Series: Whispers in the Dark – Part 1
Pairing: Legolas/Aragorn
Rating: Overall, NC 17. But it is PG for this chapter.
Warnings: AU
Summary: Something lurks in the darkness of the forest…
The Shadow
The persistent feeling of unease had long since settled at the base of their spines, coiling like an errant serpent. Yet, no one was willing to give voice to their fears – they were without doubt, plagued by an unwelcome presence.
The King had wanted to survey his lands, making sure that the wayward Orcs would not breach their territory and had brought along two of his best warriors and friends, Boromir as well as his younger brother, Faramir. Nevertheless, the presence of such fearsome warriors did little to save them from the plight that they had consistently found themselves in.
It had been almost a week now that the men of Gondor had gone without any form of meat in their diet, feeding instead on an increasingly stale supply of bread that they had brought with them for provision. Traps had been set and weapons sharpened, but that was all to no avail because not a deer, not even a rabbit had they managed to ensnare.
Traps were dismantled during the night, whatever creature that was caught under the cover of darkness had been freed. Once there was even an attempt to free their horses for the ropes that bound the animals to the trees were cut and their saddles thrown aside. It was fortunate then that the animals were loyal to their Masters and thus did not escape.
The men had tried to find the source of their discomfort, determined to put a stop to the mischief that had been done to them, only managing to unearth a chilling discovery – there were no evidence of footprints. No imprints upon the soft forest ground nor broken twigs or crushed leaves to show that the forest floor had been disturbed during the night. None whatsoever.
"It is not possible," said Boromir, distractingly running his fingers through his hair, pushing away the sweaty locks from his face. "Even the slightest of body must leave its mark upon the ground. It was as if the rogue were made of nothing but air!"
"I have read of spirits that roam the forest at night, waylaying unsuspecting wanderers. Perhaps we have displeased the guardian of the forest with our intrusion upon the woods?" Faramir suggested, squinting his eyes against the glare of the sun that had penetrated through the thin canopy of the forest trees.
"How you prattle, Faramir. It seems clear little brother, that you have been listening to too many of Gandalf's tales speaking of trees that walked in forests and of spirit beings that guard the trees. Nay, I do not believe in this stories, do you, sire?"
Aragorn smiled, witnessing the way at which the two brothers good-naturedly argued with one another. It was typical of Boromir to contradict whatever Faramir said, even if it was for argument's sake. But the King knew that deep down in Boromir's heart, he loved his brother more than life itself.
"I do not know what stalks us, my friends, but what I *can* tell you is that this… this *shadow*… does not mean us any harm. Perhaps it is just as Faramir said, and we have intruded upon his territory. But this forest is within the realm of Gondor – property of Gondor – and we will not be frightened by someone who will not show his face to us nor face us with a sword in hand."
Boromir snorted, as if to indicate his disbelief that any person who had tried to sabotage their attempts at ensnaring a meal could possibly not "mean any harm". But he became silent, deferring to the King's wisdom.
"Do not fear, Boromir," said Aragorn with a laugh at the look upon Boromir's face, "If it is deer meat you crave, it shall be as you desire. Do not worry, dear friend. We will taste the sweetness of red meat before reaching the White City."
So it was said and so they moved on, dwelling no more on the subject of the strange shadow, never noticing a keen pair of eyes watching them as they headed towards the thickest part of the forest…
*~*~*~*~*~*
The night had fallen, covering everything in a cloak of darkness that blinded the men, forcing them to make camp. It was quiet. So quiet that the men felt the strange unease they had felt escalating into a tension that robbed them of sleep. Something was going to happen. They sensed it more sharply this time… that feeling of being followed… being watched… and being stalked as if they were animals.
"I do not like this, my lord," Faramir whispered, his eyes trying to peer through the stubborn darkness in hopes of being able to see something… see anything. Anything but the all-consuming blackness that overwhelmed their senses.
"It is not natural, this darkness. Something is out there," Faramir continued, his hand resting upon the hilt of his sword, ready to attack should anything spring out from the darkness.
Aragorn stood up, his back straight and head tossed back. He was the complete picture of the King of Men – proud and regal of bearing as he spoke in voice that could send tremors of fears even through the most hardened heart of the enemies.
"If he that seek to fight the Lord Aragorn, King of Gondor, let him step forward now and draw his sword against him," he cried, the sharp note of a sword brushing against metal rang out loud in the blackness of the night as Anduril was drawn forth from its sheath, the blade glinting white even in the dark.
A sudden rustling in the tree above caught their attention. Something was moving. And it was moving quickly, as if it were leaping nimbly from branch to branch… from tree to tree.
"What kind of a man walks on trees?" Boromir whispered in horror as the rustlings became more frantic.
"This is no Man. Can you not tell? Hark! Their numbers have increased!" Faramir cried, his sword now drawn in preparation for battle as the noises from the leaves seemed to surround them completely.
But the King just laughed, the sudden outburst suddenly stilling the motions in the trees. It became quiet again, the silence broken only by the sounds of the King's deep laughter.
"Fear not, my friends. He only meant to frighten us off by trying to lead us into thinking that there is more than one in the trees. He is alone and will not attack unless provoked. Let us rest and take turns to keep watch just in case our escort decides to visit us in the night. Boromir, you keep first watch," Aragorn said, as he lay down upon the ground to rest, closing his eyes as he did.
"How do you know this, my lord? How can you tell?" Faramir asked, his worries not allayed as his eyes darted from tree to tree.
The King stifled a yawn as he answered.
"As you have said yourself, Faramir, this is no Man. If it had wanted to kill us, it would have done so already. Now be at ease and rest."
