Chapter 5! Wow, I'm whipping out these chapters really fast! Replies to
reviews at the bottom, as promised. I'm not sure if I'll tell you what's up
with the dreams yet... I bet you can figure it out anyways... *****
"Finally," Said Hifak, "He's awake!"
"What was he shouting?" Asked Biknah as Legolas awakened.
"Something in that riddled elvish language, I guess," Hifak said. Biknah shrugged as Legolas began to stir, frightened.
"Ada?" He repeated once more as his vision cleared. He did not see his father, only his surroundings which were far less pleasant. All he saw was Hifak and Biknah's hideous faces, some surrounding orcs, a campsite, and smoke rising from a fire.
He tried to sit up, but when he did that he found that he already was. He couldn't move much, for ropes were digging into his skin. He was tied to the tree that Aragorn had jumped up into just a while ago.
Legolas fidgeted, his eyes widening. Hifuk and Biknah merely stared back at him.
"Now what?" Hifuk snarled, turning away from the elf. "I have to sit here and guard the filth all stinkin' night!"
Legolas didn't particularly like being called filth. He also didn't like being in a camp filled with his enemies. But Legolas also couldn't do anything about it, either.
"You never know what Golluk might want to do next," Biknah said, referring to the leader.
Legolas fidgeted again. The ropes were burning his skin a bit, tied tight unnecessarily. Surrounded by hundreds of orcs, how far could an elf go who did not even know what the word "fight" meant?
Hifuk ground his foot into some tiny blue flowers on the valley floor. "When will that be?" He grumbled. "Why are we even guarding him?"
Biknah didn't know either. "Wait here," He said. "I'm going to get some wood. It's cold. Get a spot ready." The orc walked into the distance, heading toward the nearest campsite to borrow wood. There was no way to get fire wood any other way in this nearly treeless valley.
Hifuk snorted. He was cold also, but little did he want to "wait here." He looked over at the fidgeting elf. The sun was rising, and he was not impressed at all about how Legolas's golden hair glinted. He would rather have it all cut off.
Legolas watched Hifuk staring at his hair and cocked his head a bit in confusion. He struggled to get in a more comfortable position; it was no use trying to untie or break the rope. He sighed after achieving his goal and leaned onto the tree trunk.
Hifuk drew out his sword. "Why shouldn't I have a little fun?" He whispered at Legolas. Legolas's eyes widened.
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence as Hifuk looked around, searching for anybody watching. He looked back at Legolas with a cruel smirk. No one.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I want the old Legolas back," Sam whispered to Frodo. Frodo nodded, taking a moment to pull his pack back on to his shoulders. The pack felt heavier than ever, in addition to the growing weight of his fading heart, free of hope holding it up. Legolas scared him more than he did any other. The elf constantly was staring at him maliciously, obviously thinking of something horrible.
They had just gotten up, but at least Legolas no longer held a knife to their throats every single moment. He merely carried his bow, which seemed a mere precaution to anyone who might be watching.
Legolas knew the elves of Lothlorien were watching them. He hadn't actually taken note of their presence yet, but he knew that one could not simply walk in and out of Lothlorien without the elves of Lorien making a confrontation.
He was contemplating another plan. He was furious that his first one would not work out. What would work? How could he do it without a struggle? Yes, of course he had all of the weapons, but it was still five against one. Legolas, before the split, had known that hobbits hid an inner strength...
There was suddenly a whistling in the air. SHINK! Legolas's head snapped over to the source of the sound. An arrow had just hit Frodo Square in the chest. It didn't get far, however, for after digging through two shirts it hit mithril.
"Get down you fools," Legolas hissed loudly. "Do you all want to perish?"
Merry and Pippin instantly crouched on the ground. Sam helped Frodo to the ground and protected him like a loyal dog. Gimli hesitated before lowering himself.
Legolas did not duck. He, instead, shouted, "Show yourselves, elves of Lorien! We bring no perils into your wood!"
One more arrow, with deadly accuracy, nearly drove itself into Legolas's neck, but Legolas, being of elf-kind, agile, lithe, and quick, side-stepped it without a thought. "What strangers dare to reside without leave in the Golden Wood?" Asked a voice, in elvish, from afar.
