A/N: Once again, I do not own LOTR nor any reference to Adromir's stories. Legolas makes an appearance in this chapter! Yay! Oh in case I forgot to tell you which I think I did, Aragorn/Strider/Estel is now 87 years old. Scene changes ()()()()() - Naur
Determined Guardian
Chapter 1
Guardian Again
King Thranduil, King of Mirkwood
Greetings Thranduil, as you may have noticed darkness has begun to creep back into our world. Fire burns in the East once again. Mithrandir has sent word to me that the ring of power has been found. You know as well as I that Sauron has awakened and will be looking for it. Once Mithrandir arrives here in Imladris with the ringbearer we will be having a council between the races to discuss and possibility take action to get rid of it. Your presence is required for this council, we will expect to see you there.
Best Regards,
Elrond Peredhil, Lord of Imladris
Thranduil looked up from the letter that had just come and sighed. He knew evil had awoken in Mordor. The spiders and orcs attacking his people in the dark forest of Mirkwood had grown in number over these past few months. These were times when Mirkwood needed its king; no he could not attend this council.
"Legolas! You may come in now!" Thranduil called. The door opened and Legolas came in; he bowed and then watched his father expectantly.
"What news did the messenger from Lord Elrond bring adar?" Legolas asked.
"The One Ring of power has been found, Lord Elrond is hosting a council to determine it's fate whether it is to let it be or to destroy it," Thranduil explained.
"Adar the Mirkwood people need you. Send me in you stead," Legolas told him.
()()()()()
"Goodnight," Sam called as he left his friend.
"Goodnight Sam," Frodo answered walking up the walk to Bag End. He opened the door
to find nothing as he had left it. Everything was thrown everywhere and something didn't feel right. Suddenly he was grabbed from the side. "Huh?!"
"Is it secret?! Is it safe?!?" He demanded. Frodo gulped and ran to the chest where he had hidden the envelope. It took a moment before he finally found it and handed it to Gandalf. He was very surprised when Gandalf threw the envelope into the fire.
"What are you doing?" Frodo asked. He watched as Gandalf retrieved the Ring from the fire with a pair of tongs and held it out to him.
"Hold out your hand Frodo, it's quite cool. What can you see? Can you see anything?" He questioned. Turning he waited for Frodo's answer.
"Nothing. There's nothing..." Gandalf took a sigh of relief. "Wait. There are markings. It's some form of elvish. I can't read it," Frodo told him.
"There are few who can. The language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter here," He replied.
"Mordor..?" Frodo whispered.
"In the common tongue it says, "One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them. One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. You must leave and leave quickly,"
"Where? Where do I go?" He questioned.
"Get out of the Shire. Make for the village of Bree," Gandalf answered.
"Bree. What about you?"
"I'll be waiting for you, at the Inn of the Prancing Pony," Gandalf told him.
"And the Ring will be safe there?"
"I don't know Frodo. I don't have any answers. I must see the head of my order. He is both wise and powerful. Trust me Frodo, he'll know what to do. You'll have to leave the name of Baggins behind you, for that name is not safe outside the Shire. Travel only by day. And stay off the road," Gandalf explained.
"I can cut across country easily enough."
()()()()()
"Excuse me?" Frodo asked. A man appeared behind the counter and smiled at them.
"Good evening little masters! If you're seeking accommodation we've got some nice, cozy, hobbit-sized rooms available. Mr. Uh…." Butterbur started searching for his name.
"…Underhill, my name's Underhill."
"Underhill. Yes," He acknowledged.
"We're friends of Gandalf the Grey. Can you tell him we've arrived?"
"Gandalf? Gandalf? Ohh yes! I remember, elderly chap, big graybeard, pointy hat.Not seen him for 6 months," Butterbur told him.
"What do we do now?" Sam asked. They had sat at a table in the pub with drinks and were wondering what they were to do next.
"Sam. He'll be here. He'll come," Frodo reassured him. Just then Merry returned from the bar with a tall glass of ale.
"What's that?" Pippin asked his eyes wide.
"This my friend, is a pint."
"It comes in pints? I'm getting one," Pippin told them. He stood and walked to the bar not hearing Sam over the roar of the people in the bar.
"You had a whole half already!" Sam yelled. Frodo was staring at the table when he felt a nudge at his side. That fellow's done nothin' but stare at you since we arrived."
