Authors notes: - Thank you so much for the reviews. Hope you enjoy this new
chapter. Please review and make me happy!! (
**
Urguth knew the elf was in the stables. It was not the first time the elf had sought sanctuary in there when sleep had eluded him. Looking in Legolas's horse's stall he saw the elf soothing the agitated animal. The horse threw back its golden head and rolled its eyes as it caught sight of the intruder.
"Spirited fellow I see." Urguth said.
"Can I help you?" Legolas enquired almost snarling the question.
"Just a small matter I wish to discuss with you concerning a letter." Urguth watched with satisfaction as Legolas froze.
"Letter?" Legolas replied
"Yes it seems that a letter was sent by you to that annoying wizard Gandalf. As you may have guessed it did not reach its destination. Now what should I do?"
Legolas turned to face him and Urguth could see the elf accept the inevitable punishment that was to be dealt out, but there was still a fire in his eyes that promised revenge. Urguth would enjoy seeing that die. The man lifted his hand and flung the elf across the stables. Legolas's horse screamed in fury at the treatment of his master and reared up intent to hit the man with his flailing hooves. Urguth moved quickly to avoid the horse and threw up his hand. The horse fell to the ground and lay stunned. The man turned his attention back to Legolas who had rose to his feet.
"Back for more, why don't you just give up like your horse?"
Legolas's eyes flashed in anger and he advanced on Urguth. He would not win but he could cause some damage.
"Going to fight me little elf. I hope you don't expect to win?"
Legolas snarled, "I may not win but I will be a fantastic runner up."
Urguth smiled as the elf moved to strike him. He leapt forward and the battle began.
** Eomer hurried towards the back exit of the stables but at the last moment he veered off and hid in an empty stall. He could not abandon his friend. He watched as Urguth knocked Aure to the ground where the golden horse remained, still. He listened to the taunts dealt out by Urguth and he saw in satisfaction the elf stand proud and attack the man. At that moment Eomer's admiration of the elf increased ten fold. Legolas was a great warrior. Others might have backed down in the face of such overwhelming odds but not the lord of Ithilien. He was an elf, a creature that shone with an ancient power that no man could ever hope to gain.
The duel was hard fought. At first Legolas matched and at times exceeded Urguth. Eomer soon realised that Urguth was just playing with the elf. Urguth began to crackle with energy and with an inhuman roar Urguth changed. Instead of a man there stood a huge red creature. It glowed with an inner fire. Legolas rose unsteadily to his feet watching the creature. He backed away towards a stack of stable cleaning equipment. Selecting two pitchforks he grasped them and stood tall.
"Now you shall face my wrath." The creature hissed.
Legolas raised his weapons and smiled a bloody smile. "Really? You may be a dark creature but you can still be defeated. If I do not succeed others will."
The creature charged.
* Gimli groaned as the suns rays pierced through his closed eyelids.
"How much did I drink last night?" he muttered as he rubbed his eyes. Opening them slowly he let them adjust to the light. With a grunt he sat up and surveyed the state of himself and his room.
"What did I do last night?" he moaned. The last thing he remembered was walking back with Legolas from the gates to the feast. With another groan he got to his feet. He was still dressed in wine stained clothes.
"I bet that damned pointed eared cretin had something to do with this." He muttered darkly as he stumbled about trying to find some clean clothes and water to wash in. It took him longer than usual to make himself presentable and then he went in search of who he believed to be the perpetrator of his present condition, Legolas.
The dwarf marched down the hallway towards Legolas's quarters muttering. He did not see Urguth and walked straight into the man, both fell to the ground.
"Somewhere important to be Master Dwarf?" Urguth asked as he regained his feet.
"A matter to discuss with a certain elf that is none of your concern." Gimli snapped, his dark mood not lifting as the discussion progressed.
"I wondered when this altercation would take place." Urguth smiled.
"Pardon me?" Gimli questioned.
