Author Notes: *Throws a huge party* Wow, did you see that? I got over 200 reviews *faints in the middle of the dance floor* Thank to every single one you that has left a little message concerning this story. It has meant the world to me, since this is my first LOTR story and I am slightly unsure of parts of it.
And I send a warm hug to those readers that had walked with me on most chapters, if not all of them, until the latest ones. For those of you that did not like the pace, the turn of events or got so confused that have quit reading, thank you for being with me in the beginning, and I am sorry I could not reach your expectations.
English is my second language so I apologize for any grammar or spelling mistakes made on this story. The quotes are taken from the book, which by a way of Disclaimer is not mine. And the elvish is most likely mistaken.
*Big smile* A huge party, hugs, kisses and chocolate cookies to all of those that are still with me ^_^ For Erie and Kaeva for their lovely e-mails, here goes Chapter 24…(!!! 24!!! +_+)
Master in Deceiving
By Yours Truly
Legolas closed his eyes in defeat when the company halted their advance on the land. They halted in a green-footed dale, beneath the Thorn bushes that grew thick upon the low banks. The sweet-scented earth brought to the hearts of all, the feeling of the approaching spring. But Legolas did not realize how the nature around them welcomed the company.
The fight was becoming too much for his overloaded senses.
He could not think straight, he half listened to the things being said, and his feelings were battling inside of his chest at every second. He tried to force his mind away from distraction, force it to focus upon the task at hand, to focus upon the increasing number of worried looks Aragorn was sending him, to focus upon the day, the sky…anything…but the second he managed to focus on one thing, his thoughts flew to another direction. This was a curse…it was the cruelest of torments for one who had always managed to keep some shred of control, and had fought for it every step of the way.
{This is what feels like to loose, then} he thought sadly, but soon another thousand incoherent thoughts formed, erasing the previous one.
They had rode away from Isengard when the sun was sinking behind the long western arm of the mountains. Gandalf had taken Merry behind him, and Aragorn had taken Pippin. While the wizard and the young hobbit spoke quietly, Legolas had rode in silence; barely aware that his eyes betrayed the inner chaos he was living. Aragorn had made a decision on this day; he was going to confront Legolas once more. From the determined look on Gimli's face he had reached the same decision. This had been going on for far too long, and now the elf barely spoke or barely seemed to even be aware of his surroundings. So it was when the company halted and everyone wearily descended from their mounts that the ranger approached his friend, followed closely by a very annoyed dwarf.
Legolas dismounted gracefully and tried to loose himself on the preparations of this eve's camp. Walking swiftly and blindly between the men he sought out a silent corner and sat there when he found it. The song of nature reached his ears and he sighed trying desperately to control his wayward thoughts. Maybe if he just accepted the help of nature and embraced the quiet of this small corner he could…
But the calming silence did not last long. "Legolas?" a familiar voice asked, and his blue eyes opened slowly.
He was afraid to answer the man that stood in front of him, afraid of what he would say. If he could not control his thoughts, could he control his words?
"Aye?" he answered neutrally, as his mortal friend sat next to him. Only then did he see Gimli standing a few paces ahead, and the dwarf too sat on the ground.
"Tell me what is haunting you, my friend. Your eyes betray you on each day, and for too much time has this been going on. Your thoughts are troubled and we would like to help you" Aragorn said quietly, staring into the elven gaze that met his hesitantly.
The elf shook his head and closed his eyes. With a sigh he opened his mouth to speak, and closed it once more. His thoughts were more than merely troubled. They were insane!
{What am I doing here? What is here? Mirkwood Greenwood Rivendell Lothlórien Gondor…}
{Legolas Lasgalen Laeglass Aragorn Estel Hope Greenleaf Gimli Théoden Gandalf Merry Pippin Meriadoc Peregrin Elrond Glorfindel Arwen Sauron Mithrandir Galadriel Haldir Orophin Rúmil Boromir…who am I?}
{Maybe if I jump I will fall, perhaps if I hide I will be found, then if I cry I would be comforted, maybe if I talk they would worry and if I scream I would be noticed…}
"Crazy elf!" Gimli growled, "Stop your staring into nothingness and answer our questions! What is it that has been haunting you for all this time? What is it that has made you retreat into yourself?"