"Excuse me, that man in the corner, who is he?" Frodo asked nodding to the figure sitting in the corner smoking a pipe.
"He's one of them rangers. Dangerous folk they are.. wandering in the wild. What his right name is I've never heard but around here, he's known as Strider," Butterbur answered a hint of fear in his voice.
"Strider..." He whispered. Strider drew a puff of his pipe as he watched the hobbits, the glow lit a fire in his eyes.
()()()()()
"You draw far too much attention to yourself Mr. "Underhill"!" Strider hissed. He pushed Frodo up the stairs into the hobbits bedroom. Walking around the room he put out the candles with his fingers.
"What do you want?" Frodo asked.
"A little more caution from you. That is no trinket you carry."
"I carry nothing," Frodo replied.
"Indeed," Strider scoffed. "I can avoid being seen if I wish. But to disappear entirely, that is a rare gift."
"Who are you?" Frodo questioned.
"Are you frightened?"
"Yes," Frodo answered.
"Not nearly frightened enough. I know what hunts you," He said, hearing something he drew his sword just as Sam, Merry and Pippin charged into the room. They were armed with a candelabra and stool.
"Let him go! Or I'll have you, Longshanks!" Sam yelled holding his fist up.
"You have a stout heart little hobbit, but that will not save you. You can no longer wait for the wizard Frodo. They're coming," Strider commented. Later that night the Nazgul entered Bree by running down the gate. They glided into the Inn their swords already drawn, with barley any sound they entered the hobbits room, standing beside each bed, they all stabbed down at the same time. Feathers started to fly from the points of their stabs, seeing this the wraths know they have been tricked. They're high-pitched screeches filled the night waking the hobbits, who Strider had taken across the street.
"What are they?" Frodo asked.
"They were once men. Great Kings of Men. Then Sauron the Deceiver gave to them nine Rings of Power. Blinded by their greed, they took them without question. One by one falling into darkness. Now they are slaves to his will. They are the Nazgul, Ringwraiths, neither living nor dead. At all times they feel the presence of the Ring. Drawn to the power of the One. They will never stop hunting you," He explained.
()()()()()
"But where is he leading us?" Sam questioned.
"To Rivendell Master Gamgee, The House of Elrond," Strider replied over his shoulder.
"Did you hear that? Rivendell! We're going to see the elves!" Sam exclaimed.
()()()()()
Legolas halted his company and listened. Something was calling to him but he couldn't understand what it was, suddenly there it was! It is just at that time that he figured out what it was when a hand was laid on his shoulder. He turned his head to the elf beside him.
"What is it my Prince?" Northiden asked.
"It's nothing. I just got a strange feeling…go on to Imladris without me. This feeling is to strong for me to ignore," Legolas told them. He rode off before they could object or follow. "Estel is in danger…I just know it," He thought.
()()()()()
"Aaaahhhh!" Frodo screamed.
"Frodo!" Sam exclaimed running to him.
"Oh Sam!" Frodo gasped. They could hear Strider finally chase the Nazgul off.
"Strider! Help him Strider," Sam called.
"He's been stabbed by a Morgul blade. This is beyond my skill to heal. He needs elvish medicine," Strider told them. He picked Frodo up and put him over his shoulder. Quickly he led them into the woods away from Weathertop. "Hurry!"
"We are six days from Rivendell. He'll never make it!" Sam cried.
()()()()()
"Is he going to die?" Pippin asked.
"He's passing into the shadow world. He will soon become a wraith like them," Strider replied. There was a cry in the distance that they all knew belonged to the Nazgul. They were looking for them.
"They're close," Merry whispered.
"Sam, do you know Athelas plant?" Strider asked.
"Athelas?" Sam questioned.
"Kingsfoil," He said.
"Kingsfoil? Ah, that's a weed," Sam replied.
"It may help to slow the poison. Hurry!" He and Sam ran off to find the plant. It only took a moment before Strider found a small patch of the herb he was looking for and started to cut some off. He stopped abruptly as a sword appeared at his throat.
"What's this? A ranger caught off his guard?" Legolas mocked. It only took moments for Strider to tell him what had happened as they returned to Frodo and the others.
Frodo lay on the ground when he saw a light in the corner of his eye, he turned towards the light and as if it were a vision of some sort, a being of utmost beauty was coming to him. He had seen elves before but this ones light was brighter than any he had ever seen.
"Frodo... Im Legolas. Telin le thaed lasto beth nin. Tolo dan na galad," Legolas said to him.
