Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Very, very depressed. After all the threats and begging, still so few reviews. Please, please review; even if it is to say, my story is getting boring or to say I am very sick for what I did in this chapter..
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Chapter 8: Unlikely Allies
DAY 10, GONDOR
At the break of dawn, the new Fellowship set out on their Quest. To hasten their journey, they all traveled on horseback. Unlike the mission to destroy the One Ring, secrecy was not an issue. The Hobbits rode double on ponies, with Frodo and Merry at the reins; while Shadowfax carried both the white wizard and Gimli. They all wore simple Elven cloaks from Lothlòrien; Galadriel had given their new member, Éomer, the same cloak and brooch as well.
Gandalf rode in the lead, with Haldir following closely. Once again both Men guarded the rear, shielding the little ones in the middle from possible danger. They would ride hard until they reached the forests of Ithilien. There they would take their first night's rest in the safety of the woods. From there on, their road would be much more difficult as they traverse the Mountains of Shadows into Mordor.
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DAY 10, REALM OF TIRN UIPIRA
Glorgalad had found the perfect candidate to possess. No one would ever suspect the Golden Prince to take the body of a hideous creature of darkness, one of the remnant beasts created by Saruman's cruelty and malice. He had spoken to Celegîl the night before of his plans. Though his eldest brother was against his taking such a great risk, the older Watcher could not argue that it was the best chance they had against Morn- ndùath.
Reluctantly, the Crown Prince had agreed to help his little brother; he would also enlist Mallos' assistance in the matter. Together, the two older Watchers would divert the King's attention long enough for Glorgalad to enter Middle Earth. Once the Golden Prince took physical form, he would be free to act without his father's interference. Gathering all his powers, the young Watcher prepared the transportation spell to enter his new form.
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NIGHT 10, FOREST IN ITHILIEN
The company set up camp in a small clearing in the forest. Aragorn had asked the Elf and the Rohirrim to go to the stream and refill their water skins. Once they entered Mordor, there would be no clean source of drinking water. Anyone else could have carried out the task, but the Man wanted to give his two friends some privacy to sort out their attraction to each other.
"Why did you ask those two to get water?" inquired Gandalf. The wizard too noticed the chemistry between Éomer and the archer, but he wondered if it was wise for any two members of the Fellowship to become personally involved during the Quest. They would face many dangers ahead; it might be better to set emotional issues aside until their mission was fulfilled.
"I think it best that those two resolve their feelings as soon as possible. I understand your worries, Gandalf. But I speak from experience that the confusion of not knowing one's heart is much more distracting than being in a relationship," replied the Man.
"You are right, Elessar. Which brings me to my next question. What is troubling you, my friend?" asked the old Istari.
Aragorn was surprised that the wizard had noticed his distraction. The Man thought he had hidden his feelings quite well in front of the others. The only ones to have seen him affected by his returning memories were Faramir and Thranduil. Neither of them would betray his secret to another. "What makes you think I am troubled?"
"It is not difficult to put two and two together, Elessar. I noticed how sad you looked a year ago during our reunion. I did not think much about it until King Thranduil pointed out that someone was missing from the original Fellowship a few days ago, an Elf to be precise. I do not know why I do not remember him, but whoever he was, he must have held your heart. Am I right in my assumptions?" replied Gandalf.
The Man could not deny what the white wizard had said, so he nodded silently. He hoped this confirmation would not make the Istari thought him unfit to be part of their expedition. But his worries were dissolved when Gandalf laid an encouraging hand on his shoulder and said, "Don't worry too much about things here. We can take care of ourselves quite well. Just concentrate on regaining what was lost. It might be of more importance than you think."
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The night was upon them. All was eerily silent; not even the wind or the creatures of the forest made a sound. Haldir was given first watch of the night; the Elf's senses were on the highest alert. He could feel that they were being watched. Silently, the archer notched an arrow and pointed it into the forest to the East. Focusing his keen eyes on the darkness of the woods, the Elf began to make out a grotesque shape hidden in the shadows.
It was one of Saruman's creatures; it resembled an Uruk-hai in built, only that it moved with an elegance that such foul beasts could never possess. The Guardian could not hear its footsteps as it glided closer to their camp with cat-like grace. It must have been a special breed developed by the fallen Istari, likely from the union of Uruk-hais and untransformed Elves. The thought of his brethren being forced upon by those foul creatures sickened Haldir. It would be his duty to rid Middle Earth of this ghastly remainder of such brutal and atrocious acts.
But before the Elf could let lose his arrows to kill the beast, the white wizard spoke. "I cannot sense any malice from it, Haldir. Maybe its purpose is to help us, not hurt us."
"I don't think a hideous creature of darkness can exhibit good will," replied the Guardian of Lòrien.
"Do not be so hasty to deal out judgments of life and death, my friend. I know that your philosophy was to slay evil at its roots, but even the wisest cannot see all ends. I have a feeling that our visitor wishes to assist us in our Quest," said Gandalf as he rose to walk towards the creature.
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The Watcher was well aware of the conversation between his old friends. He knew how close he was to being shot by his Elven friend. And to think that Haldir once fancied him when he was Legolas; it was such irony. Quickly, the Prince closed the distance between himself and the camp. He only hoped the company would allow him to fight by their side in his current form.
"Hello, my friend. What brings you to us?" asked the Istari.
