Disclaimer: I don't own it, I never have owned it nor will I EVER own *any*
of Tolkien's work. BEHOLD!!! TOLKIEN ALMIGHTY!!!! HIS WILL BE DONE!!!!!!!
(Huge thunder clap) By the way, please *do* take note that when I use a
capital "H" when there usually shouldn't be. That means I am referring to
the devil. Oh, and you might want to have read 'The Hobbit' to understand
some of this.
Oh and as always, big thanks to my beta reader, Legolas's fanatical fan
girl! THANK YOU LEGOLAS' FANATICAL FAN GIRL!!! Ain't she great?
Chapter 8: Bad News
Aragorn was in shock, "How could Legolas be so *stupid* as to go to MORDOR!?!?!? Alone even!"
Gandalf sighed as Thranduil comforted a sobbing Verne'. "He feared for all our safety, he knew in his heart that the demons would follow him where ever he went. He wanted to be some place that he knew no one he cared about would be." Gandalf said solemnly.
Aragorn's head snapped up, "But he then made himself vulnerable to the devil! He could not have been touched by one so evil here or in any elven home."
Gandalf sighed again, "He has learned that now." He did not want to say that he suspected Legolas had fallen under hell's influence again but Thranduil was not stupid. He was more than capable of putting two and two together but he did not want to say it nor believe it.
"Then w-why has he n-not r-returned?" stuttered Verne'. Thranduil sighed and looked at Gandalf. When their eyes met, they both knew that the other suspected the same thing. Gandalf decided it was painful enough for Thranduil to have to bear losing his son to hell again without having to say what it was that they suspected. Gandalf took it upon himself and spoke the worst fear of the room
It is possible that Legolas has not the power over his mind and body to come back. It could be that his mind could not handle the strain of battle this time and. his mental defenses may have fallen." They could all sum up what that meant without being told.
At these words, Gimli looked up for the first time since the news that Legolas had gone to Mordor had been told. Aragorn did not do much of anything. It hurt him too much to do much of anything. Thranduil did nothing now save consol his grieving wife for he could think of naught else to do. Gandalf continued, "However, hope remains. Legolas almost lost control many times before this and after he escaped hell. It is more than likely that his elven side still has much influence on his mind. He will not dare to show it for a while though for fear of being punished by the devil again."
Gimli looked at Thranduil. Gloin had told Gimli the story of Gloin and his companions when they were being held in Mirkwood. The Thranduil he had heard about that story had been very cruel and unjust however, when Gimli looked at Thranduil now, he did not see a cruel Elven king nor did he even see a king at all. What Gimli saw then was a father grieving for the loss of his child but attempting to stay strong for his wife's sake. He then walked up to Thranduil, who was still in conversation with Gandalf.
"You really do love him!" He said in a surprised tone. Never had he pictured Thranduil as caring as this! Thranduil turned his head, and looked at Gimli and spoke in an ice cold voice.
"Yes, of course I do. He is my son. Why would you picture it different?" The elven king pulled himself up to full height and glowered down at the dwarf. Gimli shifted, wincing slightly.
"Well, you see, it was something that my father said.." He trailed off. Thranduil continued to stare him down, making him feel even shorter than he already felt.
"What did he say?" Thranduil demanded.
"Well." Gimli started, unsure if this was the right time. "You remember when my father and the others came through, right?" Thranduil nodded, knowing that this story was not going be one that he would enjoy. "Well, my father had spoken of how you had imprisoned him and the others for no reason. None of what he said was flattering to say the least."
Thranduil sighed, "It never is. Go on."
Gimli swallowed and continued, "Well, he mentioned how you had them jailed in your dungeon just because they were lost in the forest and starving. He said you were. well." Gimli did not want to continue now but Thranduil knew what he was going to say anyway.
"Cruel? Cold? Callous, maybe?" said Thranduil with his head cocked and in a indifferent tone. "Err. Well, yes. But most of it was not as polite." Gimli said, regretting that he had ever brought it up. Thranduil smiled for the first time in awhile. Gimli realized that Thranduil looked just like Legolas when he did that.
"Do not worry dwarf, I do not take it personally. I know that much went on that day that should have never occurred. I suppose I was a bit hard but until Legolas brought you here, I never cared for dwarves and never did truly regret my decision. To be honest, when Legolas first told me he had befriended a dwarf, I seriously considered disowning him." Gimli could tell by the look on his face that Thranduil was not serious about disowning Legolas. Thranduil continued, "But now I know better for had he never brought you here, I would have never realized how unfair I was that day. Tell your father I apologize." he added with a smile. Gimli smiled back and wondered why he never noticed how much Thranduil and Legolas looked alike.
