*** I love you all!! Thank you so much for having the consideration
to read and
review! I appreciate it! Hope you enjoy my fanfic. I have an idea of where it is going, so
please continue to R/R. Much Love!
Chapter 5
The team had a destination and a purpose, they were having the adventure of their
lives, and High Pass was only days away. Things were definitely looking up. Everything,
that is, except the weather. A cold rain pounded down upon the glum, depressed plains
in sheets. The ground was muddy and the general morale of nature seemed to be low.
Visibility was poor, and, if it hadn't been for the keen eyesight of Legolas, progress
would have been impossible. The prospect of reaching Rivendell on time seemed to be
50/50. The pair of friends was hopeful, though, contrasting to the gale around them.
'Hah, nothing like a good sprint across the plain,' Gimli remarked, 'especially in
such good weather.'
'Quite right,' Legolas agreed, 'just a bit further. If we quicken our pace, we
should make it by nightfall.'
'So much for visiting my kin,' Gimli said, keeping pace, 'but, what could be
better than a grand adventure such as this. I can't think of a thing.except perhaps
mining.'
The two ran nonstop the rest of the way to High Pass. When they finally arrived,
the place was completely deserted. Not a soul seemed to be stirring.
'Gimli, something is not quite right,' Legolas gathered.
'Aye, I sense it too,' Gimli agreed, 'or rather don't sense it.'
'There are no traces of life anywhere. What could have happened?'
'Let's make haste, we need to inform Gandalf.'
With that, they rushed in the direction of Rivendell, forgetting their fatigue.
Eventually, they came across a group of elves.
'Hail, Legolas Lightfoot,' one elf said bowing.'
'And Gimli Forkbeard!' another one exclaimed.
'Pesky elves, have you nothing better to do than annoy us?' Gimli fumed, 'we
have some very important matters to attend to.'
'Yes, we have been sent to escort you straight to counsel with Elrond and
Gandalf,' a more prominent-looking elf replied.
Legolas and Gimli came into the beautiful, serene Rivendell. It was absolutely
breathtaking. Even the weather was flawless there. They had left the squall behind them
and entered into perfection. The sounds of water gently rushing past and elvish singing
combined with the scent of a king's feast to make a complete and utterly magnificent
paradise.
They were then hastened off to counsel. When they arrived, Gandalf and Elrond
were already seated in large throne-like chairs around a largish table. Legolas took his
seat beside Elrond and Gimli his by Gandalf. In front of them had been laid a small
banquet. Gimli started in immediately.
'Gandalf, Beorn sent us to tell of the strange happenings near his Carrock as of
late,' Legolas explained, 'he said that many evil beasts were seen and he told of strange
omens. He senses danger, Gandalf. What do you know of this?'
Gandalf took a contemplative puff from the pipe he was smoking.
'I see,' he said finally, 'it has come to my attention that Saruman has come back
to power. Did you come in contact with any of the evil beasts Beorn mentioned?'
'Only if you count those orcs,' Gimli choked out, through mouthfuls of juicy
venison.
'Orcs?' Gandalf questioned, 'was there anything odd about them?'
'Yes,' Legolas said knowledgeably, 'they made neither footprints nor any sound.
That is what first alerted us to the strange goings-on.
'Hmmm.did they die.. normally?' Gandalf asked, trying to piece the puzzle
together.
Gimli nodded, his mouth too full to answer. Gandalf stroked his beard
thoughtfully.
'What do you think Gandalf?' Elrond inquired.
'I think that the creatures were, instead of orcs themselves, ghosts,' Gandalf
announced, 'on my way here, I came across a group of goblins. They were, however, like
none I had ever seen before. I monitored them closely from a nearby tree. Unlike normal
goblins, they talked only when they had to and showed no emotion. They didn't consume
food or grow tired. In fact, they didn't seem alive at all.'
'But Gandalf!' Elrond protested, 'Surely Saruman doesn't have that kind of
power.'
'No, I don't think he does, but rather, I think he has had some help, Gandalf
replied.
'From whom?' Elrond questioned, 'who has that kind of power?'
'There is only one person who has that kind of power, but I imagine that Saruman assisted him,' Gandalf elucidated.
'Who?' Gimli cried.
