Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any characters and/or places
thereof
Author's Note: I'm going to skip around a lot now, leaving out major pieces of the story, because you all already know them. Basically, it's going to be Legolas reflecting on things and times not mentioned in the book. The accuracy may become somewhat shoddy as I am not currently permitted to read anything by Tolkien, but bear with me, if you would. Hm, I feel like adding a certain shieldmaiden into this chapter. . .
Lady of the Forest: Thanks. Yes, you were being very strange. And yes, Legolas is hurt spiritually and emotionally--but he's got Aragorn, Gimli, and Gandalf, and so there is nothing for him to worry about! Or, nothing for YOU to worry about. Unless I decide to be very mean. . .hahaha. . .
Kaimelieamin: But there is a bright side. You've got me and I've got you and we both understand. And no, it is not right for people to parade these "mistakes", and they are not mistakes! But people do have only the best intentions, at times, and we must be patient with their ignorance. They only care. I tell everyone this, but in your case I mean it: you should read "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden". It's about a girl who is a little insane, and she is in an asylum and everything that happens to her. It was written about a fictitious character, but is highly autobiographical. Anyway. As for no one understands, here's a fair bargain. A girl and boy in my novel come to the agreement that they will always be there for each other, and so the resolve that when one loses hope the other will not, or will pretend to retain it. And for you I promise that, when you have lost hope I will either retain it or make an act of it. Good luck.
Gwyn: Yeah, sorry about that, I was really out of it when I wrote that chapter.
Soulsearcher: I think you are the first person to call this story fluff. It's sort of funny, as it's pretty much angst. I'm sorry to have. . .um. . .you know. To have seemed depressed. I can't help it when I get like that and sometimes I just need to talk, that's all. To be quite honest, yeah, I do still think about cutting, but there are a lot of people looking out for me. I'm really lucky. If anything I say is a bit depressive, truly I apologize, but sometimes I just need to say these things. In the future, I'll try to be more careful.
Erhothwen: Wow, I'm having some very naughty thoughts about that review ('Legolas is starting to get feisty'). Sorry, it's just. . .**laughs. Laughs a lot**
Reginabean: This is a quandary. We're confused and I don't even know what we're confused about, but apparently we're both confused about whatever it is. If I were Austin Powers, I'd go cross-eyed.
Tbiris: It's a metaphor. When he talks about demons, he means his guilt, his conscience, not actual demons.
*****
Many days passed before Legolas had a chance to think on current events. As he adjusted the stiff leather and metal plates of his armor, his mind wandered to Mithrandir. Oh, Mithrandir, who had defeated the Balrog! Who passed through fire and ice and returned, not only returned but transformed. Gandalf the White. . .Legolas was still unused to the name, but he liked the sound of it. Mithrandir, if anyone, deserved to be a White Wizard, in Legolas's opinion. And that strange smile. . .when they had at last come upon Mithrandir in Fangorn Forest, he had looked to Legolas and sort of smiled at him, as though he knew every thing that had happened since his fall. 'Am I then forgiven?' Legolas wondered.
'And of Fangorn? It was a strange place, to be certain, but not an unfriendly one as I had before believed. It is well that Gimli has agreed to return with me, for I should hate to wander those paths with none but the trees to keep me company, and the Dwarf, I think, is beginning to show some Elven qualities to him. Hah, though I had best keep that observation from the ears of any Elf!'
"How are you doing, Legolas?" asked Aragorn, suddenly appearing beside the Elf.
"Aragorn--" this was a difficult discussion, which Legolas had hoped he could procrastinate having for much longer, but it seemed now to be quite necessary "--you do not need to look out for me. I am not an infant. Yes, I have made quite a few mistakes, but--"
"Legolas, please," Aragorn interrupted, and Legolas feared he would begin to justify his actions, which would of course lead to an argument. "I was only joking around, because you have your armor on back to front." He grinned, and Legolas felt a blush rising up his neck.
"I did that on purpose," he proclaimed, "it is far more comfortable this way!"