"I wish to offer my assistance," replied the Watcher. He had made his offer; now all he could do was wait.
"I will.." began Gandalf.
But the wizard was interrupted by a very vehement response from the Elf. "No! We will NOT travel with it."
His outcry had awoken the other members of the Fellowship. As they rose groggily from their bedrolls, they were greeted by the sight of Gandalf speaking with what appeared to be an Uruk-Hai.
"What is going on? Let us kill this foul beast and return to our rest," cried Gimli.
"Well said, Master Dwarf," agreed the Elf.
"The creature had not done anything to us. It won't be nice to kill it," reasoned Pippin.
"It is probably a spy from our new enemy. If we do not destroy it now, we will regret it," said Éomer.
"I think we should let it come with us. If not for Gollum, the One Ring would not have been destroyed," suggested Frodo.
"No, Master Frodo. That critter bit off your finger. If this thing is going to do the same, I would rather die than allow it to travel in our company."
"So let us take a vote. We have four for killing the creature and three for letting it come with us. What do you say Merry?" asked Gandalf.
"I am with Pip. The thing might look mean and nasty; but there is something about it that seems familiar, in a good way," replied the Hobbit.
"So the deciding vote is yours, Aragorn," said the Guardian of Lòrien.
The Man regarded the beast for a long while before asking, "What is your name?"
Glorgalad had not expected his beloved to ask for his name. He knew the creature he took was never given a name. It was the sad result of one of Saruman's demented experiment, nothing more. "I don't have one," replied the Watcher truthfully.
"You will need one if you were to travel with us," said Aragorn.
Glorgalad knew the comment did not mean the Man had accepted him into their company. It was merely a statement, designed to measure his intelligence and knowledge. The Watcher knew that if he chose something that made his former lover suspect him of being a spy, he would die here. There was only one answer he could give that might convince the Man to allow him to come along. But it was a dangerous gamble; if it backfired, it would seal his fate.
"Then I shall be called Legolas," replied the Prince.
The Watcher had deduced from his evil uncle's words during the attack that the dark one was not among the Fellowship. It was safe to assume his Elven name here without worrying about Morn-ndùath. Besides, given the care he had taken to disguise his form, no one would suspect he would use his own name. Both his father and uncle thought they knew the Prince well; and that the young one would not be so stupid to give away his identity with something so obvious. They would just dismiss it as a coincidence that an Uruk-Hai by the name Legolas was helping the Fellowship.
Of all possible answers the creature could give, that was not one Aragorn expected. How dare this hideous beast take the name of his golden beloved. Yet, if the thing were a spy from the evil Watcher, it would never have chosen that name. It was taking every ounce of Aragorn's self-control to not strike the beast down right this moment where it stood; the enemy would never have taken such a blatant risk with his first spy.
"You may come with us, beast. Just do not expect me to call you by that name," replied Aragorn as he turned away.
The Man knew they could use the extra help, if the creature's purpose was indeed to assist them. Since it was not a spy, there was no hurry to destroy it. Until the thing gave them cause, they would be merciful and trust it.
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Legolas was glad his plan worked. He was worried for a moment when he saw the Man's hand tightened on the hilt of Anduril. But the Prince knew his work was far from over. He must win the trust of the Company with his actions. Thus, he volunteered to take over Haldir's duties at the first watch.
His proposal was rejected with suspicious comments, stating they could not rest with a potential enemy as their only guard. Pippin immediately came to his defense and accused the others of being unnecessarily mean. When the other Halflings and Gandalf agreed with the young Hobbit, a full-blown argument was about to break out on the Prince's behalf. Not wanting to see his friends fight over such a small matter, the Watcher interfered, apologizing for his presumptions to offer his aid while assuring his supporters he did not mind the rejection.
Legolas relaxed as the members of the Fellowship returned to rest, with the exception of Haldir, who was assigned to first watch. The Prince came to Middle Earth hoping to help his friends; yet from the display of hostility he had caused among his comrades, he wondered if he was doing more harm than good. The Watcher could only hope that he would be given a chance to prove himself to his companions soon. Everyone would need to work together to ensure the success of the mission.
Being part of this new company again brought back memories of their Quest to destroy the One Ring. With the dissention among the group now, it was no wonder that the Watcher dwelt on the darker days of the Fellowship, when it was first formed.
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FLASHBACK:
YEAR 3018, THIRD AGE, EAST IMLADRIS
Legolas watched as the two Men attempted to stare each other down on who should carry the tired Ringbearer. The Hobbit had not completely recovered from the wound he received from the Nazgûl; the gruesome pace Gandalf set for the company was proving too much for the weakened Halfling.
The Elf knew Boromir swayed too easily to the power of the Ring. It would not be wise for the Gondorian to carry the Hobbit. That would put him too close to the source of his temptation. Legolas knew the wizard wished to speak up and end the argument, but was afraid to take Aragorn's side. The Istari and Boromir had a heated argument during the Council. If Gandalf were to speak against the Man now, it would only deepen their animosity. The Prince knew it was up to him to resolve the situation.
Legolas was glad of the russet-haired warrior's continuous affections towards him despite the rejection some days ago. It gave the Prince leverage to use against Boromir without clearly choosing sides. Summoning his most enchanting smile, the Elf approached the Men and gave the Gondorian a gentle tap on his shoulder.
