Chapter 2:
A/N: Okay,. so as I said, Aragorn and Gimli should have a fair part in following chapters. I'm basically following the storyline of the movie (I'm still reading the books), just tweaking it here and there. I do hope you like Dani, I'm not sure what I'm gonna do with her yet. hah, yup, Saruman's got legolas.....(evil laugh).
Disclaimer: Belong to Tolkein, long may they live in fanfic.
~*~
The fog that lay across the fields of Rohan receded back to the foul place it came. The moon shone anew when the black cloud that had covered it blew away over the mountains. But even as the silvery glow of the moon returned Legolas was driven again into darkness, amongst the twisting branches and dark boughs of Fangorn. His eyes roved the area around him, searching out the best path to escape, if he were to get a chance at it.
Saruman led them away back into the forest. The Elf was lucky of his light feet, so roughly did the Uruk-hai drag him through the tangled undergrowth of the trees. Saruman drew to a halt in a small clearing. The forest was like a labyrinth and behind them the trees seemed to move across the path they had just taken, blocking them completely inside. The trees here were dark, their bark nearly black. The trees seemed to bend inward, as if drawn to Saruman. Boughs bare of leaves reached out and clutched at the hair and shirts of all, save the wizard. The canopy above them completely blocked the night sky and the only light there was came from a single torch resting in the center of a large stump.
"Fangorn Forest lives, the earth, the rock the very trees, but not all things live under your rule," Legolas told him smugly.
"Not all things," the wizard conceded, "but many. And on this night I should add an elf to that list."
"I knew that madness had taken your mind Saruman; that enough is plain in your decision to serve the Dark Lord. I did not realize stupidity had taken you as well." Saruman frowned, tightening his grip upon his staff. "I will not be any servant to your cause." He spat upon the ground. "I would sooner die than betray my friends. So do as you would and know it useless. Torture me and I would resist you. Slay me, and the hearts of my friends would grow with revenge and seek to destroy you."
The wizard's long, angular face hardened. His eyes narrowed and his back seemed to bristle. The Elf drew himself up to face the wizard with thrown back shoulders. Blue eyes fairly crackled with sparks. A rage filled the elf, a terrible fury that had been wrought upon few, and fewer still who would walk away. "Isengard will fall and you will find no allegiance in me."
Saruman stepped forward and tapped his staff upside the Elf's head. The tap was light, but the ringing it left in his ears was quite loud and long in fading. "You are bull headed Greenleaf," Saruman sneered. "Allegiance can be given, but it can also be taken. I controlled the will of that old fool Theoden for many days, and would still control if not for Gandalf."
"You may not find it such an easy task to take my mind."
"An elf perhaps will be harder to bend to my will, but it will be done. I will have your allegiance make no mistake of that." He turned to the dark Uruk-hai. "Release him and leave us." They complied, and the trees parted as they passed. Legolas ignored them and remained a tall blonde fury and hatred seethed from him. His fists were clenched at his sides. This was not the death he had imagined, but he would meet it head on all the same.
Saruman smirked, a bubble of mirth rising in his throat till it spilled out in a rumbling laugh. "Fool! I do not seek to end your miserable life this night. Nay, the Dark Lord and I as well, have plans for you yet. He seeks the One Ring yes, but the great eye sees beyond one want. The race of Men are working to rise against him, and he would defeat them in early days, before any strength is gathered."
"Then how would I serve you?" Legolas queried. He held his hands out as if innocent. I am but one in vast and growing tide. I do not control the race of Men, nor do I influence their strength by any great measure. You might be well to simply kill me.........," he shrugged, "or send me back."
"There you are mistaken. You do influence their strength. The Great Eye sees much, and now the identity of the heir of Elendil is unveiled. But men are still blinded yet, and do see him yet as their one hope. Finish him and tear asunder any chance men had to stand against my Lord. And you master elf, are a trusted member of his company. Do you see now where my thoughts take thee?"
Legolas shook his head. "You truly are mad. I would follow him through to the ends of time. Through fire and death and never would I deceive him or draw a weapon against him. He is a great leader of men and I would not play a part in any plot against him."
"Valiant," Saruman nodded. "Noble intentions indeed. But you must understand Prince of Mirkwood.........it is not your choice to make." A small flick of his hand seemed a signal to the two dark trees behind Legolas. Their branches snaked forward, snaring his wrists and ankles. Tiny brambles grasped at his long hair, drawing back his head. His heels dragged deep into the earth as the trees drew him back. Then the branches at his feet gave a sudden pull, yanking him from his feet. He hung, arms outstretched and level with the ground, three feet off the ground.
