Okay, this chapter is crap. Sorry. Don't read it if you don't want to.. you were warned.
The Touch of Death/ Revealed
The forest seemed to get quieter every hour as they moved closer to the fortress. The feeling of being watched increased. Picking up on the elves' apprehension, Silrocca and Súláríl shied at small things. Elizabette and Legolas did not speak much.
At midday they stopped to eat. Their food supply was beginning to run short. All that they had left were small loaves of bread, baked hard to last, and a small supply of dried fruit. There were no animals to hunt.
Elizabette checked their water- skins. "Legolas," she said, "We are running short of water. Is there a stream nearby where we can find more?"
Legolas thought for a moment. "I do not know," he said. "I have seldom been in this part of the forest. We elves avoid it, for the evil here is stronger."
"Indeed it is," muttered Elizabette. "I do not see how you could have lived here all of your life."
"It was once fair," replied Legolas. "Before the evil creatures came, the forest was a pleasant place. Now it is malignant, though it was cleansed partially, and many of us wish to leave. I shall leave for Valinor when King Elessar dies."
"Is not the rest of Middle- Earth fairer now in the Fourth Age?"
Legolas sighed. "Yes. But Mirkwood now harbors the evil creatures that fled from Mordor and other such lands. As the other lands become cleaner, Mirkwood becomes more foul. My father's power and the power of the elves kept the creatures away from the palace, but even there it is not safe."
Elizabette set away the food and water. "We should be careful with the water," she said. "We shall run out soon."
Late that afternoon, they saw, for the first time, the fortress.
Its blunt point stretched to the sky. Jet windows cut into the side like evil eyes, watching. Elizabette felt that all of the watchfulness came from this foul tower. A stone wall surrounded the tower, and all around it was the great feeling of unsleeping power.
Elizabette bit her lip and turned to the elf. "Will we continue on or wait until tomorrow?"
Legolas stared at the tower. "I do not wish-" His answer stopped as Silrocca shouted in his thoughts, Something is coming!
Legolas turned quickly. What? he asked.
Suddenly there was a growl right behind him. Silrocca jumped around as Legolas drew his knife. He slew the creature as another ran up. They were wolves; giant wolves with eyes of fire. They were so large that Legolas barely had to lean over to fight them. He was fortunate that Silrocca was agile and alert, or he would have been killed.
There seemed to be no more. Legolas glanced over at Elizabette. She was looking at her sword with a nauseated expression; she had killed another of the wolves.
"Are you all right?" he asked anxiously.
With a great effort, Elizabette pulled herself together. "Yes," she said, wiping her blade then sheathing it, "I am fine."
She glanced around quickly. "The light fades quickly in the forest," she commented.
"I have no desire to sleep near the fortress," responded Legolas. "Shall we go back so that we cannot see it?"
Elizabette shook her head. "I do not know," she said. "What if more of those wolves come?"
"We will watch," said Legolas. To Silrocca he thought, Where shall we go?
This way. She turned and walked back the way that they had come.
As they walked, Súláríl asked Elizabette, What will you do tomorrow?
I do not know. We must find the source but I do not know how.
Elrond said that you would.
Yes. Perhaps he was wrong.
Perhaps.
---
They dared not light a fire that night. Smoke could be seen by watchful eyes, and they did not wish to alert anything that would be better left alone. They sat close together, eating their meager meal.
"Something troubles you," observed Legolas softly.
Elizabette looked up. "Many things trouble me," she replied cryptically.
"Do your memories still disturb you?" he asked.
Elizabette shook her head. "No," she responded. "Not very much."
"What were you thinking of?" he asked, looking at her.
Elizabette sighed. "Lord Elrond told me that I have some power over you, as do you over me. He would not tell me what it was. Do you know?"
Legolas' eyebrows creased into a frown. "No," he said. In his thoughts, he asked Silrocca, Do you know?
I may. I am not certain yet.
Will you tell me? he asked, already knowing the answer.
No. You will discover on your own.
---
Later, Elizabette asked tranquilly, "Shall I watch first? You did last night."