"Who's that?" Whispered Merry, severely frightened.
"What was he saying?" Asked Pippin.
"I am of kin! I am Legolas Greenleaf," He answered, "of the Mirkwood realm! I come with friends that mean no less harm than I do, and I mean none!" Actually, he did have pleanty of harm planned for anyone who would try to foil his plan—what plan, he did not know yet.
There was silence for a moment, but soon Legolas could hear approaching voices, though their footfalls were hard to hear even for him. Then, suddenly, there was a circle of bows surrounding them. They were all elves, cloaked in gray, all hooded and intimidating. Pippin whimpered, still on the ground.
"It is good to know that the son of Thranduil walks beneath the Lady's eaves," Said one archer. "But what business do halflings and a... *dwarf* have here? We have not permitted dwarves in the wood for many an age."
"The business is of Rivendell," Legolas replied. "Though I may not release it until I know your name."
Gimli looked up. Legolas was almost sounding normal. He was reasoning... Didn't Nice Legolas have reasoning? Or was this reasoning at all? No, it was something else. What, Gimli could not figure so easily.
"I am Haldir," The archer said. He removed his hood to reveal golden hair and blue eyes. "These are my brothers, Orophin and Rumil." Two other archers stepped forward from their spot in the circle. They lowered their bows and gave a low bow to Legolas, giving a glare to Gimli, in unison.
"We come as a Fellowship. We set out as nine, but one we lost in Moria, and the other two we had to leave behind, regretful as we were," Legolas said. Gimli almost snorted, but kept his silence with much struggle.
"Who are these halflings... and this dwarf," Haldir said, saying "dwarf" with extreme distaste.
"These halflings are Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrin Took of the Shire," Legolas replied, pointing at the hobbits in turn. "This is Gimli, son of Gloin." Legolas had to pretend he had some respect for the dwarf, to be trusted by these elves at least.
"What were the names of those you lost?" Haldir asked.
"Aragorn son of Arathorn, and Boromir of Gondor," Said Legolas. "Gandalf the Grey we lost in Moria." The other elves gasped audibly and exchanged glances.
"That indeed is grievous news! What evil befell him in the mines?" Asked Orophin.
"A Balrog, risen from the deep, took him into abyss," Legolas said.
"Come with us to a talan," Said Rumil. "Things can be explained there."
"And watch out for your dwarf," Haldir said, disgust on his tongue. He beckoned down the path to a tree. A rope ladder was on its trunk.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Aragorn and Boromir were in hot pursuit. The ranger had quickly found a trail, for a dwarf's path was not so easily concealed compared to a hobbit's or an elf's. Taking their packs, and whatever Nice Legolas had been carrying, they left behind anything not needed any longer and set off.
The two were scared for Nice Legolas of course, but they were even more scared for the creatures among Aggressive Legolas. Where was he leading them? How was he treating them? Why had he left in the first place?
So many questions asked, and it would take a while, perhaps not at all, to be answered. Anxiety quickly grew in the minds of the two companions. Gandalf had not meant this to happen. The wizard would have known what to do, anyways.
"What do you propose that Legolas is doing?" Boromir asked Aragorn. "And why did he wait until we had left? And how did he get everyone to leave without a fight from Gimli?"
Aragorn furrowed his brow while running toward the eaves of Lorien. He didn't know, and he was a bit annoyed at Boromir's inquisitiveness. He didn't answer, hoping Boromir wouldn't pressure him. He didn't, but the situation left a heavy tension in the air.
At last, after a few miles, they reached the borders of Lorien with apprehensive hearts. Golden were the leaves of the trees, and indeed was the forest magnificent. The two didn't even stop to gaze in wonder at the wood, but instead carried on. Their journey wasn't near over yet, although they had reached one goal.
They ran on, into the woods, on a forest path. Aragorn and Boromir could hear Nimrodel, the sweet river, singing nearby. Somehow, the melody of the water urged them on, helping them to reach the next stage of their quest.
