A/N) Final Chapter is now here! Very short as I didn't have much to say but is essential. There is a short preview of 'Fear of Men' at the end which I will be posting very soon.
The Forge of Friendship
Chapter 8
Mellon-nin
A week later everything was back to normal. The elves of Mirkwood had forgotten the entire incident had ever happened; the two elves were slowly recovering in the healing ward; and the men had been handed over to the nearest town to be imprisoned. Doyni was the only one of the men that had a shorter sentence as his honesty and bravery in the situation had granted him clemency, though Thranduil still wanted him imprisoned so that he could rethink about his life and when he was released to follow his intended path. Derondë had been banished from Mirkwood for lying to her King and for involving in activities with a wanted elf, but she was to be allowed back after being away for fifty years. Her brothers and their friends had also been sent away from Mirkwood but their sentence would last until they crossed the Sea; only then would they be reaccepted into society.
Aragorn on the other hand was still recovering from the shock that the whole escapade had been to get him. The shock of it all was too much for him to bear and he spent long hours brooding in Mirkwood's halls. Legolas and Gandalf were the only ones he spoke to.
It was soon decided that Thranduil would write a detailed letter to Lord Elrond and explain about the situation.
Gandalf soon announced he was leaving to go on business to the North. He would not say why. Both Aragorn and Legolas was sad to see him go as he was a loyal friend and companion of them both.
It was almost a month later that Aragorn began to make plans for himself.
"I intend to journey North back to Rivendell." he said to Legolas one day as they strolled through the woods.
"When?"
Aragorn shrugged. "Probably in a couple of days time. I'm sure my father would be glad to see that I'm safe and not harmed."
"I'll come with you." Legolas replied.
These words jerked Aragorn's head up and he looked at the elf walking beside him. "I don't need to be protected anymore. Gandalf was enough." Aragorn made a move to pass the Prince, but the elf caught him by the shoulders and held him still.
Legolas laughed. "No, Strider! Not to protect you, but to keep you company. I have not been to Rivendell in years. I would dearly love to come with you; not as a protector but as a friend."
"A friend?" Aragorn asked. "You see me as a friend?"
"You've shown me that not all men are bad as they seem. Like you I will never forget what men did to me, but it is buried deep in my past and I have forgiven them. With you, Strider, it is different. It will take more then a couple of years for you to forgive men, but I can see that you will one day forgive them when you've seen enough of the world to understand them." Legolas explained. He saw a brief flicker of pain in the human's eyes as he mentioned forgiveness, but he ignored it. "You are not just a friend but a 'mellon-nin'. You are my friend."
"You really mean that?"
Legolas gestured. "Yes. Mellon-nin let us have many joys together while your time lasts. I will journey with you to Rivendell. I have not seen the mountains in many years and greatly desire to look upon the valley where Imladris dwells. Will you let me come with you as a friend?"
Aragorn smiled laying a hand on the elf's shoulder. "Yes, mellon-nin, I would be delighted if you could join me."
*****
It was a week later that Aragorn and Legolas left Mirkwood to travel to Rivendell. Legolas had had to ask his father to leave Mirkwood with Aragorn, but after much arguing and promising to return within six months, his father had conceded and allowed his son to leave. Aragorn was pleased with the company that Legolas had given him.
In fact he had been worried about the reappearance of the elf on his travels and was glad that he had someone to watch his back. The journey out of Mirkwood was long and peaceful; the two friends spoke, swapping stories about their childhood, though Aragorn refused to speak of anything about Dilir and his murder and meeting with him.
As they emerged from the forest Aragorn turned to look at Legolas. "I'm pleased that you're with me. It would a lonely walk through the mountains without you."
Legolas grinned. "I wouldn't be doing this if I liked you. You, to me, are a man worth knowing and befriending. I hope that I can help you on your way to forgiveness and other roads you may travel."
"I hope so to."
Then the two friends walked away from the forest of Mirkwood, and began the long road to Rivendell.
The End
I hope you liked the final chapter to 'The Forge of Friendship'. Just below you can read a short preview of 'Fear of Men'. The scene below is the beginning of Chapter 4.
~Fear of Men~
Summary: Returning to Rivendell, Aragorn and his new-found friend, Legolas Prince of Mirkwood, stumble across a group of Orcs led by a man, they find themselves the prisoner of a madman intent on revenge. But Aragorn has a hidden fear of this man and this encounter may very well destroy his calm center that he has managed to uphold since the tragic incident 11 years ago.
The Preview
A fierce headache pounded in his head as consciousness returned to endorse his body with pain made by the fierce beating of the Orcs earlier. Legolas groaned as a stab of pain washed through him. His headache lightened only a bit, but he forced his eyes open. He moved his head, slowly, studying his surroundings.
He was in a dark cell, two torches burned brightly off to the side, giving off only a small amount of light. He was bound securely to the wall in which he was propped up against. His wrists were chained but so that he could rest them in his lap.
Then his eyes widened when he saw Aragorn in the same condition, but the chain holding Aragorn's wrists and ankles were securely bound to the wall so that he could not move them as Legolas could. The human was awake but he was shaking uncontrollably. He had a right to do so, as his shirt had been ripped from his body. From studying his friends frame, Legolas could see that Aragorn had received a beating; dark bruises and a few cuts could be seen on the Ranger's chest, and some were still bleeding.
"Aragorn?" the elf whispered, hoping upon all hope that his friend was not to seriously injured.
The sound of his name jerked the young man back to full consciousness and he turned his head to find the source of the sound. His eyes found Legolas and a glimmer of hope could be seen them. "Legolas, you're still alive. I thought the Orcs killed you. I tried to help but I couldn't."
"Don't worry, mellon-nin, I am fine. All that matters is for us to find out why we are here, and why men can control the Orcs. I can't understand why Orcs would follow the commands of human!"
Even as he said that the door to their cell opened, and both companions looked up as a man strode into the room, his eyes shining in content as he studied his prisoners, and his laughter rose as his eyes fell on Aragorn.
Legolas risked a glance and saw with dismay that Aragorn's shaking had begun again, and he had pressed himself closer against the wall. "No, no, no, no......It can't be." he was whispering.
The man that had just entered was Deollyn.
TBC
Well, what did you think of my little teaser? Was it good enough to spark enough questions that still need to be answered? Such as: Why are Orcs working for men? Why has Deollyn has been released from prison? What does he want with Aragorn and Legolas? All these questions and more will be revealed in 'Fear of Men'. Also if you're wondering if the mysterious Shadow Elf is who tried to kill Aragorn when he was 10 years old, we finally get to know who he is and what his motive is.
Stay tuned to find out more when I get the final part of my 'quadr-ology' up. See you all very soon!
Namárië for now!
