Author's Note: Hello again! Wow, it's been a long time since we updated. We apologize for such a long wait - in August, both of us started college, and had to go through the process of moving, getting settled in, and starting classes. College is a lot different, but it's pretty cool - a lot more freedom than highschool, lol. Anyway, Jen's going to school at U of I (University of Illinois in Champagne/Urbana) and I'm going to Western Illinois University. It kinda sucks, cause we're a good three or four hours from each other, but that's what phones and AIM are for. Thank you so incredibly much for your reviews - I can assure you now that there will be *no* sex in this story. A good story, not to mention romance, can be written without having anyone sleep with anyone else. Well, now that's said, so moving on...Ah yes, this chapter. Hehe. Let me say that the wait was worth it - this is a very long chapter. So, make sure you've gone to the bathroom before you read, turn off your cell phones and pagers, get something to snack on, and sit back and enjoy. Oh, did we mention that we would love it if you left a review??
Disclaimer: We don't own any characters original to the Lord of the Rings - the only claims we hold are on the Faeries, and other minor characters we add in.
Try to forget you,
But without you I feel nothing.
Don't leave me here, by myself.
I can't breathe.
I run to you, Call out your name,
I see you there, farther away.
'Farther Away' by Evanescence
Chapter 20
" Come on!" Legolas shouted.
Frodo closed his eyes briefly, then opened them as Aragorn grabbed his shoulder and the two jumped. The hobbit felt himself fly through the air for one breathless moment, then Boromir caught him and Legolas caught Aragorn.
Everyone breathed a sigh of extreme relief, and continued on once most of the Orc archers in the wings had been taken care of and everyone was accounted for. They could hear the remainder of the staircase crack and fall with a great shudder behind them, which urged them on even faster to avoid a fall of their own. They reached the bottom of the stairs moments later, and ran past what looked like a great pool of fire. They stopped at the terrible sight of all that fire, but Gandalf beckoned them on.
" To the bridge! Hurry!" The fellowship took off in the direction of the narrow bridge, and Gandalf followed a few short feet before stopping. He knew the Balrog was close. Somehow, he had to stall for them so they could get safely across and away from this demon. He knew what he had to do.
" Gandalf!" he heard Liana and Nevada cry, beckoning him to come. He shook his head at them, faintly irritated at their insistence, and otherwise ignored them.
"Gandalf, please," Nevada pleaded, a desperate ring in her tone. She didn't want to come any closer than she was, but she didn't want to leave him, either." Come with us!"
" If we leave now, we'll all leave alive!" Liana added. She fought to catch her breath and stared uncertainly at the wizard's unmoving form. What did he think he was doing? He couldn't fight it, could he? The thought of him trying to fight that thing made her increasingly sick to her stomach. There was a level of *wrongness* she felt when she thought about him fighting. He *had* to go with them - there was nothing else to it.
" No, my dear faeries," he said quietly, almost to the point where they had to strain to hear him. He turned to smile almost sadly at them." I know what I must do, and you must go." When they didn't obey him, he got angry and gestured them to the right direction." Go!" he roared, and to the girls' own surprise, they listened to him and caught up with the others.
At that moment the terrible monster they had all been dreading reared its ugly head out of the flames, and Gandalf gritted his teeth, holding his staff tightly. The large, winged and horned creature braced its front paws on the ground and gave an evil and horrible roar that flamed the very air in front of it. The wizard held his ground, waiting until he knew, could *feel* that they were making their way safely across the bridge before moving another inch. It gave another roar and got up to pursue after the wizard, hell-bent on destroying everything that got in its path, and Gandalf knew it was time. The wizard immediately turned and ran to catch up with the others, hoping there was still a chance for his own survival.
The Fellowship reached the narrow bridge, and Aragorn sent Boromir across first to wait for everyone on the other side. Aragorn looked back briefly to see the fire of the Balrog following them, and, gritting his teeth, urged the others onward.
The Faeries stopped just before crossing, horrified at the shadowy depths mere inches from their feet." Oh HELL no," Nevada blurted out. She shook her head and backed up, face pale and eyes as dark as the chasm she could likely fall in at the merest hint of a stumble." If you think I'm crazy enough to cross that thing you call a BRIDGE-"
Through Nevada's tirade, Liana could only stare in terror. Her stomach gave another sickening lurch, worse than before, and she clenched her fists until the knuckles were white. Who knew how far that went down? And it was so *narrow*, she couldn't possibly...No. She couldn't do this. It made her dizzy to just look at the inky blackness surrounding the bridge.