'Where are the fair elves of Lothlorien, I wonder,' Thought Aragorn. He had visited the wood years ago, and even then the elves had not let him go by without their consent. The ranger was a bit worried by their absence. Did this mean that they were unprepared, that they did not know that orcs were coming?
"Daro!" Shouted a voice, suddenly, interrupting his thoughts. Boromir froze, not knowing the meaning of the words. Aragorn did, and he halted. The voice came from a mallorn tree nearby. *Daro: Halt/Stop.
He raised his sword a bit, and Boromir unsheathed his with the sound of metal ringing in the air. "Who dares to enter the Golden Wood without leave of the Lady or the Lord?"
"I am Aragorn son of Arathorn, and I come here with Boromir, son of the Stewart of Gondor! I wish leave among your people, for I am in great distress," Aragorn replied wearily, waiting for a reply. He had always known the Elven people to be deadly accurate with their well-made bows and expertly forged arrows. "Lower your sword, Boromir, your weapon will do nothing against the Elves." Aragorn lowered his sword along with Boromir.
"Aragorn you say? We have encountered your companions, as they claim, recently! Put away your weapons and we will provide you with information that may deem valuable to you!" Said the voice.
Aragorn and Boromir obeyed, sheathing their swords. A ladder was lowered from the tree. "We have arrows ready, do not try to fight us or you will be dead by the time your weapons came unsheathed," Said the voice, warning them.
Aragorn began to climb the ladder. "We wish no harm against your good people, Elves of the Golden Wood!" He reached the top of the talan, observing maybe five Elves occupying it, bows bent at the ready.
Boromir came up after him, wobbling a little on the top "rung."
"So it is you, Aragorn son of Arathorn! Long has it been since you have visited our woods! What brings you here in dire need?" The keeper of the voice said. "I am Orophin, brother of Haldir, whose name you might recognize over mine!"
"Yes, I do recognize his name, Orophin," Aragorn said with a bow. "But I must know! What news do you have of my companions, and where may Haldir be?"
The elf next to Orophin spoke up. "I am Rumil, brother of Orophin and Haldir. Your companions head to the keeping of the Lady with my brother Haldir."
"How was Legolas treating them?" Aragorn asked, and the elves were a little curious by this sudden and unexpected question.
"Fine, Aragorn," Said Orophin. "But he said that they had to leave you behind, filled with regret. Why is this?"
Boromir laughed suddenly. "They said that they simply 'Left us behind'?"
"Yes, why?" Rumil answered.
"Legolas is plotting something. We need to follow them. Something could have already happened," Aragorn said.
"Explain?" Orophin wanted to know what was going on. Aragorn sighed deeply and quickly told them of Legolas's split. He told them of their escapades and of their suspicions of Nice Legolas being caught by orcs.
"I hardly want to believe it," Rumil said. "Then again, Legolas was acting very out of the ordinary. Alien, almost."
"The orcs will be coming to Lothlorien shortly," Aragorn reported. "With them may be Legolas. You must tell the elves to ready themselves and we must try to rescue him."
"It is harder than just saying it, ranger," Orophin replied, his eyebrows furrowed. "We may shoot Legolas in the process. Or the orcs may use him as hostage. They will kill him if we attack, maybe."
Rumil nodded, agreeing with his brother. "We cannot risk the safety of our people for one elf... but we must try. For life is valued among elves, though death may not always be an elf's bane."
Rumil grimly turned to an elf beside him. "Come with me. We will gather the troops. Orophin will lead you to the Lady and the Lord of Lothlorien." With that, he and his comrade disappeared down the rope ladder with liquid grace.
"We must hurry if we wish to reach your friends as quick as you wish. Do not despair! If Rumil has his way, no orc shall pass back out of this wood alive. Come now, and unsheathe your swords. Danger now lurks in nooks that have not been noticed," He said, speaking always in a prophet's way of speaking.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Okay, I promise I'll get the next chapter up as soon as I can... I was very busy today and yesterday, please forgive me! The next chapter will be angsty, so take caution! Um, Happy Easter everyone, because I may not be able to update tomorrow. May the Easter bunny never fill your basket with sugar-free snacks! REVIEW! Please!
