Author's Note:
This is the fourth chapter, in four days. O.o it's killing me x.x I have no time for anything else. so this is the last piece of your Christmas present, and you'll have to wait around a week for the next chapter. I can't write them on paper fast enough. x.x
I would like to thank ALL of you guys, the reviewers, especially those who reviewed after every chapter! Thank you so much! I love getting all the reviews! ^^ I love it! My mailbox, over the last couple of days, has been filled with reviews! And that definitely is not a bad thing! Lol I am loving this present as much as you guys, especially because I'm getting reviews and I know what's going to happen. XP
I seriously am going to try to update faster than my 'once a week' pace that I took before this present. Lol It's hard though, with all the homework. But, it's Christmas break and there's no homework! And, better yet, NO SCHOOL!
I bet you all know where the responses to reviews are going to be. *hears a general 'at the bottom' echo from the crowd* wow! You guys are all so smart! Lol Now! It is time for the 10th chapter! *throws party* the 10th chapter! Phwee! I feel so special!
+++++++++++++++++
Chapter 10: A Trail Picked Up
Gimli could only watch in horror as the branch swung low towards Legolas. The prince stood firm where he was and knew this would be painful. The limb pierced through the elf's chest, slicing through the flesh easily. It missed his heart, but barely. Blood spraying across the ground and dotted the semi-shocked face of the blonde. He looked around slightly, his face that of one who had been expecting this, but was still surprised. The archer spit up blood, and smiled at the dwarf who was sitting in shock. The large tree wrenched the branch from the torso of the elf, flipping him to his back, on the ground. The stout being cried out in horror at the actions of his companion. He crawled forward to the fair being, who had his eyes closed. The bearded Halfling made it to the prince, and quickly felt for a pulse. None came. The archer, without a doubt, was dead.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Aragorn peered around the camp again, there was something amiss here. His heart dropped into his stomach and he felt that there was something wrong with Legolas. A hole seemed to appear in the ranger's heart, ripping a vacuum in his soul. The king felt the sound of the elf's laughter leave him and his presence disappear. The warm feeling of the elf's touch was gone.
"Legolas?" He asked no one in particular. "Legolas!"
Gandalf was woken by the yell. Concern swiftly etched itself across the wizard's face.
"What is it?" He asked the human.
The leather-clad man simply bowed his head, trying to hold back tears that had become prominent.
"Legolas." the Gondorian replied solemnly, "is gone."
"What?" came the startled reply of the white wizard.
"I can no longer feel him. His presence has left me."
Comprehension dawned on the older man. He had never fully understood the bond between the elf and the man, but now did. The white-robed man nodded solemnly.
"We must make hast in finding him and Gimli," he said, quickly. "I never, yet, have doubted the prince's will to live. He will be alright."
"How can we hope for that?!" the rugged man shouted back. The loss of his friend was making the king irrational and tempermental.
"I'm surprised you ask, Estel."
The ranger lowered his head in shame and grief.
"I am sorry, mellon-nin," replied the younger man.
"You were named that for a reason. Do not despair."
Estel nodded and hoped that Mithrandir was right.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Gimli held the dead prince in his arms.
"You confounded, stubborn, reckless elf!" He shouted at the limp form he was cradling. "Why did you do that?! You idiot."
He swore fluently in dwarvish. The stout being was so wrapped up in his anger at the blonde that he didn't notice the hole in the archer's chest closing up, the skin and organs healing. In an instant his body lurched back to life as his heart resumed beating and his lungs took in a tremendous amount of air. Legolas sat up quickly, knocking heads with the very surprised Halfling. The elf massaged his head slightly before that pain as well, vanished.
The stout being peered at the wood-elf with wide eyes before reaching forward and hugging the crap out of the blonde. He sat back, still looking at the prince.
"You were dead!" the dwarf exclaimed.
The archer was surprised, and felt the area where the tree had struck through him. No uneven skin, no blister, not so much as a scrape. The flesh was whole again but the ground was coated in a thick sticky substance. Blood.
"Well," He stated, trying to find the right words to say. "I'm not, am I."
"Obviously not, laddie," the dwarf said, grinning from ear to ear. "Just, don't do that. AGAIN!"
