I thank you all for your very kind reviews! So finally! The next chapter!
Saddening News
The rain fell in the darkness, glimmering in the faint starlight that made it through the mass of clouds overhead. Legolas ran behind his guide, both of them hurried across the hills, not wanting to stay out any longer then they had too. Wind was blowing Legolas's hair and he thought longingly of the blankets and dry interior of his and Gimli's shelter.
He turned his thoughts to what awaited him. What could his father possibly have to say that was so urgent? Legolas thought back to the message, it had been worded, 'grave news'. The elf tried to think of what could have happened that would be deemed grave. Certainly not the rain, that was a cause for rejoicing. He turned his mind over and over the situation, trying to see what he was missing.
Missing?! The elves! The captured ones dragged off! Legolas sucked in his breath and his eyes grew wide. They had forgotten about their folk, they would have to be saved. Legolas would die before he saw another elf bend in servitude to a mortal against their will. He was sure this was what his father had to say. What could be more dire?
He noticed that his guide had stopped in front of a shelter and was waiting for him to catch up. He quickened his pace and arrived at the door. The other elf, satisfied that he had completed his job, again took off running into the dark, probably to his own shelter. Legolas lifted the battered cloak and went inside, glad to be out of the rain.
The first thing he saw was a form, with his back to him, crouched over, checking his waist, which was tightly bandaged. Legolas knew him in a heartbeat.
"Aragorn! It is good to see you alive and somewhat well..."
The man whirled around, grinning, "It is only a few ribs Legolas. Besides, I can say the same thing to you. How are your injuries?"
"They are healed, just stiff."
"That is good. Your father stepped out for a moment. He needed to talk to someone, but then he'll return."
Legolas nodded and moved to sit down next to the ranger, "I understand. It simply gives us time to catch up, we have not spoken for a while. How fared—". The elf cut himself off in mid-sentence as he caught site of what was lying behind Aragorn. The covered body.
Aragorn knew that there could be no putting it off, "Legolas..."
The elf glanced at him, curious, "Is this the reason for the smell? Who has died?"
The ranger whispered, "That is what your father wished to speak to you of."
Legolas stared at him for a moment, clearing not realizing what Aragorn was saying. He looked at the ranger and then moved to pull back the cloth.
Aragorn heard the elf's breath catch. He didn't look at his friend, giving him privacy.
Legolas stared down at what had once been the handsome face of his treasured friend. He found that he couldn't breathe, that he couldn't think. All he could do was stare unbelievingly at what had been a body full of life and energy when he had last seen him. He choked out a question, "What...How?..."
Aragorn spoke quietly, and firmly, "He fought with the corsair leader to save my life. I was seconds from my own death and he stepped in to take over the battle. During the struggle a burning tree crashed upon him. I am sorry my friend, but the burns overwhelmed him. He died with honor, his place in Mandos's halls will be regarded with respect."
Legolas listened, all the while his blue eyes searching over his friend, the grief in them shining sharp. He reached out and gently touched one of the burns that covered the face, then pulled the cloak back up. He sat down with his back to Aragorn and did not make a sound.
The ranger watched his friend with extreme worry. "Legolas? Please do not grieve. Know that in spirit all beings are immortal. Tanvir still lives, he has only gone on to the greater worlds of existence. He isn't suffering anymore. Had he lived his life would have been a harsh, cruel one. Those burns would have scarred him forever. He would not wish you to grieve."
There was still no sound, Legolas remained sitting by his friend, his back turned.
So was the situation when Thranduil returned. He entered the shelter, then stopped short at seeing what had transpired in his absence. He also seemed to instantly grasp what had happened. Moving quietly he seated himself beside Legolas, offering his sympathies with his presence.
Finally Legolas spoke, "This is your grave news."
Thranduil sighed gently, "I am afraid so. I am sorry my son. Tanvir was a good friend to all he knew. Many grieve with you."
Legolas nodded, and turned to look at his father, "I had thought you would wish to speak about those who the corsairs have captured. The elves to be sold as slaves."
Thranduil's eyes flashed, "Yes. I have been speaking with others on this. A runner has been sent to see where our folk have been taken too. He has yet to return. The corsairs shall be taught a lesson for this, one they will not soon forget."
Aragorn spoke, "Until the runner returns though...?"
"We will have to wait. There is nothing else to do."
"There is still something," Legolas rose and began to move towards the entrance, "Gimli must be told of all that has happened. We will both come back this way."
Aragorn also rose, "I would like to come with you. I am tired of staying in here by the body. It is disheartening."
The two friends went outside, Aragorn moving carefully with his ribs. They were healing, but it would take some time. He felt his spirits lifted as a gust of wind hit his face. In truth however, he had opted to come along to keep an eye on his elven friend.
Legolas walked along him, looking at the ground. Now the tears were coming. He did not want to cry with Aragorn around to see, but tears slipped down his face anyways. He and Tanvir had known each other for hundreds of years, had saved each other's lives on more than one occasion. Had gotten into mischief and trouble together. Tanvir had been as close as a brother, as close as Aragorn. The fact that he was dead just seemed to be impossible. It was unreal. It was only some horrible trick, and in a few minutes his father would come running down out of the shelter to laugh at his foolishness.
