I've been sittin' here
Tryin' to find myself
I get behind myself
I need to rewind myself
Lookin for the payback
Listen for the playback
They say that every man bleeds just like me
And now I feel like number one
Yet I'm last in life
Kid Rock
CHAPTER 5
The darkness, usually so comforting, felt as if it was closing in on him. Not even the security of the trees that he was so fond of seemed to be enough. He sat on a branch of one the highest trees in the woods, his hands clenched tightly as the memories washed over him.
"TOE-go hahn dahd, Legolas! DAH-go hohn! DAH-go hohn!!! (Bring him down, Legolas! Kill him! Kill him!!!)
He had the Uruk-Hai in sight, had aimed and shot. Twice, he had done this and yet the thing kept going. He remembered the split second of dismay and failure that he had felt, before the wall had exploded. He had fought like an Elf possessed, striving to keep as many of the Uruk-Hai away from the members of his army as possible.
He was fighting close to Haldir, when he had spied the shield of an orc that he had slain, lying on the battlement. Noticing that orcs were beginning to climb up the ramp at the side, he had jumped on the shield and slid down the ramp, firing arrows as he went. When he arrived at the bottom, he used his feet to launch the shield in the air, lodging the metallic object in the throat of an Uruk-Hai.
Knowing that Haldir could take care of himself, Legolas had not spared a second thought for Lothlorien's march warden. He had concentrated on keeping himself alive and in one piece.
It was only when Aragorn had called a retreat that he had looked back at where the other Elf still fought valiantly. He saw him nod at Aragorn's order to fall back to the keep, then Legolas' attention was diverted by one of his enemy's swords taking a swipe at his head. He retaliated and slew his opponent, then turned back to see if the other elves had made it safely into the keep.
He was stunned when he saw Aragorn cradling the limp body of Haldir, blood staining the Elf's light blond hair. The sight caused Legolas to falter, almost causing him to get killed by the dagger of one of his opponents.
He fought back, but despair weighed heavily on his heart and he came perilously close to dying more than once, as he made his way back to the safety of the Keep.
Once there, he had listened numbly as Aragorn told Theoden to gather the men and ride out with him one more time. Arod was brought forth and he mounted, drawing his sword in anticipation of the battle ahead. Just then, bloodlust and rage filled him - a highly unusual occurrence for an Elf. He was almost overcome with the need for vengeance for his friend, and his pale eyes glinted coldly.
He had seen the odd look that Aragorn had shot in his direction, before they began to gallop out and he knew that he would have some explaining to do after the battle - if they survived.
As the rode over the causeway, he slashed and hacked with an unholy fury, taking out his feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy on the enemies. Gandalf's timely arrival had then turned the tide of battle in their favour and Legolas had slipped away soon after to grieve in private.
After a few hours of solitude, he had rejoined the others. He knew that they would have begun to worry and he wanted to spare them any extra burden. In the few months that he had been with the Fellowship, he had had to deal with more sadness and worry that he had ever experienced in the centuries that he had existed for. First Gandalf's supposed death, then Boromir's demise, followed by the agonizing period when he thought that Aragorn had been killed - and now this. And because the emotions of Elves were so much more intense than those of the other races of Middle Earth, Legolas felt as if he was going out of his mind.
Suddenly, a noise from below drew him out of his memories. Legolas stiffened, his body going taut as he prepared for a fight. His ears perked as he made out the sound of someone moving stealthily in the forest below him. With a smooth motion, he launched himself out of the tree and onto the intruder.
He heard a curse and then a feminine voice said very clearly, "I am going to cut off your ....,"
He placed a hand over her mouth before she could finish her sentence. Propping himself up on his elbow, he gazed down at the lovely Elf that lay beneath him.
"What are you doing here, Erúvë? Didn't I tell you to stay by the campsite?"
She had the grace at least, to look guilty. "I was worried. You were gone for so long, I thought that something had happened to you."
His annoyed look vanished. "I am fine." His eyes darkened. "I was just...thinking."
Her eyes softened and she raised a hand to his cheek. "You were remembering, weren't you?" When his eyes lowered, she placed her fingers under his chin, forcing him to look at her. "Legolas - I'm sorry. I harboured this intense hatred of you in my heart - simply because it was the easiest thing to blame you. Deep down, I had known that it was Haldir's decision to make and that most likely, he would have died, but, it was still hard to accept. And then when news of the battle came through on the wind - well - I was overcome with rage. I even refused to leave to the Undying Lands because I thought that one day I would be able to get vengeance on you."
Legolas smiled at her. "I had forgotten that you could also listen to the wind, melanin. I am sorry that you had to learn of your brother's passing in such a manner. If I had but remembered, I would have sent a message to you to ease your pain."
Her fingers toyed with his hair. "Worry not about what was past. Now, we need to concentrate on this new threat."
He arched a blond eyebrow at her. "We?"
She smiled blindingly at him. "But of course. I have heard the tales on the wind - the story of this new threat - and I plan to help."
