Part Seven: The Breaking of the Fellowship
Gimli took Ithilin's hand and helped her into the boat as Legolas finished loading their gear. Aragorn stood some distance away with Celeborn, talking quietly with the Elf Lord.
"It is good to see you and the elf together, my lady" the dwarf said, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. "It always seemed right, somehow."
"Did it now, Lord Gimli?" Ithilin laughed, "Do you still think us elves strange creatures?"
"Aye, that I do, Lady Ithilin. Yet, your strangeness suits you."
"Hannon le, Ai'atar." She said kissing his cheek, causing the dwarf to turn redder than his hair.
Legolas' eyes danced with barely concealed mirth. He had grown rather fond of the course dwarf, as the smaller being doted upon Ithilin like a kindly father.
"She's mine, dwarf." He said, his tone mock threatening though his eyes betrayed his laughter.
"Aye, I know that." Gimli growled. "But you'd better keep her on a short tether if you want to keep her, or she'll be wooing every male in striking distance."
The elf choked on his laughter, "And she doesn't half try."
"Careful," Ithilin warned teasingly, "I might just push you in the river, my Greenleaf."
"You'd be coming with me." He shot back, grinning wickedly as he tipped the boat precariously.
* * *
"Ithilin, you need to eat!" Legolas hissed quietly as she lay down next to him. Ten days out from Lothlórien and Ithilin had barely taken any sustenance. He was getting worried.
She nuzzled into his neck, seeing his warmth. "I can not."
"Why?"
"Our paths will separate very soon, I fear."
He could see it in her eyes. Every minute they spent together, now, was precious to her. "Must it be?"
"I would that it didn't have to be. I would that the ring had been destroyed three thousand years ago and we could live in peace with all the races of Middle Earth, but it is not as I wish. May Ilúvatar grant you and the rest a safer road."
"How soon?"
"Very." She answered burrowing closer to him and playing with the hooks on his jerkin.
"Are you hungry?"
"Not unless you are uncomfortable."
"Come," he whispered gently as he unhooked his jerkin and tunic. "It will ease your heart."
The eyes that looked back at him were filled with a sadness he had never seen there before. She had mourned Gandalf's passing, but that sadness had been one of loss. This was something that spoke of fear and acceptance.
"Eat." He said pulling her to his breast. She nuzzled him, her face wet with silent tears. As her lips closed over one of his nipples, he sighed heavily. He knew, in his heart, that this would be the last time for a while. "No matter what happens, Ithilin. No matter where you are. I will find you." Tears were streaking down his pale cheeks now as he held her tighter against him and kissed the top of her head. "You are mine. My heart and soul. In the darkest days of my life, you were my hope. I will love you until the end of days, my joy, my desire, my reason for living."
* * *
They reached Parth Galen near mid afternoon the next day and made camp on the beach.
Ithilin took a deep breath and slipped away from the camp, noticed only by her mate. He knew that she had to do this. He knew, too, that he could not follow, however much his heart wanted him to.
Legolas watched her for some time until she was out of sight, then turned to Aragorn.
"We should leave now."
"No." the ranger said glancing over his shoulder toward the other side of the lake. "Orcs patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for cover of darkness."
"It is not the eastern shore that worries me." Legolas said, not really knowing what Ithilin faced out there. "A shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near . . . I can feel it!"
Aragorn looked around. "Where's Ithilin?" he asked quietly.
"Gone." The torment in the elf's eyes and voice was unmistakable.
"Why?"
"She had to . . ." Legolas' soft voice broke. He couldn't continue, it was too painful.
"Go after her, you nift."
The elf swallowed hard and shook his blond head sadly, "I can not."
"If you won't, I will."
"No, mellon-nîn." He said putting a light but restraining hand on the human's shoulder. "She must do this alone. Neither of us can help her now."
Aragorn looked into the elf's eyes searching for understanding. How could he have let her go knowing something was out there waiting for her?
"Where's Frodo?" Merry asked, slightly alarmed, looking around the camp alarmed
Again, the ranger's eyes swept the camp. Boromir was missing as well. Fear crept into his heart at the possibilities. He also saw that Ithilin had left all of her weapons behind. Whatever she faced out there, she was defenseless.
