You don't remember me,
But I remember you.
I lie awake, and try so hard,
Not to think of you.
But who can decide what they dream?
And dream I do...
Evanescence
CHAPTER 3
"I'm standing at the entrance to the Mountain Of Fire. Behind me is Mordor - or at least what passes for it these days. The Mountain is quiet...waiting, watching."
The room was eerily silent as Aragorn listened to his friend. Legolas paused and slanted a glance in the man's direction as if gauging his response to the story. Apparently what he saw in Aragorn's face, encouraged him to continue and he picked up the threads of his story.
"I don't see what it is that is coming out of the darkness - all I know is that it fills me with incredible dread and fear - a fear that I have never felt in my life - not even when we were surrounded by Sauron's armies. This thing, I know - deep in my heart that it is coming - not for the world - not for dominion - but for each of the members of the Fellowship - and those who had a major part to play in the downfall of Sauron." He sighed heavily. "Tell me that my dream is nonsense Estel. Tell me that I have nothing to worry about." His lips twisted in an ironic smile. "I wanted an adventure - but this - if it is real - will be a nightmare."
He faced Aragorn. "I heard that Arwen has been dreaming as well?"
Aragorn started. "How did you know that?"
"The breezes carry tales, mellon nin. I simply listen and learn."
He laughed at the look on Aragorn's face. "Estel, you are too easy to read. No, not everyone can listen to the wind - in fact it is a very rare trait and only a handful of elves possess it." He winked at his friend. "And if they happened to carry a story about the time when you and your wife were taking a romantic sail on the lake close to Minas Tirith and you HAPPENED to tip over the boat during a particularly intimate moment, don't worry. Your secret is safe with me."
Aragorn's face turned a dull red. "You know about that?"
Legolas' only reply was a smirk.
Aragorn groaned. "Oh come on! You've got to be jesting with me! The most embarrassing moment of my mortal life and it was broadcast to the Elf!"
The Elf in question patted his shoulder. "Estel, Estel. You have nothing to fear. Neither I nor the other listeners of the wind shall repeat anything. It was a vow that we had taken when we were granted this gift."
"Others?" Aragorn repeated with such horror that Legolas burst out laughing.
He slung a friendly arm around the man's shoulders. "Come. Let us talk to my father about this new threat. Maybe it will distract you from your lack of grace."
He dodged Aragorn's backhand and ran, laughing, to the great hall.
*********************************
"So off we go again. Into another scrape that will probably end up in our doom once again, and all you have to say is that you would have preferred to walk. Dumb elf. Don't you know how tired and dirty we'd be at the end of the journey?"
"Maybe you would be," Legolas replied with a smirk, "but, us elves don't get as grimy nor do we smell as badly as you filthy humans do when you sweat."
"Oh go shoot a tree," was Aragorn's retort.
Legolas erupted in laughter - a hearty full-bodied sound that had the female elves in the courtyard eyeing him appreciatively.
It was no secret that many of them had their eyes on the Prince of Mirkwood and hoped that one day he would choose them, but Legolas seemed to be uninterested in any commitment at the moment.
Like most elves, he had a normal, healthy interest in the opposite gender - and enjoyed frequent short-term what he deemed 'mutually beneficial friendships'.
Aragorn had always enjoyed hearing of his Elven's friend's exploits both in and out of the bedroom - because Legolas never boasted and yet was able to bring across stories of encounters with the female elves in such a way that most times, Aragorn would end up doubled over with laughter before the tale was complete.
He glanced at his friend now as he sat gracefully on Arod. The horse and the rider suited each other marvelously, both fair and regal.
Legolas looked across and said, "What?"
He shook his head. "'Tis naught."
The Elf shrugged. "Sometimes, Estel, I'll admit, you scare me."
Aragorn just made a rude noise in his throat and continued to ride.
***************************
"Legolas?"
"Hmmm?" the Elf replied sleepily.
"Why are we riding into danger by ourselves once again?"
Legolas laughed softly and raised himself up on his elbow. "Because, Aragorn,, it would be easier for the two of us to get into Mordor without drawing undue attention. If we pranced in with a hundred men, then whatever lurks in Mordor will be sure to know that we have come."
Aragorn contemplated the wisdom of the Elf's words. "It's still risky."
"Yes," was the reply.
"We will probably die."
"Highly likely."
"Well then. Go to sleep and stop bothering me." The last thing he heard was Legolas' quiet chuckle before the friends fell silent and drifted off into sleep.
********************************
"Aragorn?"
"What?"
"Someone's following us."
"Do you know who?"
Legolas paused. "It's an Elf," he said at last. He didn't sound too pleased by the idea.
"An Elf? In Lorien? Didn't they all leave for the Undying Lands?"
"Apparently not," was the wry reply. "Now stop your jabbering and let me concentrate."
