Hey everyone, soon they will depart Minas Tirith and be on their way to adventures! As promised, there is not much action in this one but in the next chapter so I'm sorry to all my adrenaline junkies. Please stay with me, there will be a lot of action later.
Overthrown
Chapter Six
Heated Discussions
Legolas stood outside on the balcony over looking the city of Minas Tirith. A soft orange glow settled around him as dusk began to fall and his eyes grew heavy with fatigue he'd never felt before. Aragorn had described what it was but Legolas knew he'd never get used to the heaviness of his eyelids and the ache in the back of his neck.
He heard not the knock on the door or Gimli's heavy footsteps trudging across the room. His mind was so focused on keeping himself awake that it wasn't until the Dwarf cleared his throat loudly at Legolas' side did the Mirkwood Prince finally turn and look down.
Gimli was squinting in the afternoon sunlight, his black eyes beady behind bushy red hair. "Aragorn sent me to come and get you, lad." He said gruffly. "Says a few of the elves have arrived from Rivendell."
"I didn't even hear the trumpets announcing their welcome." Legolas said, surprised. Blinking his eyes rapidly to block the fog threatening to cover them, Legolas went back into the room followed by Gimli and stripped off his robe before grabbing a light black shirt and putting it on. It was the lightest thing Aragorn could find for him to wear but was still heavy and awkward.
"They didn't sound any trumpets." Gimli said, watching him from just inside the balcony door. Legolas adjusted the shirt and then looked into the full length mirror in the other side of the room. His hair hadn't been tended to in a few days and bunches it were curled here and there. 'Very un elf like.' Legolas thought. Sighing, he began untangling them with shaking white fingers as he listened to Gimli continue. "He wanted as little attention drawn to the situation as possible."
"As little attention?" Legolas asked, brushing his hair over his shoulder and surveying the tight green leggings he still wore. The rips were subtle and he hoped they wouldn't be too noticeable. Aragorn had given him others but they, like the shirt, were just not light enough. "Surly word has spread to Gondor?" He watched the Dwarf through the mirror.
Gimli nodded slightly and cleared his throat. "It will all be addressed. Come on now, some Elves are waiting downstairs. None as fair as…" He stopped and smiled slightly. Legolas quirked an eyebrow and turned to, watching him. Gimli pulled at his collar, cleared his throat and made for the door to Legolas' room. Pulling it open he left. Legolas sighed.
"Galadriel." He finished for Gimli. Checking himself one more time, Legolas left the room, closing the door behind him and found Gimli had already descended the first staircase and was waiting for him on the first tier down.
Legolas hadn't left his room since he had arrived and now the stone walls around him seemed much darker and forbidding then he had feared. He moved quietly along the hall and took the stairs two at a time, again making no sound. When he reached the tier below where Gimli stood, he felt slightly dizzy but didn't mention anything. The Dwarf, smiled.
"Your not as good as you used to be," Gimli said. Legolas looked at him over his shoulder as he began to take the next flight of stairs, slower, measuring each step as the closing walls spun. "I actually think I heard one of your steps."
"That's bad then." Legolas said, reaching the next landing. He stopped and leaned against the wall, waiting for Gimli, who had considerably shorter legs, to catch up. Gimli started down the next flight muttering something but Legolas wasn't listening. He stayed where he was against the wall, just listening to the sound of his own heart thumping wildly against his chest as a strange heat crept up his side. Legolas reached down and traced the heat with his finger as it moved from his wound and up, zig zagging to his chest. It was a while before Gimli realized he was alone.
Turning, he glared up at the elf and then his face softened. He began climbing labouredly up and reached out a small strong hand to grasp Legolas' forearm. "Are you okay, elf?" He asked. Legolas looked down and nodded, taking a deep breath. Gimli gently but firmly kept his grasp on Legolas' arm and began leading him down the stairs. Legolas wanted desperately to pull away but couldn't. When they reached the bottom of the stairs to the main level, Legolas was positively leaning on the Dwarf.
