Author: Mirrordance
Title: Tempus Edax Rerum ("Time, the Devourer of All Things")
Summary: The Fellowship of the Ring runs across a time-traveling Legolas of the future whose mission is, strangely, to keep them from succeeding…
PART FIVE: Lorien
East Gate of Moria
January 15, 3019, the Third Age
"Should we expect a recovery much like Frodo's, Legolas?" Pippin asked Greenleaf eagerly, almost with a sad hopeless desperation in his eyes. He had called the future-elf by his true name, for hobbits were wont to forget some things, such as the deal to call him Greenleaf instead. He had meant no harm by it, and it came instinctively to him, with little thought. But Legolas' heart wrenched at the pointed remembrance that this future elf was himself, this was his fate, and these were the acts that would one day make him, and he cannot accept it. He cannot even stomach it. It was not possible. This was not him…
"No, Pippin," Legolas replied for Greenleaf stonily, as he stalked towards his future self and grabbed him by the collar of his coat, "You knew this would happen. I can see it in your eyes. And yet you did nothing. How could you do nothing? I would have done something. I would have kept him from falling. I would not have let him perish there!"
Greenleaf met his eyes coolly, before glancing at the rest of the fellowship whose teary eyes guaranteed they shared the same aching questions, the same broken feelings that he had betrayed them. His heart hardened, angered and feeling betrayed in turn that they looked at him this way, with so little trust, with no forgiveness. Even Aragorn did, in the depths of his heavily-thinking eyes. For a moment he was tempted to play the villain they had all decided he was, and let them eventually find out for themselves that what he had done—or not done—was for the best. And let their guilt eat at them until they choked on it…
But he could not stand their lonely eyes and their heavy, potent grief. He pulled away from Legolas, and stepped back.
"I would not grieve for too long if I were you," he said quietly, "For Gandalf greater things are planned than and ending in the deeps of Moria. All you need do is be patient and wait, it being that you cannot trust my promises. He will find you. Wait and see."
Silence followed, filled with uncertainty, and a collective grief punctuated by Greenleaf's loneliness. It was broken only by Aragorn as he wiped his sword clean and said, "By nightfall this place will be swarming with orcs. We must reach the Woods of Lothlorien. Let us move quickly."
* * *
Caras Galadhon
January 19, 3019, the Third Age
* * *
They had stepped into the realm of Lorien welcomed by points of arrows and sharp-elf eyes that promised they would not miss. It had been days past, and the fellowship was most relieved (to say the least) that their reception had been much improved since.
The group had taken the time to recover their strength and spirit in the comfort of Lorien and the hospitality of Lady Galadriel and her court, clinging to Greenleaf's reassurances that Gandalf was indeed well and would eventually return. While this did not cease their worrying completely, it still allowed for them to be lighter of heart.
Gimli, for instance, seemed pasted to Legolas' side as he spoke of the beauty of the Lady Galadriel without end; quite the turnabout, for he suspected her of being a deceitful witch for the longest time, until he laid his eyes upon her but days ago.
"I am starting to believe," sighed Legolas, "that I liked you much better when you disliked us."
"Ah," said Gimli gamely, "I didn't know you liked me at all, elf. I, however, still do very much dislike you, except I cannot find a worthy audience who would have a care for the Lady Galadriel as much as I in the fellowship. Most are concerned by other things."
"As am I, Gimli," said Legolas, although his lips quirked, and he heroically stood through the dwarf's excitement.
~It is good to see you smiling, mellon,~ Aragorn said, coming up towards the two.
"Has anyone ever told you it is impolite to speak over my head like that?" Gimli growled.
"How else do you wish us to speak, Master Dwarf," teased Legolas, "On our knees to level with your head?"
"You know what I mean, you stupid elf," said Gimli, "It is impolite to be speaking in languages that leave me out!"
"I'm sorry Gimli," Aragorn said mock-gravely, "I will remember."
"Where lies your evil twin, Legolas?" Gimli asked, looking around, "I still cannot believe there are two of you. As if it was not difficult enough to contend with one!"
"He is hardly evil, Gimli," Legolas corrected, slighted, "I know not where he is. And I care little for it."
"The Lady Galadriel is satisfying her curiosity with him," Aragorn said, "She sees something in him that she cannot comprehend. And it is rare for her to be so."
"He is with the Lady Galadriel?" Gimli asked excitedly, looking around and turning his stout head from side to side.
"And do not think to follow," Legolas said, quickly dashing his hopes, "It is an exchange even I would not want to be a part of."
* * *
Unfortunately, he was part of it, in a sense.
Greenleaf stood confidently up to the penetrating gaze of the Lady, honest and true, ready to overcome scrutiny. In more ways than one, he needed her scrutiny. He needed to be looked at from the inside-out, studied closely and watched, until they all knew to a certainty that all he spoke was true and real.
"You are Legolas," she said in her musical voice, "I can sense it plainly enough. But this future that you speak. You say I was one of those that had sent you?"
"Yes, my lady," he replied, "You and Lord Elrond. You had built a machine that defies time."
"That curious thing upon your arm," she said, nodding towards it, "You would not ever remove it. For anything."
