Disclaimer: I really don't own very much, but I own something! Thanx if you
reviewed! Every little bit helps! Hope you still like it. Well, you
probably wouldn't still be reading it if you didn't like it... Oh, and a
special thanx to my buddy Jessica Reuscher! She posted my last two chapters
cause of my computer problem! Thanx Jess!
Oh, and I just read this review that someone sent me and I totally spaced
on something... Isengard was destroyed! DUH! How the fruitcake did I forget
that?! I can't believe myself! Please don't think I haven't read the books
because I really have, all three. No, I haven't read the Simarillion
because I haven't heard one good thing about it and everyone says it's too
boring... But I'm planning on it! Please forgive my dumbassness! That was a
total blonde moment! Don't know how that happens though, as I am a
brunette... It's the little things in life that make ya say, "hmm..."...
Rusty
ps- I've just been sneezed on by my mum! Gross! I'm all wet and stuff! I wouldn't have minded if it were like... Orlando Bloom or Karl Urban(Not when he's playing Eomer) or Travis Fimmel, but my mum! Ick! Sorry, I just felt like ranting... It makes me feel better and get in a better mood to write, and being as none of my friends bother to call me, I have no one to rant to but my dear readers!
Chapter Five: Arguments
Aliana stood in silence for a while, just watching the dragonflies dancing across the water. Occasionally, a large wave would come and sweep them all up. She smiled at this, knowing just how they felt. Sometimes you can be happy, sailing on the calm waves of life. But then, out of nowhere, a giant wave can come and tear your world apart. It's the way it always has been, and it's the way it always will be.
A hand rested gently on her shoulder and she spun around, ready to run her blade through anyone who disturbed her. Her knife met with Legolas's neck and slid across it smoothly and quickly. She glared at him and sheathed her weapon.
The two stood there, staring into one another's eyes for what seemed like forever. Then, at last, Legolas's eyes darted away and he looked up at the sky. "How did you scratch your face?"
Aliana rolled her eyes. "It doesn't matter."
Legolas persisted. "Yes, it does."
Aliana clenched her fists. "Why?" She wanted to punch the living daylights out of that elf, but something held her back. Something deep inside her kept her from making a move.
"Because I would like to know. And if you don't tell me, I shall find out anyways, so you might as well save yourself the trouble of making up excuses later."
"If you don't stop bothering me, I swear on my mother's grave, I will cut you from navel to nose!" Aliana stormed off deeper into the forest. "Fuckin' elves!"
Legolas smirked. He almost enjoyed annoying her, just to see her get angry. There was something about her eyes when she was mad. It reminded him of a raging sea with hues of green and blue and sometimes a wave of silver.
He walked back to camp carrying a bucket full of water. Rina and Ben were already back and unpacking their things for the night. Ivellios sat some ways off, deep in thought. He looked up when he saw Legolas return. "Where's Aliana?"
"Don't worry," Legolas said. "She'll be back. She just needed a little time to cool off."
"Wonder why that is," Rina whispered silently to Ben. He took her meaning and grinned.
"Why do you think she hides it?" he whispered. "We both know how much she's always loved Legolas. And now that she's met him, she acts like he's her worst enemy."
"I don't know, but I'll never understand that girl," Rina said dubiously.
Aliana returned an hour later, looking a little more relaxed. While everyone else sat around the fire telling stories or sharing jokes, she sat alone against a tree, shrouded in darkness. She tried to figure out how she was going to get out of this mess. And if she even wanted to.
She was so content with just staying in Middle Earth with Rina and Ben that she wondered if she even wanted to see her father and the rest of her friends and family again. But then again, it was her life and a part of her missed it dearly.
He thoughts were interrupted however, when Legolas sat down next to her, interrupting the inner conversation she was having with herself. "Are ly marra?"
She clenched her teeth and glared at him, like she had so many times in the few short weeks she'd known him. "Why do you insist on bothering me so?! I'm fine!"
The elf smirked. "Are you angry at me for caring for you, or because you do not wish to admit that you don't mind my company as much as you really think you do?"
By now, Aliana was enraged. "You assume too much! I would rather face the Belrog of Morgoth then you!"
