Gandalf was leading the group towards the outskirts of the forest. The wizard was continually glancing over at Legolas, trying to notice any and all changes in the elf.
"One part of your journey is over, another is just beginning," Gandalf told them. "There are many things that have to been done now as we now should travel to Edoras."
"Edoras? That is no short distance if you ask me," protested Gimli.
"We heard of trouble in Rohan. It goes ill with the king," Aragorn replied. "How can we help them?"
"You can't help with everything. At least with the king you can'tand it will not be easily cured I'm afraid," Gandalf told him. "What happens afterwards, you can help with. I know it."
"We have And we have to leave those two hobbits here in this dark, dank, tree infested..." Gimli started.
He began to quiver a bit in fear once he heard the trees becoming angry with him.
"...charming, quite charming forest," Gimli finished.
He began to grumble quietly to himself. Legolas gave a small smile at the dwarf's grumbling. The elf was almost to laughing.
"Anything wrong Elf?" Gimli suddenly asked him.
"No, there isn't Dwarf," Legolas replied, not trying to hide the laughter in his voice.
Gimli shot him an angry look before Gandalf turned around and stared at them both.
"Don't worry about Merry and Pippin. They are in very good hands, so to speak," Gandalf told them. "Them coming here was no mere coincidence. A great power has been sleeping for many the long years. There are many undiscovered powers in this world, not just here in Fangorn and none are to be taken lightly."
Legolas glanced over at the wizard, narrowing his eyes. The elf knew that Gandalf knew about gargoyles, considering the whole Fellowship saw two of them.
'What does he know about the gargoyles? What am I thinking? He's been alive longer than what I have. He probably knows something about them. The question is does he know everything about them? My father and I know more about them than most because of my sister,' Legolas thought to himself. 'But we don't know what others know. Or rather don't know.'
"The coming of the two hobbits are like the small stones that start an avalanche on a mountainside. Sometimes, things happen and it just starts off a chain reaction which will lead to the uprising of different proportions," Gandalf explained. "Something is about to happen that has not happened since the Elder days. The Ents are beginning to wake up."
At the outskirts of the forest, Gandalf began to whistle and a horse could be seen in the distance, riding up to them.
"That is one of the Mearas unless my eyes are cheated by some spell," Legolas said out loud.
"And what would you know about spells Master Elf?" Gimli had to ask. "I've only known you a short time but I never took you as someone who knew something about magic. You know Gandalf but I consider that to be different."
"I know more about them than what you would expect Master Dwarf," Legolas retorted. "More than what you'll ever realize."
Gimli gave Legolas a stare that clearly said 'what's wrong with you?' The dwarf said nothing as the horse continued to walk up the hill andto Gandalf.
"Shadowfax. Lord of all horses and has been my friends through many dangers," Gandalf said to them.
Shadowfax looked over at the wizard's company and soon came to Legolas. He began to whinny and bucked. All were wondering what was with the sudden outburst of the horse. Gandalf tried to calm him down but the horse continued to protest.
"Everything is alright Shadowfax. There's nothing than can hurt you or any of us. I wish you could tell us what startled you so," Gandalf replied.
Both Aragorn and Gimli noticed that Shadowfax was looking straight at Legolas, who didn't seem to take notice of it. If he did, he didn't show it. The horse whinnyed again, still protesting against something. He headed towards Legolas, ready to plow him over but the elf doveout of the way. Legolas landed on the ground and rolled once before stopping. He looked up to see Shadowfax hovering above him, the look of fear in his eyes. Gandalf hurried up to the horse and placed a hand on his neck.
"Shadowfax," Gandalf told him before looking in the direction that the horse was.
He found himself looking at Legolas as Aragorn and Gimli hurried up to him. Legolas stared at the horse as he was helped to his feet.
"Looks like Shadowfax doesn't like me. I wish I knew why," Legolas absently said.
"So did I," Gandalf agreed as he watched the trio head towards their horses.
None of them noticed the stare that Shadowfax was continually giving Legolas.
00000
Aragorn stood up and walked over to Gandalf, who was standing, looking out across the landscape.
"The Dark Lord grows ever stronger. The great eye watches ever ceaselessly. But he fears as well. He fears you Aragorn. Rumours has reached that the Heir of Numenor still lives. He fears what you might become. He will strike out at the world of men. He will use Sarumon to make Rohan fall. War is coming and Rohan must prepare itself. But it is weak and ready to fall. And here to help that world of men is an elf and a dwarf," Gandalf said.
"Legolas and Gimli are both willing to help though Legolas seems to be slightly cautious. About what, I'm unsure," Aragorn replied.
The wizard slightly nodded his head, thinking about something. His eyes told a story yet Aragorn couldn't tell what it was just yet.
