Disclaimer: See chapter one.. I know that Frodo arrived in Rivendell on October 24th an the Fellowship didnt leave before 25th December, and it would take a couple of months for Legolas, Boromir, Gimli and the others to arrive, but I have no idea how to fill out that blank time, and either way this is a fiction.
Chapter IX: The Fellowship of the RingWhen their eyes connected the world, as he knew it stopped running. There was a hundredth thoughts racing through his head, thousands of things he wanted to do or say. He wanted to scream her name, he wanted to run up to her and touch her, but he did neither. He was afraid that if he spoke her name she would disappear, that if he ran up to her she would turn out to be a dream.
Instead, he followed Lord Elrond, Boromir and the other represents of their region, through the doors and inside. At least that was what his body did, his mind and still outside staring at her.
"So this…. Ranger found her in Bree?" Boromir asked and Lord Elrond nodded wondering why he asked so many questions. They continued to walk down the corridor; now and then Elrond turned his head to see if Legolas was still following.
"So…. what will happen to her, do you not have any kind of magic to help her?" Boromir continued and Lord Elrond said that it was not that simple, even if they returned her memory to her, she would still be trapped in the past.
Suddenly Legolas tripped in something and he had to grab hold of the wall to support. "Hey watch where you are going!" Pippin said annoyed as he hurried past the elf, if he had known he had just yelled to an elf prince, his ears would have been just as red as the tomato's he cocked at Amon Sûl.
Boromir chuckled and muttered something about the elves dexterity not being like it used to. Legolas managed to gather his thoughts again, followed the small man with his gaze, and then turned to Lord Elrond.
"Was that Mr. Frodo?" Lord Elrond shook his head. "That would be Peregrin Took, and I wonder what he and Meriadoc Brandybuck have done this time…. seems like the maids have done nothing but chase those mischievous hobbits all over the place" Elrond chuckled as also Merry suddenly hurried past them.
"Now…. you must be weary and hungry…. eat and rest…. tomorrow will be a hard day" Lord Elrond said as he lead the party into a large room where a table was decked for a royal dinner.
"Has the dwarves arrived?" Boromir asked as people started to gather around the table. Lord Elrond shook his head and took a seat as well. Then the entire assembly stared at Legolas who had a spaced look on his face and was still standing, finally Lord Elrond said.
"Legolas…. you may sit down as well"
All he could think about was she his mind brought forth haunting visions that seemed to devour him completely. Had the woman he had seen today really been her or was it just someone who looked like her? Was there some force tormenting her by making a mockery of her memory. Or had she already been reincarnated in the halls of Manods? He could feel his heart stir at that very thought. Could somebody have heard his soul's anguishing crying for her return and had fulfilled his wish?
"What are you thinking about?"
"About…fate
"Ah yes…the strange thing called destiny do you believe in it?"
"I have little other choice."
He swung his legs over the bedside and sat for a moment still, feeling like a glass sculpture. He reached his hand up and gently let his fingers play with the ring that rested on a chain around his neck. She had talked so often about faith, he had never understood why the future scared her.
"If you can't promise me that if I walk to my doom you won't follow me, I will walk out now and it will be as we have never met!"
The oath she had made him swear, that if something happened to her, he would not save her, that if she disappeared he would not search, that if she left, he would not follow.
He walked over to the window and stared out on the stars, if…. if it really was her, what was she doing here? How had she ended up in Rivendell? What had happened? Why did she not recognize him? All these questions and a countless more danced around in his mind as he felt the cool October wind wash over him.
He doubted that anybody knew that his mind was another place and in another time. He could hear Lord Elrond talk, but his words turned to foggy murmur he could not understand. He watched as Frodo went over to a small stone table and carefully place a small gold ring on it. There were whispers and mutters around the Council, and then he saw that Boromir rose and stared to talk with much eager in his voice, but for the Legolas could not concentrate.
