A/N: I am never giving my word again, when I do people die and stop me
updating. I am very, very sorry about the delay but it was out of my hands.
Thank you to all the amazing reviewers, the last was one of the most
reviewed chapters to date!
Chapter 9
So the remainder of the Fellowship once more descended forlornly onto the blustering, bleak plains. Each absence was painfully conspicuous and drove sorrow into each of the walkers.
The quest to destroy the ring momentarily forgotten in an indulgent push for personal gain. Every traveller had faced enough toil, and refused to see their number dwindle further through evil meddling and rash actions of their own. The quest would undoubtedly falter without the influence of the wondrous elf anyhow, now without him, each companion looked back at the numerous times he had saved the Fellowship and how his laughter and song had kept the group moving. Cruelly deprived of the eyes and ears of the Fellowship, the group was unnaturally weary, stalking their way across open land like hunted prey.
Aragorn had been bitterly quiet, twice he had approached the others in an attempt to explain himself, and twice he had been quickly silenced. The group was now focussed on their formidable task.
It is the stuff of fairytale, attempting to find a single elf, who does not wish to found, on the broad plains and winding paths that surrounded the sprawling Golden Forest. A near impossible task, but impossibility was no longer feared, and despite being previously warned against it, this fearsome group dared to hope.
In reality, this was all that was left for them, hope, love, and the passion of belonging, bonds of Fellowship that went deeper than even the darkest caverns of Moria.
Aragorn winced as he watched the brave, hardy hobbits stumble once more over the unforgiving terrain. He knew how he had forced them into this new and bleak quest. The need to explain and the desire for forgiveness rose in his heart once more.
"I saw him with Rumil."
The strangeness of the sentence almost forced the determined group to grind to a reluctant stop, but Gimli surged onwards, yet still turned to the man. Aragorn sensed a need to continue.
"But it was not him, merely his form. I watched Legolas make love to Rumil. Only now do I realise my mistake."
For a moment the downcast man thought he saw tears glimmer in the eyes of the sturdy dwarf to his right, but the shaggy head turned away to deny him such knowledge.
"When I saw Haldir attack him, a small part of my mind thought I saw justice, but I realise what I saw was vengeance. Such is the curse and weakness of men, 'tis not the greed and corruption I first feared but the desire for satisfaction, to be wronged and then repaid, to gain from the persecution we are so sure we are a victim of. Just like my kin, I am lost, lost to pride and self-pity."
The Fellowship had now stopped completely, dumbstruck by the man's words. Gimli turned outwards to face across the desolate expanse. With a daring step his sorrowful mutter was almost lost to the wind.
"Nay Aragorn, you are lost to love."
With Aragorn's powerful confession a greater ease encompassed the companions, but the determination onwards doubled. The lead changed many a time as if a reflection and tribute to the battle between dwindling hope and renewed vigour. Aragorn's pace was consistently relentless, he stopped only to glance desperately and then still as if trying to pick up some whisper in the wind. His halt usually granted everyone a reprieve, none daring to go on until the man thought it safe.
Within the next mile, Aragorn had begun to pause more and more as if distressed by something he could not define. The deathly cold air whipped around his face as if taunting him with its silence. The hobbits had once again lent themselves to unease and oft looked to Gandalf for support or explanation, but weary figure simply shook his head dejectedly, as he could not give them either.
The hobbits, man, dwarf and wizard stumbled further, eyes scanning the horizon until Aragorn whirled suddenly, facing back from where they had come, a startled gasp playing on his lips.
To the amazement of all, after a long and pregnant pause, a golden figure appeared over the bow of the hill. His long golden tresses where thrown carelessly by the strong wind, his form was lithe yet powerful, a mighty bow gripped tightly in his left hand. The first thought had been to rush towards him as he approached, but the Fellowship of the Ring had long learnt that appearances were deceptive, and failed to believe their great task had concluded so easily.
Aragorn simply stared into the setting sun as it cast an ominous shadow athwart the ascending figure. As it came nearer a beautiful elf melted into view, its beauty tarnished by its misery. It walked bravely up to the astounded assembly and dropped reverently to his knees.
"Arise Haldir." Aragorn swiftly spoke with less kindness and more anger that he truly felt.
The elf obeyed slowly and regretfully.
"I owe my fair cousin an apology, and I believe I owe his fair friends an elf." The Warden looked hopefully across the mass of faces.
"We are in truth relieved to see you Haldir, I have explained all to my companions and the actions of us both, while irreprehensible, are somewhat explained. I am sure you will be welcomed with the same forgiveness as I." The Fellowship each gave a slight nod and the elf seemed to relax at once.
"Thank you."
"Come we must push onwards, the light of our first day has been lost to us, if we do not found our beloved Legolas on the morrow, we may find something else entirely."
*************************
Legolas had swiftly realised his stupidity, he was unprepared as the dark red sun set and quickly put himself to rest on a bed of leaves in the small copse he had stumbled upon, mindful of his painful arm and shoulder. It was long before he sensed the presence of something else beside him, the trees spoke wildly of danger but the elf could see none.
Strangely he saw a flash of white before everything went black.