Legolas looked up in confusion, and his rational said just knew he was about so say something incoherent. His eyes stared into Gimli's and then stared into Aragorn's to then frown towards the ground. "But I did not say!" he exclaimed in surprise.
Aragorn stared at him in silence, as did Gimli. Their twin expressions of confusion made the elf laugh quietly.
"I did not say, I did not fall, I did not scream, I did not cry, I did not reach you, I did nothing, I am fighting alone and I am loosing but I did nothing to make you worry or to make you notice me or to make you comfort me. It makes no sense," Legolas said with a small smile. "That you would try to do all of those"
"What are you talking about, Legolas?" Aragorn said slowly, as if speaking with a child, and Legolas laughed again at his tone.
"I am much older than you Aragorn, do not treat me as a child. Even if by elven standards I am not exactly 'ancient' I am indeed your elder…but wait I am Sindar not an Eldar…ah, do not mind that. Do not speak as if I was a child…you did speak right?"
Gimli stared at Legolas with a startled expression. Had the elf lost his mind? "Legolas, stop rambling so, you are making no sense…"
"Neither are you" the elf supplied
"Legolas…" The ranger began only to be interrupted by another laugh
"Aragorn…"
"Look, Prince of Mirkwood…"
"What must I look at, heir to the throne of Gondor?"
"What has happened to you?"
"I think I might have lost" Legolas laughed, "You see, I was trying to win, but I was so tired…and now I lost…or maybe I won? I forgot what I was trying to win"
"Legolas, look into my eyes" Aragorn said hurriedly and the elf rolled his eyes
"Yes, oh King of men" He said with a sigh and met the ranger's gaze. Aragorn's eyes widened when he saw the storm playing in those blue orbs. The familiar glint of his friend ever present there, yet dimmed as if by a fog…as if by…magic?
Legolas tilted his head to the side, staring at Aragorn, and then he tilted it to the other side, his golden hair following his movements over his shoulder blades. Then Legolas began to laugh, closing his right eye to then open it and close the left one. "You know, Aragorn, your eyes change color!" he announced with a smile.
"Legolas focus. Just try to focus on me, all right? Try to focus on something…"
There was a moment of silence and then Legolas sighed sadly "You think I have not tried this? All day I have been fighting for control and yet, my thoughts stray so easily that…" for a second his voice sounded sorrowful, yet his normal tone was calming to his friends. Legolas was still there. But then the elf laughed again "I see your eyes turn blue, then gray, then blue again, and then if I keep staring my sight blurs"
Gimli, coming out of his silent stupor, and encouraged by the moment of normalcy the elf had just shown met the elf's gaze. Coming up with a plan he spoke deliberately slowly. "Legolas Thranduilion you have indeed lost your mind. What good can a lunatic elf like you do on this quest? It is not like you will be able to battle or anything else…much as a child you seem to me now"
Aragorn cringed at the words. He knew that was a tender spot on his friend. He hated to be treated as incapable of handling himself, just as he hated being compared to a child. His father had done enough of that when the elf had been younger.
Legolas' gaze went cold as ice, and his eyes could have frozen Mordor when he turned them on the dwarf. "What have you just said?" his voice hissed "you think me so dependant now? You think me weak? Very well, my *friend* I shall prove you that my knives and bow still work as they should…"
"Legolas, do not…" but a shake of the dwarf's head made Aragorn stop. The ranger was worried, in this state of mind; Legolas could be very dangerous, indeed…
"I have no intention of battling against a weakling such as you are now. Forget it, master elf, you better head towards your home now" With those parting words, Gimli turned away from the elf and began walking away. With a sound of alarm Aragorn warned him, and he was only vaguely shocked when two arrows landed directly at his feet. He looked up to meet Legolas' gaze, who now stood a few paces ahead. Damned be the speed of the elves…
"Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood?" he said solemnly, meeting the cold eyes that were normally filled with laughter and song.
