I'm Back!!!
I updated so quickly, yes. I was bored. Very bored. Plus I am going to Alberta pretty soon so I'll write in the car, get a bunch of chapters done. Seven hours there, seven hours back. Unless of course my dad decides we don't need to eat or have bathroom breaks. Meh, whatever.
Legolas: You complain about traveling for seven hours! I have to travel for a week just to get to Rivendell.
Buy a truck and quit complainin', you only live for ever. Get some fresh air.
Aragorn: What is this 'turk' that you speak of?
Back to the disclaimer: I do not own LotR, there are you happy, you sniveling smiley lawyers? (If you are a lawyer and are reading this, I take that back, if you don't sue me.)
Anwering to the Threat
Chapter 3: The short, the short tempered, and the short witted. (You figure out which is which!)
After spending a few days at their makeshift camp everyone including Legolas was ready to go. He stood leaning against the tree wincing as no spot seemed the right one to get comfortable. They had delayed their departure because the Noldor elves and the young ranger claimed he had a fever. It was hot and clammy in the woods, that is all.
He watched as the Elrohir tried to put Legolas' pack on his horse for him. It was amusing to say the least. Elrohir threw the pack to the ground and started cursing the horse openly. Myliné dropped their blankets they had deemed sanitary enough from the orcs, along with her jaw.
The other two from Rivendell did not even seem to notice what was wrong. It was an everyday event? If Legolas was ever caught cursing like that in Mirkwood by anyone except the guards and his few friends, he would be busy for a long time, even for an elf. That did not mean he did not know exactly what Elrohir was saying, even if it was in Dwarvish. They seem to have the most interesting colorful metaphors. 'It is only thing interesting about their culture, mind.'
Fingering the tight bandages on his arm, he called over to the ever more frustrated elf, "It would be wise indeed, Noldor to give up your venture and admit defeat before she takes exception to your right to have whole ribs. Myliné, could you complete the task this Imladris was so inept to do."
She gave him a weak smile and grabbed the pack Elrohir had thrown at the ground in utter disgust. She made her way to his night black war horse and watched as it calmed under touch as if she had the elven way with animals.
She reached up fasten the strap on the animal's back and could not reach. The mare glanced back and saw this, she knelt.
A yell of rage erupted from the previously smug mouth. The Mirkwood ran gracelessly and obviously painfully to the human woman's side. "How in blazes did you get that stubborn animal to do that? I have been trying to teach her to do that for half a year. What did you DO?"
Aragorn biting his lip knowing he'd die if he dared to laugh and came to the young woman's rescue. She had sat down and started backing up to get away from the fair haired elf, his eyes alight with rampant fire.
Aragorn looked to the other two elves not caring if they were beaten to a bloody pulp by the prince of Mirkwood. Legolas couldn't see the slicing motion Estel created across his neck to ward of the twins.
Resting a hand on the elf's back he barely ducked fast enough as Legolas spun around and with his good fist out of reflex caught the ranger in the forehead.
Aragorn stumbled back a few paces, before catching his balance and straightening to glare at the elf.
Legolas turned around to glower fiercely at the ranger, "And you said those ribs were healed! Elladin, what are you doing? What exactly do you find so amusing?"
Elrohir said stupidly loud and foolishly, "That, Myliné is the famous temper of the wood elves. The Rivendell ones are so much more controlled."
She laughed and tied the baggage to the unfazed horse. She mumbled to it softly, "That remains to be seen." She scratching it behind its ears she backed off quickly as the mare's angry master returned and ordered it up.
Legolas' head started to pulsate along with his back, neck, and shoulders from being so tense. 'Who was that who was yelling so loud?'
The woman walked forward wary of another verbal attack. "Is something wrong, Master Elf?"
He rolled his eyes, and stiffly shook his head, more like his entire upper body.
He suddenly felt a wave of dread wash through the woods. It was annoyance more than outright fear. It felt akin to when the uncle your mother hated stopped over at the house for idle chat. He felt the trees moan and move uncomfortably rustling heavily in the easy wind.
The two Rivendell elves looked to see Legolas frowning deeply, a feeling of unrest washed through them. They walked over to the wood elf, and watched as he, even injured pulled himself effortlessly into the lower branches of a tree. They seemed to almost move to accommodate him.
After a minute of silence everyone watching him, he jumped down with a wince and stared straight across the group out into where they had piled the carcasses downwind of their campsite.