Dimly, Liana felt a hand rub her back reassuringly." It is only a bridge," Legolas remarked, his voice behind her ear." You will not fall. I promise." He gave her a gentle push forward and walked behind her to make sure she wouldn't lose her footing out of fear.
She blinked slowly, trying to will away the numbing fear in her heart, and finally nodded, glancing back at the elf. She couldn't stall any longer, and getting away was more important than staying with the Balrog.
" I will *crawl* over this bridge, you cannot make me cross-"
" Faerie, just go!" Gimli bellowed. Speechless for a moment, Nevada blinked as he shoved past her and ran, and then she started dumbly running after Merry and Sam. She gulped and tried not to look down at the awesome depths. Another roar rendered the air, and the Balrog gave a leaping jump to get closer the bridge. When he landed, the ground shuddered unexpectedly, and Nevada stumbled.
" Nevada?" Sam turned around.
" Just keep going!" Nevada shouted at him. He nodded, face pale, and started running. Nevada ran close behind, and the next tremor that hit the pathway made her stumble into Sam. The hobbit kept going, however, and with nothing in front of her to fall into, she hit the ground hard, stopping herself with her right knee. Immediate blinding agony shot through her leg, and she let out a gasp at the pain. A bloodcurdling roar sounded before, and Nevada's mind froze with terror and suffering. The Balrog was coming, and she needed to get up!! As Nevada pushed up with her foot in her bad knee, ignoring the pain and the blood she knew was dripping down her leg, the faerie turned body to see how close the Balrog actually was. She had forgotten about her left foot as she was turning, which was already off the edge, and when she used her knee to get up, it buckled under the new pressure. With a startled cry of anguish, Nevada felt herself fall backwards and her left leg slipped completely off the edge. In her state of imbalance, she went with it.
Nevada screamed, her arms flailing and trying to claw at the bridge as she felt the weightlessness that went along with freefalling fill her with terror. Mindlessly, she reached out and her hands grabbed the rough surface of the bridge, halting her fall and leaving her hanging there.
The fellowship gaped at what they had just witnessed, her terrified yelling and pleading filling the air. Most were too shocked to react, and she seemed so far away that they wondered if they could even reach her in time.
Liana stopped running just as she reached the other side. Her mind went one-track and she screamed her bestfriend's name.' Oh shit, oh shit, Nevada, I've gotta help her, she has to hang on, I can't lose her-' Without thinking, she went to sprint forward to do just that, but two strong hands firmly gripped her arms and pulled her back.
Liana's head whipped around and she gaped at Legolas and Boromir." What are you doing?!" she said shrilly.
" You can't reach her in time, Liana," Boromir told her brokenly. He was torn; he wanted to help, but he wasn'tsure if he could. He and Legolas knew there was nothing that Liana could do, so there was no use in her risking her life, as well.
" What?!" Liana exclaimed." I would if you let me go!"
" Even if you did, you wouldn't be able to lift her up, you're much too small yourself," he finished.
" Then help me!" she pleaded with him frantically. She looked from Boromir to Legolas's stony face, not understanding why they wouldn't do anything. Legolas, why are you just standing there?! she questioned in her head." We can't leave her!"
" Aragorn is over there," Legolas informed her, and she turned to take a look. She felt him rub her shoulder to comfort her and calm her fears." He is closer than us."
" Liana!" Nevada screamed out desperately." Help me! Gandalf! Please!! Aragorn! Legolas! Boromir!" One by one, Nevada pleaded for every member of the Fellowship - someone, *anyone* to come and help her. She didn't want to die - oh, she couldn't face death. Death was too terrifying, too foreign, this couldn't be happening..." Please, don't let me die!!" Her voice shook with fear, and she grasped onto the rock for dear life. She felt her palms grow slick with sweat, and to her horror, her right hand began losing its grip. Panic fired through her, and she let out a harsh, abrupt scream when she lost grip on that hand, leaving her dangling dangerously by her left hand.
Aragorn heard every one of Nevada's yells, and each one ripped at his heart. He was still running across the pathway, and he saw her hanging by one hand, her feet kicking in the inky blackness of the chasm. Blind panic and fear clouded and consumed his mind. What if he didn't reach her in time?" Nevada!" he roared in alarm." Hang on!" She couldn't let go - he *had* to reach her in time. She would *not fall*. He could not imagine going on without her, and he would be damned if she was going to fall now.
