AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hello readers, and welcome to Chapter Four!
I've noticed there has been an increase in reviews over the last chapter, and I'm very, very happy about that. It rather upsets me though that the negative comments have not stopped; I am trying very hard to improve the storyline as I go along, but I guess it's not working as well as I had hoped. Oh, well. . . I guess there really is no chance of pleasing all the critics. Thank you to those who do seem to notice and appreciate my effort, though. . . you guys are the best.
Oh, and about my beloved OC "Armir" (pls. do not diss her name-it took me almost an hour to create that 5-letter word on my own): she is going to prove herself not a perfect Mary Sue in this chapter. (I can see all the Mary Sue haters out there raising their eyebrows and scowling). Hey, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't being a brave "warrior princess" a major characteristic of a Mary Sue? (If not, then I guess it's back to the drawing board for me. * sigh *) Well, just note how Armir handles herself in the midst of danger. You may even get annoyed by how helpless and girly she is.
I guess that's it. . . oh, yeah one more thing. If you don't like romantic stories and are just going to accuse me of making this too mushy or any such thing, then you are in the wrong place! Don't read this, because yes, it is sweet and touching enough to make a cynical-hearted person sick. (I have clearly labeled this a ROMANCE fic, so for gosh sakes, do not criticize me if it IS a romance!) On the other hand, for all the Legolas romantics who are eager for the love story to really start, it will. . . in the next chapter still. lol Patience is virtue!
Happy reading!
* Thank you's and messages found at the bottom. . . pls. take time to read them.*
* * *
THE SACRIFICE
Chapter Four - Darkness
"Have at thou, knave!"
"Right back at you, villain!"
Frodo smiled and shook his head as the clashing sounds of swords grew louder. Merry and Pippin were at it again
"Look at those two. Don't they ever get tired of clowning around all the time?"
Frodo gazed over his shoulder from where the frustrated-sounding comment came. "I'm sure they don't mean to appear as clowns, Sam." he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
The hobbit looked up from the cooking pot he had been fussing over and frowned. "They try." he scoffed. "But they should be ashamed of themselves. Acting like such royal fools, in front of an Elven princess no less!"
"Armir seems to be enjoying their little show." Frodo remarked calmly.
"Only because she is too kind and polite to tell them off." Sam argued.
Frodo laughed at his friend's antagonism. "Come on, Sam. Don't be so stiff." he admonished lightly. "She cannot be as stuck-up as you make her seem."
Sam's expression of annoyance morphed into one of alarm. "Is that what I make it seem like?' he exclaimed. "That she is stuck-up? But she isn't! She. . ."
His panic caused Frodo to chuckle even more. He held up his hand to cease his friend's ranting.
"Slow down, Sam." he told him. "Take it easy. It's all right."
Sam's face reddened with embarrassment. He opened his mouth as if he meant to say something else, but then decided against it and focused his attention back to the stew he was making.
Frodo gave his friend a fond smile. Poor Sam. It was very obvious that he had grown quite a crush on the elf-maiden, and it made him very self-conscious.
But who wouldn't be enchanted by Armir? Frodo let his gaze drift back to where the princess sat watching Merry and Pippin, and once again fell into deep thoughts about her.
There really was something extraordinary about Armir. It was hard to explain the effect her mere presence had on him, but whenever Frodo was near her, he felt as though his troubles and anxieties just seemed to slip away. Whenever she gazed or smiled at him, he stopped thinking about the pressure and temptations the Ring inflicted on him. Her very voice seemed to be magical; her laughter helped him to forget that so much depended on this quest, and that most of the responsibility lay on him as the Ring Bearer.
It certainly wasn't love-- Frodo knew himself well enough to know that he had no such feelings for Armir whatsoever. But it was definitely special, a certain bond between only the two of them. No one but she affected him in that way, and as far as the hobbit observed he likewise seemed to be the sole companion who was affected by her in that way.
"Do you think Lady Armir would wish to eat now?"
His thoughts interrupted by the voice, Frodo looked up with a start. He stared up at Sam blankly. "What was that? I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch your question.."
Sam shifted his weight uneasily. "I said, do you think Armir would care to eat her lunch now? It's just about noon, and I've got her lembas ready."
Frodo grinned and nodded. "Yes, I suppose so." he replied with a shrug. "Maybe you should go ahead and give it to her, eh?"
* * *
Armir suppressed a giggle as she watched Pippin tumble to the dry soil, the sword knocked out of his hand by his sparring partner, Merry. A gasp soon followed as Merry tossed aside his own weapon and leapt upon the hobbit sprawled on his backside. Soon, a full out wrestling match between them ensued.
"Oi, you two! That is no way to act in front of a Lady!" Sam admonished, shaking his head disapprovingly at his friends as they continued their competitive but friendly tussling on the ground before Armir.
"We are merely trying to demonstrate to the Princess the rudiments of good swordsmanship and self-defense." Pippin protested, pausing in mid-head lock.
"Yes." Merry grunted, choking out his words against the tight hold Pippin had on his neck. "After all, you'll never know when they shall come in handy."
"Showing off and making fools of yourselves is more like what are doing." Sam muttered. He then turned to Armir and handed her a small leaf- wrapped package, bowing his head slightly as he did so.
"Your lembas, my lady." he said, cheeks faintly coloring with bashfulness.
Armir accepted graciously with a smile. "Thank you, Sam. You are very kind." She tilted her graceful head to one side and gestured to the empty space beside her. "Would you care to join me? We can talk and maybe get to know each other better."
The hobbit's face reddened to a bright crimson at the suggestion. "I. . .I. . ." he stammered. "I would love to, b-but I. . .I am afraid there are still some things I need to do. . . food to cook."
"Oh, all right." Armir nodded. "Another time, perhaps."
Sam bowed yet again and turned to walk away, stumbling a little due to the sudden weakening in his limbs.
Armir sighed and averted her gaze back to Pippin and Merry, who had picked themselves up from the dust and had taken up their swords once again.
"For peace-loving hobbits, you seem to be quite impressive fighters, Master Pippin and Merry." Armir told them with a laugh. "It is no wonder my grandfather agreed to let you join the Fellowship. I for one will not be of much help when the time for battle comes."
"We shall be very happy to teach you a few things if you'd like." Merry offered eagerly. "Being an elf I am sure you will be able to learn the sword in no time."
Armir's eyes widened somewhat, but sparkled with amusement at the thought. "I am afraid I have not inherited the warriors' prowess of my kindred." she confessed. "You shall find me quite useless with weapons of any kind."
"Then we shall just have to look after you every minute of the day." Pippin said cheerfully. "You can count on us, my lady. We will protect you to the very end."
"Thank you." Armir said with a laugh. "I am sure you will."
"But I thought that was my job. . . " A new voice, deep and teasing, entered the conversation.
Startled by the sudden arrival of the newcomer, Armir turned her head immediately. She then smiled at Legolas as he seated himself right next to her.
"Well, two extra pairs of eyes would not hurt, would they?" she told the elf, forcing herself not to distance herself from him as she became conscious of his nearness. Instead she kept her gaze safely away from his, mentally urging herself to ignore the pleasurable warmth radiating from his body.
