DISCLAIMERS: see part one
Child of Darkness and Death
Part IV:
"Two months ago," Gandalf began, "as I was on one of my travels, I noticed that there was a restless stirring in the Shadows."
"Mordor?" Frodo asked timidly, shivering at the memories that name evoked.
"Yes and no," Gandalf answered ambiguously. "I almost wished it was just Mordor, that might be easier to deal with that this.
"Shadows everywhere are stirring... And they are all answering to One Call."
"Do you know who -or what- is amassing the Shadows?" This time, it was Aragorn who spoke up.
"Unfortunately, I do not."
A pregnant silence followed the Istari's statement, anticipation charged the air and all of the Council members knew that there was more that Gandalf was not saying.
"Come now, Gandalf," Gimli huffed impatiently. "We know that you know more than you are saying."
The White wizard raised an eyebrow at that, "Do you?"
Gimli responded with a firm nod.
"At least some suspicion!" Pippin seconded Gimli's claimed, surprising all that were present with his boldness.
With a sighed, Gandalf confessed, "It's true, I do have my suspicions. I wished to gather more knowledge before I shared what I heard, but I suppose there's no foreseeable harm in telling you of what I had gathered so far.
"One my way to Mirkwood, I heard an intriguing piece of news: Rumors speak of the Awakening of a Child." Out of the corner of his eyes, Gandalf noticed a slight stiffening of Legolas' posture and a flicker of something in the Elf-prince's eyes, but it was gone before it could be deciphered.
"A child!" Sam's incredulous voice brought the Istari back to the present. "What could a child possibly do?"
"This is no mere child, Samwise Gamgee," the wizard replied somberly. "It is called the Child of Darkness and Death."
[Aragorn POV]
A soft gasp from my left drew my attention from Gandalf's voice, and what I saw almost made me gasp aloud as well. I have always considered Legolas fair, but now, what little color he normally retained seemed drained from his face. His once glowing alabaster skin now looked sickly!
"Legolas?" I whispered softly so that only he may hear. "Are you well?"
The Elf in question gave me a shaky smile and nodded. "Aye, Aragorn, of course I am well. Do you not remember that Elves do not get ill?"
I was unconvinced, but took the hint to not push the subject when Legolas pointedly reverted his attention to the still speaking Istari. Gandalf continued to ramble on and on about his speculation on the Child of Darkness and Death, and answered all questions the best he could. Legolas remained quiet, silently taking in all that has been said. It wasn't until a lull began to settle within the discussion that Legolas asked his first question.
"Gandalf," he started. "You said that the Shadows are answering One Call." Here he paused, as if almost afraid to ask what he's about to ask. Then, taking a deep breath, he voiced the question, "What was the Call?"
Gandalf was quiet for a moment, staring intensely into Legolas' eyes before he answered, "The Call was: 'Return to the Beginning'."
A sharp intake of breath was all the warning Legolas gave before he collapsed into his seat.
TBC...
A/N: Important, after a long writer's block (much thanks to reviewers for continuing to review despite the lack -- okay, okay the practically non-existent-- updates, they really got my ass in gear^^;;.....) and overwhelming school work, the story's plot development took an unexpected turn: I forgot what I had planned to do, and re-planned (this time i wrote it down, so the story is basically done in outline format). The prologue will be taken out, since it will no longer make sense with the current plot. I promise that this new plot is better planned, flows better, makes more sense, and ... well, just better than the old one, trust me, i would know. Summary will stay the same, so the plot in essence didn't change much, but well, development did, i guess... please keep supporting this story and REVIEW!!!!! And do feel free to kick my ass into motion if i stop being productive (hint: guilt works on me WAAAAAAAAAY too well). Neways, I have more confidence in updating more often now, now that the story is planned, but the part maybe shorter than what (you and) I would like them to be, but that's the price for more frequent updates. I'm trying my best to get back to my fics! Between art school and getting enough sleep (so that i don't crash again), wish me luck in completing my goal in adding fic wrting to the stuff that I'm juggling! ^_~
Ganbatte to all of my readers!
~Gackt no hime