The Forest
"If we cannot go forward, then let us try going back." Aragorn suggested as the day wore on to evening.
Legolas got to his feet in agreement. "It cannot be worse than just sitting here."
The two retraced their steps. Although it should have taken no more than minutes, it was almost nightfall when they finally reached the tree line. Legolas gasped in astonishment putting out a hand to still Aragorn's forward momentum. The two looked up in awe. Gone was the friendly wood of Rivendell, in its place loomed a malevolent forest of gnarled trees covered with decaying moss. Hideous twisted shrubbery seemed to peer at them with leafy eyes.
"This cannot be real." Aragorn whispered in disbelief.
"We should not enter." Legolas said quietly.
Slowly they backed away, but the decision was taken away from them when the unmistakeable sound of an arrow whined past their ears. Instinctively Aragorn ducked and Legolas reached for his bow that he did not have. Aragorn pulled him down as a hail of arrows smacked into the ground at their feet.
"We must find cover!" he shouted.
An arrow thudded into the ground at his feet as if to further strengthen his words.
"I see no enemy." Legolas said, "I feel no presence."
But another arrow suddenly nicked his arm as it buried into the base of a tree behind him. He gasped in disbelief as his blood ran from the wound. He made no protest when Aragorn grabbed him and dragged him into the relative safety of the forest. They ran, plunging deep into the depths of the forest as their invisible attackers gave pursuit.
"Look a cave, let us hide in there." Legolas cried as they sought a way to evade the arrows that came steadily closer.
They changed course and hustled into the narrow opening. Legolas took out the jewelled dagger from his belt prepared for attack. It was the only weapon he carried. Similarly Aragorn reached for his short knife that was strapped to his ankle. Together the friends waited but though they heard many heavy bodies crashing past their hiding place, none stopped. Soon there was quiet in the forest.
Legolas stepped out scanning the forest for any sign of the things that had chased them.
"They seem to be gone Aragorn."
"If they were ever here at all." He answered joining his companion.
They stared at each other for a moment. Legolas' face was a mixture of consternation and tiredness, Aragorn knew his felt the same way.
Clapping a hand on the elf's shoulder he said, "Let us find a place to rest, I grow weary."
They moved warily forward. The trees seemed to lean in on them, their great heavy branches forming a shadowy canopy above.
At last Legolas said, "I can go no further." He cast himself upon the ground a great tiredness claiming his limbs.
Aragorn sat slowly at his side, "I will keep watch."
"There is no need mellon nin, they wanted us in the forest we are here." Legolas mumbled sleepily.
Aragorn frowned as he realised the truth of the elf's words, nevertheless he was not tired. While Legolas slept Aragorn kept watch.
Nothing that is what the test showed, absolutely nothing. Elrond sat back in frustration. Ever his shadow Elrohir looked at him expectantly.
"There is nothing untoward in their blood, at least nothing I have detected." Elrond said.
Elrohir lowered hopeful eyes from his father's face to stare at his lap. He chewed on his lower lip. Elrond stood and looked out of the window onto the sprawling lands of Rivendell.
A rapid knock at the open door announced the arrival of Elladan. "Father come quick Legolas is awake!"
Legolas' eyes were open staring unseeingly at them all. Elrond called him by name and he blinked but apart from that seemed unable to communicate. The elf lord used all his power to reach into the young elf's mind but to no avail. It was as though he was not even there.
Legolas woke with a gasp. "Aragorn," he called "I saw Lord Elrond; he was calling me, pleading with me to wake up."
Aragorn shook his head; he was standing a short distance away leaning against a tree trunk his back to the elf.
"Nay my friend you were dreaming. I heard you calling out in your sleep."
Legolas opened his mouth to argue then realized Aragorn was right. He also noticed that it was daylight once again. He had slept the entire night away!
Aragorn suddenly turned and smiled at him, "Ready for another day of travel?"
With a grimace Legolas got to his feet, he tilted his head back stretching out the kinks in his neck and back. "Let us be rid of this place." He agreed.
They had not gone very far when they heard the unmistakeable music of running water. Eagerly they rushed forward. A great river roared past, its silver waters eddying furiously in the current.
"It looks like the Anduin!" Aragorn shouted.
"Yes, but what is it doing here!" Legolas shouted back.
Aragorn shrugged, unwilling or unable to hazard a guess.
"Let us follow its path it must lead somewhere!" Legolas suggested, yelling to be heard above the loud waters.
Aragorn nodded and the two began trudging along the river bank going north. Strange red gold flowers grew along the banks. Legolas slowed briefly to touch them. He had never seen their like before. Aragorn on the other hand did not seem to notice he kept up a tireless pace.
They had walked for maybe two hours when Legolas started to slow his pace; his mind had been quietly working at something that had been bothering him unconsciously for a long time. Aragorn was still striding ahead, he did not seem tired, he did not hunger and he had not slept. Legolas stopped and as he did he saw Aragorn do the same. The ranger turned to him a smile on his lips.
"Aragorn?" Legolas said with a questioning in his eyes.
"What is it mellon nin?" Aragorn answered in a low voice, he started walking towards him slowly.
Legolas took a step back without meaning to. "You are not Aragorn." He accused.
"I am." Aragorn said puzzled.