Legolas shut his eyes and through his headache sensed the forest. He could tell to a certain degree the relative location of all the creatures in the forest, every animal, his companions, and something else. He dreaded his certain interaction with them. He was loathing it.
Legolas started unwinding bandages off his wrist, which was still swollen and bruised, removing the sling and his them in a deep pocket in his repaired outer tunic. There was little embroidery, nothing signifying his status, the way he liked it. He moved over to Elrohir and asked to their confusion, "May I borrow your cloak. Our 'guests' will be arriving shortly," he laughed softy to himself and muttered 'good joke' aloud. They all looked to him quizzically, he laughed. "You soon know of what I speak."
Elrohir undid the clasp and handed it to Legolas. The wood elf frantically with one arm tried to put it on around his neck to hide the injury from the approaching conflict.
"Who is out there Legolas? I can tell that El and Elro sense someone." The ranger drew his sword.
"Nobody of your concern, it is Prince's business." Legolas started to become more agitated as the cloak slid off his one shoulder.
Myliné stepped forward, "I will help you, if, you tell who is coming."
"It will be a dwarven envoy with the Lord Under the Mountain, or dwarven poachers. It probably King Balin, though, he doubtlessly got lost." Legolas leaned forward expectantly. She bit her lip trying not to be charmed by the elf, failing miserably, and did up new cloak. She straightened it over his right arm. He shook his head and muttered thanks.
She looked at him curiously, "You know, I have never met a dwarf before."
Legolas glanced at her dumfounded, "Do not brag. It is unbefitting of you."
He tried to swing upon his tackless mount although could not make it with one arm. Myliné had a look of enjoyment flash across her face, it soon passed and she walk over to the horse's head and told the beast to kneel. It folded its legs obediently.
Legolas mounted the horse and heeled it up. Taking one last glowering glance at Myliné he silently directed the mare to where the dwarves were emerging from the far side of the clearing to there south east.
One of the dwarves, he looked to be new on the job levered his ax at the approaching elf and jeered aggressively, "Who goes there?" Legolas smiled the kind of smile that a bored cat would give to a cornered mouse.
"I am not but an elf keeping watch on his own land. One cannot it justify the same for a lost dwarf in the perilous great woods of Mirkwood." Though his voice and eyes, seemed to be of steel, Legolas' head and back were so stiff he could hardly talk. The pair, elf and elven horse looked to be made of marble watching the now uneasy dwarf backing to his master.
Balin took off his helm to gaze upon the bold elven rider on his war mount and called to the yielding guard, "Ahh, Ganun, save that ax for foes or fire wood," the trees moaned and became angry, "that is the young heir of Mirkwood, just doing his job."
The guard relaxed his death grip on the weapon and put it back through the belt loop.
Balin turned his friendly gaze to the golden figure on the massive animal, "Would you not come down and greet your kingdom's neighbor?"
Legolas carefully thought through his options, slowly. There was the dwarf's offending smell, his appalling mannerisms, and his lack of humility and discretion of the bodily functions or endangering the already strained relationships between the two kingdoms. "Why is it always me?" He mumbled this so no one could hear.
Jumping off the horse and swallowing back oaths and shrieks of pain he drew a blank face and extended his left hand for the Dwarvin King to shake. Balin grasped it and pulled the resistant and weakened elf into a large bear hug.
With a few barely audible pops he knew a few of his cracked ribs would have eventually have need of being bound again, and Valar knows that that will hurt like the fires of Mordor. 'I must have done something extortionately wrong in a past life.'
"My boy you are still to skinny, you need some more meat!" Balin released Legolas as the white flickering spots began to cloud his vision. "You don't look healthy anyway you look paler than normal to me. I got some good minerals in bag that will fix that right up. You could drink it up some home made dwarven ale we brought." As soon as could think again he devised an escape from eating the rocks and having to have a shot of the rough hard alcohol the dwarves had brought. He had pain enough with out a hangover.
"My Lord, alas, I have been unforgivably rude. I have companions, the twin lords of Rivendell Elladin and Elrohir Elrondion, Estel newly appointed ranger of the north, as well as a young village woman Myliné.
Bain smiled and chortled out the deep rough dwarven laughter and stepped around the inwardly relieved elf. He laughed again as he gazed upon the four of them, "They all need fattening up too!"
