Disclaimer: I have trouble writing my name, how could you believe I wrote Lord of the Rings?
Author Notes: Thank you to all the reviewers! You honestly make my day :) So…don't stop?
English is my second language so I apologize for any grammar or spelling mistakes made on this story. Elvish is the way I believe it to be, with tons of grammar mistakes. Quotes are taken from the book with lines of my own in between.
And now…*drums* …part two of Helms Deep!!! (I bet you did not know I really liked this stage of the book)
20 chapters! Never did I dreamt that...
Master in Deceiving
By Yours Truly
"Devilry of Saruman!" cried Aragorn, and the satisfaction that Legolas was feeling was swept away like dust by the wind. "They have crept in the culvert again, while we talked, and they have lit the fire of Orthanc beneath our feet. Elendil, Elendil!" he shouted, as he leaped down into the breach; but even as he did so a hundred ladders were raised against the battlements. Orcs screamed in glee as the men attempted to drive them away.
{You were not paying attention}
{Nay…I was…I…}
{You must pay attention when in battle, little one, or did you believe yourself to be more than these armies…more than the men who are dying down there?}
{Never, but I…}
{If not for Aragorn you would not have noticed the very fire burning beneath you}
Over the wall and under the wall the last assault came sweeping like a dark wave upon a hill of sand. The hordes of Isengard seemed to have lost neither blood-thirst nor strength.
{So many…}
{Prove them}
{I do not need to do so}
{Do you not? Show them you are warrior; prove to Aragorn you can do more than slaughter his friends}
The defense was swept away. Some of the Riders were driven back, further and further into the Deep, falling and fighting as they gave way, step by step, towards the caves. Others cut their way back towards the citadel.
Screams of agony, screams for revenge, screams of pure rage and adrenaline…screams of the earth, and the screams of the very stars seemed to assault Legolas. In every battle he had ever fought it had saddened his heart, it made him suffer to see it, to feel it…now it felt…rewarding.
{Does it not feel better? Does it not, Legolas? Tell me, little one, does it not feel exquisite?}
{…It does…so much better, what is this sorcery?}
{'Tis my help, Princeling, feel it, enjoy it to its fullest, feel it all}
{I did not thought to deserve it}
{Feel it, Prince of Mirkwood}
{I feel it}
With a cold grin he ran easily between the battle, going after Aragorn with all his grace and all his speed. A flash of blond hair was all that could discern him from the shadows of this seemingly never-ending night.
{You shall not die}
{Nay…not with this feeling…}
{Every thing has its price, Princeling never forget it}
His heart racing, his gaze traveled quickly through the scene with his blue eyes taking in every detail, but none registering.
{What does that mean?}
Silence.
Dread filled him.
There was a broad stairway, climbed from the Deep up to the Rock and the rear-gate of the Hornburg. Close to the bottom of it, stood Aragorn, his friend, his gleaming sword Andúril gleamed dangerously on his hand, and the terror of the sword for a while held back the enemy, as one by one all who could gain the stair passed up towards the gate. The elf was behind him, frightened beyond his millenniums of age. His keen gaze could discern every tense muscle in Aragorn's back as the man stilled the enemies' advance.
{What does that mean?! What price?}
Nothing came. He was shaking all over.
Slowly, Legolas knelt; taking an arrow that had been engraved unto the wood of a window-frame near his stance. It was his very last gleaned arrow. His bow was bent, and the arrow ready. He peered out now, forcing the shaking of his limbs to recede, forcing control over his body. He swallowed hard, as he watched Aragorn stand there …
{Nay…nay, no price, there will be no damned price!}
"All who can have now got safe within, Aragorn," he called towards his friend. "Come back!"
Aragorn turned and sped up the stair; but as he ran he stumbled in his weariness. At once his enemies leapt forward. Up came the Orcs, yelling, with their long arms stretched out to seize him.
