A/N: Thank you all for your dazzling and encouraging reviews! I love you
all!
LadyScribe: Thanks, and you are so right! Woo! Yeah, Italianos! We so totally rock!!! Ciao, ragazza Italiana!
Yuhi-thedoerofevildeeds: I'm glad you found it splendid! I thank you for your suggestion, I am taking it! And I give you credit, as you see here.
Cherryfaerie: Thanks. The other website with good Sindarin phrases is (And this place is really good):
Jayma: I'm glad you like what you read so far! You got some catching up to do! ;)
Orlandofan13: I'm glad you found it sweet! You shall see what I shall do with them, read on!
Mellowyellow36: YOU'RE WELCOME!!!! I'm SO glad you love this story! You made my day!!! :)
Lady Idril Celebrindal: (I love your pen name by the way) Thanks! Elwen will go wherever he goes . . . for a time.
Brazgirl: Good suggestion . . . Elwen will meet Éowyn but, they won't be having their conversations
And as I write this, I realize that I have made a SERIOUS error . . . in the book the group stays in Helm's Deep then go to Isengard then back to Helm's Deep again before Aragorn sets out on the Paths of the Dead and I want to go by the book this time because I SO want to bring Elladan and Elrohir into this, but I can't mix the book and the movie so much that I bring them to the camp scene in the movie . . . that would be completely rewriting stuff . . . hmmm . . . *thinking*
I have decided to make revisions in the last few chapters that will have them in Helm's Deep instead of Edoras. So . . . this will now take place at Helm's Deep.
("' '") Indicates beginning and end of a text insertion, or (" ") When no one is speaking.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
To Isengard
Gandalf wished to visit Isengard, and naturally the remnants of the Fellowship went with him, along with King Théoden and many of the Riders that were well enough to make the journey.
The route to Isengard forced the company to go through the forest that had mysteriously appeared and swallowed up the Orcs at the end of the battle of Helm's Deep.
'It is hot in here,' said Legolas to Gandalf. 'I feel a great wrath upon me. Do you not feel the air throb in your ears?'
'Yes,' said Gandalf.
'What has become of the miserable Orcs?' said Legolas.
'That, I think, no one will ever know,' said Gandalf.
"They rode in silence for a while; but Legolas was ever glancing from side to side, and would often have halted to listen to the sounds of the wood, if Gimli had allowed it.
'These are the strangest trees that I ever saw,' he said; 'and I have seen many an oak grow from an acorn to ruinous age. I wish that there were leisure now to walk among them: they have voices, and in time I might come to understand their thought.'
'No, no!' said Gimli. 'Let us leave them! I guess their thought already: hatred of all that go on two legs; and their speech is of crushing and strangling.'
'Not of all that go on two legs,' said Legolas. 'There I think you are wrong. It is Orcs that they hate. For they do not belong here and know little of Elves and Men. Far away are the valleys where they sprang. From the deep dales of Fangorn, Gimli, that is whence they come, I guess.'
'Then that is the most perilous wood in Middle-earth,' said Gimli. 'I should be grateful for the part they have played, but I do not love them. You may think them wonderful, but I have seen a greater wonder in this land, more beautiful than any grove or glade that ever grew: my heart is still full of it.
'Strange are the ways of Men, Legolas! Here they have one of the marvels of the Northern World, and what do they say of it? Caves, they say! Caves! Holes to fly to in time of war, to store fodder in! My good Legolas, do you know what the caverns of Helm's Deep are vast and beautiful? There would be an endless pilgramage of Dwarves, merely to gaze at them, if such things were known to be. Aye indeed, they would pay pure gold for a brief glance!'
'And I would give gold to be excused,' said Legolas; 'and double to be let out if I strayed in!'"
The laughter that bubbled out of Elwen reminded Legolas of the wind-chimes that he had hanging outside one of the windows in his chambers. A thrill went up his spine, how he loved that laugh.
