See part one for disclaimer. Responses to reviews at end of chapter.
Encroaching Darkness Part 16
By Ecri
Elrohir, slightly dazed by the suddenness of the start of the battle, still had the presence of mind to stand with his brother. Together, the twins fought, taking down many of their foes. He had not made a clear count of the number of orcs they fought, but he knew they were clearly outnumbered.
He saw Glorfindel as he sliced an arm off one opponent, not sparing a moment to shield his face from the spray of black blood. Glorfindel seemed winded and dazed, and, seeing that, he realized he himself felt spent. His sword seemed heavy. His limbs less under his control than he knew they should be. Could this be some residual affect from whatever had placed them all in some strange stupor? He frowned shaking his head. Elladan seemed himself, as did Aglarelen. What then could this be?
Speculation would have to wait, he realized, as he raised his sword almost too late to deflect a blow. Bumping into his brother's back, he used his proximity to Elladan to steady his arm. He slew one laughing orc just before it would have run him through, though the fight was neither as elegant nor as simple as it should have been.
"Elrohir? Are you well?"
He heard his brother's anxiety and struggled to reassure him. "I am tired, my brother, but I am well."
He could tell by the way his brother held himself that Elladan did not believe him. They fought on for some time. Elrohir dispatched one stubborn orc intent on taking the his head and, when he looked around for another opponent, Elrohir realized that his brother had manipulated his movements until he had no enemy before him. He saw only his elven comrades nearby, but took full advantage of the chance to rest.
It was then that he noticed Galadriel's hurried movements to Aglarelen's side. He could not hear their words over the cacophony of battle, but he watched his grandmother take Aglarelen's hand and hasten down an adjacent corridor.
Elrohir knew he would be little help in battle, but he also knew he could not allow the Lady of the Golden Wood and The Crown Prince of Mirkwood to race off without escort no matter how capable both were with a sword. He reached his free hand to his brother's shoulder. With no more than a slight squeeze he bid farewell and raced after them.
He heard his brother call his name, but he did not pause to answer.
**
Aragorn watched as Gandalf and Elrond gently rolled Legolas over onto his back. Elrond frowned as he placed a hand to the Prince's cheek. Legolas was flushed and sweating, but quickly chilling in the damp air of the cave.
Aragorn raised himself up and tore at his own cloak. He passed it to Elrond, who took it without comment, so great was his concern for Legolas.
Gandalf spoke to Elrond. "Has he been poisoned?"
Aragorn interrupted knowing they had not seen what he had. "Nay. He induced that himself."
Gandalf and Elrond turned to face him, startled. "Why?" Elrond spoke the word, but the question was written clearly across both faces.
The Ranger shook his head. "I cannot begin to guess."
Elrond leaned closer to Legolas and examined him once more. Legolas appeared to be coming around. The young prince turned in agitation. His eyes clenched tightly shut, he thrashed about unaware of what he was doing or where he was. Elrond spoke softly trying to soothe him, but Aragorn could not hear the words.
The Ranger turned his attention to Gandalf, but the Wizard had his own eyes closed. He had a look of intense concentration upon his features. Turning back to his father, Aragorn saw Elrond was failing in his attempt to hold Legolas still.
Aragorn moved without hesitation to his friend's side. It was his fault, after all. He would help Legolas any way he could. He reached a hand out toward Legolas. The moment Aragorn touched his friend, the Prince's eyes snapped open. An instant later, Gandalf's did as well.
Aragorn saw confusion and fear in Legolas' face for an instant. Then, his eyes seemed to cloud, becoming unclear. In another moment, they seemed to hold a hatred that caused Aragorn to pull slightly back so shocked was he at the sight.
Something strong plowed into him from the right, pushing him painfully to the ground. To Aragorn's surprise, he saw Gandalf had done it and had then placed himself in front of his injured friend. He was about to ask Gandalf what he was doing, when the Grey Wizard began to speak in Quenya. After a few words, however, he switched to a harsher tongue, the very sound of which seemed to cause Lord Elrond pain.
Legolas writhed before them in agony, hatred shining in his eyes, which no longer looked human. Nor did they look elven. They were black. Black pupils, black iriseseven the whites of his eyes were black. When he finally spoke, it was also in the Black Speech, but the voice was not Legolas'. It was Alatar's.
"You will not stop me, Olórin!"
