Disclaimer: see chapter 1
Chapter 2: Baelshre and Pipeweed
Gimli watched the Elf cautiously. He knew something was up, even though Legolas had said nothing to him about anything.
They had just left the forest and were camping by a river. The hobbits were all by the riverside, laughing and talking as they enjoyed the lack of excitement. Gandalf was not far off from them, peacefully smoking his pipe, but watching carefully, knowing what kinds of trouble hobbits are capable to get into. Aragorn and Boromir were out hunting for something, so that left Gimli and Legolas. The Elf was calmly sitting with his back against a tree, his eyes closed as he was in deep thought. Gimli grunted, and shook his head. He continued to stare at him until he couldn't stand it.
Just when Gimli was about to practically burst, a wail filled the air. Legolas' eyes flew open. He looked at Gimli. "Baelshre," he whispered.
Gimli was shocked. He was mortified. "A baelshre?" he bellowed. "What in the Valar's name is a baelshre doing here? They live in caves, deep caves, not woods!"
Legolas hushed him. "Does Gandalf know?" Gimli whispered.
Legolas nodded. "And Aragorn. I suspect Boromir will know by the time he gets back, but the hobbits." he trailed off, as the wailing and screeching continued. The pair quickly made their way to the river.
* * * * *
Gandalf sat silently, chuckling occasionally as the hobbits splashed each other. Then he sat up straight, pipe forgotten in his hand, intent and listening to the quiet sounds of the forest. There was a crashing in the woods. He turned and found Legolas and Gimli there. Both looked worried. "Baelshre," Legolas said.
"Close?" Gandalf asked calmly. Legolas nodded. "Where are Aragorn and Boromir?"
"Out hunting," Gimli answered. "There has been no sign of them since they left."
By the water, the hobbits had noticed the sudden change in Gandalf's mood. Frodo stood up. "Gandalf," he called. "What's going on?"
A wail floated through the air. Then silence.
Legolas drew an arrow. Gimli armed himself with his axe and Gandalf took his staff in hand. The hobbits drew their swords. There was a roar, then something knocked into Legolas. The Elf slammed into Gandalf, grimacing as the wizard's staff whacked him on the head. Stars danced in front of his eyes. Something swam in front of im. Legolas stood up shakily, firing a loose arrow. Another roar broke through the air. It was a baelshre. Its hide was dark green, mottled with black. Slime coated its body. Two pale yellow eyes stared out at the group, darting back and forth anxiously. A long, slimy tail trailed behind the baelshre. It was thin and acted like a whip. Three white horns curled out of the baelshre's head, thick and sharp. It snorted and charged.
Gimli whacked it hard with his axe, drawing a huge gash that oozed yellow. The baelshre hissed, but charged the hobbits. They valiantly chopped at the creature, warding it off but the tail whipped at them. It caught Sam and sent him sailing into the river. "Help!" he shouted, floundering. "I can't swim! HELP!" he sank beneath the surface.
Legolas threw his bow and quiver to the ground, trusting Gimli and Gandalf could finish the baelshre. He ran towards the river and dived in. Cold hit him, and hit him hard. Legolas forced his eyes open and his limbs to move. Bubbles floated frantically to the surface about three feet away. Legolas saw Sam in the clear, cold water. The hobbit was twisting, his arms reaching desperately for some kind of buoy. The Elf gracefully swam over to him and grabbed Sam. Then he shot to the surface.
When his head broke the water, Legolas found he was more than halfway across the river. There was no sign of the baelshre and Gimli was wiping his axe, looking quite pleased with himself. Gandalf was standing by the water's edge with Frodo, Pippin, and Merry. He was muttering something to himself, then raised his staff and pointed it towards Legolas and Sam. The water around them churned, and pushed them forward. Legolas gratefully accepted this help, for he was weary from the cold and his head throbbed. When he felt his feet drag against the bottom, he slowly stood up. Sam clamored up the shore, shivering and shedding water droplets. Merry and Pippin caught Sam with blankets and wrapped him up. Gandalf met Legolas and handed him a blanket. The Elf drew it around his shoulders and nodded thanks to the wizard. He winced as the pounding in his head beat louder. Gandalf noticed and said, "I suppose the little whack I gave you did no good."