A/N: I honestly don't know when there will be more but it should not be overly long. Please review however; it will be sure to speed me up.
Chapter 9
So the remainder of the Fellowship once more descended forlornly onto the blustering, bleak plains. Each absence was painfully conspicuous and drove sorrow into each of the walkers.
The quest to destroy the ring momentarily forgotten in an indulgent push for personal gain. Every traveller had faced enough toil, and refused to see their number dwindle further through evil meddling and rash actions of their own. The quest would undoubtedly falter without the influence of the wondrous elf anyhow, now without him, each companion looked back at the numerous times he had saved the Fellowship and how his laughter and song had kept the group moving. Cruelly deprived of the eyes and ears of the Fellowship, the group was unnaturally weary, stalking their way across open land like hunted prey.
Aragorn had been bitterly quiet, twice he had approached the others in an attempt to explain himself, and twice he had been quickly silenced. The group was now focussed on their formidable task.
It is the stuff of fairytale, attempting to find a single elf, who does not wish to found, on the broad plains and winding paths that surrounded the sprawling Golden Forest. A near impossible task, but impossibility was no longer feared, and despite being previously warned against it, this fearsome group dared to hope.
In reality, this was all that was left for them, hope, love, and the passion of belonging, bonds of Fellowship that went deeper than even the darkest caverns of Moria.
Aragorn winced as he watched the brave, hardy hobbits stumble once more over the unforgiving terrain. He knew how he had forced them into this new and bleak quest. The need to explain and the desire for forgiveness rose in his heart once more.
"I saw him with Rumil."
The strangeness of the sentence almost forced the determined group to grind to a reluctant stop, but Gimli surged onwards, yet still turned to the man. Aragorn sensed a need to continue.
"But it was not him, merely his form. I watched Legolas make love to Rumil. Only now do I realise my mistake."
For a moment the downcast man thought he saw tears glimmer in the eyes of the sturdy dwarf to his right, but the shaggy head turned away to deny him such knowledge.
"When I saw Haldir attack him, a small part of my mind thought I saw justice, but I realise what I saw was vengeance. Such is the curse and weakness of men, 'tis not the greed and corruption I first feared but the desire for satisfaction, to be wronged and then repaid, to gain from the persecution we are so sure we are a victim of. Just like my kin, I am lost, lost to pride and self-pity."
The Fellowship had now stopped completely, dumbstruck by the man's words. Gimli turned outwards to face across the desolate expanse. With a daring step his sorrowful mutter was almost lost to the wind.
"Nay Aragorn, you are lost to love."
With Aragorn's powerful confession a greater ease encompassed the companions, but the determination onwards doubled. The lead changed many a time as if a reflection and tribute to the battle between dwindling hope and renewed vigour. Aragorn's pace was consistently relentless, he stopped only to glance desperately and then still as if trying to pick up some whisper in the wind. His halt usually granted everyone a reprieve, none daring to go on until the man thought it safe.
Within the next mile, Aragorn had begun to pause more and more as if distressed by something he could not define. The deathly cold air whipped around his face as if taunting him with its silence. The hobbits had once again lent themselves to unease and oft looked to Gandalf for support or explanation, but weary figure simply shook his head dejectedly, as he could not give them either.
The hobbits, man, dwarf and wizard stumbled further, eyes scanning the horizon until Aragorn whirled suddenly, facing back from where they had come, a startled gasp playing on his lips.
To the amazement of all, after a long and pregnant pause, a golden figure appeared over the bow of the hill. His long golden tresses where thrown carelessly by the strong wind, his form was lithe yet powerful, a mighty bow gripped tightly in his left hand. The first thought had been to rush towards him as he approached, but the Fellowship of the Ring had long learnt that appearances were deceptive, and failed to believe their great task had concluded so easily.
Aragorn simply stared into the setting sun as it cast an ominous shadow athwart the ascending figure. As it came nearer a beautiful elf melted into view, its beauty tarnished by its misery. It walked bravely up to the astounded assembly and dropped reverently to his knees.
"Arise Haldir." Aragorn swiftly spoke with less kindness and more anger that he truly felt.
The elf obeyed slowly and regretfully.
"I owe my fair cousin an apology, and I believe I owe his fair friends an elf." The Warden looked hopefully across the mass of faces.
"We are in truth relieved to see you Haldir, I have explained all to my companions and the actions of us both, while irreprehensible, are somewhat explained. I am sure you will be welcomed with the same forgiveness as I." The Fellowship each gave a slight nod and the elf seemed to relax at once.
"Thank you."
"Come we must push onwards, the light of our first day has been lost to us, if we do not found our beloved Legolas on the morrow, we may find something else entirely."
*************************
Legolas had swiftly realised his stupidity, he was unprepared as the dark red sun set and quickly put himself to rest on a bed of leaves in the small copse he had stumbled upon, mindful of his painful arm and shoulder. It was long before he sensed the presence of something else beside him, the trees spoke wildly of danger but the elf could see none.
Strangely he saw a flash of white before everything went black.
A/N: I honestly don't know when there will be more but it should not be overly long. Please review however; it will be sure to speed me up.