"'You have not seen, so I forgive your jest,' said Gimli. 'But you speak like a fool. Do you think those halls are fair, where your King dwells under the hill in Mirkwood, and Dwarves helped in their making long ago? They are but hovels compared with the caverns I have seen here: immeasurable halls, filled with an everlasting music of water that tinkles into pools, as fair as Kheled-zâram in the starlight . . . There is chamber after chamber, Legolas; hall opening out of hall, dome after dome, stair beyond stair; and still the winding paths lead on into the mountain's heart. Caves! The Cavens of Helm's Deep! Happy was the chance that drove me there! It makes me weep to leave them.'
'Then I will wish you this fortune for your comfort, Gimli,' said the Elf, 'that you may come safe from war and return to see them again. But do not tell all your kindred! There seems little left for them to do, from your account. Maybe the men of this land are wise to say little: one family of busy dwarves with hammer and chisel might mar more than they made.'
'No, you do not understand,' said Gimli. 'No dwarf could be unmoved by such loveliness. None of Durin's race would mine those caves for stones or ore, not if diamonds and gold could be got there. Do you cut down groves of blossoming trees in the springtime for firewood? We would tend these glades of flowering stone, not quarry them. With cautious skill, tap by tap---a small chip of rock and no more, perhaps, in a whole anxious day---so we could work, and as the years went by, we should open up new ways, and display far chamber that are still dark, glimpsed only as a void beyond fissures of rock. And lights, Legolas! We should make lights, such lamps as once shone in Khazad-dûm; and when we wished we would drive away the night that has lain there since the hill were made; and when we desired rest, we would let the night return.'
'You move me, Gimli,' said Legolas. 'I have never heard you speak like this before. Almost you make me regret that I have not seen theses caves. Come! Let us make this bargain--- if we both return safe out of the perils that await us, we will journey for a while together. You shall visit Fangorn with me, and then I will come with you to see Helm's Deep.'
'That would not be the way of return that I should choose,' said Gimli. 'But I will endure Fangorn, if I have your promise to come back to the caves and share their wonder with me.'
'You have my promise,' said Legolas."
"And mine!" Elwen put forth.
"You would come, too, lass?" Gimli asked.
"And why not?" The elf-maiden inquired with her chin raised. "Your talk has also kindled a desire to see these caves, I would not miss it."
"And would not have you leave my side," Legolas murmured lovingly, bringing his horse closer to hers and briefly snaking an arm around to give it a squeeze. The elf prince then turned back to Gimli.
"'But alas! Now we must leave behind both cave and wood for a while. See! We are coming to the end of the trees. How far is it to Isengard, Gandalf?' 'About fifteen leagues, as the crows of Saruman make it,' said Gandalf: 'five from the mouth of the Deeping-coomb to the Fords; and ten more from there to the gates of Isengard. But we shall not ride all the way this night.'"
*~*~*~*~*~*
They made their camp beside the bed of the River Isen.
Legolas lay in the long grass beside Elwen. Being Elves they had no need for bedrolls and such, the chill in the air did not effect them.
"Why would Gandalf wish to return to the fortress of his enemy?" Elwen asked Legolas, rolling over on her side to face him.
Legolas propped up his head with his elbow. "Perhaps," He answered, "he hopes to bring Saruman back to the way of the light."
"Is that even possible?"
"Many things impossible have come to pass where Gandalf has been involved. If it is meant to be, it will, if not then that will, too."
Elwen smiled at the wisdom in his voice, her love for him filling her whole being. She reached over and traced his left ear with her finger-tip.
Legolas closed his eyes and relaxed under her gentle ministrations. A shudder suddenly coursed through him once her finger reached the sensitive tip of his ear, where the point was. Gently, she ran her finger back and forth over it.
Legolas sucked in a sharp breath and gently grasped her wrist, forcing her to stop.
"Elwen, meleth nín, that touch is intimate among elves, as you should know. It affects me greatly," he took another breath, "if you continue, I do not think I will be able to restrain myself much longer and I might do something which I would rather wait to do . . . until a more appropriate time and situation. Adding to that, it would be in the presence of other's eyes."
