SHADOW IN THE TREES
By : mirkwood-elf-2931 & Thala



CHAPTER  22



The Fellowship met Galadriel and Celeborn and were told they could stay and given an area to sleep and extra supplies.

When they arrived down there, Arwen and Thalawen were waiting and it was a heartfelt reunion between them all. Especially for Arwen and Aragorn. But the Hobbits were very excited to see the two she-Elves from Rivendell again as well. Legolas also greeted some of his guard that came to see their prince and noticed that Thalawen would not even look his way, so he decided not to approach her just yet.

Finally, things settled down and the four Hobbits began to prepare their supper, helped by Gimli. Boromir was sitting farther away by himself, apparently wanting to be alone. Arwen had been summoned by her grandmother and Thalawen had gone with her, an excuse to stay away from a certain someone. So Aragorn, Legolas and Landailyn were left to talk between themselves.

"You owe us a full explanation, remember?" Aragorn prodded Landailyn, he wanted to know what all had really happened.

"I remember."

"Well, talk."

"Not here." She noticeably eyed the others and turned to simply walk away, meaning for them to follow. And they did, but not before again giving a look to one another.

Leading them to a more secluded area and easily finding a good spot where she thought they would not be interrupted or heard by the other members of the Fellowship, Legolas and Aragorn sat across from Landailyn on a small rocky ledge.

Already seated, she began the whole story from the time Elrond and his daughters had arrived in Mirkwood, to when they had arrived in Lothlorien only two days before. Leaving nothing out, except the reason Thalawen had told her she turned on them in the first place.

After the story telling was done, both men looked more stunned than anything.

"Well, you three have had quite an adventure of your own. Sorry we couldn't be there." Aragorn kidded around a little, though still shocked. Any of them could have died and Landailyn almost had, not to mention probably quite a few of her soldiers.

She smiled a little, but said nothing more.

"So, what exactly are these 'monstrous beings' our former ally has created?" Started the Ranger again, using her earlier words of explanation.

"Thalawen said he called them the Uruk-hai. They are Orcish, but come out in sunlight and are much larger and stronger. And as I said, they were even able to break through the palace gates."

Even though they had already heard this, it raised the two's eyebrows a bit.

"And you must watch yourselves closely, for they are also smarter. I have a much dreaded feeling that at some point, he will send them out after your company to retreive the Ring and in great number, just like in Mirkwood."

They nodded at the information. "Hopefully we won't have the pleasure in meeting one another." Said Aragorn.

The Elves agreed with him.

"What about our men? How many were sent out?"

Landailyn stared at the prince a moment and took in a deep breath. "Teredith is dead. And Daelys...along with many of our others. One hundred came to our aid, only sixty-four made it out with us." She told him truthfully. "Though that does not include the healers, there's about ten of them. Or how many of us were killed in the attack at home."

Teredith, Legolas thought, shocked. He had been second in command and indeed would have been there with the warriors that had come to see him when they arrived. He hung his head in grief at the news, most of their warriors were and are his friends, his people. Aragorn reached over and put a sympathetic hand on his back.

"It's just that Thalawen, she…" Landailyn stopped, listening to herself. How could she have even thought about saying the next words? She had already told herself and Thalawen that she was not angry at her, but grateful to have her new found friend back.

"She did not know what she was doing. She could only obey Saruman's orders, she tried hard to resist, but…" Shaking her head, she began to mumble softly. "I'm sorry, I should not have involved them, it was our fight, we should have…"

"No," Legolas looked up, forcing her to meet his eyes. "No one is to blame. Not you, not Thalawen."   

"I know, but I was responsible for what happened to them, was I not? I am their captain now, you trusted me with them!"         

"And I still do." He continued to stare into the silvery-blue orbs, until she cast them downward.

"You really cannot blame yourself for what happened, Landailyn." Aragorn added his own bit of Legolas' attitude toward the situation. "It truly is not yours to carry."

Reluctant, she nodded. 

"Well, I think I shall go see Arwen and Thalawen, ere it is time to turn in." Aragorn suddenly announced, sensing the two needed some time to talk alone.

They watched him rise and make his way behind the rocks he and Legolas occupied. "Idh eithel, mellonamin." [Rest well, my friends.] And without further word, or giving either time to respond, he quickly hurried off.       

Landailyn sighed.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah," She replied dully. "It has just been a long two and a half months, since I've become captain."

Legolas smiled, since she was looking at him. "Are you unhappy with the job..." He half teased.

"No!" She gave him a wild stare. "I mean, of course not...it just has not been like I'd thought I would have started out."

"Nothing ever is." Legolas replied softly.