Legolas shrugged. "If you wish," he said. "I will if you want me to."
"I will," she said. "Do you think that the wolves will return?"
"I do not know. Perhaps. Keep your sword ready."
After a moment, Elizabette shivered. "Killing the wolves was terrible. I had never killed anything before."
Legolas put his arm around her shoulders. "Think what the power that controls them has done to us."
Elizabette closed her eyes. "Do you believe that blood should be repaid with blood? My uncle says that 'revenge often rebounds upon its wielder'."
Legolas shook his head. "Usually I do not believe this," he answered. "But in this case, the power is too horrible to leave alone."
"Perhaps." She was silent for a moment. "Can we not speak of other things?"
Legolas smiled slightly. "Why did you name your horse Súláríl? If I interpreted it properly, you wished it to mean 'Fire- spirit'."
"That is correct," replied Elizabette. "I know not why I named him that. It seemed to fit him."
"Did Súláríl tell you the meanings of the words?"
"He told me the Elvish translation of 'spirit'. I knew the word for 'fire'."
"How?"
Elizabette smiled for the first time in several days. "In The Lord of the Rings, Aragorn names his sword Andúril, Flame of the West. I assumed that the ending -ril could be translated to mean 'fire'."
"It can be," Legolas replied. "I like the name."
A few minutes later, Elizabette asked, "Legolas, why did you look different in my world than you do here?"
Legolas shrugged. "I do not know," he said. "I think that people age more quickly in your world than in Middle- Earth, for you seem as old as I am and you look older than you did in your world."
Elizabette shook her hair out of her face. "I wonder where Matron came from. She seems not so horrible compared to this power," she said thoughtfully.
After a few minutes, Legolas stared off into the darkness. "South of here lies Eastern Lórien, where the Lord Celeborn dwells still."
"In Mirkwood?"
"In the southern parts."
Later, Legolas curled up in his blankets as Elizabette stood by the fire, watching. She stared into the darkness, her sword on her waist, ready. She could not tell if Legolas was awake or asleep, for like all elves, he slept with his eyes half open.
An hour later, he sat up. "Elizabette," he said, "I cannot rest. Something grows in my mind. I think that my father will die tonight."
Sorrow filled Elizabette's eyes. She knelt near the elf. "Are you certain?" she asked. "I felt nothing."
"Concentrate on it," Legolas suggested. "You have been pushing away any intuitive premonitions with your worry of the fortress."
Elizabette sat down and closed her eyes. After a moment she felt it, sorrow, and pain. "Yes," she said after a moment, "I think that you are correct."
Neither of them slept that night. They waited quietly for the dawn; or what dawn there was in the dim forest. Elizabette sat, wrapped in her blanket, concentrating on her thoughts. Legolas stared into the fire, trying to keep from crying. Elizabette sensed his pain and came to sit beside him. Her presence comforted him slightly.
An hour before dawn, both of them felt a sharp pain in their minds, followed by a slight flash of anger, then relief. Their eyes met. King Thranduil had died.
Legolas' clear eyes filled with tears. No, he thought. This cannot be happening.
Elizabette wept also. The king had helped her much and she mourned his passing.
They grieved silently. When they could speak again, Elizabette said, "He was relieved to die."
Legolas had also felt the relief. "Yes," he said. "After all that..."
Neither spoke more until dawn.
---
Elizabette at last stood as the forest grew lighter. She took out what food they had left and spread it out. "We have only two days' food left," she said. "What will we do then?"
Legolas sighed heavily. "I do not know," he said. "Perhaps if we destroy the power the animals will return."
Elizabette shrugged her shoulders and handed him a small loaf of bread. She took one for herself. They ate silently. Elizabette watched Legolas. He was hiding his sorrow, steeling himself for the task ahead.
When she had finished her meager provisions, she left the camp for several minutes and returned wearing her jeans. Legolas raised his eyebrows but did not comment. "It will be easier to ride," she explained.
They packed away the food and prepared to depart. "Legolas?" Elizabette asked. "Should we not leave our packs here? It would be easier to fight."
