A/N: Sorry for the late updates. I have terrible writer's block! Yes I did change my name. – Seylin
Disclaimer: See previous chapters
Summary: See it before you click the story
Determined Guardian
Chapter 6
It is not just my Heart
Lothlorien was still a day away and it was getting dark. Fear of being followed by the creatures in Moria kept them running until they could no longer see in front of them. The hobbits collapsed to the ground panting. Gimli stood next to them, Boromir kneeled checking their feet and such. Aragorn kept his eyes and ears open listening for any sounds not made by them. Legolas went off using the excuse that he would collect firewood so he could check his would.
Frodo watched his retreating form still feeling bad about the words he had said to the elf outside of Moria. He knew Aragorn had said he would speak with him but seeing as to how they had been on hard times with each other he decided to speak with Legolas himself. Quietly he slipped away following the path that he had seen Legolas take.
It was a few moments before he found the elf but when he did he was shocked. Legolas sat on a small rock his tunic open as he lightly pressed against his bruised side. He also saw the tears that ran silently down his cheeks. Frodo took a step forward and cursed to himself as a twig snapped.
o-o
A twig snapped and Legolas's head snapped up. Out of instinct he drew one of his daggers ready to throw it if need be. His eyes widened when he saw Frodo staring at him. In his mind he cursed and quickly pulled his tunic together.
"What is it Master Baggins?" He asked putting his dagger away. Frodo blinked back tears and ran to him. He pulled Legolas's tunic open, there was a sound of protest from Legolas but the elf didn't try to stop him knowing he had already seen.
"Legolas! When did all of this happen!" Frodo demanded. Legolas sighed taking a step back.
"A rock hit me during the avalanche," He replied fastening his tunic back. Frodo stared at him in shock.
"Since Caradhras? You've been hurt that long! Why didn't you say something!" He cried. Legolas stared at the small being, his sad blue eyes made him guilty for keeping his secret.
"What was it Aragorn has said? Quietly to Gandalf when he thought we all were asleep? I am a spoiled little prince…I need to prove himself in his eyes again. That is why," Legolas told him. It was silent between them for a moment.
"So you heard his words as well?" Frodo whispered. Legolas nodded. "Legolas…I am sure he did not mean his words. And…I did not mean mine. I ask that you forgive me for what I said to you outside of Moria. I was just stricken so badly by Gandalf's fall…please forgive me."
"I thought nothing of it to begin with. I know what makes you say such things…" He started but soon got quiet listening intently.
"What is it Legolas?" He asked.
"Sh! Get down!" Legolas hissed and pulled him into some very smelly bushes. "Say nothing until I say." Frodo nodded and almost held his breath as he lay on top of Legolas listening to nothing but the forest and Legolas's heart beating. Then he heard it…footsteps.
o-o
Gollum crawled through the forest in such of his precious.
"Blasted elveses! He knowssss we followsss. Wessss will have to takes caresss of him yessss. We will see to him…for the precioussss! Argh! Stupid smelly bushes! Argh!" Gollum hissed. He spit on the bush they were hiding in and then crawled away.
Frodo held still listening in amazement. It was Legolas's harsh breathing that brought him back to reality. His eyes widened when he remembered the horrible bruises that had covered the elf's chest. He rolled away quickly.
"Oh Legolas! Forgive me!" He cried trying to open the tunic Legolas wore again. Legolas's hands stopped him.
"Worry not mellon nin. I will be fine. We should return to the others before they come looking for us," Legolas said. Frodo nodded. He was still worried about the bruises on Legolas's side but the silence from Legolas told him not to say a word, to him or the other's about it.
o-o
At the first rays of light they started for Lothlorien once again. Legolas lead the way blinking again and again to try and take his dizziness away. Frodo walked right behind him watching worriedly.
"Legolas…maybe we should stop…" He whispered. Legolas looked back over his shoulder.
