Legolas Greenleaf: Agent of MESS
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Disclaimer: Legolas Greenleaf and associated characters belong to JRR Tolkien. Legolas' appearance belongs to Orlando Bloom in a wig. The James Bond concept was created, or at least best used by Ian Fleming. A few odd characters and moments belong elsewhere.
Author's Notes: Again, I have to ask you to imagine that Isengard is within an afternoon's ride of Edoras. Otherwise this story would never get anywhere. And, having written Fred and Nobby in, I then had to write them out again painlessly. Or risk a lynching.
I am so sorry that this chapter is so horribly late! I've had a hectic couple of weeks, in which I've been all over the place, so I'm afraid I've got behind in my posting schedule. Yes, I have a schedule. I try and post every Monday, but have failed badly for the last couple of them. And this chapter is unbeta'd, as Julia is away in Germany.
And I am submitting to doing review replies. Being as I have so few reviews, I decided that it would be fairly easy. So, to you who I haven't thanked yet:
ldy imladris: glad you liked it! Thanks for adding me to your favourites.
Idlewild: Thank you! Obviously a well-read person here. Got your Tolkien, your Fleming and your Pratchett. Good one!
Nemo Returning: Where did you get that impression? Sarcasm; that's a very high form of wit. . . I don't think. Hee hee.
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Chapter 8. Into Isengard
The journey back to Isengard was far more friendly. Greenleaf and Aragorn rode most of the way with Eomer and his company of Rohan riders, who they found for the most part to be cheerful and friendly. They had lent Aragorn a horse named Hasufel, as his own was still tired from the long journey. Greenleaf remained on Shadowfax, as the horse was still fresh. The riders seemed somewhat awed to have the Elf in their midst, but he ignored it, being used to that attitude.
"Did you see Grima as we left?" he asked Aragorn, keeping his voice low.
"No," the man replied, "odd really. You'd think that he'd have been there to sneer at us as we left."
"It makes me suspicious," Greenleaf admitted, "I don't trust him. I'd rather not have had him at the council, but saying that would probably have insulted the King."
Aragorn agreed glumly. "Are there any changes we might make?" he asked.
Greenleaf smiled slightly. "The riders would be better waiting to the East of Isengard. I suggested the West on purpose, planning on changing it later. And I purposefully didn't say anything of my plans for when we are inside Isengard. It doesn't do to trust everyone when you're in this line of business."
Aragorn smiled too. "You'd better tell Eomer then," he said.
Greenleaf pushed Shadowfax forward to catch up with Eomer. The man now wore his armour and a tall helmet with a long white plume. He listened carefully as the Elf told him the revised instructions, nodding as the reasons were explained. Greenleaf didn't mention his suspicions about Grima directly, mentioning only the possibility of the plans being heard by a party unknown. The young man soon spread the word among his riders.
It was growing dark as the group left the Gap of Rohan behind and headed up the river. Just as Orthanc came into view, Greenleaf and Aragorn left the riders. They made their way directly towards the stone stronghold. In the gathering dusk, no one noticed one of the back riders, huddled beneath a hooded cloak, break away from the group and follow the pair. Stars began to appear above as they reached Isengard's sheer rock wall.
Greenleaf dismounted and began to whisper to Shadowfax. Aragorn also dismounted.
"What should we do with them?" he asked quietly. "Is there somewhere where we could leave them?"
"Do not worry," the Elf told him, "your Hasufel will stay with Shadowfax, who is too intelligent to be found or seen."
Leaving the horses to graze, the pair crept towards the gates. They both wore dark clothing, along with stealth cloaks from Lothlorien. These enabled them to blend in with the walls, making it almost impossible for any observer to see them. The cloaks were very rare, only ever made in the Golden Wood, and only a few people, mainly Elves, knew of their existence. They were very useful for Greenleaf, and his own had been used on a number of occasions. At most times they appeared only to be rather shabby grey cloaks, but when stealth was needed they could make the wearer all but invisible.
They reached the gates, and it only took Greenleaf a minute to pick the lock. The gate creaked as it swung open. Greenleaf and Aragorn hid behind the wall, one on either side of the gateway. The guard and the groom soon appeared, peering cautiously out of the gates. Without warning, the Elf and the man jumped on them, hauling them out of the stronghold and pinning them to the ground. Greenleaf held his knife to Fred the guard's throat.
"Where are you from?" he asked, not particularly nastily.
"G-Gondor, milord," Fred replied. His face was white.
"Do you have a family?"
"Y-Yes."
"Do you want to see them again?"
"Y-Yes! Please don't kill me, milord!"
"Then leave Isengard now. Take two horses and leave, as quick and as quiet as you can. Understand?"
Fred nodded frantically. Greenleaf released him. The guard's face was honest and stupid, and the Elf knew that he would do as he had been told. Leaving Fred and Nobby to run to the stables, Greenleaf and Aragorn headed towards one of the tower's outhouses. There was nobody in there, so they slipped inside.
