Thanks for the great reviews! I just love them all! Still don't own any teensy little bit of the Lord of the Rings, except for six books, four posters, and two stand-ups. And I already have enough problems with fangirls! This chapter is only about half as long as the others, but at the time I was writing it I didn't think I would post it, and I certainly didn't care how long it was. Hope you don't mind. Cuz it's too bad! MWAHAHA.
Princes of the Earth
Chapter Three
Hrívion
The next day it was announced that there would be a feast that evening in the honor of the Halfling Frodo Baggins. Legolas did not know who he was, or why there would be a feast in honor of him, but he wondered if he was of any relation to Bilbo Baggins.
That day looked to be much like the previous, and Legolas wondered what the residents of Rivendell did all day, if anything. So he decided to take a walk around the entire perimeter of the valley, hoping it would take him all day. He brought all his weapons along and left a note on his bed as to where he had gone, just in case. He did not tell his guards where he was going, however, for fear they would insist on coming along.
Legolas managed to get out of the House without being seen easily enough, and hurried until he was near the borders. He slowed his pace and wandered aimlessly for hours, stopping occasionally beside a small brook, or to hear a bird sing or a tree speak to him.
Finally when the sun began to set and he had made his way around the entire border of Rivendell, Legolas returned to his room, climbing a tree to access his balcony rather than using the front entrance.
Barely a few minutes later a knock came at his door and a servant announced that the feast would begin in an hour, and that all guests were to attend. Legolas hurriedly bathed and donned the more formal outfit he had brought along for occasions just such as this and made his way to the dining hall.
Many Elves were already there, as he had taken his time in finding the place. Legolas also noticed with disdain the small group of Dwarves talking amongst themselves in one corner of the room, as if they too were trying to stay as far as possible from the race they disliked. Legolas also saw a couple of Humans, though there was no sign of the one, Estel, from the previous day.
But what drew Legolas's eyes in particular were two Halflings already sitting at the extended table. These two looked young, and were currently encircled by a small crowd of Elves, and were apparently regaling them with a tale. Legolas was content to stand against the wall, watching the mysterious creatures, their faces alight with the life of the tale. A short while later, two others of their kind joined them, and the reunion was obviously a joyful one.
Legolas quickly cast his eyes from the scene, for not only did it not concern him, but only served to remind him of his own kin and friends back home. Turning to go, he nearly ran smack into the Human he had seen twice before, Estel, and was saved only by his quick reflexes.
"Forgive me, I did not see you there," Legolas quickly mumbled, hastily fleeing the scene and leaving behind an open-mouthed Human, an apology dying on his lips.
The rest of the evening passed dully for Legolas as he focused most of his attention on the plate before him, though he hardly touched any of the food on it, and tried to avoid eye contact and conversation with everybody. Finally he managed to slip out of the hall and retire early.
Scene divider!
The grand council finally came and went the next afternoon, taking up most of the day. After the council, the fact had been established that the one Ring of Power had to be destroyed. Lord Elrond came to Legolas privately, asking the prince if he would consent to being a part of a fellowship of nine that would enter Mordor and seek the great Mount Doom to cast the Ring into it.
He did not have to expound upon the risks to the younger Elf, as all that had been more than covered in the council.
Legolas asked till morning to give his decision, which Elrond gladly consented to. But Legolas was already almost certain of his answer. He felt he had a sense of duty when there was a need that he could fill, and it was most certainly a noble cause.
But besides that, deep down, he felt that this was something that his brothers would have supported and encouraged, and helped in any way possible.
His mind made up, Legolas spent most of the rest of the night in silent contemplation and in carefully writing a letter to his father, explaining what he was going to do, and his reasoning behind it. Legolas could only hope that his father would understand and forgive him. He would send the letter back to Mirkwood with his escort the following morning.
Scene divider!
In the time it took for scouts to return to Imladris with news of the surrounding area before the Fellowship could depart, Legolas had received a reply from his father. Thranduil had given his permission and his blessing, although reluctantly, on the Quest. Thranduil knew from the tone of Legolas's letter that his son believed in this mission, and nothing could persuade him otherwise once he changed his mind. But both knew that the prince would do anything should his father order it.
So, soon afterwards, the Fellowship bid farewell to that fair valley and its inhabitants, setting out on what was possibly the biggest, most dangerous adventure of that Age.
Scene divider!
The passage south was being closely guarded, and the Gap of Rohan would lead the Fellowship much too close to Isengard for comfort. The Mines of Moria were definitely a last resort, which left them with only one choice.
Caradhras towered high above them, its majestic point seeming to leer down on the Nine and dare them to try to scale it.
And try they did.
It was a long, bitter trudge up the Mountain in below-freezing weather, and the two Men had to carry the Hobbits when the snow and ice became too deep for them to keep walking.
The only one who seemed unperturbed by the raging winds and hurling ice was Legolas, who walked beside or behind the group, atop the snow.
The Elf walked forward in front of the Company, blinking snow out of his eyes and listening attentively. "There is a fell voice upon the air!" he declared.
"It's Saruman!" Gandalf shouted, and a great crack rent the air at that same moment. A barrage of rocks came tumbling down as everyone quickly pressed up against the side of the mountain. The rocks fell harmlessly past them.
"Gandalf! We must get off the mountain!" Boromir yelled above the wind. "This will be the death of the Hobbits!"
