Disclaimer: I own Tirdin, and the song. NOTHING ELSE!
A/N: Wow, I guess I kept you waiting a while again, eh? Sorry! I was in another slump. I really had NO IDEA how to write this chapter, and how to work in what I wanted to work in. I pondered it for FOREVER, until I had one single idea, and so on that one idea I wrote the entire chapter as event and event sprouted from it. And I was busy with my original book I'm writing (don't go looking on fictionpress, I'm not posting in hopes of getting it published some day). I stopped mid sentence at one point, unable to think of a name for a forest. It took me 2 days to complete that sentence. So yeah. I'll shut up and let you read now.
* * *
Though the weather was not particularly pleasant, Legolas found this day to be one of the best he'd had in a while. For at last the healers had determined that he was well enough to walk. And even with a heavy limp, it relieved him to no end to be able to wander the forest again. He had chosen a fallen branch from the forest floor to support his weight, and though it bothered him greatly to have to use it, he'd rather wander the forest with his makeshift staff than suffer another long day of boredom in his bed.
He wandered the wood, listening to the trees whisper. The sun had reached it's highest point in the sky, and was slowly, slowly descending, as Legolas came upon a ledge overlooking the rest of the world. Smiling, he sat down, and forsook his mind to the ramblings of the trees. As he listened, he sang to them. And though it was not a happy tune, the trees delighted to hear the prince's voice.
Vanwa rinesse
Egla coi raen
Firn mari
A firn cel hae
Ril glor loth
Firn ringesse
Ar i tier
I egla laini
I vilya na ril
Rhunesse hi sinomo
Annun mor nayes
Gwath badesse
Naugrim a Edhil
Dagnir ve mellon
I thalion a engwa
Lammoth hain lammen
Tiethfirn mi
Vanwa mel, er
Maresse hi dor
Rino hain bar
And as his voice faded with the last note, he opened himself to sleep, and let himself fade into dreams.
* * *
Tirdin and Haldir had been wandering the woods as well, discussing Legolas' choice and Tirdin's new role as Lord of Mirkwood. The smaller ebony haired elf was incredibly nervous about returning home.
"What will I tell them has happened, Haldir? How do I tell them so that they feel no blame towards Legolas, as I am certain some of them will?"
Haldir admired the brother's protection of Legolas, and suddenly wished he knew his own brothers better. "You will tell them truth, Tirdin, as a good ruler should. Merely tell them what has taken place here, and no blame should fall upon Legolas, lest in senseless anger or sorrow for the loss; but even that shall pass."
Tirdin sighed. "Perhaps. But I have not been raised to be a king."
Haldir rested his hand on Tirdin's shoulder. "Do not be so nervous, little one. You will know what to do when the time comes. I think you are fretting more than the situation deserves."
They walked a little longer in thoughtful silence. Perhaps Tirdin was overly anxious, but he couldn't help it. Thranduil had been greatly loved by the elves of Mirkwood, and few had ever gotten to know Tirdin. The younger brother had always preferred the company of silence, and had oft been teased as a child. Legolas and him had been so different, and rarely sought the other out. He had always been different. He thought things differently . . .perhaps in a more simplistic way; his thoughts were for worldly things, and somehow he could think of a way to solve those problems, and he was always certain that he could solve them and lead others into perfection.
But now he was not so sure.
The two were now on the borders of the forest, following the edge in a circle. Suddenly Haldir stopped, and Tirdin looked over to him in question. But Haldir suddenly ran ahead without explanation, fear shining in his eyes. Utterly confused, Tirdin took off after him, but it was only a short distance to run.
They came upon a small ledge, overlooking a portion of the world. There was Legolas, curled on his side, hugging his knees close to his chest, his eyes squeezed shut and teeth gritted together.
"Legolas! Legolas!" Haldir ran to the elf's side, seizing his shoulders and shaking him lightly. He was asleep. "Wake up, Legolas! Wake up!" But Legolas only cried out, the cry that had first alerted Haldir's thoughtless ears of his presence, and shrank back. Haldir reached out again, but Legolas only hugged himself tighter, quietly, fearfully whimpering.
Tirdin stood off to the side, his body frozen, unable to move, his eyes wide with a bright flame of terror burning. He couldn't move, he couldn't think, as he glimpsed Legolas' back and found his brother's silver tunic to be soaked in crimson blood.