"What dark purpose do you seek, Alatar? Why do you not know when you are defeated? Release your feeble hold on this young one, and face me like the wizard you should have been!" Gandalf, speaking in Westron once more, raised his staff, pointing it at Legolas.
No! Aragorn's mind screamed at him. Not Legolas! Legolas has beenpossessed? Aragorn could not imagine what horror his friend faced, but he knew to have Alatar within him, when he had struggled so hard to hold onto some sense of self after losing his elven nature, must be the worst sort of torture.
Alatar was laughing now, the cruel harsh tones not at all like either Legolas' musical, elven laughter or like the deep, hearty laugh he had developed since he has become human. "You cannot harm this body! You are impotent against me! If you strike me, you harm only your precious prince! I will achieve my goal before you drive me out!" He paused and seemed to consider something. "Or perhaps I will win this body as well. You have cast me out of my own, and there is no reason that I should not continue!"
Elrond stood then, raising his own sword. "Legolas Thranduilion would rather we kill him than allow you to take him this way!" His certainty was unmistakable.
Alatar laughed again. "Likely, but could you do it? Especially if I were to tell you there is a way to cure him?"
"I know the cure!" Aragorn declared standing and taking a menacing step forward.
Alatar shook his head as though pitying Aragorn his stupidity. "I know the cure for his lost elven nature! I know how to restore him!"
Aragorn faltered then. Could he be speaking the truth? Could he know such a thing?
Before he could reply, Gandalf spoke. "That would be likely, since you are responsible for this! Do not think to manipulate us with false hope!"
Another flash of confusion passed Legolas' blackened eyes before Alatar spoke again. "I did not do this! It spoiled our plans! This Not-Elf" He spat the words as though it had been responsible for his failure. "He escaped our spell! It should have affected him! If we had known about him, we would have succeeded by now!"
Gandalf's brow furrowed, and Aragorn could not help but wonder what he was thinking. The Ranger took another step closer. "Leave him, Wizard! Leave him now, or we will kill you!"
"You will kill him! I am spirit without flesh! If you kill me, perhaps I will find my way into the body of someone else you care for!" He moved his, or rather, Legolas' headto look purposefully at Elrond.
"I will not allow it!" Aragorn declared, and, did not flinch even when the joyless laughter echoed again and the harsh expression twisted Legolas' fair features.
"You cannot stop it!" Alatar insisted. "I have waited long enough! I will do what I have been bidden to do!" He raised Legolas' body upwards trying to gain his feet, but he struggled.
Aragorn would have laughed had the situation not been so dire, for Legolas body did indeed seem to become a battleground. He would get one foot beneath him and attempt to move the other, when the first would go out from under him. He would move a hand as though to steady himself against rock wall or floor, and the arm would betray him by bending at the elbow making him over balance. Spasmodic movement, ungraceful as it might have been, not only kept Alatar from achieving his unnamed purpose, but also seemed to be making him livid.
Gandalf moved then to more completely shield Aragorn from Legolas', or rather, Alatar's line of sight. Elrond moved closer to the Grey Pilgrim, effectively limiting his son's range of vision.
Frustration tore at him, but Aragorn did not want to distract either of them by arguing about what they had done. In truth, he knew he would likely do the same had he been in their position. Stepping back, he realized there was little he could do. He waited, hoping for some instruction from Gandalf or Elrond. Whatever they asked of him, he would do it without question.
***
Gandalf supported the young Prince of Mirkwood on one side and Lord Elrond on the other as Legolas' body tried to rid itself of some poison or other.
When the Prince fell, exhausted, he and Lord Elrond gently moved him to lie upon his back.
The Wizard turned to Lord Elrond. "Has he been poisoned?" He did not think this could be so, since he had seen no evidence of poisoning, and such things rarely escaped Lord Elrond's notice.
Aragorn's interruption surprised him, but not more than the words. "Nay. He induced that himself."
Gandalf and Elrond both turned to face him startled.
"Why?" Elrond asked the question that Gandalf himself would have voiced.
The Ranger shook his head. "I cannot begin to guess."
Perhaps I can, Gandalf thought. Closing his eyes, the Istar looked deep into Legolas. He found first the longing within Legolas' heart that Aragorn be well. Looking deeper, he found some measure of fear, which was not surprising, given the situation, the Wizard mused. It was upon his third look that he saw it. Something foreignhad taken Legolas. The Prince was still here, of course, but there was little he could do to fight against a Maia. The strength it took him to remain awake and aware through this ordeal was more than Gandalf would have presumed he could spare right now.