"What?" the elf hissed back at him, even his voice betraying the anger he now held.
"Welcome back" Gimli said with a grin. Legolas glared and moved towards him. Gimli began to fear he had merely trigged a crueler side to the gentle elf but when he approached, the dwarf could see the mischievous twinkle on the once again warm eyes.
"Indeed" Legolas said, bending as if to pick up his arrows, only to kick Gimli's feet from beneath him, and then walk to settle once more on the spot he had vacated earlier, next to the now grinning Aragorn.
Gimli growled, and stood up from the floor. Only to chuckle to himself when he saw the smile on Legolas' face. "I thank you, friend Gimli," the elf said after a moment, his face once again serious "emotion seems to be the key to this…curse…that plagues me"
"Do you know what is it, Legolas? What has happened?"
{If I told you it was the voice inside my head, Estel, you would probably behead me with your sword on the spot}
{Aye, he most probably would, princeling}
{Get away…you were not here…}
{You were doing such a fine job yourself, but now I have indeed come back to help you}
{To HELP me, you say?}
{Aye…to help you, little one}
Legolas' met his friend's gaze and shook his head solemnly. "Nay, Aragorn, I know not what plagues me"
The ranger nodded and after a moment of silence, sighed. "Perhaps Gandalf would know how to help you…"
"NAY!"
The shout surprised both human and dwarf, who stared in silence at their elven comrade. Legolas seemed surprised himself, for his eyes were wide.
{Nay, not again, let me out!}
"Do not trouble Mithrandir with such things, Aragorn, I shall be able to figure this one out. Do not worry…it cannot be too serious" The elf said firmly, and the determined glint on his gaze hid the missing spark of life in them.
Aragorn looked at him hard, and then sighed. "As you wish, Legolas, but if this shall happen again, I will tell him. You were lucky Gimli's plan had a good result…you could have killed him if it had not" The elf nodded in silence and both mortals stood up from the ground to seek rest. It was not possible to do so for Legolas…
{Aye, Princeling, you could have killed him!}
{Let me out, let me out, do not leave me in the dark, I do not wish to be in the dark…}
{Weakling, and you call yourself a Prince. Afraid of the dark are you? Afraid of being alone, are you? Afraid of life… are you not, princeling? Afraid to live and be hurt?}
Beyond any shield, any mask and any presence, the dying spark of life in elven eyes shuddered, as said eyes widened on a stoic face. Legolas' breathing quickened, as his senses grew suddenly sharp.
{Well, you must face your fears, little one. Why do you not live a little, now? Feel the life and tell me if you fear it…tell me if you wish to be alive, to be outside. Really live on this night…and then let me know}
"Nay…" Legolas whispered softly. The whisper was swallowed by the thousand sounds around him.
The rustling of clothing as the men in the camp moved, their breathing, their heartbeat, their whispers, their conversations, their every detectable sound…the horses, the nature, the trees, the sky, the voices…so many voices at once…
"Do you think we shall come back alive…what if…?" "Good night my father" "Eru give us victory in battle…" "Do you want some food? I have some bread left" "Everyone, rest! We have a long day on the morrow" "We will defeat the army, you shall see" "Those orcs good for nothing, they have no more brains than they have good looks" "What is it with that guy? He never approaches us…"
He knew none of those voices… they were overwhelming him…and those were just the sounds. He could feel the smell of the earth, of the sweat, of the road, of the trees…he could see until the last of the leaves on the last tree on his eyesight, and he could discern the drop of sweat that traveled down the forehead of the soldier that stood at a fifteen-foot distance.
He was scared, to put it mildly.