"You do know, me heri," began Legolas hotly, "that the foul creature you speak of was slain by Mithrandir during the second War of the Ring?"
"Yes, I know that! I also know that if you bother me a second longer, I will slice my sword through your throat and laugh at your demise!"
Rina, who had been listening to theirs conversation, chuckled openly. "You wouldn't dream of it, Aliana Majere."
The tall elf women frowned at her best friend. "Even if what you say is true, I wouldn't hesitate to do the same to you!"
Again, Rina laughed, knowing full well that she might not actually be exaggerating about this. Ben started to cough, trying to hide the amusement he found in this. Legolas smiled at them and looked into Aliana's eyes. "What is it that makes you detest me so?"
"Only the fact that you are still alive and breathing," she said rudely.
Legolas raised an eyebrow and stared into those sea-colored eyes that he found so intriguing. "I do not believe that is the reason," he remarked. His next statement was said with a slightly harsher tone. "I think you just hate the fact that someone might actually care for you enough to express their worry and fear for you."
Ben didn't appear too appreciative of this statement. "Are you saying that we, as her friends, don't care for her enough to bug the heck out of her every time she seems upset?!"
"Ben," Rina warned. "Stay out of this."
"No! I'm not going to stay out of this! Just because we don't hover over her 24/7 doesn't mean that we don't worry about her! We realize that she wants to be left alone and support her wishes!"
Legolas sighed and turned around to face him. "I did not say that you were a bad friend. I simply stated that Aliana does not like the fact that I actually care for her and worry about her."
Aliana crossed her arms defiantly. "I agree with Ben. Being as he never bothers me when I want to be left alone, you seem to be saying he's a bad friend."
"Me heri, I am in no way indicating that Ben is a bad friend. Why don't we just drop this conversation before it gets any worse."
"Fine with me!" Ben and Aliana said in unison.
Ivellios smirked secretly to himself. If this kept up, he wouldn't even need to left a finger. Aliana and Legolas were fighting enough without his help. And to make matters better, Rina and Ben were joining in as well. He couldn't have planned it better if he'd tried.
Ivellios stretched out on his blanket and yawned. The awkward silence made it very easy for him to relax, unlike the nights to follow when there would be laughter and stories or yelling and fighting. With his eyes resting on Aliana's slender form, the tall elf began to think of ways he could get rid of her.
Rina drew her blade and began sharpening it on a nearby stone, making sure to keep a close eye on Aliana so she didn't wander off. Ben laid down on the ground, grumpy and defeated. Legolas resumed his seat by the fire, somewhat saddened over Aliana's remark.
Aliana sat, hood drawn up over her head, and glared reproachfully at both elves that now lay gazing up at the stars. She had never known anyone to be as insufferable as Legolas and didn't think she ever would. Unless perhaps you counted Levi, her archenemy, not to mention all of her friend's as well, back home. Now he was definitely more unbearable.
Soon, the five travelers fell asleep listening to the soft chirp of crickets and the loud hoots of a nearby screech owl. Four of them slept fitfully, dreaming of unwanted horrors and horrible experiences, but one elf dreamed happily of Aliana's downfall.
The next morning everyone woke up in a far better mood than the previous night. Legolas talked about his plans to take the River Celduin south until they reached the Mountains of Mirkwood that would take them west through Mirkwood forest. When they reached the Old Ford, they would travel south again, along the Anduin, to Lothlorien. Ivellios gave his input and suggested that they go around Mirkwood forest and not go to Lorien at all, but Legolas insisted that they visit the Golden Wood.
After a quick breakfast, they were on their horses and on their way along the riverbank. Legolas rode first, followed by Rina and Aliana, Ben, and last by Ivellios. Rina talked to Legolas about his experiences throughout the War of the Ring and, although she pretended not to be, Aliana was listening intently to their conversation. Ben rode up alongside Rina to listen to Legolas and Aliana fell back alongside Ivellios.
Neither of them spoke a word the whole day as they rode beside the sparkling river until at last, they reached a steep cliff that looked down upon Mirkwood forest. The terrain roughened into large rocks and boulders. Ivellios spoke loudly for all to hear, "Emyn-nu-Fuin, the Mountains of Mirkwood."
