A/N: This is Elvensong with the new chapter and I must also ask forgiveness for taking so long. Totally my fault and my partner in this venture is completely innocent of any amount of delay. I hope you enjoy this new chapter and will take a moment to review and send up feedback about this insanely difficult plotline we've taken on.
Chapter Five: The Departure of the Animals
The journey was an odd one to begin with, but now it was just beyond all comprehension.
Granted, one never saw an Elf and a Dwarf traveling together, but the tension radiating from the Elf, a normally calm and reserved creature, made even the trees shake with apprehension.
Since the moment when they had left the Golden Wood, Legolas had seemed reserved, as if his very mind was somewhere else, wondering on paths known only to him. Whenever Gimli would comment on anything at all, his response would be a short glance in his direction or there would be none at all.
The outburst in defense of the Lady whom the Mirkwood Prince had never met before and no special loyalty to was very disturbing to Gimli and as they got farther and farther from that place, Legolas did not return to his normal firstborn self. Even the annoying singing and elven cheer would have been a comfort now, even though it had been seen as only an annoyance not but a few days ago.
Legolas, meanwhile, could not seem to shake a feeling that kept intruding into his mind.
A voice, beautiful yet filled with a terrible power that Legolas could not place.
'Go home, my beautiful Prince. Return to the woods that bore you and confront your noble father.' Said the feminine voice, but to what end Legolas could not know. All he did know was that he must return to Mirkwood and confront whatever fate awaited him there.
Elrond stood before the gathering of elves that had answered his call. Time was running against them and every moment that Galadriel had with the ring uncontested, the more she could learn of its secrets and of the power it contained. She would attempt to wield it, of that he was certain and if she did her power and its would combine and none could possibly guess what outcome would spring from this union.
They began to move out, moving towards a fate none could know. Somehow Elrond Half-elven felt more ill tiding towards this attack than he did upon the slopes of Mount Doom.
"Something odd is happening." Freezing in his tracks, the Ranger could not pinpoint what exactly was giving him this great feeling of foreboding.
"Aragorn, I think your time around Elves has affected you farther than you think. Must you be so puzzling as they are? I swear, an Elf can never give anyone a straight answer." Boromir crossed his arms, awaiting his comrade's continued motion.
For all his observation, the source of this feeling was eluding him and it was bothering him to no end. Continuing on their course was not an option until he figured this out. If he did learn anything from the Elves, as Boromir suggested, he did learn the art of patience.
Finally, as the sun coming out from behind great billowing clouds, the answer struck him in the face.
"The animals!" Aragorn declared.
Startled by the breaking of the deafening silence, Boromir jumped, "What do you mean?"
"Have you not noticed, Boromir? The animals, all of them, have fled them woods. There is not even a squirrel can be seen playing on the tree tops."
Having his human eyes opened, the Steward of Gondor realized that this was true. There were no signs of any forest creatures, not even a bird sang.
"What could this mean?"
"I do not know." Finally, Aragorn began moving with a new sense of urgency.