He was sitting much too close for comfort. Not that she didn't enjoy his presence, because the Valar knew she did. What she did not like was the rash onslaught of strange feelings it aroused in her. The Mirkwood prince easily affected her in ways no other elf has ever managed before, and it rather scared her.
"Lembas?" she offered quickly, changing topic before he could notice the flush threatening to invade her cheeks. She held out to him the bread she had just unwrapped.
Legolas shook his head. "No thank you. I feel no hunger right about now." he declined politely.
Armir frowned. "I must insist." she said firmly, breaking the thin cake into several pieces. "You have not had a bite to eat since yesterday."
Legolas chuckled at the seriousness of her face. "Are you treating me like your child now, Armir?" he kidded.
"It seems I must, since you are being stubborn." the maiden replied with a laugh of her own.
The elf-prince sighed and shrugged his broad shoulders. "All right. If you insist."
He reached for the hand that held the lembas. But instead of simply picking up a piece as she had intended for him to do, he slid one hand underneath hers, and held it gently while the fingers from his other hand drifted over the bread, painstakingly taking their time to select a piece.
Armir's hand stiffened considerably at his lingering touch, as she fought back the strong compulsion to draw away. Instantly feeling her blatantly negative response, Legolas' eyes darted up to catch hers. For a moment she saw a flicker of hurt pass through them, and it took her breath away-- for the first time out of sheer guilt.
Immediately he looked away, picked up a lembas piece, and moved his hands from hers. He got to his feet, carefully avoiding contact with her as he rose.
"Thank you." he mumbled, turning away. Armir felt a sharp stab in her chest at the sound of his voice, which had suddenly turned distant.
"I must patrol the area now to keep a look-out." he went on, but did not face her as he spoke. "You should be all right. The hobbits may keep an eye on you in the meantime." He turned to Merry and Pippin questioningly.
"Of course we will." Merry responded, oblivious to the tension between the two elves.
"We are honored to be of service to the lady." Pippin added.
Legolas nodded. "Thank you."
And without a further word nor glance, he walked away, leaving the elf- maiden staring after him in growing dismay. She wanted to call after him and apologize, but what exactly did she have to apologize for? Had she really offended him through her recoiling from his touch or was she merely being presumptuous?
"What is it that troubles you so, Legolas?" she whispered inaudibly, as her eyes followed his retreating form. "What goes on behind the guise of your eyes?"
* * *
"Something bothers you, Boromir?"
Boromir looked up toward the voice that had cut into his attention and pensive stare. He shook his head as Aragorn sat down next to him.
"I was merely contemplating a few things." the man answered with a dismissive shrug.
The Ranger's eyes sparked with both concern and interest. "What things?"
Boromir said nothing, but riveted his gaze back to its earlier object. His brown eyes rested thoughtfully on the elegant figure of Armir, as she now sat speaking to Frodo Baggins. Frown lines creased his somber face as he observed her.
Aragorn noticed this and caught on quickly. "Is it about Armir?" he pressed.
There was a prolonged silence between the two men before Boromir finally spoke again.
"I still do not understand what she is doing here, Aragorn." he said, a trace of annoyance and impatience in his voice. "This quest is no place for a maiden. What exactly can she contribute that is of any importance?"
"We do not know." Aragorn admitted. "It is a mystery we should not question but should just place our faith upon."
"It makes no sense!" Boromir scoffed. "She places more danger upon herself than the slightest good to any of us."
"She is in no real danger." Aragorn objected. "She has Legolas and myself to protect her."
"That makes her a liability then." Boromir challenged. "A waste of attention and energy, if one of us must keep an eye on her at all times since she cannot fend for herself. That is precisely the last thing we need on this mission."
Aragorn felt a rush of surprise as he listened to his friend's tirade. He never realized the man had felt this way about their bringing Armir along. He was always under the impression that he liked the maiden.
Aragorn sighed. "I have no answers to your inquiries, Boromir. But I trust Lord Elrond, and I trust Armir. If the significance of her presence is beyond my understanding, then I shall be content in accepting it blindly." he told his friend firmly.
"That is the difference between you and I." Boromir muttered under his breath, so silently that it evaded the Ranger's ears.
As Aragorn dropped the conversation and turned away to light his pipe, Boromir was left alone to mull over his thoughts once more.
He watched as Armir engaged the Ring Bearer in conversation, her bright eyes dancing with their usual gaiety and childlike innocence. He had no idea why he felt so disapprovingly towards this sweet creature, but it was clear that he did. Something about the Elven princess simply unnerved him, arousing unwarranted suspicion and irritation. He avoided any contact with her as much as possible, for each time she would speak to him or lay her eyes upon him, he would feel an unpleasant sensation rise in his chest. He could not tell what this strange emotion was exactly, but somehow it felt as though he were exposed, a book of his thoughts and sentiments left open for her to read. That was the one thing he detested most of all- having his soul perused by virtuous eyes.
Boromir's frown deepened. Armir was harmless. She could no more hurt any of them than she could herself. Why was it that he felt the strong need to protect himself from her? Why did he have a nagging hunch in the pit of stomach that she would somehow, sooner or later, take part in his downfall?
"Oi there! Boromir!"
The call pulled the man out of his reverie yet again. He gazed down at the eager faces of Merry and Pippin, each clutching their swords in their hands.
"We wish to claim your offer to give us sword fighting lessons!" Pippin announced excitedly.
Boromir had to smile in spite of himself. Over their few weeks of traveling, these two hobbits had quickly grown on him, and he was now rather fond of them. Somehow their simple, high-spirited ways fitted easily with his somber, no-nonsense temperament, allowing them to develop the most unlikely of friendships.
Boromir got to his feet, a wry smile on his face. "Yes, I did see the way you two were trying to impress the Lady earlier." he teased. "Are you certain you still need further instruction?"
"More pointers cannot hurt." Merry insisted. "Come now, you did promise to teach us!"
Boromir chuckled. "All right." he relented, reaching for where his sword lay with his other things. "Though I cannot say I approve of my encouraging your vanity."
* * *
"Lady Armir? May I ask you something?"
The Elven maiden smiled down at the hobbit by her side and nodded graciously. "Anything at all, Frodo." she replied easily.
Frodo faltered, unsure of how to word his inquiry without sounding cheeky. "Why did you join this quest?" he asked hesitantly. "I mean, why did Lord Elrond have to send you with us?"
Armir's eyes sparkled with thought as she stared down at him for a moment. She then turned her gaze away, looking into the distance. "Yes." she murmured wistfully. "That does seem to be the universal question now, does it not?"
"Please, I do not wish to sound rude." Frodo said quickly, fearing he may have offended her. "It's just that. . . it is a mystery that has been plaguing my mind for days now, ever since we left Rivendell. It was never explained to me, and I just thought. . ."
"It is all right, Frodo." Armir assured him, allowing her gentle hand to graze his briefly. "I understand your curiosity. You do deserve to be given some answers."
She paused and looked down at the hands clasped at her lap before speaking again. "I shall be honest with you, Frodo." she finally said. "I myself do not fully understand the purpose of my being here."
She sighed and lifted her head. "My grandfather merely told me that I must join the Fellowship, for there is an important task that only I could fulfill on this quest." she explained. "I am unaware of what this task is, and if grandfather knew what it was he did not tell me."
