A/N: We were going to put in the last update that we've gotten a request for a Frodo/Sam pairing in this story. We discussed it and are considering it, but we haven't come to a final decision. If we do decide to do hobbity pairings then it wouldn't be until after the war has been won since we want to concentrate on the men, elf and…half elf…during said war. Now, if any of you would like to vote for this pairing or a Merry/Pippin pairing then let us know, it may play a part in our final decision.
Also, I know we've had Legolas experience some stomach pains, but that doesn't mean he's going to go into labor soon, it has a very different reason, after all, Legolas is only about four and a half months along. So bear with us on that score, the baby won't be born until well after the war has ended. And as we said earlier, we plan on taking this story beyond the end of the war.
Now, onward over the plains…
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Chapter 21
The first one to react to Boromir's declaration was Farothen. And his reaction was to burst out laughing.
"Your brother's lover named his horse Fara."
Aragorn and Gimli exchanged confused looks as Legolas caught on as well; remembering Boromir had said his brother's name was Faramir. The elf smirked as Boromir grinned.
Deciding he was tired of being left out of the joke Aragorn said, "We should continue our search for Merry and Pippin."
The reminder of their quest subdued the high spirits quickly. Boromir nodded, "You are right. The little ones deserve more than a resting place among a band of Uruk Hai."
Within five minutes they were all mounted, Gimli behind Legolas, heading toward the pile of Uruk Hai carcasses a safe distance outside the border of Fangorn. They hadn't even reached it when Farothen was assaulted by the rancid odor of charred orc flesh. He heard Legolas release a muffled moan and looked over in time to see the elf nearly gag.
He winced in sympathy for his Elven father. With his pure blood, Legolas' sense of smell would be heightened more than Farothen's. And being pregnant probably made it even worse considering the elf was still battling recurring nausea.
Upon reaching the Uruk Hai they all dismounted. Legolas and Farothen conveniently stood upwind from the still smoking pile to lessen the amount of stench they breathed in. Yet still, Legolas went a shade paler with every breath he took. Aragorn studied the ground around the pile, not yet giving up all hope and searching for any hint that their friends still lived. Boromir stayed by the horses and kept his gaze suspiciously on Fangorn, remembering stories he'd heard as a child. And through it all Gimli fearlessly dug through the pile of burnt Uruk Hai…with only a marginal hesitation and minimal grumbling.
After a few minutes Gimli held something up. A charred belt and dagger sheath, small and familiar, "It's one of their wee belts."
There was a hint of tears in his gruff brogue as he said the words. Legolas ducked his head, whispering an Elven rite of passage while tears flooded his eyes. Boromir ducked his head as well, lifting a gloved hand to cover his eyes, hiding the tears threatening to fall. Aragorn fisted his hands, kicking an orc helmet before falling to his knees with a howl of rage, pain and grief.
Farothen glanced around at his companions, not knowing what to say. He'd gotten to know the hobbits a little during their stay in Lorien, but he had no deep emotional connection as those of the Fellowship seemed to share. With no words to comfort his family and Gimli, the half elf remained silent.
After a moment Gimli whispered, "We failed them."
Aragorn turned his head to the side, away from the dwarf, not wanting to admit, even to himself, that the same general thought clouded his mind. He cocked his head slightly when some tracks on the ground caught his eye.
He ran his hand lightly over the ground, "A hobbit lay here." He motioned to another space of grass close to the first, "And the other."
The others crowded around him as he crab walked a few paces to a fallen orc axe, "They crawled. Their hands were bound." He picked up a length of cut rope, "Their bonds were cut."
Farothen walked a few paces ahead, studying the ground as Aragorn had taught him. He looked up at the others as they followed him, "They ran over here…and they were followed."
Aragorn crouched to study the tracks closer. A moment later he was on his feet and running toward Fangorn, excited, "The tracks lead away from the battle!"
By the time the others got to Aragorn's side he was standing still, looking up at the slightly sinister looking forest that loomed above him. Without taking his gaze away from the close-knit border of trees he softly said, "And into Fangorn Forest."
"Fangorn." Gimli whispered, "What madness drove them in there?"
The other four glanced at the dwarf, but only Legolas had the grit at the moment to say what they were all thinking, "They were followed, Gimli. You don't usually stop to debate directions when you're running for your life."
Gimli looked up at the elf from the corner of his eye, but said nothing.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
March 1
By noon of the next day the Hunters were well into Fangorn. Gimli stuck close to Legolas stating that 'the elf may need someone to lean on'. Truthfully, Legolas did seem a little more tired than usual, and for obvious reasons, but everyone knew Gimli stayed close to Legolas because he was a wood elf, and Gimli was nervous about being in the forest.
"The air is so close in here," Gimli whispered, inching closer yet to the elf, "And the farther we go the closer it gets."
A couple steps back Boromir grunted, "I don't trust it."
Legolas looked around at the trees, "This forest is old. Very old." He looked back at Boromir, "Full of memory and anger. But it will not harm us. You can trust me in that."
No amount of encouraging words could stop Boromir from tensing and instinctively drawing his sword when sudden noises resembling groans echoed around them. At the same time Gimli lifted his axe.
Legolas once again looked around, his face a study of awe, and he whispered, "The trees are talking to each other."
From their position at the front of the group, still following the hobbit tracks, Aragorn and Farothen turned back to face their companions at the sound of steel sliding on leather as Boromir drew his sword. Farothen had to smile at the suspicious glare Boromir threw at the trees following Legolas' last words.
"Trees don't speak." Boromir grumbled to no one in particular, but kept his sword ready.
Farothen looked at his ada when he heard him chuckle slightly. The ranger was looking at the man of Gondor and the dwarf with genuine amusement.