Even in the dark Legolas could see the dark flush that rose in her cheeks to the tips of her own delicately pointed ears.
"I take your meaning, hir nín Legolas." The sudden admission he had made to her excited and frightened Elwen at the same time. Knowing that she could evoke such passion in Legolas was thrilling; but thinking of what he could do with that passion was a bit frightening and overwhelming, though no less exciting then the latter thought.
Elwen stared deeply into Legolas' bright blue eyes and saw there a love and a protectiveness, which very much moved her.
Suddenly, a cry came up from the watchman. All who were sleeping were now awake and alert. "The moon was gone. Stars were shining above; but over the ground there crept a darkness blacker than the night. On both sides of the river it rolled towards them, going northward."
Legolas jumped up into a crouching position and unsheathed his long white knives. He sat there hovering over Elwen, daring whatever it was to just try and touch her. Elwen felt a little upset that he seemed to see her as inadequate in defending herself.
"Legolas, I can take care of-"
"Sh!" He commanded, "Lie still!"
"'Stay where you are!' said Gandalf. 'Draw no weapons! Wait! And it
will pass you by!'"
Legolas quickly put away his knives, he did not question any command from Gandalf. But, he did lay over Elwen as if to shield her.
"A mist gathered about them. Above them a few stars still glimmered faintly; but on either side there arose walls of impenetrable gloom; they were in a narrow lane between moving towers of shadow. Voices they heard, whisperings and groanings and an endless rustling sigh; the earth shook under them. Long it seemed to them that they sat and were afraid; but at last the darkness and the rumour passed, and vanished between the mountain's arms. *~*~*~*~*
"The king and his company slept no more that night; but they saw and heard no other strange thing, save one: the voice of the river beside them suddenly awoke. There was a rush of water hurrying down among the stones; and when it had passed, the Isen flowed and bubbled in its bed again, as it had ever done."
*~*~*~*~*
Ya like? Review! Please!
LadyScribe: Thanks, and you are so right! Woo! Yeah, Italianos! We so totally rock!!! Ciao, ragazza Italiana!
Yuhi-thedoerofevildeeds: I'm glad you found it splendid! I thank you for your suggestion, I am taking it! And I give you credit, as you see here.
Cherryfaerie: Thanks. The other website with good Sindarin phrases is (And this place is really good):
Jayma: I'm glad you like what you read so far! You got some catching up to do! ;)
Orlandofan13: I'm glad you found it sweet! You shall see what I shall do with them, read on!
Mellowyellow36: YOU'RE WELCOME!!!! I'm SO glad you love this story! You made my day!!! :)
Lady Idril Celebrindal: (I love your pen name by the way) Thanks! Elwen will go wherever he goes . . . for a time.
Brazgirl: Good suggestion . . . Elwen will meet Éowyn but, they won't be having their conversations
And as I write this, I realize that I have made a SERIOUS error . . . in the book the group stays in Helm's Deep then go to Isengard then back to Helm's Deep again before Aragorn sets out on the Paths of the Dead and I want to go by the book this time because I SO want to bring Elladan and Elrohir into this, but I can't mix the book and the movie so much that I bring them to the camp scene in the movie . . . that would be completely rewriting stuff . . . hmmm . . . *thinking*
I have decided to make revisions in the last few chapters that will have them in Helm's Deep instead of Edoras. So . . . this will now take place at Helm's Deep.
("' '") Indicates beginning and end of a text insertion, or (" ") When no one is speaking.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
To Isengard
Gandalf wished to visit Isengard, and naturally the remnants of the Fellowship went with him, along with King Théoden and many of the Riders that were well enough to make the journey.
The route to Isengard forced the company to go through the forest that had mysteriously appeared and swallowed up the Orcs at the end of the battle of Helm's Deep.
'It is hot in here,' said Legolas to Gandalf. 'I feel a great wrath upon me. Do you not feel the air throb in your ears?'