Legolas' heart froze. His eyes widened, his breathing quickened like never before. Barely thinking enough to aim, his hands let the arrow fly, and the foremost fell with Legolas' last arrow in its throat. But the rest sprang over him. Then a great boulder, cast from the outer wall above, crashed down upon the stair, and hurled them back into the Deep.
He gasped for breath, as he quickly grabbed Aragorn's arm and led him up towards the wall once more. His heart racing, his eyes wide, to the ranger the elf had never seemed more mortal.
{No price, no price…I do not feel good any longer, no price…}
"Things go ill, my friends," Aragorn said, wiping the sweat from his brow with his arm.
"Ill enough," answered Legolas,
{Aragorn…me…safe, we are safe…Elbereth no!}
"But not yet hopeless, while we have you with us. Where is Gimli?" his last question lost its calm tone, his words rushed, and Aragorn frowned.
"I do not know." The ranger said finally, and Legolas felt his heart freeze again. "I last saw him fighting on the ground behind the wall, but the enemy swept us apart."
{Nay, nay, nay, nay, no price, by the stars Elbereth, no price…}
"Alas! That is evil news," said Legolas in a whisper.
"He is stout and strong," Aragorn, troubled over the panicked expression on his friend's face, reassured him. "Let us hope that he will escape back to the caves. There he would be safe for a while. Safer than we. Such a refuge would be to the liking of a dwarf."
{Caves…there are caves. Gimli shall find them, he must…}
"That must be my hope'' said Legolas, forcing his breathing to slow down. Noticing Aragorn's worried glance, he thought fast. "But I wish that he had come this way. I desired to tell Master Gimli that my tale is now thirty-nine."
{My voice was normal…all is fine, there are caves. There will be no price for two seconds of satisfaction…}
{There will not?}
"If he wins back to the caves, he will pass your count again," laughed Aragorn, relieved. "Never did I see an axe so wielded." The ranger searched the blue gaze with his, but the elf quickly turned away. At Aragorn's puzzled frown Legolas began to panic.
{Think, fool of an elf…}
"I must go and seek some arrows," Legolas finally explained. "Would that this night would end, and I could have better light for shooting."
With a nod, he walked away, and Aragorn stared after him for a minute. The ranger sighed and passed into the citadel.
{That was close, was it not, Princeling?}
{You left me…}
{'Tis your own mind. One would think you would like to be left alone}
{Too long without being alone…}
{You shall miss me if I leave then, little one?} The voice was mocking him…but he felt so small right now…so weak.
{Aye, I think I shall}
He reached a spot that had surely been a battlefield minutes before. Three men lay dead, and some four orcs were scattered on the ground. Two of them had arrows all over their backs. Glancing up he saw the wall where the archers had surely been standing, and saw no one there. With a distracted shrug of his shoulders he collected four arrows from the place. His light, silent steps took him around the perimeter easily, and he managed to collect a good share of arrows to use in whatever battle they next faced.
{There is always a price, little one}
With the only help of his keen hearing, he caught the familiar sound of an arrow bristling through the air. Out of reflex he jumped aside, and glanced at the arrow that had nearly pierced his chest. It was one from an ally. Lifting his head, he loudly called. "I am no orc, halt your attack!" He saw the face of the human archer form the distance. He seemed young, and horribly surprised. Legolas bowed to him, hoping the kid saw it. Then collected the arrow that almost killed him, and added it to his stock.
{There will be no price. I do not know what sorcery was, that made me draw satisfaction from bloodshed, but I do not feel it any longer…I feel nothing any longer}
{Tell me something, Prince of Mirkwood}
He walked away from the place, and went back the way he had come, hoping to find Aragorn somewhere around the wall. For the first time in extremely long years, he needed the reassurance of someone's company…
{Do you not feel the weakness?}
He saw a figure walking ahead of him, and he went up to meet his friend. In silence, Legolas joined the human and walked with him as he passed round all their circuit, enheartening the men, and lending aid wherever the assault was hot.
{I feel the strength leaving my body; I feel my dependence on a voice that sounds like mine. I feel like I am being buried alive…and I cannot stop it}
Blasts of fire leaped up from below shaking the stones. Grappling-hooks were hurled, and ladders raised. Again and again the Orcs gained the summit of the outer wall, and again the defenders cast them down.