"Aye, you were simply distracted, I am sure," Aragorn replied absently, removing his friend's armor.
"That's right," Legolas replied, then realized he had walked right in to a trap. "Oh, have it your way," he grumbled. Aragorn did not reply, occupied fixing his friend's armor, and Legolas thought that, although in all other aspects of life Aragorn was somewhat rough round the edges, he was actually capable of being quite gentle with other people.
"There," said Aragorn, straightening his friend's armor, "if you refuse to wear chain mail, at least you have your plate mail on rightly. It did not fit the other way, I could tell. I will have it my way, thank you very much."
"Oh, you're so witty," the Elf said sarcastically.
"We would be better to stay on good terms; the battle is going to begin in a matter of hours and the idea of us fighting each other instead of orcs. . ."
"We are the best soldiers here; the idea of us not fighting the orcs is truly one to evoke amusement and despair."
Aragorn smiled again, and said, "Perhaps not the best." Then he lightly tapped Legolas on the wrist. For a moment the Elf watched the Man in question, then Aragorn realized what he had done and clarified his meaning. "No bracers, my genius comrade."
"Not to worry, I know where I left them. Wait a moment." Legolas slipped away, out into the open night air. Battle was coming; he could practically smell it. It would not be easy, but then, when was battle ever easy? Yet this, this would be a true test. There would be no luck on this night. The weak would fall. And some of the strong, a small voice in the back of Legolas's head noted as he grabbed his bracers. He felt someone's arm brush against his, and looked up to see Lady Eowyn staring at him. "Should you not be in the Keep, Lady?" he asked.
She did not answer. Instead she motioned to his arm and asked, "Where did you get that scar?" Legolas followed her gaze, and saw that the dark mark he had given himself so many years back had been revealed when, in coming into contact with the lady, Legolas's sleeve had been brushed back a bit.
"I--" the old wild cat lie came to mind, but Legolas could not make himself tell that story to Lady Eowyn. "Many years ago, I gave myself that scar," Legolas replied in a low voice.
*****
TBC
Author's Note: I'm going to skip around a lot now, leaving out major pieces of the story, because you all already know them. Basically, it's going to be Legolas reflecting on things and times not mentioned in the book. The accuracy may become somewhat shoddy as I am not currently permitted to read anything by Tolkien, but bear with me, if you would. Hm, I feel like adding a certain shieldmaiden into this chapter. . .
Lady of the Forest: Thanks. Yes, you were being very strange. And yes, Legolas is hurt spiritually and emotionally--but he's got Aragorn, Gimli, and Gandalf, and so there is nothing for him to worry about! Or, nothing for YOU to worry about. Unless I decide to be very mean. . .hahaha. . .
Kaimelieamin: But there is a bright side. You've got me and I've got you and we both understand. And no, it is not right for people to parade these "mistakes", and they are not mistakes! But people do have only the best intentions, at times, and we must be patient with their ignorance. They only care. I tell everyone this, but in your case I mean it: you should read "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden". It's about a girl who is a little insane, and she is in an asylum and everything that happens to her. It was written about a fictitious character, but is highly autobiographical. Anyway. As for no one understands, here's a fair bargain. A girl and boy in my novel come to the agreement that they will always be there for each other, and so the resolve that when one loses hope the other will not, or will pretend to retain it. And for you I promise that, when you have lost hope I will either retain it or make an act of it. Good luck.
Gwyn: Yeah, sorry about that, I was really out of it when I wrote that chapter.
Soulsearcher: I think you are the first person to call this story fluff. It's sort of funny, as it's pretty much angst. I'm sorry to have. . .um. . .you know. To have seemed depressed. I can't help it when I get like that and sometimes I just need to talk, that's all. To be quite honest, yeah, I do still think about cutting, but there are a lot of people looking out for me. I'm really lucky. If anything I say is a bit depressive, truly I apologize, but sometimes I just need to say these things. In the future, I'll try to be more careful.