"You were very drunk last night. Legolas kept filling your drink despite your protests and Aragorn's. He declared it was payback for some incident involving dwarf ale."
Gimli smiled as he remembered the incident. The elf had been very drunk.
"Ahh yes well I shall now go and thank him for that experience and begin planning my revenge."
"He is not in his room. I just went to see him and he was not there."
"Hiding is he? Revenge is best served cold Urguth. Shall we join those at breakfast?" Gimli asked.
"Certainly."
* Eomer watched with a frown as Gimli and Urguth walked towards the dining hall. Just yesterday Gimli had been speaking his concerns to Eomer about Urguth's unnatural interest towards Legolas. Today it seemed as if nothing had happened and they were friends. It seems that Gimli had been manipulated and that he could no longer be trusted. He needed to see Legolas. He had not seen the elf since the stables last night. The Darak had appeared and he had to leave to avoid being discovered and having Legolas's suffering be in vain.
The young King hurried towards Legolas's quarters where Urguth had been coming from when he met Gimli. He did not knock and quickly entered, as he did not want to be seen in the passage outside. Legolas was in his bed, on his side with the sheets pulled up to his neck. One pale hand lay next to his face and Eomer was struck at how young the elf looked. He had heard Aragorn say once that Legolas according to the elves was only a few years older than a child and at that moment Eomer believed it.
"Legolas." The man whispered as he moved towards the bed. He received no response.
"Legolas." He reached out to awaken the elf when Legolas grabbed his arm and held his knife to Eomer's throat. The knife was shaking violently and Eomer could see that it was taking Legolas a great effort to hold it.
"Legolas it is me, Eomer." The knife dropped to the floor.
"Eomer." Legolas whispered and he struggled to sit up. Eomer placed a gentle hand on the elf's shoulder and pushed him back down.
"Rest, Legolas." He said. " Are you hurt? Sorry stupid question how badly hurt are you?"
"You should go you cannot help me." Legolas said as he again struggled to sit up. Eomer could see he was wounded and in pain but could see no visible wounds.
"I can treat your wounds. Let me help you."
"No. I have no wounds for you to treat, can you see any?" Legolas snapped tiredly.
"No. I don't understand."
Legolas sighed and rose awkwardly to his feet.
"Urguth placed a spell of some sort on me so that none of my wounds are visible to anyone but me and him. It is a visage Eomer. Over the past few days I have had several wounds and burns and no one has noticed. At this moment I have several wounds but you can see none of them. Therefore you see that you cannot help me." Legolas dismissed him.
"You cannot dismiss me so easily Legolas. I heard about the letter that you tried to send to Gandalf. I too have sent one."
Legolas whirled to face him. "You did what? Do you know what will happen if it is discovered? I should not have told you." Legolas berated himself.
Eomer grew angry and marched straight up to the elf, deliberately keeping his voice low to avoid anyone overhearing them.
"It was your duty to tell me. So we could defend Gondor. You have admitted it yourself that we cannot defeat them alone. We need help and Gandalf would be able to provide it. Do not lecture me on what I should or shouldn't have done. I may not be an elf with immortal wisdom but I am a King and I can make my own decisions."
Legolas ducked his head allowing his blonde hair to cover his face. His shoulders slumped.
"I am sorry Eomer. Its just I do not want anyone to be hurt due to me. Pippin nearly died because Arwen suspected something. If they knew that I had told you." Legolas trailed off and sat heavily on the end of his bed. Eomer sat next to him.
"Pippin did not die, he wasn't harmed, just a scare. I can take care of myself and if I fail then you would be the last person I would blame."
The two sat in silence for a few minutes before Eomer rose and went into Legolas's bathing chamber. He reappeared with a few items to do with healing and treatment. He handed them to Legolas who took them and began applying them. It looked strange that he was applying solutions to bare and healthy looking skin. Urguth would have a lot to answer for Eomer thought darkly.
"Will you be attending the feast tonight?" Eomer asked.
"Aye it would look suspicious if I did not."