"You and I will discuss Ithilin later." He growled at the elf as he headed off to find the little hobbit.
"No, Estel. We will not." He answered, setting his chin stubbornly. His eyes flashed a warning that he hoped the human would heed.
* * *
Ithilin stopped in front of the mounted figure and looked up.
"You are the Elf, Coithuliel?" the creature asked, licking its lips.
She nodded. She was afraid. Yet she refused to show this thing anything other than cold pride and dead calm, no matter what.
In one quick movement she was hoisted off the ground and placed in front of the creature on the horse. In the distance, she heard Aragorn shout. She could only hope that the quest would not fail, that her small sacrifice was not in vain.
As she and her captor rode northeast, the sound of a horn echoed through the forest.
"Boromir!" she breathed. "Ilúvatar, accept my offering and see them safely through this peril."
"What say you, she-elf?" the orc growled, his tongue bathing the point of her ear.
She closed her eyes and stiffened her back, shutting out the sensation. No matter what came, they would not break her.
* * *
Aragorn knelt over Boromir, his lips touching the younger man's forehead. "Be at peace, son of Gondor." He said in a choked whisper.
Legolas ran into the clearing followed closely by Gimli. The prince, on seeing Aragorn bending over Boromir, gasped softly. Although he knew she still lived at least for the moment, that could have easily been Ithilin lying there. He could still feel her strong presence in his mind. Their bond seemed stronger now than it had been when they left Rivendell.
"Legolas. Gimli. Help me get him back to camp."
Without a word, Legolas scooped Boromir's body up and carried the dead man back toward the beach. Gently he laid him down and slowly pulled each arrow out of the man's body. The tears in his eyes made it difficult to see what he was doing.
"Legolas," Aragorn said lightly touching the elf's shoulder, "you do not have to do this."
The prince shook off the human's hand, but remained silent. He sighed, fighting down the desire to break down right there. He could see his hands shaking with the effort of controlling his emotions. As long as he could feel her, he would hold on to hope. He could not afford to let himself fall into despair.
"Legolas"
"No." he whispered tightly, wiping his eyes on his sleeve to clear his vision.
"Look at me." Aragorn knelt at his friend's side, his fingers rested against the elf's chin willing the fair being to turn his head.
"Please. Don't do this." He said pulling away. The lump in his throat tightened painfully.
"Legolas, look at me!"
He had barely looked up, when the dam gave way. He fell over his knees, covering his head with his bloodstained hands. His slight body shook with the force of his silent sobs.
"Oh, Legolas." Aragorn sighed pulling his friend to him and cradling the prince in his arms. "How long have you known?"
"Let me up, Aragorn." Legolas hissed angrily, pushing the ranger's arms away. "I am not an elfling who needs comfort."
"I'm only trying to help, mellon-nîn."
"I will deal with her parting in my own way." The mask of utter calm fell across his face. "I have hope that we will see her again."
"Then, what was that break down?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." He had to cling to that hope. He had to. "Let us see to Boromir. He must have a warrior's byre."
After they laid Boromir to rest, Legolas shoved the third boat into the water.
"Hurry! Frodo and Sam have reached the eastern shore." He heard Aragorn sigh behind him and looked up, understanding lighting his blue eyes. "You mean not to follow them."
"Frodo's fate is on longer in our hands." He said buckling Boromir's vambraces on his forearm.
"Then it has all been in vain!" Gimli cried, "The Fellowship has failed."
Aragorn shook his head, laying his hands on the elf's and the dwarf's shoulders. "Not if we hold true to each other. We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not while we have strength left." He was also not about to let Legolas let Ithilin go so easily. He would talk to the elf about it soon, but not now. "Leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light." He grabbed up his dagger and slid it into its sheath at his waist, "Let's hunt some orc!"
"Yes!!!" Gimli laughed, grinning at the elf next to him.
Legolas grabbed up Ithilin's weapons, not wanting to leave them behind. As he followed Aragorn, he belted Ithilin's sword, Naurwen, at his waist and slung her bow across his body. She would need them when she returned.
