Meanwhile, the battle raged. But Harry did not participate. How could
Alanna have been captured? How could he have allowed it to happen? He sat,
brooding over this, occasionally fending off an enemy with his sword, when
suddenly the solution came to him, as clear as glass. He wondered why he
hadn't thought of it before: Harry would rescue Alanna.
Two hours later, Harry was walking softly through the forest that lay a little outside of Minas Tirith. He had managed to pack some food and clothing and slip over the wall on an abandoned ladder, although he had left a note explaining where he had gone. He saw some orcs take Alanna into the forest, so he followed their tracks.
Harry had not walked long when he heard voices that hurt his ear muttering in a foul language he didn't know. Orcs. Harry climbed a tree on the edge of their camp, and sat, watching them. He caught a glimpse of Alanna and was filled with rage at what he saw. Alanna was wet and shivering, lying on the ground with her hands and ankles bound. Her armor and weapons had been taken, as well as her cloak.
Suddenly, Alanna saw Harry. He put a finger to his lips before she cried out in surprise. The orcs were sitting in the middle of the clearing around a fire, eating some sort of meat and drinking out of flasks.
Harry waited for hours, his muscles cramping and his heart thumping so loud he thought it was a wonder the orcs didn't hear it. Finally, one by one, the orcs dropped off to sleep.Harry crept down with the agility of a cat, and tiptoed across the clearing to where Alanna lay. He unbound her quickly, and they were sneaking away from the camp, when Harry stepped on a twig, making a loud, harsh, dry cracking sound. The orcs awoke, yelling in rage, and charged at Harry with their weapons drawn.
"Run, Alanna," Harry shouted, and turned to face the orcs. One by one he fought them, until there was only one, the biggest and meanest one, left. As he fought, Harry retreated. Sometimes, he thought his sword would crack, but the blade held.
Suddenly, as Harry was fighting and losing, Alanna jumped down from a branch overhead, knocking down and temporarily stunning the orc. At that same moment, a figure flew down on a broomstick. Ron. Alanna and Harry climbed on, not waiting for an explanation. As they soared above the forest back to the city, Ron grinned, "Aren't you glad I had to go back to the house to bind a wound during the battle, and I found your note? Then I grabbed your broom, Harry, and you know the rest."
Harry said in an awkward voice, "Thanks Ron, thanks a lot. Wait a second, the battle is still going?"
"Yep. That's why we have to get back," Ron replied.
The rest of the ride passed in silence, but when they got back to the city, they found something awaiting them.
The battle had just been won, and a silver speck of light had been spotted in the distance. It came closer and closer, until it was over the wall. It landed it the middle of a great crowd. It was Gandalf riding an eagle. He dismounted, bade the eagle farewell, and walked straight over to Harry and Ron, who had found Hermione, and spoke swiftly in a low, gravelly, yet strong and brave, voice, "We must hurry. The Dark Lord is on the move. The Ring might not reach its destination." **************************** Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed Gandalf as he quickly strided toward the seventh gate. When they caught up with him, he was talking to the guard at the gate. He was being denied access to speak with Aragorn, when Aragorn himself came up to the gate.
"Come, we will speak inside," he said tensely.
They were through the maze of halls and rooms to the beautiful room where Harry found the sword. When everyone had sat down in giant chairs of red velvet , Gandalf said,"There is something you must know."
Gandalf turned to face Hermione, touching her forehead with the tip of his staff. She looked terrified and said at the same time and said, "The Dark Lord must be defeated."
Then Gandalf turned to face Ron, repeating the same process. A look of horror came onto Ron's face, and he said in a low voice, "Why?"
Then, Gandalf slowly turned to Harry, and tapped him on the forehead with his staff. Harry felt a cool breeze circling him, even though no windows were open. Then he knew everything. It was as if a giant secret had been revealed. Harry knew of the peril Middle Earth was in, and he said, "Frodo must not fail."
Then, to the others around him, he stood straighter, held his head higher, and there was an aura of determination and braveness about him. It was as though a King of old had arisen within him.
Harry spoke, in clear voice, "I am going to help him."
"Me too," Ron added.
"I will come as well," Hermione said in a voice with a touch of steel.