Before long, Aragorn and Faramir fell into a light sleep, leaving Boromir to contend with the darkness alone.
to be continued…
Pairing: Legolas/Aragorn
Rating: Overall, NC 17. But it is PG for this chapter.
Warnings: AU
Summary: Something lurks in the darkness of the forest…
The Shadow
The persistent feeling of unease had long since settled at the base of their spines, coiling like an errant serpent. Yet, no one was willing to give voice to their fears – they were without doubt, plagued by an unwelcome presence.
The King had wanted to survey his lands, making sure that the wayward Orcs would not breach their territory and had brought along two of his best warriors and friends, Boromir as well as his younger brother, Faramir. Nevertheless, the presence of such fearsome warriors did little to save them from the plight that they had consistently found themselves in.
It had been almost a week now that the men of Gondor had gone without any form of meat in their diet, feeding instead on an increasingly stale supply of bread that they had brought with them for provision. Traps had been set and weapons sharpened, but that was all to no avail because not a deer, not even a rabbit had they managed to ensnare.
Traps were dismantled during the night, whatever creature that was caught under the cover of darkness had been freed. Once there was even an attempt to free their horses for the ropes that bound the animals to the trees were cut and their saddles thrown aside. It was fortunate then that the animals were loyal to their Masters and thus did not escape.
The men had tried to find the source of their discomfort, determined to put a stop to the mischief that had been done to them, only managing to unearth a chilling discovery – there were no evidence of footprints. No imprints upon the soft forest ground nor broken twigs or crushed leaves to show that the forest floor had been disturbed during the night. None whatsoever.
"It is not possible," said Boromir, distractingly running his fingers through his hair, pushing away the sweaty locks from his face. "Even the slightest of body must leave its mark upon the ground. It was as if the rogue were made of nothing but air!"
"I have read of spirits that roam the forest at night, waylaying unsuspecting wanderers. Perhaps we have displeased the guardian of the forest with our intrusion upon the woods?" Faramir suggested, squinting his eyes against the glare of the sun that had penetrated through the thin canopy of the forest trees.
"How you prattle, Faramir. It seems clear little brother, that you have been listening to too many of Gandalf's tales speaking of trees that walked in forests and of spirit beings that guard the trees. Nay, I do not believe in this stories, do you, sire?"
Aragorn smiled, witnessing the way at which the two brothers good-naturedly argued with one another. It was typical of Boromir to contradict whatever Faramir said, even if it was for argument's sake. But the King knew that deep down in Boromir's heart, he loved his brother more than life itself.
"I do not know what stalks us, my friends, but what I *can* tell you is that this… this *shadow*… does not mean us any harm. Perhaps it is just as Faramir said, and we have intruded upon his territory. But this forest is within the realm of Gondor – property of Gondor – and we will not be frightened by someone who will not show his face to us nor face us with a sword in hand."
Boromir snorted, as if to indicate his disbelief that any person who had tried to sabotage their attempts at ensnaring a meal could possibly not "mean any harm". But he became silent, deferring to the King's wisdom.
"Do not fear, Boromir," said Aragorn with a laugh at the look upon Boromir's face, "If it is deer meat you crave, it shall be as you desire. Do not worry, dear friend. We will taste the sweetness of red meat before reaching the White City."
So it was said and so they moved on, dwelling no more on the subject of the strange shadow, never noticing a keen pair of eyes watching them as they headed towards the thickest part of the forest…
*~*~*~*~*~*
The night had fallen, covering everything in a cloak of darkness that blinded the men, forcing them to make camp. It was quiet. So quiet that the men felt the strange unease they had felt escalating into a tension that robbed them of sleep. Something was going to happen. They sensed it more sharply this time… that feeling of being followed… being watched… and being stalked as if they were animals.
"I do not like this, my lord," Faramir whispered, his eyes trying to peer through the stubborn darkness in hopes of being able to see something… see anything. Anything but the all-consuming blackness that overwhelmed their senses.
"It is not natural, this darkness. Something is out there," Faramir continued, his hand resting upon the hilt of his sword, ready to attack should anything spring out from the darkness.
Aragorn stood up, his back straight and head tossed back. He was the complete picture of the King of Men – proud and regal of bearing as he spoke in voice that could send tremors of fears even through the most hardened heart of the enemies.
"If he that seek to fight the Lord Aragorn, King of Gondor, let him step forward now and draw his sword against him," he cried, the sharp note of a sword brushing against metal rang out loud in the blackness of the night as Anduril was drawn forth from its sheath, the blade glinting white even in the dark.
A sudden rustling in the tree above caught their attention. Something was moving. And it was moving quickly, as if it were leaping nimbly from branch to branch… from tree to tree.
"What kind of a man walks on trees?" Boromir whispered in horror as the rustlings became more frantic.
"This is no Man. Can you not tell? Hark! Their numbers have increased!" Faramir cried, his sword now drawn in preparation for battle as the noises from the leaves seemed to surround them completely.
But the King just laughed, the sudden outburst suddenly stilling the motions in the trees. It became quiet again, the silence broken only by the sounds of the King's deep laughter.
"Fear not, my friends. He only meant to frighten us off by trying to lead us into thinking that there is more than one in the trees. He is alone and will not attack unless provoked. Let us rest and take turns to keep watch just in case our escort decides to visit us in the night. Boromir, you keep first watch," Aragorn said, as he lay down upon the ground to rest, closing his eyes as he did.
"How do you know this, my lord? How can you tell?" Faramir asked, his worries not allayed as his eyes darted from tree to tree.
The King stifled a yawn as he answered.
"As you have said yourself, Faramir, this is no Man. If it had wanted to kill us, it would have done so already. Now be at ease and rest."
Before long, Aragorn and Faramir fell into a light sleep, leaving Boromir to contend with the darkness alone.
to be continued…