To Em the Elf: Legolas makes me smile too!
To Beth: I am happy that you came back to the story.
To Miyu: Bonjour and welcome! I want you to know that I think your English is excellent.
To anon-101-6: I am pleased that you enjoyed reading about the Ilissans. I made them up ages ago before I fell in love with LOTR, and was glad that I was able to incorporate them into my story.
And to all my reviewers: A big thank you!
I want to welcome a very special person--Kris--who has agreed to be my beta. Not only is she a wonderful reviewer, but she is also a terrific writer. If it had not been for her collaboration, the first part of this chapter would not even be here. Thank you, Kris, for getting me out of a bind!
CHAPTER TEN: DARK DEPTHS
The next few days passed without incident, as the wary travelers quietly walked and climbed through the dark corridors of Moria and remained undetected by the fell creatures that inhabited its cavernous depths. Ellie suffered no more panic attacks, like she had that first night in the mines, but her fear did not disappear altogether. It hovered, just beneath the surface, like a spider. And whenever the Fellowship had to squeeze through narrow passageways or shuffle--with the men and Elf stooping--through low-ceilinged chambers, she could feel it crawling up and down her spine, and prickling her skin. "I don't like walls," she grumbled to herself each and every time the rocks closed in on her.
Her companions were sympathetic, if somewhat ill at ease. I am sure they are waiting for me to crack up again! she thought, slightly miffed. And she was right. Everyone, from Gandalf down to the smallest hobbit, made every effort to alleviate Ellie's anxiety, through humorous tales and words of encouragement.
"You know, Ellie, I once got myself stuck inside a log," Merry told her conversationally on one occasion, as they were slowly making their way through a particularly narrow stretch of tunnel. "It was on account of Farmer Maggot's dogs."
"Farmer who?" Ellie asked, trying hard to sound casual and unafraid. But Legolas, who was ever mindful of her moods and was walking only a step behind her, knew better. He moved in close and pressed his body lightly against her back, resting his hands on her waist, to offer her comfort. Ellie turned her head and gave him a grateful smile. They were now walking in unison, and she was so relieved that she barely noticed the rancid odor that still clung to his boots.
"Maggot," repeated Merry.
"Maggot was his name?" Ellie asked, forgetting her fear as her insides began to react to the sensual feel of Legolas' body brushing against hers.
"Yes, Maggot. He's a mean, miserly old hobbit--even though he owns the biggest, richest farm in the Shire. He never lets anyone come near his fields. And he keeps these huge, snarly beasts--dogs he calls them, though they look more like wargs to me--to ensure that no one tries."
"But you did, didn't you?" Ellie asked, both amused and aroused. Amused by the hobbit. Aroused by Legolas. Does he even know what he's doing to me?
"Pip and I have long made it a habit of helping ourselves to Farmer Maggot's crops," Merry informed her. "It's the principle of the thing, you see."
"What principle?" demanded Sam from somewhere up ahead.
"That we, as Shire folk, should all take care of one another, and should share in the fruits--and vegetables--of our labor," answered Merry sanctimoniously. "It's the neighborly thing to do."
"And we like being neighborly," affirmed Pippin.
"Mmmm hmmm," Ellie said absently, only half listening. Legolas' hands had slid down to her hips and his thumbs were now tracing circles on her lower back. A deep, almost painful yearning spread throughout her heart and body, and she began to quiver uncontrollably. He must know what he's doing to me!
"Anyhow, on the day I got stuck in that log," Merry continued, "those snarly beasts sneaked up behind us and…"
Ellie stopped listening altogether when she stumbled over a patch of uneven ground. Legolas caught her as she plunged forward, but unintentionally pulled her back too hard, pressing her too close against his body--and his unmistakable arousal. She gasped, thinking he had done it on purpose. How can he be that cruel? she wondered.