"Finally," Said Hifak, "He's awake!"
"What was he shouting?" Asked Biknah as Legolas awakened.
"Something in that riddled elvish language, I guess," Hifak said. Biknah shrugged as Legolas began to stir, frightened.
"Ada?" He repeated once more as his vision cleared. He did not see his father, only his surroundings which were far less pleasant. All he saw was Hifak and Biknah's hideous faces, some surrounding orcs, a campsite, and smoke rising from a fire.
He tried to sit up, but when he did that he found that he already was. He couldn't move much, for ropes were digging into his skin. He was tied to the tree that Aragorn had jumped up into just a while ago.
Legolas fidgeted, his eyes widening. Hifuk and Biknah merely stared back at him.
"Now what?" Hifuk snarled, turning away from the elf. "I have to sit here and guard the filth all stinkin' night!"
Legolas didn't particularly like being called filth. He also didn't like being in a camp filled with his enemies. But Legolas also couldn't do anything about it, either.
"You never know what Golluk might want to do next," Biknah said, referring to the leader.
Legolas fidgeted again. The ropes were burning his skin a bit, tied tight unnecessarily. Surrounded by hundreds of orcs, how far could an elf go who did not even know what the word "fight" meant?
Hifuk ground his foot into some tiny blue flowers on the valley floor. "When will that be?" He grumbled. "Why are we even guarding him?"
Biknah didn't know either. "Wait here," He said. "I'm going to get some wood. It's cold. Get a spot ready." The orc walked into the distance, heading toward the nearest campsite to borrow wood. There was no way to get fire wood any other way in this nearly treeless valley.
Hifuk snorted. He was cold also, but little did he want to "wait here." He looked over at the fidgeting elf. The sun was rising, and he was not impressed at all about how Legolas's golden hair glinted. He would rather have it all cut off.
Legolas watched Hifuk staring at his hair and cocked his head a bit in confusion. He struggled to get in a more comfortable position; it was no use trying to untie or break the rope. He sighed after achieving his goal and leaned onto the tree trunk.
Hifuk drew out his sword. "Why shouldn't I have a little fun?" He whispered at Legolas. Legolas's eyes widened.
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence as Hifuk looked around, searching for anybody watching. He looked back at Legolas with a cruel smirk. No one.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I want the old Legolas back," Sam whispered to Frodo. Frodo nodded, taking a moment to pull his pack back on to his shoulders. The pack felt heavier than ever, in addition to the growing weight of his fading heart, free of hope holding it up. Legolas scared him more than he did any other. The elf constantly was staring at him maliciously, obviously thinking of something horrible.
They had just gotten up, but at least Legolas no longer held a knife to their throats every single moment. He merely carried his bow, which seemed a mere precaution to anyone who might be watching.
Legolas knew the elves of Lothlorien were watching them. He hadn't actually taken note of their presence yet, but he knew that one could not simply walk in and out of Lothlorien without the elves of Lorien making a confrontation.
He was contemplating another plan. He was furious that his first one would not work out. What would work? How could he do it without a struggle? Yes, of course he had all of the weapons, but it was still five against one. Legolas, before the split, had known that hobbits hid an inner strength...
There was suddenly a whistling in the air. SHINK! Legolas's head snapped over to the source of the sound. An arrow had just hit Frodo Square in the chest. It didn't get far, however, for after digging through two shirts it hit mithril.
"Get down you fools," Legolas hissed loudly. "Do you all want to perish?"
Merry and Pippin instantly crouched on the ground. Sam helped Frodo to the ground and protected him like a loyal dog. Gimli hesitated before lowering himself.
Legolas did not duck. He, instead, shouted, "Show yourselves, elves of Lorien! We bring no perils into your wood!"
One more arrow, with deadly accuracy, nearly drove itself into Legolas's neck, but Legolas, being of elf-kind, agile, lithe, and quick, side-stepped it without a thought. "What strangers dare to reside without leave in the Golden Wood?" Asked a voice, in elvish, from afar.