His emotions had gotten even worse when he saw her again this morning.. He had watched her walk with her head bent staring into the ground, and each second he saw her, the more certain he grew, that it really she. His heart and mind was battling with the idea of running up to her and pull her into his arms again. He had not managed to summon up the courage to face her, knowing that her rejection would be too painful.
Suddenly, there was a loud bang and he jumped in his chair as metal shattered around on the floor. "This ring cannot be destroy by any craft here Gimli son of Glion" Lord Elrond said calmly and the dwarf snorted and stared at Gafundel, who sat next to Legolas.
They were arguing now, loudly, everybody had rose and were yelling at each other. Not wanting to show the other he was not paying attention while they talked about the destruction of the one thing that was the root to evil, he to rose.
"I'll be dead before I see the Ring in a hands of an elf!" Gimli bellowed, and Boromir continued to talk about using the ring against the enemy. Gandalf tried desperately to calm everybody down, but it was not working. Lord Elrond had sunken back in his chair, rubbing his forehead and sighing.
Before the Council, he had seen her again, this time with one of the elfmaids. He had followed them in hopes of hearing her speak, but she had not opened her mouth. As they rounded a corner she had turned her head once and stared at him. Her eyes had been blank as if she was looking at something far away. There was no sign of recollection in her eyes and the pain had almost overthrown him.
"I'll take it……I ll take the Ring to Mordor…although I do not know the way"
There was an indescribable and complete silence, Legolas turned his head in Frodos direction and watched as he walked towards the Ring. Suddenly felt a deep and utmost embarrassment. Here had been thinking about his personal problems, when the life of countless was at stake and perhaps the future of the Free World.
"I will help you carry this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear" Gandalf said and placed hand on the young hobbit's shoulder. Aragorn walked over to Frodo and knelt down in front of him.
"In life…. or death if I can protect you I will. You have my sword"
His father had stated that he to do anything to aid Lord Elrond. Legolas looked in the half-elf's direction and saw his gaze at Boromir, who was clenching his fist.
"And my bow" he said and took a step in Frodos direction. He knew there would be a time to heal his heart that time had not yet come.
"And my axe!" Gimli said loudly taking a step in their direction. He gave Legolas a meaningful glare.
Boromir hesitated then he also walked over to Frodo and said slowly.
"Seems you carry the faith of all little one, if this is indeed the will of the Council then Gondor will se it done"
Suddenly Sam climbed out from over the railing and ran over to Frodo.
" Mr.Frodo is not to go anywhere without me!" Sam said sternly. Lord Elrond looked at the hobbit rather shocked, rose and said slowly.
"I doubt it would be possible to separate you two, even when he is called to a secret Council and you are not"
Sam blushed furiously but said nothing.
Just then he spotted two mischievous faces that looked like mushrooms had just walked away in front of them. They ran in through the door before anybody could say anything and ignored the total look of confusion on Elronds face.
"And us….he won't go anywhere without us…you will have to tie us in a sack to stop us from coming!" Merry said firmly and crossed his arms, Pippin nodded eagerly. "Yeah and you need somebody with brains and cunning on this sort of…quest…. thingy" he trailed off and Merry shot him an annoyed glance. "Then that rules you out dont it Pipp"
Elrond sighed and spread his arms over the nine people gathered in front of him. Nine brave souls that carried the fate of everybody on their shoulders.
" Nine to face the Nine Ringwraiths. Nine it is then. …. and you shall be the Fellowship of the Ring"
The adrenaline and atmosphere caught up with the hobbits as they suddenly felt like they were the heroes that had just returned from a daring quest, not starting the dangerous journey of their life. They cheered and nudged each other in the shoulders, and soon the others joined in, for the first time it felt like this was nothing then a fairytale. Suddenly Pippin stopped cheering and furrowed his eyebrow inn thoughts.
"Great….eh where are we going?"
He was told that they were going to leave as soon as possible, but he could not would not leave until he saw her one more time…. until he talked to her. He walked out and stretched his muscles wondering where he was going to start searching. Night had fallen over Rivendell heavy and ominous and full round moon gloved on the sky.