{You wish my help then?}
{What of your price?}
{'Tis your risk}
At last Aragorn stood above the great gates, heedless of the darts of the enemy. As he looked forth he saw the eastern sky grow pale. Then he raised his empty hand, palm outward in token of parley.
Legolas watched him in silence, his heart racing at the possibility of an arrow piercing his friend's heart. He wanted to stop him, to yell at him to get down from that place…and his voice would not come.
{No price for them…nothing to them. Not my friends…}
{I believe I said *your* risk, Princeling}
The Orcs yelled and jeered. "Come down! Come down!" they cried. "If you wish to speak to us, come down! Bring out your king! We are the fighting Uruk-hai. We will fetch him from his hole, if he does not come. Bring out your skulking king!"
{What if I went down there?}
Legolas' eyes widened at the thought.
{What am I thinking? 'Tis ridiculous!}
The laughs of the foul creatures made him shiver, as he glanced at the glory his friend seemed to radiate, by just standing there.
{And 'tis so tempting…}
A few short breaths, and then he saw Aragorn leap down from the archway of the gate where he had stood. The place came crumbling down in a cloud of smoke and dust. Aragorn sighed and ran towards the king's tower. Legolas closed his eyes tightly and in that split second, nodded, with no one to see it.
{I shall take the risk}
With his heart suddenly feeling lighter, he ran after Aragorn. But his mind would not stop wondering what his price would be.
{Whom do I pay to, then?}
{You shall see, little one}
To be continued.
****
I hope not have disappointed anyone, for this was such a great part of the books, and I do not know if I made it justice! Just in case, my e-mail is fox_angel18@hotmail.com
****
By.The.Valar
Somebody added me to his or her favorite list!!! Who was it?? Thank you!!! And so many reviews!!! I just checked them as I was posting this chapter...I cannot believe my eyes! Thank you to every one of you, truly, you have no idea just how big of a smile I am wearing right now!
Author Notes: Thank you to all the reviewers! You honestly make my day :) So…don't stop?
English is my second language so I apologize for any grammar or spelling mistakes made on this story. Elvish is the way I believe it to be, with tons of grammar mistakes. Quotes are taken from the book with lines of my own in between.
And now…*drums* …part two of Helms Deep!!! (I bet you did not know I really liked this stage of the book)
20 chapters! Never did I dreamt that...
Master in Deceiving
By Yours Truly
"Devilry of Saruman!" cried Aragorn, and the satisfaction that Legolas was feeling was swept away like dust by the wind. "They have crept in the culvert again, while we talked, and they have lit the fire of Orthanc beneath our feet. Elendil, Elendil!" he shouted, as he leaped down into the breach; but even as he did so a hundred ladders were raised against the battlements. Orcs screamed in glee as the men attempted to drive them away.
{You were not paying attention}
{Nay…I was…I…}
{You must pay attention when in battle, little one, or did you believe yourself to be more than these armies…more than the men who are dying down there?}
{Never, but I…}
{If not for Aragorn you would not have noticed the very fire burning beneath you}
Over the wall and under the wall the last assault came sweeping like a dark wave upon a hill of sand. The hordes of Isengard seemed to have lost neither blood-thirst nor strength.
{So many…}
{Prove them}
{I do not need to do so}
{Do you not? Show them you are warrior; prove to Aragorn you can do more than slaughter his friends}
The defense was swept away. Some of the Riders were driven back, further and further into the Deep, falling and fighting as they gave way, step by step, towards the caves. Others cut their way back towards the citadel.
Screams of agony, screams for revenge, screams of pure rage and adrenaline…screams of the earth, and the screams of the very stars seemed to assault Legolas. In every battle he had ever fought it had saddened his heart, it made him suffer to see it, to feel it…now it felt…rewarding.