"Have you no clue at the very least?" Frodo asked. "Surely you recognize what it is that you can contribute and cannot, based on your capabilities and powers."
"Powers?" Armir laughed lightly. "I have no such powers. I am not like my grandfather who has the gift of foresight and incredible knowledge. Nor am I like Aragorn, both wise in counsel and strong in battle. I am a just a girl, Frodo. As far as I know, that is all."
"I do not know about that." Frodo said, his voice growing soft with shyness. "You are a special elf, Armir. You are sweet, and kind, and. . . well, there is something about that makes you different from the others I have met before. Something magical."
He turned his gaze away, embarrassed by the look of interest the princess was giving him. In spite of his bashfulness however, he forced himself to continue.
"In fact, what puzzles me most is how Lord Elrond can allow you to leave home so easily. I am sure he loves you very much and wishes for no harm or obstacles to come upon you." he said slowly. "Your task must be something dreadfully important for him to get you go."
Armir nodded thoughtfully. "I myself have wondered about that many times the past few days." she admitted. "When Grandfather first suggested that I join the Fellowship, he gave me a choice. He told me that I did not have to leave if it was against my wishes. But I did. I chose to make this journey, so it is by my own free will that I am here now."
Her stare grew distant as her eyes wandered over the horizon. "I saw the pain in his eyes when he told me that he personally thought it would be best if I left. It was against his own desire to let go of me, but if there is one thing I know about Minyaatar, it is that he always chooses what is for the good of all. So. . . I went along with his opinion."
The maiden sighed, looking tired and forlorn all of a sudden. "I cannot deny that for the first few days I fully regretted my leaving home. I was frightened and resentful. I could not stop thinking, 'why me?'. What am I doing here? Does my presence even make a difference?"
She paused and a small smile brightened her lips. "But then I remember something my grandfather always used to tell me, even when I was little. He said every life, every creature this world, makes a difference. Some more, some less than others. It all depends on the courage one has to step out and fulfill his destiny."
Turning to the hobbit, she reached over and touched his face gently and briefly. "I guess that is the best answer to your question, Frodo. I am with you now simply because. . . this is where I am meant to be." she told him. "As for what else lies ahead, only time can tell. The important thing is, I am where I belong, ready to face whatever Fate has in store for me."
Frodo smiled up at her. "Well. . . for what it is worth Princess," he said, miraculously losing all bashfulness. "I'm thankful you came along."
Touched by his words and the sincerity she felt in them, Armir returned his smile and bend over to embrace him.
"Thank you Frodo." she whispered. "I am happy to be here."
* * *
Legolas' gaze hardened unconsciously as he observed the embrace between Armir and Frodo from afar. Immediately he turned away, quickly rebuking himself for the ill feelings that were surfacing in his heart.
He shook himself mentally, frustrated by how petty he was acting. This was getting ridiculous! Now he was jealous of Frodo?!
The elf clenched his jaw as he forced himself to continue with his scouting. Focus on your job, he reminded himself. This is no time to get distracted.
No matter how much he tried however, he was failing at ridding himself of the growing insecurities clouding his mind. He simply couldn't understand it. How come Armir was so comfortable and affectionate towards the other members of the Fellowship except for him? How could she embrace Aragorn, the hobbits, and even Gimli, and then flinch at the sheer touch of his hand?
"Stop it!" he screamed at himself. He was being completely unreasonable. It wasn't Armir's fault if she wasn't in love with him as he was with her. He was simply going to have to accept that she didn't see him that way. He had no right to treat her as coldly as he did earlier during the lembas incident.
Making a vow to apologize to her later for his behavior, Legolas proceeded with his walk around the perimeter of their resting area. He scrambled atop a boulder to get a better view of the distant surroundings, passing by Gimli and Gandalf as he did so.
His ears picked up snatches of their conversation as his keen eyes scanned the hazy blue skies.
"Gandalf, we could go through the Mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome!" Gimli was saying, the eagerness apparent in his gruff voice.
Upon hearing this, every part of Legolas' body instantly tensed up in protest of the thought. Moria?! Never would he want to venture into those parts. Aside from being a dwarf realm, it was also one of the most inauspicious places he knew of. It would be much too risky to pass that way.
Thankfully enough, Gandalf seemed to share the elf's opinion.
"No, Gimli." Legolas heard the wizard tell the dwarf firmly. "I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice."
Legolas sighed inaudibly as his short-lived anxiety slipped away. He then turned his attention back to the skies. He narrowed his eyes as they passed through every inch of the heavens, carefully searching for any sign of trouble or oddity.
Suddenly, his stare landed upon a peculiar looking cloud. The elf frowned. This cloud was dark, unlike the others that surrounded it. It was no more than a small tuft, but the way it moved was strange. It was shifting too quickly, and in a direction that was opposite that of the breeze.
A few moments later, it seemed that the rest of his companions had caught sight of the unusual cloud themselves.
"What's that?" a timid voice, belonging to one of the hobbits perhaps, said from behind him.
"It's nothing." There was no mistaking Gimli's passive, gravely tone. "Just a wisp of cloud."
Legolas' frown deepened as he continued to study the vision. It was growing somewhat clearer now, as it drew nearer and nearer towards where the Fellowship was situated. After a moment his sight managed to confirm it was not a cloud at all. But what therefore?
"It's moving fast." He overheard Boromir comment. "Against the wind."
Suddenly, the traveling shadow reached close enough for Legolas' hearing to pick up sounds of flapping and cawing. The elf's eyes widened as he then realized what the approaching dark patch really was.
"Crebain from Dunland!" he yelled. "Hide!"
Reacting at once to the urgency of his call, his companions rushed to gather their things and head for cover under the great holly bushes nearby. Legolas, on the other hand, instinctively had only one thought in mind.
Leaping off the rock, he hurried towards where Armir stood, helping Sam to put out the fire. He grabbed her arm, and she immediately whirled around. The fear and confusion that were in her eyes seemed to vanish as she beheld his face.
"Come." Legolas told her urgently, before pulling her with him to the nearest bush.
He gently urged her to the ground and together they crawled underneath the shelter of the thick holly branches. Wrapping one protective arm around her waist, he pulled her close to him as they lay on their backs side by side. He used his other arm to hold away the boughs to prevent the spiny leaves from scratching her.
Noticing the frightened look on her face as she stared up at him, Legolas smiled at her reassuringly. "Shh. . ." he whispered. "It's all right. Just lie still, and make no sound."
Armir nodded, then squeezed her eyes shut as she lay her head against his shoulder.
Suddenly, a flood of black shapes passed over them, and they were engulfed in the noise of a hundred shrieking birds. Legolas felt Armir's hand tremble slightly where it rested upon his chest. Not that he could blame her. Though these beasts were relatively harmless compared to Saruman's other minions, one could still feeling the malice radiating from their presence.
At last, a few minutes later, when the last crow had passed them and flew clear out of range, it was safe to come of hiding.
"What were those creatures?" Armir asked Legolas shakily, as she took the hand he offered to help her back on her feet.
The elf opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off by Gandalf.
"Spies for Saruman!" the Istari muttered crossly, half to himself, and half as an answer to Armir's question.
He shook his head gravely. "The passage south is being watched. We will have to go over the pass of Caradhras."
