A Stranger In The Woods
Chapter 11: The Pass of Caradhras
They sat off early the next morning, and spent the whole day trudging through the snow as they climbed higher up the mountain. It was cold, it was wet… it was not fun. Oh, how she wished she could just say a word and be magically whisked off the mountain!
And of course, Frodo somehow misplaced the Ring. Katie watched anxiously as Boromir held the Ring, pulling him deeper into Sauron's spell. Tensions ran high, and when Boromir gave back the Ring to Frodo the tension lessened from palpable to an unpleasant buzz.
The snow whipped around the group like a blizzard, slowing everyone except Legolas. Katie couldn't get over how graceful he looked, gliding over the snow effortlessly. The wind stung her face as she raised her eyes, catching a glimpse of him at the front of the group, talking with Gandalf. Or really, yelling at Gandalf over the noise of the wind.
She had known from the moment she woke up that morning what she must do. She had to tell Legolas about the avalanche. Had to warn him, even if he didn't believe her. She was tired of playing games; it was time to be honest. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, it bothered her that he didn't trust her.
"No time like the present," she muttered, lifting her head in determination just as a strong gust of wind caught the hood of her cloak.
The snow slapped against her face as she unsuccessfully tried to pull it back over her head, her frozen fingers unable to grasp the material. She turned and tried to find it, feeling like a cat chasing after its tail.
A hand clamped down on her shoulder, stopping her in the middle of her second turn. She looked up and was surprised to find Legolas in front of her, his eyes dancing with amusement.
"What are you doing?" He asked, looking very much as if he wanted to laugh.
"My fingers…I can't put my hood back on." She said lamely.
His lips twitched. "Why did you take it off in the first place?"
Katie stamped her foot in frustration. "I didn't, the wind…oh," she mumbled, suddenly realizing he was teasing her. If it wasn't so damn cold, Katie was sure she would have blushed.
"You might stay warmer if you keep it on," he said, grinning as he reached behind her and gently pulled the hood over her head.
"Wait," she whispered as he began to walk away. "I need to talk to you."
Legolas turned back to face her, surprised by her words. He wondered if she was going to yell at him again.
"I need to talk to you," she repeated.
"I am listening," he said softly, taking a step towards her.
"I don't know how to say this," she whispered, biting her lower lip nervously. Well, the obvious approach seems like a good idea. "Saruman is going to try to bring the mountain down on us and we will have to travel back down the mountains into-."
"What are you talking about?" he asked sharply, cutting her off.
"Saruman is going to try to bring the mountain down on us and we will have to travel back down the mountain to the mines." She repeated slowly, feeling like an idiot.
"I heard you the first time," he snapped, looking at her in bewilderment.
"What I meant was, how, exactly do you know this information?"
"I told you I could see into the future." She pointed out.
He stared at her for a full thirty seconds, doubt written all over his face. "I see," he muttered, then turned and walked away.
'He doesn't believe me,' she realized as she watched him leave. Anger rose inside her.
"Legolas!" She yelled, suddenly furious. He turned, and before she could stop herself, she marched directly in front of him and shoved him as hard as she could in the chest.
He stumbled slightly, momentarily thrown off by her actions.
"You are such an ASS!" she hissed. "I am here because I know the future of the Fellowship, and yet when I tell you, you refuse to believe me. Tell me, Prince," she nearly shouted, "What the hell am I here for then?"
He opened his mouth to speak but she cut him off. "It can't be because I'm wanted here," she continued, lowering her voice. "It is perfectly clear that I am not. So, why am I here?"
"Are you and Boromir planning together? Seeing who can make me feel the most stupid, the least welcomed?"
"What?" He asked ineloquently, suddenly feeling lost.
"Don't play dumb, Elf, it doesn't look good on you," she snapped.
"I do not know what you are talking about," he said with a sigh of frustration, "I can assure you that Boromir and I are not conspiring together."
"I am sorry I do not believe you," he went on quietly, "but I tend to think rationally about such matters, and looking into the future is not rational."
He glanced up at the mountain. "Furthermore," he continued after a pause, "I am sorry if we…if I… have made you feel unwelcome. I do not think you are stupid."
"But you think I'm irrational." She stated calmly, no longer angry.
"No…not you," he said slowly, trying to decide how to word his feelings. "Seeing into the future."
Katie looked down at her hands, unsure of what to say or believe.
Legolas stared down on her, emotions bright in his eyes. "Why did you tell me this?" He asked quietly. "What do you expect me to do?"
Katie closed her eyes, struggling with the questions. She didn't want to tell him the truth, didn't want to make herself vulnerable, but it seemed she had no choice.
"I told you because I trust you," she whispered, finally looking up to meet his gaze. "I hoped you would trust me enough to believe what I said. Saruman will bring the mountain down on us."
Legolas' blue eyes bore into hers, searching for the truth. He took a step towards her and opened his mouth to speak when a voice interrupted.
"What's the hold up?" Gimli yelled from ahead of them.
Katie jumped and quickly stepped away from Legolas. She felt heat rise to her cheeks and looked down before he could see.
"I will talk to Gandalf." Legolas said quietly, ignoring the dwarf. "I will try to persuade him to turn around."
Katie's head snapped up at his words, and she opened her mouth to speak, but he had already disappeared into the swirling snow.
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By the time Katie caught up with the rest of the group, she knew it was too late. Call it intuition; call it a hunch, but she knew. The ledge they stood on looked remarkably and dreadfully familiar, and Katie knew deep in her heart that any minute Saruman would strike the mountain with lightning, burying them all in snow. And she was helpless to stop it.
Legolas, who had been standing at the head of the group arguing with Gandalf, abruptly stopped. He walked out onto the edge of the mountain and squinted up into the blinding snow.