* * *
CRACK!
"Stop it, ai Elbereth, stop, stop!"
CRACK!
"Stop!"
Legolas' sobbing cries echoed without effect in the cavernous chamber, his tears and screams disregarded. The whip came down again on his back, slashing his tunic and biting at his flesh, breaking the surface; the orc withdrew it and licked the scarlet blood from the leather. Another and another struck him over his shoulders, and he heard himself scream.
He peered up into their taunting faces, their rotten teeth bared in cruel amusement. One caught his cheek and he shrank back with a startled cry, clutching his face with his hands, allowing them to be cut and slashed. He curled up on his side, and screamed as another blow crossed his back after the timeless, countless times he had felt the same motion. And he listened to his own voice scream in agony, and cringed at the sound, wondering at how he was still alive.
* * *
Haldir started as a thin scarlet line appeared on Legolas' smooth cheek, and then scores of them materializing on his hands. For a moment he stopped in his attempted to wake the prince, and gazed in confusion at the cuts. Then Legolas rolled over, crying out again, and Haldir backed away. Though the tunic remained undamaged, the back was soaked through with blood.
Shaking himself out of his trance, Haldir grabbed Legolas and rattled him roughly, more urgent than ever, and yelled louder than before, "LEGOLAS!"
Legolas' eyes snapped open, and he slumped forward, though trying to push himself back from Haldir and regain his own balance.
"Legolas, Legolas, stop."
He stopped and was still.
"What happened?" Haldir's voice shook. He held Legolas at an arms length away, not allowing himself to release him. "What happened?"
Legolas shook his head and looked down. "A memory . . . naught but a memory . . ."
"No, Legolas." Haldir lifted his friend's hands, and Legolas gasped. "What is happening to you, Legolas?"
Then Legolas began to tremble in fear as he stared at his beaten hands. His mind suddenly remembered more than he wished. Things that were said, things that were done, things he had seen . . .
"I'm remembering, Haldir. Out of some sorcery I'm remembering."
Haldir had to strain to hear his friend speak; and he knew that Legolas wanted nothing more than to forget everything . . .but Haldir wanted some things answered for him. Something haunted this elf. Through some cruel magic someone was hurting him.
"Legolas, will you tell me what happened to you at Isengard?"
With the slightest of movements, Legolas nodded. "When we get back. I will tell you." Then he looked at Tirdin, who still stood frozen in horror. "And you, brother. You shall know everything as well."
Tirdin nodded. He watched as Haldir supported Legolas, and walked slowly behind them. He would have done something, but he couldn't. That had been too much for him. If that was merely one memory . . .Legolas had been there for days . . .what would the entire story be like?
All the way back, Legolas listened for Tirdin to speak. But it did not disturb him that his brother was silent. All the time he had known Tirdin, he had spoken only when necessary. He suffered alone, and tearless, always in anger as far as Legolas could see. He often shunned the rest of the world, and kept to himself, his world cold and face emotionless. Legolas mused that he had always tried to be strong. And when things were too heavy for dry eyes, Legolas sometimes wouldn't see his brother for days at a time. Like when VanamÃrë passed. And thus they had always remained distant.
* * *
"I won't speak of my capture, and only of my time as a prisoner," Legolas began. The other two were watching silently, and they nodded. Legolas drew in a long breath, and began. He spoke of his short time in the company of orcs, and then the arrival of Saruman and how he was brought to the dungeons of Isengard and shackled in cruel chains; he told of how the orcs had beat him, how they had whipped him, how they had burned him, over and over again. He recounted the arrival of Nifien and how he had then been transferred to a small cell. And he whispered of his thoughts, and of his despair, and of how he wished he would die. He whispered of the things Saruman had told him.
But there was one thing he would not speak of, and that Haldir and Tirdin would never know.
As his tale came to a close, Legolas fell silent and dropped his gaze. Haldir felt a single tear wash down his face, and hoped that neither of his company had noticed. Tirdin was silent, but never took his eyes from Legolas, as if waiting for him to say he was joking, that it was all just a lie.
"Why does he still hunt you in your dreams?"
Legolas shook his head. "I know not. He wanted my father removed from Mirkwood." His voice shrank. "His wish was fulfilled."