After a few more minutes of silence Legolas spoke.
"You should go. I am sure you would be missed from negotiations and various other functions." Eomer nodded.
"What about you?"
"I shall go and see Aure and then maybe go for a ride. I need to clear my head."
Eomer reached the door. "Be careful my friend." The man said.
"You too Mellon." Legolas offered the man a small smile as the door closed leaving Legolas alone again with his pain.
* The Darak stood by the window watching the elf that had captured Urguth's attention ride out of the city.
"It is all in place?" he questioned the man who was mixing various liquids together to form a lethal and agonising toxin.
"Yes. It will work fine. The plan is in place."
"Good."
"I will not fail you."
"I know. Remember the price if you do."
* Gandalf whistled cheerfully as he rode his horse through the bright and very much alive forest. It was a beautiful day and he was planning to make a visit to Gondor to escort the hobbits back to the Shire but first he was off to see an old friend.
A call of an eagle echoed through the forest and Gandalf looked up to see an eagle flying towards him.
"Hail Master Eagle. What can I do for you?" he called as the bird came to rest on a branch near Gandalf's head.
"Greetings. I bear an urgent message from King Eomer of Rohan. He wishes you to proceed at haste to Gondor. Darkness has invaded the city in the form of a delegation from Thera and creatures called Darak. He urges you to come as quickly as possible. He also says that Lord Legolas is in grave danger and has been targeted and injured by the Darak. The King says that no one but Legolas should be trusted."
Gandalf's forehead wrinkled in a frown and for anyone who knew him well it was a sign of great concern on his part.
"This is a grave matter indeed. Do you feel that you could get a message back to either Eomer or Legolas safely?" Gandalf asked the eagle.
"I will try."
"Tell them that I am coming and for them to watch the sky."
"As you wish. Do you need me any longer?"
"No thank you my friend. I shall proceed with great haste to my destination. Take care."
The eagle soared into the sky and with one shrill cry it was gone.
"Quickly my friend I fear that time is not on our side." Shadowfax reared slightly and sped across the ground faster than the wind.
**
**
Urguth knew the elf was in the stables. It was not the first time the elf had sought sanctuary in there when sleep had eluded him. Looking in Legolas's horse's stall he saw the elf soothing the agitated animal. The horse threw back its golden head and rolled its eyes as it caught sight of the intruder.
"Spirited fellow I see." Urguth said.
"Can I help you?" Legolas enquired almost snarling the question.
"Just a small matter I wish to discuss with you concerning a letter." Urguth watched with satisfaction as Legolas froze.
"Letter?" Legolas replied
"Yes it seems that a letter was sent by you to that annoying wizard Gandalf. As you may have guessed it did not reach its destination. Now what should I do?"
Legolas turned to face him and Urguth could see the elf accept the inevitable punishment that was to be dealt out, but there was still a fire in his eyes that promised revenge. Urguth would enjoy seeing that die. The man lifted his hand and flung the elf across the stables. Legolas's horse screamed in fury at the treatment of his master and reared up intent to hit the man with his flailing hooves. Urguth moved quickly to avoid the horse and threw up his hand. The horse fell to the ground and lay stunned. The man turned his attention back to Legolas who had rose to his feet.
"Back for more, why don't you just give up like your horse?"
Legolas's eyes flashed in anger and he advanced on Urguth. He would not win but he could cause some damage.
"Going to fight me little elf. I hope you don't expect to win?"
Legolas snarled, "I may not win but I will be a fantastic runner up."
Urguth smiled as the elf moved to strike him. He leapt forward and the battle began.
** Eomer hurried towards the back exit of the stables but at the last moment he veered off and hid in an empty stall. He could not abandon his friend. He watched as Urguth knocked Aure to the ground where the golden horse remained, still. He listened to the taunts dealt out by Urguth and he saw in satisfaction the elf stand proud and attack the man. At that moment Eomer's admiration of the elf increased ten fold. Legolas was a great warrior. Others might have backed down in the face of such overwhelming odds but not the lord of Ithilien. He was an elf, a creature that shone with an ancient power that no man could ever hope to gain.
