Okey dokey…what happens now? Beinlóth has gone, Legolas hasn't got a clue where she is, and I'm killing people all over the place. Hmm, where do we go from here?
How about the Fellowship?
I think that's a good place to carry on from. ^_^
~Lainfaer~
Elerrina- Acting is great. Once you've done it once, you're addicted. (At least I was.)
No, of course I can't kill the main character, as you'll soon find out…
…Anyway, thanks for reviewing. ^_^
jade- glad you like it. ^_^
Morgaine of Ithil- If you did review 15 times under different names, I probably would. Reviews are like my life source for updating, very good for my health. Try it and see. Also, if it says I have a lot of reviews, it looks good! Heehee.
Thanks for reviewing. ^_^
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 12: Time goes on, as it must.
(60 years later.)
60 years passed with no news or sign of Beinlóth and her horses. Legolas returned to Mirkwood, Gwaloth was buried, and almost straight away, he set out again, determined to find her. He went back to the steam, and went in all directions, trying to find tracks to follow. But they were now all gone, and he had nothing to follow.
He returned to Mirkwood downhearted. He was so pleased when he had found Gwaloth and Beinlóth again, and now that happiness had been diminished.
When 60 years had passed, Thranduil called his son to his study. He had received a message from Lord Elrond of Rivendell, telling him that a Council was to be held. He was sending Legolas.
He explained about what the Council was for, and that Legolas would have to tell them about Gollums' escape. Legolas made a face at this, but Thranduil bade him go.
"You must Legolas. This is for both Mirkwood and her
people. You never know, you may go on a journey to places far away. I won't lie to you my son. This is about the One Ring." His voice
had dropped to a whisper by now. "It has been found again, and it must be
destroyed. All races of Middle-Earth are going to be present, races that are
against the Dark Lord anyway. Elves, Men, Dwarves, and Hobbits.
A Hobbit holds the Ring right now." Legolas laughed. "A
Hobbit? Of all the creatures to have it, I wouldn't
bank on it being a Hobbit!"
"That is what I thought. But the actual person who found it was Gollum. Then
Bilbo Baggins got it, and he has passed it onto Frodo Baggins. You remember
Bilbo? He was here with the Dwarves around 77 years ago, and helped them to
escape."
"Of course I remember him Adar. Very well, I will go." He stood and bowed.
Thranduil also rose. "Good luck Legolas, and been careful."
"I am not a child any more Adar," Legolas said, one eyebrow raised.
"I know, but you are still my son, and still young to me."
"I know. Diolla lle Adar. I will not let you down." He
bowed once more, then left to prepare.
Two days later, he was galloping out of Mirkwood, a small company joining him. They were silent, all lost in their own thoughts about what lay ahead.
They reached Rivendell a couple of weeks later, just in time for the Council. As he took his seat, Legolas looked around. He saw his old friend, Aragorn, or Strider as he was often known. Estel, to the Elves. He smiled at him, and he smiled back. As everyone was entering, and taking their seats, he went over to talk to him.
"Estel, what is going on?" he asked, crouching down in front of his friend.
Aragorn leant forward on his knees to answer. "You see
the Hobbit beside Gandalf?"
Legolas looked around. "Yes, what about him?"
"That's Frodo." Legolas nodded. "Oh yes, Adar told me about him. He has
the…thing, doesn't he." Legolas was very aware that a
nearby Man could hear what they were saying. He turned his back on him.
Aragorn nodded. "Yes. This Council is being held to decide what to do with it."
Legolas nodded, and then went back to his seat. Then, the Council began.
It was long, and very informative. It concluded with a Fellowship being formed to destroy the Ring. Legolas was amongst them, with Aragorn, the Hobbits, Gandalf, a Dwarf called Gimli, and the Man Legolas had seen before. His name was Boromir, and he was from Gondor. His father, Denethor was the Steward. Legolas had instantly taken a disliking to him.
Two months later, they set out for the dreaded land of Mordor. Legolas had informed his father of what was happening, and so everything was set.