Gimli took Ithilin's hand and helped her into the boat as Legolas finished loading their gear. Aragorn stood some distance away with Celeborn, talking quietly with the Elf Lord.
"It is good to see you and the elf together, my lady" the dwarf said, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. "It always seemed right, somehow."
"Did it now, Lord Gimli?" Ithilin laughed, "Do you still think us elves strange creatures?"
"Aye, that I do, Lady Ithilin. Yet, your strangeness suits you."
"Hannon le, Ai'atar." She said kissing his cheek, causing the dwarf to turn redder than his hair.
Legolas' eyes danced with barely concealed mirth. He had grown rather fond of the course dwarf, as the smaller being doted upon Ithilin like a kindly father.
"She's mine, dwarf." He said, his tone mock threatening though his eyes betrayed his laughter.
"Aye, I know that." Gimli growled. "But you'd better keep her on a short tether if you want to keep her, or she'll be wooing every male in striking distance."
The elf choked on his laughter, "And she doesn't half try."
"Careful," Ithilin warned teasingly, "I might just push you in the river, my Greenleaf."
"You'd be coming with me." He shot back, grinning wickedly as he tipped the boat precariously.
* * *
"Ithilin, you need to eat!" Legolas hissed quietly as she lay down next to him. Ten days out from Lothlórien and Ithilin had barely taken any sustenance. He was getting worried.
She nuzzled into his neck, seeing his warmth. "I can not."
"Why?"
"Our paths will separate very soon, I fear."
He could see it in her eyes. Every minute they spent together, now, was precious to her. "Must it be?"
"I would that it didn't have to be. I would that the ring had been destroyed three thousand years ago and we could live in peace with all the races of Middle Earth, but it is not as I wish. May Ilúvatar grant you and the rest a safer road."
"How soon?"
"Very." She answered burrowing closer to him and playing with the hooks on his jerkin.
"Are you hungry?"
"Not unless you are uncomfortable."
"Come," he whispered gently as he unhooked his jerkin and tunic. "It will ease your heart."
The eyes that looked back at him were filled with a sadness he had never seen there before. She had mourned Gandalf's passing, but that sadness had been one of loss. This was something that spoke of fear and acceptance.
"Eat." He said pulling her to his breast. She nuzzled him, her face wet with silent tears. As her lips closed over one of his nipples, he sighed heavily. He knew, in his heart, that this would be the last time for a while. "No matter what happens, Ithilin. No matter where you are. I will find you." Tears were streaking down his pale cheeks now as he held her tighter against him and kissed the top of her head. "You are mine. My heart and soul. In the darkest days of my life, you were my hope. I will love you until the end of days, my joy, my desire, my reason for living."
* * *
They reached Parth Galen near mid afternoon the next day and made camp on the beach.
Ithilin took a deep breath and slipped away from the camp, noticed only by her mate. He knew that she had to do this. He knew, too, that he could not follow, however much his heart wanted him to.
Legolas watched her for some time until she was out of sight, then turned to Aragorn.
"We should leave now."
"No." the ranger said glancing over his shoulder toward the other side of the lake. "Orcs patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for cover of darkness."
"It is not the eastern shore that worries me." Legolas said, not really knowing what Ithilin faced out there. "A shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near . . . I can feel it!"
Aragorn looked around. "Where's Ithilin?" he asked quietly.
"Gone." The torment in the elf's eyes and voice was unmistakable.
"Why?"
"She had to . . ." Legolas' soft voice broke. He couldn't continue, it was too painful.
"Go after her, you nift."
The elf swallowed hard and shook his blond head sadly, "I can not."
"If you won't, I will."
"No, mellon-nîn." He said putting a light but restraining hand on the human's shoulder. "She must do this alone. Neither of us can help her now."
Aragorn looked into the elf's eyes searching for understanding. How could he have let her go knowing something was out there waiting for her?
"Where's Frodo?" Merry asked, slightly alarmed, looking around the camp alarmed
Again, the ranger's eyes swept the camp. Boromir was missing as well. Fear crept into his heart at the possibilities. He also saw that Ithilin had left all of her weapons behind. Whatever she faced out there, she was defenseless.