"It would be," said Legolas, "but we may not care to return here. And something could despoil our food if it is not with us."
"That is true," she said. Picking up her pack, she jumped lightly onto Súláríl's back.
Legolas mounted Silrocca and they came up to Elizabette and Súláríl. The horses began to lightly pace toward the fortress.
Elizabette checked her sword surreptitiously. All seemed to be in order. Do you know what will happen, Súláríl? she asked.
No. But you will meet someone that you did not expect to find here, he replied.
How do you know this?
I know. Do not question.
After a moment, he asked, How did you know that your dream of the King's death was true?
Elrond and my father were in the dream. They told me that it would happen.
But you did not know Elrond then.
No. Now I know that it was he.
Elizabette glanced at Legolas. "What do you think will happen?" she asked.
Legolas looked up. "I do not know," he responded. "We may have to fight."
Elizabette frowned. "I hate fighting," she said.
Legolas smiled sadly. "It is a pity that it must be done," he replied. "Perhaps someday all evil will be banished from Middle- Earth."
"I doubt it," muttered Elizabette.
As they neared the fortress they again felt the watchfulness. Elizabette squeezed Súláríl's middle with her knees, nervously awaiting the action. "We must be on our guard," Legolas cautioned as they approached the fortress. "Anything could happen."
Elizabette closed her eyes, trying to relax. She found that she could not.
A quarter of an hour later, they reached the iron gates. They advanced warily. There were no sign of the wolves and they opened the gates carefully.
Both elves winced at the sharp clang that the gate made as it closed fast behind them. Legolas thought, Now we are locked in, for better or for worse.
Is it locked? Asked Silrocca.
I do not know, but we have alerted any enemy to our presence, and it may be difficult to get out.
Tread carefully, was all that she said.
Legolas and Elizabette jumped down from the horses. They looked around.
The blunt tower dominated the bleak ground. There were small scrubby brown bushes but nothing was green. A small door in the side wall caught Elizabette's eye. "What do you think is in there?" she asked Legolas.
Legolas glanced at it. "It may be a guardroom," he replied. "It may also be a side entrance, or a storage room. Shall we go see?"
Elizabette nodded reluctantly. "All right," she said. She drew her sword and Legolas his knife. The horses followed them, intelligent dark eyes watching for danger, ears flicking around at the slightest sound.
Do you sense anything? Legolas asked Silrocca.
No, Legolas, but anything could happen. Be careful.
Elizabette cautiously opened the door. She peered inside. "It looks all right," she whispered to Legolas, who came up beside her. "What should we do?"
Legolas glanced at Silrocca. "The horses will not be able to come inside," he said, "but I think that we should go in. Something tells me the that thing that we are seeking lies here."
Elizabette rubbed Súláríl's forehead gently. We will go inside, she told him. Will you be safe out here?
We will be careful. Both horses moved away silently, their hooves making little noise on the dusty ground.
With one quick glance at each other, the two elves stepped inside.
The air was damp and a musty smell lingered in the air. They kept close to each other as they looked around.
Elizabette noticed a darker patch in the dim room. She went carefully over to it, her silent feet light on the earthy floor. She saw that it was a staircase.
Legolas came over. "Shall we go down?" he asked.
Elizabette shrugged. "I suppose..."
They headed down. Both were surprised to find that the floor was swimming with a few inches of water.
Elizabette wrinkled her nose in distaste as the dark, murky water touched her leather boots. Legolas made a low noise of disgust.
Elizabette led the way to the next room. Something glowed slightly in the center of the room. She knew immediately that it was what they had been searching for.
Did you find it? Súláríl asked in her mind.
I think so... That was simple!
Do not be too certain yet... Your task is not completed.
Elizabette whispered, "Legolas, I think that this is it." The elf came to stand beside her.
"I believe that you are correct," he whispered back. He leaned closer to examine the instrument.
A thin wire came from the floor and slipped through a hole in a metal cylinder. It stretched to a wooden pole. There it entwined another wire, seemingly made of copper, that extended to the ground. The first wire went on to a round glass ball that radiated with an evil light. The entire contrivance seemed uncomplicated, but it seemed to crackle with power.