The duel was hard fought. At first Legolas matched and at times exceeded Urguth. Eomer soon realised that Urguth was just playing with the elf. Urguth began to crackle with energy and with an inhuman roar Urguth changed. Instead of a man there stood a huge red creature. It glowed with an inner fire. Legolas rose unsteadily to his feet watching the creature. He backed away towards a stack of stable cleaning equipment. Selecting two pitchforks he grasped them and stood tall.
"Now you shall face my wrath." The creature hissed.
Legolas raised his weapons and smiled a bloody smile. "Really? You may be a dark creature but you can still be defeated. If I do not succeed others will."
The creature charged.
* Gimli groaned as the suns rays pierced through his closed eyelids.
"How much did I drink last night?" he muttered as he rubbed his eyes. Opening them slowly he let them adjust to the light. With a grunt he sat up and surveyed the state of himself and his room.
"What did I do last night?" he moaned. The last thing he remembered was walking back with Legolas from the gates to the feast. With another groan he got to his feet. He was still dressed in wine stained clothes.
"I bet that damned pointed eared cretin had something to do with this." He muttered darkly as he stumbled about trying to find some clean clothes and water to wash in. It took him longer than usual to make himself presentable and then he went in search of who he believed to be the perpetrator of his present condition, Legolas.
The dwarf marched down the hallway towards Legolas's quarters muttering. He did not see Urguth and walked straight into the man, both fell to the ground.
"Somewhere important to be Master Dwarf?" Urguth asked as he regained his feet.
"A matter to discuss with a certain elf that is none of your concern." Gimli snapped, his dark mood not lifting as the discussion progressed.
"I wondered when this altercation would take place." Urguth smiled.
"Pardon me?" Gimli questioned.
"You were very drunk last night. Legolas kept filling your drink despite your protests and Aragorn's. He declared it was payback for some incident involving dwarf ale."
Gimli smiled as he remembered the incident. The elf had been very drunk.
"Ahh yes well I shall now go and thank him for that experience and begin planning my revenge."
"He is not in his room. I just went to see him and he was not there."
"Hiding is he? Revenge is best served cold Urguth. Shall we join those at breakfast?" Gimli asked.
"Certainly."
* Eomer watched with a frown as Gimli and Urguth walked towards the dining hall. Just yesterday Gimli had been speaking his concerns to Eomer about Urguth's unnatural interest towards Legolas. Today it seemed as if nothing had happened and they were friends. It seems that Gimli had been manipulated and that he could no longer be trusted. He needed to see Legolas. He had not seen the elf since the stables last night. The Darak had appeared and he had to leave to avoid being discovered and having Legolas's suffering be in vain.
The young King hurried towards Legolas's quarters where Urguth had been coming from when he met Gimli. He did not knock and quickly entered, as he did not want to be seen in the passage outside. Legolas was in his bed, on his side with the sheets pulled up to his neck. One pale hand lay next to his face and Eomer was struck at how young the elf looked. He had heard Aragorn say once that Legolas according to the elves was only a few years older than a child and at that moment Eomer believed it.
"Legolas." The man whispered as he moved towards the bed. He received no response.
"Legolas." He reached out to awaken the elf when Legolas grabbed his arm and held his knife to Eomer's throat. The knife was shaking violently and Eomer could see that it was taking Legolas a great effort to hold it.
"Legolas it is me, Eomer." The knife dropped to the floor.
"Eomer." Legolas whispered and he struggled to sit up. Eomer placed a gentle hand on the elf's shoulder and pushed him back down.
"Rest, Legolas." He said. " Are you hurt? Sorry stupid question how badly hurt are you?"
"You should go you cannot help me." Legolas said as he again struggled to sit up. Eomer could see he was wounded and in pain but could see no visible wounds.
"I can treat your wounds. Let me help you."