He released her almost instantly, mortified that she was now aware of his body's betrayal. Legolas shook his head in consternation, as he fought to bring himself under control. Gods, I cannot believe this! And for an Elf like him, it was unbelievable. Nearly 3,000 years of practiced restraint and patience were rendered useless whenever she came near him. And it seemed to be getting worse. After all, if the Mines of Moria could not abate his desire…
His thoughts were cut short as Ellie turned to face him, anger and hurt clearly written on her face. They were at the rear of the line and their companions did not notice when they fell behind.
"You won't lay with me, but you won't stop toying with me, either," she whispered accusingly, in the growing darkness. "Why?"
Ellie's gaze smoldered, searing him with its intensity. She was so upset that her breaths came in short, harsh gasps that sounded unnaturally loud to his sensitive ears. And even in the gloom, Legolas noticed the high color on her skin, brought on by both her anger and her desire. Seeing her this way--all stirred up and aroused--caused his own need to spring to life again. He was hardly surprised, but he resented it.
His face grew taut, and he did not answer her. After several seconds passed, Ellie glanced anxiously over her shoulder at Gandalf's retreating light. Yet she made no move to follow the others. Instead, she waited for Legolas to reply. "I want to know why," she repeated.
The Elf's heart gave a lurch. She was putting on a brave face, but he knew she was afraid, and he drew her close again, but not so close that she could feel his loins. Poor Ellie, he silently mused, as he stared into her questioning eyes, what can I possibly tell you? He had been toying with her, shamelessly taking advantage of her fear inside the tunnel to touch her and caress her--because he could not stop himself. Because her nearness and the softness of her small body brought him comfort as well.
"Ellie, forgive me…I only meant to…"
"Forgive you?" she hissed, not waiting long enough for Legolas to finish his sentence. "I will not forgive you! I offered myself to you once, and you nearly took me, against a rock I might add, before deciding you only wanted friendship from me! Have you changed your mind again?"
Ellie was rambling, and had he not been so aroused himself, Legolas would surely have laughed. Gods, but she was beautiful when she was mad!
"Well?" she persisted, when he did not answer. It was then that she noticed his mouth. Despite the darkness, she could clearly see the whiteness of his teeth. Legolas, the cad, was smiling. And wickedly, at that.
"Decide," she demanded, "once and for all. Will you have me or not? Is it friendship or intimacy you desire?"
He leaned over until the tip of his nose just touched hers. "I desire an intimate friendship." And then he kissed her, long and hard, covering her lips completely with his mouth as if he meant to devour them. Ellie's response was immediate and ardent. She pushed her small body against his, wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, and kissed him back. He might be toying with her, but frankly, his kisses were too delicious for her to feel offended for long.
Legolas could have told her he had meant nothing by the gentle touches and desired only friendship. He knew she would have believed him. But, her anger and the knowledge that they might not make it out of Moria alive sparked an uncharacteristic recklessness in the Elf. And he could only follow along as his body gave in to the need to taste her mouth again. He would deal with the consequences of his folly later--if they survived.
Her shock at his actions had given him just enough time to lead them both back to the others, and no time for her to react. As they caught up with the Fellowship, Merry was finishing his story, "…so there I was stuck inside that dark log, with mad dogs howling all around me trying to get in. I tell you, Ellie, I know exactly how you feel walking through this tunnel!"
No you don't, thought Legolas, with a tight smile, as he held on to Ellie's waist. The girl was still quivering from his touch. And he…He was beyond redemption.
On their fourth day in the mines, the Fellowship reached the ruins of the Great Hall of Dwarrowdelf. Its carved walls and flagstone floors seemed to stretch on for leagues without end, with massive pillars reaching almost to the very top of the mountain. There were crevices in the ceiling that opened to the sky above, letting in both fresh air and great shafts of lights that illuminated the immense chamber. Ellie was able to breathe easily for the first time since she had entered Moria, without any fear of being walled in.
To her companions, however, the Great Hall was a sobering sight. Once it had housed dwarf kings and hundreds of their subjects. Colorful banners and tapestries had adorned its walls between brightly-lit sconces and heavy, beautifully carved furnishings inlaid with jewels had graced its floors. But now, layers of dust and rubble littered the ground, while the few remaining banners hung in gray tatters from walls deeply scarred by battle and Orc claws.
