For Others Sake—
Feeling the pressure now, Levanna and the others silently watched the Orc's, who silently watched them. She felt Legolas squeeze in between her and Aragorn, and with a smile she reached over and squeezed his hand.
It was to her own total embarrassment to find that it wasn't Legolas' hand after all.
Slowly she turned her head and looked at the frightened person, eyes wide and brow furrowed.
Levanna tried to remain calm. "Pardon me, I thought you were someone else."
The woman chuckled. "I hope so, I'd hate to think you..." She trailed off, not feeling it was wise to say. Extending her hand she said, "Ellome."
Levanna stared at the hand, then shook it. "Levanna Talltree."
Ellome looked at her. "The Beradan?"
Levanna chuckled. "Yes, the Beradan."
"You... Are nothing of what I expected the Beradan to be."
"Oh?" Levanna looked at her again. "What exactly did you expect me to be?"
"Like the stories say. Half Elf by the tongue, but Hobbit by the sight, hair raven, skin like the moon, always looking for a fight. Fully beautiful and full of scorn, her passions roam the land. There is naught a male in sight that could resist her hand."
Levanna listened intently. "Basically they say I speak Elvish, look like a Hobbit, only petty, and am an evil temptress when I don't win?"
"That's about it."
"Oh goody goody." The final remark was replaced by her gasp of surprise as an arrow flew past her, narrowly missing her head. She drew her own and placed it in the bow, and as shots began to fire, she released it and watched as it flew and hit an Orc, square on the nose.
She and Ellome fired instantaneously, for the Orc's were coming closer, and the arrows were running low.
"2? I'm on 17."
Two shots were fired. "19."
Levanna laughed at Legolas and Gimli's brawl and continued to shoot. She ran out of arrows and, with a gulp of breath, ran down into the hordes of Orc's, drew her sword and began to battle. She was surprised to see Ellome follow her shortly after, but just continued to fight the long gruesome war that they all had helped to create.
Everything seemed to happen in a blur. The wall came down, the Orc's came all the more forward, and soon the women were swamped in them.
"These are the strangest Orcs I've ever seen in my life!"
"They aren't Orcs," Ellome stabbed one, and turned to the Beradan. "They are Uruk-Hai."
Levanna's eyes widened and she killed another, already exhausted. A part of her wanted to give out, to let one kill her and to be free of this world that would surely falter– There was no hope. Everything, everyone was doomed.
Her thoughts suddenly left the blankness and fell to Frodo. Frodo who had left Rivendell so innocent and pure, and Frodo who was now pushing Sam away... Her away, he belonged to the Ring now, completely and his heart no longer held a place for Sam and herself. The Ring had consumed him.
She knew now that she had to get back, after seeing him in the Forests of Ithilien she knew Sam could not handle him alone, there was no way. She just had to get back.
"Levanna, look out!" Olane`as voice brought her back and she whipped her sword around and killed a Uruk.
"I didn't know Elf women were trained in battle." He said softly. She smiled as they walked.
"They usually aren't. Legolas trained me since some village people were very hostile toward me. I haven't once had to use it for that, but I'm prepared. Can you fight?"
"I can carry my own weight. I was spoiled by my cousin, so I never was really trained in anything. But I've learned some during this journey."
Levanna smiled at the thought. She continued to fight as memories surged back.
"Can you handle a sword?" She asked. He looked over to her and began to grin .
"I've had little experience but once again, I can manage my own weight. How about you?" He watched as she lifted her head to look into his face.
"I'm better with a bow, but Legolas showed me a thing or two." She blushed at the way he was looking to her.
Tears flooded her eyes at how different he had become from the shy, sweet man she had met. Now he didn't talk to anyone, unless it concerned the journey or the Ring and how it was no one else's task. He had not embraced or kissed her in quite a long time, and he hadn't looked at her fondly since he had dragged her into the boat.
He stopped walking and looked her straight in the eye. "We'd best be heading back before we are lost." He could barely speak as he searched her eyes for any sign of agreement. He decided to let his instincts take over and he leaned forward, gently pressing his lips to hers. The kiss was short lived, but it's significance would never die. Her lips were just what he imagined them to be. His heart skipped a beat as she had tried to somewhat kiss him back.
The sun began to rise and Levanna realised she had spent the entire night fighting, unaware because of the grief she felt in reliving that kiss over and over. As Gandalf's words echoed in her mind she turned and looked at his directed spot, and there Eomer and his men began riding down, throwing their spears at the Uruks, trampling them with their horses and using other methods to kill them. Levanna gasped and grunted, turning her head to see the grinning Uruk whose sword rested in her side, she slashed it's throat with her own, moaning and falling to her knees where another Uruk spotted her.
She braced herself as it's sword rose above her and nearly fell over in shock as an arrow killed it. She looked to the source and watched Legolas and Aragorn come running forward. The pain was to an extent that she was nauseated, her heart semmed to slow and the world was a dizzying thing.
