I'm sorry I haven't updated this in a while – coursework blah. To make up for it, this chapter is extra long! And extra cheesy…
Chapter 4 – Bitter Reunion
They travelled on through the Mines of Moria. Angel seemed on edge whenever they passed past large doorways, and her head sometimes jerked, as though hearing sounds which the others could not. Whenever Legolas asked her whether she was all right, however, she just shook her head and walked away. He began to wonder whether he had done something wrong.
Leia noticed his concern and went and talked to him. "Hey," she said softly, "Don't worry. She's just concerned about the Ring."
"She doesn't talk to me any more," he said sadly, "Have I made her mad at me?"
Leia sighed. "She had a boyfriend once," she said. Legolas looked at her in surprise. "She didn't tell you? I'm not surprised. It didn't end well."
"What happened?" asked Legolas.
"His name was Boba Fett. She met him when they were both young. For once, the rebellion was not the most important thing in her life. They were in love. But one day, when they were out in Coruscant, they were ambushed by Imperial Troops. She just managed to escape, but Boba Fett was injured and captured. Darth Vader brainwashed him and made him evil. The next time she saw him, he tried to kill her. He was on the pay of the Empire."
"Whoa," said Legolas, "That's – that's terrible."
"Yes, it is," said Leia, "She couldn't bring herself to kill him, even though he was trying to kill her. She just managed to escape with her life. Since then, she's scarcely looked at another man, and doesn't care about anything other than destroying the Empire, and getting revenge for her father and the boy she loved." She looked Legolas firmly in the eye. "She does love you, Legolas. That much is clear. But she does not want to admit it to herself - unless she buries her feelings deep, Darth Vader could use them against her."
Legolas's heart sank. It was worse than he could have imagined. She did love him after all – but she would never acknowledge it. He would never be able to marry her.
Suddenly they noticed that the stupid dwarf was running off into one of the side chambers. They followed him into the chamber, where he was kneeling next to a stone table, and crying because his dad was dead. Legolas rolled his eyes. Dead dwarves didn't matter when his love's heart was broken.
Boromir, meanwhile, was plotting evilly. His love for Angel was changing in his head to hatred. If she wouldn't have him, she wouldn't have anyone. He had to get rid of her. But everyone was so damn protective of her - how could he do it without getting the blame?
His eyes settled on Pippin. As Gandalf started reading aloud from the big dwarf diary, he sidled over to the hobbit. "If you push that dwarf skeleton into the well, then I'll give you some mushrooms," he whispered in his ear.
"Why?" said Pippin confusedly.
"DO IT," hissed Boromir, grasping his sword hilt threateningly. Pippin stared at him fearfully, and quickly ran over to the well, and pushed in the dwarf skeleton. It crashed down into the well, making a really really big noise. Everyone span round and glared at him.
"Fool of a Took!" exploded Gandalf angrily, "Throw yourself in next time, and rid us of your stupidity!"
Pippin blinked in fright. "But I- but I-"
"Gandalf!" said Angel sharply, "The one who is to blame is not always the one who did the deed." As she spoke, her eyes fell accusingly on Boromir, who tried, and failed, to look innocent. He heard her say in his head, 'Look, little man, you'd better watch out, or I will get Luke to kick your ass… and then I'll kill you.' Involuntarily, he shivered. She was a much better fighter than him.
Legolas saw the look between them, and his hand went to one of his daggers. But before he could do anything, there was the sound of a BOOM from down the well.
"What's happening?" said Luke, immediately turning to Angel, knowing her powers of the Force. Angel closed her eyes and put one finger on Adyra.
"Orcs," she said, as if from a great distance, "And… something else." Her eyes flew open. "I sense someone powerful in the Force."
"How can that be?" said Leia in amazement, "You are the only Force user in Middle-earth…"
"It's not Vader, is it?" said Luke in alarm.
Angel shook her head. "No… I can sense him from miles away. I would have been able to tell he was here when we were still at Rivendell. No, it's someone less powerful… but somehow familiar."
Luke pulled out his lightsaber. "Well, let's get ready to say hello."
The Fellowship all got out their various weapons. Han and Leia pulled out blasters, and Luke and Angel ignited their lightsabers. Angel suddenly revealed her lightsaber to have two blades, and stood ready, staring at the door determinedly. Legolas stood at her side, an arrow fitted to the bowstring, ready to defend her to the death.