"We will leave in one week,"Harry said to Aragorn and Gandalf.
Gandalf nodded his consent as Aragorn said, "Provisions, clothing, and necessary supplies will be packed for you."
With that, Harry, Ron, and Hermione took there leave of the two men. At the seventh gate, they parted, Ron going to see Meridelle, Harry going to see Alanna, and Hermione to see Legolas. **************************** Harry found Alanna in a garden, staring off into space.
He sat down next to her, "Alanna, I have something to tell you. Next week, I will be leaving. I am going to the Dark Land." There, his voice broke with the pain of telling her this, the sweet girl sitting next to him who had lived through many dangers and sorrows she shouldn't have had to face.
She turned to face him, gazing at him with clear blue eyes, "I am coming with you."
"What?! No, you are staying right here. I won't let you, it's too dangerous," Harry sputtered.
"It's settled then, I'm coming with you. Don't argue with me, it's no use," she said.
Harry realized the same thing soon, and stopped fighting. For a long time they sat side by side staring out into the sky, when Harry leaned over, and softly kissed Alanna.
Hermione found Legolas practicing archery in the courtyard they always used for Elvish lessons.
"Legolas..." Hermione began, but was interrupted.
"I know," he said softly.
Legolas strode over and held Hermione close to him for a while.
When he let her go, she didn't feel half as much as afraid as she used to be. **************************************** The next day, Harry woke up to find Hermione shaking him, "There's a ball tonight!! There's a ball tonight!"
"That's nice, "Harry muttered and turned over, hearing Hermione leave, humming to herself. Then, he thought, "I should ask Alanna." He got up, dressed, and went with Ron to find Alanna and Meridelle at the House of Healing.
As they, Ron and Meridelle said goodbye and walked away and Harry found himself blushing furiously and knots forming in his stomach. "Alanna, want to go to the ball with me?" he asked quickly, looking down at the ground. He felt her cool fingers on his chin, lifting it up until he was staring into her eyes.
"Yes," she said. And they walked away to go eat some breakfast.
After Hermione had shaken Harry awake, she dressed in battle clothing, as they were required to do since the battle, and sat down in the main room, pouring herself some water and grabbing an apple to munch on. She was eating, when there was a knock on the door.
Hermione opened it, finding no one. She looked around, finally looking down and finding a package wrapped with a beautiful red ribbon. Hermione picked it up and sat right down on the step with it. She carefully unwrapped it, and what she saw took her breath away.
A beautiful dark red gown, with intricate embroidery in a darker red, and little diamonds sown in around the neckline, the sleeves, and the hem. It had a cut across neck with long sleeves. After the gown, delitcate slippers of the same red, also with embroidery and diamonds. And then...
A red velvet cloak, with delicate silver fastenings and, of course, embroidery and diamonds. But, on the back, a large red rose that seemed to glimmer with a mysterious unknown light.
"Oh, it's beautiful," Hermione exclaimed to no one in particular.
Then, she felt movement behind her. Unnoticed by Hermione, Legolas had crept up behind her.
"Will you go to the ball with me," Legolas asked in an innocent tone. "After all, I am "cuter" than a "houself!" *************************** Hermione walked into her room, shutting the door behind her. She sank into the hot bubble bath that had been prepared for her, letting the hot water calm her nerves. The ball had finally come! After her bath, she spent the next half hour arranging her hair into a mass of intertwining loops, braids, and curls. On top of it all went little diamonds and her crown.
Hermione twirled lightly on her toes in front of the mirror, hardly believing this was happening. Then she walked over to her wooden bureau, opening the doors. From inside it she took out her gown, cloak, and slippers. Hermione slipped the gown on, feeling truly like a princess. The material was so soft and shimmery, and the embroidery was exquisite. It fit her perfectly. Then, she put on the cloak, fastening it around her throat and delicately placing the hood over her head. Last, she slid her feet into the beautiful slippers.
Harry and Ron were sitting in the front room when Hermione came in. They both stared in awe, and an awkward moment was coming. then there was a knock on the door. Hermione opened it to find Legolas, Alanna, and Meridelle there, dressed in splendor.
"Shall we?" Legolas asked, and, without waiting for an answer, took Hermione's arm and led the group to the citadel.