"Who's that?" Whispered Merry, severely frightened.
"What was he saying?" Asked Pippin.
"I am of kin! I am Legolas Greenleaf," He answered, "of the Mirkwood realm! I come with friends that mean no less harm than I do, and I mean none!" Actually, he did have pleanty of harm planned for anyone who would try to foil his plan—what plan, he did not know yet.
There was silence for a moment, but soon Legolas could hear approaching voices, though their footfalls were hard to hear even for him. Then, suddenly, there was a circle of bows surrounding them. They were all elves, cloaked in gray, all hooded and intimidating. Pippin whimpered, still on the ground.
"It is good to know that the son of Thranduil walks beneath the Lady's eaves," Said one archer. "But what business do halflings and a... *dwarf* have here? We have not permitted dwarves in the wood for many an age."
"The business is of Rivendell," Legolas replied. "Though I may not release it until I know your name."
Gimli looked up. Legolas was almost sounding normal. He was reasoning... Didn't Nice Legolas have reasoning? Or was this reasoning at all? No, it was something else. What, Gimli could not figure so easily.
"I am Haldir," The archer said. He removed his hood to reveal golden hair and blue eyes. "These are my brothers, Orophin and Rumil." Two other archers stepped forward from their spot in the circle. They lowered their bows and gave a low bow to Legolas, giving a glare to Gimli, in unison.
"We come as a Fellowship. We set out as nine, but one we lost in Moria, and the other two we had to leave behind, regretful as we were," Legolas said. Gimli almost snorted, but kept his silence with much struggle.
"Who are these halflings... and this dwarf," Haldir said, saying "dwarf" with extreme distaste.
"These halflings are Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrin Took of the Shire," Legolas replied, pointing at the hobbits in turn. "This is Gimli, son of Gloin." Legolas had to pretend he had some respect for the dwarf, to be trusted by these elves at least.
"What were the names of those you lost?" Haldir asked.
"Aragorn son of Arathorn, and Boromir of Gondor," Said Legolas. "Gandalf the Grey we lost in Moria." The other elves gasped audibly and exchanged glances.
"That indeed is grievous news! What evil befell him in the mines?" Asked Orophin.
"A Balrog, risen from the deep, took him into abyss," Legolas said.
"Come with us to a talan," Said Rumil. "Things can be explained there."
"And watch out for your dwarf," Haldir said, disgust on his tongue. He beckoned down the path to a tree. A rope ladder was on its trunk.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Aragorn and Boromir were in hot pursuit. The ranger had quickly found a trail, for a dwarf's path was not so easily concealed compared to a hobbit's or an elf's. Taking their packs, and whatever Nice Legolas had been carrying, they left behind anything not needed any longer and set off.
The two were scared for Nice Legolas of course, but they were even more scared for the creatures among Aggressive Legolas. Where was he leading them? How was he treating them? Why had he left in the first place?
So many questions asked, and it would take a while, perhaps not at all, to be answered. Anxiety quickly grew in the minds of the two companions. Gandalf had not meant this to happen. The wizard would have known what to do, anyways.
"What do you propose that Legolas is doing?" Boromir asked Aragorn. "And why did he wait until we had left? And how did he get everyone to leave without a fight from Gimli?"
Aragorn furrowed his brow while running toward the eaves of Lorien. He didn't know, and he was a bit annoyed at Boromir's inquisitiveness. He didn't answer, hoping Boromir wouldn't pressure him. He didn't, but the situation left a heavy tension in the air.
At last, after a few miles, they reached the borders of Lorien with apprehensive hearts. Golden were the leaves of the trees, and indeed was the forest magnificent. The two didn't even stop to gaze in wonder at the wood, but instead carried on. Their journey wasn't near over yet, although they had reached one goal.
They ran on, into the woods, on a forest path. Aragorn and Boromir could hear Nimrodel, the sweet river, singing nearby. Somehow, the melody of the water urged them on, helping them to reach the next stage of their quest.
