Legolas managed to react quickly and hurried for Narcissis. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her from the path of the angry gargoyle. He turned their bodies so that he landed on the ground and she landed on top of him. He grunted out in pain as his body hit a rock. He also noticed that wings were covering his view until she got off him. He could tell that she was quite worried about him.
Shentree growled as she landed in the area that Narcissis once occupied. She looked over to where Legolas and Narcissis were now. She looked over at the Fellowship and growled even louder.
"You try and help them and you will all die. Remember that," she told them as she saw Boromir and Aragorn grab the hilts of their sword. "This does not concern you!"
Aragorn sighed as he didn't take his sword out. Boromir glanced over at him and had to do a double take.
"Are you really going to allow this to happen?" demanded Boromir, facing the ranger.
"We have to let them do this. It is their fight. Not ours. We shouldn't interfere with it," replied Aragorn. 'Well, at least it's not their fight. I became part of it years ago when I traveled to the Dark Forest and I escaped from it as well with the twins and Legolas. I guess Shentree wants the Mirkwood siblings more since they've escaped more than once. I am still a bit unsure why she doesn't want to see me dead. At least not yet, she doesn't.'
Frodo and the hobbits, and even Gimli, were all just as surprised as Boromir when Aragorn said that statement. He looked at each and every one of them.
"You mean we're just going to let them do that? They'll kill each other!" protested Sam as he stepped forward.
"I know what I'm doing Sam," Aragorn replied as he turned to face the hobbit.
His stare turned back to the gargoyles and elf. Legolas was still on the ground and appeared to be gasping for air. The gargoyles were facing each other again as the elf tried to climb to his feet.
"You cannot possibly win this! I am stronger and faster than you! I always have been," Shentree snarled.
"If I die, it won't be because of you!" Narcissis replied.
Neither of them noticed that Legolas climbed to his feet. No one did. He looked at the two quarreling before him and immediately thought of his sister's pregnancy. He didn't want her to lose the child and he wanted to be an uncle. He supposed that Elrohir wanted to be as well.
"No," he quietly said as he started to head towards them. "No!"
He hurried towards the two and found he couldn't get in between get in between them. He continued to watch them. He carefully watched their moves.
Shentree was growling and so was Narcissis until the darker gargoyle bared her claws. Narcissis became nervous with this action but still kept her ground.
"You will die here and now!" cried Shentree as she lunged again.
Legolas jumped in between the path of the gargoyle and found himself on his back on the ground. He had given Narcissis enough time to jump back out of the way. He cried out in pain as he landed on the ground, a stinging sensation ripping through his chest area.
"Legolas," she whispered, the sadness in her eyes as she fell to her knees.
She fell to the ground and looked behind herself at the Fellowship. Aragorn saw the saw look that she was giving him and he gave a slight nod.
The elf cried out at the pain. Shentree had managed to give Legolas several scratches on his arms. He found his strength was leaving him and he couldn't resist the gargoyle's advances.
"I was going for her but you will do nicely first," Shentree quietly said into his ear. "Then I will kill her and the new life that now grows within her. I know that it gives her much pain since she first became that way in elf form."
Legolas gave a small gasp as he realized that she knew for some time that Narcissis was with child. Legolas looked over at Narcissis and he saw that the gargoyle was now kneeling on the ground, arms around her stomach. She was now looking at him with a sad look.
Aragorn was watching and he knew that was the moment to do something. He surprised everyone by pulling out his bow and an arrow and releasing it. It hit Shentree in the upper leg, in the thigh and she yelped in pain. She climbed off of Legolas and flew off into the sky. Everyone appeared shocked as they looked at the man who ever so recently shot the arrow.
"And I thought we couldn't interfere since it was their fight. Why did you?" Boromir wondered as Sam and the others nodded.
"No, it was not your fight but it was also my fight. More than you will ever realize," Aragorn replied as he headed over to the elf.
The Fellowship was confused as they watched Aragorn place a hand on Legolas' shoulder as he lay on the ground.
"Legolas, where do you hurt?" Aragorn asked him.
"Everywhere," mumbled Legolas as he moved his head.
He tried to climb to his feet and Aragorn held him back down.
"Let me see if there are any injuries that require bandaging. Then we will leave," Aragorn told him.
