HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!
Hope you all had wonderful Christmas's! And I just know this year will be good. Hopefully…
But…a big DISASTER has happened. My computer broke and I have LOST EVERY SINGLE STORY! Some I have on disks and my mates comp etc, but most that I was currently working on are actually gone forever. So, there might not be many updates in the next few weeks till I get it all sorted and back working again!
It is highly annoying, cos I had over 30 poems, and I've lost half on them as well.
Faerlain
Pando, Hero, and Athena – Hey, I remember you! You reviewed a few chapters ago. Woo, you're still with me! That's always good to know. Glad you like it. Thanks for reviewing.
kaspa – Yay, that's cool! I'm really pleased you're enjoying it. Thanks for reviewing.
DaydreamingTurtle – Yes, she's worried. And so is Leggy. Cos Leggy is just cool! Bugger about being ill during Xmas! I got a big icky too. Bloody germs. Thanks for reviewing.
Ms. Unknown – Yes, they do. Thanks for reviewing.
moonlight and starlight – Two chapters for Xmas! Thanks for reviewing.
Tiara Shin – A Pippin New Year? Are you feeling ok? What have you and Haldy been up to now? Hmm…
Xmas songs! Can me and Leggy join in? Even though I can't sing to save my life. I'll just mime the words I think. It will be much more painless for everybody else! Thanks for reviewing.
Myri78 – Ahh, love is such a sweet thing…sometimes! Thanks for reviewing.
Black Spell – I'm glad you like it! Thanks for reviewing.
Orlando's Hot Chick – Sad and good can go together nicely though. Thanks for reviewing.
Mesozoic Flower – Hugs all round! Thanks for reviewing.
Rayame325 – Separation is awful! Thanks for reviewing.
Chapter 7: Help.
The days crawled by for Anaróre. Day after day, she held a hope inside her that her Prince would return. But in her heart, she knew she would most likely never see him again. Even if they did win the War, even if the Ring was destroyed, there would still be things that kept them apart. The miles for one thing. Once the Ring was gone, they would all be in Minas Tirith. That was miles and miles away. She had no possible way of getting there.
And would he even feel the same way about her after all this time? Perhaps his heart had hardened after seeing so much death and destruction. The feelings of love he had displayed to her when the Fellowship had stayed in Lothlórien would be no more than precious memories she was desperately clinging onto. Her gift of the necklace would mean nothing to him. He would either give it back to her or keep it as a keepsake.
She wandered through the woods like a lost child, seeking love but never finding it. Her heart was wherever he was, locked inside the crystal of the leaf. Following him, loving him, protecting him in a manner she did not. And she had never even told him she loved him.
And she did love him. More than anything she had ever loved before she had not realised you could feel so strongly about one person this way. If she had, perhaps she wouldn't have let herself fall into the trap of love so easily. But it was too late to turn back now. Her heart was well and truly captured, her soul shared with the Mirkwood Prince. He had said he loved her, said it to her face, kissed her, held her…
She blinked back the tears. It was no use crying anymore. There was no one around to see the tears. The one person she wanted was hundreds of miles away, maybe fighting, maybe resting, travelling, searching…goodness knows what. He might have met someone else along the way, and already forgotten all abut her.
But there were no other Elves that far south. Only mortals. And if he lost his heart to a mortal, just as Lúthien and Arwen had done…she shuddered. Then he really would be lost to her. Forever. He would become a mortal himself, wither away, die, lose his soul…
She smacked herself inwardly. She mustn't think like this. Legolas wasn't like that. He loved her and would return for her. She knew it in her heart. He wouldn't leave her, not now.
And she loved him.
"Urgh, my head…"
"You ok Legolas?"
"I'm fine. Don't worry. Bloody Orcs…"
Aragorn smiled at his friend. "You actually managed to get hurt?"
Legolas smirked at him, raising a hand to the cut on his forehead. "Yes, I did. Happy now?"
"Perhaps the bump knocked some sense into that blonde head of yours," Gimli told him, grinning.
"Shut up carrot head."
Aragorn laughed. "Alright you two, that's enough." He looked around them. "Look at the state of this place. It's a mess."
They followed his gaze. They were stood in the middle of the Pelennor Fields after the great battle, and yes, everything was a mess. More than a mess…
"A really big mess," Gimli agreed.
"Hadn't we better get into the City or something?" Legolas asked, wiping the blood away with his sleeve. "Some people will be wanting to talk to you Aragorn. And I do believe you've got some healing to do." He had just spotted Éomer carrying his sister into the City.
Aragorn followed the Elf's pointing finger and gasped. He ran over and started talking to Éomer in a hurried tone. He started following him into Minas Tirith.
"Where are the Hobbits?" Gimli asked.
Legolas looked around him. "I don't know…I can't see them anywhere!" They searched around.
"Pippin! Merry!"
"Where are you?"
"What if they got crushed?" Gimli asked in a whisper, kicking the side of a fallen Oliphaunt.
"Don't think like that," Legolas told him sternly. "They have to be here somewhere. You go that way, I'll look over here."
Gimli nodded, and followed the Elf's instructions for once. They looked under fallen bodies, of Men and Orcs alike. Searching for any sign of a large hairy foot, or a tiny sword…
"Pippin!" Legolas cried, finally spotting the tiny Hobbit lying on the floor. He ran over and placed a hand on the tiny shoulder.
Pippin was shaking, and when he looked up at Legolas, the Prince saw tears steaming down his face. "Me…Merry." He moved aside, and Legolas saw the other young Hobbit, covered in Pippin's cloak, eyes shut. He looked almost…dead.
"Let's get him into the City Pip," Legolas said soothingly. He easily lifted Merry into his arms, and Pippin followed him at a run as they hurried over to the gates. Or what was left of them.