Aragorn looked up as they entered. He'd been talking in low voices with two cloaked figures in silvery blue. The figure's faces were shadowed and Legolas' spinning vision was having trouble piercing the dark veil of shadow their hoods cast over their eyes. Aragorn's face grew from an expressionless mask to concern and he began to approach Legolas and Gimli but Legolas held up and hand and stopped him.
Gimli let him go and Legolas crossed to room on his own steam. Coming up beside Aragorn he was met by the twin faces of Elledan and Elrohir, the sons of Elrond and brothers of Arwen.
"Lle tyava quel?" (Do you feel well?) Aragorn whispered. Legolas nodded and smiled at the twins who, as one, lowered their hoods revealing dark heads crowned in silver leaves and identical smiles.
"Nae saian luume'" (It has been to long) Legolas said, inclining his head to them both. A wave of dizziness seeped through him but Gimli's hand on his arm drove it from his body as fast as it had come.
"Yes, it has been." Elledan said, his blue eyes traveled around the high walls around him. "We were just saying how well Estel has done for himself." Legolas smiled over at Aragorn. "But, we have not come to admire his kingdom. We came for you. Is it true about Mirkwood?" Legolas closed his eyes briefly and then nodded.
"We are truly sorry." Elrohir said. "And we give our word we will help you with your quest."
"We will first travel to Mirkwood." Aragorn said, watching Legolas closely as though looking for a reaction. "We'll see if there are any survivors and maybe find some of the enemy."
Elledan nodded. "How long until messengers come from the other kingdoms?" He asked. Aragorn shook his dark head.
"Alas, I can not say for sure." He rubbed at his eyes tiredly. "In the next few days or…" He was not watching over the twin's backs. Legolas lifted his eyes to and saw Kelser making his way swiftly across the chamber. He eyed Legolas for a moment, passed the twins and whispered into Aragorn's ear. Legolas didn't even bother to try and listen because the look on Aragorn's face announced good news louder then any trumpet or loudly uttered news. He smiled brightly at Legolas, "They are here now."
The representatives turned out to be Eowyn and her husband, Faramir, sent by Eomer, the twins on behalf of their father, and Gariel of the realm of Arnor, which Aragorn had taken as his own not long ago.
Legolas instantly disliked Gariel, even if he was a councilor of Arnor and a second ruler in that land under Aragorn. Even though the king of Gondor trusted him, Legolas decidedly would not.
They had all been placed in a room, messengers from other lands stood along the walls, listening and waiting to be called upon. Legolas sat next to Gimli at the right hand side of the long white table. Arwen and Aragorn sat at the head, Aragorn standing, Arwen sitting with her hand on the Mirkwood Prince's arm. Her soft warm touch seemed to calm some of the nerves that boiled under his skin.
Eowyn and Faramir were beside Gimli. On the other side, directly opposite Legolas were Gariel and the twins beside him. The table was silent, as were the men along the walls, as they waited for Aragorn to speak.
"As you have been informed," He began. "Thranduil's kingdom was attacked." The people in the room were so still now; Legolas could hear Gimli's heartbeat next to him. "We're here to discuss a possible course of action. We still do not know how this happened or why, but there may yet be survivors in Mirkwood. That will be our first target."
"Survivors?" Faramir asked. He eyed Legolas for a moment before looking up at Aragorn. "What if there are none? Then what."
"There will be." Legolas answered. Gariel eyed him dangerously across the table. Aragorn seemed to see this because he next spoke.
"Gariel, son of Gilendell, this is Legolas, son of Thranduil and Prince of Mirkwood." Gariel's eyes widened slightly, so slight in fact that Legolas was the only one to pick up on it. He inclined his head dutifully and then stood.
"My Lord, the kingdom of Arnor will of course follow any action this council decides to take, however, the threat of Mirkwood is most likely no more then a land dispute or…a slight misunderstanding." Now it was Legolas' turn to stand. He leaned on the table and eyed the man across from him with a piercing stare.
"A land dispute? Half my people are dead over a land dispute, you say?" He turned to the rest of the table. "There was no land dispute. The men of the lake and strangers, in league with the spiders, attacked my kingdom! It was unprovoked!"