{What is going on…what is this…}
{Life!}
He made a conscious effort to recognize the familiar sounds, to identify the known voices, the known sounds and the known patters of breathing. Slowly he managed to calm himself down, to enjoy the now louder sound of the song of nature…
…And it was then that he heard him…and it was then that he saw him
Pippin had walked softly to where Gandalf lay. At first Legolas saw him back down a bit, but then draw forward once more, as if against his will, the hobbit crept up again from behind the wizard's head. Mithrandir was rolled in a blanket, with his cloak spread over the top; and close beside him, between his right side and his bent arm, there was a hummock, something round…
{Ah, yes} Legolas thought {The Stone…By Elbereth!}
He tried to get to Pippin, to stop him, but his overloaded senses made of getting up quite a task. His surroundings blurred suddenly and he swayed on his feet. He reached out a hand towards where the hobbit now sat with the stone on his knees and his cloak around him but no sound came from his mouth.
Pippin's increasing breathing reached his senses, and even as he fell on the ground once more, he tried to get up and stop him. Taking a deep breath, Legolas tried once more, and managed it, moving towards the hobbit that sat paralyzed by what was most likely fear. Taking one step towards the small form, he froze.
Legolas was held captive by what he saw on the stone.
Then Pippin cried out and the camp was alerted to his crime. Legolas, his eyes open wide, sat once more on the ground.
What he had seen was not what he now could hear Pippin relating to Mithrandir. He had seen Sauron…he had seen the flaming eye…and it had been calling for him in a familiar voice he could not place.
Without thinking he stood up and walked towards where the rest of the company was staring in silence at the talk between Gandalf and Pippin. Legolas looked into the now covered form of the Seeing Stone. And the haunting voice he had heard would not leave his thoughts
{Legolas Son of Thranduil, Prince of Mirkwood. Come now, come closer, nothing to fear on this side. Nothing to fear on the ever-present darkness, come now, come closer…}
Legolas shook his head, and with effort, controlled his ragged breathing. Schooling his features neutral as he saw Mithrandir approaching Aragorn. The wizard gave him a passing glance, which seemed suspicious to the keen eyes of Legolas. Gandalf asked Aragorn to guard the Stone, and to the surprise of all, uncovered it to present it to the heir of the throne. Legolas was not prepared. The eye was there and it was staring at him, it was fixed on him, looking inside of him, stripping him bare…it was calling him…
{Legolas Thranduilion, teli…} (Legolas son of Thranduil, come)
His senses slowly dimmed, slowly turned off until they were back to normal. He felt deaf and blind and mute and numb for a few seconds as his body got used to the change, and during those seconds his thoughts raced…
{It is impossible, it is my imagination…. That had been elvish, Sauron would not speak elvish, he despises elves, and he hates our light, our language the very sight of us. That was elvish, and I am an elf, what could Sauron wish of me, what is this treachery, this foolishness…I am just loosing my mind, nothing real. This is not real…}
With a start he realized the air of evil that surrounded them, as a winged shape of darkness passed above them, blocking to his eyes the glittering light of the stars.
"Nazgûl!" Gandalf cried. "The messenger of Mordor. The storm is coming. The Nazgûl have crossed the River! Ride, ride! Wait not for the dawn! Let not the swift wait for the slow! Ride!"
And then in a blur of movement, Gandalf was on top of Shadowfax; Aragorn lifted Pippin and set him in Gandalf's arms, wrapped in cloak and blanket.
"Farewell! Follow fast!" cried Gandalf. "Away, Shadowfax!"
The great horse tossed his head. His flowing tail flicked in the moonlight. Then he leapt forward, spurning the earth, and was gone like the north wind from the mountains.
Legolas stared at the disappearing shadow in silence, and with a mournful tear he whispered to the night air, his whisper swallowed by the sounds of the camp being lifted.
"Mithrandir…Im baurle si…Im baur gûr…Mithrandir?" (Mithrandir…I need thee now…I need counsel…Mithrandir?)