{Does it not feel better? Does it not, Legolas? Tell me, little one, does it not feel exquisite?}
{…It does…so much better, what is this sorcery?}
{'Tis my help, Princeling, feel it, enjoy it to its fullest, feel it all}
{I did not thought to deserve it}
{Feel it, Prince of Mirkwood}
{I feel it}
With a cold grin he ran easily between the battle, going after Aragorn with all his grace and all his speed. A flash of blond hair was all that could discern him from the shadows of this seemingly never-ending night.
{You shall not die}
{Nay…not with this feeling…}
{Every thing has its price, Princeling never forget it}
His heart racing, his gaze traveled quickly through the scene with his blue eyes taking in every detail, but none registering.
{What does that mean?}
Silence.
Dread filled him.
There was a broad stairway, climbed from the Deep up to the Rock and the rear-gate of the Hornburg. Close to the bottom of it, stood Aragorn, his friend, his gleaming sword Andúril gleamed dangerously on his hand, and the terror of the sword for a while held back the enemy, as one by one all who could gain the stair passed up towards the gate. The elf was behind him, frightened beyond his millenniums of age. His keen gaze could discern every tense muscle in Aragorn's back as the man stilled the enemies' advance.
{What does that mean?! What price?}
Nothing came. He was shaking all over.
Slowly, Legolas knelt; taking an arrow that had been engraved unto the wood of a window-frame near his stance. It was his very last gleaned arrow. His bow was bent, and the arrow ready. He peered out now, forcing the shaking of his limbs to recede, forcing control over his body. He swallowed hard, as he watched Aragorn stand there …
{Nay…nay, no price, there will be no damned price!}
"All who can have now got safe within, Aragorn," he called towards his friend. "Come back!"
Aragorn turned and sped up the stair; but as he ran he stumbled in his weariness. At once his enemies leapt forward. Up came the Orcs, yelling, with their long arms stretched out to seize him.
Legolas' heart froze. His eyes widened, his breathing quickened like never before. Barely thinking enough to aim, his hands let the arrow fly, and the foremost fell with Legolas' last arrow in its throat. But the rest sprang over him. Then a great boulder, cast from the outer wall above, crashed down upon the stair, and hurled them back into the Deep.
He gasped for breath, as he quickly grabbed Aragorn's arm and led him up towards the wall once more. His heart racing, his eyes wide, to the ranger the elf had never seemed more mortal.
{No price, no price…I do not feel good any longer, no price…}
"Things go ill, my friends," Aragorn said, wiping the sweat from his brow with his arm.
"Ill enough," answered Legolas,
{Aragorn…me…safe, we are safe…Elbereth no!}
"But not yet hopeless, while we have you with us. Where is Gimli?" his last question lost its calm tone, his words rushed, and Aragorn frowned.
"I do not know." The ranger said finally, and Legolas felt his heart freeze again. "I last saw him fighting on the ground behind the wall, but the enemy swept us apart."
{Nay, nay, nay, nay, no price, by the stars Elbereth, no price…}
"Alas! That is evil news," said Legolas in a whisper.
"He is stout and strong," Aragorn, troubled over the panicked expression on his friend's face, reassured him. "Let us hope that he will escape back to the caves. There he would be safe for a while. Safer than we. Such a refuge would be to the liking of a dwarf."
{Caves…there are caves. Gimli shall find them, he must…}
"That must be my hope'' said Legolas, forcing his breathing to slow down. Noticing Aragorn's worried glance, he thought fast. "But I wish that he had come this way. I desired to tell Master Gimli that my tale is now thirty-nine."
{My voice was normal…all is fine, there are caves. There will be no price for two seconds of satisfaction…}
{There will not?}
"If he wins back to the caves, he will pass your count again," laughed Aragorn, relieved. "Never did I see an axe so wielded." The ranger searched the blue gaze with his, but the elf quickly turned away. At Aragorn's puzzled frown Legolas began to panic.
{Think, fool of an elf…}
"I must go and seek some arrows," Legolas finally explained. "Would that this night would end, and I could have better light for shooting."