'Where are the fair elves of Lothlorien, I wonder,' Thought Aragorn. He had visited the wood years ago, and even then the elves had not let him go by without their consent. The ranger was a bit worried by their absence. Did this mean that they were unprepared, that they did not know that orcs were coming?
"Daro!" Shouted a voice, suddenly, interrupting his thoughts. Boromir froze, not knowing the meaning of the words. Aragorn did, and he halted. The voice came from a mallorn tree nearby. *Daro: Halt/Stop.
He raised his sword a bit, and Boromir unsheathed his with the sound of metal ringing in the air. "Who dares to enter the Golden Wood without leave of the Lady or the Lord?"
"I am Aragorn son of Arathorn, and I come here with Boromir, son of the Stewart of Gondor! I wish leave among your people, for I am in great distress," Aragorn replied wearily, waiting for a reply. He had always known the Elven people to be deadly accurate with their well-made bows and expertly forged arrows. "Lower your sword, Boromir, your weapon will do nothing against the Elves." Aragorn lowered his sword along with Boromir.
"Aragorn you say? We have encountered your companions, as they claim, recently! Put away your weapons and we will provide you with information that may deem valuable to you!" Said the voice.
Aragorn and Boromir obeyed, sheathing their swords. A ladder was lowered from the tree. "We have arrows ready, do not try to fight us or you will be dead by the time your weapons came unsheathed," Said the voice, warning them.
Aragorn began to climb the ladder. "We wish no harm against your good people, Elves of the Golden Wood!" He reached the top of the talan, observing maybe five Elves occupying it, bows bent at the ready.
Boromir came up after him, wobbling a little on the top "rung."
"So it is you, Aragorn son of Arathorn! Long has it been since you have visited our woods! What brings you here in dire need?" The keeper of the voice said. "I am Orophin, brother of Haldir, whose name you might recognize over mine!"
"Yes, I do recognize his name, Orophin," Aragorn said with a bow. "But I must know! What news do you have of my companions, and where may Haldir be?"
The elf next to Orophin spoke up. "I am Rumil, brother of Orophin and Haldir. Your companions head to the keeping of the Lady with my brother Haldir."
"How was Legolas treating them?" Aragorn asked, and the elves were a little curious by this sudden and unexpected question.
"Fine, Aragorn," Said Orophin. "But he said that they had to leave you behind, filled with regret. Why is this?"
Boromir laughed suddenly. "They said that they simply 'Left us behind'?"
"Yes, why?" Rumil answered.
"Legolas is plotting something. We need to follow them. Something could have already happened," Aragorn said.
"Explain?" Orophin wanted to know what was going on. Aragorn sighed deeply and quickly told them of Legolas's split. He told them of their escapades and of their suspicions of Nice Legolas being caught by orcs.
"I hardly want to believe it," Rumil said. "Then again, Legolas was acting very out of the ordinary. Alien, almost."
"The orcs will be coming to Lothlorien shortly," Aragorn reported. "With them may be Legolas. You must tell the elves to ready themselves and we must try to rescue him."
"It is harder than just saying it, ranger," Orophin replied, his eyebrows furrowed. "We may shoot Legolas in the process. Or the orcs may use him as hostage. They will kill him if we attack, maybe."
Rumil nodded, agreeing with his brother. "We cannot risk the safety of our people for one elf... but we must try. For life is valued among elves, though death may not always be an elf's bane."
Rumil grimly turned to an elf beside him. "Come with me. We will gather the troops. Orophin will lead you to the Lady and the Lord of Lothlorien." With that, he and his comrade disappeared down the rope ladder with liquid grace.
"We must hurry if we wish to reach your friends as quick as you wish. Do not despair! If Rumil has his way, no orc shall pass back out of this wood alive. Come now, and unsheathe your swords. Danger now lurks in nooks that have not been noticed," He said, speaking always in a prophet's way of speaking.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Okay, I promise I'll get the next chapter up as soon as I can... I was very busy today and yesterday, please forgive me! The next chapter will be angsty, so take caution! Um, Happy Easter everyone, because I may not be able to update tomorrow. May the Easter bunny never fill your basket with sugar-free snacks! REVIEW! Please!