'The Necromancer,' Gandalf said solemnly.
review! I appreciate it! Hope you enjoy my fanfic. I have an idea of where it is going, so
please continue to R/R. Much Love!
Chapter 5
The team had a destination and a purpose, they were having the adventure of their
lives, and High Pass was only days away. Things were definitely looking up. Everything,
that is, except the weather. A cold rain pounded down upon the glum, depressed plains
in sheets. The ground was muddy and the general morale of nature seemed to be low.
Visibility was poor, and, if it hadn't been for the keen eyesight of Legolas, progress
would have been impossible. The prospect of reaching Rivendell on time seemed to be
50/50. The pair of friends was hopeful, though, contrasting to the gale around them.
'Hah, nothing like a good sprint across the plain,' Gimli remarked, 'especially in
such good weather.'
'Quite right,' Legolas agreed, 'just a bit further. If we quicken our pace, we
should make it by nightfall.'
'So much for visiting my kin,' Gimli said, keeping pace, 'but, what could be
better than a grand adventure such as this. I can't think of a thing.except perhaps
mining.'
The two ran nonstop the rest of the way to High Pass. When they finally arrived,
the place was completely deserted. Not a soul seemed to be stirring.
'Gimli, something is not quite right,' Legolas gathered.
'Aye, I sense it too,' Gimli agreed, 'or rather don't sense it.'
'There are no traces of life anywhere. What could have happened?'
'Let's make haste, we need to inform Gandalf.'
With that, they rushed in the direction of Rivendell, forgetting their fatigue.
Eventually, they came across a group of elves.
'Hail, Legolas Lightfoot,' one elf said bowing.'
'And Gimli Forkbeard!' another one exclaimed.
'Pesky elves, have you nothing better to do than annoy us?' Gimli fumed, 'we
have some very important matters to attend to.'
'Yes, we have been sent to escort you straight to counsel with Elrond and
Gandalf,' a more prominent-looking elf replied.
Legolas and Gimli came into the beautiful, serene Rivendell. It was absolutely
breathtaking. Even the weather was flawless there. They had left the squall behind them
and entered into perfection. The sounds of water gently rushing past and elvish singing
combined with the scent of a king's feast to make a complete and utterly magnificent
paradise.
They were then hastened off to counsel. When they arrived, Gandalf and Elrond
were already seated in large throne-like chairs around a largish table. Legolas took his
seat beside Elrond and Gimli his by Gandalf. In front of them had been laid a small
banquet. Gimli started in immediately.
'Gandalf, Beorn sent us to tell of the strange happenings near his Carrock as of
late,' Legolas explained, 'he said that many evil beasts were seen and he told of strange
omens. He senses danger, Gandalf. What do you know of this?'
Gandalf took a contemplative puff from the pipe he was smoking.
'I see,' he said finally, 'it has come to my attention that Saruman has come back
to power. Did you come in contact with any of the evil beasts Beorn mentioned?'
'Only if you count those orcs,' Gimli choked out, through mouthfuls of juicy
venison.
'Orcs?' Gandalf questioned, 'was there anything odd about them?'
'Yes,' Legolas said knowledgeably, 'they made neither footprints nor any sound.
That is what first alerted us to the strange goings-on.
'Hmmm.did they die.. normally?' Gandalf asked, trying to piece the puzzle
together.
Gimli nodded, his mouth too full to answer. Gandalf stroked his beard
thoughtfully.
'What do you think Gandalf?' Elrond inquired.
'I think that the creatures were, instead of orcs themselves, ghosts,' Gandalf
announced, 'on my way here, I came across a group of goblins. They were, however, like
none I had ever seen before. I monitored them closely from a nearby tree. Unlike normal
goblins, they talked only when they had to and showed no emotion. They didn't consume
food or grow tired. In fact, they didn't seem alive at all.'
'But Gandalf!' Elrond protested, 'Surely Saruman doesn't have that kind of
power.'
'No, I don't think he does, but rather, I think he has had some help, Gandalf
replied.
'From whom?' Elrond questioned, 'who has that kind of power?'
'There is only one person who has that kind of power, but I imagine that Saruman assisted him,' Gandalf elucidated.
'Who?' Gimli cried.
'The Necromancer,' Gandalf said solemnly.