None could think of anything to say; Haldir and Tirdin were confounded by the torment that had befallen Legolas, and Legolas wished the conversation to go no further. The memories hurt. He had been shamed in those dungeons, he had been broken. Things had happened he wished no one to know. And he desired no pity, no sympathy. He did not need it now.
Soon Haldir and Tirdin departed with quiet words of farewell, and Legolas lay on his bandaged back, peering at the stars through the branches of the towering trees. Images of orcs, and their sadistic faces ran through his head. He would never tell anyone that one thing. The words had been Saruman's . . .but he couldn't deny them to lies.
He remembered it now, as truth.
Orcs were elves once.
* * *
Well, there you have it. The song is a poem I wrote a while ago, and I hope I haven't used it in this fic before, but in order to translate it I had to change almost all the lines because elvish is an incomplete language and certain words have no translation. But here's the original poem:
Lost in memories
Forgotten things wander
Where angels have settled
And ghosts gone yonder
Petals of roses
Died in the frost
Litter the roads
The forgotten have crossed
The sky is light
In the east of this place
Western, 'tis dark
In shadow's embrace
Dragons and elves
At peace with all other
The strong and the weak
Equal each other
Victims of death
Loveless, alone
Claimed this land
Of memory home
So there you have it. I used Dwarves instead of Dragons to suit the purpose. And thank you all you reviewers so much! You have no idea how much I appreciate your reviews. I don't care if you hate it, but I love to hear it anyways! So please, continue to do your stuff, and tell me what you think. Reviews are my lifeforce!
GemGemJoo: STOP THINKING OF IDEAS! *snarl * But send me whatever you write and I'll be happy to look at it! Although I will slap you for other fics, I'll still read them. ^.^
Ankhesanamun: What website do you get your elvish from? I have a book, it's great. And I am praying to GOD that you cannot read fluent elvish because the song I translated I just used whatever word would kind of sort of mean something a tad bit similar to the original word. And I bet it would make no sense as the direct translation.
Katinka Inga Bogananana: No! Not my lovely Tirdin! *hugs Tirdin and glares at Jason * AND YES! YOU ARE ADDING ROMANCE! YOU WILL WRITE A ROMANCE FIC IF IT'S THE LAST THING I FORCE YOU TO DO! AAAAAAAAA! *fly tackles *
Lady of the Forest: He's going back to the fellowship soon. Maybe a chapter or two. I'm getting bored and running out of ideas for Lothlorien.
Ivorybrowneyes: Is it OKAY if you say obsessed? I'd be flattered if you'd say obsessed! OF COURSE I'M OBSESSED! And yes, I would say from what I've snooped around in that the movie elvish is based pretty much on Tolkien's elvish. Not everything is Sindarin, I suspect Elrond and Galadriel speak Quenya more often. But I would say it is based on the book, yes. I doubt they just made up some words that sounded pretty.
White Wolf: I think I was getting tired of guilt, and so I don't think I'm gonna do too much of it for Thranduil's death. But a bit, perhaps.
Lirenel: Yeah, he was one of my favourite characters too. I posted my own rewrite of Rowling's death scene! It's called Stop Playing. I don't think it's my best; I could have done it better. But go read it!
Ivory Novelist: Yes, I like all the same kinds of fluff, so expect more! ^.^
Hino Rei: YAY! CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES! *picks out chocolate chips, eats cookies, then eats chocolate chips * Sorry, my mom started hiding the chocolate chips from me, and I can't find them and she'll stop buying them if she notices she suddenly has half the bag left. I have to be extra sneaky.once I find them. I haven't had some in sooooooo long! It's killing me!
Merrylyn: Elvish rules! I read the song in this chapter to my friend, and she has confirmed that it is beautiful. I think it's the most beautiful sounding language ever. Anyways, thank you so much for lending me your awesome creativity! I will make good use of it . . .I hope . . .
Elven-fae: I don't think I said that . . .but hey, I don't read things over, I just write and post. So meh, you never know.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! I am overwhelmed by the amount of reviews I've gotten! I never expected to get so many (though I will admit, I always hoped I would)!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU ALL! *gives everyone free Legolas and Haldir plushies and extra SUHET bumper stickers *
Until next time!
