Color of Distress
Disclaimer - I am deeply flattered by the few people that say I write like Tolkien. It's really something to be told you write like him, although I personally believe I'm a long way off. But even though some say I sound a bit like him, I am NOT him, and that makes Lord of the Rings not mine as well.
A/N – The first thing I want to say is "I AM REALLY SORRY!" I did not update this fic last Wednesday as I should have, but I was practically attending my own funeral. I caught the flu (and on the March Break, too.) and I could barely get out of bed. The day I did make it to the computer, I was writing an English essay on Catcher in the Rye. To top it off, I ached so much I didn't want to lift my arms to type. And I was so drugged up on Tylenol that even if I did manage to write more, it would have been about the really odd dreams I had about a dangerous fork and an electrical outlet and my pet turtle with Gimli's head. Well, I am feeling somewhat better. The only thing that will ever keep my from writing is my own death/near-death or a writer's block the size of Saskatchewan. So, if this ever happens again, heaven forbid, you know why. And I doubly apologize to those not on the mailing list because there was no way I could have let you know. Wow. Longest note I've ever written. Anyway, back to the improving Leggy!
Chapter 12 – "I hear orcs."
Legolas found he had a new respect for life. Knowing that a time might come where he might die made him appreciate everything more. He knew what it was like to be mortal. Legolas paddled their boat along the river with renewed vigor, and gloried in the sun that shone upon them.
Gimli was deeply hurt of what was asked of him by Legolas, and was somewhat moody. Legolas seemed to have all but forgotten the conversation, and was chatting with him lightly, much to his annoyance.
Gimli sat up at a long pause, and looked up at the elf. He sat tall, and his ears were up and alert, his blue eyes were intently scanning the shore.
"What it is?" Gimli asked quietly, not wanting to interrupt Legolas' concentration.
"I hear the footsteps of orcs." He whispered back, looking concerned. "They should not be out in the day."
A glance at Aragorn confirmed it. The ranger had heard it as well, and he began to move the boat at a faster pace, one that Boromir and Legolas took up quickly. They carried on at this speed for a while, and soon hear the faint sound of a waterfall.
Aragorn called a halt and indicated that they should stop on the western side of the Anduin. Boromir followed quickly, but Legolas sat still, holding the paddle in his hands limply.
"Legolas, shouldn't we go as well?" Gimli asked, tapping him on the shoulder. He was surprised to feel a tremor run through the elf.
"We must not stop here." Legolas said, watching the trees on the shore fixatedly. "We must move on."
"What do you mean?"
Legolas had tried to shake off his foreboding all afternoon, but it did not lessen. His apprehension grew stronger instead, and he felt with certainty some misfortune would befall them if they stopped here. But he did not want to voice his concerns out loud. There was no need to worry Aragon and Gimli further, and they might think he was having another attack of the voice.
Legolas shrugged lightly. "I did hear orcs earlier."
"You had me worried." Gimli said. "At the pace orcs travel, they will not be able to catch up with us until dawn. Now, take me to the shore. I despise boats."
Legolas glanced at the tree-clad hills of Amon Hen again, and began to paddle over. But these orcs traveled in daylight…
To his dismay, Merry and Pippin had taken pots and pans out and were beginning to cook, making it seem like they were to be here for a while. Legolas resisted the urge to throw water over the fire. He began pacing around the camp restlessly. He wanted to shake Gimli and Sam from their naps.
"Take your rest, Legolas." Aragorn said from behind.
Legolas turned around. "I require no rest." He said tartly, but lowered his voice and followed Aragon to his boat. "We cannot stay here."
He raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"I feel that something will happen. It will not be good. We should leave now." Legolas said, looking straight at the man.
"I – where's Frodo?" Aragorn demanded as he looked past Legolas.
Sam rose immediately and searched for his friend, but shook his head in relief. "Oh, I remember. He went to collect some firewood." He settled back down comfortably.
Aragorn walked off, frowning, having forgotten about Legolas. Legolas remained there looking off towards the river guiltily. He had forgotten that Aragorn was now leading the fellowship, and that he himself had been weighing Aragorn down with his own extra problems.
He decided not to speak about it again, and to trust Aragorn that it would do no harm to rest in this place. Legolas looked up to find that Aragorn had disappeared, along with Frodo and Boromir. Casting a glance at the remaining members of the fellowship, he went deeper into the trees, not knowing why.
There was a large outcropping with stairs carved into them, and he went to sit by them, whetting his knife in boredom. Soon I will be in Mordor…where so many have died fighting already. My grandfather… so many other noble elves. Will I be among them?
He stopped at looked down at his hands, were a drop of blood sat on his fingertip. Legolas remembered the incident at Lothlorien, what he wrote. The voice had controlled him then. Legolas was not sure if it were here now. He began to listen for it, but there was silence.
Legolas reached out to a tree and wrote in his best script, and felt none of the terror he did on that night. Because it is not here… it does not control me.
He felt a peaceful calm descend upon him, and he sat there watching the bark of the tree. A slight shudder ran through him, and his uneasiness returned in full force. Legolas stood up, put his knives away, and warily drew his bow and arrows. He had heard something approach, and the back of his neck prickled with warning..