Legolas grinned through his wooziness. "As soon as I can sit down I'll be fine," he replied. He stumbled across shore to the grass and carefully sat down. He leaned against a tree and closed his eyes, relief coming over him.
Something smacked Legolas. Groaning inwardly, he reluctantly opened his eyes. "Did you see it, Master Elf?" Gimli said excitedly. "The slimy toadstool just turn and ran! It knew it didn't stand a chance against the axe of a Son of Durin!" He laughed uproariously, the excitement of battle still evident in his eyes. Gimli slapped Legolas on the back and walked away, still chuckling rather madly. The Elf gave a faint smile, then closed his eyes again. Just as he was about to drift off into sleep, a tentative poke drew him back to reality.
"Mr. Legolas?" a shy voice asked. Unwillingly, Legolas opened his eyes. Sam stood before him, looking a little nervous. "Thank you for jumping in after me," he said, "and for saving my life." Legolas had to smile. "You're welcome," he replied. "You have saved mine before with your cooking. Consider it a debt repaid." Sam grinned, then walked away.
Legolas glanced around. No one else seemed to be coming his way. He closed his eyes, and then opened them quickly looking around. Nothing. Warily, Legolas closed his eyes. Then, someone shook him violently. Exasperated, he flung his eyes open, mumbling to himself, "Why is it so hard to get a nap?" Then, turning to his tormenter, he snapped, "What?"
Aragorn was staring back at him. In an amused voice he replied, "Just checking to see if you weren't dead." Legolas rolled his eyes and as he stood up gave the Ranger a smack on the head. Aragorn laughed and stood up also. "Gandalf said you received quite a crack with his staff," he explained. "I was just going to make sure you don't have a concussion."
"Well, I'm fine," Legolas said. Then Gandalf called, "Let's keep moving!" Aragorn and Legolas fell in the back of the line. They exchanged no more words, both their senses busy making sure nothing was following, sneaking up, or getting ready to attack.
* * * * *
Boromir walked, his thoughts wandering. While he and Aragorn had been hunting, the Ranger informed him of their predicament with the baelshre. "I'm not sure whether it's following us because of the Ring or if it's a creature of Saruman," Aragorn admitted. "But we must be on our guard." Boromir had heard horror stories of baelshres from other children in Gondor. They lived in the deepest, darkest, dankest caves they could find. They burrowed farther in the mountains than goblins. Sometimes the creatures come out at night and prey upon straggler goblins or lost travelers. They were not graceful, nor stealthy for that matter. Brute force was all that was needed. The tail was also a bonus on the baelshre's part. Boromir supposed they were related to balrogs in a fashion. He shuddered, thinking of the horrors there were in Middle-Earth. . He pulled his thoughts to the mission at hand and walked.
* * * * *
Merry pulled his cloak tighter around himself. It wasn't a cold night. He just needed to feel more secure. The realization that something huge, scary, and ruthless was after them had just caught up to Merry. True, he had gotten used to orcs and Ringwraiths. Those were everyday fears and bothers. But the list was getting longer. And Merry was getting scared.
"The stars are bright," he heard Pippin say. His cousin turned to him. "Remember when we used to lay outside all night looking at them? And then your mum would s tart yelling at us to get inside."
"Right," Merry said. "Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took, get inside right now or I'll drag you in by the curls on your head and the hair on your feet," he imitated in a high-pitched squeak.
"And then we'd give her the slip and climb through the window and pop up behind her, scaring the living daylights out of her," Pippin finished. They both laughed. "But Auntie," Pippin said with a wide-eyed innocent look, "we were in here the whole time."
"Which would only seem to confuse and muddle her wits under the old gel could barely string two words together," Merry said, grinning widely. HE looked at the sky. "Those were the good old days," he murmured wistfully.
Pippin clapped Merry on the shoulder. "We'll be back," he said reassuringly
Merry looked at him. "I hope you're right."