Gimli was devastated. This had been the home of his cousin Balin and up until the moment the Fellowship had entered the Great Hall, Gimli had still hoped to find him and his people alive. Now he found only his tomb. Ignoring Gandalf's warning, the dwarf ran inside the large vault, followed closely by his companions, with Jamie and Ellie bringing up the rear. It was in this tomb that the last remnants of Balin's people had taken their final stand--and had met a grisly end.
As she ran in, Ellie tripped over a mangled corpse and backed herself into a wall, horrified. But she did not scream; she shoved a fist into her mouth instead and grabbed hold of Jamie's arm. Fight it! she commanded herself angrily, when she felt the panic stir inside of her. Fight it! When the first tremor shook her body. Fight it! And this time, her will prevailed, and she succeeded in keeping her phantoms at bay. Ellie heaved a sigh of relief, and gave Jamie a small, triumphant smile.
"It's all right, Jamie," she reassured the boy. But no sooner did she take a step forward, than her mind was assaulted by something infinitely more frightening than her memories of the past and the scene of slaughtered dwarves. Ellie fell back again, silent and unmoving against the cold stone wall…
What just happened to her? Does she feel it too? Legolas worriedly glanced back at her as he walked up to Aragorn and Boromir. "We are not safe here. We must move on," he quietly warned. As a seasoned warrior and an Elf who had almost lived to see 3,000 years, he was accustomed to the sight of death in every shape and form. But Balin's tomb was different. An air of menace and malevolence permeated the dank, cold room, frightening him, and making him feel…trapped.
The men did not doubt Legolas. Aragorn was about to urge Gandalf to lead them on, when Ellie unexpectedly approached them with her small sword unsheathed and raised, dragging Jamie behind her. Her eyes were huge with fear and some other emotion they could not decipher--the pupils impossibly small in the dim light. But her voice was surprisingly serene, almost eerie, when she echoed Legolas' warning. "We're going to be trapped here if we don't leave now." And they immediately realized that she was caught in the grips of a vision.
The two men stared at her in bewilderment. Ellie's face was slack, and she had a distant, otherworldly look about her that sent chills down their spines. But Legolas was not put off by her strange behavior. To an Elf, it was not strange at all. He grabbed her shoulders and asked her in an urgent voice, "What do you see, Ellie?"
"Orcs…in the Great Hall…tens of thousands of them…all around us…" she replied in a low, dazed voice, as if she were in a trance. But then, in the next instant, she seemed to startle, and her gaze fixed on Legolas. "And you…with your long knife…" she continued, her eyes widening in shock, "…coming at me!" And, all of the sudden, Ellie recoiled, trying to break free from him. But Legolas would not let her go.
"What do you mean 'coming at you'?" he demanded, tightening his grip on her shoulders and shaking her slightly. "Ellie, tell me!"
But before she could reply, a loud, clanging noise erupted from across the vault, reverberating throughout the chamber and beyond, down to the very depths of Moria. And Ellie's vision vanished as suddenly as it had appeared.
In the brief silence that followed, Ellie whispered, "Too late…" and looked up at Legolas with lost, haunted eyes.
Moments later, a mad cacophony of shrieking broke out in the Great Hall, heralding a vicious attack by the Orcs of Moria. Trapped inside Balin's Tomb, the Fellowship had nowhere to run. As he helped the men reinforce the large, wooden doors of the vault, Legolas ordered Ellie and Jamie to hide behind some columns at the back of the chamber. Ellie did not hesitate to go. Although she was willing to fight to defend Jamie and herself, she had never wielded a sword before. And while Jamie, as a young prince, had received weapons training, he was only a small boy and no match for bloodthirsty Orcs.
The sturdy doors did not keep the Orcs out for long. Peering cautiously around a column with her sword ready, Ellie watched the screeching horde break through. Why, they're completely mad! she thought in horrified fascination, as the crazed creatures recklessly advanced, despite being hit by a barrage of arrows from Legolas' and Aragorn's bows. At least a dozen Orcs fell right at the door, but their numbers were too great, and they soon swarmed the vault, followed closely by a cave troll in chains. Ellie had never been this close to living Orcs before, let alone a troll, and she was sickened and repulsed by the ugly, putrid-smelling creatures.