Legolas heard a faint and desperate muttering, and it grew louder. He turned around slowly and silently, keeping his bow up and tensed. As he saw the figure, he relaxed. "Boromir, were you not collecting firewood."
The distraught man looked back at him, and it seemed liked he was trying to collect himself in vain. "Yes." Boromir said, shifting his eyes around. "Yes, I was. But the wood is wet. It must have rained recently."
Legolas was puzzled. "I do not think it has rained here in days."
"Well. That is … odd." Boromir said, shifting from one foot to the other. "Where is Aragorn? Is he at the camp?"
"He went looking for Frodo." Legolas said, and suddenly remember the tree he had written on, still fresh with his blood. He became distinctly uncomfortable and moved slightly to block it from Boromir's view.
"Frodo." Boromir repeated, a strange look coming to his eyes.
"I pity him." Legolas said. "I would not want to carry such a burden, and it is noble of him to."
"Everyone says that." Boromir said sourly. "If it were I, I would use it for a much nobler cause."
Legolas humored him. "And what would that be?"
"I would return to my home with it and protect my people."
"I have heard that people with even the best intentions for the use of the ring have been lured by its power. How do you know it will not posses you?" Legolas asked. Boromir's current demeanor was bitter, and he found it intriguing.
"How do you known it does not posses Frodo?" He said hotly. "No one understands, do they? Is it so wrong to want to protect my country? Why must such a powerful aid be thrown away? Without the ring, there is nothing powerful enough that I posses to at least keep evil from entering my doorstep, much less defeating it!"
"It was created by evil. I assure you, it will do no good. It must be destroyed." Legolas said. "Although I understand. The lands east of this river holds my home, and a necromancer once had settled close to it. My kind had nothing to do with him, and we did not concern ourselves with doings each other. But unease grew, and it was discovered that this necromancer was Sauron himself."
"Then you agree with me. You would use this ring to force him out." Boromir said eagerly.
Legolas shook his head. "You misunderstand. I merely said that I know why you would use it to protect your people. I will follow Frodo to the heart of Mount Doom, and I will watch him destroy it."
Boromir gave a growl of frustration and shoved past him. He hit a tree with a rounded fist until leaves began to fall. "Damn this fellowship!" he cried. "What use is it if we do not support each other?"
"We swore to support and accompany Frodo." Legolas said stonily. "Not to take the ring from him and use it for our own purposes." He felt disgusted with Boromir. "I am going back to the camp."
"I shall see you there, then." Boromir replied listlessly. "What's this?" His head was leaning on the same tree Legolas wrote on, and he was staring right at the crimson words. "It's elvish, isn't it?" Boromir's eyes were accusing and they bored into Legolas.
Legolas felt his body run cold. To have Aragorn and Gimli know was fine, but to have this boorish man find out was disgraceful. His alarm did not last long, however, as he heard a new sounds that gave him more to worry about. A glance to Boromir confirmed that the man did not hear it yet, and although Legolas did not trust him any longer, he felt obliged to tell him.
"I hear orcs approaching." Legolas stated. "Go back and warn the hobbits!" He picked up his bow and arrow that he had laid to the side and ran in the directions of the pounding footsteps.
The sun filtered through the canopy of leaves, and Legolas began vaguely thinking how pleasant running there could have been in different circumstances. He stopped when he heard footsteps coming from his right. Legolas immediately stood ready with an arrow nocked, standing slightly to the side of a tree.
There was a mighty shout. "Come here, you dirty orc, and I'll show you - " Gimli's axe was in full swing and struck the trunk of the tree which Legolas was standing behind.
"I am no orc, and I believe I'm a lot cleaner than one." Legolas said, and placed his arrow back into the quiver.
"I apologize." Gimli said, and raised his head. "I hear orcs, so I hurried out."
"You can hear them? I was always told that dwarves were quite deaf." Legolas said, biting back a grin.
Gimli scowled. "Well, some of us are close to it. But not me." He thumped his axe impatiently. "My axe has been waiting for orc, and it has not seen any since Moria. Let us hurry."
Legolas shrugged, and followed after him. He decided to tease Gimli more and easily overtook him. "Perhaps you are getting old," Legolas called to him. "If you cannot keep up with me."
"I am more of a sprinter." Gimli retorted, and began to go up a slight hill after Legolas. "Long distances are a bit more taxing. But I notice you wear no armor, and carry naught but your bow. You should try running with the extra weight."
"I have no need for armor." Legolas replied, and took out an arrow. "You'll see. I will not let the orcs come close." Without waiting for Gimli's reply, he jogged around the large stone they stood by, and shot the first orc he saw. Gimli followed him in not a moment later.
Aragorn was already there, quickly killing several orcs with wide sweeps of his sword. Gimli was fighting fiercely, and delivered many heavy blows with the axe.
How is Aragorn here already?
Legolas reached for another arrow in a motion that had become habit and let it fly into the next orc. It screamed and fell over. The next orc tripped over its body and fell. Legolas took out another arrow and shot it.