Legolas moaned in mental and physical anguish as their little group walked to the palace about a day's hard ride to the south. Balin that thought since they had lost their way, mistakenly, of coarse not some disastrous twist of fate to punish the seemingly innocent heir, it would be appropriate for the said elf to lead them back to the palace. They could have taken directions, they really could have but good old King thought to improve relations. Legolas would have given them directions all right, right through a spiders' nest or maybe to Cirith Ungol.
Elladin and Elrohir smiled sympathetically, and tried to help. The blond elf was not sure in the end it was their aim to assist, but the spirit was there. Estel had apparently met them before in Rivendell and he and Balin were chatting away frivolously. Myliné was beside her self talking endless asking questions and making jokes with the dwarves, which were more than happy to appease the human. As least, she was not pestering him. They slowly making their way towards the palace, but at least they were moving.
He did not mind the slow pace; it was easier for him to walk without jouncing his arm. He would not mount the war steed infront of the dwarves with knowing for sure that he would make it. And he definitely would not ask for help again. So he walked hiding a wince with every step, cursing his pride. Though that was the only thing he had left, along with a small shard of dignity; Very small after being seen with dwarves.
His horse good-naturedly, nussled his wounded shoulder, pushing it forwards. Legolas could not contain the suppressed gasp. Twelve dwarven heads swiveled back, as well as a pair of humans and two elves. Aragorn, the worried healer ran back to his charge not seeming to get the whole do not show weakness before enemy talk. "What's wrong, is it your shoulder, your back, or those ribs?"
Legolas thought aloud under his breath, "Or a combination of the above..."
Aragorn pulled his pack off his shoulder and started to rifle through it when Legolas said sternly but so the present company could not hear, "that will not be necessary." The ranger would not abate his action, so the embarrassed elf, mumbled, "Later."
Legolas played off his earlier shout as stepping in a gopher hole and losing his balance, knowing the dwarves thought that elves could do something that clumsy. He looked ahead to his other joyful companions, and wondered briefly how nice it was to be caught up in such mental bliss.
Aragorn kept his pace to match the elf's noting how slow and guarded he walked, his right arm supporting the other, cradling it across his chest. His stiff gait looked painful enough to make the ranger cringe, but he was amazed to see how well the elf concealed his injuries. The elf suddenly froze while walking and his right arm dropped his left and went to his back. His movements halted, and Estel felt a year of his life get sapped away in the elf's icy eyes.
"Human, your eyes..."
"What about them," Aragorn was not scared of the daunting elf. Yet.
"Keep them where they belong and off my person." His annoyed voice radiated mistrust, a lack of patience. He trudged away from Aragorn and announced the midday meal.
Aragorn pulled out a few rations and ate them thinking softly to himself about the mistrust of races the Sindar elf has. He slowly ate his food, wondering why a creature of such age would spend it hating others.
"Brother, what did the Legolas say to you, Elladin and I only heard his tone. We are lucky that the dwarves did not hear at all." He did not notice one of his brothers come up, but it never bothered him anymore.
"I was concerned about him. We only decided to leave because the prince had a horse to ride, he is too sore to be walking all day. I was watching him to make sure he did not need any help when he turned on me and told me to him alone. Bu he did not say my name, he said human. I get a strong feeling that his heart is closed to the dwarves as well." Elrohir was frowning, his eyes were somber.
"Brother the prediguce for other races that he has is wrong, but in his realm, not wholly with out need. His people are independent, forced to protect their dying home. Many things are turning their land: orcs, spiders, wargs, and even some evil men, and dwarves. It is his job to be a sentinel for his land and people; trust does not come easily to him. Legolas being the only heir, heavy responsibilities have been forced upon him since he was a young child." Elrohir looked up Legolas continued to walk down the path to his home, he looked up and disappeared into the foliage.
"Do not give him concern, he will not receive it. He will grow to accept you. A word of caution brother, he can not stand dwarves, and gets rather exasperated around them, he would rather gladly throw every last one into the dungeons." Elrohir winked at his brother, the whispered, "I have even seen him do it before, in cold blood. He is rather particular about who gets to come in here. It is unwise to worry about this, if he passes out from pain, treat him, if not, his discomfort is his [insert any expletive here] own fault."
Elladin gracefully came to them, "If you two are done talking secretively to each other, planning the fate of this world, we should continue to try to get within the vicinity of the palace. We should get there so that we are under the protection of the wards place around Legolas' home." He whistled lightly as he walked away.