"There is a fell voice from the air," he said suddenly. Katie could practically see his mind working like clockwork, registering what she had just warned him about.
"It's Saruman!" Gandalf cried in realization.
Just then, several huge chunks of snow fell from the mountain, nearly hitting the group and sending snow-dust up into the air, blocking their vision and making it harder to breath than it already was.
"He's trying to bring down the mountain!" Aragorn yelled. "Gandalf, we must turn back."
"No!" Gandalf cried, climbing up onto the ledge in front of Legolas. Obviously, he hadn't paid attention to the elf's warnings. He started chanting loudly in a language Katie didn't recognize, clearly challenging Saruman. She looked around desperately, feeling herself beginning to panic. There was nothing she could do; no way to stop the series of events that were taking place right before her eyes. Katie realized in that terrible moment that she hated knowing the future.
She looked at Legolas pleadingly, begging him to do something, anything. Their gazes met. She saw the look of bewilderment in his clear blue eyes and knew it was too late. She hadn't been able to stop it, and neither could Legolas. A few seconds later, a huge bolt of lightning struck the mountainside above them with a deafening crack.
Katie looked up in time to see chunks of snow and rock falling towards them, and wished she hadn't looked. She barely had time to cover her face with her arms before she was knocked on her back by the force of the avalanche. It buried her, smashing her, trapping her in an icy tomb. It instantly knocked the air from her lungs and, panicked, she realized she couldn't move or breathe. She struggled, fighting for the chance to live. The world began to turn fuzzy and black at the edges and she felt herself slipping away- slowly losing consciousness.
She was only vaguely aware of strong hands grabbing her and pulling her out of the snow. She felt her head being tilted up, then a hot mouth pressed against hers, forcing air into her starving lungs. Her eyes flew open as she gasped for breath, and saw Legolas leaning over her, his blue eyes wild.
"Are you hurt?" he asked in a shaky voice, helping her sit up.
'No," she squeaked, trying to get her breath back. "Is everyone else okay?" she asked with a cough.
"I believe so," he whispered, his eyes scanning her for injuries. He gently felt up and down her arms and legs, checking for breaks.
Aragorn made his way over to them, plowing a deep trail through the huge pile of snow. His eyes quickly scanned her in the same manner that Legolas' had, and he gave her a relieved smile.
"I am glad everyone is okay. Frodo hurt his shoulder, but he is fine," he turned to Legolas. "It has been decided that we must travel back down the mountains, and into the Mines."
Legolas gave the man a curt nod and watched as he went back to work on the snow. After a minute, he turned back to Katie, looking intent.
"I apologize," he said quietly, watching her reaction closely.
Her head snapped up and she blinked her large gray eyes in confusion. "What for?"
"For not believing what you told me."
"Oh," Katie said ineloquently, surprised at his apology. She wasn't used to men who apologized without being forced to. Well, except her dad, but he didn't count.
"Apology accepted," she replied with a small sigh. "And, thank you."
"For what?" Legolas asked; his turn to look surprised.
"For saving my life," she whispered, shuddering as she remembered how close she had come to dying.
"You're welcome," Legolas said.
Katie stood quickly, uncomfortable with the honesty of the conversation. Dizziness swept over her like a wave and she stumbled, landing right back on her bottom in the wet snow.
Katie blinked several times until her swimming vision returned to normal. She looked up and was shocked to find Legolas kneeling in front of her, his face mere inches from her own.
"Put your hands around my neck," he demanded, his voice smooth; mesmerizing.
Katie slipped her hands around him, too surprised to argue.
He scooped her up and effortlessly rose to his feet. "I will carry you until the snow thins out," he stated, ignoring the small gasp of shock and the question in her eyes. He turned and began to follow the group back down the mountain, looking calm and collected.
Katie on the other hand, was a ball of tangled nerves. She literally had to force herself to close her gaping mouth and tear her eyes from his face. 'He's just being nice,' she reminded herself, trying not to let his closeness effect her. It was rather disorientating.
'Or maybe it's because of the whole almost dying thing,' she tried to reason with herself, failing miserably. Her mind kept replaying the moment he picked her up over and over again. He had moved so fast, she hadn't known he was reaching for her until she felt his arms slip under her knees. His other arm rested against her back, and she marveled at his amazing strength.
He carried her across the snow and over the icy terrain as if she weighed nothing more than a sack of feathers. 'He can carry me, and still manage to be graceful,' she realized, trying to ignore the feel of his hard muscles beneath his clothes as he held her tight. She tried to relax in his arms as he walked, but it was more difficult than she imagined. Every step he took reminded her how strong his arms were, and pressed her more firmly against his chest.
'I bet he has an incredible body,' she couldn't help but think- trying to imagine him without a shirt.
Feeling a blush rising on her cheeks, she buried her head in his soft tunic and forced herself to relax. 'Just close your eyes,' she thought calmly. 'Relax.'
Katie had never been one to stay awake long once her eyes closed, and sure enough, five minutes later, she was asleep.
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A/N:
So, what do you think? Do you think Katie made the right decision in telling Legolas? Do you think this will improve their relationship any? Would you like Legolas to press his hot mouth against yours? Don't answer that, I already know!
To answer a few questions: A tenth walker is when you write a fan-fic that puts your character as one of the fellowship. There are just the 9 in the books and movies, so people hate when you add a person and screw that up. That's why I warned everyone. Also, I do not think I have made Legolas mean. He is a prince. I think he would have been proud and probably a little prejudice against strangers. I think I am accurate in my portrayal of him (movie wise at least). What does everyone think? Plus, there's something about grumpy, gorgeous men…
Also, my thanks to The Hobbit Ivy, my bright beta!
Please review and tell me what you like/dislike. Expect update soon!
Katie-sue