Legolas smiled, stopping to gaze down at the luscious green treetops. "It has been a long time since I have ridden over these mountains. It is a beautiful journey over them looking down into the dense forests."
Aliana rolled her eyes. "The sooner we get to Isengard, the better."
"Come on, Aliana!" Rina exclaimed. "Where's your sense of adventure?! This is gonna be fun! I hope we run into some goblins!"
Ben agreed with her. "Or maybe an orc!"
Legolas looked at both of them with questioning expressions. "I'd rather we didn't," the elf stated, before continuing along the rocky path.
Everyone else followed him up the path, which seemed to grow steeper with every foot they climbed. Aliana had long since given up hope of anyone siding with her in any argument, so she thought it best to keep her mouth shut. Ivellios was quite content in watching the other four argue. It seemed to brighten his spirits.
The five travelers rode on all afternoon and late into the evening without stopping once. Around midday, they were at the highpoint in the mountains. The ground was at least 10,000 feet above the ground, possibly more; Aliana could not tell. Below them, most everything that could be seen was the dark green pf the treetops and far off in the distance, the Forest River could be seen glistening in the setting sun before it disappeared into dense trees.
Legolas pulled on the reins to stop his horse. "We should stop for the night. There is a cave right over there." He got off his white horse and began to tie it onto a nearby rock.
Rina jumped off her brown horse and strode over to him. "But I'm not in the least bit tired! I could go on for hours!"
Legolas turned around to face her. "Orcs roam these mountains by night. It would be wise to be safely hidden from them until they return to their mountain caves in the morning."
"Would it not be possible that we are staying in the very same cave that a group of orcs chose to rest in?!"
"Normally, it would be very possible and I would thank you for your input, but I know these mountains better than you, and I know that no orc will rest in this cave."
Rina gave him a disbelieving look. "How do you know this?"
"It is too high in the mountains and lets in too much sunlight for their liking. Orcs, as I'm sure you are well aware, do not like the sunlight. Or any sort of light for that matter. They hunt in the night and sleep during the day."
"I am well aware of this!" Rina snapped. "I was just considering the fact that they might be Uruk-Hai, who, as I'm sure you are well aware of, can travel by daylight!"
Ivellios immediately stopped tying up his horse and stopped to look at Rina. "My dear girl, what rock have you been living under?"
"I beg your pardon?!"
Legolas looked at her as if he were explaining something to a small child. "The Uruk-Hai, along with all the other evil things Saruman created, were destroyed along with the Ring of Power."
Rina's pallor suddenly changed form a bright red of anger to a pale white of fear and defeat. "I... I... Don't you think it might be possible for someone to...recreate the Uruk-Hai? I mean, follow in the footsteps of Saruman?"
Legolas laughed. "I highly doubt it. There is no one near as powerful as Saruman ever was, save maybe Mithrandir. And I do not think he would do something so terrible. After all, he was one of the Fellowship members who set out to destroy the Ring and all the evil things related to it."
Rina did not appear ready to admit defeat, although it showed bluntly in her face. "But no one thought that Saruman would do something so terrible and yet, he did! Why is it not possible that Gandalf do the same thing?!"
The elf she was addressing looked enraged at this statement. "Are you insinuating that someone as great and powerful as Gandalf the White would turn to the dark side and do something as horrible as Saruman?!"
The three friends snickered at the mention of 'the dark side' for it was very amusing that he should use such words together at a time like this. Legolas, of course, had no idea that those particular words were used in a movie that they had seen called Star Wars. In this movie, the term 'the dark side' refers to the evil in the galaxy that is plaguing the land.
Legolas looked at them with a bewildered glare. Rina caught her breath for a moment to comment. "I was not insinuating anything, Legolas. I was simply stating that we all thought Saruman could be trusted when, in truth, he couldn't. So why is it so unbelievable that anyone else you know and trust could turn out like Saruman?"
Legolas nodded. "I am sorry, Rina. You are right. It could happen to anyone, I just find it hard to imagine such a thing happening to Mithrandir. He has done so much good in this world and I wonder how anyone could think him capable of doing such terrible things equal, if not greater, to Sauron himself."
"I did not mean to say that Gandalf would ever do such a thing. I was just using him as an example. But I would be careful who to put your trust in. Those we love may not truly love us back. They may betray you."
