Chapter Seven
The next morning,I could feel the difference in the air.It seems much more heavier.As if warning me of an inpending doom.Harmonia's strength weakens as we move forward to seek the advice of Gandalf the White.Several times,she spoke of giving up this perilous journey.And several times,I had to push her forward.I told her there was yet hope in finding the answers to these riddles.
Harmonia stared tiredly at the desert field ahead.Legolas sense her withdrawal.He stopped moving.
"Are you well?"
She looked at the barren wasteland."Legolas,I feel as if we are moving in circles."
"Do not fret.For I know the way.Already I can see the White Wizard's abode ahead."
She sighed and struggled to keep up with Legolas's increased pace."I wish I can see as far as you do."
He smiled knowingly."Close your eyes Harmonia."
She looked up at him."What?"
"Close your eyes."
She sighed,but closed her eyes as she was told.She could feel Legolas moved quietly behind her.Before she knew it,suddenly she was being lifted by two strong arms.
She reopened her eyes in surprise."Legolas!What are you doing!"
He grinned."Stop complaining princess.We shall be on our way."
Harmonia laughed."But I did not ask to be carried.Surely you are tired too.Put me down,Legolas."
He shook his head.His face turned serious."I am not tired,Harmonia.I rarely am.And I foresee much obstacles ahead.You must save your strength."
She quietened and let Legolas carried her.Occasionally,she was so bored she would pick out Legolas's arrows he carried bind behind his back.That upset the elf and send Harmonia laughing with glee.
"Its dangerous Harmonia!Do you not remember the intensity of the shot in your left arm?"
Harmonia chuckled."Yes.But I am not entirely without grace.I know how to handle an arrow."
Legolas sighed in resignment and let the girl play with his arrows.
After traveling several miles,the pale white hall of Gandalf the White came into view.It was a majestic sight and Legolas's heart was full of delighted anxiety.It had been a while since he had seen the wizard.
He put Harmonia down once more.She returned him the arrows which caused her a disapproving look from the elf.
"Finally! We are here!"She clapped her hands.
Legolas nodded."Yes.I look forward to see Gandalf again."
He was about to move forward when Harmonia suddenly pulled at his hand.
He turned around."What is wrong?"
"Is…is he scary?"
He chuckled."No Harmonia.He is anything but scary.Though he could be a little eccentric."He smiled slowly."He is very old,you see."
She nodded,though his reassurance did her no favour.She could not understand it.But she dread this meeting with the White Wizard.
The elf must have been too anxious to meet with Gandalf,for he did not notice her reluctance to move forward.Instead,he took her hand and pulled her along.
The interior of the White Hall was graciously done.Legolas bowed his head as he entered the inner santum.Harmonia followed curiously behind.
The white Wizard stood up immediately,having seen Legolas's arrival.
"Alas! Legolas!It has been a while."
The elf bowed graciously."Yes Gandalf.I am glad to see you are doing well."
The old man wore a white robe and his head was adorned with a white pointed hat.His left hand held a staff.Harmonia could tell instantly this was no ordinary old man.
Gandaft seemed to take a peep at the cowering girl behind Legolas.
"And who might the young one be?"
"Harmonia by name."Legolas answered."I fear this visit is not a social one,Gandalf."
The old man nodded thoughtfully."The pity.But do tell me."
"Bad things is happening in middle-earth again.Orcs and goblins had appeared by the thousands!"
To these strange tale,Gandalf showed slight surprise.He paused momentarily."You witness this?"
"With my very own eyes.We were attacked in the mines of Moria."Legolas paused and closed his eyes,as if the memory still hurts."I regret to say I could not find Gimli."
Gandalf nodded quietly."This is troubling."He sighed."You see Legolas,long since the dark lord had perished,but I yet feel his presence.And it seemed to get stronger with each passing day."
Legolas frowned.His heart sank.So it was true.He had hope it wasn't but Gandalf must not be wrong.Sauron was still alive!
"But how could it be?"He asked sadly."We destroyed the ring,did we not?"
"The OneRing is infinite.I fear it may have deceived us on Mount Doom a thousand years ago."