There was a crash as orcs started to hurl themselves against the doors. Angel closed her eyes and used the Force to try and hold them closed. Angered, the orcs hurled themselves against it even harder, and Angel screwed her eyes up even tighter with the effort. Adyra on her finger started to glow with a pink light as her strength increased.
The orcs suddenly stopped banging into the doors, and there was silence. The Fellowship waited anxiously. Angel didn't stir from her concentrated stance.
The moment stretched out for what seemed like a lifetime, and no-one moved. Suddenly an immense force crashed into the doors, making them burst open. Angel screamed and was thrown backwards, and hit the wall at the back of the room, stunned.
"Angel!" shouted Legolas, sending an arrow flying at the foremost orc. His arrows were put to shame however by Han and Leia's blasters - laser beams shot from them, killing every orc they hit. And then Luke leapt into the fray, lightsaber swinging wildly. Seeing they had it under control, Legolas ran to where Angel lay crumpled at the bottom of the wall, eyes closed.
"Angel!" he cried, shaking her, "Angel! Wake up!"
She didn't move. Legolas feared the worst. He closed his eyes, and rested a hand on her heart. "What grace is given me, let it pass to her… let her be spared… save her…" he muttered, "May the grace of the Valar protect her." With that, he leant in and kissed her gently on the lips.
Angel moaned, and Legolas quickly sat up in time to see her eyelids flutter open. She looked slightly bewildered. "Legolas…" she murmured, "You just-"
"I couldn't let you go," said Legolas, smiling. Angel smiled back. "What happened?" he asked.
Angel shook her head slowly, as if trying to sift through memories to remember and make sense of them. "There was a force behind the door… something too powerful for me to fight," she said slowly. Her eyes suddenly cleared, and she sat bolt upright. Seeing the orcs, she leapt to her feet, igniting her lightsaber. Turning to Legolas and seeing his surprise, she said, "What? There's plenty of time to rest when you're dead." Legolas grinned, and they both dove back into the fight.
They fought with the orcs viciously, Angel cutting a swathe through them to the hobbits to defend them and Legolas guarding her by shooting most of the really big orcs from a distance. She was undoubtedly the best fighter ever seen in Middle-earth, ducking and weaving beautifully as though she was dancing. Legolas found it hard to keep his mind on the battle when he could just watch her. Han and Leia shot them with their blasters from behind a pillar, never missing, and Luke caused similar carnage on the other side of the room.
Suddenly, the orcs stopped fighting, and ran quickly out of the room. Panting, everyone lowered their weapons in confusion. "What's happening?" Luke asked Angel again.
This time Angel didn't even have to think. "The person's coming… the one powerful in the Force," she said, "Put down your weapons… they will not be any use against him."
The Fellowship was surprised, but they trusted Angel so implicitly that they sheathed their swords. Legolas kept a hand on one of his elvish knives though, and Luke did not return his lightsaber to his belt. Boromir kept his sword in his hand - not because he trusted Angel, but he wanted to openly defy her. Everyone saw this and rolled their eyes. He really was stupid and annoying.
They waited in silence as footsteps echoed down the hallway towards their small chamber. Legolas glanced at Angel - she was staring determinedly at the door, but Legolas could sense fear in her. He reached out and took her hand. She didn't look at him, but she squeezed it gratefully.
The footsteps came closer. Suddenly, they stopped. Everyone tensed themselves. In the darkness, a red lightsaber blade ignited. Angel's grip on Legolas's hand tightened. There was a moment of silence……………… then, a figure came flying out of the darkness towards Angel, red lightsaber outstretched. In the blink of an eye, she had ignited her own lightsaber, and blocked the blade.
"Boba Fett," she said softly.
Boba took a step back and lowered his lightsaber. "Angel," he said, "You've changed slightly."
"So have you." Boba Fett no longer wore the uniform of the Rebel Alliance, nor even the uniform of his father which he had worn when he last tried to kill Angel. He now wore the black hooded robes of a Sith.
"You're a Sith," said Angel, no apparent emotion in her voice.
"You're a Jedi Mage," shot back Boba.
"At least Jedi Mages have honour," said Angel angrily.
"How would you know? You're the only one," said Boba. He looked at Legolas, and his eyes darkened. "And who's this elvish princeling? Have you forgotten me that quickly?"