"Boromir, would you mind coming with me to scout ahead? Maybe we can find an easier route for the others to follow," asked the Prince with his sweetest tone.
The question had the desired effects on the Man as Legolas noticed the slight blush on Boromir's face. "Of course, I am delighted that you think me worthy company on such an important task," replied the warrior when he finally found his tongue.
Before Aragorn could protest, the Elf had begun to lead the other Man away from the Company. When he tried to follow the two, Gandalf put a firm restraining hand on his arm.
"Don't worry about Legolas. He can take care of himself. The Prince is very skilled in deflecting attention when he chooses," comforted the wizard.
"But..." the Man began to argue.
"Frodo needs your help now. It is why the Prince distracted Boromir. Do not let his good intentions go to waste," said Gandalf.
Reluctantly, Aragorn took the Ringbearer upon his back and started to head towards the direction where his beloved had gone. The Elf had not spoken to him at all ever since their fight in Rivendell. When Legolas had something important to report, the Elf would tell the wizard to relay the message to him.
From the way the Elf acted towards him, Aragorn knew there was no repairing the damage he had done with his angry outburst that night in Rivendell. The Man wanted only one last chance to speak with the Prince alone, to apologize so he could clear his conscious and try to move on; but Legolas had denied him even that. The Elf was so cold to him that Aragorn sometimes wondered if his former lover would mourn his loss should he be killed on the Quest. Staring at the direction where Legolas had gone, the Man vowed to protect the Elf, with his life if necessary, even if the Prince was no longer his to love.
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The Elf knew Boromir had been staring at his backside in the most inappropriate manner throughout the entire trip. He was not too disturbed, for he was used to that sort of treatment. The Prince now understood that he could never be more than a trophy for someone to possess. Aragorn had showed him that.
Aragorn had been so understanding and kind, valuing Legolas' opinions and abilities, as well as his beauty. He had always made the Prince felt special. But, the moment the Elf gave himself completely to the Man, Aragorn stopped thinking of him as a person. In Aragorn's eyes, their shared intimacy gave the Man the right to claim the Elf as his own, a treasure that belonged solely to him. Legolas became nothing more than a prized possession that the Ranger wanted to keep all to himself. The Elf was guilty of betrayal just because he attracted someone else's attention. The Man no longer cared what he thought or that he never shared Boromir's affections.
The Prince was startled out of his thoughts when he felt Boromir's arms around him. He could not believe he had let his guard down when he was with a Man bent on becoming his lover.
"Legolas, I know what you said before, but please reconsider. I love you more than anything else in the world," said the russet-haired Man to the Elf in his arms.
Luckily for the Elf, Boromir's hold was not very strong. The Prince eased out of his embrace and turned to face him. "You are a good Man, Boromir. I am sure you will find someone special one day. When you do, you will look back upon this infatuation and laugh."
"It's not an infatuation. I love you!" declared Boromir passionately as he tried to grab the Elf again.
Legolas gracefully twisted away as he spoke again, "You are not the first one to think yourself in love with me. But I can tell you now that you are not. Please accept the friendship I offer instead."
"Legolas..." began to argue the Son of Gondor.
But before the red-haired Man could continue the conversation, Gandalf came into view. The Elf was glad for the wizard's appearance, since convincing Boromir to stop pursuing him was more difficult that he anticipated. Most Men the Prince had encountered would give up after seeing his resolution not to be involved. But that was when Legolas was surrounded by admirers, when they thought the Prince was turning them down for the sake of another. Now, on the Quest, there was no one else the Elf could opt for, except Aragorn.
Legolas knew he could not trust himself with the Ranger. Despite the hurtful words Aragorn had said, the Prince still harbored the same love for him. The Elf was afraid that if he got too close, he would be convinced to give his beloved another chance. Knowing how Aragorn felt for him, he would only be giving the Man another opportunity to throw his love back in his face and hurt him. Legolas was strong enough to withstand the grief from his first heartbreak, but the Elf knew he could not take any more of this gut-wrenching pain.
The Elven Prince could feel his former lover's concerned gaze upon him, but willed himself to ignore it. Legolas loved and trusted the Man with his entire being; in return, Aragorn had showed him the painful truth of the nature of their relationship. Despite the devastating anguish in his heart, the Prince was glad the Ranger had crushed his foolish dreams of being loved for who he was, not how he looked. Legolas knew what he must do. He would hide his heart and choose a mate that would strengthen Mirkwood's alliances. The Elf would embrace his fate of being the token consort of the one who had the most to offer for his homeland.
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NIGHT 10, GONDOR CASTLE
Thranduil was having difficult finding rest. An unknown worry had taken sudden control of his mind. A small part of the King recognized the feeling; it was something he felt before eleven years ago. As the ancient Elf realized that this sensation pertained to his lost son, he relaxed, allowing his mind to follow its path and guide him to another piece of precious memory of his golden child.
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FLASHBACK:
Year 3018, THIRD AGE, MIRKWOOD
The Wood-Elves had successfully defended their homes from the Orc forces. But it was not without losing their prisoner, Gollum. The creature was put in their care by Mithrandir; someone must go to Rivendell to report its escape.
"Please, Ada, let me be our representative at the Council of Elrond," pleaded the golden Elf.
"No, that is too dangerous. I want you to stay here," replied the King.
"But Aragorn needs me. I want to be there for him, to fight by his side," said the Crown Prince.