As they approached the double doors, Hermione saw the bright light of many candles and magic, and heard laughter and voices from within. She was about to pass through the doors, when Legolas stopped her with a light touch. A man took her cloak, and then Legolas once more took her arm.
They stepped into the doorway, and it was all Hermione could do to keep her jaw from dropping. There was a raised dais with a large golden canopy and flowers decorating the table. Around the dais were many tables similarly laid out with beautiful china and candles all around.
Then, the herald tapped his staff on the floor two times, and the room quieted.
"Prince Legolas of Mirkwood, and Princess Hermione of the Land Beyond the Sea," the herald announced in a loud, majestic voice. Men bowed, and the few women curtsied when the pair passed them on their way to their seats.
Hermione hardly noticed when Harry and Alanna, and Ron and Meridelle were announced, as she was seating herself on the soft chair with plump velvet cushions. Then, the feast began! There was music and dancing, entertainers, bards, everything. And. every type of food you could even begin to imagine!
An hour and a full stomach later, Hermione sat back in her chair. Legolas seemed to take that at some kind of cue, because he took her hand and pulled her out onto the center of the floor for a waltz. Hermione laid her head on his shoulder, letting herself relax. They turned slowly, and Hermione looked up. In Legolas' eyes she found undying love and trust. And then, the song was over.
"Follow me," Legolas whispered, and led her through a side door to a little remote rose garden that she had never seen before. It overlooked the forest and the mountains in the distance, it was a very serene spot. In the middle, there as a stone bench with cushions with flowing script carved upon it. On this bench they sat. **************************** They sat like statues for a while, Hermione reclining on the cushions and staring at the forest, which was illuminated by the full moon; Legolas, his arm around Hermione, sitting straight up, his bright eyes scanning the horizon.
Then, abruptly, Legolas turned to Hermione and said in a soft voice, "Your name means Red Rose. That is why your cloak has a red rose." As he spoke he traced the rose on Hermione's cloak gently with one finger. There was a little bit of silence, then Hermione asked, "What does your name mean, Legolas?"
"Greenleaf," he answered. Simultaneouly, he pulled out something from under his collar. A strange, glimmering chain, that looked somewhat invisible, holding a green leaf that shimmered with the same unknown quality as the rose on Hermione's cloak.
All of a sudden, Hermione had the feel that she was the first person Legolas had shown the chain and leaf to, and that he trusted her far beyond anyone else.
Then Legolas took her hands in his and said, "Hermione, I want to teach you how to speak mind to mind. When I first considered this, I had a little bit of doubt about the level of power required and whether you have it," there he paused and smiled, "but after you saved my life, my doubts vanished. Are you ready?"
Hermione nodded, still taking in all of the information.
"I mosumn oyu," Legolas chanted in a strong, low voice.
Then Hermione gasped, for a dark red thread of light had sprung from her heart and had risen ten feet in the air and was curling and twisting around a dark green thread of light, Legolas', although his light sprung from the shimmering leaf on his neck. The two threads rose higher and higher, intertwining with each other, and then they combined to form one red and green rope of light. The rope quivered for a moment, then split into two, both threads red and green, and plunged back down, one to Hermione's heart, the other to Legolas' leaf.
Hermione realized that she now possessed the ability to speak mind to mind with Legolas, and she thought about the first thing she would say to him in her mind.
Suddenly, she had an idea, "Legolas, how old are you?"
"Guess," was the reply.
"4,000."
"No."
"300."
"No."
"How old?!"
"20."
"What?"
"Yes, I'm the youngest elf in all Middle-Earth," Legolas said with fake pride.
With that, Legolas put his arm around Hermione once more and they sat, conversing in thought.
Then, Legolas asked Hermione a question, and when she didn't respond, he looked over and found her asleep. She looked so beautiful, the moonlight striking her face, small curls coming loose from her hair and cascading over her shoulders, while the diamonds in her hair glittered like tiny moons.
Legolas looked at her for a moment, then stood up, picked Hermione up in his strong arms, and carried her gently back to the guesthouse. Legolas opened the door to her room and set her down on the giant bed. Her hair tumbling over her shoulders and onto the pillow, and her gown fanned out about her.