"No. I have no wounds for you to treat, can you see any?" Legolas snapped tiredly.
"No. I don't understand."
Legolas sighed and rose awkwardly to his feet.
"Urguth placed a spell of some sort on me so that none of my wounds are visible to anyone but me and him. It is a visage Eomer. Over the past few days I have had several wounds and burns and no one has noticed. At this moment I have several wounds but you can see none of them. Therefore you see that you cannot help me." Legolas dismissed him.
"You cannot dismiss me so easily Legolas. I heard about the letter that you tried to send to Gandalf. I too have sent one."
Legolas whirled to face him. "You did what? Do you know what will happen if it is discovered? I should not have told you." Legolas berated himself.
Eomer grew angry and marched straight up to the elf, deliberately keeping his voice low to avoid anyone overhearing them.
"It was your duty to tell me. So we could defend Gondor. You have admitted it yourself that we cannot defeat them alone. We need help and Gandalf would be able to provide it. Do not lecture me on what I should or shouldn't have done. I may not be an elf with immortal wisdom but I am a King and I can make my own decisions."
Legolas ducked his head allowing his blonde hair to cover his face. His shoulders slumped.
"I am sorry Eomer. Its just I do not want anyone to be hurt due to me. Pippin nearly died because Arwen suspected something. If they knew that I had told you." Legolas trailed off and sat heavily on the end of his bed. Eomer sat next to him.
"Pippin did not die, he wasn't harmed, just a scare. I can take care of myself and if I fail then you would be the last person I would blame."
The two sat in silence for a few minutes before Eomer rose and went into Legolas's bathing chamber. He reappeared with a few items to do with healing and treatment. He handed them to Legolas who took them and began applying them. It looked strange that he was applying solutions to bare and healthy looking skin. Urguth would have a lot to answer for Eomer thought darkly.
"Will you be attending the feast tonight?" Eomer asked.
"Aye it would look suspicious if I did not."
After a few more minutes of silence Legolas spoke.
"You should go. I am sure you would be missed from negotiations and various other functions." Eomer nodded.
"What about you?"
"I shall go and see Aure and then maybe go for a ride. I need to clear my head."
Eomer reached the door. "Be careful my friend." The man said.
"You too Mellon." Legolas offered the man a small smile as the door closed leaving Legolas alone again with his pain.
* The Darak stood by the window watching the elf that had captured Urguth's attention ride out of the city.
"It is all in place?" he questioned the man who was mixing various liquids together to form a lethal and agonising toxin.
"Yes. It will work fine. The plan is in place."
"Good."
"I will not fail you."
"I know. Remember the price if you do."
* Gandalf whistled cheerfully as he rode his horse through the bright and very much alive forest. It was a beautiful day and he was planning to make a visit to Gondor to escort the hobbits back to the Shire but first he was off to see an old friend.
A call of an eagle echoed through the forest and Gandalf looked up to see an eagle flying towards him.
"Hail Master Eagle. What can I do for you?" he called as the bird came to rest on a branch near Gandalf's head.
"Greetings. I bear an urgent message from King Eomer of Rohan. He wishes you to proceed at haste to Gondor. Darkness has invaded the city in the form of a delegation from Thera and creatures called Darak. He urges you to come as quickly as possible. He also says that Lord Legolas is in grave danger and has been targeted and injured by the Darak. The King says that no one but Legolas should be trusted."
Gandalf's forehead wrinkled in a frown and for anyone who knew him well it was a sign of great concern on his part.
"This is a grave matter indeed. Do you feel that you could get a message back to either Eomer or Legolas safely?" Gandalf asked the eagle.
"I will try."
"Tell them that I am coming and for them to watch the sky."
"As you wish. Do you need me any longer?"
"No thank you my friend. I shall proceed with great haste to my destination. Take care."
The eagle soared into the sky and with one shrill cry it was gone.
"Quickly my friend I fear that time is not on our side." Shadowfax reared slightly and sped across the ground faster than the wind.
**