Many miles away, Exile met up with his companions. The devil had told the others, who had returned to hell, to come back, for Exile did not seem to need any breaking in at the time. Vera was not sure whether what she saw was good or bad. Sure he was no longer unruly, but the fire that had been behind those silver-blue eyes only hours earlier was gone and was replaced with a cold, dead, emotionless, stare. She shook her head to clear her mind of such thoughts. She knew better than to contradict her lord. Vulcan sized up their new comrade. He would indeed be a powerful ally but he was still against using an elf turned demon for anything.
At last, he spoke, "We are to head for Mirkwood forest again. We shall make them pay for thinking that they could defy us and thus defy our lord. Exile." Exile returned Vulcan's gaze, "This will be your test run. Please us and our lord, and you will not regret it. Make us angry. and well. you do not wish to know the torment you will go through for that." Exile nodded, but still did not say a word. Phantasma vaguely wondered if their newest member was a mute somehow. Vulcan's next order snapped her out of her musings. "We fly!" With that, they started at lightening speed to Mirkwood.
Frodo found Aragorn, thoughtfully smoking his pipe. The sweet and refreshing smell of athelas was in the air. "Strider?" Frodo questioned. "Strider? Legolas has been forced over to His side, hasn't he?" Aragorn smiled when he heard his old nickname which had his mind drift back into happier times. Back when he was a ranger. He fondly remembered the look on Legolas' face the first time he had ever heard someone use his ranger name. It was in Bree and Butterbur had used it when they had come in. Legolas' mouth almost dropped a foot. He also remembered the many times that he and Legolas had hunted, tracked and fought together. After Aragorn had left his home in Rivendell, Legolas had taken him up as a surrogate brother. Those were happy memories.
"Strider?" Frodo's voice called again, forcing the weary king out of his blissful recollections.
"We don't know. I hope not but it is likely that Legolas did not win that fight. But even if he has been taken, we can get him back."
"Are you certain?" Sam asked hopefully. "We are pretty sure." Aragorn answered.
Pippin spoke next, "But, those other demons. Isn't it possible that they were normal too? Until He got to them? They haven't recovered. What if Legolas doesn't either?" Aragorn looked down at his clenched fists. He *had* thought about that but had tried his best not to dwell on it.
"None of them were elves. Gandalf is certain of that. Therefore it is likely that he has more resistance to His will." Aragorn was hoping that anyway.
Gimli ran up to Aragorn. "They are coming Aragorn. And we think Legolas is with them."
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OK!!! PLEASE REVIEW!!!!! I'll do a little tap dance if you do! (Not like you'll see it but. you know) Also, I'll update much sooner if you do review. Again, PLEASE? SAES?!?!? Anyway, quel re/andune/lome/du (good day/afternoon/evening/night) ya'll!
Chapter 8: Bad News
Aragorn was in shock, "How could Legolas be so *stupid* as to go to MORDOR!?!?!? Alone even!"
Gandalf sighed as Thranduil comforted a sobbing Verne'. "He feared for all our safety, he knew in his heart that the demons would follow him where ever he went. He wanted to be some place that he knew no one he cared about would be." Gandalf said solemnly.
Aragorn's head snapped up, "But he then made himself vulnerable to the devil! He could not have been touched by one so evil here or in any elven home."
Gandalf sighed again, "He has learned that now." He did not want to say that he suspected Legolas had fallen under hell's influence again but Thranduil was not stupid. He was more than capable of putting two and two together but he did not want to say it nor believe it.
"Then w-why has he n-not r-returned?" stuttered Verne'. Thranduil sighed and looked at Gandalf. When their eyes met, they both knew that the other suspected the same thing. Gandalf decided it was painful enough for Thranduil to have to bear losing his son to hell again without having to say what it was that they suspected. Gandalf took it upon himself and spoke the worst fear of the room
It is possible that Legolas has not the power over his mind and body to come back. It could be that his mind could not handle the strain of battle this time and. his mental defenses may have fallen." They could all sum up what that meant without being told.
At these words, Gimli looked up for the first time since the news that Legolas had gone to Mordor had been told. Aragorn did not do much of anything. It hurt him too much to do much of anything. Thranduil did nothing now save consol his grieving wife for he could think of naught else to do. Gandalf continued, "However, hope remains. Legolas almost lost control many times before this and after he escaped hell. It is more than likely that his elven side still has much influence on his mind. He will not dare to show it for a while though for fear of being punished by the devil again."
Gimli looked at Thranduil. Gloin had told Gimli the story of Gloin and his companions when they were being held in Mirkwood. The Thranduil he had heard about that story had been very cruel and unjust however, when Gimli looked at Thranduil now, he did not see a cruel Elven king nor did he even see a king at all. What Gimli saw then was a father grieving for the loss of his child but attempting to stay strong for his wife's sake. He then walked up to Thranduil, who was still in conversation with Gandalf.