'Yes,' said Gandalf.
'What has become of the miserable Orcs?' said Legolas.
'That, I think, no one will ever know,' said Gandalf.
"They rode in silence for a while; but Legolas was ever glancing from side to side, and would often have halted to listen to the sounds of the wood, if Gimli had allowed it.
'These are the strangest trees that I ever saw,' he said; 'and I have seen many an oak grow from an acorn to ruinous age. I wish that there were leisure now to walk among them: they have voices, and in time I might come to understand their thought.'
'No, no!' said Gimli. 'Let us leave them! I guess their thought already: hatred of all that go on two legs; and their speech is of crushing and strangling.'
'Not of all that go on two legs,' said Legolas. 'There I think you are wrong. It is Orcs that they hate. For they do not belong here and know little of Elves and Men. Far away are the valleys where they sprang. From the deep dales of Fangorn, Gimli, that is whence they come, I guess.'
'Then that is the most perilous wood in Middle-earth,' said Gimli. 'I should be grateful for the part they have played, but I do not love them. You may think them wonderful, but I have seen a greater wonder in this land, more beautiful than any grove or glade that ever grew: my heart is still full of it.
'Strange are the ways of Men, Legolas! Here they have one of the marvels of the Northern World, and what do they say of it? Caves, they say! Caves! Holes to fly to in time of war, to store fodder in! My good Legolas, do you know what the caverns of Helm's Deep are vast and beautiful? There would be an endless pilgramage of Dwarves, merely to gaze at them, if such things were known to be. Aye indeed, they would pay pure gold for a brief glance!'
'And I would give gold to be excused,' said Legolas; 'and double to be let out if I strayed in!'"
The laughter that bubbled out of Elwen reminded Legolas of the wind-chimes that he had hanging outside one of the windows in his chambers. A thrill went up his spine, how he loved that laugh.
"'You have not seen, so I forgive your jest,' said Gimli. 'But you speak like a fool. Do you think those halls are fair, where your King dwells under the hill in Mirkwood, and Dwarves helped in their making long ago? They are but hovels compared with the caverns I have seen here: immeasurable halls, filled with an everlasting music of water that tinkles into pools, as fair as Kheled-zâram in the starlight . . . There is chamber after chamber, Legolas; hall opening out of hall, dome after dome, stair beyond stair; and still the winding paths lead on into the mountain's heart. Caves! The Cavens of Helm's Deep! Happy was the chance that drove me there! It makes me weep to leave them.'
'Then I will wish you this fortune for your comfort, Gimli,' said the Elf, 'that you may come safe from war and return to see them again. But do not tell all your kindred! There seems little left for them to do, from your account. Maybe the men of this land are wise to say little: one family of busy dwarves with hammer and chisel might mar more than they made.'
'No, you do not understand,' said Gimli. 'No dwarf could be unmoved by such loveliness. None of Durin's race would mine those caves for stones or ore, not if diamonds and gold could be got there. Do you cut down groves of blossoming trees in the springtime for firewood? We would tend these glades of flowering stone, not quarry them. With cautious skill, tap by tap---a small chip of rock and no more, perhaps, in a whole anxious day---so we could work, and as the years went by, we should open up new ways, and display far chamber that are still dark, glimpsed only as a void beyond fissures of rock. And lights, Legolas! We should make lights, such lamps as once shone in Khazad-dûm; and when we wished we would drive away the night that has lain there since the hill were made; and when we desired rest, we would let the night return.'
'You move me, Gimli,' said Legolas. 'I have never heard you speak like this before. Almost you make me regret that I have not seen theses caves. Come! Let us make this bargain--- if we both return safe out of the perils that await us, we will journey for a while together. You shall visit Fangorn with me, and then I will come with you to see Helm's Deep.'
'That would not be the way of return that I should choose,' said Gimli. 'But I will endure Fangorn, if I have your promise to come back to the caves and share their wonder with me.'