" I can't!" she sobbed back. Her left palm was growing sweaty, and the ache in her arm was almost unbearable. She felt her muscles being stretched to their limit, and all her weight was bearing down on that one arm.
" Nevada, don't let go, you can do it!" Aragorn reassured her. He was almost there, just a little further. He could get to her, just a few more feet....
" It hurts!" she hitched out, and she let out a stream of choked, scared cries as she felt the last of her strength drain away. This was it; she was going to die, and she was going to fall for a long, long time. Who knows when she would hit the ground? She could fall for over a minute and have all the time in the world to scream and think about her own death.
Aragorn reached her prone form and kneeled down. Nevada was holding on by three fingers, and right when Aragorn reached out, her aching fingers couldn't take the pain anymore and they slipped. Nevada felt herself let go and plummet down. She shrieked Aragorn's name, and the man's heart lurched as he lunged forward and grabbed onto her hand. Nevada's body jerked as it stopped falling, and she hung, suspended and swinging back and forth in the empty air.
" Aragorn!" she wailed desperately. He was only able to grab her tightly around the knuckles, and her fingers were slipping slowly through.' Oh no, no, no, no,' she thought dreadfully." Don't let me fall!"
" I won't let you fall," Aragorn confirmed raggedly. She sounded so young and afraid, it terrified him - he never wanted to hear her like that again. He reached over with his other hand and swiftly, but firmly grabbed on to her forearm to keep her from slipping further. He went to replace it with the one that had been holding her hand so he had a tighter grip on her.
Nevada felt herself dangle again for a moment, and she panicked." I don't want to die!" she cried out.
" You're not going to die, Nev," he tried to say soothingly, but it came out gruff and emotional." I won't let anything happen to you." He reached down for her other hand and she reached up with a trembling arm. He pulled her up a distance, then switched from her hand to under her armpit when he had the chance. Now that he had her securely and he was sure that he wouldn't lose his own grip, he pulled her up with all his might and set her back on the bridge. The Faerie was shaking visibly when she reached solid ground, and she grasped onto his cloak for balance-her pupils were severely contracted, so much that all could be seen was wide purple irises, and her color was drained.
" Thank you, thank you," Nevada whispered mindlessly, and Aragorn clutched her to him for a brief moment, his own heart pounding with relief and fading anxiety. Briefly, he noticed the blood gushing down her knee, but at least she was alive.
" Let's go," he told her." We have to hurry. Here comes Gandalf!"
Another roar let loose behind them, and Nevada ran with Aragorn, fighting to ignore the pain that shot through her knee as she ran to get to safety and away from the bridge. The moment she reached the others, Liana lunged forward and grabbed her in a fierce hug. The faerie sobbed and held her friend tight, and Nevada clutched back, grateful that she was alive and thanking the high heavens for Aragorn and sheer dumb luck.
Everyone had made it across the bridge just as Gandalf made it on, and they watched him anxiously as he ran. He made it to the middle before slowing down, and to their puzzlement, stopping. To further their confusion, he turned his back on them and faced the oncoming beast.
" What is he doing?" Frodo whispered.
Nevada stared at the old wizard's back, and when she spotted his staff, it dawned on her." He's denying the Balrog passage. He might be able to do it."
" What good is that going to do?" Liana whispered fiercely. Her heart contracted at Gandalf's vulnerability, standing before the Balrog like that. She felt like he really should be with them, running to get out of here." Gandalf!" she called out pleadingly, but he didn't hear her over the roar of the Balrog.
" You cannot pass!" Gandalf's voice rang out strong and angry through the cavern. The monster gave another bellow in response, and put on a show of lifting to its full height and releasing flames throughout his body. Merry and Pippin whimpered in fear, their eyes round with morbid fascination at the monstrous beast towering over them.
" Gandalf!" Frodo screamed in fear.
" I am the servant of the secret fire," Gandalf rumbled his chant menacingly. He lifted his staff high, the rock at the end glowing painfully bright." Wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, Flame of Udun!" The Balrog raised a fire-red sword and brought it down on Gandalf's staff, who deflected the blow amidst a shower of sparks." Go back to the Shadow," he growled at the monster. It took another step forward and wielded a fiery whip as its next weapon, snapping it against the stone threateningly and roaring.
" YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" Gandalf bellowed out, raising his sword and staff and bringing them crashing down on the rock with a deafening noise.
