A/N: WOW! I never thought I'd have this many reviewers! I LOVE YOU
ALL! I've changed personal notes to the end so you can get to the story
quicker.
I apologize for any type-os, but my cat was walking across the keyboard and rubbing herself in my face for the most part of this chapter.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, except for any previously unheard-of characters that no one has created yet (namely Haelhnin)! But, I guess, in a way, they all belong to.*sniff *.Tolkien and not me. *Starts sobbing *
* * *
Legolas had long since known of their presence. Yet still he wept, unable to control the floods of tears streaming down his face.
Let them have me. 'Tis naught more than I deserve. I let Mithrandir fall, and forced upon all those who knew him such grief. Indeed, does one who causes such not deserve to suffer as well?
And in his mind came an undeniable answer. Knowing the orcs would take him; knowing their terrible sport, he thought he knew what was to come. He thought vaguely of what cruel, twisted, painful delight they would find, and could not prevent the tears. Yet that voice.that voice that could not possibly have been the once brave and noble elf's, yet existed only as his voice.it nagged at him, chiding him that this was right.that it was best for all Middle-earth, for naught good could come of a murderer wandering these lands freely. And he could not argue, for indeed it was himself, and though it pained him, he concurred with every word said.
At last, he found that he could not cry any more. He wiped away the silver stains from his cheeks, raised his head, and stood stalk still. waiting. waiting for what he knew would be the worst thing he ever would encounter, and sacrificing his body willingly. He heard the husky breath, the twigs snapping under armoured feet. And still the elf stood, lingering in his last moments of freedom. He felt the tense excitement in the air; disturbed by the evil.he heard the trees whisper in alarm, and puzzlement at his actions. He knew soon the elves of Lothlorien would know of the invasion.he just prayed he would be gone by then.
Suddenly, a whistle through the tense air alerted the elf, and his instincts overwhelmed his inner torment. His body moved to side step the arrow, yet he fought the movement, and too slowly he stepped. A ripping pain shot through his upper arm, as the thick arrow sank deep; past skin, tearing the muscle. Even as blood soaked his tunic, and he clutched the wound, gritting his teeth to prevent the scream the orcs so delighted in hearing, he stumbled forward in an unnaturally clumsy misery.
A roar went up from behind the foliage-whether it was of thrill or of anger, Legolas could not tell. But it mattered not, as a fierce ambush of Uruk-hai burst into the forest, bombarding Legolas with vicious, cruelly welded weapons. Many blows he countered, and some beasts he felled, but he was wickedly outnumbered. And he knew this, and prayed that he would be taken ere the others came to his aid.
* * *
A new sun rose upon the blessed realm of Lothlorien, and all those who dwelt there awoke with the dawn. Light began to filter in through the canopy of leaves, quivering in the trivial breeze. Hearts of every creature felt restful, and worriless, for with a new morn came hope of new life.
Gimli at first awoke to such tranquility, and sat for a while in silent calm. But as he glanced about at his sleeping companions, he perceived that Legolas was not there. He had thought the elf would return by the morning, but here there was no such evidence. Quickly grew his alarm, for the events of the night before had burdened him with an overhanging gloom of guilt, and he had no other presumption as to the elf's absence. Without notifying anyone, he set off in search of Legolas.
Though they had not been friends, nor friendly in the least, Gimli felt pity for Legolas' grief. He had known that he was a friend of Gandalf's, and he knew of the dangerous sorrow of elves. And now he begged the Valour that Legolas was in no danger.for if he were, he would feel responsible for any harm that came to the elf.
He came to the spot where the argument had taken place the night before. Shortly, he searched for clues as to where the elf may have wandered to, but his efforts were futile. Damned elves, he thought to himself. Leave no trace as to their whereabouts.
For a ways, he continued onwards, stopping now and again at any sudden noise, hoping to death it were Legolas. But in vain it seemed his search, for no sign there was of the elf.
Just as he was about to return, in hope that Legolas had gone to visit his kinsman of this forest, his eye caught a gleaming object in the newly risen sun. Warily, he stepped closer. Once he had a clear view of the object, he gasped, and staggered backwards. He lifted it gingerly, and wide-eyed retreated swiftly to where the Fellowship presently rested.
* * *
"Neither was present when I awoke. Have either passed this way through the night?" Aragorn questioned the young elf eagerly. The nervous air about him told Aragorn that he was new at guarding the forest.
"Nay, my lord. None have passed this way. It has been a quiet night." Aragorn looked doubtful. "But I would not fear, my lord. These borders are well protected. There is little that could come to harm them." The young elf seemed keen to be of help. A grateful smile played on Aragorn's lips.