* * *
Armir braced herself as yet another chilling gust of wind blew, threatening to knock her off her feet with its power. She felt herself stagger back slightly, but Legolas quickly tightened his grip around her, preventing her fall.
"You must hold on to me, Armir." the elf scolded her gently, keeping his watchful eyes focused on the snowy path before them. "I will not let these winds harm you, but you must help."
Armir nodded and obediently slid one arm securely around his waist, while the other hand clutched the front of his tunic. She squinted her eyes and struggled to see through the thick snowflakes whipping about her face, striking her cheeks and numbing her skin.
The maiden shivered slightly, and half buried her face against the warmth of Legolas' chest. She knew that elves were extraordinarily resilient to the extremes of nature, and she was of no exception to this gift. However, such foul, ominous weather was very new to her, for never in her life has she been subjected to anything other than the fine conditions of Rivendell. More than the frigid cold, what struck her greatly were fear, and uncertainty of what this perilous storm held for them.
Together, the two elves led the Fellowship up the narrow path winding around Caradhras, their footsteps barely marking the heavy snow covering the ground. Behind them they could hear their companions struggling as they waded through waist-deep slush.
Suddenly, through the howling noise of the roaring wind, Armir's ears picked up a strange sound. There was a voice chanting in the distance, seeming faraway yet at the same time alarmingly close. Its tone was deep and sinister, and aroused tremors of fear in her heart.
Her guardian was apparently aware of it as well. Quickening his step a little, he carefully directed Armir towards the edge of the cliff. There they stood for a few moments, as Legolas listened intently, his brow furrowing in concentration.
"There is a fell voice in the air!" he called out to their companions, alerting them of the impending danger.
There was a tense, attentive silence amongst them for a few more seconds, before Gandalf burst out with recognition.
"Saruman!"
Before Armir was even aware of what was happening, Legolas abruptly pulled her back from the cliff, wrapping both arms around her and holding her tightly against him. Seconds later a deafening rumble sounded. A torrential shower of thick snow and huge rocks fell from above, smashing onto the spot where the elves had stood before falling off the mountain into the depths below.
"It's all right." Legolas murmured to a wide eyed Armir, caressing her hair as she quivered with shock at their close call. "You are safe."
"He's trying to bring down the mountain!" Armir heard Aragorn shout pressingly. "We must turn back!"
"No!" the wizard said stubbornly.
Gandalf walked to the edge of the cliff and held up his staff. The elves could hear him muttering a spell under his breath, his voice magically amplified as it drifted through the air and echoed in the roaring wind.
For a brief period after that, the storm seemed to subside as the winds calmed and the snow lessened. However, the earlier voice ripped through the air once more, this time more powerful and menacing.
"No!" Legolas gasped in panic.
Without warning, the elf left Armir's side and darted towards Gandalf. She saw him yank the wizard away from the edge just as a bolt of lighting flashed in the skies above. She watched in horror as the lightning stuck the side of the mountain directly overhead. Moments after, a thunderous roar, much louder and more violent than first, screamed in her ears.
"Armir!" she heard Legolas yell, before a downpour of crushing snow fell upon her and swallowed her from sight.
Suffocated by the sudden darkness and the force of the snow packed tightly around her frail body, Armir struggled to free herself. She was trapped for barely a half minute when a pair of strong hands suddenly broke through the snowy mass, releasing her and giving her much needed air.
Gasping for breath, the maiden collapsed weakly into the waiting arms of her guardian, who immediately drew her to the safety his embrace, brushing away the snow from her face and hair as he whispered comfortingly.
Meanwhile their companions, who had also managed to free themselves from the avalanche, were in a state of distress.
"We must get off the mountain!" Aragorn shouted yet again, the dread evident in his voice now.
"We must take the Pass of Rohan, or take the road west to my city!" Boromir suggested, raising his voice in order to be heard above the continuing storm.
"Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn remonstrated at once.
Gimli took this opportunity to speak up. "If we cannot go over the mountain, I say let us go under it!" he announced. "Let us go through the mines of Moria!"
At that suggestion, everyone turned to face Gandalf and anxiously waited for his opinion, which they all recognized to be the final word on anything.
The wizard was silent for a while, appearing to be in serious thought over this. At last, he raised his gaze towards Frodo.
"Let the Ring Bearer decide."
Frodo took little hesitation, and declared his choice after brief reflection.
"We will go through the mines."
* * *
COMING UP . . . Chapter 5 - Tears
Thanks for reading! Pls. take time to review. See you in the next update! ;p
PERSONAL MESSAGES:
ArwenUndomiel: Thank you so much for your sympathy; I needed that. I'm getting better at learning to ignore flames or at least take them lightly. Anyway, I've finally placed the AU label on my summary; hopefully that will get some of those critics off my back. Oh yeah, and you're right. . . Armir will be playing a big role in the Fellowship. It's just that she herself doesn't even know what it is yet. That's the mystery part! lol
Red Witch: Yeah, Legolas should probably teach Armir to defend herself, but turning her into a fighter might just make her too perfect already. Besides, I don't wanna rob Leggy of his "knight in shining armor" rescues! Hehehe. . . thanks for dropping by. Keep reviewing, pretty please?!
Princess of Mirkwood: Hehehe. . . yeah, watch out for the next chapter. He WILL tell her. lol I'm really glad you like this so much. Thanks for your support; I really appreciate it.
Niori: No problem! Hope you'll continue reading this! ;p
Beautiful Elf: Thanks so much for your offer! Yes, I am planning to write a pre-WR story after this. If ever I do need help, I'll take you up on that.
Tainted Elf: Thanks for reading! Hope you'll keep on doing so. . . ;p
Lthien Sralond: Thank you! I hope you got your answers to why Elrond had to send Armir on the quest here. If it's still unclear, it'll be better explained when the party gets to Lothlorien. Er, and yeah. One of her roles is actually to be the "damsel in distress". Hehehe. . .
Tap Dancing Hobbit: Yeah, Aragorn's hot too. lol Sorry for the grammatical errors. They're more of overlooked typos, really. Don't worry, Armir's not dense enough to ignore Legolas' affections for too long. . .
Indil Elondili: Thanks. . . glad to know movie knowledge is enough! lol
Jynessea Greenleaf: Thank you! Hehehe. . . I'm very good at sensing if people are romantics. I'm so glad you like it. I hope you'll be back for the next chapter, coz it's definitely gonna be a sweet one.
Inatarille: Thank you! ( Legolas won't be portrayed as a stupid jerk here, don't worry. But there will be some problems in their relationship later on. You'll just have to keep reading and see!
Erenriel the Elven Canuck: Here's your update! Hehehe. . . and thanks, it's reviewers like you who help make the chapters come along faster. So you like Elladan huh? ;p
Iluvernis: I'm not sure why I get flames either. . . hehehe. . . thank you so much!
Merenwen Luinwel: I enjoy your "threats"! lol Oh, and thanks for the understanding!
Earwen of Alqualonde: Thank you!!! Even a few words mean a lot!
Crystal Fire, Lady of Mirkwood & Joanne Greenleaf: Thank you so much! (
Gwevyan Baggins & Icy 878: Yeah, I love reading about Legolas in love too. I'm sure you'll enjoy the next chapter then. . . make sure to come back for it!