"No, we leave now. I will allow you to check my injuries later. Right now, we have to move," Legolas replied as he tried to climb to his feet. "We cannot afford to let the orcs to find us."
Aragorn tried to protest but the elf was already almost to his feet. He helped Legolas to his feet and began to help the elf away from the scene.
Boromir headed over to them and began to help the elf as Aragorn hurried over to the gargoyle. He knew that no one else wanted to help her.
"Aragorn, thank you," she told him.
"You're welcome," Aragorn replied.
00000
As the fire burned, Legolas sat beside the flames, trying to get himself warm. He looked over at Narcissis, who was lying on the ground next to him, asleep. He smiled as he placed a hand on her head and ruffled her hair a bit.
Aragorn walked over to them and saw the slight smile on his face.
"Legolas," he said, causing the elf to look at him.
"Aragorn. How are the others?" asked Legolas.
"They are fine. Narcissis will be fine after some time. I think she's just a bit shook up after this whole ordeal," Aragorn replied. "I think all she wants to do now is go home."
Legolas had seen the bandages over her injuries and he was not happy. Shentree had done quite a bit of damage during her attack but his was worse than hers. Aragorn took this time to check over Legolas' wounds.
"They do not appear to be serious wounds but what I am worried about are your ribs," Aragorn said, noticing Legolas' difficulty breathing since Shentree's second attack against him.
Legolas gasped as the touch of Aragorn's hand across his ribs.
"I think one or more may be broken or cracked. I hope there are no more internal injuries which were caused by this," Aragorn replied. "Once we reach Lothlorien, you will be tended to by the healers there."
"I will be fine," Legolas replied, looking away from the man.
"You always say that when you never are," came a quiet voice.
Legolas looked to where the voice came from to stare at Narcissis, who had awoken from the conversation.
"Shentree will be back and you know it. Gargoyles are hard to kill, no matter what you do to them. I just wish that now, we never went to the Dark Forest all those centuries ago. I wouldn't be in the position I am now, worrying about your life," Narcissis explained. "Lego, I would like you to tell me something right now."
"And what would that be?" asked Legolas, fixing his gaze to the ground.
"Why did you rescue me from Shentree earlier today? You had the choice not to do so yet you did," she wondered. "Now the others wonder about what kind of relationship you have with me."
He was slightly surprised from the question as he looked up at her.
"W...why did I?" he repeated, stuttering a bit.
"Yes Legolas. Why? You almost seemed to be slightly guilty from something. What is it?" she wondered. "You can tell me."
Legolas stared away from her, unable to answer. The man decided to leave for he realized that this was a private family moment.
"I... I did it because I was guilty. When I thought you died all those years ago from the wolves, I became guilty from it because I couldn't stop it and I believed that it was my fault. I felt as if I should have done more but unable to do it. I felt as if I could have, and should have, saved your life but I didn't. You were dead. I wanted to believe for years that you would walk through the doors into our home. I had felt that if it wasn't for me, you'd still be alive," Legolas explained. "I felt that if I didn't do something this time, it would have been the incident with the wolves all over again, where I could have done more but it never happened. I couldn't let that happen."
The tears started to well up in their eyes at the memories.
"Lego, I never realized this," she quietly said, looking away.
As she did so, she noticed something across the camp and soon heard the screaming.
"What the...?" she started. "Is she back again? I cannot believe that she is back this soon. I actually wasn't expecting her until later."
Legolas turned to see that Shentree was indeed back and she angrier than ever. The arrow had been broken and the blood and slowed, almost stopped.
"I am so close, I will not let it slip out of my fingers! I have waited centuries to do what I'm about to do. Give me the elf and the gargoyle! Now!" she cried at them, walking towards the group.
Everyone could tell that she was walking with a limp as she headed towards them. Despite that, she was still moving quickly.
'Now, this gargoyle seems to fit the stories. The ones of ferocious creatures that quarrel with others and who attack without remorse. Why doesn't the other one? Who is the one from the story I heard several months ago?' wondered Boromir. "I am sorry but I cannot let you do that!"
The man headed towards the gargoyle, prepared to draw his sword if necessary. Shentree growled as she managed to lunge at him. Boromir barely got out of the way and she fell to the ground. She landed near Pippin and grabbed the hobbit. He squirmed in her grasp and cried out.