"Thank you for your help, young one. What is your name?"
"Haelhnin, my lord."
"Aye, well, my thanks, Haelhnin. You are an excellent guard." Haelhnin's face glowed with pride as Aragorn turned to continue his search.
"Oy! Aragorn!" Aragorn whirled at the familiar gruff voice to see Gimli running awkwardly towards him.
"Gimli! Where have you been?" Gimli came to a skidding stop before Aragorn, and had to lean over to catch his breath.
"This morning, I awoke to find Legolas missing. I have been searching for him." He trailed off, huffing, but Aragorn starred urgently on, hinting that there was more to be said. "I wandered far, near to the borders of these woods. I found this." He withdrew the object from his robes.
Terror lit a dazzling flame in Aragorn's stormy eyes, as he took the dagger into his own hands. The beautifully carved blade, the hilt crafted delicately with care, he had seen this weapon wielded in deadly battle times afore this. Both black and crimson stained the steel knife. Black orcish blood.. red elven blood. "This is Legolas'," he murmured, his voice trailing off. "Gimli, where did you find this?" He nearly shouted the words, with more force than was meant. There should be no orcs in Lothlorien. They feared the realm, and the native elves. Either Legolas had emerged from the woods, or by some wicked force, the orcs had been drawn in. What could have done so, Aragorn did not wish to know.
"I.I found it near the border.I am sure I could find the way again." The disquiet in Gimli's eyes was evident, and if it had been a different time, Aragorn would have grinned to see that the dwarf held some compassion along with his hate for the elf.
"Haelhnin, come with me. I may need your help." He turned insistently to the young elf.
"Lead the way, my lord." Aragorn turned back to Gimli, and without another word, they had set off. Though Gimli's pace was significantly slower, he shouted directions ahead at the sprinting couple.
"By the Valar, that man could be an elf!" he muttered in disbelief to himself, wondering at Aragorn's unceasing speed and light stepping. Haelhnin kept perfect pace with the man, and Gimli urged himself onwards.
In swift time, Gimli recognized the place where he had found the dagger. Both he and Haelhnin stood anxiously by, awaiting orders, as Aragorn scrutinized the area.
Aragorn scanned the trampled earth fervently, searching for a sign, of what he knew not, but of something to assure Legolas was all right. Here and there, splashes of black and crimson stained the grass, where branches and leaves were snapped and laid into the ground where heavy feet had stepped.
"There was a battle here. The orcs strayed into the woods."
"The chances of that are extensively small, my lord. Orcs have not set foot in these lands for many long years. They fear this forest." Unease wavered in the young elf's voice. He wanted hard to deny that an elf had been attacked in one of the most protected of lands.
The man shook his head in despair. "I know, Haelhnin. Yet there is not another leeway I can think of that would explain this. Evil has treaded here." He squinted hard at one section of earth, where so lightly was the grass flattened one may not have noticed. It was about a body's length. Pools of crusting crimson lingered about it. Suddenly, Aragorn realized what had taken place only a short while ago. Tears brimmed in Aragorn's eyes, but he held them back. He let his head fall in defeat.
Haelhnin too perceived what Aragorn did. In a quivering voice, he whispered, "And evil has triumphed."
* * *
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAA! What happened to Legolas? Will we EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVER know? MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! *ducks from randomly thrown stereos and cameras *
Okay, THAT was fun. Tell what you think.. trust me, I have soooooo much stuff planned for this story. I AM THE QUEEN OF CLIFFHANGERS! Review, I love you for it!
Nazgula: Oh, but I MUST torture you like this.Mwahahahahaha.
Bobo: I know! I LOVE LEGGY! *hugs Legolas plushie *
Fairylady: Trust me, I won't keep killing him. Just.well.. tormenting him. Mwaha. Cliffhangers are sooooooooooooo fun. Except most of my reviewers throw things at me, but that's okay!
JediKnightBalthasar: You know, history textbooks bug me. I think I'll burn them. *starts bonfire and roasts marshmallows * Haldir! YES! I LOVE HALDIR! Good point! I now swear an oath: HALDIR WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE! YESSSSSSSSS!
Princess-yumin: *hands Kleenex * I know how you feel. I almost cried when I read chapter 8 of your fic Colour of Distress! (That's an AMAZING fic, by the way, and let us hope I got the title right.)
The Exterminator Sango: Hah! Good plan! Can I be your little evil assistant? Actually, I'll probably start swaying you into my stronghold in some way or other, and then we can both be minions of.well.. the voices in my head. Good to know there are other evil people who write cliffhangers to torture reviewers!
And my deepest thanks to all my reviewers! I'm sorry if I didn't mention you, but you are all in my.very black.. very, uh, evil.heart (if you still want to call it that).
