Disclaimer: Uh, sorry about the length of time for updating once again. I've been sooo busy. I've taken up knitting, I got into sewing as well when I decided my squirrel needed a hammock. I've started writing a Haldir fan-fic, and as some may know Haldir is my doll. 3 Anyway, I don't own Legolas, I don't own the world, I don't own anything but Laura, and that new character that pops up for this chapter…
Chapter 25 – A New Future
Legolas had soon set off and was now running over fields, crossing rivers, and passing through the Golden Wood once again. Many days later he found himself on the Northern border of Fangorn Forest. Kneeling down, he reached for something that had caught his eye. A cloak, her cloak. 'Then they have passed through here' He thought.
Legolas tied the cloak, a gift Laura had received upon leaving Lothlorien from Haldir, around his neck, and set off into the woods. He ran for hours, that seemed to him more like an eternity. He found nothing, no trace of the orcs, no tracks, no scents, and no more of Laura.
Soon though he came upon a campsite within a clearing, that lay deep within Fangorn. The whole field was littered with bodies of dead orcs. A great battle must have occurred there, though the bodies had not yet been burned, and there were no graves for those surely killed in such a battle.
He rushed out onto the field ignoring the fowl smell that assaulted his nose, from all around him. He called out to her, receiving only a groan of pain from an orc that lay dying. He immediately without thinking pulled his bow from his back, and strung it with an arrow, shooting it, killing the orc. He searched through the bodies of the orcs, and still found nothing. He sighed, and walked again into the forest, his senses on high alert for anything, movement, sound, smell.
He walked again for some time, until he came upon a small stream. He bent down, onto a knee, and cupped his hands, taking a drink from the stream. When he had finished, he gracefully leapt over to the other side of the stream. Immediately he felt ill at ease. "The Witch." He muttered to himself.
Upon turning, he found himself faced with a small cabin he hadn't seen before. An old woman stood before it, just a few feet from the entrance, hands on her hips, staring at Legolas. He stood frozen, unable to move. The witch smiled, and began to walk closer. "What are you doing on my side of the stream elf?" He tried to speak, but found he couldn't.
The witch waved her hand in his direction, and he found he was again able to move. "Speak!" She muttered. He stared in confusion, and warily replied. "I have been tracking a band of orcs, South West, and into these woods. They have taken someone very dear to me, but I have found them all dead in a nearby field. I found no sign of her though. Not a body, nor footsteps." The witch grinned. "That is because I have taken her."
Legolas' eyes widened, and he felt his blood boil. "Where is she? If you have harmed her in any way, no amount of magic will protect you from me!" He shouted after the witch. Suddenly, he found he had drawn his bow, and strung an arrow to it before he could even think. The witch had turned now, and was walking towards her cabin. He heard her say. "I didn't expect it would."
Before he had released the arrow, the witch turned, and the arrow pieced her stomach, she collapsed, and Legolas heard a scream. Turning towards the sound, he found Laura. She dropped the basket she had been holding,spilling it's contents over the ground in front of her, and faced him. He saw shock written on it, and then she turned again to the witch. He found himself dropping his bow, and running towards her, forgetting all about the witch.
Reaching her, he threw his arms around her. "Legolas." She gasped. "My love." He whispered, into her hair. "Wha, what, Legolas, what have you done?" Legolas pulled away from the embrace to find her eyes, they were glistening with tears, and her face still appeared shocked. Laura pulled away from him, and Legolas watched in confusion as she ran to kneel at the old witches side.
Utterly confused, he walked to where they were. "What is this?" Laura looked up and let out another sob. "You've killed her!" Legolas knelt next to her, and took her hand, which she quickly recoiled. "Laura, I thought she is who the orcs had taken you to. I was protecting you." Laura looked into the elf's eyes, they held confusion, and pain.
