From The Ashes
One year after the War of the Ring, things seem to have settled until rumors surface concerning an army of darkness. Determined to confirm or disprove these rumors, Legolas heads to Minas Tirith to counsel with Aragorn. Meanwhile, from the ashes of Mordor comes someone long thought dead. Elrond's mortal twin.
Note: RPG fic, written by many authors, separated by post.
~~~~~~~
A chill wind trailed through hair as dark as a raven, causing stormy eyes of gray to squint. All was quiet here outside the black gates. Little birds pecked at the grass that was sprouting, struggling to bring life to a place long dead. The rider atop his black horse brushed his long hair back from his face, watching the birds. It had been a long time since he had witnessed such innocence. It almost bothered him.
The mortal half-Elf brought his eyes upwards, gazing out towards the distance laid out before him. He would not arrive at Rivendell from a straight path without stops, but as much as he knew of this world it was still alien to him. He was eager to see his elder brother once more, but as well he was curious about another person. What reception would he receive in the home of his descendant?
He looked to the north, thinking of his brother again, but a cough reminded him of his situation. He covered his mouth, trying to repress the attack, and made his choice. He would visit this young Aragorn and perhaps gain knowledge in the process. "To Minas Tirith," he whispered raggedly, patting his horse's flank. "Elrond will know I live soon enough."
~
From far north, the winds gusted through Aragorn's long, deep brown tresses. On the watchwall of the third level of Minas Tirith, Aragorn son of Arathorn, King of Gondor and Anor, stood, the serene moment more refreshing than the heartiest feast nor the most sound slumber. It was peace that he had strived for all his life, and now, solely reveling in its splendor, he searched for a tranquil core within his still restless heart.
It was war that brought about peace; the lives of all nations, the sacrifice of all peoples, the hope of all the world. Yet even with all the resolution found in the peace, there was still unrest both far beyond the gleaming whitewashed walls of the city of guard and within his tumultuous heart.
With his piercing gaze unwavering upon the towering mountains across the great divide between Gondor and what was once the realm of the Dark Lord, the King Elessar sighed, his crown clenched within his right hand. So often he found himself seeking refuge here, and there was scarce refuge from something within.
~
It was times like this that he was thankful he had survived the war, although many of his brethren had perished. Éomer stood on the platform of the Great Hall, overlooking the Rohan city. It was peaceful now, the orcs that had troubled this country perished when Mordor had collapsed. The alliance had once again proven itself. He took a deep breath, his eyes closed. The smell of Simbelmynë gently wafted over the breeze.
It still amazed and saddened him that he was now the leader of Rohan, the king. He'd give it up in a moment if he knew that it would bring his uncle back. But it wouldn't, and he was determined to be as good a leader as Théoden had. He opened his eyes again, surveying the land. Soon Rohan would flourish again, once it had been restored from the damage done by dark times. Soon.
~
Even from the highest chamber of their House, Arwen could see her King standing near the wall, gazing out upon the sea of emerald green grass that waved gently in the soft breeze, the winged crown of his ancestors clenched tightly within his hand.
Often, every morning after he would wake, he would go the wall and watch the sun rise, a glory of golden luminescence, slowly above the mountain peaks, to contemplate about the present and look ahead to the future. She knew that though he had been ruling the kingdom of Gondor for a year, he still could not quite believe that the Great War had ended...and that he had accomplished all that his destiny had called for him to do. Even in the nights, after the long Councils that took up most of his time during the day had ended, he would come to bed, a look of wonder yet gracing his features as he would find her awake, awaiting him with comforting arms of love and peace.
Though Arwen knew that both she and her husband were slowly bringing their world back to peace and prosperity, she also knew, deep within her, that all was not well yet. At times, it was easy to brush away such feelings, only thinking of them as misgivings. Yet, when all was silent, she could almost feel the unrest of the world...the one inkling...the one silent warning of danger.
Even now, she could sense it as she gazed down at her beloved, who looked out to the dark ridges beyond the Pelennor. Then, suddenly, far below in the fields, she could see a horse and a rider, galloping swift and hard, towards the main city gait. From his position near the wall, she saw Aragorn straighten as he too was alerted, and as the horse and rider began to run up the winding roads of the city, he turned and quickly began to make his way towards the Great Hall. She could see the look of deep concern etched into his brow, and, her own face echoing the same emotion in his, Arwen turned from the balcony to make her way as swiftly as she could down to the courtyard; the calls of confusion already echoing in her ears.
~
Wiping a sleeve across his eyes, Legolas rode towards Minas Tirith at a relentless pace. His horse sensed her rider's urgency, and obeyed his command to go faster.
Sighing, Legolas again rubbed his left eye, where blood had dripped. His head was aching from a wound on his forehead, but he paid no attention to it, thinking rather on what he would tell Aragorn.
'There are orcs amassing in Mordor,' he thought. 'I sensed an evil threat, and chose to investigate...' He knew that his friend would lecture him for doing something so foolish alone, but he did not care; it did not matter. What mattered is what they would do about this new danger making itself known near their home.
Rubbing his irritated eye again, he smiled slightly at the thought of Aragorn's reaction to see him bursting into the palace dirty and bloody...for the thousandth time.
'Ai,' he thought, his smile fading. 'What is the evil plan that these orcs have formed?'
Suddenly hearing a yell, he looked to see that the palace was finally in view, and a guard had shouted to let Legolas in.
The gate opened, and Legolas rode through, swiftly reaching the steps and halting his horse. Jumping down, he thrust the reins into the hand of the first person who reached him, and began running up the stairs. His body protested vehemently; his head now pounding, and other aches now made themselves known throughout his body.
Throwing the door open, Legolas ran into the palace, to see
the King heading towards the door, apparently having been alerted to his
arrival.
"Aragorn," he gasped, stopping. Rather, his feet
stopped running, but his brain kept going.
Everything around him suddenly spun, and his friend's
concerned face was the last thing that he saw before darkness engulfed him.
~
Aragorn rushed to the Elf's side,
catching him mere moments before he fell to the marble floor beneath him. It
was in this very moment,
all fragments of peace
Aragorn thought they had gathered – all things he believed to be healing, fell
away. "Legolas…" he called to him, silently pleading that he could
hear him, yet, alas, there was nothing.
A reflexive and necessary thought crossed his mind. "Faramir!" he called over his shoulder.
~~~~~~~
Characters Still Available! Elrond's twins, Celeborn, Galadriel, Glorfindel, Gandalf, Gimli, Pippin, Merry, Sam, Eowyn…and more!
Players Featured In This Chapter:
Elros - Ruse - Email: jedinineofnine@hotmail.com - AIM: Mirkwood Spider
Aragorn - Estel - Email: eriestel@covad.net - AIM: EriEstel
Legolas - Deana - Email:
Deana@fanfiction.net AIM: Gimme
Legolas
Arwen - Silrean - Email:
watasillydanagrl@aol.com
AIM: watasillydanagrl
Eomer - Klutzy - Email:
ranger_girl34@yahoo.com AIM:
Klutzy34