~Searcher of Souls~
I apologize for any type-os, but my cat was walking across the keyboard and rubbing herself in my face for the most part of this chapter.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, except for any previously unheard-of characters that no one has created yet (namely Haelhnin)! But, I guess, in a way, they all belong to.*sniff *.Tolkien and not me. *Starts sobbing *
* * *
Legolas had long since known of their presence. Yet still he wept, unable to control the floods of tears streaming down his face.
Let them have me. 'Tis naught more than I deserve. I let Mithrandir fall, and forced upon all those who knew him such grief. Indeed, does one who causes such not deserve to suffer as well?
And in his mind came an undeniable answer. Knowing the orcs would take him; knowing their terrible sport, he thought he knew what was to come. He thought vaguely of what cruel, twisted, painful delight they would find, and could not prevent the tears. Yet that voice.that voice that could not possibly have been the once brave and noble elf's, yet existed only as his voice.it nagged at him, chiding him that this was right.that it was best for all Middle-earth, for naught good could come of a murderer wandering these lands freely. And he could not argue, for indeed it was himself, and though it pained him, he concurred with every word said.
At last, he found that he could not cry any more. He wiped away the silver stains from his cheeks, raised his head, and stood stalk still. waiting. waiting for what he knew would be the worst thing he ever would encounter, and sacrificing his body willingly. He heard the husky breath, the twigs snapping under armoured feet. And still the elf stood, lingering in his last moments of freedom. He felt the tense excitement in the air; disturbed by the evil.he heard the trees whisper in alarm, and puzzlement at his actions. He knew soon the elves of Lothlorien would know of the invasion.he just prayed he would be gone by then.
Suddenly, a whistle through the tense air alerted the elf, and his instincts overwhelmed his inner torment. His body moved to side step the arrow, yet he fought the movement, and too slowly he stepped. A ripping pain shot through his upper arm, as the thick arrow sank deep; past skin, tearing the muscle. Even as blood soaked his tunic, and he clutched the wound, gritting his teeth to prevent the scream the orcs so delighted in hearing, he stumbled forward in an unnaturally clumsy misery.
A roar went up from behind the foliage-whether it was of thrill or of anger, Legolas could not tell. But it mattered not, as a fierce ambush of Uruk-hai burst into the forest, bombarding Legolas with vicious, cruelly welded weapons. Many blows he countered, and some beasts he felled, but he was wickedly outnumbered. And he knew this, and prayed that he would be taken ere the others came to his aid.
* * *
A new sun rose upon the blessed realm of Lothlorien, and all those who dwelt there awoke with the dawn. Light began to filter in through the canopy of leaves, quivering in the trivial breeze. Hearts of every creature felt restful, and worriless, for with a new morn came hope of new life.
Gimli at first awoke to such tranquility, and sat for a while in silent calm. But as he glanced about at his sleeping companions, he perceived that Legolas was not there. He had thought the elf would return by the morning, but here there was no such evidence. Quickly grew his alarm, for the events of the night before had burdened him with an overhanging gloom of guilt, and he had no other presumption as to the elf's absence. Without notifying anyone, he set off in search of Legolas.
Though they had not been friends, nor friendly in the least, Gimli felt pity for Legolas' grief. He had known that he was a friend of Gandalf's, and he knew of the dangerous sorrow of elves. And now he begged the Valour that Legolas was in no danger.for if he were, he would feel responsible for any harm that came to the elf.
He came to the spot where the argument had taken place the night before. Shortly, he searched for clues as to where the elf may have wandered to, but his efforts were futile. Damned elves, he thought to himself. Leave no trace as to their whereabouts.
For a ways, he continued onwards, stopping now and again at any sudden noise, hoping to death it were Legolas. But in vain it seemed his search, for no sign there was of the elf.
Just as he was about to return, in hope that Legolas had gone to visit his kinsman of this forest, his eye caught a gleaming object in the newly risen sun. Warily, he stepped closer. Once he had a clear view of the object, he gasped, and staggered backwards. He lifted it gingerly, and wide-eyed retreated swiftly to where the Fellowship presently rested.
* * *
"Neither was present when I awoke. Have either passed this way through the night?" Aragorn questioned the young elf eagerly. The nervous air about him told Aragorn that he was new at guarding the forest.
"Nay, my lord. None have passed this way. It has been a quiet night." Aragorn looked doubtful. "But I would not fear, my lord. These borders are well protected. There is little that could come to harm them." The young elf seemed keen to be of help. A grateful smile played on Aragorn's lips.
"Thank you for your help, young one. What is your name?"
"Haelhnin, my lord."