"Who is he?" Merry asked.
"Frodo!" Legolas exclaimed kneeling before him.
"He's an elf," Sam breathed.
"He's fading!" Legolas whispered. He watched as Strider placed the Athelas, and Frodo gasped at the contact. "He's not going to last. We must get him to Lord Elrond. I've been looking for you for two days."
"Where are you taking him?" Merry asked. They both ignored Merry as they put Frodo into the saddle of Legolas's horse and held him there as they quickly talked.
"There are five wraiths behind you. Where the other four are, I do not know," Legolas told him.
"Dartho guin perian. Rych le ad tolthathon," Strider urged.
"Hon mabathon. Rochon ellint im," Legolas argued.
"Andelu i ven," Strider disagreed.
"What are they saying?" Pippin wondered out loud.
"Frodo fir. Ae athradon i hir, tur gwaith nin beriatha hon," Legolas replied. His mind was made up and Estel was not going to change it. "I do not fear them."
"Beyest lin," Strider said finally. Legolas nodded and mounted Elvedir with Frodo in front of him. "Legolas! Ride hard. Don't look back!"
"Noro lim, Elveldir, noro lim!" Legolas whispered to the horse and they galloped away.
"What are you doing?! Those wraiths are still out there!" Sam demanded angrily but Strider did not answer him, he was still pondering that himself.
()()()()()
Legolas rode hard through the forest. Screeches went up around him and the Nazgul appeared one by one around him. They chased him through the trees and then out into open area. He was aware of the Nazgul on his right riding close, as he reached for Frodo but thankfully it was still to far away to reach him.
"Noro lim Elveldir!" He called to his horse.
They reached the river and Legolas stopped on the other side. The Nazgul stopped opposite of him angry screeches coming from them. It was clear to Legolas that they did not want to enter the water, some even cried out in fear. One of the Nazgul turned to him.
"Give up the halfling, elf!" It cried.
"If you want him, come and claim him!" Legolas yelled drawing his sword. The Nazgul raise their swords and rode into the water. Legolas begins to chant, "Nin o Chithaeglir, lasto beth daer, Rimmo nin Bruinen dan in Ulair! Nin o Chithaeglir, lasto beth daer, Rimmo nin Bruinen dan in Ulair!"
Slowly, the water level rose. A great sound met each of their ears and all turned toward it. A great wall of water came around the bend in the river, with the peaks like horses galloping. An arrow was fired before the water came to close, Legolas cried out in pain as the arrow hit his shoulder. The Nazgúl tried to get away, some tried to get back to the bank and some tried to escape down the river, but all was in vain. The flood got them all and washed them away. Legolas gasped trying to clear the spots obsecering his vision, the arrow was poisoned…Frodo started to slide from his grasp.
"No! Frodo… No! Frodo, don't give in! Not now!" Legolas exclaimed. Legolas started to cry and embraced Frodo. "What grace is given me, let it pass to him… Let him be spared… Save him."
()()()()()
Legolas rode into Imladris still holding Frodo to himself. Elrond and the twins ran out of the main doors of the palace just as everything went black for him, he began to fall off his horse but was caught in the strong arms of Elladan.
()()()()()
"Lasto beth nin. Tolo dan nan galad," Elrond said to them both.
Elvish Translations
Im Legolas. Telin le thaed - I am Legolas. I have come to help you
Lasto beth nin. Tolo dan na galad - Hear my voice. Come back to the light
Dartho guin perian. Rych le ad tolthathon. - Stay with the Hobbits. I will send horses again for you
Hon mabathon. Rochon ellint im. - I'm the faster rider. I'll take him
Andelu i ven. - The road is too dangerous
Frodo fir. Ae athradon i hir, tur gwaith nin beriatha hon. - Frodo dies. If I can get across the river, the power of my people will protect him.
Beyest lin. - According to your wish
Noro lim, Elveldir, noro lim! - Ride fast Elveldir, ride fast!
Nin o Chithaeglir, lasto beth daer, Rimmo nin Bruinen dan in Ulair! Nin o Chithaeglir, lasto beth daer, Rimmo nin Bruinen dan in Ulair! - Waters of the Misty Mountains listen to the great word; flow waters of Loudwater against the Ringwraiths!
A/N: Whew! First chapter done! Now on to the second! Always remember this is movie verse and fanfiction I can do just about whatever I want. More torture to come! - Naur