"Legolas, I know how you feel. But I am sure the Man wants you to be safe as well," reasoned Thranduil.
"That may be the case, but it is not what I want. I have led patrols and scouting parties before. I can protect myself," replied Legolas.
"Yes, but going on a Quest to destroy the Ring is different. And I am sure that is what they will decide to do. Aragorn will volunteer to protect the Ringbearer and you will go to protect him. I cannot allow you to risk your life so recklessly," said the ancient Elf.
"I know the stakes. I am not rushing into this recklessly. I love Aragorn more than my own life. If anything happens to him, I will not survive alone. The grief will kill me," stated the young Prince.
"Legolas, the Man is mortal. He will die some day. Please do not say you will throw your life away when Aragorn passes," said a worried Thranduil. The King was willing to accept the Man as his son-in-law since he knew Aragorn was the only one who could give his child happiness. But losing his golden son to a mortal was something he could not stand.
"My heart decided it belongs to Aragorn and that it can no longer keep beating in my breast without him. I do not want to cause you grief, but I cannot control the way I feel. Please understand," replied Legolas.
Tears were forming in the Golden Elf's exquisite sapphire eyes from the sadness of knowing he must leave his caring father one day to follow his beloved into the Halls of Mandos. How the Prince wished that Aragorn could be made immortal; that they could all live happily ever after on Middle Earth as a family.
But the young Elf knew his dreams could never be. Though Legolas could not become Mortal like the Half-Elven, he knew his grief would help him accompany the Man in death when the time comes. The Elven Prince had resigned to this fate long ago, but his only worry was the grief his fading would cause his father. The young Elf did not want Thranduil to mourn his loss excessively, as passing with Aragorn was what Legolas wanted. The Prince hoped the King would understand; that Thranduil would forgive a young one's selfishness in love and cherish forever in his ancient heart their limited time together as father and son.
The King of Mirkwood believed open display of emotions to be unbefitting of Elven Royalty. But the prospect of losing his favorite child broke Thranduil's mask of cool composure, leaving the ancient Elf weeping. Despite his grief, the King understood that it was his son's nature to love only one person and to want to be forever by his beloved side. Legolas' loyalty and single-mindedness were traits that the ancient Elf admired. As much as he wanted to keep the young Prince by his side for eternity, Thranduil knew his son would never be happy without Aragorn. The ancient Elf loved Legolas too much to see him miserable. He was willing to endure the pain of losing his golden child some day in exchange for the young one's happiness. Thranduil would not be the cause of his son's pain; he would let Legolas go to the one who held his heart.
Forcing a small smile, the King spoke, "I understand. You will be our representative. But promise me that you will be careful and come back from the Quest. I am not prepared to lose you just yet. Give me a hundred years or so. When Aragorn passes from old age, I might be able to come to terms with it, little one."
The ancient Elf moved from his throne and embraced his child tightly. Smiling lovingly at his son, Thranduil wiped the young one's tears away gently with his hands. The King gazed at Legolas' face, memorizing every detail of the golden child he loved so much. It was several minutes before the ancient Elf let go of the Prince and said, "Go on. Council is in ten days. You have to hurry or you will be late."
Taking on last look at his understanding father before turning to leave, Legolas whispered brokenly, "Thank you, Ada. I will come back and make you proud."
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NIGHT 10, GONDOR CASTLE
Tears streaked freely down the face of the King of Mirkwood as he sat alone in his bed. In the end, his golden child did not return. Legolas had sacrificed himself to save Middle Earth. But Thranduil did not begrudge the Prince for not keeping his words; the Elven King was proud of his son's courage, the little one's willingness to give up everything that he ever loved in order to keep Arda out of the reach of the Dark Lord.
The Elf could not believe Alagos had gone to such extremes to keep the golden child in the Realm of the Tirn Uipira beside him. By taking Legolas back and erasing everyone's memories of the young Elf, the King of the Watchers had caused his son nothing but suffering. It angered the Elven King that Alagos had acted so selfishly to pursue his own wishes without regard of the pain his actions had caused his child, the one the ancient Watcher claimed to love and wanted to protect. Powerful or not, the Elf vowed to teach the Tirn Uipira King a lesson if they were ever to meet again; perhaps that would help open Alagos eyes to what the young Prince wanted and needed.
After Thranduil's raging emotions calmed, the King realized that only one person could trigger this sensation of unease, Legolas. It meant that his son had somehow returned to help them. Knowing his child, the Prince would have gone to help Aragorn with their new Quest. The ancient Elf hoped things would be different this time; that the little one would return safely. Thranduil wished for nothing more than the chance to speak with the beautiful soul that was his child again, even if it was for a brief moment. There was something that the Elven King must tell his child. No matter what happens, he would always love Legolas as a son; no one could ever take that away from them again.
************************************************************************ I have this tendency to make Legolas ugly in some way, don't I? I promise the interactions between our couple will be very different from Shadow. Aragorn is NOT going to fall in love with Legolas in Uruk-Hai form, so don't worry. Thought I will announce this right now, since I am not that sick =)
Nina: Sorry, I have to put Glorgalad in an Uruk-Hai. It is the best choice since it is the most unlikely. I mean, the very thought of Legolas being anything other than the beautiful, perfect Elf he is kind of disturbs me.... But as said above, ugly form is only here to help with Quest and prompt memories, nothing more. Romance will be mostly in flashback portion.
