Disclaimer: I don't own Tolkien characters, and I never will L . I am just borrowing them for my own pleasure…Mel is mine though…
A/N: To my Reviewers: Thank you again for the kind words. Mel still has no idea what she is in for, so read on, the pieces will soon fall into place…and please review!!! I have trouble finding names for the chapters, so if they're lame, sorry lol!!
~ 5. The Tie That Binds ~
The clean air and unspoiled landscape mesmerized me throughout the first days of travel. Breathing was sheer pleasure and I tricked my mind into believing that I was drawing the breath of life. All around me was pure unadulterated nature, untouched by anything remotely close to modern life. Once out of the wooden realm of Lothlorien, the sight of softly swelling hills made my eyes water, so bright was their light green hue.
'We are two weeks away from Mid-Year's day' Gandalf explained when I asked him.
'It's strange, the woods of Lothlorien made me think of autumn' I mused.
Gandalf smiled and he seemed to me a gentle old man...almost.
'Yes, the Lady of the woods does like her colors, doesn't she' he said somewhat thoughtfully. It seemed he also delighted in the glorious peace of Lothlorien.
We were travelling North to Mirkwood, realm of the Wood Elves, the place Legolas Greenleaf hailed from, to deliver Gollum to his appointed prison.
His father, Lord Thranduil, had sent Legolas to accompany Aragorn and Gandalf and grant them safe passage through what I was told could be quite a treacherous forest.
By the end of the first day, we stopped shortly before dusk to set up camp for the night.
They could probably tell I was a little uncomfortable that I was the only woman from the way I watched Aragorn set up a separate space for me, a little away from where the rest would sleep. He produced three extra blankets for me and built the fire closest to my sleeping space, but no too close to cause discomfort from the smoke.
'Thank you, Aragorn' I said slightly embarrassed.' I believe it's quite obvious that I haven't spent much time sleeping outdoors.'
'It's no trouble, Mel' Aragorn said kindly, yet not patronizingly 'Your bed is ready. You may sleep whenever you wish. I hope it will be comfortable enough'
I was exhausted yet I felt it impolite to just lie down and doze, even if I struggled to keep my eyes open. Besides, I was still afraid to go to sleep. What if I never woke up?
Legolas secured Gollum's rope to a thick tree before he went off, scouting, I was told.
We sat down while Aragorn kindled a fire and I asked Gandalf about Gollum as I was interested to know more about the strange creature.
Aragorn left as soon as he had built the fire.
'Where is Aragorn going?' I enquired.
'Fishing. Food for Gollum, mostly' Gandalf answered. 'That is, if he'll eat it.' He added and I detected a tinge of frustration in Gandalf's tone.
Legolas arrived back shortly afterwards.
'There is nothing in these hills.' He reported, his head slightly tilted and his intense eyes searching the skies as if he was actually sniffing the air. 'Nothing that I can see before or behind us.' Then his mood seemed to darken and he added 'Not yet, anyway.'
I could not shake the feeling that there was a lot more to this journey than I knew. Gandalf must have noticed the look of concern on my face
'Our errand is secret' he explained. 'Gollum was held prisoner in Mordor, and my heart tells me that he did not escape the Dark Land unaided. He was let loose, in all likelihood, and he may well be followed.'
'Followed?' I asked. 'I don't understand. Why? By whom?'
'By orcs' Legolas answered and when I opened my mouth to ask what 'orcs' meant, he quickly explained 'Creatures of the dark, servants of the Dark Lord. Their faces and bodies are grisly and twisted, yet they are far from being inarticulate.'
'They only travel at night, sunlight harms them.' Legolas continued, his expression turning somewhat melancholic. 'Some of them were Elves, imprisoned by the Dark Lord who twisted their bodies and spirits through many hundreds of years of torment.'
The image painted by Legolas was disturbing enough and my heart went out to the Elf whose grief for the fallen members of his race was plain on his face. I had been told that Elves felt the most sorrow out of all races on Middle-Earth yet Legolas' face rarely, if ever, mirrored any of his feelings.
Aragorn returned with four medium sized fish and although I wasn't really hungry the cooked meat tasted surprisingly juicy and but for a lack of spices, it was a great meal. Gollum refused to eat or take water even when Gandalf threatened to force-feed him. Eventually, the wizard placed a raw fish in front of the creature and though Gollum sulked and turned his back, the next time we looked, fish was gone.
