A/N: I hate writer's block I really do. My heartfelt thanks to my patient
reviewers.
A Long Overdue Update
Or
Chapter 8
Aragorn at once was spurred to life by the quiet, scandalous whispers of elves unused to such a scene. His mind was torn over what do to, question this impostor or pursue his erstwhile lover. In the end the question was answered for him.
Grima did what comes naturally to his vile cowardice, turning he began to flee hoping to become lost in the trees, his mind unthinking of his poor chances amongst so many elves. Still the distance he covered surprised him. He wildly called to his master as if his cries would wake some unseen, slumbering force.
However despite his swift tread he did not get far enough. Feet from where the trees thickly descended he found himself imbedded in bark.
Aragorn had whirled at the sudden commotion and reclaimed his sword, launching the glinting spear into the air like a dagger. The blade had ripped through light elven fabric and pinned the unfortunate figure to the nearest tree by its golden hair and tunic.
Wormtongue could barely turn his head but risked serious injury in order to ascertain the whereabouts of the man who no doubt wished to render him limb from limb. Not surprisingly the figure was striding towards him with murderous eyes. Confident he possessed Aragorn's only weapon, Grima attempted to pervade an air of confidence.
This poor guise slipped as Aragorn pulled a knife from his boot without skipping a beat.
Grima watched with horror, as he saw no figure move to stop the vengeful human. It become more of a shock to see the dagger raised to his face and begin moving in a undoubtedly fatal downward movement only to by halted by an uncharacteristic cry from the Lady of The Woods.
The she-elf charged forwards, sliding over the grass like hard frost on a clear, cold morning. Frost, that's exactly what Grima thought of her.
"He is not unaided Aragorn."
The look of surprise was watched on both faces.
"This fell creature has managed to penetrate this great forest and convince all here he is the golden Prince we have known for centuries. There is some greater power here. I watched this snake dine not a moon ago. He looked every bit the Prince I knew."
"Parallels." The muttered word caused all to whirl in search of voice, all except Galadriel who bowed her head in frightening disbelief.
"Surely not."
"'Tis true my Lady." Gandalf surged into the central clearing.
"That is a most dangerous spell and extremely complex." With a sigh Galadriel stood face to face with Grima, addressing him directly for the first time. "It appears we are not the only ones to be deceived, Wormtongue." In response the figure shifted uncomfortably but said nothing. "Come now, you could not expect anything less from such a treacherous master. Saruman, if I am not much mistaken."
Grima confirmed the theory and viciously asked the question on most minds.
"What are you talking about?!"
"You have not just assumed the form of Legolas, foul snake, but you are slowly beginning to become him, you are drawing parallels, hence the name of the spell. It is not possible even in this world of magic for a person to exist in two places at once. The Gods are attempting to unite you as two halves. Soon you will become identical, each half elven, each half. . ." The wizard faltered, labelling this creature as human would be an insult to the world of men. ". . .whatever you are."
"You lie!"
Celeborn, who until this point had remained wisely silent, appeared calmly from behind Wormtongue, the assembling crowd stepped back reverently.
"I think not, Legolas' injuries bestowed upon him by my faithful Marchwarden. . . ." Haldir shrank backwards from where he watched. ". . did not heal as I would have expected. Tell me, evil one, where would you have learnt to dine and move with the grace of the elves, or flee with the speed you have just shown?"
Grima's beautiful elven form shifted more violently against his trapping. "Why? Why would he do this! This was meant to break him and the stupid elf up! It has done it's job, why this infernal spell!"
"Credit yourself with more intelligence, fool!" Gandalf had swiftly blocked Aragorn's path as the man tensed. "I have seen the way Saruman looks at Legolas, was he not appreciative of your new form? In time you could replace Legolas here, mayhap we would have been none the wiser, blinded by Saruman's magic"
Gandalf closed in on the impostor as a huntsman would the kill. "Why have you when he could have the original?"
"NO!" The sound chorused through the trees.
"We must find Legolas, the spell can be reversed but time grows short. The elf now wonders open plains seemingly without much of his elven attributes, including his powers of healing and agility."
"I will go." Aragorn finally removed his sword from the aged tree, but still Grima did not move.
"We will all go." A reunited fellowship stood expectantly behind, much to Aragorn's relief. He would have to explain himself to them swiftly.
Gandalf grasped his staff all the harder. "We must find his before sunset tomorrow, or I fear we will be too late."
"Let him die." Wormtongue mumbled venomously.
Again Anduril gleamed in the low sunlight, again the wizard halted the blade.
"It appears you have not been listening, Grima. The souls of Legolas and your dark self are now linked. Do you not see?"
There was a long and pregnant pause.
"Kill one and you kill the other."
*************************
Legolas had not travelled far before needing to rest, frowning, he put this down to the injuries he had received. He sank to the ground, favouring a tender right shoulder. He had feared dislocation but had not told the others, such concern was not at the forefront of his mind. His lover of two years had stood and watched him be beaten to the ground. The depth of betrayal that demanded such punishment astounded Legolas. Still, he could not define his crime, nor justify Haldir's .
Legolas quietly cursed his thoughtlessness, in his speed to escape he had not though that such an injury would affect his handling of his bow. Testing his strength, he found he could barely hold the bow straight, let alone notch an arrow.
Oh well, it would heal soon enough, would it not?