"Do you know what's wrong with him?" Gandalf suddenly asked.
"What? Who?" Aragorn had to ask, becoming slightly confused.
"Legolas. There's something different about him. Don't tell me that you haven't noticed it. Do you know what it is?" Gandalf repeated.
"I don't know. I have noticed the changes in him. He's had them ever since Moria, after our encounter with Shentree just outside the gates. Changes with his anger, which he doesn't remember, changes with his moods and changes with him in general. I have known him and his family for a few years now and he is definitely not himself. It seems as if his entire being is changing and he doesn't realize it. He seems more withdrawn and I can still see anger within him. Do you know what it is?" Aragorn explained.
"There could be many reasons why Aragorn. It's just that the ones I'm thinking of don't make any sense or logic," Gandalf replied as he glanced over at the man.
Aragorn sighed. He was hoping Gandalf could shed at least some light on what was happening with their friend.
"All we can do is wait and see what happens," Gandalf told him. "Whatever is happening to our Elven friend is coming quickly. I can sense it. Shadowfax sensed it himself before. That's why he reacted the way he did. He can't tell me but I know that's what it's about. Aragorn, we must be prepared for the worst."
Aragorn nodded, knowing he wasn't going to be prepared for it. Even though he was somewhat prepared for it already.
00000
Legolas watched Gandalf and Aragorn from afar they continued to talk. He figured what part of the conversation was about. It was about him. He absently rubbed his arm as it began to ache again.
"Why is it aching so much? There is no wound," he quietly told himself.
Legolas pulled his sleeve up once more, revealing the same discolouration he had seen earlier.
"What is this? This is no bruise. I am changing and I don't know why," he said to himself. "I can't let the others see this pain that I'm in."
He pulled down the sleeve and decided to keep the pain hidden from the others. He found that it the pain became so intense that he had to find his way away from the group. Gandalf noticed his leave and slightly wondered why.
Once he knew he was out of view from the others, Legolas fell to his knees. He moved the sleeve again only to notice that the changes in his arm were only getting worse; it appeared to be travelling up his arm. Legolas' eyes were wide, showing the fear that he was feeling. He gulped as he put down the sleeve.
"I simply can't tell them. They can't help me. They can't help me at all. They won't know what's wrong. I don't know what's wrong," Legolas quietly told himself.
He leaned against a nearby tree and huddled into a ball. He began to shiver as he looked around the area again, the darkness ever comforting him.
00000
Aragorn climbed to his feet, blinking his eyes a few times. He glanced around the area to see that Legolas was nowhere to be seen.
"Legolas?" he said once, looking around the area. "Where are you?"
Gimli soon stirred from Aragorn talking. The dwarf soon stood up himself. Both his and Aragorn's stare came to Gandalf, who was standing nearby.
"Gandalf, where's Legolas?" Aragorn asked the wizard.
"Not right here but nearby. Give him a few more moments. Something is happening to him and we have to let him deal with it," Gandalf replied.
Aragorn and Gimligave him astonished looks.
"And how exactly do you know that?" Gimli wondered.
"I just do. I believe he's simply ill, that is all," Gandalf said.
"But Gandalf, elves do not become sick," Aragorn quietly told him.
"I know that and you know that. But something's happening just the same. All we can do is wait and see what further happens," Gandalf also said in a quiet voice. "I believe that Legolas will tell us when he's ready to."
As if on cue, Legolas walked up to them from his hiding place. The three stared at the elf. Legolas was slightly confused as he stared back.
"What's wrong?" he asked them.
"How are you this morning?" Aragorn asked.
"I feel fine. Why fo you ask?" Legolas replied.
Before Aragorn had a chance to answer, Legolas started to head towards the horse. Gimli gave a huff as he started to head after him.
"Stubborn elf," he muttered.
Gandalf and Aragorn weren't paying attention as they stared in the direction Legolas went in.
"Looks like he recovered," Aragorn said.
"At least outwardly he has," Gandalf told him.
The wizard headed towards Shadowfax. Aragorn sighed as he headed towards his own horse and Gimli headed after Legolas.
'I guess we'll have to wait and see then,' Aragorn thought to himself.
00000
The three horses galloped across the plains, heading towards Edoras. After some time, they stopped as they came into view of a city.
"There lies Edoras and the Golden Hall of Medesuld. Here rules Theoden, king of Rohan. His mind has been overthrown and Sarumon's hold is deep. Beware for our presence may be unwelcome. They have been a bit nervous about strangers lately," Gandalf warned them. "And be careful what you say as well. The wrong thing may be taken the wrong way."