"You're dead to me," said Angel venomously, eyes flashing, "You died the night the Empire attacked us. I sometimes wish you really DID die. Better to die than be a Sith."
"Better to live than die for a worthless cause," said Boba. Angel tightened her grip on her lightsaber. Boba was still extremely hot - as hot as Legolas, but in a different way. Legolas was beautiful in a pure way, but Boba's fiery face spoke of danger and passion. Unwillingly, Angel felt her feelings for him returning. He still looked like the boy she had loved all those years ago.
Trying to fight them back, without turning round, she said to the Fellowship, "Go – get out of here. Before the orcs surround us."
"We can't leave you!" said Aragorn in amazement, "Not alone with him! He'll kill you!"
"Killing me is not his plan," said Angel with a slight sad smile, "Not yet, anyway. Go… the forward group with the Ring will have already reached Lothlorien," she added slyly.
"The Ring is not here?" said Boba in shock. Legolas fought back a smile as he saw her plan.
"Nope," said Angel, "We're a decoy Fellowship." She laughed. "What, you didn't think the elves would entrust the Ring to a hobbit, did you? He sent a party of elves around the Gap of Rohan with the Ring. They will have already reached Lothlorien… and be on their way to Minas Tirith within a few days."
Boba stared at her angrily. While he did, Luke spoke to all the Fellowship in their heads. "Go… she can handle him. Legolas and I will wait behind just outside the door in case there's trouble…"
The Fellowship turned and hurried quickly out the door. Legolas was reluctant to leave, but Luke took his eye and held it, silently telling him she would be all right. Soon, Angel and Boba were alone. They considered each other, and Boba suddenly smiled.
"You didn't think I bought that story, did you?" said Boba, "Like you would leave the Ring. One of those hobbits is carrying it. Elves never did give wise advice."
"Then why did you let them go?" said Angel.
"So I'd get a moment alone with you," he grinned, "But I haven't let them go. There's something waiting for them… something they're not expecting."
Angel stared at him in horror. "The Balrog… you woke it?"
Boba shrugged. "A small loss. It doesn't matter in the long run. Soon my master will control not only Middle-earth, but the entire Galaxy!"
"You're mad," said Angel, "He's not your master. He serves only the Emperor!"
"That's what you think," said Boba, "But we realized that the Rule of Two is kinda outdated. We've changed it – to the Rule of Three!"
Angel stared at him in horror again. "You can't," she cried, "You used to be good – I thought you loved me!"
"Loved you?" laughed Boba cruelly. Tears started to Angel's eyes. She took Boba's hand.
"Boba, I know there's still good in you," she said, "I see it in your eyes. I feel it in your heart."
"I never loved you!" laughed Boba, "Or if I did, that love is gone without a trace."
"Bobby Socks," whispered Angel, tears falling down her cheeks as she called him by her own special pet name for him, "Look into my eyes… you'll find it there."
Boba looked into her sapphire-emerald-silvery eyes, still laughing. She looked into his own cruel dark ones, revealing her pure and good soul, and touching Boba's own corrupted soul through his eyes. The laugh faded from his lips, and some of the ice in his cold glare melted, as he suddenly looked at her properly. "Angel…" he said in amazement, "Angelli…"
"Boba," smiled Angel, scarcely daring to hope.
Boba stared at her in disbelief. "Oh Force, what have I said?" he cried, throwing aside his lightsaber and wrapping her in an embrace, "Of course I still love you!"
"You do?" said Angel, wonder swelling inside her.
"Of course I do!" said Boba, "How could I stop? If I hadn't tried to kill you, then the Empire would have killed me – I never meant you any harm! I knew you'd be able to escape! I did hope that you'd kill me before you did…" A tear fell down his cheek as he let her go, and looked at her. "Because my life certainly wasn't worth living without you."
"Boba…" Angel didn't know what to say.
"Come with me," urged Boba, "You're the most powerful Force user in the Galaxy – with Adyra, even more powerful than the Emperor! We can defeat him, and Vader!" He summoned his red lightsaber to his hand, and ignited it. "We can save Middle-earth – save the Galaxy!"
"I – uhh…" Angel was strongly tempted, but something was warning her against it.
"Come on, Angel," said Boba, an eager light in his eyes, "With the Emperor and Vader out the way, we can rule the Galaxy! Together!"
