Chapter 2: Encounter and Escape
The silence that followed this was only broken by the claw that slipped from Legolas' hand and landed on the floor with a soft thud.
" Legolas, what is it?" asked Aragorn.
He looked over at his elven friend, but was met with a most disturbing sight, especially for one who has never seen fear where it should not be. But that is exactly what Aragorn saw when he looked at Legolas. It sent a chill up his spine. Elves never showed fear to anything or anyone, least of all Legolas, and now here he was, with eyes so full of fear you would have thought he was dying.
Then, in a movement so quick that it made Aragorn jump slightly, the elf had crossed over to were Gandalf stood, still holding the book. He looked at Gandalf for a moment, then spoke.
" Are, you sure that is what it says Gandalf?" he asked and to the surprise of the others there was a hint of pleading in his voice.
Gandalf sighed, " I am afraid that that is exactly what it says Legolas."
" But how. How could he have come back?"
Gandalf gave the elf a look of sympathy. " Oh I am afraid there are many ways that he could have returned. But we can not worry about that now. We must move swiftly. Hopefully he does not know that we are here. He probably thinks that you would never come back here, so his guard might be down."
" Gandalf, what's going on?" questioned Frodo. Gandalf looked at the young hobbit before replying. " I will explain when we have reached Lothlorien. We will."
But Gandalf never finished his sentence when there was a sound so loud it echoed through the whole room and seemed to go deeper. Gandalf wheeled around to find Pippin standing by what appeared to be a well. He had a look of both horror and embarrassment on his face. But that wasn't all. All the sudden there was another explosion of noise that seem to last forever. When it finally died there was silence. Not a person in the room moved. After a while of the silence Gandalf walked up to Pippin and snatched up his hat and staff, which he had given him while he had examined the book.
" Fool of a Took! Why don't you throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!" He then turned from the half scared, half embarrassed hobbit and was about to take a step when they heard a noise that one of them knew all to well and the others would never soon forget.
The sound was that of what seemed to be a wolf, but it sounded far from the pleasant howls that they make into the night. This sounded as though the creature was dying. Instantly, Legolas let out a cry of pain and covered his eras collapsing onto his knees. " Legolas!" cried Aragorn, who rushed to his friend's side. He kneeled in front of the elf and called his name, but the elf continued to cry out. His eyes were shut against the pain, his whole body felt as if it were being engulfed in flames. He could just make out Aragorn calling his name but the pain kept him from answering.
" Gandalf, what is happening! What is wrong with him!" But before the aged wizard could answer, the howling stopped, as did Legolas' cries of pain. He fell forward slightly, but put his hands down to stop him from collapsing facedown on the cold, stone floor.
There was silence as the others watched Legolas on the floor, panting for breath. Finally, Aragorn spoke. " Legolas, are you alright?" Legolas did not answer, but kept his head down and his eyes shut. After a while he slowly raised his head. " We need to get out of here, now." Aragorn nodded and helped Legolas to his feet. Once sure that he would be alright, Aragorn made to start leaving when he felt a hand grab his arm, stopping him from moving forward. When he turned he say that it was Legolas who had grabbed him and was about to ask why when he noticed what both he and Gandalf were staring strait at the door. Slowly Aragorn looked over at the door, but he saw nothing at first. Then he saw it. It looked like a small puff of smoke, and then he saw a pare of gleaming bright red eyes. Slowly the creature walked forward. What Aragorn saw made his blood run cold. It looked like a cross between a wolf and a human, for it could walk on its back legs. But it was far from either. Its snout was covered in what was no doubt blood. It dripped from its large yellow teeth, which at the moment were bared. Its body was covered in fur, which also had blood on it in some places. But it was the eyes that scared the ranger the most. They were cold and pitless, glowing a bright red. And it was then that Aragorn noticed were its gaze was. Slowly it opened its mouth and the voice that came out would have scared even an orc.
" Hello Elf. It has been a long time, hasn't it?"
Aragorn stared at the creature, unable to move from fear. He felt Legolas tense and quickly glanced at the elf. He could tell this was the last thing he had expected. When the creature spoke it caused Aragorn to jump and look at the wolf.
" What's the matter elf, not happy to see me?"
Legolas did not answer, but stared strait into those cold red eyes. When he did speak, his voice was cold and emotionless. "I would have thought that was obvious."
The wolf let out a low growl, longing to rip the elf that had killed him to shreds. He'll regret that. Suddenly Belroth leapt towards Legolas, who instantly pushed the ranger out of the way and jumped over the coffin. The wolf landed with a thud where Legolas had just been a second ago. He turned his red eyes on the elf and then jumped onto the coffin.
"Awww, what's the matter elf? Are you scared of the big bad wolf?"