~Searcher of Souls~
A/N: Wow, I guess I kept you waiting a while again, eh? Sorry! I was in another slump. I really had NO IDEA how to write this chapter, and how to work in what I wanted to work in. I pondered it for FOREVER, until I had one single idea, and so on that one idea I wrote the entire chapter as event and event sprouted from it. And I was busy with my original book I'm writing (don't go looking on fictionpress, I'm not posting in hopes of getting it published some day). I stopped mid sentence at one point, unable to think of a name for a forest. It took me 2 days to complete that sentence. So yeah. I'll shut up and let you read now.
* * *
Though the weather was not particularly pleasant, Legolas found this day to be one of the best he'd had in a while. For at last the healers had determined that he was well enough to walk. And even with a heavy limp, it relieved him to no end to be able to wander the forest again. He had chosen a fallen branch from the forest floor to support his weight, and though it bothered him greatly to have to use it, he'd rather wander the forest with his makeshift staff than suffer another long day of boredom in his bed.
He wandered the wood, listening to the trees whisper. The sun had reached it's highest point in the sky, and was slowly, slowly descending, as Legolas came upon a ledge overlooking the rest of the world. Smiling, he sat down, and forsook his mind to the ramblings of the trees. As he listened, he sang to them. And though it was not a happy tune, the trees delighted to hear the prince's voice.
Vanwa rinesse
Egla coi raen
Firn mari
A firn cel hae
Ril glor loth
Firn ringesse
Ar i tier
I egla laini
I vilya na ril
Rhunesse hi sinomo
Annun mor nayes
Gwath badesse
Naugrim a Edhil
Dagnir ve mellon
I thalion a engwa
Lammoth hain lammen
Tiethfirn mi
Vanwa mel, er
Maresse hi dor
Rino hain bar
And as his voice faded with the last note, he opened himself to sleep, and let himself fade into dreams.
* * *
Tirdin and Haldir had been wandering the woods as well, discussing Legolas' choice and Tirdin's new role as Lord of Mirkwood. The smaller ebony haired elf was incredibly nervous about returning home.
"What will I tell them has happened, Haldir? How do I tell them so that they feel no blame towards Legolas, as I am certain some of them will?"
Haldir admired the brother's protection of Legolas, and suddenly wished he knew his own brothers better. "You will tell them truth, Tirdin, as a good ruler should. Merely tell them what has taken place here, and no blame should fall upon Legolas, lest in senseless anger or sorrow for the loss; but even that shall pass."
Tirdin sighed. "Perhaps. But I have not been raised to be a king."
Haldir rested his hand on Tirdin's shoulder. "Do not be so nervous, little one. You will know what to do when the time comes. I think you are fretting more than the situation deserves."
They walked a little longer in thoughtful silence. Perhaps Tirdin was overly anxious, but he couldn't help it. Thranduil had been greatly loved by the elves of Mirkwood, and few had ever gotten to know Tirdin. The younger brother had always preferred the company of silence, and had oft been teased as a child. Legolas and him had been so different, and rarely sought the other out. He had always been different. He thought things differently . . .perhaps in a more simplistic way; his thoughts were for worldly things, and somehow he could think of a way to solve those problems, and he was always certain that he could solve them and lead others into perfection.
But now he was not so sure.
The two were now on the borders of the forest, following the edge in a circle. Suddenly Haldir stopped, and Tirdin looked over to him in question. But Haldir suddenly ran ahead without explanation, fear shining in his eyes. Utterly confused, Tirdin took off after him, but it was only a short distance to run.
They came upon a small ledge, overlooking a portion of the world. There was Legolas, curled on his side, hugging his knees close to his chest, his eyes squeezed shut and teeth gritted together.
"Legolas! Legolas!" Haldir ran to the elf's side, seizing his shoulders and shaking him lightly. He was asleep. "Wake up, Legolas! Wake up!" But Legolas only cried out, the cry that had first alerted Haldir's thoughtless ears of his presence, and shrank back. Haldir reached out again, but Legolas only hugged himself tighter, quietly, fearfully whimpering.
Tirdin stood off to the side, his body frozen, unable to move, his eyes wide with a bright flame of terror burning. He couldn't move, he couldn't think, as he glimpsed Legolas' back and found his brother's silver tunic to be soaked in crimson blood.
