Authors Note: Here is the next chapter. I am trying to write about
one chapter a day and post and I think I'll keep that up as long as I keep
getting feedback that ya'll want me to ( Just a note about this chapter, a
lot of questions will be unraveled here for Legolas and the story
progresses. Please, no flames about how I use Arwen. I read the books
when I was in 5th grade and now am in college, so have little memory. I
have re-read both the Fellowship and the Two Towers, and if you all know,
there is little about Arwen's personality in those books, so as I have not
re-read the Return of the King yet, I am basing Arwen's character strictly
on movieverse and my own ideas of what she would be like. I hope you
enjoy!
Legolas was eager to set out when light began to creep into the forest. Strider had survived the night and Legolas was beginning to hope he would survive to Rivendell. He gently placed the Ranger on Evaria's back, noting that Strider was burning up. The fever had set in. Mounting Altueir, Legolas once again took up Evaria's lead rope and they set off. He rode as fast as he felt was safe for Strider. Hours passed and soon it was late day, but Legolas was unconcerned, Rivendell was near. He was practically with its borders if what he thought of the trees was correct. By now he might have passed into the enchanted woods guarded by the elves.
"Halt intruder!" A light but serious voice called in elvish. Legolas, understanding ht ways of the elves, knew that he was probably surrounded, with many arrows pointed straight at him. He halted both horses and lifted his hand in a peaceful gesture.
"I come peacefully! My name is Legolas, son of Thranduil. I come from Mirkwood and I bear a wounded Ranger called Strider. I believe he was on his way here with a…" Legolas never finished his speech, for almost a dozen elves seem to melt out from the woods, a few of them still looking warily at him, all with bows drawn and arrows notched. However, there was one elf that paid Legolas little heed, but rushed to Evaria and her still and fallen rider.
"Estel! Estel!" Legolas was surprised to hear the feminine voice – a she-elf – and not just any she-elf, but Arwen, daughter of Lord Elrond. Arwen had been one of Legolas' childhood friends and he would have known her voice anywhere. When she reached Evaria, she threw back her hood, revealing a perfect porcelain complexion, large blue eyes, and long dark hair. Legolas was shocked to see how beautiful she had become. It had been many long years since he had last seen her, before she had left Imladris for Lorien to stay with Galadriel. Legolas felt at a loss again. Estel? She cried for hope? And of what concern was Strider to her? He turned back to the other elves and spotted another friendly face, Glorfindel.
"Legolas! Are you all right? What brings you here? 'Tis all right, he is a friend," the older and taller blond elf told the rest of his companions.
"It is a very long story, but that Ranger must see Elrond very soon, for he fought and has been wounded by the Nazgul."
"Nazgul?" It was a soft hiss and echo that ran through the company of elves. This was ill news. They turned their attention to Strider. Arwen seemed to be fighting back tears.
"Come! He must get to my father quickly, for he is on the verge of passing over!" her voice was urgent and she mounted Evaria behind where Aragorn was laid. With the help of Glorfindel and another elf, they sat him upright, leaning over Evaria's head. Legolas watched in wonder as Evaria seemed to be calmed by Arwen's presence, as if Arwen had ridden her before. He was still watching even as Arwen wrapped Strider tightly in her arms, grasping the reigns in one hand. "Noro lim! Noro lim Evaria!" Evaria jerked under them and broke into a gallop, towards the gates of Rivendell. Legolas reigned in Altueir, watching her go. She cares for him…she cares for this mortal? But how would she know him? No, you are wrong Legolas. Legolas shook his head as if to send the thought away. There was no hint of jealously, for there never could have been anything between himself and Arwen, but he was definitely more confused, as an elf should never have been.
"Go on Legolas, we will catch up with you," Glorfindel urged. Legolas turned to look at him, nodding. Giving Altueir a soft nudge, he set out after Arwen, who had reached the gates and was calling for her father. Legolas arrived just in time to help carry Strider up into Lord Elrond's personal chambers, Arwen right behind him, her face pained and worried. Lord Elrond appeared immediately, a tall, dark haired elf of an age no one dared speak, for he had fought during the war of the ring and he had young then. Legolas watched carefully to gauge Elrond's reaction to finding Strider lying bloody on his bed.
The reaction was unexpected, though Legolas had no previous thought as to what to expect. Elrond's face grew ashen at the sight of Strider.
"No…of all the curses, no. Please let this not be so. Estel? My son, what has happened?" Elrond was at the young man's side in seconds, taking in the wounds with his eyes. "What happened?" He turned to find an answer and Legolas had never seen the great elf so confused.
"He fought the nine riders, Lord Elrond. He told me he thought he had been poisoned…" Legolas offered quietly.
"The Nazgul…it was not his time. Go, leave us. I will do what I can for him." Elrond motioned to all in the room and several of the other elves began to leave, but Arwen stayed stubbornly rooted on the other side of the bed. "Arwen, my daughter, you must leave."