He found her, sitting on one of the large bench leaning over the railing staring down at the river. He watched her in silence, completely spellbound by her presences. She seemed like a ghost, her skin almost white and transparent and her ebony hair shimmered in the moonlight.
She started to hum and he felt his heart jolt and his breathing quicken. If he had had any doubt before, they were gone now. She had the voice that sang in the Creation. He could not recognize the words she song, nor the melody. It was a mournful melody and he drew a sharp staggering breath.
She stopped singing and her head turned sharply in his direction, a look of panic on her face.
He started to slowly back away, afraid that he had destroyed everything. She rose from her seat and walked away. He watched her disappear unable to do anything.
She could not rest and tossed and turned for hours, finally she woke up drenched in sweat. She felt suffocated and tired, as if she had been under water for a long time and needed fresh air. Outside, right after supper, she knew somebody had been watching her, and she could not get the feeling off her body.
She walked down a couple of stairs, until she found a quiet corner with a bench and sat down.
Gazing up at the dark sky she saw that the stars blinking silently above her. Stars gave her comfort, wherever she was, however she felt, they were always there. Stars never changed.
Footsteps was coming in her direction and suddenly she heard a voice call out.
"Hm…. thought I heard somebody"
He cane towards her, but then suddenly something else caught his eyes and he walked over to a large mural and stared at it.
He started to mutter something, something she did not understand, but suddenly there was an evil and vengeful feeling in the air. She looked at the man and saw his aurora glowing in a faint reddish glow. She took a deep breath, her body felt drained and she could feel sweat start to drip down her forehead, she looked in both directions before she quickly hurried back inside.
"There you are….I have been looking all over for you" She jolted when she saw him in the middle of the corridor, her body froze and she didnt know what to do. Boromir leaned casually against the wall in the hallway, one hand on his back.
"They say you do not remember your past….that is a terrible" She did not understand what he said, but she recognized the tone he used on his voice, and did not like it. The same haunting voice that followed her started to whisper in her mind again. "You can talk…. Can you not ?" He moved towards her and she took a step back, she shook her head and said quickly in elvish that she did not understand what he was saying. Boromir lifted both his hands and said quickly.
"Hey…hey slow down…there is no danger here" His eyes rested on hers and suddenly she saw something dark flicker across his face, and she took another step back. Darkness started to glimmer across his eyes and his breathing grew heavier. The torches on the wall flickered in the wind and the shadows seemed to grow as he approached her, and soon she heard whisper in the darkness.
"gurth ta tuluva a' lle" (death will follow you)
She turned around and started to quickly walk down the corridor away from him, still hearing the voices whisper in her head. Suddenly she felt a hand grasp her arm and she froze and felt that her heart stopped beating.
"Calm down….I am not going to hurt you"
She turned around and saw that his eyes were almost completely covered with darkness from edge to edge. She could feel that something inside her was starting to flicker. Her chest became even heavier and she struggled to breath to remain calm.
He slowly reached out a hand, removed a strain of hair from her face, and then slowly caressed her chin. His lips parted, they felt dry, and he licked them to bring back the moisture.
Boromir opened his mouth to say something, when something suddenly bit his legs.
He yelled in pain and let go of her and she ran quickly down the corridor. He looked down and saw a shaggy gray dog, snap after his legs, it growled continually and its ears lay flat on his head. Then it suddenly started to bark loudly, before it hurried after its master.
She continued to run, quickly down the stairs and soon she heard Tquels heavy breathing beside her, but she did not stop. She could feel the ghosts haunt her and she only ran faster until she felt grass under her feet again, then she slowed down. Her eyes started to run with water as she the terror she had felt in the corridor still lingered in her body, and she ran out into the night and into the forest.
The next day the Lord of Rivendell did not discover that the Spirit Weaver was gone, until the Fellowship had left. He ordered a search through the entire house, but no traces of her were found.
"If the Journal is true" Lord Elrond muttered to him self "then it does not matter if Frodo does manage to cast the Ring down into the fires of Mount Doom. As long as she is alive, the spirit of the Dark Lord Sauron will live"
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