(Author's note: Gollum and Aragorn reach Mirkwood and run into Legolas here. The song Aragorn sings is an actual song written in the books by J.R.R Tolkien.)
-=~**The Prodigal's Son**~=-
Chapter 3
"No! They blind us! Blind usss, nooo! Please don't take me there, I don't want to see them!"
Aragorn, son of Arathorn, cupped his hand over the slimy lips of the creature Gollum. It had been two days since he entered Mirkwood through the Elf-Path, and only an hour ago he had unbound Gollum; a decision he now regretted. Gollum's wailing continued although now it came out muffled through the Ranger's strong hand.
Ever since the wretched thing had seen the borders of Mirkwood through his strange, large eyes, he had begun to protest. Aragorn had scolded him and warned what his yelling could bring upon them, for Mirkwood was strange and contained many hidden foes in its shadows. Gollum paid attention to Aragorn's warning only briefly, then as if some switch flipped in Gollum's head, he returned to screaming about his delusions. Now Aragorn knelt on the ground and held Gollum to the floor, a dagger to the creature's scrawny neck as he bound his hands and feet. Gollum stared at Aragorn, then began to chuckle.
"Elvesss blind me, blind us! Poor Gollum, they want Precioussss. Precious hates Elves…Gollum hates Elves. Gollum hates you…dirty Ranger! Dirty man! Ha ha ha!"
Gollum giggled like a child as he twisted to and fro, his putrid breath and rotting teeth twisting the Ranger's features in disgust. The tip of his dagger was pressed harder into Gollum's throat, and he gasped and began to whimper like a hound. Aragorn sneered.
"Perhaps the Elves' patience will wear off faster than mine has, Gollum. I warn you again to stay still and be quiet, or I'll throw you in a sack and let the Elves do as they will with you. Leave you stranded and at the mercy of the Mirkwood Mountains, or cut off your head perhaps. "
"Nooo, nooo! We're sorry, so sorry poor Ranger! Precious is sorry too. Precious is very sorry."
Aragorn watched Gollum ramble to himself a moment as his mind raced. It had been a while since he had been in Mirkwood, and many rumors of the evil that had come to the woods had come to the Ranger's ears as well. He took a moment to smooth dirty locks of dark hair from his rough face. He still had a long while to go before he reached Thranduil's Caverns, and this was only part of the favor he was doing for Gandalf the Grey.
"Precious wants fissh, fisshes raw and squirmy! Preciousss will have all the fishes in the riversss!"
With a frustrated growl the Ranger held the creature down with his foot and took a sack and some rope out of his pack.
"Into a sack you go Gollum, you will endanger my life no more with your cries."
"NO! NO! We hates sackses! We HATES them!"
But the Ranger stood his ground and gagged Gollum, then tossing him into a sack as if he were no more than a pound of potatoes. Aragorn took advantage of Gollum's imprisonment and walked around the area, feeling leaves between his fingers and pressing his ear to the ground for signs of danger. Elves had come down this road not long ago, mounted on horses that had traveled very far. Perhaps he was not the only guest Thranduil would have this month.
Aragorn squatted and lifted the sack as he stood, hefting it over his shoulder and continuing on his way. Over 40 leagues he had traveled on foot, carrying this burden, for Rangers did not need horse or carriage to survive, much less Aragorn son of Arathorn. His pale eyes inspected the area around him once more before he risked a song. He needed to ward off the negative feelings that had overcome him since he first entered the Forest Gates, so he walked and sang softly to himself:
O! Wanderers in the shadowed land
despair not! For though dark they stand,
all woods there be must end at last,
and see the open sun go past:
the setting sun, the rising sun,
the day's end, or the day begun.
For east or west all woods must fail...
The Ranger smiled to himself, lost in thought as he continued despite the annoyance of Gollum's constant squirming. In his pleasant daydreams he lost track of time, dreaming of places and people from long ago. It was the sound of horse hooves' that made the dreams dissipate, and when he looked up he saw a grey horse and rider on the horizon. The horse's coat shone like silver and the creature itself glowed, but not as much as the being who road it. Aragorn strained his eyes. His vision was greater than regular mortal man, but not as great as the vision of the Elven folk. The light was a welcomed contrast to the darkness of Mirkwood. He picked up his pace to shorten the distance between the two when he heard a ringing laugh.
"Ai, Aragorn Arathornion, mellon nín!"
Aragorn smiled from ear to ear at the Elf's words, and a laugh escaped the Ranger's lips.
"Legolas! I never thought I'd reach your father's Great Hall."
Legolas dismounted his horse and landed without the slightest hop or sound, and came over to embrace his friend.
"And you haven't yet, my friend. Many leagues still separate us. I was sent to await you at the Enchanted River, but we had visitors who required guards and I sent mine with them. The River is too far from the gates, and I had begun to fear something had happened, so I rode ahead."
"The Valar were kind to me, despite the burden I've had to carry."
With that he threw the sack containing Gollum to the ground. The creature writhed and let out muffled screams within the fabric. Legolas' eyes turned to steel as he watched.
"Gollum... So this is the foul creature Mithrandir wants us to guard. So small…"
"But he is cunning and quick. Gandalf would not say much, and I would not pry further into his reasoning. Gollum must be watched carefully."
"How long are we to keep him here? Until Gandalf returns? If he returns?"
Aragorn frowned and sighed as Legolas glanced at his friend with worried eyes.
"I fear for him too, Legolas. But we cannot sit and do nothing except hope he is alright. Gandalf asked this favor, let us comply in the best manner possible, for then he will be twice as happy when he returns."
Legolas nodded and Aragorn clasped his shoulder.
"Mithrandir is stronger than most minds of Man or Elf can imagine, Legolas. We will see him again."
Legolas picked up Gollum and secured him to his horse's back. A few Elvish whispers in Gelebrin's ear calmed the creature from protesting. It took a bit of strength to regain peace in his features, but Legolas did so well enough.
"Come, Aragorn! If we ride together Gelebrin will take us to my father's Caverns in no time. There is no use in continuing on foot now, my friend."
"Agreed. I will ride behind you and make sure this Gollum doesn't slip away."
The Ranger mounted Gelebrin and Legolas was thankful he was a large steed to carry two males and the creature. With a nudge to his flanks, Gelebrin took off like a flash of silver down the Elf Path, towards the Caverns of King Thranduil.