Chapter Ten

Legolas's presence with me was comforting.We travel by horses and I ride with him.Gandalf ride one himself and he was often ahead of us,leading us the way to Mordor.I remembered Legolas's tale about the young Hobbit who saved the world when he took the OneRing to Mordor on his own and destroyed it.It was a heartening story.Except that the OneRing was not entirely destroyed.But now that I know the truth,I will destroy it.And this time,no one can fail me.Not even the elf.

Harmonia noticed Legolas's usual quietness.As Gandalf raced ahead of them to check for safe paths,Legolas slowed down the horse.

"What is it?"Harmonia asked,mildly worried that it could be an orc attack.

"I cannot figure this out."

"Figure what?"

"Why we are heading to Mordor."

Harmonia sighed."Did not the Lady Galadriel tell you to come this way?"

Legolas nodded."She did.But she did not offer any explanation.I am rather disturbed."

"Do not be."She cheered slightly."I am sure everything will turn out fine."

He looked at her."Harmonia,where is the OneRing?"

She was surprised."I do not know…"

"Gandalf knows.And his lips are sealed.I wonder why…"

She smiled uneasily."You are thinking too much once again!Just try to relax and we will settle this mess in no time."

He was worried."Harmonia,do you conceal something from me I should know about?"

She looked away."Of course not!"

"But your eyes betray you."

She finally looked at him.Her eyes watered."I am scared…that is all."
He was surprise to see unbashful tears from a girl so full of pride.

"Harmonia! What is wrong?Talk to me,I beg of you!"

"I cannot…I must not…"She muttered,suddenly tired."We must move on.Gandalf waits for us ahead."

"I will not go another step further,if you will not tell me the truth."

"There is no truth…"

"You are a bad liar,Harmonia."He said gently,stroking her thick black hair."Do not trouble your already troubled heart.Share your burden with me."

The sudden sound of horse throttle could be heard.Legolas turned to see Gandalf racing back at them.

"Orcs ahead!"

Harmonia turned to Legolas worriedly."What do we do now?"

The elf nodded."We will have to outrun them.Hold on to me!"

The orcs gave chase.But most of them do not ride horses,so Legolas and Gandalf could lose them easily,as they raced into the forest.It was only when Legolas heard Gandalf slowing down behind him,did he stopped his horse.

"Have we lost them?"The elf asked,glancing around the surrounding darkness.

The forest was damp and dark.Harmonia shivered slightly,and Legolas wrapped his hand around hers.

"By the looks of it,we have."Gandalf said,panting ever so slightly from all the excitement."We must still go to Mordor."

"Is there another way?"Harmonia asked.

Gandalf glanced at Legolas,who quickly nodded."Yes.There is another way to Mordor.But we have to climb mountains and mountains."He looked at Harmonia's pale face."And I doubt she can handle it."

"I can!"She whispered with determination,though the beats of sweat were already forming on her forehead.

Gandalf looked at the girl."Do you feel unwell,young one?"

She shook her head,but her lips trembled."I am well…except…my heart feels…kind of…heavy.."She whispered tiredly.

Legolas was immediately at her side,holding her."What is happening?"He looked anxiously at Gandalf.

The wise wizard sighed deeply."This is a bad sign.We must get Harmonia to Mordor quickly."

"But she cannot go on!"Legolas insisted."We have to stop this journey or she cannot make it!"

"Do not defy the orders of the White Wizard and the Lady of the Light!"Gandalf bellowed.

Legolas immediately bowed his head."I apologise,Gandalf."

The old man softened."I do not mean to yell at you,Legolas."He sighed again."But we have little choices but to go to Mordor.You understand that?"

The elf nodded slowly."Yes…I understand…"

"Even Harmonia wishes that."Gandalf continued.

Legolas glanced at Harmonia,who forces a weak smile."I am fine.A bit flighty at the moment,but still fine.We will move on."

Harmonia curses herself silently for her two weak,female legs.Even as Gandalf and Legolas struttered quickly to the top of the hill,she was often the one tripping over herself,and falling face flat into the snow,which amuses the old man and the elf greatly.

"Not again!"She complained,after tripping for the fifth time.

"Have patience,Harmonia."Legolas smiled."Walk slowly."

"The winter air is normally refreshing for an old man like me."Gandalf mused."But this time,I feel no comfort."

"Because we are heading to Mordor."Legolas said."And it is the last place on Middle Earth that offers comfort to anybody."

"Are you sure we are going the right way?"Harmonia asked."It seemed the hills is ever stretching.I cannot see the other side."

Legolas chuckled."I assure you I can see the other side.Once we finished with this last crossing,you will be able to see Mordor."He became serious."And you will have wished you never finished the crossing."

Harmonia quietened."Maybe I will…"

Gandalf noted the quiet tension and quickly said."Do not fret,young ones.We will get away from this winter air soon."

Harmonia sighed and watched Legolas and Gandalf lead the way.Legolas,occasionally turned back to wait for her,but she motioned for him to move on."I am fine.Do not worry!"

When they finally stopped to rest,Legolas made a fire and pass Lambas bread to everyone.

"Lambas."Gandalf laughed."This ought to fill up my stomach."

Harmonia frowned."But it is just a small bread!"She complained."And I haven't eaten for hours!I want real food."

Legolas was amused."Lambas bread is elvish food.Its magical.One small bite can fulfill the stomach of the biggest man.Try it."

Harmonia look suspiciously at the ordinary bread"Are you sure,Legolas?It looks like normal oat bread to me."

The elf laughed."Take a bite,Harmonia,and you will see."

The girl took a small bite,chewed on the bread and finally swallowed it down."Mmmmm…"

The two men peered at her."So how is it?"Legolas asked eagerly.

"Surely that fill your stomach."Gandalf added.