"Wizard, whatever you do to me, your foul nature will not go unpunished. Do you have no conscience left in you? Have you been so completely blinded by your greed? You are naught but a contemptuous villain, and I swear, if I ever get the chance I will strike an arrow through your treacherous heart," he growled.
Saruman drew a small object from his robes. A slender chain of mithran, so fine it could barely be seen, dangled from his closed palm. "What evil tidings do you now conceal? If you plan to utilize what you possess, then what is the use to hide it?"
Saruman's dark eyes lifted briefly to the elf. He did not answer, merely opened his fingers and let the object drop to the end of its chain. There it spun, a small transparent jewel. It was a half globe, the flat edged backed by mithran silver, hardly more than the size of a peach pit. Then, as Legolas watched, transfixed, a dark cloud bloomed from its center. The black mist spread as if in water, till it devoured all the surface of the jewel. It seemed to drink in any light around it, creating a deep shadow all around itself. Saruman drew closer. And though he could not see it, Legolas was well aware of the crushing presence of the Dark Lord brought nearer.
Saruman's eyes rolled back beneath half closed lids. His lips stirred in silent utterances. Legolas wanted only to fight, to disrupt his concentration, but found himself born to quiet stillness. Saruman's voice lulled him, while the black jewel transfixed him. At the moment Saruman laid the token around Legolas's neck, nothing in the hollow seemed to breathe.
The medallion hung at the end of its chain, near the bottom of the elf's breastbone. Legolas drew in a sharp breath as it settled upon his bare skin. It was at once fire and ice together, searing itself to his chest. A hot burn raced over his skin like fire, scorching him to his very fingertips. At the same time it chilled him to his very core, icing his heart. His body arced with the consuming pain, mouth hung open in a silent cry. His hands fisted, fingernails drawing blood from his palms.
Then his body went slack and he drew in deep, shuddering breaths. The half globe sat imbedded in his flesh, so fixed no mere hand or tool could have removed it. Saruman came toward him, smiling. Legolas stared him down, a sheen of sweat on his pale brow. "And now to finish it."
The wizard then drew a crystal dagger from his robes. The hilt was black and festooned with a blood red ruby. With one hand the wizard roughly drew up his tunic and shirt, exposing the blonde's stomach. He drew the dagger down the line of Legolas' ribs, almost to his naval. The slice was some five inches inches long and an inch deep. Legolas remained impassive. Compared to the pain the stone had brought, the knife was little more than an irritating tickle.
One of the black trees extended a branch, and from it the wizard pluck a single leaf of onyx. He set it down on the tree stump. "I will bind you to me," he announced, drawing the dagger over his palm, "with mine own blood." He sheathed the knife. He made a fist, letting the blood trickle between his fingers and fall into the leaf. He used it as a sort of basin, and brought the small pool over to where Legolas remained.
"For compliance, for service, to bind him to the will of the Dark Lord and myself at our call, a divergence from his own self." He tipped the leaf, dribbling his blood down into Legolas' wound. The wound spit and hissed, and an unnatural smoke rose from it. "Conceal now our power, so that only the darkest eyes may see." Legolas' eyes widened as before him, the stone on his chest vanished, though he was still aware of its influence.
Even as the blood dripped the wound sealed itself. It healed itself in moments, but the scar left in its wake was dark indeed. Suddenly, the branches that ensnared him released and he dropped to the ground. A hideous roar came into his ears. He rolled over in agony, drawing his knees under him and clutching at his head. Saruman's voice, which had been so soothing, now screamed inside his head. It brought with it a black tide and a shadow over his mind. Every part of him rallied to beat it back. After a moment or two his struggles subsided.
Saruman waited as the elf rose to his feet. "Well Legolas Elf, who do you serve?"
Legolas' chin lifted slowly. His eyes drew up to find the wizard's. But his eyes were no longer the startling blue of the sky, nor sparkling, cheerful or wise. His eyes were two dark pitted holes, void of soul and recognition. And deep within them burned a tiny red ember. His countenance had twisted into something cold. "The Dark Lord beseeches me to his will, and the will of the keeper at Isengard, Saruman."
The wizard's smile widened, though it did nothing to light his face and did not reach his eyes. "And your duty?"
"To lay ruin to the hopes of men. To slay Aragorn, son of Arathorn, heir to Elendil."
--
Chapter 2
Okay, so no Aragorn or Gimli in this chapter yet, I swear they're coming. I just thought this would be a good place to end. Hope you're enjoying this thus far, it's been fun to write.
