Title: Light After the Storm, Chapter Four: Possessions
Author: Nefertili
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Pairing(s): Aragorn/Legolas
Rating: PG
Genre(s): Romance, Angst
Warning(s): SLASH, meaning same gender relationships. If you are disturbed by this, read no further. Don't say I didn't warn you. There is also violence in here.
Author's Notes: OK, I'm back! Thank you, thank you a gazillion times, all my reviewers: Fire Eagle, Kat UK, Silver Faith, Marieke, poopy, Shadow41, Iara, Amethyst Bubble, nekomoongirl and all of those reviewers out there! This Chapter is for you! [Do you think I don't acknowledge you? ^_^] There's a hint of a Gandalf/Frodo here. Umm…another pain is coming to Legolas here, be prepared!
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Arwen screamed, attempting to go free, but her father's grip on her was strong. She replied with a bit of malice in her voice, "I am your daughter, what are you doing to me, Father?" True enough, no mask came off.
Elrond reluctantly let go of the Evenstar that was his daughter. Arwen let out a relieved sigh and massaged her cheek with a look of accomplishment in her grey eyes. But she was wrong; Elrond wasn't over with her.
Her father grasped her elbow and said portentously, "You are not going to get away easily. You are not Arwen; I can feel it. If you are not wearing a mask, then you are using my daughter's body. Evil spirit, let go of her!"
When Arwen refused to answer, avoiding her father's imperious glance, Elrond called on Gandalf. "Mithrandir! Have pity on this daughter of mine! If it is your will, free her from her enslavement to this spirit!"
Suddenly, as though awakened by Elrond's words, Arwen let out a great burst of power that was clearly beyond her and managed to wrench herself from her father's grasp. With a fearful look at Gandalf, she attempted to run away.
"A possession!" Gandalf shouted and readied his spell as Elrond and Aragorn ran after Arwen, who was nearly on the door of the temple. They got hold of Arwen by her arms and pulled her back to the aisle before Gandalf. They were having a hard time doing so, as Arwen did not stop shrieking and thrashing her head and dark locks about, as though she were insane; not to mention she would not stop kicking and attempting to trip her two captors. Legolas ran towards them to help, but only to have the Elven lady strike out and wound him once more on his shoulder with her long nails.
"Please, Legolas, don't get entangled with this," Aragorn said, dodging a fling of Arwen's arm as he sought to get hold of it once more. "You've had enough of pain by now."
Legolas simply nodded and ran behind Gandalf, running his fingers over the wound which was newly inflicted upon him. Gandalf slowly, steadily walked up to the screeching, writhing Arwen. Her hair was strewn about and her delicate silken veil was askew. The hem of her wedding dress was torn in three places; one of her sleeves had a hole in it. She was now barefoot, as she had kicked off her pearl-colored shoes in her attempts of escape. Her face was horrible and she was barely recognizable. Her lipstick smeared on her chin, making her look as though she had just sucked blood (Nefertili: Eww…do you think Arwen would make a good vampire?). The rest of her make-up mixed in several places of her face, making several peachy-gray splotches. But what really transformed the Lady from Imladris were her eyes; they burned with a fire that could frighten even experienced warriors.
"Arwen, daughter of Elrond and Celebrían Peredhel, Evenstar of Imladris, too long have you eat in the Shadows."
Arwen let out a shriek that could have passed for a roar and bared her teeth at Gandalf. Elrond's dark hair was all over his face and his ornate tiara was off-center from his face. He held Arwen with one hand as he struggled to remove stray hairs from his eyes; they were interfering with his vision. Aragorn's hand had red teeth marks imprinted on them: a token of Arwen's bite.
Gandalf positioned his hand before the screaming tiger that was Arwen and muttered, "I release you from this spell, brought to you by the Evil Ones."
The Elf let out a final scream so loud that the temple shuddered and bits of masonry fell from the ceiling. Her body gave a violent shake as the spirit, in the form of a smoky, menacing shadow left her. She fell quiet in her father's arms.
But instead of fading, the shadow revealed red eyes with dilated pupils like that of a cat's and before Gandalf could even do another move, it advanced towards Legolas, unaware of it.
"NO, NOT LEGOLAS!" Aragorn yelled and ran towards him. Legolas, alarmed by Aragorn's frantic scream, finally saw the spirit, but out of the pain of his new wound and of immortal fear for his soul, he stayed transfixed.
"MOVE, LEGOLAS!"
Elessar outran the shadow and pushed Legolas aside. Before Legolas knew it, he was spread-eagled below the stairs of the altar. When he moved hi head up, he stared with horror at Aragorn, now letting out cries of indescribable pain. The King of Gondor unexpectedly silenced himself after a while. Did he overcome the spirit, or was he taken by it?
The answer came in a moment's delay. Aragorn looked up from his hands which were clawing at his scalp. His face had on a twisted smile and he turned to face Legolas with eyes that reflected a threat, the way they saw Arwen moments ago.
This, however, didn't stop Legolas from approaching him. "Aragorn, are you all right?" Legolas stood up, but as he tried to comfort the son of Arathorn, a sharp slap hit his cheek, leaving a red mark in its wake. Legolas fell to the floor because of the force of the blow.
Someone in the crowd shouted, "You're out of your mind!" The crowd gasped in revulsion as Aragorn laughed and stood up before Legolas, stepping on one of his hands. Legolas instinctively pulled it away from him with fear. Wait a moment…he looked like Aragorn, but that voice wasn't his. It was more of like a cross between the hiss of a snake and the roar of a lion.