As he set her down, Hermione slightly opened her eyes, saw where she was, and was about to speak- but Legolas put a finger to her lips and covered her with the blanket, "Shhh, sleep my princess," he whispered and was gone.
Two hours later, Harry was walking softly through the forest that lay a little outside of Minas Tirith. He had managed to pack some food and clothing and slip over the wall on an abandoned ladder, although he had left a note explaining where he had gone. He saw some orcs take Alanna into the forest, so he followed their tracks.
Harry had not walked long when he heard voices that hurt his ear muttering in a foul language he didn't know. Orcs. Harry climbed a tree on the edge of their camp, and sat, watching them. He caught a glimpse of Alanna and was filled with rage at what he saw. Alanna was wet and shivering, lying on the ground with her hands and ankles bound. Her armor and weapons had been taken, as well as her cloak.
Suddenly, Alanna saw Harry. He put a finger to his lips before she cried out in surprise. The orcs were sitting in the middle of the clearing around a fire, eating some sort of meat and drinking out of flasks.
Harry waited for hours, his muscles cramping and his heart thumping so loud he thought it was a wonder the orcs didn't hear it. Finally, one by one, the orcs dropped off to sleep.Harry crept down with the agility of a cat, and tiptoed across the clearing to where Alanna lay. He unbound her quickly, and they were sneaking away from the camp, when Harry stepped on a twig, making a loud, harsh, dry cracking sound. The orcs awoke, yelling in rage, and charged at Harry with their weapons drawn.
"Run, Alanna," Harry shouted, and turned to face the orcs. One by one he fought them, until there was only one, the biggest and meanest one, left. As he fought, Harry retreated. Sometimes, he thought his sword would crack, but the blade held.
Suddenly, as Harry was fighting and losing, Alanna jumped down from a branch overhead, knocking down and temporarily stunning the orc. At that same moment, a figure flew down on a broomstick. Ron. Alanna and Harry climbed on, not waiting for an explanation. As they soared above the forest back to the city, Ron grinned, "Aren't you glad I had to go back to the house to bind a wound during the battle, and I found your note? Then I grabbed your broom, Harry, and you know the rest."
Harry said in an awkward voice, "Thanks Ron, thanks a lot. Wait a second, the battle is still going?"
"Yep. That's why we have to get back," Ron replied.
The rest of the ride passed in silence, but when they got back to the city, they found something awaiting them.
The battle had just been won, and a silver speck of light had been spotted in the distance. It came closer and closer, until it was over the wall. It landed it the middle of a great crowd. It was Gandalf riding an eagle. He dismounted, bade the eagle farewell, and walked straight over to Harry and Ron, who had found Hermione, and spoke swiftly in a low, gravelly, yet strong and brave, voice, "We must hurry. The Dark Lord is on the move. The Ring might not reach its destination." **************************** Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed Gandalf as he quickly strided toward the seventh gate. When they caught up with him, he was talking to the guard at the gate. He was being denied access to speak with Aragorn, when Aragorn himself came up to the gate.
"Come, we will speak inside," he said tensely.
They were through the maze of halls and rooms to the beautiful room where Harry found the sword. When everyone had sat down in giant chairs of red velvet , Gandalf said,"There is something you must know."
Gandalf turned to face Hermione, touching her forehead with the tip of his staff. She looked terrified and said at the same time and said, "The Dark Lord must be defeated."
Then Gandalf turned to face Ron, repeating the same process. A look of horror came onto Ron's face, and he said in a low voice, "Why?"
Then, Gandalf slowly turned to Harry, and tapped him on the forehead with his staff. Harry felt a cool breeze circling him, even though no windows were open. Then he knew everything. It was as if a giant secret had been revealed. Harry knew of the peril Middle Earth was in, and he said, "Frodo must not fail."
Then, to the others around him, he stood straighter, held his head higher, and there was an aura of determination and braveness about him. It was as though a King of old had arisen within him.
Harry spoke, in clear voice, "I am going to help him."
"Me too," Ron added.
"I will come as well," Hermione said in a voice with a touch of steel.
"We will leave in one week,"Harry said to Aragorn and Gandalf.
Gandalf nodded his consent as Aragorn said, "Provisions, clothing, and necessary supplies will be packed for you."
