of the guards stepped forward and spoke.
Legolas frowned when he heard just a soft whisper, on which he could discern no words.
"I am the Doorward of Théoden," he said, as Legolas struggled to hear. "Háma is my name. Here I must bid you lay aside your weapons before you enter."
{Why is the guard speaking so softly…I can barely hear him…weapons?}
{Give him your bow, Legolas}
{What is happening?}
{It may be the custom of the Mark, to speak so low, little Prince. Remember what the other guard had said about your weapons? Hand your weapons to him}
Legolas gave into the guard's hand his silver-hafted knife, his quiver and his bow. "Keep these well," he said, "for they come from the Golden Wood and the Lady of Lothlórien gave them to me." His voice was steady, his face was normal and his hands did not shake. He did not know if it was happiness or grief what he felt when he realized he was getting better at this with each passing day.
Wonder came into the man's eyes, and he laid the weapons hastily by the wall, as if he feared to handle them. Then he murmured again, and Legolas stopped his face from frowning, and only nodded, for whatever the man had said, had not sounded ill.
He saw Aragorn hesitate and say something, just as softly as the guard spoke.
{This must be some strange custom in these parts. These men have a keen hearing, indeed.}
{You cannot hear their words, nor see well, can you now, princeling?}
{Nay, for some reason…am I ill?}
{You are far better than you deserve to be}
The guard, who had seemed far friendlier than the last ones, was suddenly blocking the way for them and seemed to be challenging Aragorn. Confused he turned to his friends, who were all very focused on what was transpiring.
{How can they hear and I cannot?}
Feeling returned back into him with a speed that made him weak. Fear, was the feeling he now could sense on his every bone...a fear he suppressed as best as he could.
{Are they murderers? Have they betrayed you?}
Gandalf spoke, and the tone of his voice sounded clear on his ears. What his words were he did not know. Legolas began to get alarmed at the defensive stance of Gandalf, and the determined faces that Aragorn and the guard of the gate, now wore. More murmurs of Aragorn and the guard, more things he did not understand. Then another tone broke into the apparent argument.
Legolas panicked. It was Gimli, and any day the elf would have heard his words had they had a mountain between them. Today, the dwarf's words were another of the many whispers, the many low voices, and the many blurry shapes that to him was this castle.
They were allowed to walk into a hall, than to the elven eyes was no more than a cloud of mist. Horrified he realized that one by one the clouds were darkening, and the murmurs slowly began to fade. He stood there, mask in place, eyes focused and back straight, as he was suddenly blind and deaf in the hall of a king he could not see, with friends he could no longer hear, and in a position that would require him to be able to do both.
{Let me out} his voice sounded deafening in the sudden silence
{You are outside}
{I am blind…I am deaf…I am not outside}
{'Tis you}
{But the darkness…}
{It is all that *you* are allowed to see}
Scared beyond his long years, Legolas stood there, and saw nothing, and heard nothing, did nothing… until he surrendered.
{I must keep up appearances…}
{You must wear your mask, then}
{I do not have it on?}
The mere thought of the fear he felt being reflected on his face was terrifying him. Aragorn would send him back…his father would despise him…
{I know not if you do}
{You go out…I will stay inside}
{Good, princeling…}
And the elven prince was not there, anymore. Not when the king stood and heard the words of wisdom, not when the food was served, not even when he, Legolas, spoke a few words.
And Gimli saw.
And Aragorn saw.
And Gandalf saw.
They had seen enough, for shadow could now be clearly seen on the blue orbs. It was time for war…extremely soon. Sooner than any orc they could battle against, of that they were certain.
To be continued.
Extra author Note (more like question): is this too bad?