After this statement of wisdom, Rina threw Ivellios a glare of utmost hate and turned on her heel and strode from the party and into the cave where they would be spending a long, cold night. The others followed suite and soon, everyone was sitting around the campfire in much the same way as they had the night before-Ivellios beside Ben, Legolas with either of Aliana's companions at his sides, and Aliana off in the darkness.
Rusty
ps- I've just been sneezed on by my mum! Gross! I'm all wet and stuff! I wouldn't have minded if it were like... Orlando Bloom or Karl Urban(Not when he's playing Eomer) or Travis Fimmel, but my mum! Ick! Sorry, I just felt like ranting... It makes me feel better and get in a better mood to write, and being as none of my friends bother to call me, I have no one to rant to but my dear readers!
Chapter Five: Arguments
Aliana stood in silence for a while, just watching the dragonflies dancing across the water. Occasionally, a large wave would come and sweep them all up. She smiled at this, knowing just how they felt. Sometimes you can be happy, sailing on the calm waves of life. But then, out of nowhere, a giant wave can come and tear your world apart. It's the way it always has been, and it's the way it always will be.
A hand rested gently on her shoulder and she spun around, ready to run her blade through anyone who disturbed her. Her knife met with Legolas's neck and slid across it smoothly and quickly. She glared at him and sheathed her weapon.
The two stood there, staring into one another's eyes for what seemed like forever. Then, at last, Legolas's eyes darted away and he looked up at the sky. "How did you scratch your face?"
Aliana rolled her eyes. "It doesn't matter."
Legolas persisted. "Yes, it does."
Aliana clenched her fists. "Why?" She wanted to punch the living daylights out of that elf, but something held her back. Something deep inside her kept her from making a move.
"Because I would like to know. And if you don't tell me, I shall find out anyways, so you might as well save yourself the trouble of making up excuses later."
"If you don't stop bothering me, I swear on my mother's grave, I will cut you from navel to nose!" Aliana stormed off deeper into the forest. "Fuckin' elves!"
Legolas smirked. He almost enjoyed annoying her, just to see her get angry. There was something about her eyes when she was mad. It reminded him of a raging sea with hues of green and blue and sometimes a wave of silver.
He walked back to camp carrying a bucket full of water. Rina and Ben were already back and unpacking their things for the night. Ivellios sat some ways off, deep in thought. He looked up when he saw Legolas return. "Where's Aliana?"
"Don't worry," Legolas said. "She'll be back. She just needed a little time to cool off."
"Wonder why that is," Rina whispered silently to Ben. He took her meaning and grinned.
"Why do you think she hides it?" he whispered. "We both know how much she's always loved Legolas. And now that she's met him, she acts like he's her worst enemy."
"I don't know, but I'll never understand that girl," Rina said dubiously.
Aliana returned an hour later, looking a little more relaxed. While everyone else sat around the fire telling stories or sharing jokes, she sat alone against a tree, shrouded in darkness. She tried to figure out how she was going to get out of this mess. And if she even wanted to.
She was so content with just staying in Middle Earth with Rina and Ben that she wondered if she even wanted to see her father and the rest of her friends and family again. But then again, it was her life and a part of her missed it dearly.
He thoughts were interrupted however, when Legolas sat down next to her, interrupting the inner conversation she was having with herself. "Are ly marra?"
She clenched her teeth and glared at him, like she had so many times in the few short weeks she'd known him. "Why do you insist on bothering me so?! I'm fine!"
The elf smirked. "Are you angry at me for caring for you, or because you do not wish to admit that you don't mind my company as much as you really think you do?"
By now, Aliana was enraged. "You assume too much! I would rather face the Belrog of Morgoth then you!"
"You do know, me heri," began Legolas hotly, "that the foul creature you speak of was slain by Mithrandir during the second War of the Ring?"
"Yes, I know that! I also know that if you bother me a second longer, I will slice my sword through your throat and laugh at your demise!"
Rina, who had been listening to theirs conversation, chuckled openly. "You wouldn't dream of it, Aliana Majere."
The tall elf women frowned at her best friend. "Even if what you say is true, I wouldn't hesitate to do the same to you!"