A/N: Okay,. so as I said, Aragorn and Gimli should have a fair part in following chapters. I'm basically following the storyline of the movie (I'm still reading the books), just tweaking it here and there. I do hope you like Dani, I'm not sure what I'm gonna do with her yet. hah, yup, Saruman's got legolas.....(evil laugh).
Disclaimer: Belong to Tolkein, long may they live in fanfic.
~*~
The fog that lay across the fields of Rohan receded back to the foul place it came. The moon shone anew when the black cloud that had covered it blew away over the mountains. But even as the silvery glow of the moon returned Legolas was driven again into darkness, amongst the twisting branches and dark boughs of Fangorn. His eyes roved the area around him, searching out the best path to escape, if he were to get a chance at it.
Saruman led them away back into the forest. The Elf was lucky of his light feet, so roughly did the Uruk-hai drag him through the tangled undergrowth of the trees. Saruman drew to a halt in a small clearing. The forest was like a labyrinth and behind them the trees seemed to move across the path they had just taken, blocking them completely inside. The trees here were dark, their bark nearly black. The trees seemed to bend inward, as if drawn to Saruman. Boughs bare of leaves reached out and clutched at the hair and shirts of all, save the wizard. The canopy above them completely blocked the night sky and the only light there was came from a single torch resting in the center of a large stump.
"Fangorn Forest lives, the earth, the rock the very trees, but not all things live under your rule," Legolas told him smugly.
"Not all things," the wizard conceded, "but many. And on this night I should add an elf to that list."
"I knew that madness had taken your mind Saruman; that enough is plain in your decision to serve the Dark Lord. I did not realize stupidity had taken you as well." Saruman frowned, tightening his grip upon his staff. "I will not be any servant to your cause." He spat upon the ground. "I would sooner die than betray my friends. So do as you would and know it useless. Torture me and I would resist you. Slay me, and the hearts of my friends would grow with revenge and seek to destroy you."
The wizard's long, angular face hardened. His eyes narrowed and his back seemed to bristle. The Elf drew himself up to face the wizard with thrown back shoulders. Blue eyes fairly crackled with sparks. A rage filled the elf, a terrible fury that had been wrought upon few, and fewer still who would walk away. "Isengard will fall and you will find no allegiance in me."
Saruman stepped forward and tapped his staff upside the Elf's head. The tap was light, but the ringing it left in his ears was quite loud and long in fading. "You are bull headed Greenleaf," Saruman sneered. "Allegiance can be given, but it can also be taken. I controlled the will of that old fool Theoden for many days, and would still control if not for Gandalf."
"You may not find it such an easy task to take my mind."
"An elf perhaps will be harder to bend to my will, but it will be done. I will have your allegiance make no mistake of that." He turned to the dark Uruk-hai. "Release him and leave us." They complied, and the trees parted as they passed. Legolas ignored them and remained a tall blonde fury and hatred seethed from him. His fists were clenched at his sides. This was not the death he had imagined, but he would meet it head on all the same.
Saruman smirked, a bubble of mirth rising in his throat till it spilled out in a rumbling laugh. "Fool! I do not seek to end your miserable life this night. Nay, the Dark Lord and I as well, have plans for you yet. He seeks the One Ring yes, but the great eye sees beyond one want. The race of Men are working to rise against him, and he would defeat them in early days, before any strength is gathered."
"Then how would I serve you?" Legolas queried. He held his hands out as if innocent. I am but one in vast and growing tide. I do not control the race of Men, nor do I influence their strength by any great measure. You might be well to simply kill me.........," he shrugged, "or send me back."
"There you are mistaken. You do influence their strength. The Great Eye sees much, and now the identity of the heir of Elendil is unveiled. But men are still blinded yet, and do see him yet as their one hope. Finish him and tear asunder any chance men had to stand against my Lord. And you master elf, are a trusted member of his company. Do you see now where my thoughts take thee?"
Legolas shook his head. "You truly are mad. I would follow him through to the ends of time. Through fire and death and never would I deceive him or draw a weapon against him. He is a great leader of men and I would not play a part in any plot against him."
"Valiant," Saruman nodded. "Noble intentions indeed. But you must understand Prince of Mirkwood.........it is not your choice to make." A small flick of his hand seemed a signal to the two dark trees behind Legolas. Their branches snaked forward, snaring his wrists and ankles. Tiny brambles grasped at his long hair, drawing back his head. His heels dragged deep into the earth as the trees drew him back. Then the branches at his feet gave a sudden pull, yanking him from his feet. He hung, arms outstretched and level with the ground, three feet off the ground.