"They stink worse than Legolas' boots!" Jamie hissed excitedly, as he too spied on the creatures.
At the boy's mention of Legolas, Ellie's gaze now fixed on the beautiful Elf. She had briefly seen him use his bow at the entrance to the mines, when Frodo had been under attack. But she had never before seen him in the heat of battle. He was magnificent to watch--and terrifying. Unlike the other men, who were also experienced warriors, Legolas did not yell or roar, nor did he twist his face in rage or concentration. Indeed, save for the slight clenching of his jaw and the cold fire blazing in his eyes, he did not alter his calm demeanor in any way as he fought. He moved effortlessly with a cool, fluid grace, never stumbling or hesitating, felling one Orc after another with cold, deadly precision. His beautiful bow and his long knives were but extensions of his own body--mighty, resilient, and strong--and he alternated between both types of weapons with seeming ease. And with each smooth shot or each devastating stroke, not a flicker of doubt ever crossed his face that he would miss his mark. Legolas never faltered; he never failed.
Ellie had never seen anything like it--had never seen anyone like him. If he had seemed dangerous the morning she had first met him, it was nothing compared to what she saw now. And, with a sinking heart, Ellie knew that her vision had not lied. To save her from the Orcs, Legolas could--and would--turn his deadly blade against her…
For a while, neither the Orcs nor the troll seemed to notice the girl and young boy at the back of the room. But as the battle raged on and the Orcs lost complete control over the troll--who lashed out at them as viciously as he did at the Fellowship--the four small hobbits hastened to join Ellie and Jamie behind the columns. They did not go unnoticed and soon a handful of Orcs challenged them, and Ellie and Jamie had no choice but to join the fighting.
Although untrained, Ellie was quick on her feet and had excellent reflexes. She cut the throat of the first attacker to approach her before the vile creature ever had a chance to swing his own blade. For a moment he stood looking at her in disbelief, with enormous yellow eyes and a sneering mouth full of jagged, rotting teeth. And then he collapsed at her feet, his thick, black blood oozing out of the gash in his throat and staining Ellie's legs and boots.
Ellie had never cut down another living being before. She had never taken a life, not even to eat. Had she had the time to think about it, she would have gagged, maybe even fainted, but she never got the chance. For as soon as the first Orc hit the ground, a second Orc took his place, and Ellie found herself fighting for her very life again. But once more, she prevailed. Indeed, from their position at the back of the room, Ellie and Jamie effectively fought off the small number of attackers who were able to reach them.
That is, until Ellie came face-to-face with an Orc with pierced ears. Up until that moment, she had believed that only Ilissans pierced themselves, and to see something so unique to her family being practiced by such a hideous creature was an abomination to her. Caught off guard, Ellie faltered, and the Orc's blade sliced across her right shoulder. He almost certainly would have killed her—for she was unable to maintain a grip on her sword and Jamie was already engaged. But fortunately, they were out in the open, and Legolas saw them and shot the creature dead with an arrow from across the room. Ellie briefly met the Elf's brilliant gaze, before he turned his attention to the Orc attacking Jamie, and killed him also. Once again, she marveled at his incredible speed: Legolas had readied his arrow on the bow faster than her eye could follow. Shaking her head in amazement, she bent over to pick up her fallen sword. When she stood up again, Ellie could no longer see Legolas. She pulled Jamie back behind the column, and there they remained safely hidden until the battle ended with the death of the troll, a short time later.
By the time the fighting was over, the eleven companions were exhausted and bloodied and bruised. But they were enormously pleased too, and relieved, that they had been victorious--all except for Ellie. She felt no rush of satisfaction and little relief. Her dreadful vision of thousands of Orcs in the Great Hall--and Legolas with his knife--had not yet come to pass, but Ellie knew that it soon would.