Very, very depressed. After all the threats and begging, still so few reviews. Please, please review; even if it is to say, my story is getting boring or to say I am very sick for what I did in this chapter..
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Chapter 8: Unlikely Allies
DAY 10, GONDOR
At the break of dawn, the new Fellowship set out on their Quest. To hasten their journey, they all traveled on horseback. Unlike the mission to destroy the One Ring, secrecy was not an issue. The Hobbits rode double on ponies, with Frodo and Merry at the reins; while Shadowfax carried both the white wizard and Gimli. They all wore simple Elven cloaks from Lothlòrien; Galadriel had given their new member, Éomer, the same cloak and brooch as well.
Gandalf rode in the lead, with Haldir following closely. Once again both Men guarded the rear, shielding the little ones in the middle from possible danger. They would ride hard until they reached the forests of Ithilien. There they would take their first night's rest in the safety of the woods. From there on, their road would be much more difficult as they traverse the Mountains of Shadows into Mordor.
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DAY 10, REALM OF TIRN UIPIRA
Glorgalad had found the perfect candidate to possess. No one would ever suspect the Golden Prince to take the body of a hideous creature of darkness, one of the remnant beasts created by Saruman's cruelty and malice. He had spoken to Celegîl the night before of his plans. Though his eldest brother was against his taking such a great risk, the older Watcher could not argue that it was the best chance they had against Morn- ndùath.
Reluctantly, the Crown Prince had agreed to help his little brother; he would also enlist Mallos' assistance in the matter. Together, the two older Watchers would divert the King's attention long enough for Glorgalad to enter Middle Earth. Once the Golden Prince took physical form, he would be free to act without his father's interference. Gathering all his powers, the young Watcher prepared the transportation spell to enter his new form.
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NIGHT 10, FOREST IN ITHILIEN
The company set up camp in a small clearing in the forest. Aragorn had asked the Elf and the Rohirrim to go to the stream and refill their water skins. Once they entered Mordor, there would be no clean source of drinking water. Anyone else could have carried out the task, but the Man wanted to give his two friends some privacy to sort out their attraction to each other.
"Why did you ask those two to get water?" inquired Gandalf. The wizard too noticed the chemistry between Éomer and the archer, but he wondered if it was wise for any two members of the Fellowship to become personally involved during the Quest. They would face many dangers ahead; it might be better to set emotional issues aside until their mission was fulfilled.
"I think it best that those two resolve their feelings as soon as possible. I understand your worries, Gandalf. But I speak from experience that the confusion of not knowing one's heart is much more distracting than being in a relationship," replied the Man.
"You are right, Elessar. Which brings me to my next question. What is troubling you, my friend?" asked the old Istari.
Aragorn was surprised that the wizard had noticed his distraction. The Man thought he had hidden his feelings quite well in front of the others. The only ones to have seen him affected by his returning memories were Faramir and Thranduil. Neither of them would betray his secret to another. "What makes you think I am troubled?"
"It is not difficult to put two and two together, Elessar. I noticed how sad you looked a year ago during our reunion. I did not think much about it until King Thranduil pointed out that someone was missing from the original Fellowship a few days ago, an Elf to be precise. I do not know why I do not remember him, but whoever he was, he must have held your heart. Am I right in my assumptions?" replied Gandalf.
The Man could not deny what the white wizard had said, so he nodded silently. He hoped this confirmation would not make the Istari thought him unfit to be part of their expedition. But his worries were dissolved when Gandalf laid an encouraging hand on his shoulder and said, "Don't worry too much about things here. We can take care of ourselves quite well. Just concentrate on regaining what was lost. It might be of more importance than you think."
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The night was upon them. All was eerily silent; not even the wind or the creatures of the forest made a sound. Haldir was given first watch of the night; the Elf's senses were on the highest alert. He could feel that they were being watched. Silently, the archer notched an arrow and pointed it into the forest to the East. Focusing his keen eyes on the darkness of the woods, the Elf began to make out a grotesque shape hidden in the shadows.
It was one of Saruman's creatures; it resembled an Uruk-hai in built, only that it moved with an elegance that such foul beasts could never possess. The Guardian could not hear its footsteps as it glided closer to their camp with cat-like grace. It must have been a special breed developed by the fallen Istari, likely from the union of Uruk-hais and untransformed Elves. The thought of his brethren being forced upon by those foul creatures sickened Haldir. It would be his duty to rid Middle Earth of this ghastly remainder of such brutal and atrocious acts.
But before the Elf could let lose his arrows to kill the beast, the white wizard spoke. "I cannot sense any malice from it, Haldir. Maybe its purpose is to help us, not hurt us."
"I don't think a hideous creature of darkness can exhibit good will," replied the Guardian of Lòrien.
"Do not be so hasty to deal out judgments of life and death, my friend. I know that your philosophy was to slay evil at its roots, but even the wisest cannot see all ends. I have a feeling that our visitor wishes to assist us in our Quest," said Gandalf as he rose to walk towards the creature.
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The Watcher was well aware of the conversation between his old friends. He knew how close he was to being shot by his Elven friend. And to think that Haldir once fancied him when he was Legolas; it was such irony. Quickly, the Prince closed the distance between himself and the camp. He only hoped the company would allow him to fight by their side in his current form.
"Hello, my friend. What brings you to us?" asked the Istari.
