Disclaimer: None of Tolkien's characters is mine :,(... *sad, sad sniffle*, but I borrow them happilly anyway for this fic ^___^



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THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE ELVES
Chapter Four– A Mind of Solitude

"You're coming from afar, master elf..."

Legolas turned his head towards Sam. The round hobbit seemed both relieved and uneased. The others were displaying the same kind of face expression, even Gimli... As if some calamity had occured during his sleep...

His sleep...

Legolas' gaze became distant as flashes from his dream were flooding back into his memory. Despite his body temperature - or perhaps because of it - Legolas felt a shiver moving along his spine. That reaction was not unnoticed to Gandalf, who sat in front of the elf, passing his hand on his forehead wet with sweat. Legolas shuddered with the contact, realizing at that very moment that his internal torments were visible physically... And, as most elves, he was seeking for discretion and hated to be the center of everyone's attention. All these gazes focused on him... He felt panic reaching him...

But why should he fear the fellowship? It was completely pointless... Legolas realized he was still under his dream's influence. He wanted to run away, to run in the fresh air of the night, under the stars... To forget the burning shine of the second sun... To forget the approaching fire...

Unconsciously, he shifted his eyes towards the burning fire close to him, and Gandalf saw his gaze becoming vacant... He felt Legolas shivering under his palm, but knew it had nothing to do with the actual contact. He moved his hand away, slowly. Legolas blinked and tried to display an innocent and quite look. He wanted to return to his quiet and anonymus state as fast as possible...

"What happened, Legolas?", Gandalf asked in a neutral tone. Only his gaze was betraying his worries, but also all the questions that were jamming in his mind.

Tell him... Tell him about your dream...!

"Nothing", Legolas had a weak smile and waved the problem away. "Just a nightmare..."

Tell him about the flames, you stupid elf!! Tell him about the way your dream always comes back... This is your only chance !!!

"I think it's something more than just a nightmare, young Greenleaf...", Gandalf went on, and at that very moment, he saw a glint of fear and unease in Legolas' eyes. He frowned slightly, then understood. The usual elven fairy of shyness had made no exception over Legolas' craddle, and there were now too many pairs of eyes focused on him.

So much courage he had to gather at the council of Elrond, to face them all and defend Aragorn against Boromir's assaults! So far Gandalf could remember, Legolas never had too much troubles being in the center of the attention, as long as he didn't have to show any weakness... to feel like a dead weight for the people around him to carry along. This was more than the elf's pride could hold.

In front of him, the elf was motionless. Then the light in his eyes disappeard and he waved slightly with his hand, as if to brush the matter away.

"Probably the lack of light", Legolas started, "or the fact to be obliged to sleep under stone...". His tone was light. Just a slight trembling in his voice prooved that the elf hadn't gather all his strength back. But with the passing seconds, his self-trust flooded back inside of him.

"Don't worry about me...", he said with a weak smile, slowly rising on his feet.

You fool! You always seeked for this opportunity! Tell him!

"I should get some rest once we'll be allowed again to travel in full light".

Gandalf sighed when he saw Legolas starting his retreating movement towards the outside of the cave. The elf wouldn't talk. It was soo bad that the familly spirit, uniting the members of this fellowship, didn't seem to reach Legolas the same way. Was it due to his great age? Some months in a man's life were perhaps enough for great bonds to be forged... But for an elf, reaching almost his three thousand years of age, some months could be just like a blink of an eye... The old magician's gaze met Aragorn's darker one, and he saw that the ranger had come to the same conclusions.

"We shall talk whenever you wish, Thranduillion", Gandalf said softly. Legolas paused, then turned a tensed smile to Gandalf before leaving the cave.

The magician turned to the rest of the fellowship. "So you heard, everything's fine, and there's nothing to fear, for now". His voice was soft and reassuring for the hobbits - the only one he perhaps managed to bluff. "Go back to sleep... Tomorrow will be a particulary hard day...". The hobbits hesitated for a moment. Frodo glanced for awhile towards the exit of the cave, which Legolas had used some moments before.

Gandalf turned then to Aragorn and spoke to him in a low voice. "Go with him... He'll probably want to remain alone but--", Gandalf interrupted himself for a moment, remembering the loneliness in which the elfe pleased to lock himself. Who else then Aragorn could break these walls and make him talk? The magician was almost sure that Legolas had been on the verge to tell him something, but that the initimidating presence of all the others had probably contributed to his silence and his departure.