It was beyond me where Gollum drew his energy. All day long he had complained about having to travel in sunlight and whined incessantly, tugging at his rope and hissing every time Aragorn or Legolas approached him.
My attempts to keep my eyes open failed miserably and soon after we ate I excused myself and settled down to sleep. I had only slept outside in my early teens when I was sent off to summer camp, but I was too tired now to worry about the surroundings. It seemed like I had only been asleep a few seconds when I opened my eyes and realized it was in fact dawn. The first sound I became aware of was a soft whimper.
As I shook away the warmth of the blankets, the morning chill gave me an involuntary shiver. I wrapped my cloak around me and padded to where the noise was coming from.
Gollum was curled up in a tight ball, fists clasped rigidly across his chest almost as if he was holding something close to his heart as he moaned softly, inarticulately in his sleep. All of a sudden his eyes snapped open and he leapt at me, hissing.
'It's mine, precious!' His whole body arched like a spring about to snap.
Whatever he had been dreaming about, he was still seeing it in front of his eyes as they blazed with all-consuming hunger and a burning desire.
He had probably expected to see one of my other companions because when he laid eyes on me his body sagged and his hate-filled expression subsided. He crouched on the ground averting his gaze.
'You were crying in your sleep and you woke me' was all I could find to say, unsteadily.
I realized he had not meant to attack me yet I was terrified at the speed and ferocity with which the creature had reacted. I was beginning to understand why it took three vigorous men to deliver him to its prison.
A jeer twisted Gollum's features.
'Dreams are all we have left, mistress. We have nothing else….nothing at all….' He said in a low, rasping tone as his blue-gray eyes opened big and round and searched my face curiously.
I turned to leave but Gollum made a sound that halted me in my tracks. It was a sigh of loss and sorrow that seemed to have erupted from the depths of his being.
'Water…' he begged.
My water pouch was lying next to the fire and I wondered if I could give it to this creature to drink. I looked in vain for another water pouch that might have been allocated to Gollum. There was none. The mere idea of drinking after him made my stomach turn. Who knew what disease Gollum carried?
But all the same, I lifted the pouch and handed it to Gollum who, instead of drinking, poured some into the palm of his large hand and proceeded to bathe his wrists. It was then that I noticed the grayish skin was raw and bleeding from the bonds. Yet he did not even grimace as he wiped the encrusted blood away. He must have known I was watching because he murmured, without taking his eyes off his task.
'Nasty elvish rope, cuts us. Hurts us so.'
I knew where he was going with this and I was not prepared to indulge him.
'You know I cannot untie you' I said levelly trying to conceal the fact that the sight of his tattered flesh actually disturbed me.
'Mel?' a smooth voice called my name
Legolas was standing beside me and I felt grateful for his rescue.
'Let me show you something' he said and beckoned me to follow him.
He led me up to the stream that was close to our camping place and I found a more isolated spot where I was able to freshen up a little, the icy water feeling wonderfully invigorating. I could have done with a shower but knew I could expect no such luxury. After washing up as best as I could and tucking back loose strands of hair, I noticed Legolas some distance away plucking leaves from a bush, which he then proceeded to eat.
'What are those?' I asked walking over to where he was standing.
He smiled at me and handed me a few.
'Taste' he invited, watching my reaction closely as I reluctantly put some in my mouth and started chewing them. The leaves tasted so refreshing and cleansing and the unexpected sensation was delightful.
'This is incredible. Tastes better than toothpaste.'
Legolas stared, not understanding.
'It's something we use in my world to keep our teeth clean.' I explained.
'Is that why your teeth are so bright, Mel?' Legolas commented looking straight at my teeth.
I was convinced by his tone that he had not meant it as a compliment. He was merely stating a fact, yet I was not used to this kind of straightforward flattery and, to my slight annoyance, I found it amusing. An elvish male admiring my teeth was definitely not a common occurrence.
Breakfast consisted of elvish way-bread that I learned was called lembas and bits of fish left over from the previous night. I wasn't very fond of it since it was a little dry, but I realized that I could not expect gourmet cooking and it proved to be quite filling. Again I thought about coffee and found myself struggling to recall its taste.
We set out soon after breakfast and although their pace seemed unhurried, I could not help noticing that there was in fact plenty of urgency. I longed to ask them to tell me exactly what was going on but I realized that it was too early for them to trust me with important facts. So I bit my tongue and tried to glean as much as I could from their conversation. After a few hours, I realized even that was futile since they seemed guarded and I suspected it had more to do with Gollum's presence more than mine.