She had drawn back from his touch, and it had hurt him deeply after such a long time spent in worry for her safety. Her heart wretched, and she took his hand in hers. Sniffling she kissed his cheek and smiled. "I know my love, I just, it's just, she saved me from the orcs, and was very kind. I feel horrible, she's dead now, because of me." Legolas shook his head. "No, because of me. I rushed into this not thinking, I only wanted you back."
Just then there was a rustling of leaves on the ground, and a low groan of pain. "I, I don't believe it, she's not dead!" Legolas whispered, and Laura made a low squeal like sound. "Agnel are you alright? What can we do?" The witch turned over, wincing in pain, and took Laura's hand. A jolt of electricity shot through her body, and for some time the two did not part hands.
Legolas stared in shock, and worry as Laura's body shook involuntarily. He moved to pull her hand from the witches, but the witch groaned out a "NO!" and he pulled back. All he could do is stare in worry until finally the two broke apart, and Laura collapsed on top of the witches legs. "Laura!" Legolas shouted, and pulled her up into his arms. He could feel the energy coursing through her body. "What have you done to her?"
The witch chuckled. "I have made it so you and she never have to part." Legolas stared in confusion, and the witch slowly rolled over and stood. "Are you not still in pain?" He asked. "I am, but I will heal quickly, I must remove this arrow." Legolas pulled Laura up into his arms, and followed the witch into the cabin. "Why do you follow?" Legolas shook his head. "I don't know, I felt I must. I am confused, and something pulled me to you, so I did not stay my feet." The witch turned and smiled at him. "Good, that is your connection with Laura, it tells me my majick is already taking affect, and she is quickly adapting."
Legolas placed Laura down on a nearby bed, and walked over to the witch. "Majick? What majick do you speak of?" The witch set about in her kitchen, and boiled some water. "Sit my dear elf, and I shall explain." Legolas did as she asked, and she came to sit next to him. "You see Legolas, when you attacked me out there, you injured me badly. I had to use my majick to heal it, but it greatly wearied my body. I only can have, and use the majick given to me for so long, until it again must be passed to another. I passed it to your love."
The witch looked at Laura and smiled. "She will use it well, she has a good heart." Legolas looked at Laura, and gasped. "You are the Witch they speak of, that dwells inside Fangorn." She smiled and nodded. "I was Legolas. I was." Legolas suddenly felt ashamed, and looked to the ground. "I, I am sorry."
The witch put her hand over his and smiled. "There is no need for sorry, I was wearied of my life in this forest. I shall now go and enjoy my immortal life. Who knows, maybe I'll find a nice elf as Laura has." Legolas chuckled. "Aye, maybe you will. But, milady, what of Laura?" The witch nodded. "Yes, I shall talk to the both of you when she awakens. Would you like some tea Legolas? I fear we may have a long wait."
The witch was right, they did have a long wait. Laura did not again waken until early the next morning. Legolas, and the witch sat and talked all of the night, Legolas ever watchful of Laura. When she finally began to stir, Legolas crossed the room, and stood by her side. Taking her hand, he whispered in her ear. "Laura, echuivo- melamin."(awaken my love)
The witch came and sat atop the bed next to Laura, and placed a single hand on her forehead. "Do not worry, she is only regaining her strength. She will awaken soon." Legolas shook his head. "What do you mean regaining her strength?" The witch smiled warmly. "She is very wearied. It has not been easy receiving my full powers. Her body grew tired."
Legolas looked worried, and before he could say anything the witch spoke again. "Do not worry, once she has awoken, my powers will cause her no problems, for some centuries. It was at least a 1000 years before they caused any problems, and it was only because you injured me. I could have gone on another 1000 or more." Legolas again looked guiltily at the floor.
She placed her hand under his chin, and shook her head warmly. "No Legolas Greenleaf, I am grateful, it is lonely here, I wish to see other places, and I could not do that as a witch. Mortals were deathly afraid of me." Legolas looked up, and forced a small smile. "You are welcome Milady." The witch grinned, and standing again set about working in her cabin. She was packing her belongings. "Will you help Laura before you leave? She will know nothing of your majick, and it's uses." The witch shook her head. "Nay, that knowledge comes with the majick, I will however explain some things to her, and you."