"Let me stay and help father. He will respond to me."
"Arwen, there is nothing you can do. Legolas, please…" he motioned to Arwen with these words and Legolas regretted that he would have to force Arwen to leave. She glared at him in challenge, but put up no physical fight when he placed his had firmly on her shoulder and led her from the room.
"Walk with me Arwen, I have many questions."
"My father will also have many questions for you too. It is good to see you my friend, but I wish it were for other reasons," Arwen's voice was heavy with an effort to control her feelings.
"Come, do not be sad. Tell me who this Strider is. He would not tell me his real name, yet I arrive here and you call him Estel, hope, and Elrond calls him son, as he called Elrond father in the woods. I am at a loss…"
"Surely you remember Legolas…"
"I do not."
"Estel…Estel is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You must remember that my father raised him here after Arathorn was killed. He is the Heir of Isildur and had to be protected. He grew up here as a foster elf. Now he is a Ranger of the North, taking over the responsibilities his father once had. He leads the Rangers and goes mostly by Strider, what the townspeople call him."
"Ahh! Estel! The hope of men! Now I understand many of the riddles…why he speaks elvish, carries such elvish gear…I should have realized. I met him when he was only a small child! But what I don't understand is why you weep so. I know you were in Lorien when he was here as a child."
"Estel…is very dear to me," Arwen said quietly, turning from Legolas. "What happened?" Legolas watched as she walked a few steps from him, her back to him. Why would she not speak?
"It is quite a long story, one I will be telling many a time. For the time being, we will leave it at the fact that I was captured by the nine, for what purpose I shudder to think about. During their act of fleeing they must have stumbled across Stri…Aragorn, though this is part of the mystery I do not know. For some reason they fought and he released my horse with an well-aimed arrow. The next thing I knew was that the riders had left and all was quiet. I found Aragorn wounded and did my best to get him here as quickly as I could."
"I grieve to think you may have arrived to late."
"Arwen…you care for him…you care for this mortal?"
"Legolas…" she turned to face him, tears rolling down her fair skin. "We have been friends for a long time. I trust you…you must never say a word… I do not care for Aragorn. I love him. I have also pledged myself to him and one day I will give him this," her hand flew to her throat as she spoke, her hand resting on the Evenstar necklace she had worn since her childhood, the representation of what she was, the Evenstar of her people.
"But you cannot! You would give up your immortality!"
"I will give up my immortality because I would rather live one lifetime with him than a thousand knowing I had lost him forever. Forgive me," with these last words, she turned and fled into her gardens, a place she had held dear all of her life. Legolas watched her go. Things were clearer now as to Strider's true identity, but now Legolas was left to ponder why this man would take from the elves what was one of their most treasured possessions.
Legolas was eager to set out when light began to creep into the forest. Strider had survived the night and Legolas was beginning to hope he would survive to Rivendell. He gently placed the Ranger on Evaria's back, noting that Strider was burning up. The fever had set in. Mounting Altueir, Legolas once again took up Evaria's lead rope and they set off. He rode as fast as he felt was safe for Strider. Hours passed and soon it was late day, but Legolas was unconcerned, Rivendell was near. He was practically with its borders if what he thought of the trees was correct. By now he might have passed into the enchanted woods guarded by the elves.
"Halt intruder!" A light but serious voice called in elvish. Legolas, understanding ht ways of the elves, knew that he was probably surrounded, with many arrows pointed straight at him. He halted both horses and lifted his hand in a peaceful gesture.
"I come peacefully! My name is Legolas, son of Thranduil. I come from Mirkwood and I bear a wounded Ranger called Strider. I believe he was on his way here with a…" Legolas never finished his speech, for almost a dozen elves seem to melt out from the woods, a few of them still looking warily at him, all with bows drawn and arrows notched. However, there was one elf that paid Legolas little heed, but rushed to Evaria and her still and fallen rider.
"Estel! Estel!" Legolas was surprised to hear the feminine voice – a she-elf – and not just any she-elf, but Arwen, daughter of Lord Elrond. Arwen had been one of Legolas' childhood friends and he would have known her voice anywhere. When she reached Evaria, she threw back her hood, revealing a perfect porcelain complexion, large blue eyes, and long dark hair. Legolas was shocked to see how beautiful she had become. It had been many long years since he had last seen her, before she had left Imladris for Lorien to stay with Galadriel. Legolas felt at a loss again. Estel? She cried for hope? And of what concern was Strider to her? He turned back to the other elves and spotted another friendly face, Glorfindel.
"Legolas! Are you all right? What brings you here? 'Tis all right, he is a friend," the older and taller blond elf told the rest of his companions.
"It is a very long story, but that Ranger must see Elrond very soon, for he fought and has been wounded by the Nazgul."
"Nazgul?" It was a soft hiss and echo that ran through the company of elves. This was ill news. They turned their attention to Strider. Arwen seemed to be fighting back tears.