Elizabette stared at it for a moment. "Do not touch it," she warned. "I believe that it is electricity."
Legolas' eyebrows creased into a puzzled frown. "Electricity?" he echoed. "What is that?"
Elizabette had learned much about electricity in seventh grade. As she had been interested in the subject, she had asked for some books about it. "Electricity is power made from charged particles," she explained. "They are called electrons. If you touch it, you will get a shock. It can travel along wires because metal is a conductor, it allows the particles to travel through it. If a wire is insulated with rubber, you will not get a shock. Glass and fabric are also insulators."
Legolas' expression was still puzzled as he struggled to process the information. "I do not understand," he said.
"If you were to touch one of these wires, that are not insulated, you would get a shock that would probably make you fall unconscious. You would also get a shock if you touched it with a sword or something metal." She stepped over to the source. "This is a ground," she said, pointing to the copper wire. "It grounds the entire structure so that it does not cause a fire." She peered closely at the glass sphere. "If you wished to," she said to Legolas, "you could touch this because glass is an insulator. It stops the movement of the electrons so they cannot shock you." She frowned and muttered, "It seems that this is sending out some type of radioactive waves. But I cannot think of anything that would harm only the elves. It does not make sense. The electricity is powering it, and the reason that the disease gets stronger is that the source of the power becomes stronger. I wonder what it is being powered with."
"How is electricity normally produced?" Legolas asked.
Elizabette thought for a moment. "Often with coal that powers a turbine," she replied. "That is partly why my world is so dirty."
"Could there not be a coal fire below here then?" Legolas asked.
"There might be." She pointed to the sphere. "If we were to smash this," she said, "The electricity would kill us. We are standing in water, which is a conductor. If any leaked onto the floor, it would get us. We are wearing leather boots, which would help protect us, but I would prefer not to risk it." She paused for a moment, deep in thought. "If we were to break the wire, it would stop the radio waves. But I do not know what effect it would have on the rest of the system. And what would we use to break the wire? If we were to use a sword or a knife, we would get a shock. Both have metal on the handle."
Legolas frowned. "Elizabette? These- radioactive waves? Do they harm us more if we are closer to them?"
Elizabette considered. "I do not know," she replied. "I did not study radioactive substances. It is unsafe to be near them for long, but other than that, I know nothing. We should leave as soon as possible."
Legolas looked worried. "How can we destroy this then? We do not want to die from the disease."
Elizabette frowned in puzzlement. "I am not certain... If we were to put out the fire, if there is one, it would stop the circula-"
She was interrupted by an evil chuckle. "Right you are, my dear. But you were always a smart one."
Elizabette and Legolas whirled around. Matron stood behind them.
They had been concentrating on the source so hard that they had not heard anyone come up. Elizabette held her sword in a neutral position; non- threatening but ready for action.
Legolas drew his knife. They stood shoulder to shoulder, waiting.
"How did you get here?" Elizabette demanded vehemently.
Matron smiled. "I am not who I appear to be," she replied. "Your friend would recognize my true form. And... ah. Perhaps you would, too. It has been many years... but I enjoyed our time together."
Elizabette's gaze flicked to Legolas. He shrugged slightly.
"Now," said Matron, "You have achieved much, Elizabette Elénwen Allan." She smiled at Elizabette's angry surprise. "You and your family have long tormented my line. Now the debt will be paid."
"What have we done to you?" asked Elizabette. There was fear in her voice, but there was also a note of pride.
"Your family, my dear, aided in the destroyal of my master. You have long harassed my line, the Line of the Black Númenóreans."
"Your master?" Elizabette's voice was barely audible. Legolas, glancing at her face, saw a mixture of suspicion and pure terror.
Matron's voice seemed to grow. "My master." She tore off her wig. Beneath her hair was long and dark. Her clothes seemed to the elves to be suddenly not a black dress but a long jet robe. Her face turned into that of a man's, but no ordinary man. It was dark with cruel power, power hungering to kill.