Legolas stepped back again raising his dagger. That made Aragorn stop; the smile left his face. "What is this elf, you raise your weapon against me?"
"Stay back, I do not know who you are but you are not my friend." Legolas warned, his eyes narrowing to slits.
"Legolas don't be foolish," Aragorn began once again moving toward his friend.
Legolas stepped back, into a patch of red gold flowers.
"Stop!" Aragorn shouted seeing that Legolas was backing toward the river. But Legolas seeing in his friend's approach certain danger leapt back… straight in the raging river.
The icy torrent beat against his body like the chill hands of certain death. After the initial shock of the plunge he fought his way to the surface. He saw Aragorn running along the bank, keeping pace with him. Aragorn was shouting, but the roar of the water carried away his words before it could reach him. Something hard slammed into his shoulder and under he went; again he kicked for the surface.
He spluttered, water streaming from his mouth. The cold was beginning to make his body numb. With tiring legs he kicked keeping his head above water; he had lost sight of Aragorn having been turned around many times. Something caught at his legs dragging him a good distance along before he fought his way to the surface again. He took a gulp of air unable to see for his hair had streamed over his face.
"Legolas raise your arms, lift your arms!"
The shout took him by surprise; nevertheless he managed to get one arm above his head using the other to help him stay afloat. Two rough hands grabbed his and he stopped. Water buffeted him as it rushed past.
"Your other hand mellon nin!" Aragorn screamed.
Weakly Legolas raised his other hand and it was caught in a firm grasp. Legolas shook his head and a few strands of hair flopped off his face leaving his eyes free to see that his friend was hanging upside down on a fallen tree that hung over the river. Aragorn held on with his legs only. He suddenly grinned at Legolas despite their precarious position.
"You have to climb I cannot pull you up, I have not the leverage!" he shouted above the water's roar.
Breathing hard Legolas shook his head. He could not climb he had not the strength. Aragorn closed his eyes for a moment, then with a mighty effort he swung himself back then on his forward swing heaved Legolas toward the shore. Legolas hit the bank with a bone jarring thud, he scrabbled at the grasses and stunted shrubs for purchase. His fingers caught on a tangle of brush and he hung on grimly.
Righting himself quickly Aragorn ran to bank and hooking his hand in the elf's clothes pulled him up on shore. They lay there simply gasping for breath for a long time. They were both wet, muddy and cold. Legolas felt insane laughter bubble into his throat and he gave vent to it. He laughed until water ran from his eyes. Aragorn sat up looking bemusedly at his friend a crooked grin on his face.
Finally he sat up wiped his eyes and said, "Life has certainly become most interesting since I met you Aragorn."
Aragorn shook his head not for the first time in wonder at the humour of elves. He got to his feet and pulled Legolas to his feet, "come let us find somewhere to dry off before you succumb to a very un-elf like cold."
The two sat in a patch of sunshine. Their clothes they had hung from various trees hoping the sun's rays would dry them quickly. Aragorn chewed on a piece of grass while Legolas twirled a leaf in one hand.
"Tell me of that dream you had about father Legolas. Mayhap it was more than a dream, it might have some clue as to our escape from this place."
"I am beginning to think that there will be no escape from this place." Legolas said quietly.
"Do not give up hope finnelmathen," Aragorn said taking a strand of Legolas' wet hair and tucking it behind his ear, "Then we will really be trapped here forever."
Legolas let himself be comforted by Aragorn's words and sure embrace. His heart sorely grieved for the song of the trees and the light of the stars that he could not see or hear. All nature here was false, he felt as though he was trapped in suffocating darkness.
Aragorn held Legolas as the hours passed. He also felt the tug of despair pulling at him, but unlike the elf it did not affect him so deeply. He had faith that if there was a way in there had to be a way out.
Elrond was in a state of contained shock at the bruises that had blossomed on the young elf's body. Legolas' body had shaken as though hit severely several times and small cries had escaped his lips.
"This is dark magic, Elrond." Glorfindel said quietly when Elrond showed him the marks.
Elrond nodded, he had looked over Estel and found no bruises upon him. He looked into the silver grey eyes of his long time friend. "We have to find the source of this, only then can we counteract it."
Bidding the twins stay by the bedside of Estel and Legolas, Glorfindel and Elrond set out for the place they had found the two four nights before.
Aragorn saw Elladan as plain as day. His elven brother was sitting in a chair, clearly dozing. Try as he might Aragorn could not move or call out. He tried until sweat began to form on his brow. A frustrated tear wended its way down Aragorn's cheek as he felt himself falling asleep once again.
Finnelmathen………golden hair or hair of gold
mellon nin…………my friend
Someone Reading……. You are very generous I hope this one was not disappointing.
Samantha…….. Your words lighten my heart.
Mornflower……. Here it is.
Deana……. Was this fast enough? (smile)
Shanna…….. Como siempre muchisimas gracias por us palabras simpaticas.
Hanyou- demoness……. It is an or what, a very serious mind bending something! I love the fact that Mirkwood elves party and drink, they remind me of my family. LOL. I look forward to your parody and am this instant checking out your fics.
Silvertongue……your name is intriguing!! Will post as soon as I can. Thank you for the review.
Kazbels……… I have read the Hobbit and what you say is true, but if you think about it, all the stories on FF net are AU because Tolkien didn't write any of them. Thanks for your review.