Hello readers, and welcome to Chapter Four!
I've noticed there has been an increase in reviews over the last chapter, and I'm very, very happy about that. It rather upsets me though that the negative comments have not stopped; I am trying very hard to improve the storyline as I go along, but I guess it's not working as well as I had hoped. Oh, well. . . I guess there really is no chance of pleasing all the critics. Thank you to those who do seem to notice and appreciate my effort, though. . . you guys are the best.
Oh, and about my beloved OC "Armir" (pls. do not diss her name-it took me almost an hour to create that 5-letter word on my own): she is going to prove herself not a perfect Mary Sue in this chapter. (I can see all the Mary Sue haters out there raising their eyebrows and scowling). Hey, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't being a brave "warrior princess" a major characteristic of a Mary Sue? (If not, then I guess it's back to the drawing board for me. * sigh *) Well, just note how Armir handles herself in the midst of danger. You may even get annoyed by how helpless and girly she is.
I guess that's it. . . oh, yeah one more thing. If you don't like romantic stories and are just going to accuse me of making this too mushy or any such thing, then you are in the wrong place! Don't read this, because yes, it is sweet and touching enough to make a cynical-hearted person sick. (I have clearly labeled this a ROMANCE fic, so for gosh sakes, do not criticize me if it IS a romance!) On the other hand, for all the Legolas romantics who are eager for the love story to really start, it will. . . in the next chapter still. lol Patience is virtue!
Happy reading!
* Thank you's and messages found at the bottom. . . pls. take time to read them.*
* * *
THE SACRIFICE
Chapter Four - Darkness
"Have at thou, knave!"
"Right back at you, villain!"
Frodo smiled and shook his head as the clashing sounds of swords grew louder. Merry and Pippin were at it again
"Look at those two. Don't they ever get tired of clowning around all the time?"
Frodo gazed over his shoulder from where the frustrated-sounding comment came. "I'm sure they don't mean to appear as clowns, Sam." he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
The hobbit looked up from the cooking pot he had been fussing over and frowned. "They try." he scoffed. "But they should be ashamed of themselves. Acting like such royal fools, in front of an Elven princess no less!"
"Armir seems to be enjoying their little show." Frodo remarked calmly.
"Only because she is too kind and polite to tell them off." Sam argued.
Frodo laughed at his friend's antagonism. "Come on, Sam. Don't be so stiff." he admonished lightly. "She cannot be as stuck-up as you make her seem."
Sam's expression of annoyance morphed into one of alarm. "Is that what I make it seem like?' he exclaimed. "That she is stuck-up? But she isn't! She. . ."
His panic caused Frodo to chuckle even more. He held up his hand to cease his friend's ranting.
"Slow down, Sam." he told him. "Take it easy. It's all right."
Sam's face reddened with embarrassment. He opened his mouth as if he meant to say something else, but then decided against it and focused his attention back to the stew he was making.
Frodo gave his friend a fond smile. Poor Sam. It was very obvious that he had grown quite a crush on the elf-maiden, and it made him very self-conscious.
But who wouldn't be enchanted by Armir? Frodo let his gaze drift back to where the princess sat watching Merry and Pippin, and once again fell into deep thoughts about her.
There really was something extraordinary about Armir. It was hard to explain the effect her mere presence had on him, but whenever Frodo was near her, he felt as though his troubles and anxieties just seemed to slip away. Whenever she gazed or smiled at him, he stopped thinking about the pressure and temptations the Ring inflicted on him. Her very voice seemed to be magical; her laughter helped him to forget that so much depended on this quest, and that most of the responsibility lay on him as the Ring Bearer.
It certainly wasn't love-- Frodo knew himself well enough to know that he had no such feelings for Armir whatsoever. But it was definitely special, a certain bond between only the two of them. No one but she affected him in that way, and as far as the hobbit observed he likewise seemed to be the sole companion who was affected by her in that way.
"Do you think Lady Armir would wish to eat now?"
His thoughts interrupted by the voice, Frodo looked up with a start. He stared up at Sam blankly. "What was that? I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch your question.."
Sam shifted his weight uneasily. "I said, do you think Armir would care to eat her lunch now? It's just about noon, and I've got her lembas ready."
Frodo grinned and nodded. "Yes, I suppose so." he replied with a shrug. "Maybe you should go ahead and give it to her, eh?"
* * *
Armir suppressed a giggle as she watched Pippin tumble to the dry soil, the sword knocked out of his hand by his sparring partner, Merry. A gasp soon followed as Merry tossed aside his own weapon and leapt upon the hobbit sprawled on his backside. Soon, a full out wrestling match between them ensued.
"Oi, you two! That is no way to act in front of a Lady!" Sam admonished, shaking his head disapprovingly at his friends as they continued their competitive but friendly tussling on the ground before Armir.
"We are merely trying to demonstrate to the Princess the rudiments of good swordsmanship and self-defense." Pippin protested, pausing in mid-head lock.
"Yes." Merry grunted, choking out his words against the tight hold Pippin had on his neck. "After all, you'll never know when they shall come in handy."
"Showing off and making fools of yourselves is more like what are doing." Sam muttered. He then turned to Armir and handed her a small leaf- wrapped package, bowing his head slightly as he did so.
"Your lembas, my lady." he said, cheeks faintly coloring with bashfulness.
Armir accepted graciously with a smile. "Thank you, Sam. You are very kind." She tilted her graceful head to one side and gestured to the empty space beside her. "Would you care to join me? We can talk and maybe get to know each other better."
The hobbit's face reddened to a bright crimson at the suggestion. "I. . .I. . ." he stammered. "I would love to, b-but I. . .I am afraid there are still some things I need to do. . . food to cook."
"Oh, all right." Armir nodded. "Another time, perhaps."
Sam bowed yet again and turned to walk away, stumbling a little due to the sudden weakening in his limbs.
Armir sighed and averted her gaze back to Pippin and Merry, who had picked themselves up from the dust and had taken up their swords once again.
"For peace-loving hobbits, you seem to be quite impressive fighters, Master Pippin and Merry." Armir told them with a laugh. "It is no wonder my grandfather agreed to let you join the Fellowship. I for one will not be of much help when the time for battle comes."
"We shall be very happy to teach you a few things if you'd like." Merry offered eagerly. "Being an elf I am sure you will be able to learn the sword in no time."
Armir's eyes widened somewhat, but sparkled with amusement at the thought. "I am afraid I have not inherited the warriors' prowess of my kindred." she confessed. "You shall find me quite useless with weapons of any kind."
"Then we shall just have to look after you every minute of the day." Pippin said cheerfully. "You can count on us, my lady. We will protect you to the very end."
"Thank you." Armir said with a laugh. "I am sure you will."
"But I thought that was my job. . . " A new voice, deep and teasing, entered the conversation.
Startled by the sudden arrival of the newcomer, Armir turned her head immediately. She then smiled at Legolas as he seated himself right next to her.
"Well, two extra pairs of eyes would not hurt, would they?" she told the elf, forcing herself not to distance herself from him as she became conscious of his nearness. Instead she kept her gaze safely away from his, mentally urging herself to ignore the pleasurable warmth radiating from his body.
