the beginning follows the MOVIE Two Towers and some of the dialogue is excerpted from it.
But as the story progresses, we journey unto the new story. I've had this idea for ages and I just wanted to type it out. I'm going to try for fewer, longer chapters, so bear with me.
Of course, I own nothing except the original plot.
Kindest regards, The Vampire Pandora
Chapter 1 - A Strange Fellowship
The golden sun came streaming down from the azure sky, and its rays beat down gloriously on the backs of three running figures. The heat warmed them as they ran, their feet pounding the dusty trails. They had been going on this way for days, without food, without rest...And they were still no nearer their goal.
Legolas wiped his sweaty brow with his arm, squinting against the light. Away, far into the distance, he could see a band of Urukai dashing madly across the plains. His elvish eyes could distinguish two struggling shapes, kept prisoners by the constricting arms of two of the monsters.
" Legolas, what do your elf eyes see?"
Legolas sighed, turning his gaze away from the party of Uruks. He looked down into the roguish face of Gimli, his dwarf companion.
" They've run as if the very whips of their masters were behind them", Legolas answered gravely. " Our friends are still captive."
A look of sadness dulled the usually bright eyes of the axe-wielder, and he nodded knowingly. He could only look at Legolas, for neither knew if anything comforting could or needed to be said.
Legolas patted Gimli's shoulder encouragingly, and the two started again to run. Since he was an elf, Legolas was barely winded by the long trek, but he knew that the short-legged dwarf was having a difficult time keeping up. Although he labored for his every breath, Gimli was too proud to ask if they could rest. Legolas, with a sigh, decided to swallow his own pride on behalf of his stubborn little friend.
"Aragorn! Aragorn! Mercy, a rest."
The ranger stopped, and swung around angrily. His wild, black hair framed his gaunt face like a mane, and his dark eyes shot sparks of frustration. He looked at Legolas. They both knew that the elf needed no rest, but that he was asking on the dwarf's behalf. Aragorn gazed down at Gimli, who was hunched over, gasping for breath.
"Fine", sighed the ranger, " We stop. But only for a moment. We can not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death."
"No one said anything about forgettin' them, laddie", Gimli growled, "But the pointy-ear requested rest, and this one time I am willing to agree with him."
And with that, he slumped down, crossing his little legs under him. Aragorn shook his head with a smile, and joined him. Legolas, however, could not sit. He walked on a little, enjoying the change of pace. With his keen eyes, he was able to follow the Urukai until they were hidden by some large, rocky hills. With a sigh, he turned back to his fellows.
Sitting down across from them, Legolas could not but smile as he took it all in. Where he was, what he was trying to accomplish, who he was accompanying. A few months ago, he had been back in his native Mirkwood, with his father and brothers. As prince of the elvish wood, Legolas had rarely ever ventured away from his domain,on the exception of visits to Rivendell to see Elrond. That was, of course, before the Ring of Power had wrought its way into his life. He could remember that day so clearly, the day he had been summoned to Elrond's council. Of course, since he was immortal, memories did not grow so dim as they would for a Man or some other mortal. Gathering in Rivendell had been quite a crowd. Men, Dwarves, Elves, even the little Hobbits, all had come together to hear what the Lord of Rivendell had so urgently needed to tell.
Legolas had heard the story. He had heard the tales of misery and destruction from Elrond and the wizard, Gandalf. But it had been the heart-wrenching courage that the little hobbit Frodo had demonstrated that had pushed the elven prince to vow his bow to the cause. Many others had followed his suit.
Boromir, son of the Gondor Steward. A boorish and vain man, Legolas had not the time to get to know him. In a successful attempt to save the lives of Merry and Pippin, Boromir had been shot down by eight orc arrows. A proud man, he had remained a hero until his death.
Gimli, son of Gloin, on the other hand had not impressed Legolas. Loud, obnoxious and self-absorbed, it had taken Legolas a long time to see deeper into the dwarf's soul. He saw now that Gimli was brave and fiercely loyal, and although the old rivalry of elves and dwarves had stood between them, both had had to admit they had become good friends.