* * *
CRACK!
"Stop it, ai Elbereth, stop, stop!"
CRACK!
"Stop!"
Legolas' sobbing cries echoed without effect in the cavernous chamber, his tears and screams disregarded. The whip came down again on his back, slashing his tunic and biting at his flesh, breaking the surface; the orc withdrew it and licked the scarlet blood from the leather. Another and another struck him over his shoulders, and he heard himself scream.
He peered up into their taunting faces, their rotten teeth bared in cruel amusement. One caught his cheek and he shrank back with a startled cry, clutching his face with his hands, allowing them to be cut and slashed. He curled up on his side, and screamed as another blow crossed his back after the timeless, countless times he had felt the same motion. And he listened to his own voice scream in agony, and cringed at the sound, wondering at how he was still alive.
* * *
Haldir started as a thin scarlet line appeared on Legolas' smooth cheek, and then scores of them materializing on his hands. For a moment he stopped in his attempted to wake the prince, and gazed in confusion at the cuts. Then Legolas rolled over, crying out again, and Haldir backed away. Though the tunic remained undamaged, the back was soaked through with blood.
Shaking himself out of his trance, Haldir grabbed Legolas and rattled him roughly, more urgent than ever, and yelled louder than before, "LEGOLAS!"
Legolas' eyes snapped open, and he slumped forward, though trying to push himself back from Haldir and regain his own balance.
"Legolas, Legolas, stop."
He stopped and was still.
"What happened?" Haldir's voice shook. He held Legolas at an arms length away, not allowing himself to release him. "What happened?"
Legolas shook his head and looked down. "A memory . . . naught but a memory . . ."
"No, Legolas." Haldir lifted his friend's hands, and Legolas gasped. "What is happening to you, Legolas?"
Then Legolas began to tremble in fear as he stared at his beaten hands. His mind suddenly remembered more than he wished. Things that were said, things that were done, things he had seen . . .
"I'm remembering, Haldir. Out of some sorcery I'm remembering."
Haldir had to strain to hear his friend speak; and he knew that Legolas wanted nothing more than to forget everything . . .but Haldir wanted some things answered for him. Something haunted this elf. Through some cruel magic someone was hurting him.
"Legolas, will you tell me what happened to you at Isengard?"
With the slightest of movements, Legolas nodded. "When we get back. I will tell you." Then he looked at Tirdin, who still stood frozen in horror. "And you, brother. You shall know everything as well."
Tirdin nodded. He watched as Haldir supported Legolas, and walked slowly behind them. He would have done something, but he couldn't. That had been too much for him. If that was merely one memory . . .Legolas had been there for days . . .what would the entire story be like?
All the way back, Legolas listened for Tirdin to speak. But it did not disturb him that his brother was silent. All the time he had known Tirdin, he had spoken only when necessary. He suffered alone, and tearless, always in anger as far as Legolas could see. He often shunned the rest of the world, and kept to himself, his world cold and face emotionless. Legolas mused that he had always tried to be strong. And when things were too heavy for dry eyes, Legolas sometimes wouldn't see his brother for days at a time. Like when VanamÃrë passed. And thus they had always remained distant.
* * *
"I won't speak of my capture, and only of my time as a prisoner," Legolas began. The other two were watching silently, and they nodded. Legolas drew in a long breath, and began. He spoke of his short time in the company of orcs, and then the arrival of Saruman and how he was brought to the dungeons of Isengard and shackled in cruel chains; he told of how the orcs had beat him, how they had whipped him, how they had burned him, over and over again. He recounted the arrival of Nifien and how he had then been transferred to a small cell. And he whispered of his thoughts, and of his despair, and of how he wished he would die. He whispered of the things Saruman had told him.
But there was one thing he would not speak of, and that Haldir and Tirdin would never know.
As his tale came to a close, Legolas fell silent and dropped his gaze. Haldir felt a single tear wash down his face, and hoped that neither of his company had noticed. Tirdin was silent, but never took his eyes from Legolas, as if waiting for him to say he was joking, that it was all just a lie.
"Why does he still hunt you in your dreams?"
Legolas shook his head. "I know not. He wanted my father removed from Mirkwood." His voice shrank. "His wish was fulfilled."