With a nod, he walked away, and Aragorn stared after him for a minute. The ranger sighed and passed into the citadel.
{That was close, was it not, Princeling?}
{You left me…}
{'Tis your own mind. One would think you would like to be left alone}
{Too long without being alone…}
{You shall miss me if I leave then, little one?} The voice was mocking him…but he felt so small right now…so weak.
{Aye, I think I shall}
He reached a spot that had surely been a battlefield minutes before. Three men lay dead, and some four orcs were scattered on the ground. Two of them had arrows all over their backs. Glancing up he saw the wall where the archers had surely been standing, and saw no one there. With a distracted shrug of his shoulders he collected four arrows from the place. His light, silent steps took him around the perimeter easily, and he managed to collect a good share of arrows to use in whatever battle they next faced.
{There is always a price, little one}
With the only help of his keen hearing, he caught the familiar sound of an arrow bristling through the air. Out of reflex he jumped aside, and glanced at the arrow that had nearly pierced his chest. It was one from an ally. Lifting his head, he loudly called. "I am no orc, halt your attack!" He saw the face of the human archer form the distance. He seemed young, and horribly surprised. Legolas bowed to him, hoping the kid saw it. Then collected the arrow that almost killed him, and added it to his stock.
{There will be no price. I do not know what sorcery was, that made me draw satisfaction from bloodshed, but I do not feel it any longer…I feel nothing any longer}
{Tell me something, Prince of Mirkwood}
He walked away from the place, and went back the way he had come, hoping to find Aragorn somewhere around the wall. For the first time in extremely long years, he needed the reassurance of someone's company…
{Do you not feel the weakness?}
He saw a figure walking ahead of him, and he went up to meet his friend. In silence, Legolas joined the human and walked with him as he passed round all their circuit, enheartening the men, and lending aid wherever the assault was hot.
{I feel the strength leaving my body; I feel my dependence on a voice that sounds like mine. I feel like I am being buried alive…and I cannot stop it}
Blasts of fire leaped up from below shaking the stones. Grappling-hooks were hurled, and ladders raised. Again and again the Orcs gained the summit of the outer wall, and again the defenders cast them down.
{You wish my help then?}
{What of your price?}
{'Tis your risk}
At last Aragorn stood above the great gates, heedless of the darts of the enemy. As he looked forth he saw the eastern sky grow pale. Then he raised his empty hand, palm outward in token of parley.
Legolas watched him in silence, his heart racing at the possibility of an arrow piercing his friend's heart. He wanted to stop him, to yell at him to get down from that place…and his voice would not come.
{No price for them…nothing to them. Not my friends…}
{I believe I said *your* risk, Princeling}
The Orcs yelled and jeered. "Come down! Come down!" they cried. "If you wish to speak to us, come down! Bring out your king! We are the fighting Uruk-hai. We will fetch him from his hole, if he does not come. Bring out your skulking king!"
{What if I went down there?}
Legolas' eyes widened at the thought.
{What am I thinking? 'Tis ridiculous!}
The laughs of the foul creatures made him shiver, as he glanced at the glory his friend seemed to radiate, by just standing there.
{And 'tis so tempting…}
A few short breaths, and then he saw Aragorn leap down from the archway of the gate where he had stood. The place came crumbling down in a cloud of smoke and dust. Aragorn sighed and ran towards the king's tower. Legolas closed his eyes tightly and in that split second, nodded, with no one to see it.
{I shall take the risk}
With his heart suddenly feeling lighter, he ran after Aragorn. But his mind would not stop wondering what his price would be.
{Whom do I pay to, then?}
{You shall see, little one}
To be continued.
****
I hope not have disappointed anyone, for this was such a great part of the books, and I do not know if I made it justice! Just in case, my e-mail is fox_angel18@hotmail.com
****
By.The.Valar
Somebody added me to his or her favorite list!!! Who was it?? Thank you!!! And so many reviews!!! I just checked them as I was posting this chapter...I cannot believe my eyes! Thank you to every one of you, truly, you have no idea just how big of a smile I am wearing right now!