The three nodded before they headed up to Edoras. The doors opened up, allowing them in. They glanced over the people milling the roads.
"You could find more cheer in a graveyeard," Gimli quietly said.
"Aragorn," Legolas quietly said to the man.
"What is it Legolas?" Aragorn asked him in Elvish.
Aragorn watched him as the elf appeared to be very nervous with his surroundings, almost like an animal wanting to break free from its bonds.
"Nothing Aragorn," Legolas finally told him. "'Tis nothing at all."
Aragorn narrowed his eyes at him before looking up and to see a woman off in the distance. He glanced away from her for a moment before returning his stare only to find her no longer there. He didn't know what to think. He wasn't believing what Legolas was saying. The elf was saying he was alright but he clearly wasn't.
The four walked up to the front entrance and a group of men walked up to them.
"I can't let you see the king so heavily armed by order of... Grima Wormtongue," the man told them.
Gandalf looked at his companions and nodded. Legolas handed over his knives and bow, knowing that even though he didn't want to leave his weapons in the hands of men, he had to do so.
"Be careful with those knives. They are very important to me," he told the man.
The man who took them nodded. He never noticed the glint of anger in the elf's eyes. Gandalf, on the other hand, did. He narrowed his eyes as he began to see the anger almost well up inside Legolas. Gandalf placed a hand on Legolas' shoulder. The elf shook his head slightly, as if breaking out of a trance and looked over at Gandalf. He slightly nodded his head, indicating that things were alright yet Gandalf thought otherwise. Hama looked at Gandalf.
"Your staff," Hama told him.
"You wouldn't part an old man with his walking stick, would you?" Gandalf asked him.
Hama let him keep it as they headed into the building. They walked inside to see the king and heard the door close behind them.
"It's Gandalf the Grey," Grima quietly told the king.
"The welcome of your halls has lessened of late," Gandalf called out to Theoden.
They watched as Grima leaned in towards the king.
"He's not welcome here," Grima told him with a quiet voice.
"Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?" the king asked.
The four continue to walk towards the throne, the men following on the sidelines. Grima stepped down towards them.
"Late has the conjurer decided to show his face so I shall name it. Ill news is an ill guest," Grima told them.
"Keep your forked tongued behind your teeth. I have not passed through fire and death just to talk to a witless worm like yourself," Gandalf told him before lifting up his staff.
"His staff. I told you to take the wizard's staff!" Grima cried out as the men then attacked.
Gimli, Legolas and Aragorn kept the men away from Gandalf as he kept walking towards the king. Legolas could almost feel a different, and slightly more powerful, strength coursing through him. The men who were attacking him soon found themselves on the floor.
Grima also found himself in the floor and Gimli towered over him, making sure he didn't go anywhere. Everyone watched as Gandalf tried to free Theoden of the spell cast over him.
Legolas soon began to feel sick as Gandalf continued with what he was doing. He unconsciously placed an arm across his stomach as his other hand went up to his forehead. Aragorn looked over at him and noticed this action. He watched as Legolas began to step back, almost doubled over. The man hurried over to him, placing a hand on his friend's back.
"Legolas, are you alright?" Aragorn quietly asked him.
Legolas didn't answer but when Gandalf managed to break Sarumon's hold on Theoden, he fell to his knees and his head shot back up. He looked around with a frantic look on his face. His eyes indicated that he was not seeing anything, if anything. Gandalf turned around to find Legolas in this state.
"Oh no," he quietly said.
The anger welled up in Legolas as his vision began to clear up. His eyes turned towards the person standing beside him. Aragorn became more worried as the look on Legolas' face turned to one of anger. Aragorn was caught off guard as Legolas suddenly lunged at him. Legolas grabbed the figure in front of him by the collar and forced him to the floor.
"Legolas!" he heard someone say. "Stop!"
He wasn't going to listen to the voice anytime soon as he prepared to punch, his fist balled up but something held him back. It was then that his vision began to blur and he lowered his arm. Legolas saw Aragorn on the floor underneath him. He stood up and backed away from the man.
"Aragorn," Legolas whispered.
Aragorn stood up and started to head over to his friend.
"Legolas, what happened?" Aragorn asked in a quiet voice.
"Stay away from me," Legolas told him, holding out his arm.
Gandalf continued to watch the scene, wondering what indeed was happening to Legolas. The wizard walked over to Aragorn, who glanced at him. Legolas stared at them as he backed into the wall.
"Legolas, let us help you," Aragorn told him.
Legolas didn't answer him. He instead glanced around the room with a nervous look on his face. Aragorn walked over to him.
"We need to find out what's wrong. Let us help, please," Aragorn whispered to him.
Legolas barely nodded before allowing himself to be led away from the room.
TBC...