Elizabette shrieked and jumped back, seeming to fight an instinct to run. She reached out for Legolas, who caught her hand and held it tightly.
"Behold!" shouted the person who Elizabette had known as Matron. "I am not Matron, the leader of the orphanage. I am far more powerful." He stared at Legolas with evil eyes. "Do you know who I am, young prince?"
"The Lieutenant of the Black Tower," whispered Legolas. "The Mouth of Sauron."
"Right you are, Legolas of Mirkwood," the Lieutenant said mockingly. "Long have I desired this moment. You may tell your father that I enjoyed his forest as a hiding- place for my weapons."
Elizabette felt Legolas stiffen with anger.
The Lieutenant laughed cruelly. He glanced at the elf, enjoying Legolas' expression. "Ah, I had forgotten," he said. "Your father is dead. I have killed him." His mocking laughter rang in the bare chamber.
Then, looking at Elizabette, he said, "And you? Do you recognise me?"
Elizabette seemed to be speechless with horror. Legolas slipped an arm around her waist, wondering what had frightened her so deeply. She managed to say, "You keep away from me!"
The Lieutenant laughed agtain. His cruel, grating mirth echoed in the bare chamber. "I will kill you to avenge my family. But first, you shall suffer." He glanced at Legolas. "You will watch Legolas die."
Elizabette pointed her sword forward with a movement quicker than sight. "Do not touch us," she snapped fiercely, her voice coiled tightly with anger and fear.
The Lieutenant laughed softly. "It will be a hard lesson to learn, Miss Allan," he said. "You have always had your pride. It took you many long hours to surrender." His face hardened. "Now, lower your sword."
Elizabette did not move. "Never," she hissed softly.
The Lieutenant drew the curved red knife. He slashed suddenly at Elizabette's blade. She retaliated, slicing at his hand. He cried out and sprang forward. She parried the blow with her white sword, backslashing quickly. The Lieutenant stepped back a pace, face contorted with anger. Then he dove forward and managed to cut her hand. It stung but the knife did not go deep.
Elizabette's insides burned with rage, smothering her fear. This man, if man he could be called, had murdered her parents, her entire family, as well as King Thranduil, and to her- she couldn't think about it. She would have been ready to stab the Lieutenant to death, but her uncle's word rang in her thoughts.
Revenge often rebounds upon its wielder...
Elizabette's anger was pushed aside as she considered the words. They had a great meaning for her, for each time that she had become angry at Legolas, she had taken revenge upon him- in words instead of actions.
She was certain that her uncle had meant the words for those situations, but she knew not what he would have wished for her to do now. If she killed this man, as she must, for the safety of everyone, would she be taking revenge? Not for herself only, but also for her family?
No. Elizabette was not certain if it had been Súláríl's voice or that of her own conscience. An idea formed in her head. Suddenly decided, she caught Legolas' glance. She glanced pointedly at the knife in his hand, then at the Lieutenant, then back at his face. He looked carefully for a moment, as he understood. Then Elizabette raised her eyebrows quickly, closed her eyes for a moment, and glanced again at the knife and the Lieutenant, shaking her head slightly. Legolas frowned, not understanding. She repeated the sequence. Then he understood.
She wishes for me to fight the Lieutenant, he realized, but not to kill him.
Elizabette nodded quickly at him. The Lieutenant, busy with his wound, seemed not to have noticed their silent conversation. Legolas sprang forward, slashing quickly with his knife.
Elizabette swung her pack off of her back, rummaging in it quickly until she found what she was looking for. The wooden box with the heavy brown stone inside it. The Lieutenant looked at her quickly but Legolas distracted him by slashing at his face.
Elizabette looked carefully and threw the rock at the thin wire between the cylinder and the wooden post. As it hit the silvery wire, time seemed to slow.
The fine wire snapped with a shower of sparks. Elizabette smiled slightly. The cylinder and the wooden post held the wires from falling into the water. The rock hit the water with a splash.
The Lieutenant's attention had snapped to his cruel device, now partially destroyed. He had not been watching Legolas, and the elf sliced his hand again.
