Part 72

They kept walking. And things suddenly seem to slow and a light dawned above them breaking through the darkness before fading again. The shadows of the Dead still followed. And the darkness swallowed all sound so that a growing and treacherous anxiety was brewing in Legolas. His eyes darted about. He could feel them. He could feel the Dead preying upon him, starving for his soul. And he had no way out. There was no escape.

The earth rolled beneath them, and Legolas staggered, it was so violently quaking. A shrill cry pierced the air like an arrow, rising land falling at the same time.

A tremendous black form swept down upon Legolas, causing him to stumble. It flew past him like a wind and screeched. His silvery blonde tresses whipped up around him as he crouched, rose, spun around, loaded his bow, leapt upon Arod, and raced down past all the Gray Company and beyond Aragorn, the shadow following him madly. He peered over his shoulder at it, black banners fluttering up all around it wildly. It screamed at him, drowning out Aragorn's voice when he called to the Elf. Arod had never fled more swiftly in his life. But the stallion stumbled, throwing Legolas from his back.

And everything slowed from there. The Elf was engulfed in darkness, yet the shadow that pursued him brought with it a light. Legolas backed away from it, his eyes fixed on the void within its hood.

Something passed through those eyes.

" Now is the time of your decision."

Something flashed before him. It was her voice.

" Legolas Thranduilion."

She passed before him, disappearing behind a tree among the many in the wood. There was a light, blue and unearthly.

" What do you choose? "

She was there. She was not.

The Black Shadow lingered before him. Beyond him lay the wood. But was it really there? He didn't know.

" I want you."

She flashed before him.Her face, with her skin so fair and soft.

" What do you want? "

The world burned. The people fled to the Halls of Mandos. They could not be saved. They could not be saved.

" Elbereth. "

The world was left to shadow and ash. Despair reigned its soil. And hopelessness.

" You soul is hers."

All of it passed through him as water, before him as a prophecy. And then it vanished. Only the Black Shadow was there. Legolas knew not what to choose. But he was not afraid.

" You have a choice, Legolas Thranduilion. To live or to die. You must choose when next you meet the lost souls, when death and glory face you unveiled. Then you will choose this reality or the dream that you take refuge in each night. Your sanctuary."

The Shadow whispered and it almost seemed like her voice.

" Then you will choose."

And it left him. It took both the light and the darkness.He was alone. Aragorn's voice rang out in the blackness. But Legolas only thought of his choice.

Would he choose his dream or his reality, his sanctuary or the world that bore him? Would he choose glory or honor? Would he choose her? Would he choose freedom? Or would he choose the brotherhood of souls? Would he choose hope?

Estel.

What would he choose?

Thaurnoviel.

What would he choose?

Hope.

What would he choose?

Love.

What would he choose?

What would he choose?