He was sitting much too close for comfort. Not that she didn't enjoy his presence, because the Valar knew she did. What she did not like was the rash onslaught of strange feelings it aroused in her. The Mirkwood prince easily affected her in ways no other elf has ever managed before, and it rather scared her.
"Lembas?" she offered quickly, changing topic before he could notice the flush threatening to invade her cheeks. She held out to him the bread she had just unwrapped.
Legolas shook his head. "No thank you. I feel no hunger right about now." he declined politely.
Armir frowned. "I must insist." she said firmly, breaking the thin cake into several pieces. "You have not had a bite to eat since yesterday."
Legolas chuckled at the seriousness of her face. "Are you treating me like your child now, Armir?" he kidded.
"It seems I must, since you are being stubborn." the maiden replied with a laugh of her own.
The elf-prince sighed and shrugged his broad shoulders. "All right. If you insist."
He reached for the hand that held the lembas. But instead of simply picking up a piece as she had intended for him to do, he slid one hand underneath hers, and held it gently while the fingers from his other hand drifted over the bread, painstakingly taking their time to select a piece.
Armir's hand stiffened considerably at his lingering touch, as she fought back the strong compulsion to draw away. Instantly feeling her blatantly negative response, Legolas' eyes darted up to catch hers. For a moment she saw a flicker of hurt pass through them, and it took her breath away-- for the first time out of sheer guilt.
Immediately he looked away, picked up a lembas piece, and moved his hands from hers. He got to his feet, carefully avoiding contact with her as he rose.
"Thank you." he mumbled, turning away. Armir felt a sharp stab in her chest at the sound of his voice, which had suddenly turned distant.
"I must patrol the area now to keep a look-out." he went on, but did not face her as he spoke. "You should be all right. The hobbits may keep an eye on you in the meantime." He turned to Merry and Pippin questioningly.
"Of course we will." Merry responded, oblivious to the tension between the two elves.
"We are honored to be of service to the lady." Pippin added.
Legolas nodded. "Thank you."
And without a further word nor glance, he walked away, leaving the elf- maiden staring after him in growing dismay. She wanted to call after him and apologize, but what exactly did she have to apologize for? Had she really offended him through her recoiling from his touch or was she merely being presumptuous?
"What is it that troubles you so, Legolas?" she whispered inaudibly, as her eyes followed his retreating form. "What goes on behind the guise of your eyes?"
* * *
"Something bothers you, Boromir?"
Boromir looked up toward the voice that had cut into his attention and pensive stare. He shook his head as Aragorn sat down next to him.
"I was merely contemplating a few things." the man answered with a dismissive shrug.
The Ranger's eyes sparked with both concern and interest. "What things?"
Boromir said nothing, but riveted his gaze back to its earlier object. His brown eyes rested thoughtfully on the elegant figure of Armir, as she now sat speaking to Frodo Baggins. Frown lines creased his somber face as he observed her.
Aragorn noticed this and caught on quickly. "Is it about Armir?" he pressed.
There was a prolonged silence between the two men before Boromir finally spoke again.
"I still do not understand what she is doing here, Aragorn." he said, a trace of annoyance and impatience in his voice. "This quest is no place for a maiden. What exactly can she contribute that is of any importance?"
"We do not know." Aragorn admitted. "It is a mystery we should not question but should just place our faith upon."
"It makes no sense!" Boromir scoffed. "She places more danger upon herself than the slightest good to any of us."
"She is in no real danger." Aragorn objected. "She has Legolas and myself to protect her."
"That makes her a liability then." Boromir challenged. "A waste of attention and energy, if one of us must keep an eye on her at all times since she cannot fend for herself. That is precisely the last thing we need on this mission."
Aragorn felt a rush of surprise as he listened to his friend's tirade. He never realized the man had felt this way about their bringing Armir along. He was always under the impression that he liked the maiden.
Aragorn sighed. "I have no answers to your inquiries, Boromir. But I trust Lord Elrond, and I trust Armir. If the significance of her presence is beyond my understanding, then I shall be content in accepting it blindly." he told his friend firmly.
"That is the difference between you and I." Boromir muttered under his breath, so silently that it evaded the Ranger's ears.
As Aragorn dropped the conversation and turned away to light his pipe, Boromir was left alone to mull over his thoughts once more.
He watched as Armir engaged the Ring Bearer in conversation, her bright eyes dancing with their usual gaiety and childlike innocence. He had no idea why he felt so disapprovingly towards this sweet creature, but it was clear that he did. Something about the Elven princess simply unnerved him, arousing unwarranted suspicion and irritation. He avoided any contact with her as much as possible, for each time she would speak to him or lay her eyes upon him, he would feel an unpleasant sensation rise in his chest. He could not tell what this strange emotion was exactly, but somehow it felt as though he were exposed, a book of his thoughts and sentiments left open for her to read. That was the one thing he detested most of all- having his soul perused by virtuous eyes.
Boromir's frown deepened. Armir was harmless. She could no more hurt any of them than she could herself. Why was it that he felt the strong need to protect himself from her? Why did he have a nagging hunch in the pit of stomach that she would somehow, sooner or later, take part in his downfall?
"Oi there! Boromir!"
The call pulled the man out of his reverie yet again. He gazed down at the eager faces of Merry and Pippin, each clutching their swords in their hands.
"We wish to claim your offer to give us sword fighting lessons!" Pippin announced excitedly.
Boromir had to smile in spite of himself. Over their few weeks of traveling, these two hobbits had quickly grown on him, and he was now rather fond of them. Somehow their simple, high-spirited ways fitted easily with his somber, no-nonsense temperament, allowing them to develop the most unlikely of friendships.
Boromir got to his feet, a wry smile on his face. "Yes, I did see the way you two were trying to impress the Lady earlier." he teased. "Are you certain you still need further instruction?"
"More pointers cannot hurt." Merry insisted. "Come now, you did promise to teach us!"
Boromir chuckled. "All right." he relented, reaching for where his sword lay with his other things. "Though I cannot say I approve of my encouraging your vanity."
* * *
"Lady Armir? May I ask you something?"
The Elven maiden smiled down at the hobbit by her side and nodded graciously. "Anything at all, Frodo." she replied easily.
Frodo faltered, unsure of how to word his inquiry without sounding cheeky. "Why did you join this quest?" he asked hesitantly. "I mean, why did Lord Elrond have to send you with us?"
Armir's eyes sparkled with thought as she stared down at him for a moment. She then turned her gaze away, looking into the distance. "Yes." she murmured wistfully. "That does seem to be the universal question now, does it not?"
"Please, I do not wish to sound rude." Frodo said quickly, fearing he may have offended her. "It's just that. . . it is a mystery that has been plaguing my mind for days now, ever since we left Rivendell. It was never explained to me, and I just thought. . ."
"It is all right, Frodo." Armir assured him, allowing her gentle hand to graze his briefly. "I understand your curiosity. You do deserve to be given some answers."
She paused and looked down at the hands clasped at her lap before speaking again. "I shall be honest with you, Frodo." she finally said. "I myself do not fully understand the purpose of my being here."
She sighed and lifted her head. "My grandfather merely told me that I must join the Fellowship, for there is an important task that only I could fulfill on this quest." she explained. "I am unaware of what this task is, and if grandfather knew what it was he did not tell me."