* * * * *
Gandalf listened to the quiet conversation behind him. He smiled, then glanced around. Towering trees surrounded them, with mist rolling between the trunks. It was getting late. "We'll rest here for the night," Gandalf announced.
The hobbits threw down their packs and scuttled about searching for firewood. Gandalf knelt by the pile of wood they had quickly thrown together and whispered a few words. Instantly, a small flame appeared and grew into a modest fire. Gimli sat close to the fire and drew out his pipe. The hobbits, Aragorn, and Gandalf followed suit.
"Pass the pipeweed," Pippin demanded.
"Don't you have your own?" Merry asked.
"Used the last of it this morning," Pippin replied as he lit his pipe. A fragrant aroma spread all across the camp.
"You know," Sam said wistfully. "This isn't going to last."
"What?"
"The pipeweed."
"Hush, Samwise Gamgee, you'll give Pip nightmares."
Aragorn and Gandalf chuckled at this exchange. Gimli offered Boromir a pipe. Boromir refused, saying, "I don't wish to deprive you of your precious pipeweed. I get enough by just inhaling."
"You don't know what you're missing," Pippin said, sucking in more smoke. "You get such a wonderful headrush."
Frodo laughed. He blew a smoke ring, and watched it float away. "Do Elves smoke, Gandalf?" he asked.
"What a lovely idea!" Merry exclaimed. "Let's offer Legolas some!"
"No, my dear boy. Elves do not smoke," Gandalf replied.
"Maybe that's why they're immortal," Aragorn murmured.
Legolas was standing away from the group, using watch as an excuse to stay away from the suffocating smoke around the campfire.
"Wouldn't it be fun to be immortal?" Pippin said rather dreamily.
"You would probably turn out to be just like them," Gimli snorted.
"Now, that's not the way to look at it," Sam objected. "You could do all sorts of things."
"Like what?"
Sam thought a moment. "Well, anything you'd like, I suppose." He turned to Frodo. "What do you think?"
"You're right, Sam," Frodo said. "You could learn every single language in Middle Earth. You could become whatever you wanted to be because you'd have all the time in the world."
Boromir listened to that, then frowned. "But what about after that?" he asked. No one said a thing.
"Well," Frodo said slowly, breaking the silence, "you become the second thing you wanted to be."
"That makes sense," Merry agreed.
Aragorn listened to what his companions thought immortality would be like. He didn't add anything to the conversation, having experienced firsthand what Elves do with their immortality. He could remember asking Elladan and Elrohir the exact same question. Elves never seemed to want to give a straight answer to this particular inquiry. They danced around the subject, and then never told. Aragorn had tried to ask Legolas one day, but he reacted the same way Elladan and Elrohir had. He supposed it was a touchy subject.
Soon the conversation turned to home, travel, battle, and, as all conversations that men have, women. The fire died down, as did the pipeweed. Sleep drifted through the camp, and silence fell over all.
* * * * *
Gandalf watched as the Fellowship drifted off to sleep. The threat of the baelshre, the fear of orcs, and the impending gloom of Mordor had disappeared for the time being. Gandalf was glad they could still experience happiness and merriness for all that had happened, for joyous times have passed. He sighed, then rose. Mist swirled around the camp. The trees looked on ominously in the dark and the sounds of night were not very reassuring. Gandalf sighed again. "Legolas!" he called softly.
"Up here, Mithrandir," said a voice from the treetops. Gandalf looked up. The Elf was seated comfortably on a sturdy branch and leaned against the trunk. "Care to join me?" he called.
"Perhaps if I were younger and a bit more sprightly," Gandalf replied.
Legolas gave a small smile. "I've been listening to the trees," he said as he moved to get down from his perch. He jumped and landed in a catlike crouch.
"And what do they say?" Gandalf inquired.
Legolas was silent. "Nothing," he said softly, frustration evident in his voice. "All I can hear are cries that danger is near. It is not clear if they mean the baelshre, the goblins, or something worse."
Gandalf furrowed his brow. "Sleep, Legolas," he finally said. "I suspect we will all need our strength soon enough."