"Wizard, whatever you do to me, your foul nature will not go unpunished. Do you have no conscience left in you? Have you been so completely blinded by your greed? You are naught but a contemptuous villain, and I swear, if I ever get the chance I will strike an arrow through your treacherous heart," he growled.
Saruman drew a small object from his robes. A slender chain of mithran, so fine it could barely be seen, dangled from his closed palm. "What evil tidings do you now conceal? If you plan to utilize what you possess, then what is the use to hide it?"
Saruman's dark eyes lifted briefly to the elf. He did not answer, merely opened his fingers and let the object drop to the end of its chain. There it spun, a small transparent jewel. It was a half globe, the flat edged backed by mithran silver, hardly more than the size of a peach pit. Then, as Legolas watched, transfixed, a dark cloud bloomed from its center. The black mist spread as if in water, till it devoured all the surface of the jewel. It seemed to drink in any light around it, creating a deep shadow all around itself. Saruman drew closer. And though he could not see it, Legolas was well aware of the crushing presence of the Dark Lord brought nearer.
Saruman's eyes rolled back beneath half closed lids. His lips stirred in silent utterances. Legolas wanted only to fight, to disrupt his concentration, but found himself born to quiet stillness. Saruman's voice lulled him, while the black jewel transfixed him. At the moment Saruman laid the token around Legolas's neck, nothing in the hollow seemed to breathe.
The medallion hung at the end of its chain, near the bottom of the elf's breastbone. Legolas drew in a sharp breath as it settled upon his bare skin. It was at once fire and ice together, searing itself to his chest. A hot burn raced over his skin like fire, scorching him to his very fingertips. At the same time it chilled him to his very core, icing his heart. His body arced with the consuming pain, mouth hung open in a silent cry. His hands fisted, fingernails drawing blood from his palms.
Then his body went slack and he drew in deep, shuddering breaths. The half globe sat imbedded in his flesh, so fixed no mere hand or tool could have removed it. Saruman came toward him, smiling. Legolas stared him down, a sheen of sweat on his pale brow. "And now to finish it."
The wizard then drew a crystal dagger from his robes. The hilt was black and festooned with a blood red ruby. With one hand the wizard roughly drew up his tunic and shirt, exposing the blonde's stomach. He drew the dagger down the line of Legolas' ribs, almost to his naval. The slice was some five inches inches long and an inch deep. Legolas remained impassive. Compared to the pain the stone had brought, the knife was little more than an irritating tickle.
One of the black trees extended a branch, and from it the wizard pluck a single leaf of onyx. He set it down on the tree stump. "I will bind you to me," he announced, drawing the dagger over his palm, "with mine own blood." He sheathed the knife. He made a fist, letting the blood trickle between his fingers and fall into the leaf. He used it as a sort of basin, and brought the small pool over to where Legolas remained.
"For compliance, for service, to bind him to the will of the Dark Lord and myself at our call, a divergence from his own self." He tipped the leaf, dribbling his blood down into Legolas' wound. The wound spit and hissed, and an unnatural smoke rose from it. "Conceal now our power, so that only the darkest eyes may see." Legolas' eyes widened as before him, the stone on his chest vanished, though he was still aware of its influence.
Even as the blood dripped the wound sealed itself. It healed itself in moments, but the scar left in its wake was dark indeed. Suddenly, the branches that ensnared him released and he dropped to the ground. A hideous roar came into his ears. He rolled over in agony, drawing his knees under him and clutching at his head. Saruman's voice, which had been so soothing, now screamed inside his head. It brought with it a black tide and a shadow over his mind. Every part of him rallied to beat it back. After a moment or two his struggles subsided.
Saruman waited as the elf rose to his feet. "Well Legolas Elf, who do you serve?"
Legolas' chin lifted slowly. His eyes drew up to find the wizard's. But his eyes were no longer the startling blue of the sky, nor sparkling, cheerful or wise. His eyes were two dark pitted holes, void of soul and recognition. And deep within them burned a tiny red ember. His countenance had twisted into something cold. "The Dark Lord beseeches me to his will, and the will of the keeper at Isengard, Saruman."
The wizard's smile widened, though it did nothing to light his face and did not reach his eyes. "And your duty?"
"To lay ruin to the hopes of men. To slay Aragorn, son of Arathorn, heir to Elendil."
--
Chapter 2
Okay, so no Aragorn or Gimli in this chapter yet, I swear they're coming. I just thought this would be a good place to end. Hope you're enjoying this thus far, it's been fun to write.