"Have you no clue at the very least?" Frodo asked. "Surely you recognize what it is that you can contribute and cannot, based on your capabilities and powers."
"Powers?" Armir laughed lightly. "I have no such powers. I am not like my grandfather who has the gift of foresight and incredible knowledge. Nor am I like Aragorn, both wise in counsel and strong in battle. I am a just a girl, Frodo. As far as I know, that is all."
"I do not know about that." Frodo said, his voice growing soft with shyness. "You are a special elf, Armir. You are sweet, and kind, and. . . well, there is something about that makes you different from the others I have met before. Something magical."
He turned his gaze away, embarrassed by the look of interest the princess was giving him. In spite of his bashfulness however, he forced himself to continue.
"In fact, what puzzles me most is how Lord Elrond can allow you to leave home so easily. I am sure he loves you very much and wishes for no harm or obstacles to come upon you." he said slowly. "Your task must be something dreadfully important for him to get you go."
Armir nodded thoughtfully. "I myself have wondered about that many times the past few days." she admitted. "When Grandfather first suggested that I join the Fellowship, he gave me a choice. He told me that I did not have to leave if it was against my wishes. But I did. I chose to make this journey, so it is by my own free will that I am here now."
Her stare grew distant as her eyes wandered over the horizon. "I saw the pain in his eyes when he told me that he personally thought it would be best if I left. It was against his own desire to let go of me, but if there is one thing I know about Minyaatar, it is that he always chooses what is for the good of all. So. . . I went along with his opinion."
The maiden sighed, looking tired and forlorn all of a sudden. "I cannot deny that for the first few days I fully regretted my leaving home. I was frightened and resentful. I could not stop thinking, 'why me?'. What am I doing here? Does my presence even make a difference?"
She paused and a small smile brightened her lips. "But then I remember something my grandfather always used to tell me, even when I was little. He said every life, every creature this world, makes a difference. Some more, some less than others. It all depends on the courage one has to step out and fulfill his destiny."
Turning to the hobbit, she reached over and touched his face gently and briefly. "I guess that is the best answer to your question, Frodo. I am with you now simply because. . . this is where I am meant to be." she told him. "As for what else lies ahead, only time can tell. The important thing is, I am where I belong, ready to face whatever Fate has in store for me."
Frodo smiled up at her. "Well. . . for what it is worth Princess," he said, miraculously losing all bashfulness. "I'm thankful you came along."
Touched by his words and the sincerity she felt in them, Armir returned his smile and bend over to embrace him.
"Thank you Frodo." she whispered. "I am happy to be here."
* * *
Legolas' gaze hardened unconsciously as he observed the embrace between Armir and Frodo from afar. Immediately he turned away, quickly rebuking himself for the ill feelings that were surfacing in his heart.
He shook himself mentally, frustrated by how petty he was acting. This was getting ridiculous! Now he was jealous of Frodo?!
The elf clenched his jaw as he forced himself to continue with his scouting. Focus on your job, he reminded himself. This is no time to get distracted.
No matter how much he tried however, he was failing at ridding himself of the growing insecurities clouding his mind. He simply couldn't understand it. How come Armir was so comfortable and affectionate towards the other members of the Fellowship except for him? How could she embrace Aragorn, the hobbits, and even Gimli, and then flinch at the sheer touch of his hand?
"Stop it!" he screamed at himself. He was being completely unreasonable. It wasn't Armir's fault if she wasn't in love with him as he was with her. He was simply going to have to accept that she didn't see him that way. He had no right to treat her as coldly as he did earlier during the lembas incident.
Making a vow to apologize to her later for his behavior, Legolas proceeded with his walk around the perimeter of their resting area. He scrambled atop a boulder to get a better view of the distant surroundings, passing by Gimli and Gandalf as he did so.
His ears picked up snatches of their conversation as his keen eyes scanned the hazy blue skies.
"Gandalf, we could go through the Mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome!" Gimli was saying, the eagerness apparent in his gruff voice.
Upon hearing this, every part of Legolas' body instantly tensed up in protest of the thought. Moria?! Never would he want to venture into those parts. Aside from being a dwarf realm, it was also one of the most inauspicious places he knew of. It would be much too risky to pass that way.
Thankfully enough, Gandalf seemed to share the elf's opinion.
"No, Gimli." Legolas heard the wizard tell the dwarf firmly. "I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice."
Legolas sighed inaudibly as his short-lived anxiety slipped away. He then turned his attention back to the skies. He narrowed his eyes as they passed through every inch of the heavens, carefully searching for any sign of trouble or oddity.
Suddenly, his stare landed upon a peculiar looking cloud. The elf frowned. This cloud was dark, unlike the others that surrounded it. It was no more than a small tuft, but the way it moved was strange. It was shifting too quickly, and in a direction that was opposite that of the breeze.
A few moments later, it seemed that the rest of his companions had caught sight of the unusual cloud themselves.
"What's that?" a timid voice, belonging to one of the hobbits perhaps, said from behind him.
"It's nothing." There was no mistaking Gimli's passive, gravely tone. "Just a wisp of cloud."
Legolas' frown deepened as he continued to study the vision. It was growing somewhat clearer now, as it drew nearer and nearer towards where the Fellowship was situated. After a moment his sight managed to confirm it was not a cloud at all. But what therefore?
"It's moving fast." He overheard Boromir comment. "Against the wind."
Suddenly, the traveling shadow reached close enough for Legolas' hearing to pick up sounds of flapping and cawing. The elf's eyes widened as he then realized what the approaching dark patch really was.
"Crebain from Dunland!" he yelled. "Hide!"
Reacting at once to the urgency of his call, his companions rushed to gather their things and head for cover under the great holly bushes nearby. Legolas, on the other hand, instinctively had only one thought in mind.
Leaping off the rock, he hurried towards where Armir stood, helping Sam to put out the fire. He grabbed her arm, and she immediately whirled around. The fear and confusion that were in her eyes seemed to vanish as she beheld his face.
"Come." Legolas told her urgently, before pulling her with him to the nearest bush.
He gently urged her to the ground and together they crawled underneath the shelter of the thick holly branches. Wrapping one protective arm around her waist, he pulled her close to him as they lay on their backs side by side. He used his other arm to hold away the boughs to prevent the spiny leaves from scratching her.
Noticing the frightened look on her face as she stared up at him, Legolas smiled at her reassuringly. "Shh. . ." he whispered. "It's all right. Just lie still, and make no sound."
Armir nodded, then squeezed her eyes shut as she lay her head against his shoulder.
Suddenly, a flood of black shapes passed over them, and they were engulfed in the noise of a hundred shrieking birds. Legolas felt Armir's hand tremble slightly where it rested upon his chest. Not that he could blame her. Though these beasts were relatively harmless compared to Saruman's other minions, one could still feeling the malice radiating from their presence.
At last, a few minutes later, when the last crow had passed them and flew clear out of range, it was safe to come of hiding.
"What were those creatures?" Armir asked Legolas shakily, as she took the hand he offered to help her back on her feet.
The elf opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off by Gandalf.
"Spies for Saruman!" the Istari muttered crossly, half to himself, and half as an answer to Armir's question.
He shook his head gravely. "The passage south is being watched. We will have to go over the pass of Caradhras."