Legolas lowered his head.He was full of thoughts.What do they do now?They do not possess the ring,yet they must find it and destroyed it.
"What about the orcs?From whence did they come from?"Legolas asked.
Gandalf sighed deeply."I fear the orges are once again,servants of the dark lord and the OneRing."
"Any signs of life at Mordor?"
"At the moment,no.But time will change everything.If we do not think of a way,very soon,Mordor will once again be swarmed with dark creatures."
Legolas gestured to Harmonia.He realized she had remain very quiet,very still throughout the conversation.
"Harmonia hear strange voices,Gandalf.And she had nightmares of the worst kind."Legolas muttered,glancing at the girl.
Gandalf took a step closer to Harmonia,who in turn,took a steady step back.
"There is nothing to fear."Legolas said gently."Gandalf is an honorable man."
Gandalf smiled kindly at the girl."Your name is Harmonia?Where do you come from?"
"I do not know."The girl replied softly.
The wizard frowned slightly."And what voices had you been hearing?"
Harmonia glanced at Legolas,who motioned for her to talk.She nodded wearily."I have been hearing dark voices.Very dark indeed.And each time,they beckons to me,wanting me to drown in the darkness…"
Gandalf turned to the elf."How did the two of you met?"
Legolas blushed a little."Oh,it was an accident."
Gandalf smiled and patted the young elf."I shall not dwell there,for its business is your own.However,may I keep the girl with me for a few days perhaps?"
He was instantly protective.Afterall,he had promised Harmonia he would see to her safety.It was not that he did not trust Gandalf.He was just uncertain with the thought of parting with the human girl.
"But why would you want her here?"
"I have questions yet to ask her."The old man winked."Do not worry,I will take good care of her."
Legolas nodded and bowed humbly."I am sorry.I do not mean to say you cannot be trusted."
Gandalf laughed heartily."Legolas,perhaps these few thousands of years did change you.Perhaps you are more of a man now."
The elf looked up at the wizard,not quite understanding what he meant then.Harmonia hurried to Legolas's side.
"Are you going to leave me?"
Legolas glanced at Gandalf,awaiting new orders.
The old man nodded."You are needed elsewhere,Legolas.Go back to the Undying Land.Tell Lady Galadriel that the OneRing is still alive and amongst us.She will tell you the rest."
"Lady Galadriel?"Legolas muttered.The lady of light.One of the most powerful and oldest elves in the world.
He had seen her once when he was traveling with his companions a thousand years ago.She had given him a bow.To this day,the bow was safely kept.
Legolas turned to Harmonia."I will leave for the Undying land at first light.But I shall return."
"But…"She muttered."I…"
Legolas nodded."Do not worry.You will be safe here."
Harmonia sighed.Gandalf was still there,looking at the two of them,with a twinkle in his eyes.
"I need to speak to you in private."She whispered.
Legolas widened his eyes in surprise."Private?"
She nodded.And quickly turned to the wizard."If you will excuse us…"
Gandalf chuckled."Oh that goes without saying."he winked once again at Legolas before leaving the room.
Once the door was closed,Harmonia stepped angrily on the elf's right foot.This send the elf recoiling back in pain and shock.
"What are you doing!"He exclaimed.
"You are a stupid elf!Why,you intend to leave me alone with him!"
He frowned."Harmonia,Gandalf is a loyal friend.He can be trusted for I trust him with my very own life."
"I am not you…"She muttered.
"Harmonia,I must return to the Undying Lands.I must find Lady Galadriel."
"Who is she anyway?"
"She is a very wise,very powerful elf."Legolas whispered.As if the mere mention of the Lady of Light awes him."You must stay with Gandalf.He shall keep you safe."
"I could have gone back with you."She sighed.
"Gandalf is most wise.He knows what is best."
She pouted."Start thinking for yourself.Do you believe everything that Gandalf says?"
He was rather alarm."But of course.He saves the fellowship on several occasions."
"Here we go again."She rolled her eyes."Talking about the fellowship is about the only thing that will ever get your eyes gleaming like that."