Angel reached out her hand – but suddenly drew it back. "I don't want to rule," she said.
"What?" said Boba in shock, "But – but you'd be a natural queen! All would love you!"
"Duh," said Angel, "But I don't believe in Emperordoms. I believe in freedom of speech! And freedom! And people being happy! Like in America, the most ass-kicking country in the world!"
Boba shook his head. "I don't believe you… you have the chance of Ultimate Power, and you turn it aside? Why?"
"Because some things are more important," said Angel, "More important than power, than riches…" Tears filled her eyes. "Even more important than love."
Boba looked at her, as though she'd stabbed him in the heart. "So be it," he said, "But unless they are killed, they will undoubtedly come and track me down and kill me… please, Angel, I need your help."
"Don't worry," said Angel, "I'll look after you. Come with the Fellowship – we'll destroy the Ring, and then we can go and destroy the Emperor once and for all."
"Very well," smiled Boba, "I'll come with you, and-" He suddenly stopped talking, and his face fell. His hands flew to his throat. He was choking.
"What?" said Angel in horror, "No, Boba, what's happening? Boba?"
"Va…der…" choked Boba, tearing at something invisible at his neck, and falling to his knees, straining to breathe.
"Vader's killing you through a Force Choke?" said Angel in horror, clarifying that fact for slower readers.
Boba nodded. "Angel…" he gasped, "I… love… you…" He collapsed to the ground, not moving.
"NOOOOO!" screamed Angel, falling to his side and sobbing over his dead body. More and more phoenix tears fell on him, but they had no effect. Either it was because he had been a Sith, or her healing powers were used up from Gandalf, or some other equally tragic yet slightly confusing reason… but Boba was most definitely dead, and not coming back.
She felt Legolas's hand on her shoulder. "Come on, Angel…" he was saying, "There's nothing you can do. We have to get out of here-"
"Leave me!" she screamed, "Go away!"
"What?" said Luke bewilderedly, "Angel-"
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" she screamed, "YOU COULD HAVE KILLED VADER! YOU COULD HAVE KILLED HIM! THEN BOBBY SOCKS WOULD STILL BE ALIVE!" She fell forwards, weeping on Boba's chest.
"Angel…" Legolas and Luke turned in surprise to see Frodo standing in the doorway. He walked forwards and knelt next to Angel, resting a hand on her fair, smooth, pale, bare arm. "Angel," he said again, voice breaking, "Please don't give up. If you can't go on, then I know I can't… I only keep going because your unending strength and bravery inspires me that I can keep going too. Without you, I'll succumb to the Ring's power within days… your beautiful and pure presence wards off the shadows which intrude on my mind and haunt my dreams. I'm scared… scared that they'll find me."
A tear fell from Frodo's eye. Angel said nothing, but her other hand found Frodo's hand and squeezed it. She sat up and slowly got to her feet. When she turned to Legolas and Luke, they saw her eyes were shining and her face wet with tears, but her expression was angry and determined. "I won't let the Sith defeat me with grief," she said, voice shaking with anger, "Bobby wouldn't want that. I'm going to come with you, and help destroy the Ring, even if I have to hurl it into the Cracks of Doom myself… and then I will not rest until Vader and the Emperor are dead."
Legolas and Luke applauded. Angel smiled weakly, took Frodo's hand and walked out of the door. Legolas and Luke followed her.
daydreambeelievr – DO NOT BE PUT OFF BY MY STORY. I took as many liberties with it as I did with LOTR. It's – well, the prequels aren't all that good, but the original trilogy is fair enough.
Luthien Calaelen – Ahhh, the many plot holes of a Mary-Sue. You're not supposed to think too deeply about it, you're supposed to caught up with thinking ZOMG HOW COOL IS ANGEL!one.
Phantom'sJediBandieGirl – Because she likes pink AND silver.
Emmi – I very nearly did. I wrote over half of it within 24 hours to meet the competition deadline. I felt extremely ill afterwards – a condition exacerbated when my friend came over and we read it out loud, doing all the voices.
Slayer3 – Thanks! And yes, it can get worse… and does… (shudder)
Padme Evenstar – Well, I've been exposed to some just as bad… besides, I think I lost part of my soul when I wrote it. Which is why I want it to be JUDGED ALREADY.