Laura turned over to her side, and Legolas was forced to release her hand. Suddenly she started to cry out, as if in pain, or afraid. The witch turned and frowned. "She dreams of him." Legolas looked confused again. "Of who?" The witch came to Laura, shaking her head. "Yee! Dina Legolas."(do not worry) The witch took Laura's hand and began speaking in tongues Legolas had never before heard uttered.
He stood and backed away in confusion when the two women started to glow a bright white. Suddenly Laura began to stir again, and this time she awoke. The bright light faded away, and the witch smiled, then set off again about her work. Legolas was swiftly by her side again, and took her hand in his. "You are awake, I have worried for you." Laura stared about the room in confusion, and winced in pain.
"She looks as if she is in pain Agnel." Legolas called to the witch across the cabin. "Aye, she is. She is processing all that is new in her mind. A daunting task, I do not envy her." Legolas frowned, and looked to Laura. She was smiling weakly up at him, as she could now feel him somehow within her. "You worry greatly, do not. I will be fine Legolas." Legolas again forced a smile, and placed kiss on Laura's forehead.
Laura began to rise from the bed, and Legolas put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. "Do not rise, you may not yet be well." Laura turned, and took the hand from her shoulder. "I am fine." She stood on shaky legs, and crossed over to the witch. "What have you done?" The witch turned and smiled. "You know my child. Come, let us sit and talk."
The witch, Laura, and Legolas sat well into the night, and the witch explained everything as she had promised. "You see child, when I passed all of my majick into you, your mind, and much of your body shut down to process all of the new power. It was as if you were struck by lightning. You had all of that new energy coursing through your body with no outlet." Laura nodded her head. "What of this new majick. What will you have me do with it?"
The witch smiled. "Anything you deem worthy my child. Good, only good." Laura shook her head. "But, how do I use it?" "You already know that. Try something." Laura stared in confusion, and then pointed her finger at a nearby potted plant. It quickly flew to her, and floated in front of her. "Wow, that'll come handy when I'm feeling lazy." Laura laughed to herself. "Nay child, that is but a trick, and not always useful. Though fun it is." The witch laughed too. Legolas just sat in utter silence, his head swimming in all the new information.
Legolas suddenly heard Laura's voice in his head. "You are quiet my love, confused as I?" Legolas looked to Laura and nodded his head, and she smiled, taking his hand in hers. The pair sat this way, until finally both were utterly confused, and the witch had told all she had to tell. Legolas sighed, and rested his head in his hands. The witch and Laura stood, and Laura was helping her pack her belongings.
Laura accidentally touched the witches arm, and jumped, gasping. Legolas stood, and quickly crossed to her, taking her in his arms. She stood shocked, and confused. "Wha, what was that?" Laura whispered. The witch turned, and took her hands allowing her to see the rest. Visions of the witch and her life flashed through her mind. She saw great sadness and seclusion, and then happiness. A man, she saw a man with the witch.
Her spirits were lifted at that, images of her life, and family flashed through her mind. Children, and happiness. Then suddenly all was gone, the witch sat in a corner of her cabin and sobbed. Laura pulled away from the witch as if repulsed by her touch, and fell to the ground. Her face in her hands she cried. "What happened?" Legolas asked kneeling to wrap his arms around Laura. "She saw my past."
The witch picked up her belongings, and walked to the door. "She sees past?" The witch nodded to Legolas. "Aye, but she will learn to control that. She is new, and I allowed her to see it." Legolas nodded his understanding, but in truth understood none of this. "What else can she do?" The witch smiled warmly. "You will find that out together. Have a good life Legolas Greenleaf. Take care of her." The witch walked through the door, and was gone. The pair left alone to get through this, together.