One of their problems was getting to the other side of the Misty Mountains. The enemy was guarding the High Pass too closely, and the Gap of Rohan was too near to Isengard. So, they tried Caradharas.
Two days later, they trudged back down again, covered head to toe in snow, and all very cold. Apart from Legolas, who could not feel the cold. Their last option was the Mines of Moria.
No one really wanted to go that way, but they didn't really have any other choice. So they went in, and managed quite well, apart from the entrance where a huge monster in the lake attacked them. They carried on in the dark, their path lit only by Gandalfs' staff, which was very faint.
A few days passed, and still the Mines were silent. Then, they came to a tomb, and were attacked by Orcs after Pippin toppled an ancient Dwarf skeleton down a well. They came out triumphant in the fight, but then had to run for their lives. They came to the Bridge, with both Orcs and a Balrog in hot pursuit. Gandalf battled him on the Bridge, then fell into the dark abyss of Moria with his foe.
The Fellowship had to keep going. They got outside, and the Sun welcomed them. They collapsed on the ground, the Hobbits sobbing. Frodo wandered off by himself for a bit, unable to believe what had just happened. Boromir had to keep Gimli from charging back into the Mines, and Legolas just stared numbly ahead.
//Not more death.//
Aragorn just cleaned his sword, and told Legolas to get Merry and Pippin on their feet. "We must reach the Woods of Lothlórien."
They set of slowly at first, their wounds slowing them down. Legolas was unhurt, and so kept a sharp eye out. The village where Beinlóth used to live, or the remains of it, was not far from here. A shiver passed down his spine at the memories. What had happened to Beinlóth?
He was at the back of the Company, and decided to join Aragorn up at the front. He jogged casually up the line to walk beside the Ranger. "I can feel something," he whispered.
Aragorn looked at him. "What do you feel?"
"I'm not totally sure. Just…something, or someone, I feel is watching us."
"Friendly?"
"I think so."
"Would the Lothlórien Elves come this far away from their borders?"
"I seriously doubt it. Just keep a sharp eye. I'll go a
little way ahead."
"Be careful," Aragorn called after his friend as he disappeared into the
darkening trees.
"Where's the Elf going?" Boromir asked, coming up next to Aragorn.
"Scouting ahead. He is uninjured, and he is a great warrior. He'll report back in a while." Boromir just grunted. He had never really liked Legolas, ever since the Council where he had defended Aragorn.
Legolas looked around his surroundings. He could still feel that strange sensation of being watched. The hairs on the back of his neck were prickling slightly.
"Stay still," said a calm, but stern voice.
Legolas immediately stopped walking and held his hands up in a sign of peace. He looked around, and then a figure dropped out of a nearby tree. It was hooded and cloaked, and held a bow in its left hand. A quiver sat upon its back, full of white-feathered arrows. Legolas could not see the face.
"Who are you?" he asked, hoping the Fellowship had stopped.
"You may know me, you may not," was the answer.
//Female?//
The voice was soft and gentle, and one he recognised.
She reached him, and made him lower his hands. He looked
into the hood, but could not see a face. "Who are you? I feel as if I know
you."
"Like I said, you may, you may not." The person looked past Legolas over his
shoulder. He turned round.
The Fellowship stood there, watching everything. Aragorn started to walk over, but she held an arrow up against her bow. "Stay there," she warned. Aragorn stopped in his tracks.
Legolas looked back at her. She lowered her bow and put the arrow back in their quiver. "You are heading for Lothlórien?"
"Yes," he replied. "Why are you stopping us?"
"I am not stopping you, merely temporarily halting you in your journey. Would
you like to rest now?"
"What do you mean by that?"
His answer, was another group of hooded and cloaked people appearing from within the trees. He looked round at them, then back to the person in front of him. "Follow us," she commanded, and led him away by the hand.
He looked back at the Fellowship and nodded, motioning for them to follow. They resisted at first, then started to follow.