With a loud roar it lunged at Legolas again, but the elf ducked just in time and then spun around to see Belroth slam headfirst into the wall. Thinking quickly he withdrew an arrow and aimed at the wolf. When he let the arrow go it flew strait at Belroth, who let out a roar of anger. The arrow had hit him in his shoulder. He growled in irritation. How could I let that elf get the better of me.
" You'll regret that elf. I promise."
Legolas braced himself for another attack, but it didn't come. Instead the wolf backed up a few steps and then without warning jump clear over him. Before he knew what happened, he was thrown in to the wall. He slammed hard into the wall, his bow getting knocked out of his hand in the process. He head Belroth coming at him again and tried to reach for his bow, but the wolf was to quick. It picked up the bow, staring at the elf with amusement.
" Looking for this elf." He took both ends in his hands and in one movement, broke the bow in half.
Legolas stared in disbelieve. But before he could fully comprehend what had just happened, the wolf lunged at him. He drew one of his blades and slashed at Belroth's arm. The wolf was caught off guard by this and barely missed the attack. He regained his footing and turned back to the elf. Legolas was on his feet and ready when he faced him. They stared at each other for a while, neither moving. Then Belroth charged at Legolas again, but this time the elf was ready. He grabbed his knife by the blade and threw it at the wolf's face. The wolf was not prepared for this and could do nothing to avoid it. The knife imbedded itself in Belroth's eye. The wolf let out a cry of both anger and pain. Legolas looked quickly at Gandalf and then ran to the doors that they had come through, the others close behind.
"Gandalf, we need to get out of here. Quickly." Gandalf nodded and then took the lead.
After what seemed like and eternity, they found the Bridge of Khazad-Dum. First Boromir went across, then the hobbits. Aragorn followed by Gandalf went next then Legolas. As he was going across, Legolas looked back to see a whole pack of wolves, Belroth ahead of them, coming after them. When he got across, Gandalf stepped onto the bridge. " You shall not pass!" He yelled. He brought his staff up and then brought it back down. When it hit the stone there was a flash of light and then nothing. One of the wolves, thinking it had just been a trick ran onto the bridge. What happened next surprised everyone. The bridge began to collapse, falling into the darkness. Gandalf jumped back in time and without giving the wolves and second glance went up the stairs and out into the fresh air. Once out Legolas looked back at the exit. Why now?
The silence that followed this was only broken by the claw that slipped from Legolas' hand and landed on the floor with a soft thud.
" Legolas, what is it?" asked Aragorn.
He looked over at his elven friend, but was met with a most disturbing sight, especially for one who has never seen fear where it should not be. But that is exactly what Aragorn saw when he looked at Legolas. It sent a chill up his spine. Elves never showed fear to anything or anyone, least of all Legolas, and now here he was, with eyes so full of fear you would have thought he was dying.
Then, in a movement so quick that it made Aragorn jump slightly, the elf had crossed over to were Gandalf stood, still holding the book. He looked at Gandalf for a moment, then spoke.
" Are, you sure that is what it says Gandalf?" he asked and to the surprise of the others there was a hint of pleading in his voice.
Gandalf sighed, " I am afraid that that is exactly what it says Legolas."
" But how. How could he have come back?"
Gandalf gave the elf a look of sympathy. " Oh I am afraid there are many ways that he could have returned. But we can not worry about that now. We must move swiftly. Hopefully he does not know that we are here. He probably thinks that you would never come back here, so his guard might be down."
" Gandalf, what's going on?" questioned Frodo. Gandalf looked at the young hobbit before replying. " I will explain when we have reached Lothlorien. We will."
But Gandalf never finished his sentence when there was a sound so loud it echoed through the whole room and seemed to go deeper. Gandalf wheeled around to find Pippin standing by what appeared to be a well. He had a look of both horror and embarrassment on his face. But that wasn't all. All the sudden there was another explosion of noise that seem to last forever. When it finally died there was silence. Not a person in the room moved. After a while of the silence Gandalf walked up to Pippin and snatched up his hat and staff, which he had given him while he had examined the book.
" Fool of a Took! Why don't you throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!" He then turned from the half scared, half embarrassed hobbit and was about to take a step when they heard a noise that one of them knew all to well and the others would never soon forget.
The sound was that of what seemed to be a wolf, but it sounded far from the pleasant howls that they make into the night. This sounded as though the creature was dying. Instantly, Legolas let out a cry of pain and covered his eras collapsing onto his knees. " Legolas!" cried Aragorn, who rushed to his friend's side. He kneeled in front of the elf and called his name, but the elf continued to cry out. His eyes were shut against the pain, his whole body felt as if it were being engulfed in flames. He could just make out Aragorn calling his name but the pain kept him from answering.