With that, Harry, Ron, and Hermione took there leave of the two men. At the seventh gate, they parted, Ron going to see Meridelle, Harry going to see Alanna, and Hermione to see Legolas. **************************** Harry found Alanna in a garden, staring off into space.
He sat down next to her, "Alanna, I have something to tell you. Next week, I will be leaving. I am going to the Dark Land." There, his voice broke with the pain of telling her this, the sweet girl sitting next to him who had lived through many dangers and sorrows she shouldn't have had to face.
She turned to face him, gazing at him with clear blue eyes, "I am coming with you."
"What?! No, you are staying right here. I won't let you, it's too dangerous," Harry sputtered.
"It's settled then, I'm coming with you. Don't argue with me, it's no use," she said.
Harry realized the same thing soon, and stopped fighting. For a long time they sat side by side staring out into the sky, when Harry leaned over, and softly kissed Alanna.
Hermione found Legolas practicing archery in the courtyard they always used for Elvish lessons.
"Legolas..." Hermione began, but was interrupted.
"I know," he said softly.
Legolas strode over and held Hermione close to him for a while.
When he let her go, she didn't feel half as much as afraid as she used to be. **************************************** The next day, Harry woke up to find Hermione shaking him, "There's a ball tonight!! There's a ball tonight!"
"That's nice, "Harry muttered and turned over, hearing Hermione leave, humming to herself. Then, he thought, "I should ask Alanna." He got up, dressed, and went with Ron to find Alanna and Meridelle at the House of Healing.
As they, Ron and Meridelle said goodbye and walked away and Harry found himself blushing furiously and knots forming in his stomach. "Alanna, want to go to the ball with me?" he asked quickly, looking down at the ground. He felt her cool fingers on his chin, lifting it up until he was staring into her eyes.
"Yes," she said. And they walked away to go eat some breakfast.
After Hermione had shaken Harry awake, she dressed in battle clothing, as they were required to do since the battle, and sat down in the main room, pouring herself some water and grabbing an apple to munch on. She was eating, when there was a knock on the door.
Hermione opened it, finding no one. She looked around, finally looking down and finding a package wrapped with a beautiful red ribbon. Hermione picked it up and sat right down on the step with it. She carefully unwrapped it, and what she saw took her breath away.
A beautiful dark red gown, with intricate embroidery in a darker red, and little diamonds sown in around the neckline, the sleeves, and the hem. It had a cut across neck with long sleeves. After the gown, delitcate slippers of the same red, also with embroidery and diamonds. And then...
A red velvet cloak, with delicate silver fastenings and, of course, embroidery and diamonds. But, on the back, a large red rose that seemed to glimmer with a mysterious unknown light.
"Oh, it's beautiful," Hermione exclaimed to no one in particular.
Then, she felt movement behind her. Unnoticed by Hermione, Legolas had crept up behind her.
"Will you go to the ball with me," Legolas asked in an innocent tone. "After all, I am "cuter" than a "houself!" *************************** Hermione walked into her room, shutting the door behind her. She sank into the hot bubble bath that had been prepared for her, letting the hot water calm her nerves. The ball had finally come! After her bath, she spent the next half hour arranging her hair into a mass of intertwining loops, braids, and curls. On top of it all went little diamonds and her crown.
Hermione twirled lightly on her toes in front of the mirror, hardly believing this was happening. Then she walked over to her wooden bureau, opening the doors. From inside it she took out her gown, cloak, and slippers. Hermione slipped the gown on, feeling truly like a princess. The material was so soft and shimmery, and the embroidery was exquisite. It fit her perfectly. Then, she put on the cloak, fastening it around her throat and delicately placing the hood over her head. Last, she slid her feet into the beautiful slippers.
Harry and Ron were sitting in the front room when Hermione came in. They both stared in awe, and an awkward moment was coming. then there was a knock on the door. Hermione opened it to find Legolas, Alanna, and Meridelle there, dressed in splendor.
"Shall we?" Legolas asked, and, without waiting for an answer, took Hermione's arm and led the group to the citadel.
As they approached the double doors, Hermione saw the bright light of many candles and magic, and heard laughter and voices from within. She was about to pass through the doors, when Legolas stopped her with a light touch. A man took her cloak, and then Legolas once more took her arm.