"Come! He must get to my father quickly, for he is on the verge of passing over!" her voice was urgent and she mounted Evaria behind where Aragorn was laid. With the help of Glorfindel and another elf, they sat him upright, leaning over Evaria's head. Legolas watched in wonder as Evaria seemed to be calmed by Arwen's presence, as if Arwen had ridden her before. He was still watching even as Arwen wrapped Strider tightly in her arms, grasping the reigns in one hand. "Noro lim! Noro lim Evaria!" Evaria jerked under them and broke into a gallop, towards the gates of Rivendell. Legolas reigned in Altueir, watching her go. She cares for him…she cares for this mortal? But how would she know him? No, you are wrong Legolas. Legolas shook his head as if to send the thought away. There was no hint of jealously, for there never could have been anything between himself and Arwen, but he was definitely more confused, as an elf should never have been.
"Go on Legolas, we will catch up with you," Glorfindel urged. Legolas turned to look at him, nodding. Giving Altueir a soft nudge, he set out after Arwen, who had reached the gates and was calling for her father. Legolas arrived just in time to help carry Strider up into Lord Elrond's personal chambers, Arwen right behind him, her face pained and worried. Lord Elrond appeared immediately, a tall, dark haired elf of an age no one dared speak, for he had fought during the war of the ring and he had young then. Legolas watched carefully to gauge Elrond's reaction to finding Strider lying bloody on his bed.
The reaction was unexpected, though Legolas had no previous thought as to what to expect. Elrond's face grew ashen at the sight of Strider.
"No…of all the curses, no. Please let this not be so. Estel? My son, what has happened?" Elrond was at the young man's side in seconds, taking in the wounds with his eyes. "What happened?" He turned to find an answer and Legolas had never seen the great elf so confused.
"He fought the nine riders, Lord Elrond. He told me he thought he had been poisoned…" Legolas offered quietly.
"The Nazgul…it was not his time. Go, leave us. I will do what I can for him." Elrond motioned to all in the room and several of the other elves began to leave, but Arwen stayed stubbornly rooted on the other side of the bed. "Arwen, my daughter, you must leave."
"Let me stay and help father. He will respond to me."
"Arwen, there is nothing you can do. Legolas, please…" he motioned to Arwen with these words and Legolas regretted that he would have to force Arwen to leave. She glared at him in challenge, but put up no physical fight when he placed his had firmly on her shoulder and led her from the room.
"Walk with me Arwen, I have many questions."
"My father will also have many questions for you too. It is good to see you my friend, but I wish it were for other reasons," Arwen's voice was heavy with an effort to control her feelings.
"Come, do not be sad. Tell me who this Strider is. He would not tell me his real name, yet I arrive here and you call him Estel, hope, and Elrond calls him son, as he called Elrond father in the woods. I am at a loss…"
"Surely you remember Legolas…"
"I do not."
"Estel…Estel is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You must remember that my father raised him here after Arathorn was killed. He is the Heir of Isildur and had to be protected. He grew up here as a foster elf. Now he is a Ranger of the North, taking over the responsibilities his father once had. He leads the Rangers and goes mostly by Strider, what the townspeople call him."
"Ahh! Estel! The hope of men! Now I understand many of the riddles…why he speaks elvish, carries such elvish gear…I should have realized. I met him when he was only a small child! But what I don't understand is why you weep so. I know you were in Lorien when he was here as a child."
"Estel…is very dear to me," Arwen said quietly, turning from Legolas. "What happened?" Legolas watched as she walked a few steps from him, her back to him. Why would she not speak?
"It is quite a long story, one I will be telling many a time. For the time being, we will leave it at the fact that I was captured by the nine, for what purpose I shudder to think about. During their act of fleeing they must have stumbled across Stri…Aragorn, though this is part of the mystery I do not know. For some reason they fought and he released my horse with an well-aimed arrow. The next thing I knew was that the riders had left and all was quiet. I found Aragorn wounded and did my best to get him here as quickly as I could."
"I grieve to think you may have arrived to late."
"Arwen…you care for him…you care for this mortal?"
"Legolas…" she turned to face him, tears rolling down her fair skin. "We have been friends for a long time. I trust you…you must never say a word… I do not care for Aragorn. I love him. I have also pledged myself to him and one day I will give him this," her hand flew to her throat as she spoke, her hand resting on the Evenstar necklace she had worn since her childhood, the representation of what she was, the Evenstar of her people.
"But you cannot! You would give up your immortality!"
"I will give up my immortality because I would rather live one lifetime with him than a thousand knowing I had lost him forever. Forgive me," with these last words, she turned and fled into her gardens, a place she had held dear all of her life. Legolas watched her go. Things were clearer now as to Strider's true identity, but now Legolas was left to ponder why this man would take from the elves what was one of their most treasured possessions.