They were taken into the trees, away from the path. The company leading them was silent, and kept their hoods up. Some were on horseback. The Fellowship felt a little uncomfortable, but still followed. Then, bright lights met them. They shielded their eyes with their hands.
When they had grown used to it, they opened their eyes a fraction. The lights were dimmed, and a marvellous sight met their eyes. Many tables were laid out with food and drink, and benches were lined up alongside. Lamps hung on the branches of the trees that encircled the clearing, and a fire burned merrily in the centre. There were smaller lamps on the tables, and music was being played. But they could not as yet see the musicians and their instruments.
They were led over to a table, and sat down. The music faded, and the person who had first appeared to Legolas, stood on the end of a bench to talk.
"My friends," she called. "We have visitors." The hooded people laughed, and it was soft, gentle laughter. She motioned for silence again.
"Now, I want you all to be nice to them. They are of course, the Fellowship." A few murmurs passed through the group. "And, we must be courteous to our special guests. Eat, drink, and play more music." She got down, and the people clapped.
These people then surrounded the Fellowship. But they had removed their cloaks and hoods, and they were shocked to found they were all in fact, Elves. Food and drink was offered to them, and they eagerly accepted it. Legolas especially, was getting plenty of attention.
He looked around for the leader who had led him here, but
could not see her. He frowned, but it was wiped away by the soft hand of an
Elf-maiden.
"No need to frown my Lord," she said softly. "Here,
you can rest and all your worries will fade away like the breeze. If you are
looking for our leader, then keep looking if you wish. You will not see her.
When she is ready, she will find you." She smiled, and drifted off into the
crowd.
The evening carried on by. As they looked around, the Fellowship was a little surprised to find that all the Elves were female. Many questions about them were asked to Legolas and Aragorn, but they were unable to answer them. Neither of them had ever come across this group before.
The Elves were soon up and dancing with each other or alone. The music was all quite fast, and had a nice, smooth beat. The Hobbits were soon hoisted up onto the floor and made to dance. At first they were reluctant, but were soon enjoying themselves thoroughly. Aragorn was also dancing with some, and Boromir was pulled up onto the dancefloor. Even Gimli was asked to dance, and he tried to argue his case, but he was not allowed to stay in his seat. With Legolas' help, the maidens pulled him onto the floor, and they were all dancing round him.
Legolas sat alone at the table, taking a sip of his wine every now and then. A few of the Elves he did know, from when they had been to Mirkwood as messengers, and he had spoken with them, but none would say who their leader was. But he was not allowed to think for long, as he was also dragged into the dancing.
After a long spell of dancing, they all sat back down, rather worn out. "These girls could keep going for hours if we let then," Gimli said, taking a large gulp of his ale. They had specially prepared it for him and the two Men.
"Why don't we let them? I'm having fun," Pippin answered, grinning.
They all laughed. "We all need rest," Aragorn told him. "But, if you wish to continue, go ahead. We're not stopping you."
Merry and Pippin were gone in a flash.
"Any sign of the leader?" Aragorn asked Legolas once Boromir and Gimli were talking.
"No. I have talked to as many of these ladies as I have been able, but they are giving nothing away," Legolas answered. "Its so strange, I feel as if I know her."
"Maybe you do."
"Hm, maybe."
Aragorn was then hoisted back into the dancing.
Legolas sat in silence for a while, just watching and listening. The music was now slower, and it cast a calming effect over all of them. Who were these people? And where were they from? Lothlórien, or somewhere else?
His thoughts were interrupted when a shadow fell across his gaze. He looked up, and almost fell of his seat in shock. His breath caught in his throat as he gazed upon the maiden in front of him. She smiled softly down at him.
"Hello Legolas," Beinlóth said softly.
She's back!
I loved writing that chapter! How had guessed she would be there? Sorry, but I COULD NOT kill Beinlóth! That is just…illegal! She's one of m favourite characters that I've ever created!
And I own her! It's great! ^_^
~Lainfaer~