"I wish to offer my assistance," replied the Watcher. He had made his offer; now all he could do was wait.
"I will.." began Gandalf.
But the wizard was interrupted by a very vehement response from the Elf. "No! We will NOT travel with it."
His outcry had awoken the other members of the Fellowship. As they rose groggily from their bedrolls, they were greeted by the sight of Gandalf speaking with what appeared to be an Uruk-Hai.
"What is going on? Let us kill this foul beast and return to our rest," cried Gimli.
"Well said, Master Dwarf," agreed the Elf.
"The creature had not done anything to us. It won't be nice to kill it," reasoned Pippin.
"It is probably a spy from our new enemy. If we do not destroy it now, we will regret it," said Éomer.
"I think we should let it come with us. If not for Gollum, the One Ring would not have been destroyed," suggested Frodo.
"No, Master Frodo. That critter bit off your finger. If this thing is going to do the same, I would rather die than allow it to travel in our company."
"So let us take a vote. We have four for killing the creature and three for letting it come with us. What do you say Merry?" asked Gandalf.
"I am with Pip. The thing might look mean and nasty; but there is something about it that seems familiar, in a good way," replied the Hobbit.
"So the deciding vote is yours, Aragorn," said the Guardian of Lòrien.
The Man regarded the beast for a long while before asking, "What is your name?"
Glorgalad had not expected his beloved to ask for his name. He knew the creature he took was never given a name. It was the sad result of one of Saruman's demented experiment, nothing more. "I don't have one," replied the Watcher truthfully.
"You will need one if you were to travel with us," said Aragorn.
Glorgalad knew the comment did not mean the Man had accepted him into their company. It was merely a statement, designed to measure his intelligence and knowledge. The Watcher knew that if he chose something that made his former lover suspect him of being a spy, he would die here. There was only one answer he could give that might convince the Man to allow him to come along. But it was a dangerous gamble; if it backfired, it would seal his fate.
"Then I shall be called Legolas," replied the Prince.
The Watcher had deduced from his evil uncle's words during the attack that the dark one was not among the Fellowship. It was safe to assume his Elven name here without worrying about Morn-ndùath. Besides, given the care he had taken to disguise his form, no one would suspect he would use his own name. Both his father and uncle thought they knew the Prince well; and that the young one would not be so stupid to give away his identity with something so obvious. They would just dismiss it as a coincidence that an Uruk-Hai by the name Legolas was helping the Fellowship.
Of all possible answers the creature could give, that was not one Aragorn expected. How dare this hideous beast take the name of his golden beloved. Yet, if the thing were a spy from the evil Watcher, it would never have chosen that name. It was taking every ounce of Aragorn's self-control to not strike the beast down right this moment where it stood; the enemy would never have taken such a blatant risk with his first spy.
"You may come with us, beast. Just do not expect me to call you by that name," replied Aragorn as he turned away.
The Man knew they could use the extra help, if the creature's purpose was indeed to assist them. Since it was not a spy, there was no hurry to destroy it. Until the thing gave them cause, they would be merciful and trust it.
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Legolas was glad his plan worked. He was worried for a moment when he saw the Man's hand tightened on the hilt of Anduril. But the Prince knew his work was far from over. He must win the trust of the Company with his actions. Thus, he volunteered to take over Haldir's duties at the first watch.
His proposal was rejected with suspicious comments, stating they could not rest with a potential enemy as their only guard. Pippin immediately came to his defense and accused the others of being unnecessarily mean. When the other Halflings and Gandalf agreed with the young Hobbit, a full-blown argument was about to break out on the Prince's behalf. Not wanting to see his friends fight over such a small matter, the Watcher interfered, apologizing for his presumptions to offer his aid while assuring his supporters he did not mind the rejection.
Legolas relaxed as the members of the Fellowship returned to rest, with the exception of Haldir, who was assigned to first watch. The Prince came to Middle Earth hoping to help his friends; yet from the display of hostility he had caused among his comrades, he wondered if he was doing more harm than good. The Watcher could only hope that he would be given a chance to prove himself to his companions soon. Everyone would need to work together to ensure the success of the mission.
Being part of this new company again brought back memories of their Quest to destroy the One Ring. With the dissention among the group now, it was no wonder that the Watcher dwelt on the darker days of the Fellowship, when it was first formed.
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FLASHBACK:
YEAR 3018, THIRD AGE, EAST IMLADRIS
Legolas watched as the two Men attempted to stare each other down on who should carry the tired Ringbearer. The Hobbit had not completely recovered from the wound he received from the Nazgûl; the gruesome pace Gandalf set for the company was proving too much for the weakened Halfling.
The Elf knew Boromir swayed too easily to the power of the Ring. It would not be wise for the Gondorian to carry the Hobbit. That would put him too close to the source of his temptation. Legolas knew the wizard wished to speak up and end the argument, but was afraid to take Aragorn's side. The Istari and Boromir had a heated argument during the Council. If Gandalf were to speak against the Man now, it would only deepen their animosity. The Prince knew it was up to him to resolve the situation.
Legolas was glad of the russet-haired warrior's continuous affections towards him despite the rejection some days ago. It gave the Prince leverage to use against Boromir without clearly choosing sides. Summoning his most enchanting smile, the Elf approached the Men and gave the Gondorian a gentle tap on his shoulder.