Legolas was battling this evil for control of his very self, and the struggle was not one the young one intended to lose. Ferocity was a side of elven nature that few saw, but in battle, they were a most formidable foe. While Legolas was, physically, no longer an elf, his attitudes had not undergone any great change, at least as far as this instance and as far as Gandalf could detect.
Something shifted. The Evil was coming to the forefront, somehow, pushing past Legolas' defenses. Gandalf's eyes flew open. He began to speak in Quenya, hoping to aid the struggle he perceived, but when the words were pushed aside, he knew who had won this first battle. Switching instantly to the Black Speech, something he knew Alatar would understand, he tried to sever the Wizard's connection to the Prince.
He heard Alatar's voice, and knew this fight was not over.
"You will not stop me, Olórin!"
"What dark purpose possesses you, Alatar? Why do you not know when you are defeated? Release your feeble hold on this young one, and face me like the wizard you should have been!" Gandalf did not hesitate to point his staff at Legolas, knowing full well what Alatar would say in response.
"You cannot harm this body! You are impotent against me! If you strike me, you harm only your precious prince! I will achieve my goal before you drive me out!" Alatar stopped for a moment and seemed to be quite pleased with some new thought he was only too pleased to share with his Grey brother. "Or perhaps I will win this body as well. You have cast me out of my own, and there is no reason that I should not continue!"
Elrond stood then, raising his own sword. "Legolas Thranduilion would rather we kill him than allow you to take him this way!" Gandalf whispered a blessing over Elrond's words that Iluvatar give them the strength to do what must be done.
Alatar's depraved chortle seemed an abomination to Gandalf as he remembered the genuine joy Legolas often spread through his own elven laughter.
"Likely, but could you do it?" Alatar demanded. "Especially if I were to tell you there is a way to cure him?"
"I know the cure!" Aragorn declared.
Gandalf watched Alatar closely as he spoke not only with unmistakable malice, but also with heart wrenching promise in his voice. "I know the cure for his lost elven nature! I know how to restore him!"
Gandalf did not believe the Blue Wizard would ever help them. Whatever he had planned, he would try now to betray them to their deaths. He sneered as he spoke as though Alatar was beneath contempt. "That would be likely, since you somehow did this to him! Do not think to manipulate us with false hope!"
Alatar's confusion showed plain on Legolas' face. Gandalf saw the Maia's control over his captive body slip, and thought for a moment that Legolas would regain control for long enough that they could exorcise this demon.
"I did not do this! It spoiled our plans! This Not-Elf" Gandalf noted the note of near hysteria in his voice. It was as though he would not be held responsible for this, as though he were trying to convince someone who was not there that he was innocent of such a thing. "He escaped our spell! It should have affected him! If we had known about him, we would have succeeded by now!"
Gandalf's brow furrowed. There were more questions being raised than answered here. If the Blue Wizards had not been responsible, then who could have done this? More importantly, why had they done it?
Aragorn, moved closer. "Leave him, Wizard! Leave him now, or we will kill you!"
"You will kill him! I am spirit without flesh! If you kill this body, perhaps I will find my way into the body of someone else you care for!"
Gandalf saw Legolas' eyes flicker towards Lord Elrond, and he knew he had to protect the Elf Lord as well.
"I will not allow it!"
Gandalf barely heard Aragorn's words. He closed his eyes again, reaching out towards Legolas' soul. His fëa was strong, and Gandalf would do all he could to see that it survived this horrifying ordeal.
Legolas' body had been battered, and his fëa had not been left untouched. The fear of losing his own identity after he'd lost his elvishness, the outright horror at the idea of leaving his brother and the other elves behind unprotected and helpless as they suffered under some strange condition, and the worry for Aragorn as he'd trailed the human to the cave and watched as the Ithryn Luin attacked him, all was laid bare for Gandalf to see in that moment. Gandalf knew Legolas well. He had known the Prince nearly his entire life, and he knew Legolas' instincts would be to shy away from such an intimate connection, but the Prince must have sensed Gandalf's intention.
Two Maia, Mithrandir? Legolas' pain was evident to the Istar. He barely maintained whatever hold on himself he had managed, and the shock of having Gandalf approach so closely seemed to come close to shattering his fragile grip. How can I hold two within me? His concerns quickly turned from his own well being to the thing that worried him most. He wills me to hurt Aragorn, but he insists that Aragorn is dying anyway! He wills me to hurt Aragorn! I cannot! Yet, he is so much stronger Gandalf felt Legolas attention turn from him. There was too much going on for the Prince to be able to continue such a conversation. He was an elf made mortal, not a Maia, not an Istar. What he was being asked to endure was literally tearing him apart.