'You have my promise,' said Legolas."
"And mine!" Elwen put forth.
"You would come, too, lass?" Gimli asked.
"And why not?" The elf-maiden inquired with her chin raised. "Your talk has also kindled a desire to see these caves, I would not miss it."
"And would not have you leave my side," Legolas murmured lovingly, bringing his horse closer to hers and briefly snaking an arm around to give it a squeeze. The elf prince then turned back to Gimli.
"'But alas! Now we must leave behind both cave and wood for a while. See! We are coming to the end of the trees. How far is it to Isengard, Gandalf?' 'About fifteen leagues, as the crows of Saruman make it,' said Gandalf: 'five from the mouth of the Deeping-coomb to the Fords; and ten more from there to the gates of Isengard. But we shall not ride all the way this night.'"
*~*~*~*~*~*
They made their camp beside the bed of the River Isen.
Legolas lay in the long grass beside Elwen. Being Elves they had no need for bedrolls and such, the chill in the air did not effect them.
"Why would Gandalf wish to return to the fortress of his enemy?" Elwen asked Legolas, rolling over on her side to face him.
Legolas propped up his head with his elbow. "Perhaps," He answered, "he hopes to bring Saruman back to the way of the light."
"Is that even possible?"
"Many things impossible have come to pass where Gandalf has been involved. If it is meant to be, it will, if not then that will, too."
Elwen smiled at the wisdom in his voice, her love for him filling her whole being. She reached over and traced his left ear with her finger-tip.
Legolas closed his eyes and relaxed under her gentle ministrations. A shudder suddenly coursed through him once her finger reached the sensitive tip of his ear, where the point was. Gently, she ran her finger back and forth over it.
Legolas sucked in a sharp breath and gently grasped her wrist, forcing her to stop.
"Elwen, meleth nín, that touch is intimate among elves, as you should know. It affects me greatly," he took another breath, "if you continue, I do not think I will be able to restrain myself much longer and I might do something which I would rather wait to do . . . until a more appropriate time and situation. Adding to that, it would be in the presence of other's eyes."
Even in the dark Legolas could see the dark flush that rose in her cheeks to the tips of her own delicately pointed ears.
"I take your meaning, hir nín Legolas." The sudden admission he had made to her excited and frightened Elwen at the same time. Knowing that she could evoke such passion in Legolas was thrilling; but thinking of what he could do with that passion was a bit frightening and overwhelming, though no less exciting then the latter thought.
Elwen stared deeply into Legolas' bright blue eyes and saw there a love and a protectiveness, which very much moved her.
Suddenly, a cry came up from the watchman. All who were sleeping were now awake and alert. "The moon was gone. Stars were shining above; but over the ground there crept a darkness blacker than the night. On both sides of the river it rolled towards them, going northward."
Legolas jumped up into a crouching position and unsheathed his long white knives. He sat there hovering over Elwen, daring whatever it was to just try and touch her. Elwen felt a little upset that he seemed to see her as inadequate in defending herself.
"Legolas, I can take care of-"
"Sh!" He commanded, "Lie still!"
"'Stay where you are!' said Gandalf. 'Draw no weapons! Wait! And it
will pass you by!'"
Legolas quickly put away his knives, he did not question any command from Gandalf. But, he did lay over Elwen as if to shield her.
"A mist gathered about them. Above them a few stars still glimmered faintly; but on either side there arose walls of impenetrable gloom; they were in a narrow lane between moving towers of shadow. Voices they heard, whisperings and groanings and an endless rustling sigh; the earth shook under them. Long it seemed to them that they sat and were afraid; but at last the darkness and the rumour passed, and vanished between the mountain's arms. *~*~*~*~*
"The king and his company slept no more that night; but they saw and heard no other strange thing, save one: the voice of the river beside them suddenly awoke. There was a rush of water hurrying down among the stones; and when it had passed, the Isen flowed and bubbled in its bed again, as it had ever done."
*~*~*~*~*
Ya like? Review! Please!