"Aye, well, my thanks, Haelhnin. You are an excellent guard." Haelhnin's face glowed with pride as Aragorn turned to continue his search.
"Oy! Aragorn!" Aragorn whirled at the familiar gruff voice to see Gimli running awkwardly towards him.
"Gimli! Where have you been?" Gimli came to a skidding stop before Aragorn, and had to lean over to catch his breath.
"This morning, I awoke to find Legolas missing. I have been searching for him." He trailed off, huffing, but Aragorn starred urgently on, hinting that there was more to be said. "I wandered far, near to the borders of these woods. I found this." He withdrew the object from his robes.
Terror lit a dazzling flame in Aragorn's stormy eyes, as he took the dagger into his own hands. The beautifully carved blade, the hilt crafted delicately with care, he had seen this weapon wielded in deadly battle times afore this. Both black and crimson stained the steel knife. Black orcish blood.. red elven blood. "This is Legolas'," he murmured, his voice trailing off. "Gimli, where did you find this?" He nearly shouted the words, with more force than was meant. There should be no orcs in Lothlorien. They feared the realm, and the native elves. Either Legolas had emerged from the woods, or by some wicked force, the orcs had been drawn in. What could have done so, Aragorn did not wish to know.
"I.I found it near the border.I am sure I could find the way again." The disquiet in Gimli's eyes was evident, and if it had been a different time, Aragorn would have grinned to see that the dwarf held some compassion along with his hate for the elf.
"Haelhnin, come with me. I may need your help." He turned insistently to the young elf.
"Lead the way, my lord." Aragorn turned back to Gimli, and without another word, they had set off. Though Gimli's pace was significantly slower, he shouted directions ahead at the sprinting couple.
"By the Valar, that man could be an elf!" he muttered in disbelief to himself, wondering at Aragorn's unceasing speed and light stepping. Haelhnin kept perfect pace with the man, and Gimli urged himself onwards.
In swift time, Gimli recognized the place where he had found the dagger. Both he and Haelhnin stood anxiously by, awaiting orders, as Aragorn scrutinized the area.
Aragorn scanned the trampled earth fervently, searching for a sign, of what he knew not, but of something to assure Legolas was all right. Here and there, splashes of black and crimson stained the grass, where branches and leaves were snapped and laid into the ground where heavy feet had stepped.
"There was a battle here. The orcs strayed into the woods."
"The chances of that are extensively small, my lord. Orcs have not set foot in these lands for many long years. They fear this forest." Unease wavered in the young elf's voice. He wanted hard to deny that an elf had been attacked in one of the most protected of lands.
The man shook his head in despair. "I know, Haelhnin. Yet there is not another leeway I can think of that would explain this. Evil has treaded here." He squinted hard at one section of earth, where so lightly was the grass flattened one may not have noticed. It was about a body's length. Pools of crusting crimson lingered about it. Suddenly, Aragorn realized what had taken place only a short while ago. Tears brimmed in Aragorn's eyes, but he held them back. He let his head fall in defeat.
Haelhnin too perceived what Aragorn did. In a quivering voice, he whispered, "And evil has triumphed."
* * *
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAA! What happened to Legolas? Will we EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVER know? MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! *ducks from randomly thrown stereos and cameras *
Okay, THAT was fun. Tell what you think.. trust me, I have soooooo much stuff planned for this story. I AM THE QUEEN OF CLIFFHANGERS! Review, I love you for it!
Nazgula: Oh, but I MUST torture you like this.Mwahahahahaha.
Bobo: I know! I LOVE LEGGY! *hugs Legolas plushie *
Fairylady: Trust me, I won't keep killing him. Just.well.. tormenting him. Mwaha. Cliffhangers are sooooooooooooo fun. Except most of my reviewers throw things at me, but that's okay!
JediKnightBalthasar: You know, history textbooks bug me. I think I'll burn them. *starts bonfire and roasts marshmallows * Haldir! YES! I LOVE HALDIR! Good point! I now swear an oath: HALDIR WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE! YESSSSSSSSS!
Princess-yumin: *hands Kleenex * I know how you feel. I almost cried when I read chapter 8 of your fic Colour of Distress! (That's an AMAZING fic, by the way, and let us hope I got the title right.)
The Exterminator Sango: Hah! Good plan! Can I be your little evil assistant? Actually, I'll probably start swaying you into my stronghold in some way or other, and then we can both be minions of.well.. the voices in my head. Good to know there are other evil people who write cliffhangers to torture reviewers!
And my deepest thanks to all my reviewers! I'm sorry if I didn't mention you, but you are all in my.very black.. very, uh, evil.heart (if you still want to call it that).
~Searcher of Souls~