*pssst! What'd you think?
Chapter 2: Baelshre and Pipeweed
Gimli watched the Elf cautiously. He knew something was up, even though Legolas had said nothing to him about anything.
They had just left the forest and were camping by a river. The hobbits were all by the riverside, laughing and talking as they enjoyed the lack of excitement. Gandalf was not far off from them, peacefully smoking his pipe, but watching carefully, knowing what kinds of trouble hobbits are capable to get into. Aragorn and Boromir were out hunting for something, so that left Gimli and Legolas. The Elf was calmly sitting with his back against a tree, his eyes closed as he was in deep thought. Gimli grunted, and shook his head. He continued to stare at him until he couldn't stand it.
Just when Gimli was about to practically burst, a wail filled the air. Legolas' eyes flew open. He looked at Gimli. "Baelshre," he whispered.
Gimli was shocked. He was mortified. "A baelshre?" he bellowed. "What in the Valar's name is a baelshre doing here? They live in caves, deep caves, not woods!"
Legolas hushed him. "Does Gandalf know?" Gimli whispered.
Legolas nodded. "And Aragorn. I suspect Boromir will know by the time he gets back, but the hobbits." he trailed off, as the wailing and screeching continued. The pair quickly made their way to the river.
* * * * *
Gandalf sat silently, chuckling occasionally as the hobbits splashed each other. Then he sat up straight, pipe forgotten in his hand, intent and listening to the quiet sounds of the forest. There was a crashing in the woods. He turned and found Legolas and Gimli there. Both looked worried. "Baelshre," Legolas said.
"Close?" Gandalf asked calmly. Legolas nodded. "Where are Aragorn and Boromir?"
"Out hunting," Gimli answered. "There has been no sign of them since they left."
By the water, the hobbits had noticed the sudden change in Gandalf's mood. Frodo stood up. "Gandalf," he called. "What's going on?"
A wail floated through the air. Then silence.
Legolas drew an arrow. Gimli armed himself with his axe and Gandalf took his staff in hand. The hobbits drew their swords. There was a roar, then something knocked into Legolas. The Elf slammed into Gandalf, grimacing as the wizard's staff whacked him on the head. Stars danced in front of his eyes. Something swam in front of im. Legolas stood up shakily, firing a loose arrow. Another roar broke through the air. It was a baelshre. Its hide was dark green, mottled with black. Slime coated its body. Two pale yellow eyes stared out at the group, darting back and forth anxiously. A long, slimy tail trailed behind the baelshre. It was thin and acted like a whip. Three white horns curled out of the baelshre's head, thick and sharp. It snorted and charged.
Gimli whacked it hard with his axe, drawing a huge gash that oozed yellow. The baelshre hissed, but charged the hobbits. They valiantly chopped at the creature, warding it off but the tail whipped at them. It caught Sam and sent him sailing into the river. "Help!" he shouted, floundering. "I can't swim! HELP!" he sank beneath the surface.
Legolas threw his bow and quiver to the ground, trusting Gimli and Gandalf could finish the baelshre. He ran towards the river and dived in. Cold hit him, and hit him hard. Legolas forced his eyes open and his limbs to move. Bubbles floated frantically to the surface about three feet away. Legolas saw Sam in the clear, cold water. The hobbit was twisting, his arms reaching desperately for some kind of buoy. The Elf gracefully swam over to him and grabbed Sam. Then he shot to the surface.
When his head broke the water, Legolas found he was more than halfway across the river. There was no sign of the baelshre and Gimli was wiping his axe, looking quite pleased with himself. Gandalf was standing by the water's edge with Frodo, Pippin, and Merry. He was muttering something to himself, then raised his staff and pointed it towards Legolas and Sam. The water around them churned, and pushed them forward. Legolas gratefully accepted this help, for he was weary from the cold and his head throbbed. When he felt his feet drag against the bottom, he slowly stood up. Sam clamored up the shore, shivering and shedding water droplets. Merry and Pippin caught Sam with blankets and wrapped him up. Gandalf met Legolas and handed him a blanket. The Elf drew it around his shoulders and nodded thanks to the wizard. He winced as the pounding in his head beat louder. Gandalf noticed and said, "I suppose the little whack I gave you did no good."
