Chapter Eight
Departure
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Aragorn looked around at Inzil, who was busy strapping the saddle on his horse. It had not taken much convincing to get him to agree to come, and it had been a simple matter of getting Varin and Corin to come along too…
Aragorn grimaced slightly as he thought of the reaction the Rohan would have to his slaves. They were not slave holding peoples themselves, and had never seen elves before. They would likely be shocked by these creatures appearance as much as by the fact that they were slaves.
"We are ready to leave when you are Aragorn."
He looked back up, coming out of his thoughts, to see Inzil standing in front of him, a slight smile on his face. Aragorn smiled back, remembering the night before.
"Mount up then…We'll leave right away."
Inzil nodded and walked off, going to his own mount. Aragorn turned to his horse and swung up on it. This journey, though not long, would be a good one indeed.
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Haldir moved his mount alongside Legolas's as they exited the city, wanting desperately to talk to him. His plan was put unexpectedly into action by Aragorn's move…and they were one step closer to escape, a goal that he desperately desired…but he needed to know Legolas's reasoning before he confronted him.
"Legolas, why did you agree to come on this trip?"
His companion was quiet for a moment, lost in his own thoughts. Then he sighed, obviously flustered.
"Because I think we can return to the rebellion…"
"And?"
Legolas looked at him strangely.
"What do you mean 'and'?"
"You trailed off, which means there is definitely another reason you are not telling me"
Legolas looked at him penetratingly, then sighed again.
"You already know, don't you?"
"Know what?" Haldir asked innocently, trying, and failing spectacularly to not let on that he did.
"I will follow him, get him safely to the Rohan, and then I will leave him, once I know
he is safe…because…I….I"
"Yes?"
"I think I've fallen in love with him."
Haldir felt his jaw drop nearly to his chest. He stared at Legolas for a moment, who was looking determinedly ahead of him. He half gasped, half laughed, and turned to face forward for a moment before turning back to stare at Legolas again. Then he laughed out loud, and raising an eyebrow at him asked:
"You're not serious right?"
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Legolas felt as if he could have punched Haldir into next week and left him there gladly if Elrohir had not ridden up at that exact moment.
"Haldir, Legolas, do you plan on going to the rebel base with me once we are close enough?"
"No, I at least do not, but I will return to you in a few days time."
Elrohir blinked as if stunned by what he had said.
"If you do not return with me though, I cannot guarantee you will live to see inside the fort. Our people are very suspicious of anyone who tries to come near without an escort…"
Legolas nodded.
"I see your point…I will accompany you then, when you first leave."
Elrohir nodded and then looked at his companions' livery.
"You might want to cloak that livery, you never know who maybe watching in the trees, even so close to safety…"
Haldir and Legolas nodded, both pulling on their black ridding cloaks, and thoroughly covering the King's livery as they entered the forest.
Legolas felt an almost instant sense of freedom, as the trees closed around him, and the dappled light that filtered trough the branches met his eyes. For the first time in ages, he almost felt at home.
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Days had gone by. The three elves had prepared with each passing day, to depart their master, and leave for better climbs. Freedom beckoned to them with outstretched hands, and they refused to deny themselves of it.
But in the shadows lurked a monster, one that threatened to deny freedom if it ever took action…and it would, in the most unexpected of ways.
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