Another chappie today!
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Several days later, Thranduil was seen standing at the balcony of his chamber. In his hands was the missive from Legolas that Commander Jaden had given to him the minute his troop arrived from Rivendell. He had read the words again and again, already missing his son so greatly he could weep.
I love you too, father, the message had stated. And that was all it said, but Thranduil didn't need more words to tell him that he will not be seeing his child for a very long time.
Legolas had also sent a lock of his hair with the missive. Thranduil brought it to his nose and inhaled the fine scent of his son, hoping that it would not fade with time. Looking up to the sky, he saw that the sun was about to set and the sky was awash with multitude of beautiful colors.
"O great sun," Thranduil whispered, staring at the reddened orb in the distance. "Light the way for my child's eyes and feet. And tell the stars to be his guide during the dark. Give him warmth, and be his spirit. For as long as you shine, he will not falter and never will he give in. Stay with him, always. Stay with him."
It was a father's desperate prayer for his son's safety journey and return.
And the sun smiled in full compassion before it vanished from the horizon.
Almost immediately, thousands of brightly lit stars filled the darkening blue sky, standing as sentinels and guides to a king's son at his father's wishes.
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"Oh! Look at the stars!" Pippin, one of the little hobbits, suddenly exclaimed. "They are so pretty!"
"Yes. And they are so many! Like a mine of diamonds!" Merry, the other hobbit, added.
Legolas looked at the hobbits and smiled. Those two had been the comic relief for the somber fellowship since the day they departed from Rivendell. They had entertained the others with their humorous antics and bickering, and even managed to pull smiles and laughter out of the moody Aragorn. Even when the walking had been too hard on them, the hobbits had kept on going despite Pippin's incessant complains and wails for food.
The company was setting up camp for the night. Aragorn and Boromir had put up a fire, providing warmth to chase away the chill. The hobbits had already lain down on their spread blankets, sleepy and tired to the bone. Gandalf was sitting on a rock nearby, puffing on his pipe and pondering.
Legolas was taking the first watch with Gimli, much to the dwarf's delight. "I can't stand Boromir!" Gimli had said to the elf earlier when the task was given out. "I'm glad to have you as my partner and not him!"
Boromir had been glaring at the dwarf during the whole journey, and Gimli had glowered back at the man in return. Legolas feared what would happen with the two if they were left alone. Beat each other senseless most probably, he thought.
Then he glanced at Aragorn. The ranger was unsheathing his sword, the once broken Anduril that had cut the ring from Sauron's hand. It gleamed in the moonlight as Aragorn began the process of sharpening it. Ever since the broken sword had been reforged to normal by the expertise of a Rivendell sword smith, the man couldn't stop admiring its beautiful craftsmanship. Having the sword among the fellowship was also quite symbolic for their quest; it had defeated Sauron once, it will defeat the Dark Lord again.
Legolas was a little sad that Aragorn still refused to talk to him. Legolas himself never approached the man since they departed from Rivendell and spoke to him only when it was necessary. No use in poking at the hornet's nest. You'll only get stung, he thought as he kept his eyes on his friend.
Aragorn was very aware of Legolas's eyes on him, but stubbornly he did not look up. Let him sweat, he told himself. He deserves it! Who does he thinks he is? I busted my ass catching and dragging that Gollum and he just simply let him go?
But deep inside, Aragorn was already missing his friend. He had avoided Legolas for days and began to feel a slight regret for having this conflict between them. He wanted to talk to Legolas, but stubborn as he was, Aragorn refused to give in. He started it! Let him grovel! That sounded so childish, even to his ears. Serves him right!
Gimli was looking at the two friends with apt interest. He slapped Legolas's back suddenly. "So, tell me! Why is he so angry with you?"
Legolas turned to the dwarf. "Excuse me?"
"Come on, don't give me that! He is not talking to you, and you're not talking to him. You blow his fuse or something?"
The elf sighed. "Or something." He walked several feet away to perch on a fallen log, cradling his long bow in his arms. "Don't worry, Gimli. We'll settle the problem between us in time."
"I hope so. You two are even worse than Boromir and I! At least he and I exchanged glares, but you and Aragorn don't even look at each other eye to eye!"
Legolas sent the dwarf a weak smile. "You are very observant, aren't you?"
Gimli harrumphed. "Don't change the subject, crazy elf! Truthfully, I don't really want to know what's going on between you two but settle it fast! The hobbits are beginning to get scared, especially Frodo. They thought the ring had already possessed the both of you!"
Lowering down his head, Legolas nodded. "Yes I'm aware of that too." He started to say something more when, suddenly, his senses became powerfully activated. The elf cocked his head, listening closely. There it was again, that humming sound, like a large swarm of bees…or rather, a big group of…
"Crebains!" Legolas shouted the instant his sharp eyes clearly saw the approaching evil birds from many leagues away.
Hearing that, Aragorn instantly jumped to his feet and kicked dirt onto the fire, extinguishing it. Boromir rushed to the hobbits to wake them up. "Get up, little ones!"
The hobbits grumbled in protest. "But we just went to sleep!"
"Take cover! The enemy approaches!" Legolas told them as he helped Samwise Gamgee to stand. The hobbit was only half awake and unaware of the danger that was coming closer. Gimli was already dragging Pippin away, while Boromir had picked up Frodo and Merry under each arm.
Gandalf was standing close to Aragorn, and they were both were staring at the dark cloud that was coming towards them at high speed. To normal eyes, it was exactly that; a dark cloud. But Legolas's keen eyesight and sharp hearing had told them otherwise.
"Saruman's spies!" the wizard spat as he turned to join the others take cover underneath some brambles and outcropping rocks, Aragorn following right behind him.