* * *
Armir braced herself as yet another chilling gust of wind blew, threatening to knock her off her feet with its power. She felt herself stagger back slightly, but Legolas quickly tightened his grip around her, preventing her fall.
"You must hold on to me, Armir." the elf scolded her gently, keeping his watchful eyes focused on the snowy path before them. "I will not let these winds harm you, but you must help."
Armir nodded and obediently slid one arm securely around his waist, while the other hand clutched the front of his tunic. She squinted her eyes and struggled to see through the thick snowflakes whipping about her face, striking her cheeks and numbing her skin.
The maiden shivered slightly, and half buried her face against the warmth of Legolas' chest. She knew that elves were extraordinarily resilient to the extremes of nature, and she was of no exception to this gift. However, such foul, ominous weather was very new to her, for never in her life has she been subjected to anything other than the fine conditions of Rivendell. More than the frigid cold, what struck her greatly were fear, and uncertainty of what this perilous storm held for them.
Together, the two elves led the Fellowship up the narrow path winding around Caradhras, their footsteps barely marking the heavy snow covering the ground. Behind them they could hear their companions struggling as they waded through waist-deep slush.
Suddenly, through the howling noise of the roaring wind, Armir's ears picked up a strange sound. There was a voice chanting in the distance, seeming faraway yet at the same time alarmingly close. Its tone was deep and sinister, and aroused tremors of fear in her heart.
Her guardian was apparently aware of it as well. Quickening his step a little, he carefully directed Armir towards the edge of the cliff. There they stood for a few moments, as Legolas listened intently, his brow furrowing in concentration.
"There is a fell voice in the air!" he called out to their companions, alerting them of the impending danger.
There was a tense, attentive silence amongst them for a few more seconds, before Gandalf burst out with recognition.
"Saruman!"
Before Armir was even aware of what was happening, Legolas abruptly pulled her back from the cliff, wrapping both arms around her and holding her tightly against him. Seconds later a deafening rumble sounded. A torrential shower of thick snow and huge rocks fell from above, smashing onto the spot where the elves had stood before falling off the mountain into the depths below.
"It's all right." Legolas murmured to a wide eyed Armir, caressing her hair as she quivered with shock at their close call. "You are safe."
"He's trying to bring down the mountain!" Armir heard Aragorn shout pressingly. "We must turn back!"
"No!" the wizard said stubbornly.
Gandalf walked to the edge of the cliff and held up his staff. The elves could hear him muttering a spell under his breath, his voice magically amplified as it drifted through the air and echoed in the roaring wind.
For a brief period after that, the storm seemed to subside as the winds calmed and the snow lessened. However, the earlier voice ripped through the air once more, this time more powerful and menacing.
"No!" Legolas gasped in panic.
Without warning, the elf left Armir's side and darted towards Gandalf. She saw him yank the wizard away from the edge just as a bolt of lighting flashed in the skies above. She watched in horror as the lightning stuck the side of the mountain directly overhead. Moments after, a thunderous roar, much louder and more violent than first, screamed in her ears.
"Armir!" she heard Legolas yell, before a downpour of crushing snow fell upon her and swallowed her from sight.
Suffocated by the sudden darkness and the force of the snow packed tightly around her frail body, Armir struggled to free herself. She was trapped for barely a half minute when a pair of strong hands suddenly broke through the snowy mass, releasing her and giving her much needed air.
Gasping for breath, the maiden collapsed weakly into the waiting arms of her guardian, who immediately drew her to the safety his embrace, brushing away the snow from her face and hair as he whispered comfortingly.
Meanwhile their companions, who had also managed to free themselves from the avalanche, were in a state of distress.
"We must get off the mountain!" Aragorn shouted yet again, the dread evident in his voice now.
"We must take the Pass of Rohan, or take the road west to my city!" Boromir suggested, raising his voice in order to be heard above the continuing storm.
"Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn remonstrated at once.
Gimli took this opportunity to speak up. "If we cannot go over the mountain, I say let us go under it!" he announced. "Let us go through the mines of Moria!"
At that suggestion, everyone turned to face Gandalf and anxiously waited for his opinion, which they all recognized to be the final word on anything.
The wizard was silent for a while, appearing to be in serious thought over this. At last, he raised his gaze towards Frodo.
"Let the Ring Bearer decide."
Frodo took little hesitation, and declared his choice after brief reflection.
"We will go through the mines."
* * *
COMING UP . . . Chapter 5 - Tears
Thanks for reading! Pls. take time to review. See you in the next update! ;p
PERSONAL MESSAGES:
ArwenUndomiel: Thank you so much for your sympathy; I needed that. I'm getting better at learning to ignore flames or at least take them lightly. Anyway, I've finally placed the AU label on my summary; hopefully that will get some of those critics off my back. Oh yeah, and you're right. . . Armir will be playing a big role in the Fellowship. It's just that she herself doesn't even know what it is yet. That's the mystery part! lol
Red Witch: Yeah, Legolas should probably teach Armir to defend herself, but turning her into a fighter might just make her too perfect already. Besides, I don't wanna rob Leggy of his "knight in shining armor" rescues! Hehehe. . . thanks for dropping by. Keep reviewing, pretty please?!
Princess of Mirkwood: Hehehe. . . yeah, watch out for the next chapter. He WILL tell her. lol I'm really glad you like this so much. Thanks for your support; I really appreciate it.
Niori: No problem! Hope you'll continue reading this! ;p
Beautiful Elf: Thanks so much for your offer! Yes, I am planning to write a pre-WR story after this. If ever I do need help, I'll take you up on that.
Tainted Elf: Thanks for reading! Hope you'll keep on doing so. . . ;p
Lthien Sralond: Thank you! I hope you got your answers to why Elrond had to send Armir on the quest here. If it's still unclear, it'll be better explained when the party gets to Lothlorien. Er, and yeah. One of her roles is actually to be the "damsel in distress". Hehehe. . .
Tap Dancing Hobbit: Yeah, Aragorn's hot too. lol Sorry for the grammatical errors. They're more of overlooked typos, really. Don't worry, Armir's not dense enough to ignore Legolas' affections for too long. . .
Indil Elondili: Thanks. . . glad to know movie knowledge is enough! lol
Jynessea Greenleaf: Thank you! Hehehe. . . I'm very good at sensing if people are romantics. I'm so glad you like it. I hope you'll be back for the next chapter, coz it's definitely gonna be a sweet one.
Inatarille: Thank you! ( Legolas won't be portrayed as a stupid jerk here, don't worry. But there will be some problems in their relationship later on. You'll just have to keep reading and see!
Erenriel the Elven Canuck: Here's your update! Hehehe. . . and thanks, it's reviewers like you who help make the chapters come along faster. So you like Elladan huh? ;p
Iluvernis: I'm not sure why I get flames either. . . hehehe. . . thank you so much!
Merenwen Luinwel: I enjoy your "threats"! lol Oh, and thanks for the understanding!
Earwen of Alqualonde: Thank you!!! Even a few words mean a lot!
Crystal Fire, Lady of Mirkwood & Joanne Greenleaf: Thank you so much! (
Gwevyan Baggins & Icy 878: Yeah, I love reading about Legolas in love too. I'm sure you'll enjoy the next chapter then. . . make sure to come back for it!