To be continued
Please R&R, I need to know if you are still with me! Please?
And I send a warm hug to those readers that had walked with me on most chapters, if not all of them, until the latest ones. For those of you that did not like the pace, the turn of events or got so confused that have quit reading, thank you for being with me in the beginning, and I am sorry I could not reach your expectations.
English is my second language so I apologize for any grammar or spelling mistakes made on this story. The quotes are taken from the book, which by a way of Disclaimer is not mine. And the elvish is most likely mistaken.
*Big smile* A huge party, hugs, kisses and chocolate cookies to all of those that are still with me ^_^ For Erie and Kaeva for their lovely e-mails, here goes Chapter 24…(!!! 24!!! +_+)
Master in Deceiving
By Yours Truly
Legolas closed his eyes in defeat when the company halted their advance on the land. They halted in a green-footed dale, beneath the Thorn bushes that grew thick upon the low banks. The sweet-scented earth brought to the hearts of all, the feeling of the approaching spring. But Legolas did not realize how the nature around them welcomed the company.
The fight was becoming too much for his overloaded senses.
He could not think straight, he half listened to the things being said, and his feelings were battling inside of his chest at every second. He tried to force his mind away from distraction, force it to focus upon the task at hand, to focus upon the increasing number of worried looks Aragorn was sending him, to focus upon the day, the sky…anything…but the second he managed to focus on one thing, his thoughts flew to another direction. This was a curse…it was the cruelest of torments for one who had always managed to keep some shred of control, and had fought for it every step of the way.
{This is what feels like to loose, then} he thought sadly, but soon another thousand incoherent thoughts formed, erasing the previous one.
They had rode away from Isengard when the sun was sinking behind the long western arm of the mountains. Gandalf had taken Merry behind him, and Aragorn had taken Pippin. While the wizard and the young hobbit spoke quietly, Legolas had rode in silence; barely aware that his eyes betrayed the inner chaos he was living. Aragorn had made a decision on this day; he was going to confront Legolas once more. From the determined look on Gimli's face he had reached the same decision. This had been going on for far too long, and now the elf barely spoke or barely seemed to even be aware of his surroundings. So it was when the company halted and everyone wearily descended from their mounts that the ranger approached his friend, followed closely by a very annoyed dwarf.
Legolas dismounted gracefully and tried to loose himself on the preparations of this eve's camp. Walking swiftly and blindly between the men he sought out a silent corner and sat there when he found it. The song of nature reached his ears and he sighed trying desperately to control his wayward thoughts. Maybe if he just accepted the help of nature and embraced the quiet of this small corner he could…
But the calming silence did not last long. "Legolas?" a familiar voice asked, and his blue eyes opened slowly.
He was afraid to answer the man that stood in front of him, afraid of what he would say. If he could not control his thoughts, could he control his words?
"Aye?" he answered neutrally, as his mortal friend sat next to him. Only then did he see Gimli standing a few paces ahead, and the dwarf too sat on the ground.
"Tell me what is haunting you, my friend. Your eyes betray you on each day, and for too much time has this been going on. Your thoughts are troubled and we would like to help you" Aragorn said quietly, staring into the elven gaze that met his hesitantly.
The elf shook his head and closed his eyes. With a sigh he opened his mouth to speak, and closed it once more. His thoughts were more than merely troubled. They were insane!
{What am I doing here? What is here? Mirkwood Greenwood Rivendell Lothlórien Gondor…}
{Legolas Lasgalen Laeglass Aragorn Estel Hope Greenleaf Gimli Théoden Gandalf Merry Pippin Meriadoc Peregrin Elrond Glorfindel Arwen Sauron Mithrandir Galadriel Haldir Orophin Rúmil Boromir…who am I?}
{Maybe if I jump I will fall, perhaps if I hide I will be found, then if I cry I would be comforted, maybe if I talk they would worry and if I scream I would be noticed…}
"Crazy elf!" Gimli growled, "Stop your staring into nothingness and answer our questions! What is it that has been haunting you for all this time? What is it that has made you retreat into yourself?"