"No. Lorien is not far now," Legolas replied. He could feel himself trembling from pain and growing weak. He was also feverish and lightheaded. "The wound is not healing as it should, he thought dizzily. "It is a lot worse than I thought." He stumbled again, but was able to catch himself upright before he collapsed to his knees.
"Legolas!" Frodo cried running to his side. "Legolas, I think we need to stop for you to rest. I know you did not sleep last night." Legolas shook his head.
"No. I will rest when you are safe in Lorien. Come. We need to hurry," He said forcing himself to walk on.
The others watched on worriedly but none more so than Aragorn. His eyes caught the slight slouch and limp in Legolas's step. He also saw the way he held his side lightly. But he said nothing…
o-o
It was about midday when they reached the outskirts of Lothlorien. They were all quiet walking through the woods. Even the golden trees gave off a formidable feeling. Legolas now walked in the back, Frodo sent him worried glances now and then but the elf was to busy watching for danger.
"Stay close young Hobbits! They say there's a great sorceress lives in these woods. An Elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell..." Gimli whispered.
"Frodo..." A voice whispered in his mind. Frodo looked around but didn't see anything.
"...and are never seen again," Gimli finished.
"You're coming to us…"Frodo stopped at the voice he heard. "..is as the footsteps of doom. You bring great evil here Ring-bearer!" The voice finished.
"Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked. Frodo glanced at him and started walking again.
"Well, here's one Dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox!" Gimli boasted. Suddenly there was an arrow pointed at Gimli making him stop. Lorien elves appeared from behind trees aiming at each of the fellowship. They all looked around alarmed.
"Oh…" Gimli whispered standing still. Legolas had drawn his bow and pointed it right back at the three that had their arrows aimed at him.
"The dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark," Haldir said stepping forward. Gimli mumbled some things in disgust.
o-o
As evening set in, Haldir stood with the Fellowship on one of the many hidden watchtowers in the great trees.
"Mae govannen, Legolas Thranduilion," Haldir said to him in greeting. "Lle tyava quel?"
"Govannas vîn gwennen le, Haldir o Lórien. Makoi utunelle?" Legolas replied.
"Lle uuma maa quel, mellon nin," He answered.
"Im na mae," Legolas told him. Haldir watched him for a moment but then turned to Aragorn knowing the truth but preferring to wait for Legolas to say so.
"A Aragorn in Dúnedain istannen le ammen," Haldir greeted.
"Haldir," Aragorn said bowing his head as a sign of respect.
"So much for the legendary courtesy of the Elves! Speak words we can all understand!" Gimli exclaimed. Haldir focused his hard eyes on him.
"We have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the Dark Days," He said with some disgust in his voice.
"And do you know what this Dwarf says to that? Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul!" Gimli replied. Haldir looked as if he would take a step forward and kill the dwarf right then but Aragorn stepped in.
"That was not so courteous," He hissed. Haldir walked over and stopped in front of Frodo staring down at him.
"You bring great evil with you," He said to Frodo then he turned back to the rest of the fellowship. "You can go no further."
Sam and Pippin looked at him accusingly. Aragorn stood to the side quietly arguing with Haldir, trying to get him to allow the fellowship passage through Lothlorien.
"Gandalf's death was not in vain. Nor would he have you give up hope. You carry a heavy burden, Frodo. Don't carry the weight of the dead," Boromir said to Frodo. They all looked up as the woods became silent after his words.
"You will follow me," Haldir told them.
Haldir led them through the forest until they stopped on a hill that overlooked Caras Galadhon.
"Caras Galadhon. The heart of Elvendom on earth. Realm of the Lord Celeborn and of Galadriel, Lady of Light," He said his voice holding very bit of awe as any other person seeing it for the first time.
o-o
The Fellowship arrived at Caras Galadhon. They walked up winding stairways through the trees following Haldir as he led them to the grand court of Galadriel and Celeborn. Once there they all stood clustered together awaiting the arrival of the Lady and Lord. Their eyes held wonder and awe as a glow filled the area they were in.