A low howl was torn from the Lieutenant. He drew up his knife and slashed at Legolas. The elf did not duck quite quickly enough and the knife cut his cheek.
He did not cry out but retaliated. The Lieutenant had to duck quickly.
Elizabette looked quickly back at the apparatus. She picked up the wet rock and this time, aimed for the glass ball.
"Watch out, Legolas," she screamed as it shattered into myriads of pieces. She felt the power from the ball rush by her as it dissipated into the air.
The elf covered his face. The Lieutenant turned away quickly to avoid the sharp shards of glass.
Elizabette sighed in relief as the sense of the crackling power vanished. The glass settled into the water. Legolas turned and came over to her. "You did it," he said, taking her hands gently.
"We did it," she replied softly. "Are you all right?"
Legolas touched the cut on his cheek carefully. "It is not deep," he said, "nor does it bleed much. It will heal quickly." He looked at the cut on her hand. "Does it hurt?"
"Not very much." She smiled.
Legolas frowned slightly and glanced pointedly at the Lieutenant, who was watching them closely.
Elizabette smiled slightly. "We will give him a little of his own medicine," she said softly, so that the Lieutenant, who did not possess elf- ears, could not hear.
Legolas raised his eyebrows.
"Be ready to get out of the way," she continued quietly. She looked up into his face. Legolas saw that there was a slight smile in the gray depths of her eyes.
Elizabette's eyes flicked from Legolas' to the now broken electrical device. "Now!" she whispered to Legolas, springing toward the silver wire that she had broken. She pulled a piece of leather from her pocket and wrapped it around the wire. Seizing it tightly, she jerked it roughly away from the pole and the cylinder. She darted toward the Lieutenant. Before he had time to react, the wire touched his hand and sent a shock through his body.
Elizabette expected him to pass out; but instead, he faded. Legolas stepped over to Elizabette and took her hand. They stood together as the Lieutenant dissipated and his form vanished. A slight sigh seemed to come from him as he at last died.
The last of the power dissipated with the Lieutenant.The last remnant of Sauron's evil was gone. Elizabette touched the wire warily. It was cold and lifeless.
Elizabette picked up her sword and her pack. Legolas wiped his knife and sheathed it. Together they left the dark chamber.
---
When they emerged into the forest again, even the dim light seemed too bright. Silrocca and Súláríl came over to them, nickering softly. Elizabette rubbed Súláríl's forehead lightly.
Are you all right? he asked.
Yes. I did not get hurt except for a scratch from the wires and a small cut when I fought the Lieutenant.
Is he dead then? Súláríl asked.
Yes, we killed him with his own power.
Legolas glanced at the tower.
"What do you think is in there?" he asked.
Elizabette looked at it thoughtfully. "I think that that is where the Lieutenant lived," she said. "Shall we go in to see? I do not sense that there is anything evil here."
Legolas nodded. "I agree," he replied. They went up to the doors.
Elizabette opened the door and peered inside. A staircase rose straight up.
Legolas climbed the stairs, and after a moment, she followed. At the top was a small room with a bed and a desk. "This is where he slept," she guessed.
"There is another staircase," Legolas pointed out.
This was the last one. The tower was not as big as it had seemed. The room was small and rather bare, with a few chairs and a shelf of books.
Elizabette took one of the books from the shelf and flipped it open. Legolas came to look over her shoulder.
"I cannot read this," she said.
"It is the Black Speech of Mordor," replied Legolas. "I cannot read it either."
Elizabette closed the book and slipped it back onto the shelf. "There is nothing of value here," she said. "Perhaps the Lieutenant had another place where he lived."
"Perhaps. But he was mad with evil. He may have cared only to kill."
Elizabette shuddered. "Let us leave this horrible place," she said.
Súláríl asked, Is there anything interesting in the tower?
No. It is rather bare. There are a few books written in Black Speech, but we cannot read them.
Perhaps you would not want to, even if you could understand the language.
Elizabette smiled slightly. Perhaps, she acknowledged.
They emerged into the outside forest. Súláríl was waiting. Silrocca was a few paces behind him.