"Boromir! Gimli!" Aragorn called softly. When he had their attention he gestured for them to lower sword and axe saying, "Lower your weapons."
Gimli grunted as he lowered his axe. Boromir lowered his sword more slowly, keeping it in hand, as he met Aragorn's gaze and said, "I'm sure you won't mind if I keep it out…just in case."
Since it wasn't a question Aragorn didn't answer. He merely met the younger man's gaze, amused.
"Ada!" Farothen said suddenly as he and Legolas moved as one and stepped up onto a fallen log, staring into the forest, "Nad na ennas!"
Aragorn soon joined his son and husband, whispering, "Man cenich?"
Legolas was the one who answered, discreetly glancing around the surrounding wood as he said, "The White Wizard approaches."
After a momentary hesitation Aragorn curled his hand around the hilt of his sword, speaking just loud enough for his four companions (and no one else) to hear him, "Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us."
As Aragorn drew his sword Boromir raised his again. Gimli did the same with his axe. Farothen, who preferred the bow to the sword, notched an arrow to his bow, as did Legolas, their movements once more in sync.
"We must be quick." Aragorn whispered.
The others didn't answer, they simply tensed in preparation to turn and attack.
"Now!" Aragorn yelled.
The five of them turned as one to face their foe just as a brilliant white light flashed. Boromir gave a cry of surprise as his injured shoulder throbbed and the hilt of his sword burned his hand and he dropped the sword almost immediately. Gimli managed to throw his axe at the White Wizard before being blinded by the light, but the axe was easily deflected. As was Legolas' arrow. Farothen never got a chance to loose an arrow since the string snapped back in his face. Aragorn was the last one holding a weapon and even he dropped his sword once it burned white hot in his hand.
The five Hunters held their hands up in front of their faces as the white light grew brighter. The White Wizard simply stood there, seeming completely indifferent to the Hunters.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits," the White Wizard said. He sounded like Saruman, yet at the same time he didn't
"Where are they?!" Aragorn shouted at the wizard.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"
Aragorn glared at the wizard. He didn't trust someone who was so full of deceit. And he was also tired of this game.
"Who are you?! Show yourself!"
The wizard stepped out of the light and there was dead silence in the forest. Everyone gaped.
Until the sound of giddy laughter broke the silence, "Ai Elbereth! I thought we'd gotten rid of you for good!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"I don't know whether to slap Legolas for his annoying laughter or kill you getting him in that condition to begin with, Aragorn." Gandalf sighed as everyone left Fangorn.
Aragorn grinned sheepishly, "At least he's not completely hysterical like I was for six months like I was."
Gandalf nodded as he looked at Farothen, "You really are your father's son."
That said he stepped out onto the plains, leaving everyone to wonder whether he meant Aragorn or Legolas. While they wondered, Gandalf started whistling and a few moments later he was answered by the neighing of a horse. The Hunters then watched as a beautiful white horse, without a saddle or bridal, ran up the hill toward Gandalf.
"That is one of the Maeras," Legolas mumbled in a little awe, "Unless my eyes are cheated by some spell."
"Shadowfax." Gandalf confirmed, "He's the lord of all horses, and he's been my friend through many dangers."
Without another word, the five Hunters headed for their own horses. Out of the corner of his eye, Gandalf noticed that Aragorn was glaring at Farothen as the half elf helped Boromir onto Roch's back and…was Boromir actually smiling seductively at Farothen?
"Do you have a question, Gandalf?" Legolas asked walking up to the wizard.
Gandalf nodded toward Boromir and Farothen. There was no missing the obvious warmth in the looks the two were bestowing on each other. "Is there something between those two, ernilneth?"
Legolas turned to Gandalf with a smirk, "They were married in Lothlorien."
Gandalf was utterly speechless, and when he finally opened his mouth to speak, Legolas held up his hand to stop the wizard. "A few other things you should be aware of…Aragorn and I got married in Lothlorien as well and Aragorn is the only one in this company who doesn't know his son, his baby, is married to Boromir."
"Well," Gandalf said, "I'm certainly happy for you and Aragorn…the marriage, the baby and…Aragorn doesn't know?!"
Legolas gave Gandalf the pouty, pleading look that always got him his way, "Please don't say anything, Gandalf. I've never seen Boromir so happy and…I, at least, know I want my son to be happy."
Gandalf glanced over at the pair in question. He hadn't actually seen Farothen since he'd delivered him…but he looked completely in love. And then there was Boromir of course. He had a wide ear to ear grin on his face and he actually seemed to have some hope that had never been there in all the time the Fellowship had traveled together.
Gandalf looked back at the elf, "Alright, Legolas, I won't say anything."
Legolas gave him a shy smile (another look that got him everything he wanted) and breathed a sigh of relief.
Gandalf pointed at the young elf and added sternly, "Under one condition."
Legolas looked up sharply at the Maia's words, expecting the conditions to be harsh. Surprisingly, Gandalf was grinning, barely able to keep from laughing.
"Promise me I'll be there when Aragorn is told," the wizard said, "I want to see the explosion."
Legolas actually did burst out laughing.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Elvish translations…
Nad na ennas – Something is out there
Man cenich – What do you see
Ernilneth – Young prince
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Replies to reviews…
Arch-Nemesis: First, no, Legolas is only having one baby. We have other reasons for is illness. Second, let's just say Legolas is going to use his "natural talents" and the fact that Aragorn is a push over when it come to him to keep him from finding out about Farothen and Boromir are married, he will find out about the relationship though because we can't make him that stupid…and it's kinda hard to hide true love.
Sly-Chan: Thanks for the pic links. Any things like that are welcome if you think of more.
To everyone, thanks again and I'm glad we're still keeping you all entertained.
~Becky and Brina~