Again, Rina laughed, knowing full well that she might not actually be exaggerating about this. Ben started to cough, trying to hide the amusement he found in this. Legolas smiled at them and looked into Aliana's eyes. "What is it that makes you detest me so?"
"Only the fact that you are still alive and breathing," she said rudely.
Legolas raised an eyebrow and stared into those sea-colored eyes that he found so intriguing. "I do not believe that is the reason," he remarked. His next statement was said with a slightly harsher tone. "I think you just hate the fact that someone might actually care for you enough to express their worry and fear for you."
Ben didn't appear too appreciative of this statement. "Are you saying that we, as her friends, don't care for her enough to bug the heck out of her every time she seems upset?!"
"Ben," Rina warned. "Stay out of this."
"No! I'm not going to stay out of this! Just because we don't hover over her 24/7 doesn't mean that we don't worry about her! We realize that she wants to be left alone and support her wishes!"
Legolas sighed and turned around to face him. "I did not say that you were a bad friend. I simply stated that Aliana does not like the fact that I actually care for her and worry about her."
Aliana crossed her arms defiantly. "I agree with Ben. Being as he never bothers me when I want to be left alone, you seem to be saying he's a bad friend."
"Me heri, I am in no way indicating that Ben is a bad friend. Why don't we just drop this conversation before it gets any worse."
"Fine with me!" Ben and Aliana said in unison.
Ivellios smirked secretly to himself. If this kept up, he wouldn't even need to left a finger. Aliana and Legolas were fighting enough without his help. And to make matters better, Rina and Ben were joining in as well. He couldn't have planned it better if he'd tried.
Ivellios stretched out on his blanket and yawned. The awkward silence made it very easy for him to relax, unlike the nights to follow when there would be laughter and stories or yelling and fighting. With his eyes resting on Aliana's slender form, the tall elf began to think of ways he could get rid of her.
Rina drew her blade and began sharpening it on a nearby stone, making sure to keep a close eye on Aliana so she didn't wander off. Ben laid down on the ground, grumpy and defeated. Legolas resumed his seat by the fire, somewhat saddened over Aliana's remark.
Aliana sat, hood drawn up over her head, and glared reproachfully at both elves that now lay gazing up at the stars. She had never known anyone to be as insufferable as Legolas and didn't think she ever would. Unless perhaps you counted Levi, her archenemy, not to mention all of her friend's as well, back home. Now he was definitely more unbearable.
Soon, the five travelers fell asleep listening to the soft chirp of crickets and the loud hoots of a nearby screech owl. Four of them slept fitfully, dreaming of unwanted horrors and horrible experiences, but one elf dreamed happily of Aliana's downfall.
The next morning everyone woke up in a far better mood than the previous night. Legolas talked about his plans to take the River Celduin south until they reached the Mountains of Mirkwood that would take them west through Mirkwood forest. When they reached the Old Ford, they would travel south again, along the Anduin, to Lothlorien. Ivellios gave his input and suggested that they go around Mirkwood forest and not go to Lorien at all, but Legolas insisted that they visit the Golden Wood.
After a quick breakfast, they were on their horses and on their way along the riverbank. Legolas rode first, followed by Rina and Aliana, Ben, and last by Ivellios. Rina talked to Legolas about his experiences throughout the War of the Ring and, although she pretended not to be, Aliana was listening intently to their conversation. Ben rode up alongside Rina to listen to Legolas and Aliana fell back alongside Ivellios.
Neither of them spoke a word the whole day as they rode beside the sparkling river until at last, they reached a steep cliff that looked down upon Mirkwood forest. The terrain roughened into large rocks and boulders. Ivellios spoke loudly for all to hear, "Emyn-nu-Fuin, the Mountains of Mirkwood."
Legolas smiled, stopping to gaze down at the luscious green treetops. "It has been a long time since I have ridden over these mountains. It is a beautiful journey over them looking down into the dense forests."
Aliana rolled her eyes. "The sooner we get to Isengard, the better."
"Come on, Aliana!" Rina exclaimed. "Where's your sense of adventure?! This is gonna be fun! I hope we run into some goblins!"
Ben agreed with her. "Or maybe an orc!"