The Balrog flared his nostril and went to run forward, but the fury of Gandalf's magic collapsed that section of the bridge, sending the monster flailing and roaring as it fell into the Shadow. The company looked on in amazement as the gigantic creature fell out of sight. Gandalf, who seemed so terribly magnificent before, now just looked weary and tired as he turned to them, an old man who looked as if his battling days were over.
A crack of a whip echoed through the cavern, and as Gandalf was walking away the orange flame snapped and snaked around the wizard's legs, pulling him down with a crash.
" Gandalf!" Frodo and Liana shouted in horror. Frodo leapt forward to help, but Boromir pulled him back.
Nevada looked on in dumb horror as the wizard struggled to get back up, his hands grasping the rock. Her eyes were empty of everything but horror and alarm, and for the first time in a long while, she did not know what to do.
Liana did. She wanted to help the wizard she had known since she was a very young child, who took care of her when her parents died, who trained her and Nevada and gave them a purpose and a place to stay when they were far from home. Her heart lodged in her throat, and she lunged forward at breakneck speed to reach Gandalf before anything happened.
Only to be pulled back.
" No, Liana," Legolas grabbed her around her waist quickly and tightly, fear for her consuming him and making him act.
" Let me GO!" she screamed shrilly." I can help him!"
" You would die trying!" he told her, his voice rough with concern.
" He can be saved!!"
" NO!" She fought him ferociously, kicking his shins and trying to scratch his arms, drawing blood on his left hand. Desperate, he held her under him, pinning her arms and stepping on one of her feet so she couldn't kick him anymore. He leaned his head next to her ear and whispered fiercely," This is meant to happen. There is nothing we can do to help him. Calm down, Liana! You must live!" She settled for gripping his forearm so tightly her hand shook, as she watched him flail in the air in torment.
Time stopped for the few precious seconds where Gandalf stared at them from across the way, and they could do nothing but stare back. Frodo stopped struggling to watch, and Nevada tried but failed to keep her emotions in check.
" Fly, you fools!" he gasped out, and a second later, let go of the platform. In an instant, Gandalf the Grey was gone.
" Nooooooooooo!" Frodo gave a sharp, piercing yell, and Boromir dragged him back.
" Gandalf," Liana could only whisper, and she let Legolas pick her up and drag her to the exit hall before she shoved him away in disbelief. Startled, Legolas stared at her for a moment, then his expression became unreadable as they all ran out to safety.
Aragorn had the same look of astonishment and grief, but he stopped to look at Boromir and tell him to get the others out, who nodded and had to push Nevada, Gimli, Merry and Pippin toward the exit. Aragorn lingered for a few moments.
The grief in his heart swelled, and he felt that if he didn't have to be strong for the others, he would have wept like a child at the loss. His mind seemed to drop off of rational thought as sorrow consumed him; his mind whirred back to when he first met the wizard, when Gandalf trained him, gave him strength when he didn't think he had any, and the compassion he had shown the exiled young man so many years ago. Only the threatening whistle of arrows from the other cliff brought him back to the present, and made him run to catch up with the others.
He found a terrible sight when he reached the top of the mountain cliff. The bright light seared his vision for a moment, but then he had a clear view of the well of grief surrounding the remaining fellowship members as he ran up. Sam had sat down on a rock and was weeping fitfully with his hand resting on the side of his head, shaking it every few seconds and mumbling something to himself through his grief. A few tears rolled down his cheek, his personal torment so great it was hard to breathe. How could someone as strong as Gandalf fall? How could they let it happen? Why Gandalf?
Gimli was bellowing in outrage, wanting to go back in there and avenge the wizard's death against the monster who took him, anything to lessen the pain of grief in his heart but Boromir was holding him back and fiercely hugging him, trying to comfort the dwarf and himself with his words.
Aragorn numbly walked by Merry and Pippin, glancing down with sympathy. Merry was staring off into space, forgotten tears rolling down his cheeks, as he held on to Pippin; the poor thing was weeping his heart out, clutching his friend's cloak and uttering out," It was my fault! My fault! I let him down, I called the Orcs there, I should have listened to him. I got him killed, and he's gone now, it's all my fault..."he ceased talking when the sobbing took over. Merry listened numbly; part of him sympathizing with his cousin, and part of him still stuck on the horrifying image of Gandalf falling into the shadow, growing smaller and smaller and finally disappearing.