Then there was Aragorn, the ranger, who was son of the last king of Gondor, Arathorn. Legolas had heard of the strange man, and knew he had all but been raised by Elrond himself. But what Legolas hadn't known, was that Aragorn was the Elessar, the vessel, the true King who was destined to bring down the dark lord Sauron himself. And of course, the hobbits. Frodo Baggins, the ring bearer. Sam Wise Gamgee, his gardener and protector. And the two hobbits that Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli had been tracking.
Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck, Pippin and Merry to their friends.
That, of course, left the wizard Gandalf, who had fallen in the dark mines of Moria. And Legolas himself.
" You look deep in thought, friend. Are you tired yet, or are you ready to retake the road?"
Legolas smiled at Aragorn, and laughed at Gimli, who groaned into his red beard.
"Ready as you are, my friend."
The elf offered a hand to the dwarf, but the latter shrugged it away and heaved himself up. Shaking his head, Legolas took his place behind Aragorn, and the little group began to run. The earth under his feet felt cool and fresh, and Legolas could have easily dug his heels in and over taken his mortal companion. But he did not mind running behind Aragorn. He had no desire to take over as their captain. The wind blew through his long, blonde hair, and it felt refreshing as it swept by his pale face. He felt guilty at the joy this wonderful element brought him, and so he refrained from smiling too widely.
"I'm wasted on cross country", Gimli shouted from behind. "We dwarves are natural sprinters!"
As he and Aragorn laughed at their friend's gruffness, Legolas could however not help the feeling of dread that was creeping slowly into the pits of his stomach.
The noon sun was high in the clear sky when Aragorn gave them a quick signal to get off the main trail. Quickly darting behind some boulders, Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn stayed out of sight as a large caravan of riders galloped past them. Standing tall, Aragorn calmly stepped out of their cache. Before Legolas could stop him, Aragorn called out in a strong voice.
"" Riders of Rohan! What news from the Mark"
Legolas quickly recognized the emblem that was imprinted on the armor of the riders. The horse-
lords of Rohan, of course! These men came from the great country of Rohan, and judging by the style and design of their gold encrusted weapons, Legolas realized they must be from the capital,
Edoras.
Aragorn showed no sign of fear as the riders turned and rode toward him. At their captain''s signal, the knights started to circle Aragorn, their spear heads pushing closer to the man''s chest.
"Aragorn", Legolas whispered.
The elf felt himself be pushed from behind. Gimli had rushed by him, and was already hurrying over to their friend, ready to defend him. Legolas cursed under his breath for his hesitance, and swiftly followed the dwarf.
Aragorn remained calm as the captain dismounted smoothly from his steed. Legolas's grip on his bow tightened slightly as the rider came face to face with the ranger.From the corner of his blue eye, Legolas could see Gimli's hands resting tensely on the head of his battle axe.
"What buisness do a Man, an Elf and a Dwarf have in the RidderMark", angrily demanded the rider. "Speak quickly."
Before Aragorn had a chance to answer and before Legolas had the chance to stop him, Gimli had stepped up squarely to the rider. His deep, garish voice boomed out.
"Give me your name Horse-Master, and I shall give you mine"
Legolas rolled his eyes, and he heard Aragorn''s swift, frustrated breaths. Clearly in shock at having been so defiantly stood up to, the rider drew his sword and glared down at the proud little man.
"I would cut off your head, dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground"
Legolas moved to quickly to be seen. Blindly, his hand pulled out a arrow, and it was already drawn to the rider''s head before the latter could blink.
"You would die before your stroke fell", he whispered harshly.
Aragorn looked at the elf pointedly, and Legolas put down his weapon. The rider sighed, and removed his helmet. Stringy, shoulder length hair came cascading down around his face. The dark blonde catching the green in his eyes. As he did this, his soldiers also lowered their weapons, and a few removed their visors and helmets.