"It is what keeps me who I am," he replied, touching the thin black band reverently, "It is that which allows me to remember all that I know, even futures that are yet to happen and those that I might change by my actions here. This band exempts me from the conditions of this time, so to speak. It also connects me to my own time, that which allows me to return from where it once that I had come."
"I see," she said, eyeing it curiously, "Clever."
They fell into a moment of silence, this time with Greenleaf devouring her with his eyes, "Do you believe me, Lady Galadriel?"
"I find it hard not to," she admitted,
"What can this evil little ring do against Yuno, Legolas? I imagine any brother
of Eru's would not be easily felled."
"Yuno is the Destroyer," replied
Greenleaf, "But he cannot destroy that which does not seem to exist. The invisibility allowed by the ring can
bring us close to him, where he is vulnerable, near to his heart. And then once near, its power can also aid us
to slay him."
"Curious," Galadriel said thoughtfully, "I have long believed that if the ring weren't destroyed, all would end. And now you say if it were destroyed, it seems that we are anyway headed towards the same destiny."
"We call it 'damned if you do, damned if you don't'," Greenleaf said wryly, "But we manage to still fervently hope that this would not be the case. We cannot not act upon the slightest possibility that we have a chance at success."
"I know," she said softly, her hand reaching out to touch his own, "Yours is a lonely road, Legolas. And a brave one to take. You are wise with your years. I know why I would rely on you for such an endeavor. Your heart is strong, though I could almost promise you that it will break with your burden. Still…I do not think you will fail us."
* * *
Later in the night, Legolas found himself walking around the beautiful woods, and their stunning sight and strange, resounding vitality seemed to lend him solace, at least for awhile.
"Take some rest," he heard Aragorn's quiet, soothing voice in the near distance, beyond the trees, "These borders are well protected."
He began to step towards his friend's voice, but paused midway when he heard who it was Aragorn was speaking to.
"I will find no rest here," Boromir said fervently, sounding tortured. Legolas' brows furrowed in thought. There was a despair about his voice that was unmistakably real, and there was desolation in it, hopelessness…
~His anguish will push his hand,~ Greenleaf said, stepping towards Legolas, who had been so absorbed by his thoughts that he did not sense the other elf coming.
~Push his hand?~ Legolas asked guardedly, quietly, so that the two humans nearby would not hear them converse. He was looking at his future self intently, wondering where the truths ended and the lies began, wondering up to what point he would help them, then deceive them and take from them what is theirs to destroy.
~You heard his voice,~ Greenleaf replied, ~You know what I mean.~
~But Boromir is a good man,~ Legolas argued, ~And he loves the hobbits dearly.~
~We are all of us pushed by this cruel fate,~ said Greenleaf.
~And what would your fate push you to do?~ Legolas snapped, ~Should I expect arrows upon my back any time soon?~
~No,~ answered Greenleaf coolly, ~If you die, so do I. So at least, not your back.~
Legolas set his jaws in annoyance and looked away. ~I do not know what to do with you.~
~I know,~ said Greenleaf, ~No one does. Even the Lady Galadriel is torn. The Ring must be destroyed. But it must be preserved. And it cannot be both, and it cannot be none. And we are all of us caught in between. What a heartless joke.~
They fell into silence for awhile, uncertain about each other. It seemed that Legolas was willing to set aside his heavy guard this night, feeling deeply at odds, wanting to talk about other things, things that were easier to understand, like Gimli and his crazy infatuation, and Pippin and his time-machine fantasies.
~If I had me a machine that sends me all across time whenever I want,~ Legolas sighed as he offered Greenleaf a tentative smile, ~I would not return to these darkest of days.~
~It's strange,~ said Greenleaf, needing to hold fast to that dim, little proffered twinkle in the other's eyes, their first true understanding since they had set eyes on each other, ~When I was preparing to leave the future, I almost could not wait.~
~You mean to say this will be the best and most prized of my days?~ Legolas chuckled wearily, ~You are the bearer of ill-tidings indeed.~
Greenleaf smiled, and pursed his lips, carefully considering his words, ~In a sense, to return in time to correct things is more a blessing than a burden. It's a second chance, of sorts. And not just for me.~
Legolas looked at him suspiciously, ~What do you mean?~
~I understand that some fates must remain undisturbed,~ said Greenleaf, ~Like Gandalf's. That is a fall I should not prevent, because it has its own great consequences. But there are other falls. Sometimes, death seems so… unnecessary.~
~One more of the fellowship will fall,~ Legolas concluded softly.
~In more ways than one,~ confirmed Greenleaf, ~I need you to do something for me. Let Boromir do as he pleases, but never tear your eyes away from him. Do not let him die. That is all that you must do, and nothing else. Do you understand this?~
~No,~ Legolas admitted, ~Why must I help you? Aren't you trying to get us to fail?~
~I am still you, Legolas,~ said Greenleaf wearily, ~Think about it. I must not fail, but I will try and spare any of you from any pain, as long as I am able.~
~And while you press this duty against me,~ said Legolas tightly, ~What would you be doing in the meantime?~
Running after Frodo to take the ring.
~Let us put it this way,~ Greenleaf said instead, ~Knowing Boromir will die if you did not do as I said, does it really matter so much to you?~
Legolas' eyes narrowed in irritation, but said nothing. Now more than ever did he understand that Knowing the future was almost an unbearable thing…
TO BE CONTINUED…