His father did not come, and it was no trick. Tanvir was dead. The words struck against his body, hurting him as much as the enemy blades did. His friend and companion was dead. No, wait...Legolas looked over at Aragorn's darkened form. His spirit lived, in the Halls of Mandos. Aragorn had been quick to remind him of this. He could see his friend was worried for him, worried that he might fall to despair.
Legolas did not think that would happen. He would live, move past this if only for Tanvir's memory. He would not want his friend to grieve and die over him, should he have been the one to pass away. But he was resolved to have his vengeance upon the corsairs. The very thought of them filled his heart with a hatred so powerful it stirred the air around him. Aragorn felt it, and took a worried glance at his friend. The power of the elves that usually laid dormant had been roused. Legolas's elven wrath showed clear to the ranger, around the elf the surroundings whispered with his rage. Aragorn gave thanks that he wasn't a corsair.
The two friends continued on in the pouring rain and darkness, every now and then Aragorn casting worried glances at his friend, and every now and then Legolas letting a tear fall to the earth, adding his grief to the rainfall.
The corsairs moved as fast as they could. Still, with so few of them left it was extremely difficult to get the ships ready to make way. It would take them a few more hours at least. The main sails still needed to be prepared and unfurled, and the rigging wasn't set. Water had to be gathered, but no one was eager to leave the relative safety of the ships to brave the possible risk of spiders attacking.
Straws were obtained and the unlucky fellow who drew the shortest one would be made to go and fetch the water. The straw fell to one of the slave overseers, who made his anger about his lot plain to be heard. Swearing and cursing, he was lowered to the shores. He disappeared farther up the banks to find water where there wasn't any corsair garbage polluting it. No one really expected to see him again, not that they cared. Still, everyone seemed relieved when he returned later, with skins full of fresh river water from deeper in the forest.
In all of the bustle that is around when preparing, no one noticed the sharp brown eyes that watched them from the branches, nor heard the silent rustling in the leaves caused by footsteps. The elf runner had arrived and had seen enough to know that all haste was required. From treetop to treetop he hurried back to inform his king what was going on.
Gimli mourned. Tanvir was dead. He had rather like the elf, sensing a kindred spirit for the warrior's way. It did not seem fair that the spirit had been sundered from them.
He was walking behind Legolas and Aragorn. The two friends had arrived an hour ago at the shelter, and at first Gimli had been greatly pleased. He had been worrying about the fate of Aragorn, not having seen him for a few days. But his happiness soon turned to sorrow at the news the ranger bore. Legolas could not bring himself to speak of it openly, and so it had fallen upon the King of Gondor to inform their dwarven friend.
After some time, during which a few dwarven tears were shed, it was decided that it would be best to return to Thranduil and await the scout's news. So now the three friends were traveling back, the rain falling to the earth around them. Gimli shivered. He wished they could manage to light a fire. But that would be impossible out in this weather. Besides, they couldn't stop here and now, in the middle of a storm.
He occupied himself by watching both of his friends carefully. Aragorn seemed to be doing all right, having had more time to deal with the sadness he felt. But Legolas Legolas had not received any time, and the dwarf could sense the immense anguish coming from his friend, along with a touch of something else...something powerful, that raised the hairs on Gimli's neck. He knew of the power of the elves, but had never seen it truly aroused before. The dwarf knew enough to know that Legolas's rage at the corsairs must be great.
Legolas paid no head to the scrutiny of his friend. Perhaps he did not even notice it. His mind was focused only on two things, his intense grief over the loss of Tanvir, and intense rage at the corsairs for causing so much suffering and cruelty. He looked up. They had reached their destination. With his elven hearing he could hear his father moving around inside the shelter. Suddenly, Legolas did not want to go in. He did not want to have to be in the same room as Tanvir's body. He felt that if he saw it again the despair would wash over and drown him. So he turned and sat down by the door, in the rain.
Aragorn had already gone inside, and so did not see this, but Gimli had yet to enter.
"Legolas?"
"I wish privacy Gimli. I will watch for the runner. Go inside."
The dwarf opened his mouth, but seeing the expression upon Legolas's face, thought better of it and followed what Legolas said. The elf sat by himself in the darkness, his piercing eyes cutting through it as easily as if it were day. Raindrops spattered against him, the storm was fierce. He could smell the herb's odor even from his position, and tried to think of anything but Tanvir. It seemed that his friend was all that came to mind.
Staring up at the sky he quietly lifted to it, up on the wind, a song of mourning.
He stopped. Now he had reached the point where there were more dead trees than alive ones, putting a halt through his treetop dash. Leaping nimbly to the ground he continued running through the dead forest, ever heading for his King, the images of the corsairs burning in his mind. He could not fail the Mirkwood folk. He footsteps made no noise, and barely a drop of rain touched him. The ashes could only stir slightly at his approach before he was past, a blur of elven grace. He saw the edge of the woods near, soon he would be reporting to the King.