She said into Legolas' mind, Legolas, do you not think that it is strange that there are no other evil creatures here?
Yes. But I think that the Lieutenant was first trying to kill all of the elves before waging war, because the other free peoples would then have little chance of victory.
That is true.
Elizabette looked around at Legolas. "Shall we go?" she asked. "I do not think that there is anything else here."
Legolas looked around. "Elizabette?" he asked suddenly. "Is that yours?" Elizabette came over to look. On the ground was a piece of silvery metal wrought into the likeness of a star.
She reached into her pocket. "No," she replied, pulling out the Star of Eärendil. "This is mine."
Legolas picked the other one from the dirt. It was quite similar, though it had no chain. Elizabette compared it to hers. "That is not mine," she said, "though it looks much the same."
"I wonder where it may come from," Legolas said. "Perhaps the Lieutenant stole it from you when he was pretending to be Matron."
"Perhaps," Elizabette replied. Unclasping her necklace, she threaded the other star onto it also. "Perhaps we can discover where it came from."
Legolas seemed not to have heard. He was staring at the tower with anger on his face.
Elizabette guessed what he was thinking of. "Legolas," she said, "I am sorry about your father. I hoped that we could stop the disease before he died."
Legolas turned. "So did I," he replied softly. He caught her hands. "Elizabette..." he said. He leaned forward and kissed her softly. Then he drew back and waited for her reaction.
For a moment Elizabette stood, surprised. Then as she realized something, a slow smile spread over her face. Legolas' power over me... and mine over him... is love.
Elizabette looked up into Legolas' blue eyes. She smiled and kissed him back, and, hand in hand, they left that place.
---
They returned to the place that they had camped the night before. Both of them felt that the danger and watchfulness in the forest had lessened. Legolas managed to shoot a squirrel with his bow and they roasted it over their fire. They relished the fresh meat after several days of bread and dried fruit.
"How did this electricity kill the Lieutenant?" Legolas asked later.
Elizabette sighed. "I did not know that it would," she said. "I thought that it would only make him unconscious."
Legolas sensed her discontent. "Elizabette," he said softly, "the Lieutenant was dangerous. If he had lived, he would have conceived another plot to ruin Middle- Earth."
"Yes," Elizabette replied, "but in my world, to kill someone else is considered murder. People are jailed for manslaughter. It is a crime. In Middle- Earth, killing is... tolerated."
"What does jailed mean?" Legolas asked curiously.
Elizabette sighed pensively. "Basically, thrown in a dungeon, although most jails are not underground."
"I am sorry," said Legolas, putting his arm around her shoulders. "I understand your feelings for taking another's life, however. I felt much the same the first time that I was in a war."
Elizabette smiled slightly. "To answer your question," she said, "Electricity is a force. It is commonly used in my world. We use it to power lights. No one uses candles or torches. Anyone who touches it will receive a shock from the power, though they will not always die. Some people put electrical fences around gardens or buildings to keep animals away. It does not harm the animals much but they learn to avoid it."
"That is cruel," said Legolas.
Elizabette shrugged her shoulders. "It is," she answered, "but it works."
"How could the power penetrate to your world?" Legolas wondered after a moment.
Elizabette shrugged. "I think that the power had intensity enough to permeate all worlds."
"What was the power that was causing the disease?" Legolas asked.
"That," said Elizabette softly, "I do not think that we will ever be able to understand."
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Yes. Crap. Sorry. I wrote it two years ago... can't be bothered to edit it... it needs waayyy too much work.
I wasn't going to update... but I was so thrilled that I got into the chamber orchestra... that I've been working towards for about six months(!)... that I decided to post it.
Thanks for reviewing. I've gotta go to sleep- no time for responses. I seriously love you all though.
Elven Fate: Sorry, but that's not true- 'Legolas' actually means 'Greenleaf'. He's called 'Legolas Thranduilion' which means, "Greenleaf, son of Thranduil."
Thanks for reviewing.
I seem to have lost a number of readers, probably because of school, although I've gained a few more. I expect to lose a few over this disgustingly awful chapter... but please review, even just to tell me how crappy you thought it was.