Gandalf noticed Aragorn's intense gaze, and remembered he hadn't finished his sentence. He cleared his voice and went on: "Make sure he doesn't fall asleep again...". Aragorn nodded. He didn't want to go through the same thing again. The ranger stood, took his cape, his sword, and left the cave to find Legolas.

Frodo ought to feel reassured that Aragorn was taking care of Legolas, but a hint of worriness rose in him. He didn't like to know Aragorn far from him. He frowned. Since when had he started to rely on Aragorn, to trust him with his life? Hadn't he ever see Gandalf as the Protector? Frodo gathered his blanket around him, trying to find a meager sensation of heat, but sleep was late to reach him. Too much questions were in his mind...

At a short distance, Gandalf was smoking his pipe in little puffs, remembering Legolas' vague gaze as he watched the flames... wondering if there could be a link with his dream... He bit slightly the tip of his pipe, looking in the direction of the exit of the cave...

Yes, there 'could' be a link. A link terrible for them all ...

[to be continued]

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That's it... after almost a year without an update, a New Chapter has come!!! :D
I can say almost a year, for I am at the extreme limit... Tomorrow would have actually BEEN a year! ;)
(pfew! just in time ;) )
*cough*
Ok, so as I meant: sorry for this delay, I've been taken in a lot of projects (including movies :) ), and I went on with the french version of this fic (the chapter 20 should come up tomorrow evening ^^; )
I'll try to make more updates to this fic than in the past (almost) year ;-)

GOBLZ: OH MY GOSH, you're KILLING ME HERE! I just found this fic like an hour ago and I LOVE IT!!!! I hope you update soon!
SLEA: I have to admit you have kept my attention for three chapters, and now i impatiently await the next. well met.
PARIS: Oh pleaze keep going! U have the best story's!

--- Again, sorry for the delay, you three... but me happy that you liked the story :D *hugs*

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MelanieKS:

Haha! Cigar! *laughs* ;)
I am so glad you updated. I was beginning to worry that it would never be... *sigh*
^^;;;;;;;;;;

Wonderful chapter, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
Hopefully you didn't fall :D

I was fearing for Legolas' well-being, biting my nails wondering what was going to happen next.
And I know that some people are going to think that the proximity with Aragorn and Legolas
close to the end will seem like slash(hopefully not), I think it truly shows just how deep their friendship goes. Nice touch. ;)
Thankx :D
I'll make more updates soon ;)

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CELEBLAS ELENTARI MANWE:

Hi HI, it's me again! lol, no I actually lost this story, Sorry, I really do have to get organized.
I only remembered it when you e-mailed me, so I didn't get the chance to try and read the
French version of this, I emphasize 'try' because my french really is bad but...anyway.
Too bad (sniffles), otherwise, you'd get the opportunity to discover the continuation of the story in the french version (19 chapters actually ;) Much to the motivation to learn french, perhaps? ;-) )

I love this chapter! it's totally great, So Legolas is a fevery and hulucienative? hmmm, well I hope Aragorn and Gandalf figure out what's wrong with him.
Trust the elf's paranoid mind to make the suspens last a little ;-)

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SKYE:

Oh man I reallk wish I was taking a french class instead of spanish...
How is spanish, compared to english, by the way? :)

I really want to know more! But this was an excellent chapter, and I loved
how Aragorn protected Legolas the same way as Legolas had done to him.
Yup :,-)... Those two have still a lot to discover about their past and their future ;)

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NARWENYA:

REALLY GOOD!!!!!! =)
plz write more! it's a really good story
poor poor legolas, but still, the story is really good
Thanx a lot ^____________________^

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MADMADDIE:

It's a brilliant chapter!
Thanks :))))

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DAYLIGHT:

Very intriguing, but I must say that the grammar is horrible.
I'll post a re-edited version of it. (almost) one year ago since last chapter... Did I improve? :)

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CAROLYN CSOHJV

urgh, you STILL haven't updated? MORE!!! MOREMOREMOREMOREMORE!!!!!!!!!!
PLEEZE!!! PLEEZEPLEEZEPLEEZEPLEEZEPLEEZE!!!!!!!!!! I'M ON MY KNEEZ HERE,
I'M REALLY BORED AND I REALLY REALLY NEED TO READ SOME GOOD
LITERATURE (WITHOUT LEAVING THE COMPUTER)!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks :)