With a glow issuing forth from them, the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien descended to meet the Fellowship, hand in hand. Aragorn touched his head reverently in greeting. Legolas had a faint smile on his face. It had been a long time since his last visit to Lothlorien. It felt good to be back, the great trees gave him comfort and even seemed to take some of his pain away for a moment. The rest of the Fellowship stared in awe.
"The Enemy knows you have entered here. What hope you had in secrecy is now gone. Eight that are here yet nine there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me where is Gandalf? For I much desire to speak with him. I can no longer see him from afar," Celeborn told them.
Galadriel looks at Aragorn and read the answer in his eyes.
"Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land. He has fallen into Shadow," Galadriel whispered.
"He was taken by both Shadow and flame. A Balrog of Morgoth. For we went needlessly into the net of Moria," Legolas replied.
"Needless were non of the deeds of Gandalf in life. We do not yet know his full purpose. Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dum fill your heart…Gimli, son of Gloin. For the world has grown full of peril…and in all lands…love is now mingled with grief," She explained.
"What now becomes of this Fellowship? Without Gandalf, hope is lost," Celeborn questioned.
"The quest stand upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail…to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while the Company is true. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest…for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight, you will sleep," Galadriel told them.
It was at that moment that a spasm of pain shot through Legolas's body and he sucked in a sharp breath taking a small step forward as his knees buckled.
"Haldir! Catch him before he falls!" She exclaimed. Haldir sprang into action with speed that could only be achieved by the elves and caught Legolas as he fell pushing the other members of the fellowship out of the way in the process.
"Legolas!" They all cried out.
"Haldir take him to his room, I will have the healers sent immediately," She said watching as Haldir carried Legolas away to the room he used whenever he came to Lothlorien.
Haldir nodded quickly taking Legolas away. Legolas held tightly to his shoulder as pain assaulted his body.
o-o
Haldir took Legolas to his room and lay him as gently as he could on the bed. He quickly undid the fastenings of Legolas's tunic, his eyes widened and he drew in a breath
"Legolas, how long have you been hiding this?" He asked. He knew all to well how Legolas tried to prove himself as a warrior by hiding his wounds until they almost killed him.
"Caradhras," Legolas gasped. Haldir's eyes widened.
"Oh Legolas…" He whispered.
o-o
Galadriel then turned hard eyes onto Aragorn.
"I realize that you have been angry with him Aragorn but do you really think you have been that mad and blind as to not realize he was injured?" She demanded not raising her voice but she didn't have to.
After that she turned and walked away. Aragorn lowered his eyes in shame and refused to meet the others gazes as they were led away to a place where they could spend the night.
Elvish Translation
Mae govannen, Legolas Thranduilion. - Welcome Legolas, son of Thranduil.
Govannas vîn gwennen le, Haldir o Lórien. - Our Fellowship stands in your debt, Haldir of Lórien.
A Aragorn in Dúnedain istannen le ammen. - And Aragorn of the Dúnedain, you are known to us.
Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul- I spit upon your grave!
Lle tyava quel? – Do you feel well?
Makoi utunelle? – Why do you ask?
Lle uuma maa quel, mellon nin. – You do not look well
Im na mae – I am well
Review Thanks
Laurenke1 – Hannon le.
Joee1 – Glad you liked that part. And I'm sorry. I have horrible writer's block with this story. If you have any idea's for chapters coming up please let me know!
Deana – Thanks!
KeshieShimmer – Sorry you had to wait so long.
Celebrean – That will happen but I mean for like Two Towers… or even ROTK. Thanks bunches! Hope your project went well!
Kel – I'm trying! It will change I promise!
Cherryfaerie – Yes it has. Sorry it was sad. And sorry it took so long!
Pyromaniac Lu Xun – Yes! Just when is the question.
Ithilwen – Thank you so much. So sorry it takes forever. I have horrible writer's block. I love him getting hurt to… don't feel bad.
silly little slasher – I'll hand you a box of tissues as soon as I have some money. Thanks for the praises. Updated as quick as I can!