"There's somebody following us," Greenleaf whispered. Gesturing for Aragorn to follow him, he stood to one side of the door silently. Moments later, a hooded head poked itself through the frame, looking into the room. Greenleaf grabbed it and pulled its owner into the building. He pushed them down on top of some of the sacks in the corner while Aragorn closed the door. Holding his prisoner down, Greenleaf pulled back the hood to reveal a familiar face.
"Lady Eowyn!" he hissed, feeling angry. "You were meant to stay in Edoras!"
"I wanted to help you, Legolas," she said, pouting slightly, "I couldn't leave you to go in alone."
"I'm not alone," he told her shortly, letting go of her and standing back. She stood, straightening her cloak.
"I couldn't sit around at home when my skills could be used!" she spat, moving directly in front of him.
"And you will probably be needed in Edoras!" he answered, not particularly meaning it.
"Hey, what is this stuff?" Aragorn cut in. Not wanting to be involved in the argument, he had turned away and looked inside the small sacks that lay around. They were full of gritty black powder. He ran some between his fingers, examining it. Greenleaf came over to see.
"Looks like blasting powder," he said, sniffing it cautiously, "yes, definitely. Destructive stuff, I. . . hmm." He broke off, musing silently.
"What is it?" Eowyn asked. He frowned at her.
"Looks like you can be useful after all," he said icily. "How much of it can you carry?" Seeing her blank look, he sighed. "Give me your cloak."
She handed it over, watching as he tied the corners up into a makeshift bag. He put three sacks of powder inside, handed it to her, and then undid his own cloak.
"Here, wear this," he told her, "it'll make you harder to spot."
Loud noises from outside, heading in their direction startled them all. Greenleaf pushed Eowyn out of the small back door just as the orcs burst in.
"Find your brother!" he hissed. "Tell him: 'the river'! The dam, right? And don't be seen!"
He slammed the door and turned to face the orcs. There were five of them, big and ugly, wielding fearsome weapons.
"Keep them busy," Greenleaf muttered to Aragorn, moving to his side, "we need to give Eowyn enough time to get out."
"Right," Aragorn said tensely, "would it be better to take it outside?"
"Maybe." The Elf glanced around. "All that powder's too volatile to fight around." He parried a downward slash from an orc with his knife, disembowelling the creature with another move. He dodged to the side as the carcass fell forward, turning his attention to the next orc. Aragorn had dispatched one with his sword, slicing its head clean off. Together, they pushed the three remaining orcs back through the door. One more fell to their combined blades, then they were out in the courtyard. And in front of them were rather a few more orcs. And also Saruman, with a vicious smile on his face.
The wizard raised his staff, muttering a word under his breath. Greenleaf and Aragorn were knocked out before they could kill another orc.
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Disclaimer: Legolas Greenleaf and associated characters belong to JRR Tolkien. Legolas' appearance belongs to Orlando Bloom in a wig. The James Bond concept was created, or at least best used by Ian Fleming. A few odd characters and moments belong elsewhere.
Author's Notes: Again, I have to ask you to imagine that Isengard is within an afternoon's ride of Edoras. Otherwise this story would never get anywhere. And, having written Fred and Nobby in, I then had to write them out again painlessly. Or risk a lynching.
I am so sorry that this chapter is so horribly late! I've had a hectic couple of weeks, in which I've been all over the place, so I'm afraid I've got behind in my posting schedule. Yes, I have a schedule. I try and post every Monday, but have failed badly for the last couple of them. And this chapter is unbeta'd, as Julia is away in Germany.
And I am submitting to doing review replies. Being as I have so few reviews, I decided that it would be fairly easy. So, to you who I haven't thanked yet:
ldy imladris: glad you liked it! Thanks for adding me to your favourites.
Idlewild: Thank you! Obviously a well-read person here. Got your Tolkien, your Fleming and your Pratchett. Good one!
Nemo Returning: Where did you get that impression? Sarcasm; that's a very high form of wit. . . I don't think. Hee hee.
:::::::::::::::::::
Chapter 8. Into Isengard
The journey back to Isengard was far more friendly. Greenleaf and Aragorn rode most of the way with Eomer and his company of Rohan riders, who they found for the most part to be cheerful and friendly. They had lent Aragorn a horse named Hasufel, as his own was still tired from the long journey. Greenleaf remained on Shadowfax, as the horse was still fresh. The riders seemed somewhat awed to have the Elf in their midst, but he ignored it, being used to that attitude.
"Did you see Grima as we left?" he asked Aragorn, keeping his voice low.
"No," the man replied, "odd really. You'd think that he'd have been there to sneer at us as we left."
"It makes me suspicious," Greenleaf admitted, "I don't trust him. I'd rather not have had him at the council, but saying that would probably have insulted the King."
Aragorn agreed glumly. "Are there any changes we might make?" he asked.
Greenleaf smiled slightly. "The riders would be better waiting to the East of Isengard. I suggested the West on purpose, planning on changing it later. And I purposefully didn't say anything of my plans for when we are inside Isengard. It doesn't do to trust everyone when you're in this line of business."
Aragorn smiled too. "You'd better tell Eomer then," he said.