The girl eyed the both of them."Well…mmmm…I am still hungry…"

Gandalf laughed heartily at that while Legolas looked disappointed that his Lambas bread should invoke such ridicule from both Harmonia and Gandalf.

"I was kidding!"Harmonia grinned."Look at his face fall,Gandalf!"

The old man laughed again while Legolas's face reddened.

"You are not still hungry,are you?"The elf asked.

Harmonia giggled."No Legolas! I am full and revitalized."

Legolas looked relieved while Gandalf laughed heartily.

"It is time to rest."The old man said,smiling."For we will need all the strength that we can summoned for the days ahead."

Harmonia quickly made a nice resting place by covering the damp snowy paths with used clothes and blankets,while Legolas dimmed the fire.

Gandalf,meanwhile,went to sleep in a upright,sitting position,as if he was in a trance.

Harmonia was amused."Does he always sleep like that?"She whispered.

Legolas glanced at the white wizard brieftly."Gandalf's sleeping habits is not of our concern."

The girl grinned."Are you mad at me for teasing you about the bread?"

"No."

"You sound as if you are."

"I am not."

Harmonia giggled."Yes you are,stupid elf.Just admit it!"

Even Legolas could not contain his grin."Oh stop it,silly girl.We have to rest up while we can,like Gandalf instructed."

The elf quickly lied down,a few feet away from Harmonia.He noticed the girl was still seated and made no move to lay down.

"What is wrong?Can you not sleep?"

Harmonia quietened.The air around her was cool but still and she could see the bright moon hanging just above the trees.

"I wish not to sleep so soon."She muttered.

"Why not?"Legolas sat up.

"I want to look at this place longer."She sighed.

I want to look at you longer,Legolas.

But she did not say her inner heart's desire.Instead,she motioned for Legolas to sleep.

"Go to sleep.Don't bother with me."

The elf shot her a questioning look,but did not persist the matter longer.He gently laid down and stared blankly up in the sky.

"Can you not sleep as well?"She asked,peering over him.

"I am sleeping…"The elf mumbled in a slightly drowsy tone.

"Your eyes are open."She observed.

"I sleep with my eyes open,Harmonia."He mumbled again.This time,Harmonia let him sleep.

The next morning,Legolas sprang up from his sleep to find Gandalf still in that upright position,his eyes closed and his breathing lightly.He saw that Harmonia was gone.

In a sudden panic,he did not wake Gandalf up,for he thought it best to let the old man rest.But he quickly glanced around frantically,in search for the lost girl.He did not think orcs had come by and kidnapp her for he trust his instinct.If orcs were near them last night,he would have heard and smell them.

He believed that the girl merely wondered alone off somewhere,and he find that highly improbable.Especially with them so near Mordor,he fear for Harmonia's safety.He would have to lecture her when she returns.

If she returns,he thought,starting to feel disturbed again.

Thinking that he cannot wait for her to appear any longer,he picked up his bow and hurried in the direction of the top of the hill.He picked up her scent quickly and hurried to her.

He found Harmonia gazing blankly in the far away distant.She had climbed up the hill by herself,though it was not far from their camp.

"Harmonia!"

She turned around,the cool wind blew across her face,sweeping her long curls of raven black hair back.She looked positively radiant then and Legolas's breath was taken away.

"Legolas,you have awaken."

"Why did you come here all by your lonesome?"He frowned."You could have been attacked."

"I don't know."She smiled sadly."I feel that nothing can touch me here.This place is so beautiful."

Legolas walked beside her."I agree.This place is truly a beauty.And it is such irony that just across from here is Mordor."

She turned to look at him."We are reaching Mordor so soon?"

He nodded."Yes.Very soon."

She looked away.There were a glimmer in her green eyes."I…"

"Harmonia,we should not leave Gandalf alone back there."Legolas turned to walk back."Hurry."

He walked a few steps back when he realized Harmonia had made no motion to follow him.He spunned around.

"Harmonia,what is wrong?"

"I…I do not want to go back."

"I do not understand?"The elf replied.

"I want to stay here."She whispered,walking towards him."I want to stay here with you."

"Harmonia…?"

She did not wait for him to speak,but threw herself,her arms wide open into his embrace.

He returned the hug with equal passion.

"I don't want to go to Mordor."Harmonia muttered,her head buried in Legolas's chest."I don't want to go there anymore."

"Harmonia,what is going on?"

She looked up at him,and the elf could see the tears welling in those big almond shaped green eyes,that would come to haunt him forever in his eternal life.

"Legolas…I cannot bare it.I try telling myself it is fine.That everything happens for a reason.But I cannot do it.I am not brave enough."She faltered and the tears began to gush down."I am not that brave young hobbit you spoke so fondly of.Nor am I that pure and beautiful elf friend of yours.I am evil,Legolas! Evil!"

"Harmonia…?"The elf was dumbstruck."I have no idea of what you are speaking of."

She shook her head."It does not matter anymore…"

He grabbed her shoulder suddenly with such force,Harmonia's eyes widened in surprise.

"Harmonia! Has it been a lie? Of what am I still concealed from? Tell me!"

She tried to fend him off but the elf was too strong."Let go of me…"

"Harmonia! I swore allegiance to protect you with my very life.This I gave words to the Lady of Light herself! You must tell me the truth!"

She scorned at him."Lady of light? Bah! She came to me in my dreams.And spoke of the great destruction I carry."She wiped her tears away."I will destroy you or you will destroy me! That is her very words!"

"No! You lie! How can I ever destroy you? I will never do that!"

She closed her eyes painfully.And Legolas saw her lips trembled in sufferance."Do you not understand it?"She looked at him.Those wide green eyes.Full of tears,full of pain.

He swore he would made those same green eyes smile once again.

"I am the ring."She whispered."I am the OneRing."