"Levanna! Get up! What's..." Legolas froze upon seeing the sword in her side, halfway engorged in her flesh. "No."
Aragorn knelt next to her, gripping the blade where it met her. "My old friend this will hurt immensely. Squeeze Legolas' hand while I do this and scream as you want, the riders will protect us." With that she grabbed Legolas' hand and screamed in brutal pain as Aragorn ripped the cold steel from her flesh.
She almost fell but Aragorn lifted her into his arms and began to run to the shelter with her, she opened her eyes to see her rosy blood seep onto the floor. Her eyes closed again and she didn't open them for some time.
Levanna woke to see Gandalf over her and she smiled lightly, trying to sit up but feeling a numbness in her abdomen.
"Gandalf?"
"We have you under some herbs, so you wont try anything as I speak to you." He took a breath, then looked at the young woman. "We've allowed Frodo and Sam to follow Gollum. You're going to have to go for you yourself know Cirith Ungol is a dangerous place. You may leave as soon as we update you. The Uruks are all dead. Any that were not killed in battle were killed by the trees. Olane`a has all ready returned to Meriadoc and Peregrin. Aragorn and Legolas have been helping treat you, and you are fully healed due to a bit of cheating. Haldir of Lorien, you're only cousin of that region is dead. He died in battle and we are informing the elves as we speak. Now, do yo think you can go?"
Shocked, hurt and uncertain, Levanna nodded weakly, and felt the feeling return in her body. She dressed quickly, and called for the horse which had brought her here and upon it's arrival, she mounted and to the eyes of everyone disappeared. Aragorn shook his head at Legolas' worried expression. "She'll be fine, she's brave and strong."
"And easily wounded." Legolas said, then turned to go into the caves for Lily. Ellome looked to the distance that hid Levanna once more, and followed them.
"Well Pip, I gotta hand it to you. South was smart."
"Thank you Merry. You know something?"
"Hmmm?"
"I'm hungry."
"Me too. Probably wont find anythin' but moldy bread around here.!"
Pippin sighed and jumped as an apple floated by him, he turned. Another, another, Merry caught on and followed. Oh look a chicken! And.....
"Saruman's storeroom!" Merry breathed. Both looked about, dazed and Pippin slapped his cousin's arm.
"Merry!"
Merry stepped forward. "It... Can't be!"
Pippin pulled down a barrel and opened it. "It is." He pulled the other barrel down. "It's perfect! One for each of us!" He froze. "D'you think we should share with Treebeard?"
Merry fumbled for words, looking at the pipe weed, then his cousin. "N-n-n-o! Dead plant and all, don't think he'd understand." Pippin looked confused. "Could be a distant relative!"
"Ooooh. I get it. Don't, be hasty!" Pippin winked.
Merry whipped out his pipe. "Exactly." His face lit with joy as he inhaled Old Toby.
"Honestly, you'd think if either of you were smart you'd wait until Treebeard weren't around!"
Merry looked up, pipe in hand and heart a flutter. "Olane`a!" He forgot the weed, dropped his pipe and made his way as quickly as possible through the water to her. Once close enough he lifted her laughing form up into the air, whirling with her then sliding his arm under her knees and holding her to him, gazing into her lovely eyes.
"You're all right!" He was beaming.
"So are you!" She joked, blushing wildly. He shook his head, still smiling. Then his face softened, just slightly, and he leaned forward, pressing his lips to hers lightly. She responded by reaching up, her arms going around his neck, pulling him closer to her (if possible). Pippin watched, pipe in mouth, lazy smile on his face. He puffed and puffed as he daydreamed and only when he began to cough from having choked did the two part. They both looked at Pippin, then each other as laughter poured from their throats. Glorious rich peals of laughter that echoed and seemed to float away as the three calmed.
Pippin set his pipe aside just as Merry let her down and he went and hugged Olane`a. She revealed a large sack and both hurriedly threw food into it. They stuffed the barrels of pipe weed in and went out, where Treebeard waited, and Pippin smiled as he realized the other two were holding hands.
Levanna scanned the vast woods ahead, smiling as she saw Sam, Frodo and Gollum camping. Gollum nervously wrung his bony hands as Frodo stared off into the distance and Sam cooked. She encouraged the horse on, hiding any emotional characteristic as the three looked at her, the Hobbits eyes seemed to brighten, and Gollum looked worried.
She swung off the horse as it stopped, staying next to it as Sam and Frodo stared at her. Slowly a smile nudged at her mouth and soon her teeth were revealed, and Sam rushed forward, hugging her tightly. When he released her he looked at Frodo gleefully, but then the smile faded. Frodo's face was icy and he looked at Sam, frowned and walked off to be alone.
"I don't know how much more I can take, Levanna. He get's colder by the day!" Sam shook his head. "We ne'er should have left the Shire."