He shook his head as he looked down at her. "No, Erúvë, it is too dangerous."
Anger flashed in her eyes for an instant before it was swiftly concealed. "I don't think that you understand. I am coming, whether you like it or not. And you cannot stop me."
His lips curved in a dangerous smile. "Can't I?" he asked in a deliberately soft voice.
She opened her mouth to deliver a scathing retort, but before she could, Aragorn came crashing through the forest. He pulled up short when he saw the two elves lying on the floor.
He coughed to cover a laugh. "Am I interrupting?"
Legolas glared at him. "Shut up." He rose gracefully and extended his hand to Erúvë. Aragorn had to bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing when she ignored him and sprang lithely to her feet. She brushed the dirt off her clothes and faced the other Elf.
"I am helping you whether you like it or not," she declared.
Aragorn looked at his friend, who's face had gone alarmingly red. It was an unusual occurrence for Legolas to even get annoyed, much less to reach as furious as he looked now.
Legolas gritted his teeth and enunciated each word with deliberate precision. "You. Are. Not. Going. Anywhere."
In a fit of childish pique, she stuck her tongue out at him.
Aragorn burst out laughing, especially after Legolas growled nastily. "Unless you plan on doing something else more productive with that, I suggest that you put it back inside."
Erúvë stared at the enraged Elf for a few seconds, before her mouth twitched. Soon, she had joined Aragorn in laughter. Legolas stared at them, before he grudgingly smiled. He was not a creature to remain angry for long at anyone and these two were no exception.
He thought about how strange he must have looked, and sounded, and he started to chuckle. Aragorn clapped him on his back. "That was one of the most memorable moments that I have ever experienced in the course of our lives, mellon nin."
He laughed at that and lightly punched Aragorn on the shoulder. "Then that does not say much for the quality of your life thus far, Estel."
Erúvë looked at the two males as they exchanged playful banter. She could tell that they were extraordinarily close and she wondered what it would be like to share that bond of friendship with someone. She was always a loner - preferring to learn to fight with swords and bows and the like instead of mingling with the other female elves.
Her only confidante was her brother - which was why his death hit her so hard. Erúvë sighed. She missed him.
Legolas was aware to the sad noise that Erúvë made and he knew that she still was still mourning. He felt sorry for her but he could not with a good conscience allow her to come with them - especially since he knew how dangerous it could be.
He frowned as they made their way through the darkness back to the campsite. He would think of something on the morrow.
Tryin' to find myself
I get behind myself
I need to rewind myself
Lookin for the payback
Listen for the playback
They say that every man bleeds just like me
And now I feel like number one
Yet I'm last in life
Kid Rock
CHAPTER 5
The darkness, usually so comforting, felt as if it was closing in on him. Not even the security of the trees that he was so fond of seemed to be enough. He sat on a branch of one the highest trees in the woods, his hands clenched tightly as the memories washed over him.
"TOE-go hahn dahd, Legolas! DAH-go hohn! DAH-go hohn!!! (Bring him down, Legolas! Kill him! Kill him!!!)
He had the Uruk-Hai in sight, had aimed and shot. Twice, he had done this and yet the thing kept going. He remembered the split second of dismay and failure that he had felt, before the wall had exploded. He had fought like an Elf possessed, striving to keep as many of the Uruk-Hai away from the members of his army as possible.
He was fighting close to Haldir, when he had spied the shield of an orc that he had slain, lying on the battlement. Noticing that orcs were beginning to climb up the ramp at the side, he had jumped on the shield and slid down the ramp, firing arrows as he went. When he arrived at the bottom, he used his feet to launch the shield in the air, lodging the metallic object in the throat of an Uruk-Hai.
Knowing that Haldir could take care of himself, Legolas had not spared a second thought for Lothlorien's march warden. He had concentrated on keeping himself alive and in one piece.
It was only when Aragorn had called a retreat that he had looked back at where the other Elf still fought valiantly. He saw him nod at Aragorn's order to fall back to the keep, then Legolas' attention was diverted by one of his enemy's swords taking a swipe at his head. He retaliated and slew his opponent, then turned back to see if the other elves had made it safely into the keep.
He was stunned when he saw Aragorn cradling the limp body of Haldir, blood staining the Elf's light blond hair. The sight caused Legolas to falter, almost causing him to get killed by the dagger of one of his opponents.
He fought back, but despair weighed heavily on his heart and he came perilously close to dying more than once, as he made his way back to the safety of the Keep.
Once there, he had listened numbly as Aragorn told Theoden to gather the men and ride out with him one more time. Arod was brought forth and he mounted, drawing his sword in anticipation of the battle ahead. Just then, bloodlust and rage filled him - a highly unusual occurrence for an Elf. He was almost overcome with the need for vengeance for his friend, and his pale eyes glinted coldly.
He had seen the odd look that Aragorn had shot in his direction, before they began to gallop out and he knew that he would have some explaining to do after the battle - if they survived.