"You really do love him!" He said in a surprised tone. Never had he pictured Thranduil as caring as this! Thranduil turned his head, and looked at Gimli and spoke in an ice cold voice.
"Yes, of course I do. He is my son. Why would you picture it different?" The elven king pulled himself up to full height and glowered down at the dwarf. Gimli shifted, wincing slightly.
"Well, you see, it was something that my father said.." He trailed off. Thranduil continued to stare him down, making him feel even shorter than he already felt.
"What did he say?" Thranduil demanded.
"Well." Gimli started, unsure if this was the right time. "You remember when my father and the others came through, right?" Thranduil nodded, knowing that this story was not going be one that he would enjoy. "Well, my father had spoken of how you had imprisoned him and the others for no reason. None of what he said was flattering to say the least."
Thranduil sighed, "It never is. Go on."
Gimli swallowed and continued, "Well, he mentioned how you had them jailed in your dungeon just because they were lost in the forest and starving. He said you were. well." Gimli did not want to continue now but Thranduil knew what he was going to say anyway.
"Cruel? Cold? Callous, maybe?" said Thranduil with his head cocked and in a indifferent tone. "Err. Well, yes. But most of it was not as polite." Gimli said, regretting that he had ever brought it up. Thranduil smiled for the first time in awhile. Gimli realized that Thranduil looked just like Legolas when he did that.
"Do not worry dwarf, I do not take it personally. I know that much went on that day that should have never occurred. I suppose I was a bit hard but until Legolas brought you here, I never cared for dwarves and never did truly regret my decision. To be honest, when Legolas first told me he had befriended a dwarf, I seriously considered disowning him." Gimli could tell by the look on his face that Thranduil was not serious about disowning Legolas. Thranduil continued, "But now I know better for had he never brought you here, I would have never realized how unfair I was that day. Tell your father I apologize." he added with a smile. Gimli smiled back and wondered why he never noticed how much Thranduil and Legolas looked alike.
Many miles away, Exile met up with his companions. The devil had told the others, who had returned to hell, to come back, for Exile did not seem to need any breaking in at the time. Vera was not sure whether what she saw was good or bad. Sure he was no longer unruly, but the fire that had been behind those silver-blue eyes only hours earlier was gone and was replaced with a cold, dead, emotionless, stare. She shook her head to clear her mind of such thoughts. She knew better than to contradict her lord. Vulcan sized up their new comrade. He would indeed be a powerful ally but he was still against using an elf turned demon for anything.
At last, he spoke, "We are to head for Mirkwood forest again. We shall make them pay for thinking that they could defy us and thus defy our lord. Exile." Exile returned Vulcan's gaze, "This will be your test run. Please us and our lord, and you will not regret it. Make us angry. and well. you do not wish to know the torment you will go through for that." Exile nodded, but still did not say a word. Phantasma vaguely wondered if their newest member was a mute somehow. Vulcan's next order snapped her out of her musings. "We fly!" With that, they started at lightening speed to Mirkwood.
Frodo found Aragorn, thoughtfully smoking his pipe. The sweet and refreshing smell of athelas was in the air. "Strider?" Frodo questioned. "Strider? Legolas has been forced over to His side, hasn't he?" Aragorn smiled when he heard his old nickname which had his mind drift back into happier times. Back when he was a ranger. He fondly remembered the look on Legolas' face the first time he had ever heard someone use his ranger name. It was in Bree and Butterbur had used it when they had come in. Legolas' mouth almost dropped a foot. He also remembered the many times that he and Legolas had hunted, tracked and fought together. After Aragorn had left his home in Rivendell, Legolas had taken him up as a surrogate brother. Those were happy memories.
"Strider?" Frodo's voice called again, forcing the weary king out of his blissful recollections.
"We don't know. I hope not but it is likely that Legolas did not win that fight. But even if he has been taken, we can get him back."
"Are you certain?" Sam asked hopefully. "We are pretty sure." Aragorn answered.
Pippin spoke next, "But, those other demons. Isn't it possible that they were normal too? Until He got to them? They haven't recovered. What if Legolas doesn't either?" Aragorn looked down at his clenched fists. He *had* thought about that but had tried his best not to dwell on it.
"None of them were elves. Gandalf is certain of that. Therefore it is likely that he has more resistance to His will." Aragorn was hoping that anyway.
Gimli ran up to Aragorn. "They are coming Aragorn. And we think Legolas is with them."
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OK!!! PLEASE REVIEW!!!!! I'll do a little tap dance if you do! (Not like you'll see it but. you know) Also, I'll update much sooner if you do review. Again, PLEASE? SAES?!?!? Anyway, quel re/andune/lome/du (good day/afternoon/evening/night) ya'll!