They heard another loud screeching sound and looked at the trees in front of them. The dark tree that had struck Legolas began to burn like a wildfire, the demon had made the elf's blood poisonous and very flammable. Then, the fire began spreading to the other trees. The elven prince cringed at the sound of the trees screaming. A voice came up from deep inside the elf again and his eyes flashed menacingly. The elf stood and stepped towards the nearest tree, away from the dwarf.
"They deserved it," the demon said in his usual gruff and dark voice.
Gimli turned back to the fair being, who was standing near to him, surprised but not too startled at the hold that the evil entity had taken. The archer shook his head again, and looked as surprised as the bearded Halfling next to him. This was quickly covered; however, by a look of calm. He turned to hold out a hand to the dwarf, his blue eyes now filled with peace and tranquility.
"Come, Master Dwarf," he said serenely. "Let us find a way out of here."
The stout being took the hand openly and was pulled to his feet. But, before they could take even a single step, there was a loud crack and the floor gave way beneath them. They had obviously not been in a *real* grove of trees, but one Palandor had created to trick them.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Aragorn was startled. His friend's laugh had left him meaning only that the beloved elf was dead. Only if the prince were alive would the melodious voice return to him. The ranger longed to have seen the blonde one more time. The king felt guilty. During his last months, before the wood-elf's death, he had seen but a little of the charming face and calm blue eyes of his friend and now he was dead. He already missed his rambunctious companion. His heart ached. But, after a few moments, the ranger felt the warm presence returning to him. The man was no less than shocked. This meant, that somehow, the prince had survived! The king cried out in joy, causing Gandalf to quirk an eyebrow.
"What is it now?" the wizard asked.
"He is alive!" Estel exclaimed. "He lives!"
"But you just said."
"Nevermind that! Legolas is back with the living!"
The white wizard across from the man smiled. The younger turned to the older, who was wearing a look of 'I told you so!' The white-bearded man opened his mouth to speak.
"You need not to say it," The ranger interrupted.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next morning, at dawn, Aragorn awoke again. Their makeshift camp had already been taken down and Gandalf was fishing through the ranger's bag. Bright sunlight played across the small area and he looked around. They were in Rohan. The pair had slept under a small precipice that jutted out of the large boulder that the king had rested his back on the night before. It had been so dark the night before, that he hadn't really been able to observe his surroundings. The man sat up and moved to put his cloak on, this startled the white wizard, who had recently found several pieces of Lembas bread In the king's leather bag.
"Ah." began the wizard, "You awake."
"Good Morning to you too, Mithrandir," the ranger said, smiling. "Yes, I did pack food."
The wizard had opened his mouth to speak, but his question had been answered. He stood up and began to walk towards the man still on the ground, who was peering at the soil curiously.
"They were here," the king murmured. "There was a struggle." He fingered the dirt and found a small patch of blood. "This is." the man put the dried blood to his nose. ".elf blood." Estel spotted another pool of dried blood, darker than the first and did the same thing with it. "Dwarf blood." He then began to follow a series of footsteps. "Come Gandalf! I have found a trail!"
And, the statement was true, the trail had been picked up. The pair of them took up their packs, mounted Shadowfax and began to follow the mismatched footsteps.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Legolas peered around the semi-dark room that he and Gimli had fallen into. The only light came from a small circular opening in the floor not to far ahead of him. On the ceiling, ripples of light played across the plain surface. It showed that in the opening, there was a sort of fluid. The demon began to wrack his mind again for the secret that he hid and his head began to ache. From there, everything went black.
+++++++++++++++
Tee hee! Cliffie! ^^ I'm so evil. *hands skittles to all the reviewers* Love you all!