""We are tracking a party of Urukai across the plains", Aragorn explained calmly. "They have taken two of our friends captive".
The captain''s face fell slightly as he heard Aragorn''s words. Legolas suddenly felt cold. This human knew something. Something they were not going to want to hear.
"We slaughtered the Uruks during the night", the captain said softly.
"But there were two hobbits", interrupted Gimli, "Did you see two hobbits with them"
The captain''s answer was obvious before he spoke a word.
"We left none alive...I am sorry."
Aragorn''s proud form slumped slightly, and Legolas supported himself on Gimli''s sturdy shoulder. Legolas wished he could weep. He wished he could express the pain he was feeling.
Pippin, Merry...Those two brave hobbits who had done nothing wrong. Legolas felt a shudder of anger shake through his slender body. He would avenge his friends. He would.
"I am Éomer, son of Éomund.", the rider offered. " My uncle Théoden is Lord of Rohan"
"We are friends of Théoden", answered Aragorn.
The rider looked on sadly for a moment, and merely shook his head. He replaced his helmet, and swung up neatly into his saddle. He paused, and brought two fingers to his mouth. He let out a shrill whistle, and called out.
"Hasufel! Arod"
Two sturdy horses, a bay and a grey calmly stepped up to their master. Éomer nodded to Aragorn, signaling that he was to have the two. Aragorn thanked him with a small smile and turned to the horses.
Legolas felt his eyes lock with those of the horse-man. His own clear blue ones were lost amid the dark green of the strangers. The lord watched him warily, and Legolas returned the suspicion.
It was obvious that neither trusted the other.
Legolas and his friends stood by as the riders turned and galloped off. But the winds carried Éomer''s voice back to them.
"We piled the carcasses and burned them, over yonder to the west a few leagues. Look for your friends, but do not trust to hope"
And with his farewell, Éomer and his knights disappeared in the sunlight. After giving Gimli a leg up unto the grey, "Gerrof pointy-ear, I can manage!", Legolas jumped up smoothly behind him. His long legs naturally positioned themselves into the stirrups. It had been such a long time since he had ridden a horse, but surely, one could never forget such an art.
Aragorn had mounted the bay, and without any further words, both horses were urged on.
Aragorn''s easily took the lead, whilst Arod, who was burdened with two riders, fell slightly behind.
The pile of charred bodies was easy to see, even from a distance. Thick black smoke was still rising from the center of the heap, and the putrid smell of burnt flesh and hair nearly knocked Legolas off his horse.
Aragorn leaped off Hasufel and ran to the mound of dead. Legolas, who had quickly followed him, forgot about Gimli, and left him to tumble off Arod with much less grace than the elf had demonstrated.
Legolas's hawk eyes searched through the carcasses desperately. He could see nothing. Nothing but Uruks and a number of orcs. He could see no hobbits.
Gimli cleared his throat gruffly, and his voice broke slightly as he called out to them.
"It's one of their wee belts"
Legolas quickly recognized the charred peice of leather the dwarf was holding up. It was the dagger belts Merry and Pippin had received from Galadriel, the Elvish Queen, when the Fellowship had traveled through Lothlorien, her domain. Aragorn fell to his knees and screamed,
pounding the dirt with his fists. Legolas looked away, and muttered a short elvish prayer for them.
He did not see Aragorn start suddenly, and the elf jumped slightly as the ranger''s voice broke the silence.
"A hobbit lay here", he pointed out a groove in the dust. "And the other"
Legolas looked closely. He could see the body prints that Aragorn was pointing out.
"They may yet be alive", Legolas whispered to him.
Gimli rushed a little ahead, examining the ground and poking and moving weeds with the pick of his axe.
"Their tracks!", he called out to them, "They lead away from the battle"
Legolas and Aragorn rushed to his side. The little dwarf stood frozen, his gaze glued to the ancient wood that stood before them.
"Into Fangorn Forest", Legolas whispered to the wind.