::sob:: the last chapter is here…wow…I cant believe itz over!! Itz kinda sad, but I have plenty of ideaz for new chappies!! Im not gone by a long shot!!!
Theowyn- Wow…u r a scary, scary person, aren't u? mwahaha!! So am i…thatz why ur just gonna hafta read to see what happened with Legolas now rnt u?
Silian- No, don't even worry about it…i totally appreciate u taking the time 2 actually tell me this stuff instead of just saying, "well screw it, this story sucks." This is my first LOTR fic and i like to hear this stuff so I don't make the same mistakes the next time around…thanx for ur input and I hope this chapter meets ur approval!
Crazy bout legolas- so am i! But did it stop me from doing him in? mwahaha! Im not telling!
MoroTheWolfGod- calm down, calm down! Here it is! Special thanx to u for sticking it out through the whole story! ::sob:: so grateful!
Robin- here ya go! Enjoy!
Chapter 11
"Awaken, my love, you must hear what I have to tell you."
The voice was so beautiful, mellifluous, and heart wrenchingly familiar that Legolas feared to open his eyes. It could not be her. If he did awaken, it would be to empty arms and an even more empty heart, as he had after so many dreams like this one.
'Wait!' thought the elf suddenly, 'The fight! If I died...then… could it be?'
Daring to see what awaited him beyond his closed lids, Legolas' heart jumped as he beheld the sight before him. There, rivaling the moon itself in her ethereal light, and clothed in flowing robes of white, her glowing golden hair streaming from her royal head, stood the maiden who so long ago captured Legolas' heart and kept it always; his beloved Andriel.
Enveloping Andriel in his arms before she could disappear, Legolas showered her with kisses and whispered how very much he had missed her in her delicately pointed ear.
"My Legolas," sighed Andriel as she pulled slightly away and framed his fair face in her hands, "my very soul rejoices at touching you once more."
"Thank the Valar we are together again," whispered Legolas, afraid to speak over a whisper lest he wake himself and prove that this was no more than a beautiful dream. The two sat together for a while longer, simply enjoying the sensation of being in each other's arms.
Suddenly, as if remembering something urgent, Andriel gasped and pulled back once more.
"You know I would give anything to only sit here with you forever my love, but there is little time and much to say."
Laughing heartily, Legolas caressed his princess' face saying, "Little time? I did not realize you were kept so busy in the Halls of Manos, though," he paused to look at his surroundings for the first time, "I did not expect the halls to look thusly. Everything is white and no one is here…"
With a sad smile, Andriel told her husband, "Beloved, we are not in the Halls of Mandos."
"No? This cannot be the Valinor…" said Legolas puzzled.
"My dearest husband, nor are we in Valinor."
"Then where?"
"Your body is yet in Arda, in the town of Sauron's minions. You might call this a vision of sorts."
"Then I'm not dead?" asked the elf dejectedly.
"No, not by far."
"But I was attacked by hundreds of strong men while I was defenseless! What do I have to do to die?" exclaimed Legolas angrily.
"Legolas, you are not destined to die on Arda. You still have so much to do. This quest will not be easy by any means, and you are a vital member of the Fellowship."
"So you came only to taunt me, vision? To remind me of what I have lost?"
"I am much more than a vision, Legolas. I was allowed to visit you, in a dream, and tell you not to give in to hate or animosity, to believe not only in the Fellowship of the Ring, but in the true fellowship of the races of Middle Earth. Do not allow the actions of evil men to turn you from who you truly are. My husband is not a violent, blood thirsty, vengeful creature. My love, learn to trust in the goodness of others once more. Now, I must leave you."
"No, no!" pleaded Legolas, "do not go. I cannot loose you again!"
"Though I leave you now, rest assured in that we will be united in the Valinor. Trust in the fellowship Legolas, trust in the fellowship! Now awaken, they come."
"Farwell beloved," cried Legolas as his lovely wife vanished from his embrace.
Opening his eyes, Legolas had only enough time to realize that he was once again in a cell and was now chained at the wrists and ankles before the door burst open. A man the prince recognized from his first confrontation with Teg stood in the doorway. Walking over to the lying elf, the man pulled Legolas close to his face and said, "Welcome to the last day of your life, slime. You die now." Dropping the first born to the ground, the man sneered sarcastically, "Any last requests?"
"I neither want nor need anything from you garbage," replied Legolas stoically.
"You are not in a position to be smart, pretty boy," hissed the man. "Escort our guest to the hanging post," he barked to the five other men who had entered the room with him. "Don't let him out of your sight or allow him to break free. Should that happen, you will all die."
As he was dragged out of his cell and down the dark corridor of the prison, Legolas thought of his wife's message.
'If I am not destined to die on Arda, how am I supposed to get out of this situation? I have neither hands nor feet, nor any weapon of any kind. Absolutely fantastic.'
He looked up as his guards paused to open the entrance to the prison. The village was a typical man-village, full of cottages, taverns and shops. That is, it would have been typical if not for its inhabitants. The streets were crowded with men, women and children, all who had come out in hopes of seeing the joyful, bloody and, hopefully, extremely carnal death of the hated elf.