"Gimli!" Legolas called. "Into the City, I've found them."
Soon the Dwarf had caught up with them, and, leaving Pippin with him, Legolas raced through the streets, making his way to the Houses of Healing as fast as he could. People watched him with disbelief as he sped along with the speed and grace of a deer, neatly dodging people, and fallen rocks, or anything else that got in his way. He was putting all his Elven abilities to use now, and hoped beyond hope they didn't let him down.
At long last he reached the House and hurried in, looking round for Aragorn. He was over by Éowyn's bed with Éomer, and both had grim expressions. "Aragorn," he called, laying Merry down on the nearest bed.
The Ranger turned, and seeing the small, frail body in Legolas' arms, strode over. "You found him then." It wasn't really a question.
"Yes. Pippin and Gimli are on their way up here. Pippin is distraught." He frowned. "You know what was near him?"
"No."
"A Fell Beast."
Aragorn looked up from checking the Hobbit over to stare at Legolas with confusion. "You mean…"
"And I was looking in the same area that Éomer had come from with Lady Éowyn. When she awakens, ask her about it. And Snowmane was there as well, King Théoden's horse. I did not have time to look, but I'm pretty sure…King Théoden was underneath his steed."
Aragorn closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, they were full of pain and sorrow. Legolas placed a hand on his shoulder. "You stay here and take care of Merry. I'll go and see where Pippin and Gimli have got to." He turned and left.
He jogged at a leisurely pace back through the streets, and once again got the funny stares. He smiled to himself and kept his eyes sharp for any signs of the other two.
He met them halfway through the fourth circle, and told them what he had told Aragorn. He saw Pippin nodding. "Merry said something about that," he said quietly. "I didn't really take much notice, but when I saw the…thing, I realised what he meant." He looked up at the Elf. "Will he be ok?"
Legolas looked down at him and felt a wave of sorrow and care for the little one sweep over him, so deep it was almost nauseous. He stopped and took Pippin's hand in his own. "I'm pretty sure he will be Pip," he whispered "Aragorn is with him now, and trust me, that man is a miracle worker. Merry will be fine." He noticed Pippin's yawn, which the Hobbit tried to hide and smiled. "Come on, you're shattered." He picked him up and carried him the rest of the way.
"It's nothing Aragorn…"
"Legolas, you don't want a big ugly scar ruining your good looks now do you?"
"It won't scar…"
"It will if you don't let me treat it. Now sit still and stop acting like a five year old!" He pressed the cloth against Legolas' forehead, and the Elf winced slightly at the sting of the antiseptic.
"I'm not having a bandage," he muttered. "No matter what you say."
"Did I say you had to have one?" Legolas scowled at the Man and Aragorn just laughed. "Sorry Legolas. Nearly done." He washed it with clean water, then let it air-dry. "There, all done. Now it won't scar."
"How are the little ones?"
"Tired. But doing fine."
"And Lady Éowyn? What of her and Faramir?"
"Fine also. It was a good job you found Merry. He needed medical help, and fast."
"I ran all the way." He grinned, but it quickly faded back to neutral. "What happens now?"
"We will discuss it in a while, in the throne room. But I think I know what is going to happen."
"We're going to the Morannon?"
Aragorn nodded grimly. "Most likely. We need to occupy Sauron's gaze away from Frodo and the Ring. I see no other choice left open to us."
"I will follow you wherever you lead Aragorn, you know that."
He stood and walked over to the Ranger who was now stood by the window. Placing a hand on his shoulder, he whispered; "Everyone will. We will follow our leader along any path."
Aragorn turned and looked at his old friend with an expression of thanks and understanding. "Hannon lle melonin. Your words comfort me a little."
Legolas held Aragorn in a brotherly embrace. "Remember this Aragorn. I will always be here for you. I am not going to desert you after all this time."
Aragorn returned the embrace. "I know that Legolas. I know."
Behind them, the Sun began to set on the now empty Pelennor Fields, casting a blood red glow over everything around.
That night, his dreams were fitful. Hundreds of images flitted through his mind like a slideshow, scenes from his childhood, growing up in Mirkwood, people he had loved and lost, family, friends, lovers, enemies…
His father, his mother, his two younger sisters, his close bunch of friends back at home, Elladan and Elrohir, Arwen, Aragorn, Frodo, the entire Fellowship, all the other eight, staring at him with unreadable expressions on their faces, Anaróre…
At her face, full of pain and grief, he woke up, sitting upright, breathing heavily and sweating and shaking. He had seen things, bad things, terrible things that could happen to all those people, the people he cared abut, the people he loved. Their faces, silent screams, blood, tears, a dark red mist curling about him, around them, suffocating them, drawing them from beyond his reach. Their hands, reaching out to him, begging for him to save them. The fingers clawing at nothingness, their eyes, empty and lifeless, gazing at him, through him. Their hair, clinging to their skin, water, (or was it sweat and blood?), dripping from their bodies as they disappeared into the mist.
Then the screams started. Blood curdling, death screams, screams of pain and agony, ripping through his head, making his heart break and bleed. The crying, the sobbing, the screaming, and pleading. Cries for help, choked sobs, screams of pain, and pleas for mercy. He could hear them calling for him, begging him to rescue them.
But he couldn't help them all at once. There were too many. Family, friend, and lovers. How was he supposed to help them all at the same time? He felt himself being suffocated in the red mist, his own body being swallowed up, his soul ripping from his body, leaving nothing but an empty shell floating in darkness.
I was bored. Decided to put a bit of…nightmarish things in. If that makes sense.
What I said earlier about my comp – this story is already finished. Just needs a bit of editing which I can do on another comp. Thanks for sticking with me so far guys. I appreciate it.
Faerlain