Aragorn pulled his things together and followed their group. He suddenly sensed a presence behind him and turned around. Legolas stood behind him, and locked his slightly softened eyes on rangers. A he glanced down and a silent apology followed. Aragorn threw him a pouch of athleas. Unspoken gratitude was between the two. He walked on.
The orc grunted, they were in danger of being discovered, the squadron sent to retrieve the girl had not returned. Watching from the borders of Mirkwood, he regretted having to send another troop in, they did not know the location of their target, it was dangerous to enter the borders of this land. The elves and their damn tricks, the spiders, and other strange and poisonous fatalities. He had seen entire armies disappear into the forest without a trace. He would send a new team of scouts, some of the trained allies and the better fighters to ride them. They had better not be caught.
It was time to feed their new mounts. "Hey Ridden get your ass over here."
A tall and burly orc moved stumbling over to his leader holding a bottle of ale answered, "What do want now, I am eatan here."
Ridden smiled, his perverted and distorted grin, "It is time to feed our friends. Find the captives that are about to die anyway. I plan to have fun with the lively ones after watching the show." Corrupted laughter escaped from his mouth.
The orc grinned in excitement, calling a few more troops to help. They dragged ten captive villagers over and opened the pen they had erected for the mounts. He cautiously opened the gate and large managed paw threw him into the pen.
Ridden yelled his now cowed troops, "Told ya it was time to feed em. Hurry up and through the humans in." The others did as he said and ran off the finish eating and have some fun, human cries sounded through the rest of the night.
Legolas sat high in a tree; it whispered to him soft and consoling notes, to distract him from his pent-up rage and pain. It worked as well as the smooth red wine that he wished he had. The rest of his band of overly merry men, and the girl sat talking below him acting like fools. He smiled down at them comfortable where he was, the stench of the small miners did not rise to his level. His mare that he had not discovered the name for yet grazed on the grass; one could see the faint outline of her back in the moonlight. Celebtir who had circled flown above came down and perched on his master's ready glove.
In his perfect contentment he let his mind wander to wonder what it was like to be a bird of prey, no worries save for occasionally pleasing a master and whether to have vole or a mouse for dinner. And scouting for fell beasts as the single service he required of his animal. Legolas sent off the animal to go eat and let his eyes glaze over with a deep elvish sleep. They slid shut.
Elrohir stood below and watched a drinking contest between the race of Men and the Dwarves. 'Well,' he thought picturing what their father Elrond would say about this, 'Estel's only going to live once.' He laughed as his surrogate brother barely beat the dwarf in swallowing a large shot of his own ale; it was also to some extent a race. They had to do twenty pushups, run twenty paces down the river to the alcohol, down it then repeat the exercise. The dwarf already had a bunch to drink that night, it was close anyway. His little brother was amazed at the potency of the drink and had to shake it off before continuing.
Their merriment was cut short by a loud shriek of the hawk as it announced unwelcome visitors. They thought they could hide from the eyes' of a wood elven trained animal. The members of the broken up party raised their assorted weapons and waited for the enemy to appear.
Elrohir's pierced the darkness to see the foe. Knowing was the new allegiance as he feared, he was happy with the larger numbers, if partially inebriated. Someone was missing, why had not Legolas announced their presence, surely it should have been most foul on him. He spotted the Sindar elf high in a tree.
"Legolas, the action's down here if you want to assist your fellow brethren." There was no response, and Elrohir was getting worried. "Elladin, cover me, I'm going up." His twin nodded. He faintly heard old Balin mutter, something about finally giving up on figuring out who was who.
Humor overcame with worry as he entered the tree and faintly felt an aura off concern the plant, it made him climb faster. He finally made it up to Legolas' level. Even he an elf felt slightly uneasy up this high. In the daytime, Legolas could probably see the palace from here. Moving over to the branch where the blonde-haired elf was, he frowned when he saw him rested with his eyes mostly shut.
He saw the elf sweating and moaning softly as he wreathed in a nightmare. His eyes shot open and he lurched forward nearly losing his precarious seat in the tree. "Elrohir, no Elladin, well it doesn't matter, I believe we are much surrounded. I lament I did not sense them earlier."
So they are in trouble, and I assume that I am if this is what you consider a cliffhanger. What are these strange allies, if you have not already guessed. If you have do go all out and tell everybody. Or else.
Aragorn, Elrohir, Elladin, and Myliné: We know something you don't, we know something you don't, na na na na nana.
Legolas: How come you did not let me know.
Because, so, um, uh, we can surprise you next chapter, if someone reviews, hint hint hint.