Legolas watched him run up. Rising he entered the tent with the young elf runner. The youth was out of breath, and it was a few moments before he could speak. Everyone in the shelter watched him anxiously.
"My lord," the elf addressed Thranduil, "The corsairs...they are leaving...they are making way...even as I speak to you. In a few hours they will be gone."
"The cowards." Gimli spat.
"What was their position?" Thranduil asked his runner.
"Floating on our river, a few leagues in from the sea."
Aragorn looked at the king, "What shall we do?"
Thranduil gave a grim smile, "It would be rude of us not to bid our farewells." He turned to the runner, "Assemble the armies. We shall ride to meet them."
Legolas turned at this, and went outside. Putting two fingers in between his teeth, he blew a sharp clear whistle. After a moment, Arod could be seen galloping across the grass to reach his Master's side. He pranced up to the elf, shaking his head under the rain.
Thranduil came outside while the runner moved off to carry out his orders. Soon the surrounding countryside was alive with action, men and elves and dwarves preparing themselves for yet another battle.
Aragorn looked about him. Brego had managed to come out of the forest alive, and had rejoined his master. He mounted, as did Legolas and Gimli, the elf putting the dwarf in front of him this time, just in case.
Legolas looked at his two friends, impatient, "Come on, let us ride on ahead to plan our formations."
Aragorn shrugged, "I see no reason why not. We will scout ahead." This last part was directed at the king, who nodded his consent.
With a kick of his heels, Legolas pulled Arod into a steady canter and rode off towards the forest, Brego galloping right beside him.
A hush seemed to fall around them as they entered the forest. Rain pattered against some of the remaining leaves, and dead trunks. Steam rose from the ground. The fires were gone, but their effects would be around for a long time. Everything seemed grey with ash, which was slowly turning into a thick mud under the rain. It drifted in the air around them, stirred up by the horses. Smoke rose from dying embers.
And there were bodies. As they rode through what had been the battlefield, Aragorn and Legolas had to work hard to steer their horses away from trampling a poor soldier who had met his death. The bodies were covered in the ashes and they faded away in the darkness after being passed by. Aragorn felt his horse becoming uneasy, and spoke to him low and soothingly.
Aragorn's whispers were the only sound. A great silence, heavy and oppressing hung in the air, as if watching to see who dared to disturb this haunting graveyard. The rain fell, bathing everything in a murky curtain of water.
Legolas felt dizzy and lightheaded seeing all of this. He felt as if he wasn't really living, just walking among his dreams again. He wished desperately for someone to speak, to anchor him in the world, but the silence remained. He found himself looking down at the bodies as they passed them, searching for faces he knew. He found many.
His anger increased, and a faint shimmer seemed to radiate from him in the darkness. Not a clear light in any sense, but a hint of the inner light that dwells inside all elves. Arod sensed it and quickened his pace.
Legolas was aware of what was happening to him. His wrath was building, yet he did not feel like checking it. Tanvir was dead and others had suffered. His people had suffered and the trees had died. There was so much death and pain around him it was suffocating. If he did not release his tension somehow he would be pulled away under it all. For always under his wrath was the despair, beckoning to him. He wrenched his mind back to riding his steed and keeping Gimli balanced.
The two horses trotted through the woods, leaving the battlefield behind. But not the memories of the destruction. The images of the dead floated before Legolas's vision. He couldn't focus his thoughts. He kept seeing Tanvir lying among them, his burns becoming covered with the ash. His eyes focused in and out as he moved from the visions to the real world. A tear trickled down and fell to his horse's back. Arod snorted, breaking the silence momentarily and jerking him back to reality. For that he was grateful.
At long last they arrived at the river's bank. Remaining behind cover, they dismounted, Legolas jumping up into the trees. His two friends lost sight of him instantly as he blended perfectly in with his surroundings. He did not stay still.
Aragorn heard him move off. He and Gimli scouted from the ground, looking out from behind the trunks, which sheltered them from any corsairs' gazes. All three headed in the same general direction. Up the river, searching for where the corsairs' ships were anchored.
Legolas leapt from tree to tree. These ones were still healthy, not having been burned, and his heart sang for them, that they had been spared. He moved out onto a branch while peering through the rain, looking at the river. The water was churning and frothing, the storm causing the river to expand drastically, overflowing its old banks. It was now a wild thing, a strong current coursing through it. Legolas paid it only small heed. He was more concerned about what was floating on top of it. With his elven eyes he had caught sight of something that made his heart leap in fear. Sails moving around a bend in the river. The corsairs were already leaving!
Indeed, the corsairs had finished some half-hour ago and had set sail. Already they were moving, the ships heading for the sea. In only a few hours they would be out of the forest, back to the ocean, forever unreachable. The elven folk would be sold as slaves in the foreign markets, lost to Mirkwood, their friends, and family. Forever.
hope you enjoyed. I have just discovered that this story isn't as close to the end as I thought it was, so there are still a few more chapters to go. I'll get working on em!!!
silvanelf