Erhothwen: Wow, I'm having some very naughty thoughts about that review ('Legolas is starting to get feisty'). Sorry, it's just. . .**laughs. Laughs a lot**
Reginabean: This is a quandary. We're confused and I don't even know what we're confused about, but apparently we're both confused about whatever it is. If I were Austin Powers, I'd go cross-eyed.
Tbiris: It's a metaphor. When he talks about demons, he means his guilt, his conscience, not actual demons.
*****
Many days passed before Legolas had a chance to think on current events. As he adjusted the stiff leather and metal plates of his armor, his mind wandered to Mithrandir. Oh, Mithrandir, who had defeated the Balrog! Who passed through fire and ice and returned, not only returned but transformed. Gandalf the White. . .Legolas was still unused to the name, but he liked the sound of it. Mithrandir, if anyone, deserved to be a White Wizard, in Legolas's opinion. And that strange smile. . .when they had at last come upon Mithrandir in Fangorn Forest, he had looked to Legolas and sort of smiled at him, as though he knew every thing that had happened since his fall. 'Am I then forgiven?' Legolas wondered.
'And of Fangorn? It was a strange place, to be certain, but not an unfriendly one as I had before believed. It is well that Gimli has agreed to return with me, for I should hate to wander those paths with none but the trees to keep me company, and the Dwarf, I think, is beginning to show some Elven qualities to him. Hah, though I had best keep that observation from the ears of any Elf!'
"How are you doing, Legolas?" asked Aragorn, suddenly appearing beside the Elf.
"Aragorn--" this was a difficult discussion, which Legolas had hoped he could procrastinate having for much longer, but it seemed now to be quite necessary "--you do not need to look out for me. I am not an infant. Yes, I have made quite a few mistakes, but--"
"Legolas, please," Aragorn interrupted, and Legolas feared he would begin to justify his actions, which would of course lead to an argument. "I was only joking around, because you have your armor on back to front." He grinned, and Legolas felt a blush rising up his neck.
"I did that on purpose," he proclaimed, "it is far more comfortable this way!"
"Aye, you were simply distracted, I am sure," Aragorn replied absently, removing his friend's armor.
"That's right," Legolas replied, then realized he had walked right in to a trap. "Oh, have it your way," he grumbled. Aragorn did not reply, occupied fixing his friend's armor, and Legolas thought that, although in all other aspects of life Aragorn was somewhat rough round the edges, he was actually capable of being quite gentle with other people.
"There," said Aragorn, straightening his friend's armor, "if you refuse to wear chain mail, at least you have your plate mail on rightly. It did not fit the other way, I could tell. I will have it my way, thank you very much."
"Oh, you're so witty," the Elf said sarcastically.
"We would be better to stay on good terms; the battle is going to begin in a matter of hours and the idea of us fighting each other instead of orcs. . ."
"We are the best soldiers here; the idea of us not fighting the orcs is truly one to evoke amusement and despair."
Aragorn smiled again, and said, "Perhaps not the best." Then he lightly tapped Legolas on the wrist. For a moment the Elf watched the Man in question, then Aragorn realized what he had done and clarified his meaning. "No bracers, my genius comrade."
"Not to worry, I know where I left them. Wait a moment." Legolas slipped away, out into the open night air. Battle was coming; he could practically smell it. It would not be easy, but then, when was battle ever easy? Yet this, this would be a true test. There would be no luck on this night. The weak would fall. And some of the strong, a small voice in the back of Legolas's head noted as he grabbed his bracers. He felt someone's arm brush against his, and looked up to see Lady Eowyn staring at him. "Should you not be in the Keep, Lady?" he asked.
She did not answer. Instead she motioned to his arm and asked, "Where did you get that scar?" Legolas followed her gaze, and saw that the dark mark he had given himself so many years back had been revealed when, in coming into contact with the lady, Legolas's sleeve had been brushed back a bit.
"I--" the old wild cat lie came to mind, but Legolas could not make himself tell that story to Lady Eowyn. "Many years ago, I gave myself that scar," Legolas replied in a low voice.
*****
TBC