"So you say." Gariel snapped. Legolas glared at him. "You are not biased, perhaps, by your position in Mirkwood? From all I have heard of your alliance with the men of the lake, why would they attack?"
"That is what we are trying to find out." Aragorn said calmly. He motioned Legolas and Gariel to sit and waited until they had obeyed before continuing. "Messengers, please tell give me news."
"My Lord, Elessar." The first of the messengers came forward and bowed. He clad all in navy blue, his blond hair contrasting sharply with the fabric. "I am sent from a small village on the boarders of the Mirkwood. Prince Legolas will know it well." He inclined his head to the Prince. "It is so small; we are not even on the map."
"Your news?" Aragorn asked with a bite of impatience. "May we have it?"
"Of course! My apologies! Our town leaders declared we will send all available men to aid you in any confrontation! You have our backing." Legolas surveyed this young and terribly excited young man out of critical eyes.
"How old are you and what is your name?" He asked suddenly. The young man looked fearful for a moment at being addressed by someone so high in stature.
"I am named Lodrin, Lodrin son of Loberen. I am only twenty summers old, young compared to an Elf, of course." Legolas nodded and Lodrin fell silent, stepping back against the wall, his news given.
And so on it went, message after message, either giving just words of comfort for the elves of Mirkwood, or their promises of warriors should battle arise. There were elves and dwarves and men, some from places no one had even heard of before save for Aragorn.
"I am Maralva of the Shire." A Hobbit stepped forward, so small; no one had noticed him before. He seemed nervous, as most Hobbits would be, this far from their small and comfortable dwellings in the Shire. "Pippin was coming but he got held up, he'll be here soon."
Legolas felt a grin spread across his face and looked up at Aragorn who motioned the small being closer. "What news have you?" Aragorn asked.
"The Shire, mainly…" Maralva pulled out a few rolled leaves of parchment from his pocket and unrolled them one by one. "From Master Samwise and his wife, Rosie, 'We are very sorry to hear of the tidings of Mirkwood, and we are pleased to learn that Legolas is alive. Our best wishes…'" He handed it to Legolas who took it in a trembling hand and glanced at it. There was more, more personal which Maralva had not read aloud. He rolled it up and set it down on the table in front of him. As he did so, he noticed Gariel's eyes on him. "From, Master Frodo Baggins, 'I will aid in anyway I can.'" Marvala again handed the parchment to Legolas as, again, there was a private note, "'and the others are much the same." He handed the rest to the Elf who smiled.
"Thank you." He whispered. The Hobbit's eyes widened and he nodded fearfully before shrinking back to the wall, in the shadow of the large men on either side of him. Aragorn stared at the notes for a second then bayed the others to continue. When all the messages were delivered he turned to the table.
"With this, we will take the men you have all brought and go to Mirkwood. With any luck, we will find hope." Legolas stared at the table. With any luck? None of them seemed very willing to leave the safety of Minas Tirith, let alone into the clutches of the dark forest. "Does anyone object?" Legolas looked up. All the men looked away at once at his gaze, having been staring at him. One by one, they shook their heads. "Good, meeting adjourned, we will start out the day after tomorrow."
When everyone was gone, Aragorn turned to Legolas. "We'll find your father. Our adventure is about to begin." Legolas nodded grimly. Adventure…
Raising a shaking hand, he wiped a few wisps of white blond hair from his forehead, staring at the table in front of him. Aragorn left, he could hear him walking across the room. At the door, he stopped, talking in a low voice to someone who was waiting just outside. Arwen squeezed his shoulder gently and then followed her husband as the light footsteps of the person Aragorn had talked to crossed the hall.
Gimli shifted in his chair and leaned close to Legolas' ear. "We have company." He whispered. Legolas looked up and felt his jaw clench. Lodrin son of Loberen was back, looking excited. He bowed to each Gimli and Legolas and then waited patiently.
"What is it?" Legolas asked, trying to be patient. The young human smiled, his eyes dancing in fear and joy.
"My lord, I wish to talk to you about our town." Lodrin said clearly, but Legolas could hear the underlying shake. The boy radiated with nerves.