Legolas grinned through his wooziness. "As soon as I can sit down I'll be fine," he replied. He stumbled across shore to the grass and carefully sat down. He leaned against a tree and closed his eyes, relief coming over him.
Something smacked Legolas. Groaning inwardly, he reluctantly opened his eyes. "Did you see it, Master Elf?" Gimli said excitedly. "The slimy toadstool just turn and ran! It knew it didn't stand a chance against the axe of a Son of Durin!" He laughed uproariously, the excitement of battle still evident in his eyes. Gimli slapped Legolas on the back and walked away, still chuckling rather madly. The Elf gave a faint smile, then closed his eyes again. Just as he was about to drift off into sleep, a tentative poke drew him back to reality.
"Mr. Legolas?" a shy voice asked. Unwillingly, Legolas opened his eyes. Sam stood before him, looking a little nervous. "Thank you for jumping in after me," he said, "and for saving my life." Legolas had to smile. "You're welcome," he replied. "You have saved mine before with your cooking. Consider it a debt repaid." Sam grinned, then walked away.
Legolas glanced around. No one else seemed to be coming his way. He closed his eyes, and then opened them quickly looking around. Nothing. Warily, Legolas closed his eyes. Then, someone shook him violently. Exasperated, he flung his eyes open, mumbling to himself, "Why is it so hard to get a nap?" Then, turning to his tormenter, he snapped, "What?"
Aragorn was staring back at him. In an amused voice he replied, "Just checking to see if you weren't dead." Legolas rolled his eyes and as he stood up gave the Ranger a smack on the head. Aragorn laughed and stood up also. "Gandalf said you received quite a crack with his staff," he explained. "I was just going to make sure you don't have a concussion."
"Well, I'm fine," Legolas said. Then Gandalf called, "Let's keep moving!" Aragorn and Legolas fell in the back of the line. They exchanged no more words, both their senses busy making sure nothing was following, sneaking up, or getting ready to attack.
* * * * *
Boromir walked, his thoughts wandering. While he and Aragorn had been hunting, the Ranger informed him of their predicament with the baelshre. "I'm not sure whether it's following us because of the Ring or if it's a creature of Saruman," Aragorn admitted. "But we must be on our guard." Boromir had heard horror stories of baelshres from other children in Gondor. They lived in the deepest, darkest, dankest caves they could find. They burrowed farther in the mountains than goblins. Sometimes the creatures come out at night and prey upon straggler goblins or lost travelers. They were not graceful, nor stealthy for that matter. Brute force was all that was needed. The tail was also a bonus on the baelshre's part. Boromir supposed they were related to balrogs in a fashion. He shuddered, thinking of the horrors there were in Middle-Earth. . He pulled his thoughts to the mission at hand and walked.
* * * * *
Merry pulled his cloak tighter around himself. It wasn't a cold night. He just needed to feel more secure. The realization that something huge, scary, and ruthless was after them had just caught up to Merry. True, he had gotten used to orcs and Ringwraiths. Those were everyday fears and bothers. But the list was getting longer. And Merry was getting scared.
"The stars are bright," he heard Pippin say. His cousin turned to him. "Remember when we used to lay outside all night looking at them? And then your mum would s tart yelling at us to get inside."
"Right," Merry said. "Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took, get inside right now or I'll drag you in by the curls on your head and the hair on your feet," he imitated in a high-pitched squeak.
"And then we'd give her the slip and climb through the window and pop up behind her, scaring the living daylights out of her," Pippin finished. They both laughed. "But Auntie," Pippin said with a wide-eyed innocent look, "we were in here the whole time."
"Which would only seem to confuse and muddle her wits under the old gel could barely string two words together," Merry said, grinning widely. HE looked at the sky. "Those were the good old days," he murmured wistfully.
Pippin clapped Merry on the shoulder. "We'll be back," he said reassuringly
Merry looked at him. "I hope you're right."
