This is my first fic, written at the suggestion of my close friend, who is
also a member. Enjoy the story and be sure to send very opinionated
reviews!!! On second thought, be nice. Amanda is very hyper and may stalk
you if you diss my work. Now that would be funny. I have a minimal natural
sense of humor (IMO but ill leave it to all of you to decide) but I try. I
will try even harder if you click the pretty review button, hint hint.
Sorry if the sentences are a little lengthy. I wrote this in English class
and I may have subconsciously put some of the lesson into my work, which is
weird, considering that I never pay attention in class anyway. Rated PG-13
just in case.
***
Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.R.R. Tolkien, except for Fandoc.
Tolkien is god.
***
Dedication: To Amanda and Lauren, my fellow LOTR and Orlando lovers.
***
Chapter One: The Call
Legolas stood on the bow of the Smarmy Mariner. There was, as is common at sea, a brisk breeze that caused his silky pale gold hair to float after him, intertwined with delicate braids. At first, the other crewmen (Gondorians) had teased him because of his gentle and clean appearance, but it had taken only five minutes against their leader to prove them wrong. He was incredibly fit and shirtless, though the night seemed chilled and bitter. Legolas loved the rough sailor's life, surprising for a Mirkwood prince such as himself. Inhaling the salty air in a deep breath that made his muscled chest ripple, he thought to himself, "There is no better place on Middle Earth than the sea. No Rohan field or Dwarf mine could compare. I could spend my whole life doing this. I think I will, why not?"
Then, suddenly, he heard a whisper in the wind, "Legolas, Legolas, where are you? Why have you left us to fall?"
He felt a pang of longing for his homeland. No, not his homeland, he realized, but the adventure and excitement he had found there when he joined the Fellowship. Those were the days. The suspense, excitement, sadness and despair had blended together and created the most wonderful time in his short lifetime of 2475 years. Why, he had only been away from the mainland for a mere 10 years, a drop in the bucket to an immortal being. Then, he felt fear. "Left us to fall? What does that mean? Sauron was defeated, was he not? Whose voice was that? It was so familiar! Am I needed at home?" This last thought left Legolas in a state of panic. Had his father, Tharanduil, died, leaving him king? Would he never be able to sail the high seas again? After the initial burst of questions, the elvin prince fell calm. The voice had not been his father's. He was still free! Anyway, he was probably just hearing things. A bell clanged three times, and Legolas turned to make his way to the helm. The voice spoke again: "Legolas do you hear me? You must come! We are waiting for you! Will you come to us once more?"
It was then that he realized the voice was Gandalf's. Gandalf the White would not contact him this way for any trivial matter. What ever Gandalf wanted, he was sure that he needed help. "Mithrandir, do you need me?" he called in his head "I will come for you, my friend." Though he strained to listen, no answer came. It was so quiet that the silence was piercing. He realized the wind had stopped, and the ocean barely rocked the boat at all. "The calm before the storm," he thought with apprehension. "But what kind of storm?" He left his thoughts there, for there was a tremendous sound 100 times the explosion at Helm's Deep. The mast had broken as a wall of wind hit them at one hundred miles per hour. Only his quick reflexes saved him from being blown clear of the deck, and he swung into action as the tranquil night mutated into a tempest of black fury and the stars disappeared behind thick clouds of thunder.
*** The next day, the Smarmy Mariner limped into a harbor along the mainland. As they drew nearer, Legolas could tell that they were indeed in Belfas. What a surprise. Legolas wondered if the storm had been Gandalf's doing. After all, it had carried them halfway across the Bay of Belfas. Briefly he wondered if Gandalf had just wanted to see him. After all, he wasn't called Gandalf the Gay for nothing. Again, his thoughts were interrupted as the swarthy captain, Fandoc, stormed and raged about how all their cargo of lembas and fine dwarven gold had been ruined. He swung down to the sleeping quarters and took out his neatly pressed elvin tunic and leggings. It felt so good to be in his old clothes again. It felt even better to be wearing his bow and White Knife. It would feel even better than that if Arwen would agree to..oh, never mind. As he leaped off the boat to the docks, Fandoc yelled at him, "Get back here, you mangy elf. Where in Arda are you going?What are we gonna do about these ripped sails? I need all the men I can get to repair the mast! Are yeh listenin to me? Hey! Get back here now, or I'll never get that great pole o' wood fixed! I'll dock yer pay, I'll, I'll..." Legolas did not turn back. None of those things were his problem any more. He was officially never returning to that ship.