None could think of anything to say; Haldir and Tirdin were confounded by the torment that had befallen Legolas, and Legolas wished the conversation to go no further. The memories hurt. He had been shamed in those dungeons, he had been broken. Things had happened he wished no one to know. And he desired no pity, no sympathy. He did not need it now.
Soon Haldir and Tirdin departed with quiet words of farewell, and Legolas lay on his bandaged back, peering at the stars through the branches of the towering trees. Images of orcs, and their sadistic faces ran through his head. He would never tell anyone that one thing. The words had been Saruman's . . .but he couldn't deny them to lies.
He remembered it now, as truth.
Orcs were elves once.
* * *
Well, there you have it. The song is a poem I wrote a while ago, and I hope I haven't used it in this fic before, but in order to translate it I had to change almost all the lines because elvish is an incomplete language and certain words have no translation. But here's the original poem:
Lost in memories
Forgotten things wander
Where angels have settled
And ghosts gone yonder
Petals of roses
Died in the frost
Litter the roads
The forgotten have crossed
The sky is light
In the east of this place
Western, 'tis dark
In shadow's embrace
Dragons and elves
At peace with all other
The strong and the weak
Equal each other
Victims of death
Loveless, alone
Claimed this land
Of memory home
So there you have it. I used Dwarves instead of Dragons to suit the purpose. And thank you all you reviewers so much! You have no idea how much I appreciate your reviews. I don't care if you hate it, but I love to hear it anyways! So please, continue to do your stuff, and tell me what you think. Reviews are my lifeforce!
GemGemJoo: STOP THINKING OF IDEAS! *snarl * But send me whatever you write and I'll be happy to look at it! Although I will slap you for other fics, I'll still read them. ^.^
Ankhesanamun: What website do you get your elvish from? I have a book, it's great. And I am praying to GOD that you cannot read fluent elvish because the song I translated I just used whatever word would kind of sort of mean something a tad bit similar to the original word. And I bet it would make no sense as the direct translation.
Katinka Inga Bogananana: No! Not my lovely Tirdin! *hugs Tirdin and glares at Jason * AND YES! YOU ARE ADDING ROMANCE! YOU WILL WRITE A ROMANCE FIC IF IT'S THE LAST THING I FORCE YOU TO DO! AAAAAAAAA! *fly tackles *
Lady of the Forest: He's going back to the fellowship soon. Maybe a chapter or two. I'm getting bored and running out of ideas for Lothlorien.
Ivorybrowneyes: Is it OKAY if you say obsessed? I'd be flattered if you'd say obsessed! OF COURSE I'M OBSESSED! And yes, I would say from what I've snooped around in that the movie elvish is based pretty much on Tolkien's elvish. Not everything is Sindarin, I suspect Elrond and Galadriel speak Quenya more often. But I would say it is based on the book, yes. I doubt they just made up some words that sounded pretty.
White Wolf: I think I was getting tired of guilt, and so I don't think I'm gonna do too much of it for Thranduil's death. But a bit, perhaps.
Lirenel: Yeah, he was one of my favourite characters too. I posted my own rewrite of Rowling's death scene! It's called Stop Playing. I don't think it's my best; I could have done it better. But go read it!
Ivory Novelist: Yes, I like all the same kinds of fluff, so expect more! ^.^
Hino Rei: YAY! CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES! *picks out chocolate chips, eats cookies, then eats chocolate chips * Sorry, my mom started hiding the chocolate chips from me, and I can't find them and she'll stop buying them if she notices she suddenly has half the bag left. I have to be extra sneaky.once I find them. I haven't had some in sooooooo long! It's killing me!
Merrylyn: Elvish rules! I read the song in this chapter to my friend, and she has confirmed that it is beautiful. I think it's the most beautiful sounding language ever. Anyways, thank you so much for lending me your awesome creativity! I will make good use of it . . .I hope . . .
Elven-fae: I don't think I said that . . .but hey, I don't read things over, I just write and post. So meh, you never know.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! I am overwhelmed by the amount of reviews I've gotten! I never expected to get so many (though I will admit, I always hoped I would)!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU ALL! *gives everyone free Legolas and Haldir plushies and extra SUHET bumper stickers *
Until next time!
~Searcher of Souls~