"Help!" he cried.
"Pippin!" cried Frodo and Merry in unison.
They tried to hurry towards their friend but Aragorn stepped in front of them.
"Why are you stopping us? What about Pippin? He's in the clutches of that madwoman!" demanded Merry.
"I know. That's why I'm going to deal with it," Aragorn replied, anger in his voice.
He stepped up to the gargoyle as she held onto the hobbit. Pippin's eyes were wide, staring right at the man.
"I hope you know what you're doing Aragorn," Pippin said, the fear obvious in his voice.
Aragorn didn't answer the hobbit as the others watched. Aragorn walked up to the gargoyle. The man growled and the gargoyle growled back.
"You are in no condition to deal with us," Aragorn quietly told her.
"Maybe I'm not but I will be back. But don't think I won't leave without some turmoil," Shentree replied as she began to flap her wings.
Pippin became extremely scared at this.
"Merry!" he cried out, trying to reach out for his friend.
"Pippin!" Merry cried out, running in the direction that the gargoyle was heading.
The gargoyle snickered at the sight before her. She went to a height of about 20 feet in the air and stayed there for a moment before dropping the hobbit. Pippin began to scream as soon as he was dropped. Aragorn hurried over to where Pippin was landing and managed to catch him before he hit the ground.
"Aragorn! What is going on here?" Pippin wanted to know. "Things that she is saying do not make sense. Different actions that have been done do not make sense either. What are they all about? And how do you and Legolas know her?"
"Everything will be explained but not now," Aragorn replied. "Now is not the time."
The man set the hobbit back onto his feet and Aragorn began to head back to Legolas and Narcissis. Once he reached them, he sat down next to them.
"We should leave and head for Lothlorien. It's not safe out here with Shentree roaming out here, looking for the two of you, wanting to kill both of you," Aragorn quietly told them.
"We both realize that but we will wait until morning to leave," Legolas replied.
Aragorn began to open his mouth but was cut off by the elf lifting his hand.
"Listen to me for once. Please. I know you would like to leave but it would be better if we travel during the day," Legolas told him, hoping the man knew what he was refering to.
Aragorn sighed at the elf's words but he knew that Legolas knew what he was talking about. And the incident that elf was talking about.
"Alright, we wait until morning to leave," Aragorn finally said.
He was nervous on what the night would bring and so were the others. They were all wondering if, and when, Shentree would be back.
00000
The Fellowship found themselves outside the woods of Lothlorien. They hurried into the shelter of the trees.
Legolas cautiously looked around trhe place. He knew that if there were any elves around, they would know he and the others were there.
He glanced around as Gimli turned to face the hobbits.
"Be careful hobbits. They say a sorceress lives in these woods. Whoever look upon her, fall under her spell. We have to be very careful," the dwarf told them. "We cannot fall into the spell of the witch."
Frodo watched the group as they walked urther into the woods. He was preoccupied with something when he heard a voice.
'Frodo,' it said.
The hobbit had to take one glanced and wondered where it was coming from.
'You bring great evil here,' the voice said. 'And be warned that all it not as it appears.'
Frodo narrowed his eyes slightly at that last comment.
'All is not as it appears? What does that mean?' he wondered to himself.
'You should know this. I know what you overheard a while back. All will be explained in time,' the voice replied. 'I know that you desire to know the truth about it. There will be answers given to you.'
Frodo wondered how this person knew all that she knew but he decided to wait until later to ask questions. He looked over at Narcissis and saw that she was walking as quickly as she could as not to hold back the others. She seemed a bit nervous in the surroundings.
"I do not like being here," she muttered.
"I cannot see why. The elves here are our friends," Legolas wondered as he glanced over at her.
"Yes, I know they are but that is not what is worrying me at the moment," she replied as she sat down for a moment.
She stopped and Legolas walked a few steps before stopping as well. The others members of the Fellowship stopped as well.
"Then what is worrying you?" Legolas had to ask.
"Everything," she replied as she stood up and leaned against a tree for support.
"Never mind the elves. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox," Gimli huffed. "They will not get by me. I do not see why you are so worried."
His answer, and everyone else's answer came in the form of an arrow embedded in a tree... sitting right next to Narcissis' head.
TBC...