Greenleaf pushed Shadowfax forward to catch up with Eomer. The man now wore his armour and a tall helmet with a long white plume. He listened carefully as the Elf told him the revised instructions, nodding as the reasons were explained. Greenleaf didn't mention his suspicions about Grima directly, mentioning only the possibility of the plans being heard by a party unknown. The young man soon spread the word among his riders.
It was growing dark as the group left the Gap of Rohan behind and headed up the river. Just as Orthanc came into view, Greenleaf and Aragorn left the riders. They made their way directly towards the stone stronghold. In the gathering dusk, no one noticed one of the back riders, huddled beneath a hooded cloak, break away from the group and follow the pair. Stars began to appear above as they reached Isengard's sheer rock wall.
Greenleaf dismounted and began to whisper to Shadowfax. Aragorn also dismounted.
"What should we do with them?" he asked quietly. "Is there somewhere where we could leave them?"
"Do not worry," the Elf told him, "your Hasufel will stay with Shadowfax, who is too intelligent to be found or seen."
Leaving the horses to graze, the pair crept towards the gates. They both wore dark clothing, along with stealth cloaks from Lothlorien. These enabled them to blend in with the walls, making it almost impossible for any observer to see them. The cloaks were very rare, only ever made in the Golden Wood, and only a few people, mainly Elves, knew of their existence. They were very useful for Greenleaf, and his own had been used on a number of occasions. At most times they appeared only to be rather shabby grey cloaks, but when stealth was needed they could make the wearer all but invisible.
They reached the gates, and it only took Greenleaf a minute to pick the lock. The gate creaked as it swung open. Greenleaf and Aragorn hid behind the wall, one on either side of the gateway. The guard and the groom soon appeared, peering cautiously out of the gates. Without warning, the Elf and the man jumped on them, hauling them out of the stronghold and pinning them to the ground. Greenleaf held his knife to Fred the guard's throat.
"Where are you from?" he asked, not particularly nastily.
"G-Gondor, milord," Fred replied. His face was white.
"Do you have a family?"
"Y-Yes."
"Do you want to see them again?"
"Y-Yes! Please don't kill me, milord!"
"Then leave Isengard now. Take two horses and leave, as quick and as quiet as you can. Understand?"
Fred nodded frantically. Greenleaf released him. The guard's face was honest and stupid, and the Elf knew that he would do as he had been told. Leaving Fred and Nobby to run to the stables, Greenleaf and Aragorn headed towards one of the tower's outhouses. There was nobody in there, so they slipped inside.
"There's somebody following us," Greenleaf whispered. Gesturing for Aragorn to follow him, he stood to one side of the door silently. Moments later, a hooded head poked itself through the frame, looking into the room. Greenleaf grabbed it and pulled its owner into the building. He pushed them down on top of some of the sacks in the corner while Aragorn closed the door. Holding his prisoner down, Greenleaf pulled back the hood to reveal a familiar face.
"Lady Eowyn!" he hissed, feeling angry. "You were meant to stay in Edoras!"
"I wanted to help you, Legolas," she said, pouting slightly, "I couldn't leave you to go in alone."
"I'm not alone," he told her shortly, letting go of her and standing back. She stood, straightening her cloak.
"I couldn't sit around at home when my skills could be used!" she spat, moving directly in front of him.
"And you will probably be needed in Edoras!" he answered, not particularly meaning it.
"Hey, what is this stuff?" Aragorn cut in. Not wanting to be involved in the argument, he had turned away and looked inside the small sacks that lay around. They were full of gritty black powder. He ran some between his fingers, examining it. Greenleaf came over to see.
"Looks like blasting powder," he said, sniffing it cautiously, "yes, definitely. Destructive stuff, I. . . hmm." He broke off, musing silently.
"What is it?" Eowyn asked. He frowned at her.
"Looks like you can be useful after all," he said icily. "How much of it can you carry?" Seeing her blank look, he sighed. "Give me your cloak."
She handed it over, watching as he tied the corners up into a makeshift bag. He put three sacks of powder inside, handed it to her, and then undid his own cloak.
"Here, wear this," he told her, "it'll make you harder to spot."
Loud noises from outside, heading in their direction startled them all. Greenleaf pushed Eowyn out of the small back door just as the orcs burst in.
"Find your brother!" he hissed. "Tell him: 'the river'! The dam, right? And don't be seen!"
He slammed the door and turned to face the orcs. There were five of them, big and ugly, wielding fearsome weapons.
"Keep them busy," Greenleaf muttered to Aragorn, moving to his side, "we need to give Eowyn enough time to get out."
"Right," Aragorn said tensely, "would it be better to take it outside?"
"Maybe." The Elf glanced around. "All that powder's too volatile to fight around." He parried a downward slash from an orc with his knife, disembowelling the creature with another move. He dodged to the side as the carcass fell forward, turning his attention to the next orc. Aragorn had dispatched one with his sword, slicing its head clean off. Together, they pushed the three remaining orcs back through the door. One more fell to their combined blades, then they were out in the courtyard. And in front of them were rather a few more orcs. And also Saruman, with a vicious smile on his face.
The wizard raised his staff, muttering a word under his breath. Greenleaf and Aragorn were knocked out before they could kill another orc.
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