*** Bravo! Bravo! Welllllll I bet you're all happy that Leggy didn't stay on boats for the rest of his life, huh? It would be terrible on his complexion. And wow, that storm was just.. Oh well. I can quit acting like it was an epic novel now. I know it wasn't very good but it will get better. Promise. Now just take a look in the bottom left corner and give me a good one!!!!! I have the next chappy but I won't post until I get 10 reviews. No more no less.
~Halowyn Greenleaf, Maiden of the Wood
Legolas stood on the bow of the Smarmy Mariner. There was, as is common at sea, a brisk breeze that caused his silky pale gold hair to float after him, intertwined with delicate braids. At first, the other crewmen (Gondorians) had teased him because of his gentle and clean appearance, but it had taken only five minutes against their leader to prove them wrong. He was incredibly fit and shirtless, though the night seemed chilled and bitter. Legolas loved the rough sailor's life, surprising for a Mirkwood prince such as himself. Inhaling the salty air in a deep breath that made his muscled chest ripple, he thought to himself, "There is no better place on Middle Earth than the sea. No Rohan field or Dwarf mine could compare. I could spend my whole life doing this. I think I will, why not?"
Then, suddenly, he heard a whisper in the wind, "Legolas, Legolas, where are you? Why have you left us to fall?"
He felt a pang of longing for his homeland. No, not his homeland, he realized, but the adventure and excitement he had found there when he joined the Fellowship. Those were the days. The suspense, excitement, sadness and despair had blended together and created the most wonderful time in his short lifetime of 2475 years. Why, he had only been away from the mainland for a mere 10 years, a drop in the bucket to an immortal being. Then, he felt fear. "Left us to fall? What does that mean? Sauron was defeated, was he not? Whose voice was that? It was so familiar! Am I needed at home?" This last thought left Legolas in a state of panic. Had his father, Tharanduil, died, leaving him king? Would he never be able to sail the high seas again? After the initial burst of questions, the elvin prince fell calm. The voice had not been his father's. He was still free! Anyway, he was probably just hearing things. A bell clanged three times, and Legolas turned to make his way to the helm. The voice spoke again: "Legolas do you hear me? You must come! We are waiting for you! Will you come to us once more?"
It was then that he realized the voice was Gandalf's. Gandalf the White would not contact him this way for any trivial matter. What ever Gandalf wanted, he was sure that he needed help. "Mithrandir, do you need me?" he called in his head "I will come for you, my friend." Though he strained to listen, no answer came. It was so quiet that the silence was piercing. He realized the wind had stopped, and the ocean barely rocked the boat at all. "The calm before the storm," he thought with apprehension. "But what kind of storm?" He left his thoughts there, for there was a tremendous sound 100 times the explosion at Helm's Deep. The mast had broken as a wall of wind hit them at one hundred miles per hour. Only his quick reflexes saved him from being blown clear of the deck, and he swung into action as the tranquil night mutated into a tempest of black fury and the stars disappeared behind thick clouds of thunder.
*** The next day, the Smarmy Mariner limped into a harbor along the mainland. As they drew nearer, Legolas could tell that they were indeed in Belfas. What a surprise. Legolas wondered if the storm had been Gandalf's doing. After all, it had carried them halfway across the Bay of Belfas. Briefly he wondered if Gandalf had just wanted to see him. After all, he wasn't called Gandalf the Gay for nothing. Again, his thoughts were interrupted as the swarthy captain, Fandoc, stormed and raged about how all their cargo of lembas and fine dwarven gold had been ruined. He swung down to the sleeping quarters and took out his neatly pressed elvin tunic and leggings. It felt so good to be in his old clothes again. It felt even better to be wearing his bow and White Knife. It would feel even better than that if Arwen would agree to..oh, never mind. As he leaped off the boat to the docks, Fandoc yelled at him, "Get back here, you mangy elf. Where in Arda are you going?What are we gonna do about these ripped sails? I need all the men I can get to repair the mast! Are yeh listenin to me? Hey! Get back here now, or I'll never get that great pole o' wood fixed! I'll dock yer pay, I'll, I'll..." Legolas did not turn back. None of those things were his problem any more. He was officially never returning to that ship.
*** Bravo! Bravo! Welllllll I bet you're all happy that Leggy didn't stay on boats for the rest of his life, huh? It would be terrible on his complexion. And wow, that storm was just.. Oh well. I can quit acting like it was an epic novel now. I know it wasn't very good but it will get better. Promise. Now just take a look in the bottom left corner and give me a good one!!!!! I have the next chappy but I won't post until I get 10 reviews. No more no less.
~Halowyn Greenleaf, Maiden of the Wood