They stepped into the doorway, and it was all Hermione could do to keep her jaw from dropping. There was a raised dais with a large golden canopy and flowers decorating the table. Around the dais were many tables similarly laid out with beautiful china and candles all around.
Then, the herald tapped his staff on the floor two times, and the room quieted.
"Prince Legolas of Mirkwood, and Princess Hermione of the Land Beyond the Sea," the herald announced in a loud, majestic voice. Men bowed, and the few women curtsied when the pair passed them on their way to their seats.
Hermione hardly noticed when Harry and Alanna, and Ron and Meridelle were announced, as she was seating herself on the soft chair with plump velvet cushions. Then, the feast began! There was music and dancing, entertainers, bards, everything. And. every type of food you could even begin to imagine!
An hour and a full stomach later, Hermione sat back in her chair. Legolas seemed to take that at some kind of cue, because he took her hand and pulled her out onto the center of the floor for a waltz. Hermione laid her head on his shoulder, letting herself relax. They turned slowly, and Hermione looked up. In Legolas' eyes she found undying love and trust. And then, the song was over.
"Follow me," Legolas whispered, and led her through a side door to a little remote rose garden that she had never seen before. It overlooked the forest and the mountains in the distance, it was a very serene spot. In the middle, there as a stone bench with cushions with flowing script carved upon it. On this bench they sat. **************************** They sat like statues for a while, Hermione reclining on the cushions and staring at the forest, which was illuminated by the full moon; Legolas, his arm around Hermione, sitting straight up, his bright eyes scanning the horizon.
Then, abruptly, Legolas turned to Hermione and said in a soft voice, "Your name means Red Rose. That is why your cloak has a red rose." As he spoke he traced the rose on Hermione's cloak gently with one finger. There was a little bit of silence, then Hermione asked, "What does your name mean, Legolas?"
"Greenleaf," he answered. Simultaneouly, he pulled out something from under his collar. A strange, glimmering chain, that looked somewhat invisible, holding a green leaf that shimmered with the same unknown quality as the rose on Hermione's cloak.
All of a sudden, Hermione had the feel that she was the first person Legolas had shown the chain and leaf to, and that he trusted her far beyond anyone else.
Then Legolas took her hands in his and said, "Hermione, I want to teach you how to speak mind to mind. When I first considered this, I had a little bit of doubt about the level of power required and whether you have it," there he paused and smiled, "but after you saved my life, my doubts vanished. Are you ready?"
Hermione nodded, still taking in all of the information.
"I mosumn oyu," Legolas chanted in a strong, low voice.
Then Hermione gasped, for a dark red thread of light had sprung from her heart and had risen ten feet in the air and was curling and twisting around a dark green thread of light, Legolas', although his light sprung from the shimmering leaf on his neck. The two threads rose higher and higher, intertwining with each other, and then they combined to form one red and green rope of light. The rope quivered for a moment, then split into two, both threads red and green, and plunged back down, one to Hermione's heart, the other to Legolas' leaf.
Hermione realized that she now possessed the ability to speak mind to mind with Legolas, and she thought about the first thing she would say to him in her mind.
Suddenly, she had an idea, "Legolas, how old are you?"
"Guess," was the reply.
"4,000."
"No."
"300."
"No."
"How old?!"
"20."
"What?"
"Yes, I'm the youngest elf in all Middle-Earth," Legolas said with fake pride.
With that, Legolas put his arm around Hermione once more and they sat, conversing in thought.
Then, Legolas asked Hermione a question, and when she didn't respond, he looked over and found her asleep. She looked so beautiful, the moonlight striking her face, small curls coming loose from her hair and cascading over her shoulders, while the diamonds in her hair glittered like tiny moons.
Legolas looked at her for a moment, then stood up, picked Hermione up in his strong arms, and carried her gently back to the guesthouse. Legolas opened the door to her room and set her down on the giant bed. Her hair tumbling over her shoulders and onto the pillow, and her gown fanned out about her.
As he set her down, Hermione slightly opened her eyes, saw where she was, and was about to speak- but Legolas put a finger to her lips and covered her with the blanket, "Shhh, sleep my princess," he whispered and was gone.