Legolas looked up in confusion, and his rational said just knew he was about so say something incoherent. His eyes stared into Gimli's and then stared into Aragorn's to then frown towards the ground. "But I did not say!" he exclaimed in surprise.
Aragorn stared at him in silence, as did Gimli. Their twin expressions of confusion made the elf laugh quietly.
"I did not say, I did not fall, I did not scream, I did not cry, I did not reach you, I did nothing, I am fighting alone and I am loosing but I did nothing to make you worry or to make you notice me or to make you comfort me. It makes no sense," Legolas said with a small smile. "That you would try to do all of those"
"What are you talking about, Legolas?" Aragorn said slowly, as if speaking with a child, and Legolas laughed again at his tone.
"I am much older than you Aragorn, do not treat me as a child. Even if by elven standards I am not exactly 'ancient' I am indeed your elder…but wait I am Sindar not an Eldar…ah, do not mind that. Do not speak as if I was a child…you did speak right?"
Gimli stared at Legolas with a startled expression. Had the elf lost his mind? "Legolas, stop rambling so, you are making no sense…"
"Neither are you" the elf supplied
"Legolas…" The ranger began only to be interrupted by another laugh
"Aragorn…"
"Look, Prince of Mirkwood…"
"What must I look at, heir to the throne of Gondor?"
"What has happened to you?"
"I think I might have lost" Legolas laughed, "You see, I was trying to win, but I was so tired…and now I lost…or maybe I won? I forgot what I was trying to win"
"Legolas, look into my eyes" Aragorn said hurriedly and the elf rolled his eyes
"Yes, oh King of men" He said with a sigh and met the ranger's gaze. Aragorn's eyes widened when he saw the storm playing in those blue orbs. The familiar glint of his friend ever present there, yet dimmed as if by a fog…as if by…magic?
Legolas tilted his head to the side, staring at Aragorn, and then he tilted it to the other side, his golden hair following his movements over his shoulder blades. Then Legolas began to laugh, closing his right eye to then open it and close the left one. "You know, Aragorn, your eyes change color!" he announced with a smile.
"Legolas focus. Just try to focus on me, all right? Try to focus on something…"
There was a moment of silence and then Legolas sighed sadly "You think I have not tried this? All day I have been fighting for control and yet, my thoughts stray so easily that…" for a second his voice sounded sorrowful, yet his normal tone was calming to his friends. Legolas was still there. But then the elf laughed again "I see your eyes turn blue, then gray, then blue again, and then if I keep staring my sight blurs"
Gimli, coming out of his silent stupor, and encouraged by the moment of normalcy the elf had just shown met the elf's gaze. Coming up with a plan he spoke deliberately slowly. "Legolas Thranduilion you have indeed lost your mind. What good can a lunatic elf like you do on this quest? It is not like you will be able to battle or anything else…much as a child you seem to me now"
Aragorn cringed at the words. He knew that was a tender spot on his friend. He hated to be treated as incapable of handling himself, just as he hated being compared to a child. His father had done enough of that when the elf had been younger.
Legolas' gaze went cold as ice, and his eyes could have frozen Mordor when he turned them on the dwarf. "What have you just said?" his voice hissed "you think me so dependant now? You think me weak? Very well, my *friend* I shall prove you that my knives and bow still work as they should…"
"Legolas, do not…" but a shake of the dwarf's head made Aragorn stop. The ranger was worried, in this state of mind; Legolas could be very dangerous, indeed…
"I have no intention of battling against a weakling such as you are now. Forget it, master elf, you better head towards your home now" With those parting words, Gimli turned away from the elf and began walking away. With a sound of alarm Aragorn warned him, and he was only vaguely shocked when two arrows landed directly at his feet. He looked up to meet Legolas' gaze, who now stood a few paces ahead. Damned be the speed of the elves…
"Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood?" he said solemnly, meeting the cold eyes that were normally filled with laughter and song.