" Gandalf, what is happening! What is wrong with him!" But before the aged wizard could answer, the howling stopped, as did Legolas' cries of pain. He fell forward slightly, but put his hands down to stop him from collapsing facedown on the cold, stone floor.
There was silence as the others watched Legolas on the floor, panting for breath. Finally, Aragorn spoke. " Legolas, are you alright?" Legolas did not answer, but kept his head down and his eyes shut. After a while he slowly raised his head. " We need to get out of here, now." Aragorn nodded and helped Legolas to his feet. Once sure that he would be alright, Aragorn made to start leaving when he felt a hand grab his arm, stopping him from moving forward. When he turned he say that it was Legolas who had grabbed him and was about to ask why when he noticed what both he and Gandalf were staring strait at the door. Slowly Aragorn looked over at the door, but he saw nothing at first. Then he saw it. It looked like a small puff of smoke, and then he saw a pare of gleaming bright red eyes. Slowly the creature walked forward. What Aragorn saw made his blood run cold. It looked like a cross between a wolf and a human, for it could walk on its back legs. But it was far from either. Its snout was covered in what was no doubt blood. It dripped from its large yellow teeth, which at the moment were bared. Its body was covered in fur, which also had blood on it in some places. But it was the eyes that scared the ranger the most. They were cold and pitless, glowing a bright red. And it was then that Aragorn noticed were its gaze was. Slowly it opened its mouth and the voice that came out would have scared even an orc.
" Hello Elf. It has been a long time, hasn't it?"
Aragorn stared at the creature, unable to move from fear. He felt Legolas tense and quickly glanced at the elf. He could tell this was the last thing he had expected. When the creature spoke it caused Aragorn to jump and look at the wolf.
" What's the matter elf, not happy to see me?"
Legolas did not answer, but stared strait into those cold red eyes. When he did speak, his voice was cold and emotionless. "I would have thought that was obvious."
The wolf let out a low growl, longing to rip the elf that had killed him to shreds. He'll regret that. Suddenly Belroth leapt towards Legolas, who instantly pushed the ranger out of the way and jumped over the coffin. The wolf landed with a thud where Legolas had just been a second ago. He turned his red eyes on the elf and then jumped onto the coffin.
"Awww, what's the matter elf? Are you scared of the big bad wolf?"
With a loud roar it lunged at Legolas again, but the elf ducked just in time and then spun around to see Belroth slam headfirst into the wall. Thinking quickly he withdrew an arrow and aimed at the wolf. When he let the arrow go it flew strait at Belroth, who let out a roar of anger. The arrow had hit him in his shoulder. He growled in irritation. How could I let that elf get the better of me.
" You'll regret that elf. I promise."
Legolas braced himself for another attack, but it didn't come. Instead the wolf backed up a few steps and then without warning jump clear over him. Before he knew what happened, he was thrown in to the wall. He slammed hard into the wall, his bow getting knocked out of his hand in the process. He head Belroth coming at him again and tried to reach for his bow, but the wolf was to quick. It picked up the bow, staring at the elf with amusement.
" Looking for this elf." He took both ends in his hands and in one movement, broke the bow in half.
Legolas stared in disbelieve. But before he could fully comprehend what had just happened, the wolf lunged at him. He drew one of his blades and slashed at Belroth's arm. The wolf was caught off guard by this and barely missed the attack. He regained his footing and turned back to the elf. Legolas was on his feet and ready when he faced him. They stared at each other for a while, neither moving. Then Belroth charged at Legolas again, but this time the elf was ready. He grabbed his knife by the blade and threw it at the wolf's face. The wolf was not prepared for this and could do nothing to avoid it. The knife imbedded itself in Belroth's eye. The wolf let out a cry of both anger and pain. Legolas looked quickly at Gandalf and then ran to the doors that they had come through, the others close behind.
"Gandalf, we need to get out of here. Quickly." Gandalf nodded and then took the lead.
After what seemed like and eternity, they found the Bridge of Khazad-Dum. First Boromir went across, then the hobbits. Aragorn followed by Gandalf went next then Legolas. As he was going across, Legolas looked back to see a whole pack of wolves, Belroth ahead of them, coming after them. When he got across, Gandalf stepped onto the bridge. " You shall not pass!" He yelled. He brought his staff up and then brought it back down. When it hit the stone there was a flash of light and then nothing. One of the wolves, thinking it had just been a trick ran onto the bridge. What happened next surprised everyone. The bridge began to collapse, falling into the darkness. Gandalf jumped back in time and without giving the wolves and second glance went up the stairs and out into the fresh air. Once out Legolas looked back at the exit. Why now?