"Ha!" the spirit in Estel's body sneered. "How easily I went in here! Much easier to tackle with than the daughter of the half elven…A weak soul, eh? I was even able to take over his voice! Is this the heir of Isildur? I'd bet his people will fail, now that he's their King!"
"Who are you?" Gandalf demanded of the ghost, brandishing his staff at him. "Reveal yourself!"
Aragorn smirked even more and raised an eyebrow as he said, "And you, Gandalf Graybeard? I've heard of you, the old, bent, crooked wizey who keeps on forgetting his spells!"
"That's not true!" Frodo suddenly yelled back. "Gandalf is no wizey who doesn't give undivided attention to his spells!"
"Aye, what have we here? Frodo, the son of Drogo!" The spirit sneered. "What a funny name you and your father have!"
Frodo boiled with anger. "You don't dare insult my name or my father's!"
This time, Arwen was beginning to be conscious again. When she awoke, her first reaction was to be suspicious of herself in her father's arms.
"What…what happened to me?" she muttered, looking about her.
"Hush, my child, you were possessed," Elrond told her.
Arwen asked several more questions until she finally saw Aragorn with Legolas cowering at his feet.
"Aragorn, why is your voice like that? Legolas, what happened to you? Your clothes are torn…and you have a sore spot on your cheek!"
She, unaware of what happened to him, approached Aragorn. Legolas tried to warn her, but she continued.
"Estel," she said, reaching out for the heir of Gondor. "Really, what's wrong with-''
SMACK! Arwen fell to the floor beside Legolas. This time, Elrond wasn't able to take it standing there, watching Aragorn inflict harm on two of his kindred. He drew his sword from its sheath and advanced towards Aragorn. Legolas and Arwen sensed danger and they crawled quickly from the impending fight between Elrond and Elessar.
Elrond raised his sword in attack, but Aragorn dodged the blade, laughing spitefully. Aragorn got hold of a leg of the nearest pew, sending the frightened guests rushing away from him as he tore it from the rest of the seat, producing a pointed shard. He shot it at Elrond, who ducked as well. The piece of wood attached itself to the wooden temple door in perfect target, as though it were a metal pin attracted to a magnet.
Once more, Elrond sent his weapon lashing at Aragorn, this time nearly wounding his waist. Furious, Aragorn crouched and managed to trip Elrond from his feet. As he made a fist and tried to knock his opponent on the face, Elrond moved his head sharply to the side and using his free hand that was not clutching his sword, he swerved his arm in order to swing Aragorn away from him. The force left Aragorn sprawling on his back on the floor just as Elrond stood up and pointed the blade of the sword on Aragorn's throat.
This time, between short gasps, the spirit said, "Go ahead, Half elven! Kill this body! Kill Aragorn, the son of Arathorn as well! You would have left the job clean and made it easier for me!"
Alarmed by this, Legolas went between Aragorn and Elrond, who automatically lowered his blade. "No, Lord Elrond!" the Prince of Mirkwood pleaded with the Lord of Rivendell.
But he was prevented from saying more words by…Aragorn himself! He was pulling his blond hair, disheveling it more than ever.
"Aragorn is such a fool for his pains for what he did," Estel-or the spirit-said, pulling at his hair so rigidly that Legolas let out a single gasp of pain and surprise. So hard, the son of Arathorn pulled atthe Prince's moonlight blond locks; that he seemed to have detached them from the scalp of Legolas
"Only fools would have the guts to do what he did, standing up for an Elf like you. I couldn't put to mind that he could give up his life for such a creature as you are!" Aragorn lowered his head near Legolas' pointed ears to directly say the insulting words to him. He was so close to Legolas' face that the Elf can feel his warm breath biting at his pale skin.
"Stop it, Estel!" Arwen said.
"There's no use talking to him now," Elrond told her even before the Evenstar of the Elves could further act. He held her shoulders firmly to stop her from moving towards Aragorn and Legolas. Her transformation was seen clearly now, as tears were running down her grey eyes to her cheeks in despair for her kith and kin.
Legolas dared to look at Aragorn, whose face was beside his now. Those steely grey eyes that looked back at him were expressionless…merciless…evil, if there are better words to describe them. Legolas wondered, and it pained him to do so if this was really Aragorn. Is this the same Aragorn who cradled him in his arms a moment earlier? Is this Aragorn, who swore to him he love him and him alone? The Aragorn who could not lift a finger to harm him, but would even come to his aid if he had the chance or not…? As all the questions formulated in Legolas' mind, once more, a tear slipped down from his eye. He knew, try as hard as he might, he could not dare to have ill feelings toward Aragorn, his love, no matter, despite all that he did.
Out of a sudden, he felt the grip of Aragorn on his hair loosen and his eye soften. Elessar opened his mouth.
"Legola-''
It was his normal voice that carried his lover's name halfway! But that moment of hope ended as swiftly as it had started. Aragorn threw Legolas towards Gandalf's direction and cried out. Of what reason, one cannot be certain. He was clutching his head as he thrashed about just as Arwen had done earlier. Now the menacing voice was back.
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Okay, how was the action? I'm not exactly an expert at writing about swordfights or wrestling, so I kept the part on that short. What would you think will happen next? Will Legolas be in Aragorn's embrace again?