* * * * *
Gandalf listened to the quiet conversation behind him. He smiled, then glanced around. Towering trees surrounded them, with mist rolling between the trunks. It was getting late. "We'll rest here for the night," Gandalf announced.
The hobbits threw down their packs and scuttled about searching for firewood. Gandalf knelt by the pile of wood they had quickly thrown together and whispered a few words. Instantly, a small flame appeared and grew into a modest fire. Gimli sat close to the fire and drew out his pipe. The hobbits, Aragorn, and Gandalf followed suit.
"Pass the pipeweed," Pippin demanded.
"Don't you have your own?" Merry asked.
"Used the last of it this morning," Pippin replied as he lit his pipe. A fragrant aroma spread all across the camp.
"You know," Sam said wistfully. "This isn't going to last."
"What?"
"The pipeweed."
"Hush, Samwise Gamgee, you'll give Pip nightmares."
Aragorn and Gandalf chuckled at this exchange. Gimli offered Boromir a pipe. Boromir refused, saying, "I don't wish to deprive you of your precious pipeweed. I get enough by just inhaling."
"You don't know what you're missing," Pippin said, sucking in more smoke. "You get such a wonderful headrush."
Frodo laughed. He blew a smoke ring, and watched it float away. "Do Elves smoke, Gandalf?" he asked.
"What a lovely idea!" Merry exclaimed. "Let's offer Legolas some!"
"No, my dear boy. Elves do not smoke," Gandalf replied.
"Maybe that's why they're immortal," Aragorn murmured.
Legolas was standing away from the group, using watch as an excuse to stay away from the suffocating smoke around the campfire.
"Wouldn't it be fun to be immortal?" Pippin said rather dreamily.
"You would probably turn out to be just like them," Gimli snorted.
"Now, that's not the way to look at it," Sam objected. "You could do all sorts of things."
"Like what?"
Sam thought a moment. "Well, anything you'd like, I suppose." He turned to Frodo. "What do you think?"
"You're right, Sam," Frodo said. "You could learn every single language in Middle Earth. You could become whatever you wanted to be because you'd have all the time in the world."
Boromir listened to that, then frowned. "But what about after that?" he asked. No one said a thing.
"Well," Frodo said slowly, breaking the silence, "you become the second thing you wanted to be."
"That makes sense," Merry agreed.
Aragorn listened to what his companions thought immortality would be like. He didn't add anything to the conversation, having experienced firsthand what Elves do with their immortality. He could remember asking Elladan and Elrohir the exact same question. Elves never seemed to want to give a straight answer to this particular inquiry. They danced around the subject, and then never told. Aragorn had tried to ask Legolas one day, but he reacted the same way Elladan and Elrohir had. He supposed it was a touchy subject.
Soon the conversation turned to home, travel, battle, and, as all conversations that men have, women. The fire died down, as did the pipeweed. Sleep drifted through the camp, and silence fell over all.
* * * * *
Gandalf watched as the Fellowship drifted off to sleep. The threat of the baelshre, the fear of orcs, and the impending gloom of Mordor had disappeared for the time being. Gandalf was glad they could still experience happiness and merriness for all that had happened, for joyous times have passed. He sighed, then rose. Mist swirled around the camp. The trees looked on ominously in the dark and the sounds of night were not very reassuring. Gandalf sighed again. "Legolas!" he called softly.
"Up here, Mithrandir," said a voice from the treetops. Gandalf looked up. The Elf was seated comfortably on a sturdy branch and leaned against the trunk. "Care to join me?" he called.
"Perhaps if I were younger and a bit more sprightly," Gandalf replied.
Legolas gave a small smile. "I've been listening to the trees," he said as he moved to get down from his perch. He jumped and landed in a catlike crouch.
"And what do they say?" Gandalf inquired.
Legolas was silent. "Nothing," he said softly, frustration evident in his voice. "All I can hear are cries that danger is near. It is not clear if they mean the baelshre, the goblins, or something worse."
Gandalf furrowed his brow. "Sleep, Legolas," he finally said. "I suspect we will all need our strength soon enough."
*pssst! What'd you think?