"No!" Gandalf shouted back. They had to get over the Mountain, they simply had to! The alternative of the dark Mines was not one he wished to think about. The Wizard stepped up next to Legolas and raised his arms and his staff, chanting into the wind to appease the wrath of Caradhras.
A deafening boom was heard from above, accompanied by a nearly blinding flash. Snow like a great wave plummeted down to crash upon them, and Legolas pulled Gandalf back from the ledge just in time before the Wizard could be swept away.
For a long minute, all was calm, the narrow ledge the Fellowship had been standing on now completely covered with snow.
Frodo's mind was in a haze. Oxygen was quickly running out, and his entire body was numb from both the cold and the impact of the snow crashing down on them. He could see nothing, not even the all-consuming whiteness of before.
Desperately, he kicked and struggled until at last his head and one arm broke the surface with a burst of cold air. All he could see was the infinite white and grey—and a pale hand extended down to him. Blindly, he grasped it and gasped at the contact. The hand was frighteningly cold, and not the same cold that encompassed the Hobbit's entire body.
He looked to the owner of the hand as he was hauled upwards, and nearly gasped again, falling backwards onto the snow as he was met with two startling silver eyes. They were as cold as ice, yet pure and not sinister in the least.
The being moved on to aid the others of the Fellowship as Frodo watched, and soon all were freed of their snowy prison and gathered about the newcomer.
He was dressed all in flowing white robes that whipped about him angrily in the wind, and he had pure white hair to the middle of his back. Even his lips had little color to them. He was obviously an Elf, with exceedingly fair skin, flawless features, and pointed ears. In fact, Frodo thought he looked much like Legolas. But then again, many of the Elves he had seen all resembled one another.
"Speak, stranger," Gandalf said. "What is your name and what is your business in these barren parts?"
The stranger cast a quick glance at Legolas, who was studying him intently, and it was filled with a strange emotion the others could not identify. He looked back to Gandalf. "I might ask the same of you and yours, Istar," the stranger replied. "I am Los, and I am the keeper of this mountain."
"Keeper! And a find job you're doing of it, Elf," Gimli mumbled, barely to be heard by those close by.
Los cast his sharp eyes to the Dwarf, but did not reply. Turning back to Gandalf, he continued. "Your company seeks passage over the Mountain, Mithrandir, yet there is much devilry in the air today."
"You said you are the keeper of the mountain," Boromir spoke up doubtfully. "Can you not calm its wrath?"
Los smiled down upon the Man. "Nay, for I feel it is the Wizard Saruman at work here. He does not wish for your safe passage. Not I alone am able to contest the will of the White Wizard and be victorious."
"Then we have no choice!" Boromir exclaimed. "We cannot possibly hope to cross treacherous Caradhras!"
"We must go through the Mines!" Gimli added.
"I said only that I could not defeat Saruman alone," sad Los. "But you may still slip under his defenses with my aid. I believe I could safely guide you across."
They all seemed to ponder this for a long moment, before Gandalf inquired, "And why would you, who knows nothing about us, be so willing to aid us?"
"I would aid you willingly against Saruman because your Quest is one of a righteous cause for the good of all Arda, and I believe in it." Los turned his eyes on Frodo, lingering a moment on the Hobbit. Frodo glanced away, unable to withstand the piercing gaze that seemed to see through him.
"How do you know of that?" Gandalf demanded.
"We see much, Mithrandir, more than you know." No one knew who the "we" being referred to was. "But know that in this I am your ally, and would help your company in any way I may."
Everyone digested this new information, before Gandalf again broke the silence. "Let the Ringbearer decide."
Frodo looked up in surprise, and was met with the sharp silver eyes of Los. There was no visible emotion or judgment in those eyes, but still they unnerved him. And he could not forget the frightening coldness of the Elf's hands, though, he admitted to himself, that was certainly inconsequential. They were surrounded by snow and ice as far as the eye could see, after all.
But he did not completely trust the stranger, despite his fair appearance. Los bore no visible weapons, nor provisions, and there was definitely something strange about someone who apparently lived on a mountain and claimed to be its keeper.
Frodo would prefer to go through the Mines of Moria at that point, for he did not know the true darkness and dangers that dwelt there in the deep. But most importantly, as his body screamed at him, at least it was warm there. He could not argue with Boromir's logic that the Hobbits would surely meet their death on the mountain, despite the assurances of Los.
"We will go through the Mines," he finally said.
"So be it," Gandalf replied without emotion.
The two Men gathered up the Hobbits and, with one last look at the stranger, turned and started back the way they had come, along with the Dwarf. Gandalf sighed and bowed his head to Los, heading after the others.
Legolas and Los simply stared at each other for a long while, neither knowing what to say. Los finally murmured, "Your companions are leaving you," to which Legolas only nodded. He felt as if he should somehow know this mysterious person, and he longed to stay and find out more about him.
But Los had spoken true, and Legolas was being left behind, although he could easily catch up with the others. At last, he raised his hand to his chest and swept it outwards. "Farewell."
"Farewell," Los returned. "May we meet again." He watched until Legolas was nearly out of sight, then longingly whispered to the wind, "You've grown up so much."
The hike was much easier back down the mountain, whether by some cruel joke of Caradhras, or by some design of Los, none knew.
End of chapter. Hope you liked. I found it rather cheesy. But then again, I find this whole thing rather cheesy. But that's just me. (Hopefully.) I decided to give this to you all a bit early since it's so short. See you all next week! Or whenever…