"What?" the elf hissed back at him, even his voice betraying the anger he now held.
"Welcome back" Gimli said with a grin. Legolas glared and moved towards him. Gimli began to fear he had merely trigged a crueler side to the gentle elf but when he approached, the dwarf could see the mischievous twinkle on the once again warm eyes.
"Indeed" Legolas said, bending as if to pick up his arrows, only to kick Gimli's feet from beneath him, and then walk to settle once more on the spot he had vacated earlier, next to the now grinning Aragorn.
Gimli growled, and stood up from the floor. Only to chuckle to himself when he saw the smile on Legolas' face. "I thank you, friend Gimli," the elf said after a moment, his face once again serious "emotion seems to be the key to this…curse…that plagues me"
"Do you know what is it, Legolas? What has happened?"
{If I told you it was the voice inside my head, Estel, you would probably behead me with your sword on the spot}
{Aye, he most probably would, princeling}
{Get away…you were not here…}
{You were doing such a fine job yourself, but now I have indeed come back to help you}
{To HELP me, you say?}
{Aye…to help you, little one}
Legolas' met his friend's gaze and shook his head solemnly. "Nay, Aragorn, I know not what plagues me"
The ranger nodded and after a moment of silence, sighed. "Perhaps Gandalf would know how to help you…"
"NAY!"
The shout surprised both human and dwarf, who stared in silence at their elven comrade. Legolas seemed surprised himself, for his eyes were wide.
{Nay, not again, let me out!}
"Do not trouble Mithrandir with such things, Aragorn, I shall be able to figure this one out. Do not worry…it cannot be too serious" The elf said firmly, and the determined glint on his gaze hid the missing spark of life in them.
Aragorn looked at him hard, and then sighed. "As you wish, Legolas, but if this shall happen again, I will tell him. You were lucky Gimli's plan had a good result…you could have killed him if it had not" The elf nodded in silence and both mortals stood up from the ground to seek rest. It was not possible to do so for Legolas…
{Aye, Princeling, you could have killed him!}
{Let me out, let me out, do not leave me in the dark, I do not wish to be in the dark…}
{Weakling, and you call yourself a Prince. Afraid of the dark are you? Afraid of being alone, are you? Afraid of life… are you not, princeling? Afraid to live and be hurt?}
Beyond any shield, any mask and any presence, the dying spark of life in elven eyes shuddered, as said eyes widened on a stoic face. Legolas' breathing quickened, as his senses grew suddenly sharp.
{Well, you must face your fears, little one. Why do you not live a little, now? Feel the life and tell me if you fear it…tell me if you wish to be alive, to be outside. Really live on this night…and then let me know}
"Nay…" Legolas whispered softly. The whisper was swallowed by the thousand sounds around him.
The rustling of clothing as the men in the camp moved, their breathing, their heartbeat, their whispers, their conversations, their every detectable sound…the horses, the nature, the trees, the sky, the voices…so many voices at once…
"Do you think we shall come back alive…what if…?" "Good night my father" "Eru give us victory in battle…" "Do you want some food? I have some bread left" "Everyone, rest! We have a long day on the morrow" "We will defeat the army, you shall see" "Those orcs good for nothing, they have no more brains than they have good looks" "What is it with that guy? He never approaches us…"
He knew none of those voices… they were overwhelming him…and those were just the sounds. He could feel the smell of the earth, of the sweat, of the road, of the trees…he could see until the last of the leaves on the last tree on his eyesight, and he could discern the drop of sweat that traveled down the forehead of the soldier that stood at a fifteen-foot distance.
He was scared, to put it mildly.