"You and I will discuss Ithilin later." He growled at the elf as he headed off to find the little hobbit.
"No, Estel. We will not." He answered, setting his chin stubbornly. His eyes flashed a warning that he hoped the human would heed.
* * *
Ithilin stopped in front of the mounted figure and looked up.
"You are the Elf, Coithuliel?" the creature asked, licking its lips.
She nodded. She was afraid. Yet she refused to show this thing anything other than cold pride and dead calm, no matter what.
In one quick movement she was hoisted off the ground and placed in front of the creature on the horse. In the distance, she heard Aragorn shout. She could only hope that the quest would not fail, that her small sacrifice was not in vain.
As she and her captor rode northeast, the sound of a horn echoed through the forest.
"Boromir!" she breathed. "Ilúvatar, accept my offering and see them safely through this peril."
"What say you, she-elf?" the orc growled, his tongue bathing the point of her ear.
She closed her eyes and stiffened her back, shutting out the sensation. No matter what came, they would not break her.
* * *
Aragorn knelt over Boromir, his lips touching the younger man's forehead. "Be at peace, son of Gondor." He said in a choked whisper.
Legolas ran into the clearing followed closely by Gimli. The prince, on seeing Aragorn bending over Boromir, gasped softly. Although he knew she still lived at least for the moment, that could have easily been Ithilin lying there. He could still feel her strong presence in his mind. Their bond seemed stronger now than it had been when they left Rivendell.
"Legolas. Gimli. Help me get him back to camp."
Without a word, Legolas scooped Boromir's body up and carried the dead man back toward the beach. Gently he laid him down and slowly pulled each arrow out of the man's body. The tears in his eyes made it difficult to see what he was doing.
"Legolas," Aragorn said lightly touching the elf's shoulder, "you do not have to do this."
The prince shook off the human's hand, but remained silent. He sighed, fighting down the desire to break down right there. He could see his hands shaking with the effort of controlling his emotions. As long as he could feel her, he would hold on to hope. He could not afford to let himself fall into despair.
"Legolas"
"No." he whispered tightly, wiping his eyes on his sleeve to clear his vision.
"Look at me." Aragorn knelt at his friend's side, his fingers rested against the elf's chin willing the fair being to turn his head.
"Please. Don't do this." He said pulling away. The lump in his throat tightened painfully.
"Legolas, look at me!"
He had barely looked up, when the dam gave way. He fell over his knees, covering his head with his bloodstained hands. His slight body shook with the force of his silent sobs.
"Oh, Legolas." Aragorn sighed pulling his friend to him and cradling the prince in his arms. "How long have you known?"
"Let me up, Aragorn." Legolas hissed angrily, pushing the ranger's arms away. "I am not an elfling who needs comfort."
"I'm only trying to help, mellon-nîn."
"I will deal with her parting in my own way." The mask of utter calm fell across his face. "I have hope that we will see her again."
"Then, what was that break down?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." He had to cling to that hope. He had to. "Let us see to Boromir. He must have a warrior's byre."
After they laid Boromir to rest, Legolas shoved the third boat into the water.
"Hurry! Frodo and Sam have reached the eastern shore." He heard Aragorn sigh behind him and looked up, understanding lighting his blue eyes. "You mean not to follow them."
"Frodo's fate is on longer in our hands." He said buckling Boromir's vambraces on his forearm.
"Then it has all been in vain!" Gimli cried, "The Fellowship has failed."
Aragorn shook his head, laying his hands on the elf's and the dwarf's shoulders. "Not if we hold true to each other. We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not while we have strength left." He was also not about to let Legolas let Ithilin go so easily. He would talk to the elf about it soon, but not now. "Leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light." He grabbed up his dagger and slid it into its sheath at his waist, "Let's hunt some orc!"
"Yes!!!" Gimli laughed, grinning at the elf next to him.
Legolas grabbed up Ithilin's weapons, not wanting to leave them behind. As he followed Aragorn, he belted Ithilin's sword, Naurwen, at his waist and slung her bow across his body. She would need them when she returned.