Aragorn opened his mouth to say something rude and thought better of it. He could attest to the strength of an Elf and he didn't too fancy the thought of being tossed up into the nearest tree. He watched Legolas as he listened carefully to his surroundings.
"An Elf warrior - no less," the prince murmured.
Just then a rope was tossed out of the dense foliage, the noose aimed at Legolas. Agilely, he twisted and grabbed the long object. Putting his superhuman strength into it, he gave the rope a hard tug and out of the woods came a slender elf, spitting curses at the Elf prince.
"Utinu en lokirim!"
"Erúvë?" Legolas asked in surprise.
The beautiful Elf pushed her shining golden hair out of her face and threw a punch directly at Legolas' gut. The blow sucked the air from his lungs and he gasped, trying to take in air.
Aragorn would have laughed if the female elf hadn't just then pulled out a sword and began to advance on the prince. He unsheathed Anduril and blocked her blow. Furious she rounded on him.
Legolas had by then, regained his breath and grabbed her by the upper arms, trapping her in a viselike grip.
She fought like an Elf possessed but Greenleaf refused to let go. Finally, she slumped in his arms in defeat. Aragorn studied her features and then, recognition dawned.
"Legolas! This is Haldir's sister!"
"I know," was the quiet reply. He looked down at the female that he held. "Why do you greet me so, melamin?"
Melamin? Aragorn wondered. How was it that Legolas was on such friendly terms with Lorien's former march warden's sibling?
Then his lips curved in a smile. When the Fellowship had stayed in Lorien for the month that they mourned Gandalf, there were many periods when Legolas would have wandered off on his own - only to return hours later.
No one had questioned his absences, as they knew that he had been grieving for the wizard that was close to him and also that as an Elf, death was a new and strange experience for him.
Aragorn studied Haldir's sister. Erúvë was extraordinarily beautiful - even in a race that was known for their loveliness. She had long, flowing dark gold hair that cascaded down her back and intense green eyes that were currently spitting venom at Legolas. She was a softer, more feminine version of her brother but the one thing both siblings had in common was their air of command and power. Even now, subdued as she was, Aragorn could feel the strength radiating off her - and not just in a physical sense.
She was beauty and power wrapped up in one and he almost envied Legolas for what he had had with the Elven woman. Then, she kicked Legolas in the shin and he winced. No, actually, the Elf was welcome to her.
But I remember you.
I lie awake, and try so hard,
Not to think of you.
But who can decide what they dream?
And dream I do...
Evanescence
CHAPTER 3
"I'm standing at the entrance to the Mountain Of Fire. Behind me is Mordor - or at least what passes for it these days. The Mountain is quiet...waiting, watching."
The room was eerily silent as Aragorn listened to his friend. Legolas paused and slanted a glance in the man's direction as if gauging his response to the story. Apparently what he saw in Aragorn's face, encouraged him to continue and he picked up the threads of his story.
"I don't see what it is that is coming out of the darkness - all I know is that it fills me with incredible dread and fear - a fear that I have never felt in my life - not even when we were surrounded by Sauron's armies. This thing, I know - deep in my heart that it is coming - not for the world - not for dominion - but for each of the members of the Fellowship - and those who had a major part to play in the downfall of Sauron." He sighed heavily. "Tell me that my dream is nonsense Estel. Tell me that I have nothing to worry about." His lips twisted in an ironic smile. "I wanted an adventure - but this - if it is real - will be a nightmare."
He faced Aragorn. "I heard that Arwen has been dreaming as well?"
Aragorn started. "How did you know that?"
"The breezes carry tales, mellon nin. I simply listen and learn."
He laughed at the look on Aragorn's face. "Estel, you are too easy to read. No, not everyone can listen to the wind - in fact it is a very rare trait and only a handful of elves possess it." He winked at his friend. "And if they happened to carry a story about the time when you and your wife were taking a romantic sail on the lake close to Minas Tirith and you HAPPENED to tip over the boat during a particularly intimate moment, don't worry. Your secret is safe with me."
Aragorn's face turned a dull red. "You know about that?"
Legolas' only reply was a smirk.
Aragorn groaned. "Oh come on! You've got to be jesting with me! The most embarrassing moment of my mortal life and it was broadcast to the Elf!"
The Elf in question patted his shoulder. "Estel, Estel. You have nothing to fear. Neither I nor the other listeners of the wind shall repeat anything. It was a vow that we had taken when we were granted this gift."
"Others?" Aragorn repeated with such horror that Legolas burst out laughing.
He slung a friendly arm around the man's shoulders. "Come. Let us talk to my father about this new threat. Maybe it will distract you from your lack of grace."
He dodged Aragorn's backhand and ran, laughing, to the great hall.