"Oh great." Gimli said in a loud whisper to his Elven friend. "A talk of economy on the eve of battle."
"No battle yet." Legolas answered. He motioned the chair beside him and Lodrin took it eagerly. Gimli sat back in his chair silently, all through the discussion, tapping small fingers on the table top and throwing them both board and dirty glances.
Hope you all liked it! To my reviewers:
P.S. To Everyone: I've decided to hopefully make this story into a 'live like you were dying' story. I want everyone to live like they were dying, do everything you want to (unless it's illegal and maybe do it to if you wont get caught but no drugs). This story is dedicated to a classmate of mine who died in July in a car accident and I've been thinking about her a lot. So, go and do something you've always wanted to do! (Unless it's dangerous) lol. Thanks.
Me: (Not ME, a reviewer. I wouldn't review myself…or would I?) Hey! When my mom first looked at my reviews and saw your name, she pointed at it and said 'Ashley, this is cheating!' Anyway, thank you for the review, I hope you stick with it, I have a surprise at the end. A twist!
Moonyasha: You were reading this instead of doing a project? That's okay, I was writing this instead of doing a project. Lol, hope you got it done. Thank you, and I hope you liked this one as well.
Zammy: Thank you! I hope you stick with it, like I said there's a big twist at the end. At least I hope, some might be able to figure it out.
Elessar-Lover: Yeah, you described it exactly! A sequel, I'm doing that so…maybe even for this one if I have enough material that I didn't use on this one. That would be great, I'm having a lot of fun writing LOTR. Thank you, I really like writing action and I can't wait to get into the action, like all my reviewers. I know it's slow going but there will be action a page coming up.
Faerlas: That last chapter was a dream/flashback. Sometimes I dream things that have happened before and so that's what I did for Legolas. Thank you, and I hope you liked this one to.
Jedi Padfoot: Thank you, keep reading, it will get more interesting…at least I hope…I think it will…I know it will…sorry, rambling and procrastinating at the same time. I don't want to study!
IwishChan: King Thranduil…you'll get to see what happened to him later, actually quite soon and I was so sad when I wrote it just because of all the things that happen! I really liked Melithor, I based him after one of my friends who didn't die but I grew up with her and now she's gone so…Sad. Lol. She'd be mad if she found out what I did to Melithor.
Yanzen Uroloki: Yes! I put action in it but there will be action in the next chapter, mild but I think it qualifies. And, there will be action a page once I get them out on the road. Don't worry.
Flamesofthemo0n: That last chapter was a flashback/dream. I know it was a little confusing but I had no way of doing it. I hate when I can't figure things out! I'm glad you liked it. If you think it was confusing, though, wait until the next one! I'm trying to fix it so it's not so confusing.
Slayer3: Yes, those bunnies are mean! Hey…wait, that gives me a possible idea! LOL, I never knew talking about evil bunnies could do that! Just a sec, I'm going to write that done Seriously. Okay back, to you it was like a second. LOL, I want to see the trailer! Oh well. I'll just have to see the movie. Will the evil guys get attacked by the evil bunnies? I donno…would they be allies or different tribes of evil or something? Thinks about it That'll keep me up all night.
Gemini969: Thank you, I hope you liked it! Keep reading, it will get better and more exciting.
Legolass Q (for chapter 4): Sorry I didn't put a reviewer response in for you last time but I had just got your review after I had put it up. You'll find out about Mirkwood and it will be a drastic change for Legolas. Keep reading please!
Deana: It's left up to the imagination who heard Legolas. They probably did and I was going to actually have Arwen go in and see him but I thought the chapter was already so long and I really didn't know what to put so I left it. Just pretend she did. You have a good imagination. LOL. My sister, who is also reading this, she asked me the same thing.
Shadowolf XIII: (For chapter one) I can't remember if I already responded to you but oh well, I do it again. Taylor, I don't worry if you read it or not, we like two different genres! See you at school Mellon-nin!
AND TO ANYONE I MAY HAVE FORGOT, I'M SORRY! YELL AT ME IF YOU WANT! LOL, THANKS EVERYONE!