I must remember that he can hear nearly as well as any elf.
Legolas grasped a new arrow and quickly aimed at the next one. It stuck the orc square on it's chest and it collapsed without even a shriek.
Perhaps I should grant them all deaths like that. It seems painless enough.
He turned around quickly and shot an orc behind him, and turned back around without so much as a blink. Legolas fitted his next arrow in and shot again.
Well, enemies do not show mercy.
Legolas reached for his next arrow and touched air. He had run out, but he quickly kept the bow and took out his white knives. He easily avoided their attacks without effort, and pierced both in the back once. He briefly looked at Gimli, who was slashing madly in the middle of orcs.
And that is one of the differences between us. An orc has yet to touch me in battle, while Gimli willingly jumps into their midst. I would not want these corrupted ones to touch me.
Legolas felt himself pity the orc that was running towards him. To be created as such a creature, hated, feared, and treated horribly. To be trained to hate men and elves alike. But Legolas shook himself out of his thoughts, because pity or not, the orc had every intention of killing him. Legolas stepped to the side to avoid its attack, and thrust his knife into its side.
All motion suddenly ceased. Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli stood still, as did the orcs. They stood for a moment listening to a deep, resonating horn that was blown numerous times. A ripple of muttering went through the orcs and half of them began running in the direction from which Legolas and Gimli came.
"The Horn of Gondor." Legolas said suddenly, once he realized what it was. It was blown again, and he looked to Aragorn and Gimli.
"I'll go to Boromir." Aragorn said, and began running with his sword out.
"Why did Boromir call for help?" Legolas shouted to Gimli as they resumed their fights. "Did these foul goblins reach them already?"
Gimli grunted, hacked at two orcs, and wiped his brow. "Maybe. But there cannot be that many. He is overreacting." Gimli returned to his hacking.
Legolas pulled his knives from his last kill. "I hope so."
The orcs are not the source of my misgivings, for I feel it still. Aragorn should have listened. We should have already left.
What will happen?
To be continued…
Alrighty then, big thanks to the great and wonderful and mighty reviewers! I thank you must gratefully for the feedback. I'll start by acknowledging those I do not write full sentences to below because I'm horrible and a lazy and still semi-drugged up on medicine because my mother insists that I haven't fully recovered yet: Lirenel, Musicgrl, Silent Angel, Judy, Valerie, Lel Vagot , Houki, Imaginator, Imirie, somethinginthebasement, Jada's Angel, Sagaxus, WJO, orli92003.
Cheysuli – Whoops. I'm guessing I wrote that at the onset of my flu, so maybe I wasn't in my right mind. Anyhoo, thanks for link, it helped tons.
Merrylyn – I have given no thought to the ending, and I barely ever give thought to the way the next chapter will turn out, unless there is something huge that has to be there. This is my very first Lord of the Rings fic, and it was more of an experiment than anything. I start a new chapter everything Thursday, and I just start writing whatever comes to mind. A bad habit, or so says my evil English teacher. Nest fic will have much planning, though.
Erhothwen – Thanks for the link, although…oops. It didn't work!
Mirigreenleaf – Don't apologize to me about confusing me, because I'm confused nearly half the time. Oh, and I really hope your friends are still alive. ^_^
Lady-Daine – Yeah! Nasty voice should to chem. homework for us all! But it would probably sit at the table and hiss "Stupid textbook… you can't even answer your own questions." I think… no… I'm pretty sure I've been using a Sindarin dictionary, so that would make the elvish I use Sindarin as well.
RainyDayz – Did you see that part when they were travelling on the river, and Boromir and Aragorn got into a bit of an argument. I howled when I saw Boromir's expression the next morning. He looked like he was going to cry! I had to pause the DVD because it was so amusing.
Soulseracher - Arbariel – Unfortunately, I'm not letting myself read ROTK, so all I known about Faramir is from the Two Towers. Maybe he will annoy me, but just not yet. I applaud you for figuring out that Legolas would ask that. I didn't know I was going to add that in until I came to the part when he woke up. You know officially know this fic better than me! ^_^
Dream Keeper – I only vaguely knew two weeks ago what the voice was, and admittedly, it would probably have been one of the two. Now that you've brought it up, I'm furiously trying to rethink it. The revelation was supposed to come with the arrival of Gandalf, and I'm sure I can still manage it, but holy cow, I need to get thinking. As for writing when I'm done school… I considered it, but it's not possible. I'm in the eleventh grade, and it's too late for me to take more literature and writing courses because I'm already on a full timetable. So I'm only taking the one English class. I'm lined up to go take sciences and veterinary medicine in University, although writing could be a back up sort of thing. *sigh* This is stressful, and the guidance counsellors never stop hounding me. Okay, happy thoughts, none of this plan my future stuff!
Wow. I never noticed how writing back to some reviews is like therapy. It's really nice, and every Tuesday, when I sit down and write these, I have fun. Anyways, we're all still checking on Wednesdays unless I recover from this round of the flu only to catch pneumonia and die. I still can't get over the fact I had the flu on the March Break. That really made me mad.