As the rode over the causeway, he slashed and hacked with an unholy fury, taking out his feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy on the enemies. Gandalf's timely arrival had then turned the tide of battle in their favour and Legolas had slipped away soon after to grieve in private.
After a few hours of solitude, he had rejoined the others. He knew that they would have begun to worry and he wanted to spare them any extra burden. In the few months that he had been with the Fellowship, he had had to deal with more sadness and worry that he had ever experienced in the centuries that he had existed for. First Gandalf's supposed death, then Boromir's demise, followed by the agonizing period when he thought that Aragorn had been killed - and now this. And because the emotions of Elves were so much more intense than those of the other races of Middle Earth, Legolas felt as if he was going out of his mind.
Suddenly, a noise from below drew him out of his memories. Legolas stiffened, his body going taut as he prepared for a fight. His ears perked as he made out the sound of someone moving stealthily in the forest below him. With a smooth motion, he launched himself out of the tree and onto the intruder.
He heard a curse and then a feminine voice said very clearly, "I am going to cut off your ....,"
He placed a hand over her mouth before she could finish her sentence. Propping himself up on his elbow, he gazed down at the lovely Elf that lay beneath him.
"What are you doing here, Erúvë? Didn't I tell you to stay by the campsite?"
She had the grace at least, to look guilty. "I was worried. You were gone for so long, I thought that something had happened to you."
His annoyed look vanished. "I am fine." His eyes darkened. "I was just...thinking."
Her eyes softened and she raised a hand to his cheek. "You were remembering, weren't you?" When his eyes lowered, she placed her fingers under his chin, forcing him to look at her. "Legolas - I'm sorry. I harboured this intense hatred of you in my heart - simply because it was the easiest thing to blame you. Deep down, I had known that it was Haldir's decision to make and that most likely, he would have died, but, it was still hard to accept. And then when news of the battle came through on the wind - well - I was overcome with rage. I even refused to leave to the Undying Lands because I thought that one day I would be able to get vengeance on you."
Legolas smiled at her. "I had forgotten that you could also listen to the wind, melanin. I am sorry that you had to learn of your brother's passing in such a manner. If I had but remembered, I would have sent a message to you to ease your pain."
Her fingers toyed with his hair. "Worry not about what was past. Now, we need to concentrate on this new threat."
He arched a blond eyebrow at her. "We?"
She smiled blindingly at him. "But of course. I have heard the tales on the wind - the story of this new threat - and I plan to help."
He shook his head as he looked down at her. "No, Erúvë, it is too dangerous."
Anger flashed in her eyes for an instant before it was swiftly concealed. "I don't think that you understand. I am coming, whether you like it or not. And you cannot stop me."
His lips curved in a dangerous smile. "Can't I?" he asked in a deliberately soft voice.
She opened her mouth to deliver a scathing retort, but before she could, Aragorn came crashing through the forest. He pulled up short when he saw the two elves lying on the floor.
He coughed to cover a laugh. "Am I interrupting?"
Legolas glared at him. "Shut up." He rose gracefully and extended his hand to Erúvë. Aragorn had to bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing when she ignored him and sprang lithely to her feet. She brushed the dirt off her clothes and faced the other Elf.
"I am helping you whether you like it or not," she declared.
Aragorn looked at his friend, who's face had gone alarmingly red. It was an unusual occurrence for Legolas to even get annoyed, much less to reach as furious as he looked now.
Legolas gritted his teeth and enunciated each word with deliberate precision. "You. Are. Not. Going. Anywhere."
In a fit of childish pique, she stuck her tongue out at him.
Aragorn burst out laughing, especially after Legolas growled nastily. "Unless you plan on doing something else more productive with that, I suggest that you put it back inside."
Erúvë stared at the enraged Elf for a few seconds, before her mouth twitched. Soon, she had joined Aragorn in laughter. Legolas stared at them, before he grudgingly smiled. He was not a creature to remain angry for long at anyone and these two were no exception.
He thought about how strange he must have looked, and sounded, and he started to chuckle. Aragorn clapped him on his back. "That was one of the most memorable moments that I have ever experienced in the course of our lives, mellon nin."
He laughed at that and lightly punched Aragorn on the shoulder. "Then that does not say much for the quality of your life thus far, Estel."
Erúvë looked at the two males as they exchanged playful banter. She could tell that they were extraordinarily close and she wondered what it would be like to share that bond of friendship with someone. She was always a loner - preferring to learn to fight with swords and bows and the like instead of mingling with the other female elves.
Her only confidante was her brother - which was why his death hit her so hard. Erúvë sighed. She missed him.
Legolas was aware to the sad noise that Erúvë made and he knew that she still was still mourning. He felt sorry for her but he could not with a good conscience allow her to come with them - especially since he knew how dangerous it could be.
He frowned as they made their way through the darkness back to the campsite. He would think of something on the morrow.