Legolas smiled."Harmonia.I would never leave you to anyone whom I deemed less than worthy."
She nodded."I know Legolas.And I trust you.Its just that…I have an uneasy feeling with Gandalf."
He shrugged."That is natural.He's very wise and that may make few uneasy.But do not worry,you will be fine."
"How long will you be gone?"
"Not very long,is my wish."
Harmonia sighed.She wasn't ready for Legolas to leave her all alone suddenly.Afterall,she had depended very much on him.She wondered if she would ever feel safe again without him around,especially with so much happening at the moment.
"What if I hear the voices again?"She asked quietly."They haunt me when you're far."
"Do not worry.For Gandalf is here with you."
"Can I really trust him?"
He nodded firmly."More than you can trust anyone else."
I watched Legolas leave with dread.His shadows slid past the misty mountains until I can no longer see him.His absence struck some anxiousness in my heart,but I was confident he would return swiftly,as he promised.And I was certain I could be strong,for him,if not for myself.Alas!I was to be wrong.For things turn out quite the opposite.And even Legolas could not save me...
Harmonia walked cautiously through the orchard filled with peach trees and Jasmine flowers.She had been left alone for quite some time since Legolas left.Even that Gandalf had not summoned her.She decided it would be wise to explore the area and kill time.
It was when she found herself sitting neatly under a Peach Tree,did she realize for the first time since their travels,she was left alone in an unknown environment.And for the first time,she felt really depressed.Where was she headed to?What was she doing here?Where was her family?
Her head spin with each questions,she knew she had no answers to,nor anyone had any answers to.It seemed she was left alone in this world.
She sighed deeply and closes her eyes,let the warm afternoon breeze blew gently across her face.She had the time to think about Legolas.Why had he decided to leave her here alone with Gandalf?That was unlike him,she decided.Legolas would never leave her alone,especially after knowing those dark voices that still haunt her.What if she was to fall into darkness?What if the orcs appear?
She rubbed her eyes.She had no idea she had drifted so far into her thoughts.A shadow loomed above her and she quickly looked up.
"Hello little one."Gandalf smiled down at her.
She made no indication to stand up.Instead,she continue to look up at him."What do you want from me?"
Her question,direct as it is,did not seem to surprise Gandalf."I want what you want,Harmonia."
She paused."And what is it I want?"
"Ask yourself,young one.Ask your heart."
She thought for a moment."I want to be near Legolas."
"Is that what you really want?"He questioned again.
She nodded."Yes.I want to be next to him."
He chuckled as if she had just told him a joke.He sat down clumsily next to her.
Harmonia wasn't amused.
"I am serious,Lord Gandalf.I do not wish to be here alone,without him."
He nodded."Do you know he is a prince?"
She widened her eyes.Now that was something new."He is?"
Gandalf smiled."That is just like Legolas.I guess he has forgotten to tell you that."
"More like he didn't want me to know!"She muttered.
The old man laughed."Yes,Harmonia.Yes I believe indeed that is his wish!"
"So what if he is a prince?"She suddenly said."Why are you telling me that?"
"Harmonia,Legolas told me of your dreams.And the voices you hear inside your head."
She nodded wearily."Yes.It is as he tells you.I hear voices,I have weird dreams at night.But sometimes,dreams haunt me even in the day."
The old man looked at her seriously."Do you have anything…?I mean,any kind of possession with you?"
She eyed him suspiciously."What do you mean?I have my clothes…"She muttered.
"Anything more specific?Maybe a ring…?"
"Legolas ask me the same thing."She said,rather amused."But I told him then,as I am telling you now,that I do not own any ring of any sort."
The man nodded quietly,obviously disappointed."I see.Ah…that is fine Harmonia.Will you tell me more about these dreams you were having?"
"They are very vivid and real."She whispered."And each time,a voice call to me,wanting me to go with it.And then,there was this intense feeling of being burnt alive…"She stopped short suddenly.
Gandalf stared at her."What is it?"
"Oh my goodness!"
"What is it,Harmonia?!"
She looked at him slowly."I think I remember now."