*********************************
"So off we go again. Into another scrape that will probably end up in our doom once again, and all you have to say is that you would have preferred to walk. Dumb elf. Don't you know how tired and dirty we'd be at the end of the journey?"
"Maybe you would be," Legolas replied with a smirk, "but, us elves don't get as grimy nor do we smell as badly as you filthy humans do when you sweat."
"Oh go shoot a tree," was Aragorn's retort.
Legolas erupted in laughter - a hearty full-bodied sound that had the female elves in the courtyard eyeing him appreciatively.
It was no secret that many of them had their eyes on the Prince of Mirkwood and hoped that one day he would choose them, but Legolas seemed to be uninterested in any commitment at the moment.
Like most elves, he had a normal, healthy interest in the opposite gender - and enjoyed frequent short-term what he deemed 'mutually beneficial friendships'.
Aragorn had always enjoyed hearing of his Elven's friend's exploits both in and out of the bedroom - because Legolas never boasted and yet was able to bring across stories of encounters with the female elves in such a way that most times, Aragorn would end up doubled over with laughter before the tale was complete.
He glanced at his friend now as he sat gracefully on Arod. The horse and the rider suited each other marvelously, both fair and regal.
Legolas looked across and said, "What?"
He shook his head. "'Tis naught."
The Elf shrugged. "Sometimes, Estel, I'll admit, you scare me."
Aragorn just made a rude noise in his throat and continued to ride.
***************************
"Legolas?"
"Hmmm?" the Elf replied sleepily.
"Why are we riding into danger by ourselves once again?"
Legolas laughed softly and raised himself up on his elbow. "Because, Aragorn,, it would be easier for the two of us to get into Mordor without drawing undue attention. If we pranced in with a hundred men, then whatever lurks in Mordor will be sure to know that we have come."
Aragorn contemplated the wisdom of the Elf's words. "It's still risky."
"Yes," was the reply.
"We will probably die."
"Highly likely."
"Well then. Go to sleep and stop bothering me." The last thing he heard was Legolas' quiet chuckle before the friends fell silent and drifted off into sleep.
********************************
"Aragorn?"
"What?"
"Someone's following us."
"Do you know who?"
Legolas paused. "It's an Elf," he said at last. He didn't sound too pleased by the idea.
"An Elf? In Lorien? Didn't they all leave for the Undying Lands?"
"Apparently not," was the wry reply. "Now stop your jabbering and let me concentrate."
Aragorn opened his mouth to say something rude and thought better of it. He could attest to the strength of an Elf and he didn't too fancy the thought of being tossed up into the nearest tree. He watched Legolas as he listened carefully to his surroundings.
"An Elf warrior - no less," the prince murmured.
Just then a rope was tossed out of the dense foliage, the noose aimed at Legolas. Agilely, he twisted and grabbed the long object. Putting his superhuman strength into it, he gave the rope a hard tug and out of the woods came a slender elf, spitting curses at the Elf prince.
"Utinu en lokirim!"
"Erúvë?" Legolas asked in surprise.
The beautiful Elf pushed her shining golden hair out of her face and threw a punch directly at Legolas' gut. The blow sucked the air from his lungs and he gasped, trying to take in air.
Aragorn would have laughed if the female elf hadn't just then pulled out a sword and began to advance on the prince. He unsheathed Anduril and blocked her blow. Furious she rounded on him.
Legolas had by then, regained his breath and grabbed her by the upper arms, trapping her in a viselike grip.
She fought like an Elf possessed but Greenleaf refused to let go. Finally, she slumped in his arms in defeat. Aragorn studied her features and then, recognition dawned.
"Legolas! This is Haldir's sister!"
"I know," was the quiet reply. He looked down at the female that he held. "Why do you greet me so, melamin?"
Melamin? Aragorn wondered. How was it that Legolas was on such friendly terms with Lorien's former march warden's sibling?
Then his lips curved in a smile. When the Fellowship had stayed in Lorien for the month that they mourned Gandalf, there were many periods when Legolas would have wandered off on his own - only to return hours later.
No one had questioned his absences, as they knew that he had been grieving for the wizard that was close to him and also that as an Elf, death was a new and strange experience for him.
Aragorn studied Haldir's sister. Erúvë was extraordinarily beautiful - even in a race that was known for their loveliness. She had long, flowing dark gold hair that cascaded down her back and intense green eyes that were currently spitting venom at Legolas. She was a softer, more feminine version of her brother but the one thing both siblings had in common was their air of command and power. Even now, subdued as she was, Aragorn could feel the strength radiating off her - and not just in a physical sense.
She was beauty and power wrapped up in one and he almost envied Legolas for what he had had with the Elven woman. Then, she kicked Legolas in the shin and he winced. No, actually, the Elf was welcome to her.