{What is going on…what is this…}
{Life!}
He made a conscious effort to recognize the familiar sounds, to identify the known voices, the known sounds and the known patters of breathing. Slowly he managed to calm himself down, to enjoy the now louder sound of the song of nature…
…And it was then that he heard him…and it was then that he saw him
Pippin had walked softly to where Gandalf lay. At first Legolas saw him back down a bit, but then draw forward once more, as if against his will, the hobbit crept up again from behind the wizard's head. Mithrandir was rolled in a blanket, with his cloak spread over the top; and close beside him, between his right side and his bent arm, there was a hummock, something round…
{Ah, yes} Legolas thought {The Stone…By Elbereth!}
He tried to get to Pippin, to stop him, but his overloaded senses made of getting up quite a task. His surroundings blurred suddenly and he swayed on his feet. He reached out a hand towards where the hobbit now sat with the stone on his knees and his cloak around him but no sound came from his mouth.
Pippin's increasing breathing reached his senses, and even as he fell on the ground once more, he tried to get up and stop him. Taking a deep breath, Legolas tried once more, and managed it, moving towards the hobbit that sat paralyzed by what was most likely fear. Taking one step towards the small form, he froze.
Legolas was held captive by what he saw on the stone.
Then Pippin cried out and the camp was alerted to his crime. Legolas, his eyes open wide, sat once more on the ground.
What he had seen was not what he now could hear Pippin relating to Mithrandir. He had seen Sauron…he had seen the flaming eye…and it had been calling for him in a familiar voice he could not place.
Without thinking he stood up and walked towards where the rest of the company was staring in silence at the talk between Gandalf and Pippin. Legolas looked into the now covered form of the Seeing Stone. And the haunting voice he had heard would not leave his thoughts
{Legolas Son of Thranduil, Prince of Mirkwood. Come now, come closer, nothing to fear on this side. Nothing to fear on the ever-present darkness, come now, come closer…}
Legolas shook his head, and with effort, controlled his ragged breathing. Schooling his features neutral as he saw Mithrandir approaching Aragorn. The wizard gave him a passing glance, which seemed suspicious to the keen eyes of Legolas. Gandalf asked Aragorn to guard the Stone, and to the surprise of all, uncovered it to present it to the heir of the throne. Legolas was not prepared. The eye was there and it was staring at him, it was fixed on him, looking inside of him, stripping him bare…it was calling him…
{Legolas Thranduilion, teli…} (Legolas son of Thranduil, come)
His senses slowly dimmed, slowly turned off until they were back to normal. He felt deaf and blind and mute and numb for a few seconds as his body got used to the change, and during those seconds his thoughts raced…
{It is impossible, it is my imagination…. That had been elvish, Sauron would not speak elvish, he despises elves, and he hates our light, our language the very sight of us. That was elvish, and I am an elf, what could Sauron wish of me, what is this treachery, this foolishness…I am just loosing my mind, nothing real. This is not real…}
With a start he realized the air of evil that surrounded them, as a winged shape of darkness passed above them, blocking to his eyes the glittering light of the stars.
"Nazgûl!" Gandalf cried. "The messenger of Mordor. The storm is coming. The Nazgûl have crossed the River! Ride, ride! Wait not for the dawn! Let not the swift wait for the slow! Ride!"
And then in a blur of movement, Gandalf was on top of Shadowfax; Aragorn lifted Pippin and set him in Gandalf's arms, wrapped in cloak and blanket.
"Farewell! Follow fast!" cried Gandalf. "Away, Shadowfax!"
The great horse tossed his head. His flowing tail flicked in the moonlight. Then he leapt forward, spurning the earth, and was gone like the north wind from the mountains.
Legolas stared at the disappearing shadow in silence, and with a mournful tear he whispered to the night air, his whisper swallowed by the sounds of the camp being lifted.
"Mithrandir…Im baurle si…Im baur gûr…Mithrandir?" (Mithrandir…I need thee now…I need counsel…Mithrandir?)
To be continued
Please R&R, I need to know if you are still with me! Please?