They told me I could ride whenever I felt tired. They preferred to walk and after two days on the road I understood why. My inner thigh muscles became so sore from sitting in the saddle I was convinced I would never walk normally again. After another day of walking, my calf muscles were cramped and my heels were throbbing with pain though it was somewhat more bearable. Preferred pain, I mused. It made me feel alive…
~~
(Aragorn's POV )
We travel North.
We do this in spite of wishing that we didn't have to make such a lenghty detour. Our mission lies in precisely the opposite direction…
We walk in silence. Even Gollum has fallen silent since Legolas threatened to gag him. I am grateful that he ceased his constant sniveling, since it would give me no pleasure to have to further abuse him even if he is becoming more of a nuisance with every step.
I have a feeling of great unease about this journey. It is not delivering Gollum to Thranduil's care that worries me. Gollum can yet be controlled. For how much longer, no one knows. He was set loose from Mordor with clear-cut purpose. His closeness to the One Ring proved him to be more useful in tracking it than any Ringwraith. But for now Gollum is in our hands…
I am concerned about Mel. It is obvious she is a strong woman. She has something about her that commands respect, some kind of an edge, yet despair is strong in her too. She does not show it but I know it's there.
I wonder… can she sense her purpose yet? I cannot speak of it, she must find her own way unless… She asks her questions carefully yet mostly she listens trying to learn as much has she can from what we are not saying. Yet I feel she does not do this with ill thoughts in mind.
It is plain that she never intended to be here. I can see it in her face, in her eyes; this world is so foreign to her as hers might be to us. Yet she appears neither frail nor sick and wants no pity from anyone. She keeps pace with us even if I see her vigor is greatly taxed. But she never complains.
Galadriel told us that in her world she is asleep, unfeeling and oblivious to all around her. Her affliction is not apparent here. It's just this strange fever burning in her eyes…
I wonder if she actually lives or she merely exists…
Oddly enough, she reminds me of Arwen in many ways, yet they are as different as night and day. I can feel their kindred spirits. Mel seems to have the same strength and the same resolve, although she is human. Galadriel said so too. I have not come to understand Mel in such a short while but I feel her inner resources might be far more than we give her credit for. It is in her face, mostly in her eyes…
Mel's hair is dark with unusual fair streaks. Even with elven braids framing her face she lacks the serene quality of an elf woman. She does not have Arwen's beauty, her dark green eyes are hard and her face is angular, yet strangely innocent. Her body is lean and sinewy although a little thin. By the way her jaw tightens at times, I can see that she is used to having her way.
Even Gollum turns his head now and then and watches her wide eyed. I wonder what this miserable creature senses in her. She is no nurturer, yet I see that she feels pity for Gollum, even if he sickens her as he sickens the rest of us. Could she be feeling as lone and unwanted as he does?
But I suspect that is about to change.
She rides with Legolas who seems to be remarkably enjoying her company. In all the years I've known Legolas he has never taken to someone so quickly. By all means, I have seen him take pleasure in the company of females, human and elvish alike, yet this appears somewhat different. Perhaps because Mel is unlike any woman he's ever known.
He shows her herbs and flowers, bidding her to taste this and that, telling her stories of his realm and his life. She seems to be comfortable in his company. Her features soften and she is smiling more often, and with ease. She blushes curiously and her face suddenly looks lively.
They laugh as if they share some private joke.
Gandalf gives me a bemused look yet his smile is jovial.
'Don't look at me, Gandalf' I jest as I wave towards the elf and the woman riding side by side behind us. 'It's your elven prince who's falling under some strange spell. I'd hate having to deliver him to his father in this condition. And indeed you know more about spells than I do.'
'Not about this particular one' Gandalf teases.
Under different circumstances I might have shared a laugh with Legolas. Yet now I should share my experience with my old friend and tell him that which he already knows: human and elven attachments are ill fated. Especially in this situation. Yet it is not my place to interfere. It seems that whatever is taking place brings joy and relief to Mel's life. And I feel that I do not have the right to infringe on it.
~~
A/N: I felt that I had to bring in another person's POV since we don't know much else other than what Mel perceives. Also, this friendship with Legolas will not develop into a conventional romance later on (or should it?????) – just kidding!!!. It is done with a clear purpose. Remember, people in extraordinary circumstances may do desperate things…