As Legolas was lead to his death he was pelted with all manner of rotting vegetables, which were without exception accompanied by jeers and insults.
"Show the bloody elf!"
"Kill the bastard, string 'em up!"
"Cut off his head and throw his innards to the vultures!"
"Is the elf going to die very ugly, daddy?"
"He surely is, little one."
"Goody!"
Legolas was finally hauled up to the hanging platform, where two dark men stood waiting. Raising his hands for silence, the first man began to speak.
"Citizens! There stands before you one of the most disgusting of Middle Earth's many creatures; a vile elf. What do we say about elves?"
"Slaughter them all!" screamed the entire crowd fervently and violently.
"So sorry elf," said the man sarcastically, "It appears you won't be shown mercy today." Once again turning to the crowd, the man yelled "Lets have a hanging!"
While the crowd erupted in shouts of "Yes! Yes! Kill him!" and other such ribald comments, the hangman tied the noose around the elf's slender neck.
'I cannot die a thief or murderer's death,' worried Legolas, 'I would much rather die in battle, as a warrior should. But how can I possibly extricate myself from this mess on my own?'
'Trust in the fellowship'
Looking at the hangman, Legolas asked "What did you say?"
Laughing maniacally, the hangman replied "Hearing voices won't get you out of this, elf.'
'Trust in the fellowship."
"Trust in the fellowship?" repeated Legolas softly.
"With the pull of this lever, you die elf," shouted the hangman with his hand on the said handle, shivering with anticipation of the next few seconds. All Legolas could do was close his eyes and hope that his neck broke with the fall, so he might not suffer from strangulation…
Pandemonium erupted and people ran wild in the streets! No, not because the hated was finally killed but because at that moment eight warriors burst into the scene, slaying first the hangman and making their way to the platform. Though most of the mob ran to safety, as evil people are apt to do in times of crisis, many strong men stayed behind to fight the unsuspecting menace. Yet while these men may have been strong and fearful, nothing could have stopped the members of the Fellowship from saving their comrade.
Watching as even the normally placid Hobbits fought forcefully, Legolas smiled and said to himself, "Of course, trust in the Fellowship."
The first to reach the platform, Aragorn jumped up and loosened the noose from the prince's neck.
"Nice timing," joked Legolas before solemnly and gratefully stating, "You came back."
"Did you honestly think we would leave you behind?" asked Aragorn. "Besides, King Thranduil would have had my head if we returned without you."
Laughing, Legolas said, "Well put Estel. Now kindly release me from these accursed chains!"
Rubbing his wrists, Legolas leapt from the platform alongside Aragorn. Soon the rest of the Fellowship joined the pair.
"Thank you all for returning to save me. I…don't truly know what else to say or even how to show my gratitude."
"A tongue-tied elf? What a rare thing indeed!" joked Aragorn.
"Welcome back, young Master Elf," said Gandalf as he laid a hand on the elf's shoulder. "Even for the short time you were gone, you were sorely missed."
"Not to break up the moment, but don't you think it would be wise to continue the pleasantries elsewhere?" asked Boromir
"You speak truly, come, let us be off," declared Gandalf. "This quest is far from over!"
As the group moved out of the town, Legolas felt a tug on his sleeve and turned to see who wanted him. Looking down, he saw young Pippin and Merry holding large bundles.
"Yes, young hobbits?" asked Legolas
"Well, we found these on the men and…well…" Each handing the elf their bundle, Merry asked "They're yours, aren't they?"
His weapons! Smiling brightly, Legolas bowed to the Halflings in appreciation, so glad to see his old friends he was, for the second time in a short period, at a loss for words. Grinning in return, the two ran off to join Sam and Frodo.
Legolas began to cast aside the coats in which Merry and Pippin had wrapped their gifts to him when his eye caught something glimmering in one of the coat's pockets. Curious, he reached in to see what shinned so in the afternoon light. What he found could only be considered a miracle from the Valar themselves.
The scalps of his family. This coat must have belonged to somebody who knew Teg personally and kept his most prized possessions following his death at Legolas' hands. Pressing the hair to his lips, Legolas stopped walking and gazed into the blue sky.
"Andriel, I swear to you these last remains will rest under the singing trees of our realm. You are now wholly free, as am I. Free from hate and animosity's terrible grip." Watching his companions, no, his friends, walking in front of him, Legolas added, "Perhaps there can be a true fellowship, my love."
"Legolas!" cried Aragorn, "stop dreaming and join us!"
Continuing his trek towards the waiting group of men, a wizard, a dwarf and several funny little hobbits, Legolas thought 'Wherever this quest takes us, I will forever remain true to the fellowship; both the Fellowship of the Ring and Adndriel's true fellowship.'
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Well, thatz it for Animosity. ::sigh:: still cant believe itz over. Please review and let me know what I should keep and what I should change in any other fics I do. This is my first LOTR fic and id really appreciate constructive criticism. o and ive been dying to ask someone, what exactly is a mary-sue?