Legolas was losing his battle. Gandalf could sense it. He was so afraid to be used against his friend, that he was trying–with every ounce of his being–to will himself to die. Elves can die of a broken heart, and now, his heart must have been near to breaking. Yet, he was no elf. He could not die in this manner, no matter how much he willed it.
Legolas, I touch your spirit, though I do not control it, and I do not abide within your flesh. I would not do such a thing. I will help you endure this, if you allow it.
Legolas did not speak, but Gandalf could feel his acceptance just as he could feel the prince's attention was held by his desperate attempt to hold onto his own identity–to shield what he could of this contact from Alatar's casual perusal.
Gandalf sensed Legolas was near the end of his endurance. Alatar was powerful. Legolas, worn by his battles thus far, was barely able to keep his own thoughts separate from those of The Blue Wizard.
It was then that Mithrandir heard Alatar's answer to Aragorn's words.
"You cannot stop it!" Alatar insisted. "I have waited long enough! I will do what I have been bidden to do!"
Gandalf stepped to his right, shielding Aragorn from Alatar with his body even as his mind did the same for Legolas' fëa. He noted Elrond's movement, but had expected it. Maintaining his hold on Legolas, he spoke again in the Black Speech. This spell would work best in that speech for it was one Alatar had taken as his own. Gandalf could sense how far he'd fallen, and only prayed Iluvatar keep the other Istar from following the same dark path.
Raising his staff high above his head, he finished the spell. White light spread out from his staff and engulfed them all. White noise drowned out all sound. All was still as when the world was new. In that space between breaths, Gandalf faced Alatar.
**
Elrond watched in confusion. Surely he or Gandalf would have known, sensed somehow if Legolas had held that evil soul within him? He watched as the Blue Wizard twisted Legolas' fair features into expressions of hatred and anger. Legolas, though fierce in battle, was not one who angered easily. A gentle soul, he was quick to laugh, to smile. Though sometimes the sorrow of all the Eldar could find its way to his heart and from there show plainly upon his face, Legolas was not one who spat out words of death or threats.
Elrond raised his sword. "Legolas Thranduilion would rather we kill him than allow you to take him this way!"
He would have said more, but he could barely bring himself to say this much. The idea of killing Legolas was abhorrent to him. He was vaguely aware of Aragorn's own threats to thisthis creature that held Legolas' life.
"You cannot stop it!" Alatar cried. "I have waited long enough! I will do what I have been bidden to do!"
Elrond saw Gandalf step forward even as he did so himself. Shielding Aragorn as best they could, Elrond could only hope they could rip this thing from its perch inside Legolas.
Hearing Mithrandir slip easily into the Black Speech was difficult on the Elf Lord, and he fought not to cringe or look away fearing such a distraction might endanger Aragorn, Legolas, or Gandalf.
The light was bright and blinding, but when the flash was over, Gandalf stood facing Legolas, who somehow, despite his injuries was standing. Elrond's eyes dipped to the young prince's broken foot. Still wrapped, the foot seemed no different. When Legolas took a step back away from Gandalf, Elrond saw the limp, but in another step or two, the limping ceased.
He could see it was not healed. Legolas' foot did not bend naturally. The very sight of him using it was painful to behold, and Elrond could not understand how the prince could endure it.
Legolas held out a hand towards Gandalf, but when he spoke, Elrond realized it wasn't the Prince at all. Alatar commanded this body–completely, entirely, and with no sign of Legolas' presence. Alatar–not Legolas–faced Gandalf.
Lord Elrond heard a small shout of surprise behind him, and turned to see Aragorn looking not at Gandalf as he would have expected, but towards a narrow passage carved in the stone nearby. Elrond followed his gaze, and, to his delight, saw Elrohir, Galadriel, and Aglarelen rush to Aragorn's side.
"Legolas!" Aglarelen called, as he saw his brother standing before Gandalf, but Elrond put a hand to his arm.
"Nay, Aglarelen! Your brother" Elrond paused. How to tell such news? "He is not himself." Sighing, the elven Lord explained what had happened.
Aglarelen looked stricken. Galadriel looked thoughtful.