"Boromir, would you mind coming with me to scout ahead? Maybe we can find an easier route for the others to follow," asked the Prince with his sweetest tone.
The question had the desired effects on the Man as Legolas noticed the slight blush on Boromir's face. "Of course, I am delighted that you think me worthy company on such an important task," replied the warrior when he finally found his tongue.
Before Aragorn could protest, the Elf had begun to lead the other Man away from the Company. When he tried to follow the two, Gandalf put a firm restraining hand on his arm.
"Don't worry about Legolas. He can take care of himself. The Prince is very skilled in deflecting attention when he chooses," comforted the wizard.
"But..." the Man began to argue.
"Frodo needs your help now. It is why the Prince distracted Boromir. Do not let his good intentions go to waste," said Gandalf.
Reluctantly, Aragorn took the Ringbearer upon his back and started to head towards the direction where his beloved had gone. The Elf had not spoken to him at all ever since their fight in Rivendell. When Legolas had something important to report, the Elf would tell the wizard to relay the message to him.
From the way the Elf acted towards him, Aragorn knew there was no repairing the damage he had done with his angry outburst that night in Rivendell. The Man wanted only one last chance to speak with the Prince alone, to apologize so he could clear his conscious and try to move on; but Legolas had denied him even that. The Elf was so cold to him that Aragorn sometimes wondered if his former lover would mourn his loss should he be killed on the Quest. Staring at the direction where Legolas had gone, the Man vowed to protect the Elf, with his life if necessary, even if the Prince was no longer his to love.
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The Elf knew Boromir had been staring at his backside in the most inappropriate manner throughout the entire trip. He was not too disturbed, for he was used to that sort of treatment. The Prince now understood that he could never be more than a trophy for someone to possess. Aragorn had showed him that.
Aragorn had been so understanding and kind, valuing Legolas' opinions and abilities, as well as his beauty. He had always made the Prince felt special. But, the moment the Elf gave himself completely to the Man, Aragorn stopped thinking of him as a person. In Aragorn's eyes, their shared intimacy gave the Man the right to claim the Elf as his own, a treasure that belonged solely to him. Legolas became nothing more than a prized possession that the Ranger wanted to keep all to himself. The Elf was guilty of betrayal just because he attracted someone else's attention. The Man no longer cared what he thought or that he never shared Boromir's affections.
The Prince was startled out of his thoughts when he felt Boromir's arms around him. He could not believe he had let his guard down when he was with a Man bent on becoming his lover.
"Legolas, I know what you said before, but please reconsider. I love you more than anything else in the world," said the russet-haired Man to the Elf in his arms.
Luckily for the Elf, Boromir's hold was not very strong. The Prince eased out of his embrace and turned to face him. "You are a good Man, Boromir. I am sure you will find someone special one day. When you do, you will look back upon this infatuation and laugh."
"It's not an infatuation. I love you!" declared Boromir passionately as he tried to grab the Elf again.
Legolas gracefully twisted away as he spoke again, "You are not the first one to think yourself in love with me. But I can tell you now that you are not. Please accept the friendship I offer instead."
"Legolas..." began to argue the Son of Gondor.
But before the red-haired Man could continue the conversation, Gandalf came into view. The Elf was glad for the wizard's appearance, since convincing Boromir to stop pursuing him was more difficult that he anticipated. Most Men the Prince had encountered would give up after seeing his resolution not to be involved. But that was when Legolas was surrounded by admirers, when they thought the Prince was turning them down for the sake of another. Now, on the Quest, there was no one else the Elf could opt for, except Aragorn.
Legolas knew he could not trust himself with the Ranger. Despite the hurtful words Aragorn had said, the Prince still harbored the same love for him. The Elf was afraid that if he got too close, he would be convinced to give his beloved another chance. Knowing how Aragorn felt for him, he would only be giving the Man another opportunity to throw his love back in his face and hurt him. Legolas was strong enough to withstand the grief from his first heartbreak, but the Elf knew he could not take any more of this gut-wrenching pain.
The Elven Prince could feel his former lover's concerned gaze upon him, but willed himself to ignore it. Legolas loved and trusted the Man with his entire being; in return, Aragorn had showed him the painful truth of the nature of their relationship. Despite the devastating anguish in his heart, the Prince was glad the Ranger had crushed his foolish dreams of being loved for who he was, not how he looked. Legolas knew what he must do. He would hide his heart and choose a mate that would strengthen Mirkwood's alliances. The Elf would embrace his fate of being the token consort of the one who had the most to offer for his homeland.
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NIGHT 10, GONDOR CASTLE
Thranduil was having difficult finding rest. An unknown worry had taken sudden control of his mind. A small part of the King recognized the feeling; it was something he felt before eleven years ago. As the ancient Elf realized that this sensation pertained to his lost son, he relaxed, allowing his mind to follow its path and guide him to another piece of precious memory of his golden child.
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FLASHBACK:
Year 3018, THIRD AGE, MIRKWOOD
The Wood-Elves had successfully defended their homes from the Orc forces. But it was not without losing their prisoner, Gollum. The creature was put in their care by Mithrandir; someone must go to Rivendell to report its escape.
"Please, Ada, let me be our representative at the Council of Elrond," pleaded the golden Elf.
"No, that is too dangerous. I want you to stay here," replied the King.
"But Aragorn needs me. I want to be there for him, to fight by his side," said the Crown Prince.