Putting her head in her hands, she ran them lightly down her face. "Isn't that the truth." She muttered. In a way she had her pride to think about, just like a male warrior would. But Legolas was the only one she did this in front of now; let all her feelings be displayed and not feel ashamed for it. "You should get some rest, while you're safe. I suspect your group shall not tarry here for long." She turned to leave in the direction of where she would bed down.

Things had suddenly gotten awkward and somehow formal between them, like she was a mistreated servant. He wondered what was going on with her. "Landailyn, wait,"

The she-Elf halted and slowly wheeled around to face him.

"There's one other thing I still don't understand. You said earlier that it all led back to me. How is that? I've been with the Fellowship all this time…"

"Not in that way," She replied, hoping he'd forgotten, but unfortunately he hadn't. "I didn't even want to have to tell you this."

"Tell me what?"

She averted her gaze away from his stare. "On the way here from Isengard, Thalawen told us, that while she was being controlled, she was betraying us for a single purpose."

He raised a brow at her. "Which was?"

"She was trying to kill me alone, Legolas, and she nearly succeeded!" 

"Trying to kill you? Why?"

"Over you! Because Saruman told her that…" She trailed off, hardly able to finish the sentence, becoming nervous with this subject before her prince and close friend. True love was only something they had both been teased about as youths.

"He filled her vulnerable mind with thoughts that I stood between your love for her, because when you met her in Rivendell, she fell in love with you. She wanted to get me out of the way, but now…" The sound of her faltering voice dropped from the air completely. It had been explained, what else could she say?

Legolas was at a loss for words as well. Two women, he had wished to become friends with one another, had almost fought to the death over him? This was all almost too much to take, his ears didn't know what to believe. But there was something he had to ask her point blank, so it would all be clear.

"What? Now you're not sure? Do you not know whether to believe Saruman or not?"

Landailyn kept herself utterly silent. This is not what she wanted to be discussing. "You're right. I'm not sure, because he's a back stabbing traitor. I don't know what or who to believe."

He nodded. "Well what does Thalawen feel now?"

Landailyn did not answer right away. "I assume she only thinks of you as a friend. For she told us she will love no man ever again."

"And what about you?"

"What about me?" She shrugged, trying to keep away from the truth as long as possible.

"Your true feelings for me, Landailyn! Do I not have a right to know?"

She closed her eyes and sighed, again thinking over Thalawen's words to her on the way to Lorien. What would he say to her confession?

"Alright fine, you want to hear? I'll tell you. What I have feared the most, since I met you…my whole life, is that you would not love me in return. That you had always just thought of me simply as your friend. And that I could not take the day, that it came to this and you would not be able to say it back."

There was silence between them, before she turned her head, trying to keep persistent tears at bay. "There, I said it, after all these centuries of bottled feelings. Does it really make any difference now?"

Even more shocked at hearing this, it took him a second to reply. "Yes," He stood up and forced her to face him. "It makes a big difference, Landailyn. It changes things. I had no idea you ever felt this way. And for so long..."

"Well, now you do. Happy you made me tell you?"

Legolas tried not to laugh. He knew she was trying to be serious, but he couldn't help himself. They had always acted this way, as the friends they had always been.

But now, though niether knew or realized it just yet, their relationship had just changed; even if only a little.

"And just what is that half grin for?" She was not amused, or at least she was trying not to be either. She never really could stay mad at him and had had much experience at it in the past, just like she had at changing subjects.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry...I was just thinking of old times, you know?"

The smile that had wanted to show itself finally had and a nod from her accompanied it. "I know exactly what you mean. So...how then do you feel?" Still finding this hard to ask.

Legolas only half laughed, but spoke in a serious and low tone. "To be honest? I do not know right now...this is a bit sudden..." He loved Landailyn, he knew that for a fact. But after all this time, was it still the same love one has for a close friend? He needed awhile to think about it first, to make sure of his feelings, before telling her anything.

This admission she wasn't too surprised at, it was one of a few she had been expecting. "Do you know what I think?"

He raised a brow, for a que that she should continue.

"I think that this is not the right time or place for that particular subject. We're both going and have gone through much as of late and perhaps we should figure things out in the very distant future, when we are more ready to discuss it further."

He agreed and let out a long sigh of relief in inside.

"And as I tried before and you just had to interrupt me...I bid you a goodnight, my prince."

Chuckling, he replied. "Indeed, I fear you are right, we cannot stay long." With that, he leaned in and kissed her cheek, afterward giving her a curtious nod. "Goodnight, Captain." He finished and walked away with a smile at the look of astonishment not so much on her face, but dancing in her bright eyes.


* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *



Laughing, Thalawen watched the Hobbits cook their 'second breakfast', so it was called, and listened as they told stories of their childhoods. She knew they were only doing this to lighten their hearts from Gandalf's fall, especially for Frodo.

They all sat on logs around a fire, telling the most wild of tales. Merry and Pippins' were a little far fetched, but entertaining nonetheless. Sam offered her sausage, which she kindly refused, as she'd already eaten.


Thalawen glanced toward the river that flowed through Lorien and saw Arwen and Aragorn sitting upon the rocks, her head on his shoulder and his arms wrapped tight about her.

She knew now why she had taken Saruman's bait of Legolas. She had always longed for what her best friend and Aragorn had for herself.

Swiftly cutting off her thoughts, she turned back to the Hobbits.

"Are you sure you wouldn't like anything to eat, my lady?" asked Sam hopefully.

"Oh, no, but thank you very much," she refused, yet again, with a smile upon her face.

She looked across the fire and saw Legolas coming forth. The smile disappeared from view, a fleeting look of sadness came over her face, then her features changed again. This time anger and shame shone in her eyes and the tight line of her lips. She cast her eyes downward and avoided his gaze.


She slowly rose from her seat and bid farewell to her new found friends, but they would not let her go! She laughed as she refused another offer of food from Sam. Deftly, she turned down Merry's proposal of marriage and his vow to love and cherish her forever.


"Fool, why would she choose you when she could have me?" asked Pippin incredulously.


Wrenching her arm from Merry and Pippin's grasps, she turned and walked to the stables, the opposite direction of Legolas.
The safest direction of Legolas.


In the stables she was greeted by Ezril's soft whiny of delight. She slid open the door and walked inside. He was so eager to see her he all but ran in his hurry to get from one side of the enclosure to her. "Hi, boy. How are you this fine morning?" she asked as she stroked his neck.


Instantly she felt his muscles quiver as they tensed. She heard the footsteps of someone approaching, stopping at the door and waiting. Ezril stamped his feet to protect her and ward off the intruder. Thalawen didn't have to look to know who it was.

His voice was soft as he spoke.

"Why are you avoiding me?" She could hear the confusion clearly in his tone. "And why won't you look at me when I speak to you?" Now there was anger.

She chose to answer simply. "Because I wish not to look."


Thalawen was stroking Ezril's soft mane when she heard Legolas take a step into the stable. "No!" she yelled, turning around, but she was too late. Ezril had already reared and was pawing fiercely at the air, protecting Thalawen from this intruder on his territory.


Legolas brought up his arms to shield his head and ducked down low to the ground.

"No, Ezril!" Thalawen shouted again. The horse came down on all fours again and stood tall and proud, protecting his lady from harm. He stared down his nose at Legolas, watching him as he kneeled before him.


Thalawen patted Ezril's back, trying to calm him. When she knew he would no longer try to hurt Legolas she rushed to the Elf's side. "Legolas! Are you okay?" she asked in a panic, kneeling down beside him and putting a hand on his shoulder. With her other hand she brought down his arms to check his face. He was slightly embarrassed but the fear he felt for Ezril overpowered that emotion.


Thalawen pulled him to his feet and drug him from the stable. Once outside, she closed the door and faced Legolas again. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice firm.

His eyes were wide and never left her face. He was clearly in shock. "I've never had an animal do that to me before," he sputtered.


She walked forward and checked his forearms to make sure Ezril's hooves hadn't connected with his flesh. There was no sign that he was hurt. Her mouth was a grim line. "Why did you have to follow me here? I told you I didn't wish to talk to you. Why can't you listen?"

Legolas' eyes were cast downward, like a little boy's when his mother scolds him. "Can we not be friends anymore, Thalawen? What happened? Why have you changed? We were close in Rivendell, I thought?" he said, still staring at the ground, not daring to look at her.


"You thought wrong. Go back to Landailyn, my prince. You're neither needed, nor wanted here." This was said quietly and void of emotion.

Legolas' eyes rose to meet hers. This couldn't be happening, he thought. What's wrong with her? He took a step forward and reached out a hand to touch her face. It was slapped away.

"Go, Legolas." With that said, Thalawen turned her back on him.

He raised his arm once more, it hovered an inch from her shoulder. She wore a slivery blue dress with drop sleeves that left her shoulders bare. He couldn't help notice how beautiful she was, and it broke his heart that she wanted nothing to do with him.


She was grateful he couldn't see her eyes, or the tears that fell from them. This was the second time she'd cried for him and she promised herself it was the last.

She didn't know how long she stood there, staring out into the forest, watching the light pass through the leaves, but when she turned around Legolas was gone.

She silently made her way back to her bed, suddenly exhausted by her tears.


TBC ...