Elrond turned then to Elrohir who now supported Aragorn tenderly in his arms as the two whispered softly in elvish. "Elrohir! My son, are you well? Is your brother well?"
Elrohir hesitated, but answered his father. "I left him with the others. They are battling orcs."
Elrond's heart lurched at such news. Once more, he was torn. Stay here and help Aragorn? Return where Elrohir had left Elladan? Before either option seemed clear in his mind, Galadriel spoke. Her voice was authority itself.
"Mithrandir may have need of our help, Elrond." Pointedly, she raised her handthe one that bore Nenya. She looked towards the Grey Pilgrim. "The Three Rings of Power are here joined once more. We cannot let the Blue Wizard take news of the Rings or of Estel back to Sauron. This will end here."
Elrond knew she was right. Sauron must not be allowed to reassert his hold over Middle-earth, and surely he was behind this. The Blue Wizards had turned from their true purpose and become Sauron's minions. Elrond could scarcely believe such a thing could be possible.
He turned his attention back to Gandalf and Legand Alatar. A Wizard battle can be subtle or violent, delicate or fierce. Elrond knew Gandalf would be worried for Legolas, but he also knew that the Grey Wizard would not allow Alatar to take what knowledge he carried back to Sauron.
The air itself vibrated with energies as the two Wizards faced each other. Alatar, weaponless, seemed to have little advantage except that Gandalf might be reluctant to harm Legolas. The battle seemed at a standstill, though Gandalf's eyes were closed in concentration and unseen energy crackled around both.
Legolas' face twisted in rage and anger, making the fair features more fierce and hideous than Elrond could ever have imagined. Letting out a howl so loud the very cavern shook, Alatar flung himself–or rather, flung Legolas–bodily at Gandalf.
To Be Continued
Gwyn: Yes, he's not thinking clearly. He's just desperate to set things right!
Templa Otema: I love your reviews for their breathless enthusiasm! I'll keep using this technique as long as I think it's working. I'm glad you liked Thranduil. I think he's reached the point where he needs to get involved again. I'm thrilled you liked the battle there at the end. I'll be getting back to that soon.
Silvertoekee: Legolas just didn't know what else to do. He's tired, hurt, scared, and trying to hold on to his identity. Elrond and Gandalf are going to do their best to fix this.
Cosmic Castaway: Ouch! I meanno violence necessary! Thanks! That's a relief to know it wasn't my summaries. I try to answer any questions that I raise within the story, so, yeah, Legolas gagging didn't make sense in the chapter where it first appeared. I wouldn't leave you hanging too long, though! Thanks for the review!
Deana: I promise to keep the updates coming quickly! The rain has stopped, but it still looks awfully uncomfortable out there, and I don't want to lose readers that way!
Tychen: Gandalf and I are working on it! You're right. I've been too easy on Aragorn. More to come!
Catherinexxix: You're making me blush! Thanks so much. I have such love for these characters that I can't stop writing them. (Yes, your comment was clear! At least I understood it! Keep reviews coming!)
Strider's Girl: Aragorn isn't out of this yet! He's going to do something, I'm sure everyone suspects that much!
Grumpy: It's getting crowded in there, isn't it? The Wizard says Aragorn is dying because that's what he thinks is happening. We'll just have to see how far my muse wants me to go with that one! I'm glad you liked the fight scene.
Chole Amethyst: My muse is getting a bit frantic to finish this, so I'm going to go along with it. Besides, I've got Trin and Deana camping on my doorstep trying to hurry me along! I'm really pleased everyone likes Thranduil so much. I am looking forward to writing the happy reunion between Legolas and Aglarelen. As for Galadriel, yes, she and the others have their work cut out for them as far as curing everyone! It's going to take some pretty powerful magic.
Sirithiliel: Well, if you like that, I suppose this should make you happy! Thanks for the review! I'm glad you like it!
White Wolf1: Thanks! Gee, everyone likes my battle scene, and I was so afraid to write it! We're probably beginning to get to the scenes where elf and ranger will have to be cured or at least they can try to cure themI supposeMy muse is leaving me as much in the dark as all of you are!
Estelreader: More injured Aragorn to come! More angst, too! I'm glad you like it, and that you think it "seems to grow in complexity and intrigue" just makes me soooo happy! How do I think of all of this? I wish I knew! I'll post again ASAP!
Elven Kitten: Thanks! I hope you like this chapter!
Leggylover03: Lots of Estel pain and angst to come! Telling this story is taking longer than I expected!