"Legolas, I know how you feel. But I am sure the Man wants you to be safe as well," reasoned Thranduil.
"That may be the case, but it is not what I want. I have led patrols and scouting parties before. I can protect myself," replied Legolas.
"Yes, but going on a Quest to destroy the Ring is different. And I am sure that is what they will decide to do. Aragorn will volunteer to protect the Ringbearer and you will go to protect him. I cannot allow you to risk your life so recklessly," said the ancient Elf.
"I know the stakes. I am not rushing into this recklessly. I love Aragorn more than my own life. If anything happens to him, I will not survive alone. The grief will kill me," stated the young Prince.
"Legolas, the Man is mortal. He will die some day. Please do not say you will throw your life away when Aragorn passes," said a worried Thranduil. The King was willing to accept the Man as his son-in-law since he knew Aragorn was the only one who could give his child happiness. But losing his golden son to a mortal was something he could not stand.
"My heart decided it belongs to Aragorn and that it can no longer keep beating in my breast without him. I do not want to cause you grief, but I cannot control the way I feel. Please understand," replied Legolas.
Tears were forming in the Golden Elf's exquisite sapphire eyes from the sadness of knowing he must leave his caring father one day to follow his beloved into the Halls of Mandos. How the Prince wished that Aragorn could be made immortal; that they could all live happily ever after on Middle Earth as a family.
But the young Elf knew his dreams could never be. Though Legolas could not become Mortal like the Half-Elven, he knew his grief would help him accompany the Man in death when the time comes. The Elven Prince had resigned to this fate long ago, but his only worry was the grief his fading would cause his father. The young Elf did not want Thranduil to mourn his loss excessively, as passing with Aragorn was what Legolas wanted. The Prince hoped the King would understand; that Thranduil would forgive a young one's selfishness in love and cherish forever in his ancient heart their limited time together as father and son.
The King of Mirkwood believed open display of emotions to be unbefitting of Elven Royalty. But the prospect of losing his favorite child broke Thranduil's mask of cool composure, leaving the ancient Elf weeping. Despite his grief, the King understood that it was his son's nature to love only one person and to want to be forever by his beloved side. Legolas' loyalty and single-mindedness were traits that the ancient Elf admired. As much as he wanted to keep the young Prince by his side for eternity, Thranduil knew his son would never be happy without Aragorn. The ancient Elf loved Legolas too much to see him miserable. He was willing to endure the pain of losing his golden child some day in exchange for the young one's happiness. Thranduil would not be the cause of his son's pain; he would let Legolas go to the one who held his heart.
Forcing a small smile, the King spoke, "I understand. You will be our representative. But promise me that you will be careful and come back from the Quest. I am not prepared to lose you just yet. Give me a hundred years or so. When Aragorn passes from old age, I might be able to come to terms with it, little one."
The ancient Elf moved from his throne and embraced his child tightly. Smiling lovingly at his son, Thranduil wiped the young one's tears away gently with his hands. The King gazed at Legolas' face, memorizing every detail of the golden child he loved so much. It was several minutes before the ancient Elf let go of the Prince and said, "Go on. Council is in ten days. You have to hurry or you will be late."
Taking on last look at his understanding father before turning to leave, Legolas whispered brokenly, "Thank you, Ada. I will come back and make you proud."
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NIGHT 10, GONDOR CASTLE
Tears streaked freely down the face of the King of Mirkwood as he sat alone in his bed. In the end, his golden child did not return. Legolas had sacrificed himself to save Middle Earth. But Thranduil did not begrudge the Prince for not keeping his words; the Elven King was proud of his son's courage, the little one's willingness to give up everything that he ever loved in order to keep Arda out of the reach of the Dark Lord.
The Elf could not believe Alagos had gone to such extremes to keep the golden child in the Realm of the Tirn Uipira beside him. By taking Legolas back and erasing everyone's memories of the young Elf, the King of the Watchers had caused his son nothing but suffering. It angered the Elven King that Alagos had acted so selfishly to pursue his own wishes without regard of the pain his actions had caused his child, the one the ancient Watcher claimed to love and wanted to protect. Powerful or not, the Elf vowed to teach the Tirn Uipira King a lesson if they were ever to meet again; perhaps that would help open Alagos eyes to what the young Prince wanted and needed.
After Thranduil's raging emotions calmed, the King realized that only one person could trigger this sensation of unease, Legolas. It meant that his son had somehow returned to help them. Knowing his child, the Prince would have gone to help Aragorn with their new Quest. The ancient Elf hoped things would be different this time; that the little one would return safely. Thranduil wished for nothing more than the chance to speak with the beautiful soul that was his child again, even if it was for a brief moment. There was something that the Elven King must tell his child. No matter what happens, he would always love Legolas as a son; no one could ever take that away from them again.
************************************************************************ I have this tendency to make Legolas ugly in some way, don't I? I promise the interactions between our couple will be very different from Shadow. Aragorn is NOT going to fall in love with Legolas in Uruk-Hai form, so don't worry. Thought I will announce this right now, since I am not that sick =)
Nina: Sorry, I have to put Glorgalad in an Uruk-Hai. It is the best choice since it is the most unlikely. I mean, the very thought of Legolas being anything other than the beautiful, perfect Elf he is kind of disturbs me.... But as said above, ugly form is only here to help with Quest and prompt memories, nothing more. Romance will be mostly in flashback portion.