Legolas looked at both of them with questioning expressions. "I'd rather we didn't," the elf stated, before continuing along the rocky path.
Everyone else followed him up the path, which seemed to grow steeper with every foot they climbed. Aliana had long since given up hope of anyone siding with her in any argument, so she thought it best to keep her mouth shut. Ivellios was quite content in watching the other four argue. It seemed to brighten his spirits.
The five travelers rode on all afternoon and late into the evening without stopping once. Around midday, they were at the highpoint in the mountains. The ground was at least 10,000 feet above the ground, possibly more; Aliana could not tell. Below them, most everything that could be seen was the dark green pf the treetops and far off in the distance, the Forest River could be seen glistening in the setting sun before it disappeared into dense trees.
Legolas pulled on the reins to stop his horse. "We should stop for the night. There is a cave right over there." He got off his white horse and began to tie it onto a nearby rock.
Rina jumped off her brown horse and strode over to him. "But I'm not in the least bit tired! I could go on for hours!"
Legolas turned around to face her. "Orcs roam these mountains by night. It would be wise to be safely hidden from them until they return to their mountain caves in the morning."
"Would it not be possible that we are staying in the very same cave that a group of orcs chose to rest in?!"
"Normally, it would be very possible and I would thank you for your input, but I know these mountains better than you, and I know that no orc will rest in this cave."
Rina gave him a disbelieving look. "How do you know this?"
"It is too high in the mountains and lets in too much sunlight for their liking. Orcs, as I'm sure you are well aware, do not like the sunlight. Or any sort of light for that matter. They hunt in the night and sleep during the day."
"I am well aware of this!" Rina snapped. "I was just considering the fact that they might be Uruk-Hai, who, as I'm sure you are well aware of, can travel by daylight!"
Ivellios immediately stopped tying up his horse and stopped to look at Rina. "My dear girl, what rock have you been living under?"
"I beg your pardon?!"
Legolas looked at her as if he were explaining something to a small child. "The Uruk-Hai, along with all the other evil things Saruman created, were destroyed along with the Ring of Power."
Rina's pallor suddenly changed form a bright red of anger to a pale white of fear and defeat. "I... I... Don't you think it might be possible for someone to...recreate the Uruk-Hai? I mean, follow in the footsteps of Saruman?"
Legolas laughed. "I highly doubt it. There is no one near as powerful as Saruman ever was, save maybe Mithrandir. And I do not think he would do something so terrible. After all, he was one of the Fellowship members who set out to destroy the Ring and all the evil things related to it."
Rina did not appear ready to admit defeat, although it showed bluntly in her face. "But no one thought that Saruman would do something so terrible and yet, he did! Why is it not possible that Gandalf do the same thing?!"
The elf she was addressing looked enraged at this statement. "Are you insinuating that someone as great and powerful as Gandalf the White would turn to the dark side and do something as horrible as Saruman?!"
The three friends snickered at the mention of 'the dark side' for it was very amusing that he should use such words together at a time like this. Legolas, of course, had no idea that those particular words were used in a movie that they had seen called Star Wars. In this movie, the term 'the dark side' refers to the evil in the galaxy that is plaguing the land.
Legolas looked at them with a bewildered glare. Rina caught her breath for a moment to comment. "I was not insinuating anything, Legolas. I was simply stating that we all thought Saruman could be trusted when, in truth, he couldn't. So why is it so unbelievable that anyone else you know and trust could turn out like Saruman?"
Legolas nodded. "I am sorry, Rina. You are right. It could happen to anyone, I just find it hard to imagine such a thing happening to Mithrandir. He has done so much good in this world and I wonder how anyone could think him capable of doing such terrible things equal, if not greater, to Sauron himself."
"I did not mean to say that Gandalf would ever do such a thing. I was just using him as an example. But I would be careful who to put your trust in. Those we love may not truly love us back. They may betray you."
After this statement of wisdom, Rina threw Ivellios a glare of utmost hate and turned on her heel and strode from the party and into the cave where they would be spending a long, cold night. The others followed suite and soon, everyone was sitting around the campfire in much the same way as they had the night before-Ivellios beside Ben, Legolas with either of Aliana's companions at his sides, and Aliana off in the darkness.