I'LL... I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'LL DO IF I GET MORE RIGHT AWAY, BUT IT WILL BE GOOD!!!
I KNOW, I'LL LET YOU BORROW THE CHARACTERS FOR AWHILE! YA, I OWN THEM SO I
CAN MAIL THEM TO YOU!! AND MONEY! LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY, AND GOLD AND
JEWELS AND A LEAF OF LORIEN AND FINE CLOTHES AND A GOOD SWORD AND A MAGIC
STAFF AND ONE OF THE RINGS OF POWER! WHICHEVER ONE YOU WANT!!
AND LOTS OF OTHER THINGS TOO,
Hmmm... What about some Lembas? :)
"Lembas! The elven shaman's bread! :D One bite can make you high for a whole week ;-) "

BUT ONLY IF YOU UPDATE RIGHT AWAY!! PLEEZEPLEEZEPLEEZEPLEEZEPPPPPLLLLLEEEEEZZZZZEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(P.S. SORRY ABOUT THIS REVIEW,
No need to be soerry, I found it funny :D

BUT I'M REALLY HYPER AND BORED AT THE SAME TIME, WHICH IS REALLY BAD COMBO,
ESPECIALLY SINCE I JUST HAD CHOCOLATE CAKE AND COFFEE!!!
Berk!!!! So much sugar ^^; *refrains from puking*
Of course, if I was to tell you some recipes of mine, I'm not sure your last meal would remain 'in place' ;-)

IF YOU UPDATE RIGHT AWAY, I WON'T GIVE THE SAME REVIEW FOR EACH CHAPTER,
I'LL GIVE DIFFERENT ONES, BUT IF YOU DON'T UPDATE, BEWARE THE WIERD AND TWISTED
IDEAS COMING FROM A WIERD, TWISTED AND ABOVE ALL BORED MIND!!!!!)
lol, I can't wait :))))))

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RYOKO LASGALEN:

cool fic!! Oh.yeah, DBZ and LOTR rule, weird combo, but it works ;)
You should read the revised version of WOLFBLOOD then ;-)

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PSYCO101:

Good. I like this. Just one question: are you native French speeking or English?
French ;-)

I'm just curious. But anyways this is good so far and I look forewards to the next instalment. Keep up the good work!
Thanks :) I will (try) ! ;-)

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ZELDA SATURN MISTRESS:

Your fic is REALLY good! Please continue. Oh yeah. AND READ & REVIEW MY FICS!
I did try when you sent me this review, but FF.net was down again :EEEE I didn't get any occasion later on... but I'll make another try ;-)

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STARSHADOW:

O... angst. Love it. I absolutely loved this chapter, the drama, the suspense!
Thanks a lot :)))))

Yeah, yeah, I think you portray the charcters well and really develope the story so that it's captivating.
*blushes* #^____^#

I want more!! Why does it have to be French? I took Spanish! Darn it.
Wow! So many people did take spanish instead of french, these days ;-)
Cheer up, more updates to come ^_____^

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TEMPLA OTMENA:

Hey! This fic is *really* great and so original.
*wipes away some tears* thanx :,-)...

You've also written the friendship between Aragorn and Legolas so well!
*wipes away some other tears* :,-)..........

*hands on hips* I did notice, however that you haven't updated for a while...
*runs for cover* ^^;;;;

I need to read more about the dream and the Fellowships' reaction to Legolas' trance. You write so well!
Thanks... Hope you'll like what you'll discover in the next chapters, then :,)
Thanx for your review ^___~

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ERUANNA:

Excellent! The grammar is extremely accurate.
Wow! Thanks :))))) (so different from Daylight's review, here ;-))) )

Wonderful plot line! Supurb the way the dream slowly evolves...not to mention that fact that I love Elvish angst!
Legolas is soooooo adorable in angst, no? ;-)

Aragorn's reaction to Legolas' condition is remarkably realistic.
Thanx :,)... Actually, I did dream of that sequence. It was easier after to remember what I dreamt and write it down ;-)

Definately post more! (PLEASE?)
Yup ^____^

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GOZILLA:

This is god!
Nope, no god in Legolas' dream... Where did you read that? :-q
(just kidding ;-) )

Great job! Hope you will update soon! ^-^
Yep :-)