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.

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Arwen looked to her husband, her eyes searching his, reading there, within his crystalline depths, his deep concern for Legolas, for the news that he had brought...yet already she could see the weariness straining around his eyes. Gently she slipped her hand to his, running her fingers over his briefly in silent comfort and support. Silently, she looked from him to Legolas, her dear friend of old, her breath catching as she looked upon his wounds.

~

Legolas saw Arwen's worried look, and was quick to reassure her. "It is not as bad as it seems," he said. "I am fine, truly."

Arwen's expression was doubtful, but before she could say anything, Legolas continued his story.

"I rode north towards the border," he said. "But I did not get very far before being attacked." He thought for a minute, before continuing. "I killed eight of them before nearly being overcome, and somehow managed to escape. There was about forty orcs in total."

Everyone seemed surprised at the number, and Legolas saw Arwen pale at the thought of Legolas fighting forty orcs alone.

"Worry not for me, I am fine," Legolas told her again, suddenly sitting up and scooting to the edge of the bed, ignoring the pain and abrupt dizziness that swept over him. "We need to plan."

~

He was content to ride in silence.  That way he could listen for anything approaching without having to strain to hear. The air between him and the other was tense though.  He wasn't quite sure what to think of him. Graceful, poised like an elf, yet not quite an elf.  Haldir wondered over what he had told him and those with him back at the borders of Lórien.   When he talked, Haldir looked over at him.

"Lord Elrond married the daughter of Lady Galadriel," Haldir said quietly. "I've seen him a few times, escorted him through the Golden Woods when he has come to Lothlórien.  His daughter has married the King of Gondor."

~

Elros grunted at that, staring off into the dark.  The textbook reply was not so sharp as to be impolite, but he did not think this stranger cared for him.  He was tempted to lose him in the vast openness stretched out before them; could if he really tried.  But it would not be prudent.

The silence remained for as long as Elros was quiet. He could remember dimly a vision of having seen Galadriel, Lady of the Wood.  She indeed had been fair and had the bearing of the wisdom she was so renowned for now. He felt disconnected to this age, there was no denying that, but being among the Elves would aid that.

The hours dragged on until the very beginnings of morning began to touch the horizon.  He had gone on far longer than planned and was
weary, but Elros fought it with his indomitable will. He noticed the Marchwarden watching him as they led their horses down a hill. "We have passed Lorien's borders by now. Do you choose to remain with me or not?"

~

The ride was quiet and tense the rest of the way to the border.  Haldir didn't think the stranger riding next to him thought much of him, but he didn't care.  He didn't really feel the need to talk anymore than he had to, as he usually kept his own counsel unless it was asked for. Soon they had arrived at the borders.

The Marchwarden glanced out to the horizon. He had done his duty, escorting him to the borders, but if he truly wanted to do the right thing, he would accompany him to Minas Tirith. His duty was back in Lothlórien.  Finally, he glanced over at Elros. "Do you know your way to Minas Tirith well?"  He asked.

~

The mortal nodded, looking across the lands before him.  "I know well how to get there."  It was no lie, despite the fact he had not wandered Middle-Earth for thousands of years. It was a path he had trained himself to know very well, almost as well as the path to Rivendell.  "I thank you for your aid, kind Haldir. I understand if your duty calls you elsewhere."  He offered the silent Marchwarden a smile.  He had a feeling that even if they parted here he would see this face again, be it for good or ill.

~

This man did not seem as strange as he first thought, and out in the open, Haldir could see even more the likeness between him and Lord Elrond.  He nodded slightly to him. "Then may the path you travel bear you safely along in your journey." He said, allowing a small smile to cross his lips.

That said, he pulled on his horse's reins and turned him. With a slight kick, the horse broke into a trot. Haldir disappeared back into the clutches of the woods.

~

He had dark hair upon dark skin and eyes that glittered. Jerking a skin to his mouth, the orc drank deeply, listening to the rumble of laughter behind him. Irritated, he whipped around and slammed the skin to the dirt, yelling, "What's so funny, boys?"

The clamor ceased. They thought what the Elf endured to be amusing, but he was bitterly angry that he had slipped away from his capture.  "We were thinking that Elf can't have got far.  We could track him down and have ourselves a good time, is all."  They watched him with fear in their eyes.

Goralûk had no taste for these foolish weaklings. He was an Uruk-Kai, proud and skilled. "Don't underestimate Elves," he growled, kicking the wineskin at them. "We aren't going anywhere until the General's timing!"

They looked confounded, bitter at that. "What about the Elf that got away? A small group of us wouldn't..."

"When the time comes, I will slaughter the golden-headed little maggot," Goralûk hissed back, seething at the failure. "Until then we follow orders!"

~~~~~~~

Characters Still Available! – Galadriel, Celeborn, Rumil, Orophin, Erestor, Figwit, Gandalf, all the Hobbits…originals welcome and applauded.  Orcs would be useful. 

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
Haldir - Klutzy - Email:  ranger_girl34@yahoo.com   AIM: Klutzy34
Arwen - Silrean - Email:  watasillydanagrl@aol.com  AIM:  watasillydanagrl
Goralûk - Ruse