They all held their breath as the flock of evil birds finally came flying above their heads. The sound was thunderous and deafening, and the air had suddenly become oppressive. The hobbits clutched at one another in immense fear. The sound alone had spooked them.
After a minute that seemed like hours, the last of the crebains finally flew pass. As the wild din faded away, the fellowship started to crawl out of their hiding places.
"What in Middle Earth are those creatures?" Sam exclaimed after a very long silence. He was shuddering, and not only from the chill of the night.
"Those, dear Sam, are what we know as crebains, the faithful servants of Saruman," Gandalf answered.
"Are they following us?" asked Frodo.
"Not only that. They were sent to kill us. Those birds eat flesh and drink blood," Gandalf replied, and then smiled at the horror on the hobbits' and Gimli's face. Even Boromir looked stricken.
"We are lucky they didn't see us, thanks to Legolas's warning," the wizard continued. "But we can no longer take the direct path to Mount Doom. They surely will be waiting for us up front."
"You mean we have to take the long way around?" Aragorn asked.
"Yes."
"Err…how long would that be?" Obviously, Pippin was not happy to hear this. How long exactly is this journey going to be?
"About 2,000 feet high."
The others frowned in incomprehension. But Legolas had already turned to look at the majestic mountain looming behind them. "Through the Pass of Caradhras? Are you sure, Gandalf?"
The wizard nodded as the rest of the fellowship followed the elf's gaze, but of course they could not see the said mountain in the dark as they lacked Legolas's keen eyesight.
"Either that, or through the Mines of Moria, which I prefer never to set foot into."
Gimli was perplexed. "Why? My cousin Balin lives there. I'm sure he'll welcome us with full hospitality."
"It's not his lack of welcome that I fear, Gimli, but something else." The wizard didn't elaborate more after that. And they didn't press him further.
One excitement was enough for one night. Why ask for more?
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They started the tedious track into the mountain early the next morning.
As usual, Legolas stayed behind the company for not more than fifty yards away. He was on full alert now that their quest had obviously become known to Saruman. Gandalf was setting at a very fast pace today, much to the hobbits' discomfort. Legolas completely understood the wizard's urgency, though.
Someone, or something, was hard on their tail.
The elf had sensed the other strange presence several times since yesterday. And it was getting closer but stayed completely out of range when the fellowship set their camp last night. Legolas had a distinct idea about who the presence belonged to; Gollum.
Is this why they released him? To be the second tracker for the ring?
Then another presence hit him, evil and dark. Good lord! Now everything is clear! Gollum is the beacon! The absolute homing device! Valar! What have I done?!
Legolas began to run forward, catching up with the rest of the group. He rushed past the startled fellowship directly towards Gandalf. The two went into a hushed discussion, their voices soft and inaudible to the others. Aragorn looked on in apprehension as Gandalf's frown deepened.
"What's going on?" the ranger asked.
Gandalf was already hustling the hobbits to move quickly forward. Legolas had turned around and grabbed Aragorn's arm along as he backtracked down the trail. "Come with me, Aragorn," the elf said. As they walked passed the dwarf and Boromir, Legolas told them, "You two stay with Gandalf and the hobbits. Don't ever leave them, no matter what your hear behind you."
Gimli was incredibly curious. "But Legolas…"
"I mean it!" Legolas almost shouted, urgency clearly evident in his voice. "I don't have time to explain! Just trust me!"
"Should I?" Aragorn said under his breath, but Legolas could hear it loud and clear. He ignored the intense pain that stabbed through his heart brought by those two simple words. There will be time for that. But we need to get through this problem first. Alive.
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Gollum had seen the elf halt and look over his shoulder for the umpteenth time. Then he had stood unmoving for several moments before taking off at high speed.
Gollum smiled as he crept on forward. So, you've sensed us. You know we're right behind you. What are you going to do now, pretty elf? What are you going to do?
Unknown to him, he was now being stalked by not one, but two pairs of eyes.
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"He is there, walking through the bushes. Can you see him?" Legolas pointed out. He had led his friend a little farther from the trail and went around to get behind the creature that followed them.
"Gollum," Aragorn said through gritted teeth. "Well, dear Legolas, is this your idea of a joke?"
Legolas cringed. Ai! He's still blazing mad at me! And for good reason.
"He is not what I'm mostly worried about right now," Legolas said, ignoring the ranger's condescending tone. "It's his shadow."
"What are you talking about?"
Legolas began to move on once more, staying behind the covers while going farther down the trail they had just climbed up that morning. Aragorn had no choice but to follow him. More than a hundred yards away, Legolas halted again and stared at one point of the surrounding woods.
"What are we waiting for?" Aragorn had become totally exasperated with the whole situation.
"You'll find out in just a moment."
"I want to know now."
Legolas sighed. "All right, Aragorn. I'll tell you what has been following Gollum, while Gollum has been following us. It's the ringwraith."
Aragorn's eyes bulged. "Ringwraith? Are you saying Gollum has been leading Sauron's peon on us all this time?"
The elf closed his eyes briefly before he faced the man. "Exactly."
The man stared back at the elf, long and hard. "Nice going, elf. Nice going."
Legolas had already realized his grave mistake in freeing Gollum just a while ago. But to hear it coming from his friend's mouth that way had made him ashamed of his deeds. Isildur was not the only one who was weak, he thought. I am as twice as weaker!
Legolas opened his mouth to say something but Aragorn raised his hand. "Save it, Legolas! I don't want to hear!"
Gazing sadly at the ranger, Legolas nodded and turned his full attention to the grave situation at hand. Nocking an arrow to his bow, he took aim. "Get ready. They are coming."
TBC…