Aragorn looked over at the Immortals as he cleaned off his sword. Liana was standing there, the same glazed look in her eyes as Merry. She was trying to understand what had just happened, and when she did, she had to sit down. Her breath started to hitch with the effort to hold her emotions in, and something between a sob and a growl of disappointment in herself that she couldn't help him came out. Her golden eyes filled with a thousand emotions, and more tears escaped as she fisted her hand against her mouth to stifle more sobs. Oh, Valar, it wasn't fair. She couldn't believe it. Gandalf was really dead. And this time, he was never coming back. She shook her head, her vision blurring with tears as she tried to imagine life without the wizard that had helped make her the person she was today.
Pain; keen, sharp pain covered Legolas's features, clouded his eyes, and he shook his head in disbelief. Tears threatened to gather, and Legolas almost let them fall; it might lessen the anguished feeling in his heart. Being almost 3,000 years old did not lessen the grief of losing someone one grew to love. And living an eternity knowing he will never see Gandalf again deepened the heartache. It baffled him how easily life could be taken away, and he struggled to come to grips with the loss of their leader: the one person who kept them together and kept them alive.
Nevada sat herself down on a nearby rock and slowly brought up her damaged knee. It was soaked in blood, along with bits of rock and dirt from the bridge itself, and she could see where her skin was torn and jagged. Grimacing at all the blood, she ripped part of a rag in a long strip and began to blot some of the blood up with one end of it, baring her teeth with the pain. Throughout the process, Nevada kept her thoughts directed on that and nothing else. Viciously, she pushed her thoughts of Gandalf away, in a safe, dark corner of her heart so that she didn't have to think about it. She was used to him going away; he went away all the time, and this was no different. Dying was a natural part of life to the mortals, and she was well acquainted with it herself; there was no need to get emotional now. There was too much to do. When she had wiped away most of the blood and dirt, she found the scrape to be deeper than she had anticipated, and quite ugly. Shrugging it off as just that, a scrape, she wound the long strip around her knee and tied it tight to staunch the flow of blood, hissing as more pain pounded through her leg. She couldn't believe how badly she had hurt herself by merely slipping and falling; it was preposterous.
Aragorn watched their various reactions for a moment longer, then decided it was enough time for now: they could grieve later. Slowly, he stood up, sheathing his sword as he did." Legolas!" he called out. The Elf looked up, his eyes still hazy from memory and grief." Get them up," he ordered. Legolas just stared at the human, unsure if he had heard him right. They were to move...now? He watched Aragorn bend over slightly and talk to Liana. She looked up in a similar daze, but the confusion cleared as he spoke again, his words unheard to the Elf. Liana nodded, wiped her eyes, and stood up to walk over to Merry and Pippin.
Boromir watched Aragorn's back in stunned amazement. How could he be so callous to them now, after they had just lost the most important member of the fellowship?" Give them a moment, for pity's sake!" he pleaded their case, gesturing all around him." Let them grieve!"
" By nightfall, these hills will be swarming with orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlorien. Liana, Legolas, get them up!" Aragorn looked down at Sam, then reached down and grasped the hobbit by his shoulders." On your feet, Sam." He patted him reassuringly on the arm, and Sam nodded, eyes red and puffy from crying.
" Come on, Pippin, get up," Liana encouraged the young hobbit, her voice low and thick with emotion. Pippin's sobs slowed, and he allowed himself to be pulled up by the faerie. She smoothed his curls back from his forehead in an unconscious movement, and let him get up on his own two feet. A slim but strong hand came into view, and pulled Merry up on his feet, as well. Liana stood up slowly and faced Legolas. Their eyes locked, each remembering the other's actions in the midst of Gandalf's death.
" I will not apologize for holding you back," Legolas said quietly, and she stiffened." But I will apologize for the pain it caused you."
" Don't bother," she told him, a little more ice in her tone than she had meant to put. She softened the edge with a slightly bitter," You were only doing what you thought best, no matter how much I didn't agree with it. I'm sorry for hurting your arm," she gestured towards the bleeding nail marks on his left hand.
He nodded, feeling as if their disagreement was still unresolved. As she walked past him, he watched her go, his expression mute. No matter what she said about not holding him accountable, she was still upset with him. He couldn't blame her, but this riff between them grieved him.
Aragorn counted heads, and when he realized they were missing one, he stopped and looked around. When he spotted the figure he was looking for, he shouted for him." Frodo!"