Responses:
Colagreenleaf: XDDD that's SO funny! But, I don't think that someone so naturally charming could ever sing bad. lol
LegolasLover2004: O.o . I am I am! *furiously begins to write the next chapter*
Star-Stallion: XDD omg! I feel so loved! We now have an inside joke! Lol ^^ I will forever remember this! (
Deana: *zips lips* not going to reveal any further plot! Lol Thank you! ^^
Well, that's all for this chapter! Gotta go work on the next one! ^^
Dha
This is the fourth chapter, in four days. O.o it's killing me x.x I have no time for anything else. so this is the last piece of your Christmas present, and you'll have to wait around a week for the next chapter. I can't write them on paper fast enough. x.x
I would like to thank ALL of you guys, the reviewers, especially those who reviewed after every chapter! Thank you so much! I love getting all the reviews! ^^ I love it! My mailbox, over the last couple of days, has been filled with reviews! And that definitely is not a bad thing! Lol I am loving this present as much as you guys, especially because I'm getting reviews and I know what's going to happen. XP
I seriously am going to try to update faster than my 'once a week' pace that I took before this present. Lol It's hard though, with all the homework. But, it's Christmas break and there's no homework! And, better yet, NO SCHOOL!
I bet you all know where the responses to reviews are going to be. *hears a general 'at the bottom' echo from the crowd* wow! You guys are all so smart! Lol Now! It is time for the 10th chapter! *throws party* the 10th chapter! Phwee! I feel so special!
+++++++++++++++++
Chapter 10: A Trail Picked Up
Gimli could only watch in horror as the branch swung low towards Legolas. The prince stood firm where he was and knew this would be painful. The limb pierced through the elf's chest, slicing through the flesh easily. It missed his heart, but barely. Blood spraying across the ground and dotted the semi-shocked face of the blonde. He looked around slightly, his face that of one who had been expecting this, but was still surprised. The archer spit up blood, and smiled at the dwarf who was sitting in shock. The large tree wrenched the branch from the torso of the elf, flipping him to his back, on the ground. The stout being cried out in horror at the actions of his companion. He crawled forward to the fair being, who had his eyes closed. The bearded Halfling made it to the prince, and quickly felt for a pulse. None came. The archer, without a doubt, was dead.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Aragorn peered around the camp again, there was something amiss here. His heart dropped into his stomach and he felt that there was something wrong with Legolas. A hole seemed to appear in the ranger's heart, ripping a vacuum in his soul. The king felt the sound of the elf's laughter leave him and his presence disappear. The warm feeling of the elf's touch was gone.
"Legolas?" He asked no one in particular. "Legolas!"
Gandalf was woken by the yell. Concern swiftly etched itself across the wizard's face.
"What is it?" He asked the human.
The leather-clad man simply bowed his head, trying to hold back tears that had become prominent.
"Legolas." the Gondorian replied solemnly, "is gone."
"What?" came the startled reply of the white wizard.
"I can no longer feel him. His presence has left me."
Comprehension dawned on the older man. He had never fully understood the bond between the elf and the man, but now did. The white-robed man nodded solemnly.
"We must make hast in finding him and Gimli," he said, quickly. "I never, yet, have doubted the prince's will to live. He will be alright."
"How can we hope for that?!" the rugged man shouted back. The loss of his friend was making the king irrational and tempermental.
"I'm surprised you ask, Estel."
The ranger lowered his head in shame and grief.
"I am sorry, mellon-nin," replied the younger man.
"You were named that for a reason. Do not despair."
Estel nodded and hoped that Mithrandir was right.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Gimli held the dead prince in his arms.
"You confounded, stubborn, reckless elf!" He shouted at the limp form he was cradling. "Why did you do that?! You idiot."
He swore fluently in dwarvish. The stout being was so wrapped up in his anger at the blonde that he didn't notice the hole in the archer's chest closing up, the skin and organs healing. In an instant his body lurched back to life as his heart resumed beating and his lungs took in a tremendous amount of air. Legolas sat up quickly, knocking heads with the very surprised Halfling. The elf massaged his head slightly before that pain as well, vanished.
The stout being peered at the wood-elf with wide eyes before reaching forward and hugging the crap out of the blonde. He sat back, still looking at the prince.
"You were dead!" the dwarf exclaimed.
The archer was surprised, and felt the area where the tree had struck through him. No uneven skin, no blister, not so much as a scrape. The flesh was whole again but the ground was coated in a thick sticky substance. Blood.
"Well," He stated, trying to find the right words to say. "I'm not, am I."
"Obviously not, laddie," the dwarf said, grinning from ear to ear. "Just, don't do that. AGAIN!"