A/N: Please, please review. I have another chapter up this week. You have my word.
A Long Overdue Update
Or
Chapter 8
Aragorn at once was spurred to life by the quiet, scandalous whispers of elves unused to such a scene. His mind was torn over what do to, question this impostor or pursue his erstwhile lover. In the end the question was answered for him.
Grima did what comes naturally to his vile cowardice, turning he began to flee hoping to become lost in the trees, his mind unthinking of his poor chances amongst so many elves. Still the distance he covered surprised him. He wildly called to his master as if his cries would wake some unseen, slumbering force.
However despite his swift tread he did not get far enough. Feet from where the trees thickly descended he found himself imbedded in bark.
Aragorn had whirled at the sudden commotion and reclaimed his sword, launching the glinting spear into the air like a dagger. The blade had ripped through light elven fabric and pinned the unfortunate figure to the nearest tree by its golden hair and tunic.
Wormtongue could barely turn his head but risked serious injury in order to ascertain the whereabouts of the man who no doubt wished to render him limb from limb. Not surprisingly the figure was striding towards him with murderous eyes. Confident he possessed Aragorn's only weapon, Grima attempted to pervade an air of confidence.
This poor guise slipped as Aragorn pulled a knife from his boot without skipping a beat.
Grima watched with horror, as he saw no figure move to stop the vengeful human. It become more of a shock to see the dagger raised to his face and begin moving in a undoubtedly fatal downward movement only to by halted by an uncharacteristic cry from the Lady of The Woods.
The she-elf charged forwards, sliding over the grass like hard frost on a clear, cold morning. Frost, that's exactly what Grima thought of her.
"He is not unaided Aragorn."
The look of surprise was watched on both faces.
"This fell creature has managed to penetrate this great forest and convince all here he is the golden Prince we have known for centuries. There is some greater power here. I watched this snake dine not a moon ago. He looked every bit the Prince I knew."
"Parallels." The muttered word caused all to whirl in search of voice, all except Galadriel who bowed her head in frightening disbelief.
"Surely not."
"'Tis true my Lady." Gandalf surged into the central clearing.
"That is a most dangerous spell and extremely complex." With a sigh Galadriel stood face to face with Grima, addressing him directly for the first time. "It appears we are not the only ones to be deceived, Wormtongue." In response the figure shifted uncomfortably but said nothing. "Come now, you could not expect anything less from such a treacherous master. Saruman, if I am not much mistaken."
Grima confirmed the theory and viciously asked the question on most minds.
"What are you talking about?!"
"You have not just assumed the form of Legolas, foul snake, but you are slowly beginning to become him, you are drawing parallels, hence the name of the spell. It is not possible even in this world of magic for a person to exist in two places at once. The Gods are attempting to unite you as two halves. Soon you will become identical, each half elven, each half. . ." The wizard faltered, labelling this creature as human would be an insult to the world of men. ". . .whatever you are."
"You lie!"
Celeborn, who until this point had remained wisely silent, appeared calmly from behind Wormtongue, the assembling crowd stepped back reverently.
"I think not, Legolas' injuries bestowed upon him by my faithful Marchwarden. . . ." Haldir shrank backwards from where he watched. ". . did not heal as I would have expected. Tell me, evil one, where would you have learnt to dine and move with the grace of the elves, or flee with the speed you have just shown?"
Grima's beautiful elven form shifted more violently against his trapping. "Why? Why would he do this! This was meant to break him and the stupid elf up! It has done it's job, why this infernal spell!"
"Credit yourself with more intelligence, fool!" Gandalf had swiftly blocked Aragorn's path as the man tensed. "I have seen the way Saruman looks at Legolas, was he not appreciative of your new form? In time you could replace Legolas here, mayhap we would have been none the wiser, blinded by Saruman's magic"
Gandalf closed in on the impostor as a huntsman would the kill. "Why have you when he could have the original?"
"NO!" The sound chorused through the trees.
"We must find Legolas, the spell can be reversed but time grows short. The elf now wonders open plains seemingly without much of his elven attributes, including his powers of healing and agility."
"I will go." Aragorn finally removed his sword from the aged tree, but still Grima did not move.
"We will all go." A reunited fellowship stood expectantly behind, much to Aragorn's relief. He would have to explain himself to them swiftly.
Gandalf grasped his staff all the harder. "We must find his before sunset tomorrow, or I fear we will be too late."
"Let him die." Wormtongue mumbled venomously.
Again Anduril gleamed in the low sunlight, again the wizard halted the blade.
"It appears you have not been listening, Grima. The souls of Legolas and your dark self are now linked. Do you not see?"
There was a long and pregnant pause.
"Kill one and you kill the other."
*************************
Legolas had not travelled far before needing to rest, frowning, he put this down to the injuries he had received. He sank to the ground, favouring a tender right shoulder. He had feared dislocation but had not told the others, such concern was not at the forefront of his mind. His lover of two years had stood and watched him be beaten to the ground. The depth of betrayal that demanded such punishment astounded Legolas. Still, he could not define his crime, nor justify Haldir's .
Legolas quietly cursed his thoughtlessness, in his speed to escape he had not though that such an injury would affect his handling of his bow. Testing his strength, he found he could barely hold the bow straight, let alone notch an arrow.
Oh well, it would heal soon enough, would it not?
A/N: Please, please review. I have another chapter up this week. You have my word.