Levanna bit her lip, looking at the ground, then back up to him. "I want to talk with him. Stay here." Sam nodded and she went after Frodo, soon catching up enough to walk next to him.
"Frodo, are you all right?"
"I'm fine, welcome back." He kept his gaze fixed on forward.
"Oh, well I certainly do feel welcome! Maybe I'd be more welcome if I'd died fighting!"
"You never know."
She stopped, staring at him. "I see. I'm sorry Frodo, next time, which I hope will be soon, I'll be sure to keep that in mind. Forgive me for caring too much."
He snorted and stopped, looking at her. "If you cared you'd have stayed with the others and not come with Sam and I."
"I seem to recall you dragging me, and that my intention was to stay behind for this very reason."
"Maybe I did! I'm sorry for wasting your time!" He moved on a bit.
"No you aren't. And I'm going to respect that. I'll leave for home in the morning." She turned back, tears running down her cheeks. She knew Frodo had stopped, but nothing would change her mind now. She headed back to Sam and sat on a hill, watching the stars, thinking of Ellome's pendant.
"You know of whom I speak, Levanna. Ellome. She will join your quest, and break up two lovers."
"Who is this you speak of? And who shall fall to her?"
"She was born to Elf and Dúnedain, her parents killed when she was young, like you. She likes not to talk of the subject, and at her throat holds the command of all the stars. The jewel is black, and round and only she can use it, for it serves as her immortality, just as your dragon does, Olane`a's ring does, Lily's lily charm, and Tigerlily's clove jewel. She shall love and be loved by Legolas, and Lily will flail to her. Tigerlily shall fall to the blade of Meriadoc, and by both Olane`a and Meriadoc's hands."
"How can I stop this?" One of Levanna's tears fell into the water of the mirror.
"You cannot. It is meant to be, you are not strong like this Levanna. What did you see?"
"I will lose him."
"Would you risk your life to save Lily's relationship with Legolas?"
"You know I would!"
"That is why Frodo will not be yours, because you would risk your life to destroy another's love, and so yours will be destroyed."
Levanna bit back bitter tears as she remembered. She looked over to see Frodo and Sam eating and Gollum catching a fish in the stream. Sam rose and ignored Frodo's questions, moving to Levanna, he handed her a bowl of his stew.
"I couldn't make much, but you looked hungry." She smiled softly at his worried expression.
"Your food never disappoints me Sam, no matter how much there is." He blushed slightly and went back to Frodo, calmly telling him why he had brought food to her.
Levanna ate quickly, returned to bowl and looked to the stars. It was late, so she settled and lay down, closing her eyes and trying desperately to sleep. She opened them a while later to see Frodo had lain across from her, he was seemingly asleep, his eyes closed, the Ring in between his fingers.
Frodo cleaned off Boromir's sword. "I thought you could only carry your own weight?" She said softly, watching the ocean with her hand in his.
"You are a part of me, so I can handle you." He said softly into her hair. She smiled and kissed their combined hands, and then turned back to the tide, drift in, then out, then in, then out again.
Tears welled in her eyes again as she remembered when he had saved her life. She lifted the heavy blouse she wore, gazing at the rough wound she had from the sword. Gandalf had healed it to an extent so that she could move, but it was not completely closed, red and angry looking, she touched and flinched at the pain it brought her.
"What happened?" Frodo's drowsy voiced asked from where he lay.
Quickly she threw the shirt down, her eyes meeting his. "A Uruk thrusted it's sword through me."
"And it's healed that much?" He asked, his eyes growing concerned.
She breathed, with a smile said. "Gandalf helped it."
"You aren't funny," he glared. "How, really?"
"I told you. Gandalf the White healed it. He's alive Frodo, and as strong as Saruman!"
Frodo's eyes were wide. "Do you speak the truth?"
"I do." She said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I should rest. I have a lot of traveling to do."
"But Gollum said Cirith Ungol is close."
"I'm not going to Cirith Ungol."
"Levanna, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it! I would die if you did! I love you, please don't just ride off."
She looked at him, her eyes fearful. "Frodo, you are a fool for trusting Sme`agol so, he is half of Gollum, Gollum makes him guilty, Gollum tells him what to do. Believe me, Shelob won't be helpful to you."
He cocked a brow. "Shelob?"
"She lives in Cirith Ungol. You've seen a spider right?"
"Yes of course."
She paused then continued. "Think of a spider, bigger than you, that's Shelob. Spider's are carnivorous, so of course, she would eat any or all of us."
Frodo's eyes widened, then softened. "I believe you, but what other way is there?"
She shook her head. "None. I have... Been through Cirith Ungol. I will lead there to be sure we aren't tricked into our deaths, last I heard Shelob and Gollum had a feeding agreement. Do you trust me?"
He reached out taking her hand. "Yes, of course."
She smiled and scooted closer, pressing her lips to his. He kissed back, then pulled her so he could hold her as she slept through the night.
End Book 2