They heard another loud screeching sound and looked at the trees in front of them. The dark tree that had struck Legolas began to burn like a wildfire, the demon had made the elf's blood poisonous and very flammable. Then, the fire began spreading to the other trees. The elven prince cringed at the sound of the trees screaming. A voice came up from deep inside the elf again and his eyes flashed menacingly. The elf stood and stepped towards the nearest tree, away from the dwarf.
"They deserved it," the demon said in his usual gruff and dark voice.
Gimli turned back to the fair being, who was standing near to him, surprised but not too startled at the hold that the evil entity had taken. The archer shook his head again, and looked as surprised as the bearded Halfling next to him. This was quickly covered; however, by a look of calm. He turned to hold out a hand to the dwarf, his blue eyes now filled with peace and tranquility.
"Come, Master Dwarf," he said serenely. "Let us find a way out of here."
The stout being took the hand openly and was pulled to his feet. But, before they could take even a single step, there was a loud crack and the floor gave way beneath them. They had obviously not been in a *real* grove of trees, but one Palandor had created to trick them.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Aragorn was startled. His friend's laugh had left him meaning only that the beloved elf was dead. Only if the prince were alive would the melodious voice return to him. The ranger longed to have seen the blonde one more time. The king felt guilty. During his last months, before the wood-elf's death, he had seen but a little of the charming face and calm blue eyes of his friend and now he was dead. He already missed his rambunctious companion. His heart ached. But, after a few moments, the ranger felt the warm presence returning to him. The man was no less than shocked. This meant, that somehow, the prince had survived! The king cried out in joy, causing Gandalf to quirk an eyebrow.
"What is it now?" the wizard asked.
"He is alive!" Estel exclaimed. "He lives!"
"But you just said."
"Nevermind that! Legolas is back with the living!"
The white wizard across from the man smiled. The younger turned to the older, who was wearing a look of 'I told you so!' The white-bearded man opened his mouth to speak.
"You need not to say it," The ranger interrupted.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next morning, at dawn, Aragorn awoke again. Their makeshift camp had already been taken down and Gandalf was fishing through the ranger's bag. Bright sunlight played across the small area and he looked around. They were in Rohan. The pair had slept under a small precipice that jutted out of the large boulder that the king had rested his back on the night before. It had been so dark the night before, that he hadn't really been able to observe his surroundings. The man sat up and moved to put his cloak on, this startled the white wizard, who had recently found several pieces of Lembas bread In the king's leather bag.
"Ah." began the wizard, "You awake."
"Good Morning to you too, Mithrandir," the ranger said, smiling. "Yes, I did pack food."
The wizard had opened his mouth to speak, but his question had been answered. He stood up and began to walk towards the man still on the ground, who was peering at the soil curiously.
"They were here," the king murmured. "There was a struggle." He fingered the dirt and found a small patch of blood. "This is." the man put the dried blood to his nose. ".elf blood." Estel spotted another pool of dried blood, darker than the first and did the same thing with it. "Dwarf blood." He then began to follow a series of footsteps. "Come Gandalf! I have found a trail!"
And, the statement was true, the trail had been picked up. The pair of them took up their packs, mounted Shadowfax and began to follow the mismatched footsteps.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Legolas peered around the semi-dark room that he and Gimli had fallen into. The only light came from a small circular opening in the floor not to far ahead of him. On the ceiling, ripples of light played across the plain surface. It showed that in the opening, there was a sort of fluid. The demon began to wrack his mind again for the secret that he hid and his head began to ache. From there, everything went black.
+++++++++++++++
Tee hee! Cliffie! ^^ I'm so evil. *hands skittles to all the reviewers* Love you all!
Responses:
Colagreenleaf: XDDD that's SO funny! But, I don't think that someone so naturally charming could ever sing bad. lol
LegolasLover2004: O.o . I am I am! *furiously begins to write the next chapter*
Star-Stallion: XDD omg! I feel so loved! We now have an inside joke! Lol ^^ I will forever remember this! (
Deana: *zips lips* not going to reveal any further plot! Lol Thank you! ^^
Well, that's all for this chapter! Gotta go work on the next one! ^^
Dha