The hobbit stopped walking, nearly slipping on a rock. His chest heaves with the effort to hold his emotions in check. He didn't want to wait; he wanted to get away, as far as he could from this place. Just crawl in a hole and lie there in a miserable ball, alone so he could weep for the loss of the wizard that meant so much to him. Aragorn called his name again, and Frodo turned his head slowly, as if it pained him to do so. He looked back and met Aragorn's gaze, and seeing everyone else's slumped, defeated forms, the lump in his throat cracked, and a tear rolled down his cheek.
Gandalf was dead. And there was nothing Frodo could do about it.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
" We will flee to the fields below and cut across into Lothlorien," Aragorn explained to the silent group. He waited for their nod, then stood up to his full height." Let us go, then, and quickly; we do not want to be caught out in the open when the sun sets." They all got up to follow Aragorn, and Nevada pushed herself up with her arms. She stood up on her good leg, but when she put pressure on her right knee, she gasped at the shooting pain that went up her leg and nearly fell forward. She caught herself by placing a hand on a rock for balance, but her mind was reeling from the agony that caused.
Aragorn noticed her discomfort and walked over." Is your knee bothering you?" he asked her quietly.
Nevada nodded, not trusting herself to speak just yet. She let the pain wash over her, and when it subsided, she hesitantly put her foot down again. A brief spark of pain flitted through her knee at the light touch, and she gritted her teeth." I doubt that I can run." she admitted grudgingly. Aragorn's frown was dark. This would definitely be a problem." Can you put some force on it?" he asked her.
Nevada took a deep breath and stepped with her right foot. It hurt, immensely so, but after a few more steps, it was a little bit less painful." Some."
The ranger sized up the situation, and reaching a decision, nodded." You can use me as a support, and we should be able to make good time. Slower than I wanted, but good time nonetheless."
" I do not need your help, I am sure I will be able to keep up," Nevada retorted angrily.
" Now is not the time to be stubborn, Nevada," Aragorn lectured sternly." You will accept my aide, unless you want to slow down everyone else and put us at risk for attack."
That stung. She glowered at the man, loathing to have to lean on him for support to *run*, for Valar's sake. Slowly, however, she realized that she would not be able to do this on her own, not with her knee acting this terribly, and she nodded reluctantly. He slipped an arm about her waist, and she sighed irritably and put her arm around his neck so she could pull half of her own weight with her left leg.
Once they were secure, Aragorn nodded to the others." Let's go!"
The Fellowship jogged as quickly as they could manage down the mountain, into forest, and through an open field that would eventually lead them into Lorien territory. Nevada gritted her teeth as she hobbled along, keeping a tight arm around Aragorn's neck as he equally supported her with an arm about her waist. Her mind was focused primarily on the pain shooting hotly through her knee, and the forest looming ahead. Once they reached that, she could slow down and stop jogging. The pain wouldn't be as bad then, and she could relax a little bit more. She shot Aragorn a few glances when her eyes weren't trained on the forest, vaguely noting his stern, slightly worried expression. She understood why they were moving as fast as possible through the field; to avoid attacks, but it didn't make her like it. They were all tired,shocked and wearied, and in all honesty, elven realm or no, she couldn't wait to reach it. First agenda when she got there was to get her knee patched up, sit down and rest her screaming muscles, and eat. She chanted the mantra to herself as they jerkily moved across the wide, open field.
The hobbits stumbled along with the rest of them, their minds numb from emotion. Pippin kept his gaze trained on the tall grass he was running through, occasionally looking up to make sure he didn't run into anyone, but otherwisekeeping himself mesmerized with the fleeting patterns of the wild grass underneath his bare, dirty feet. Every time he thought about what had just happened back in Moria, a lump formed in his throat and he choked back tears of guilt and sorrow. When the tears formed, he'd look over to Merry and his concentrated, determined face. Merry's dry and stern eyes gave the young hobbit enough strength to gain control over his emotions and just focus on the running.
It wasn't long before the ragged and worn Fellowship reached the first line of trees that marked the territory of Lothlorien. The moment they broke into the elven queen's land, a strange, abnormal energy hit each member, causing them to slow down and stare at their surroundings in wonder. They forgot about their previous pain for a few brief moments as they took in the alien feeling that coursed through them. The inexplicable force didn't feel safe, but it didn't feel threatening, either; if anything, the energy lapping at their minds in waves could be pinned down to a form of magical sovereignty.
" What madness is this place?" Boromir asked with a hushed tone.
" 'Tis not madness," Aragorn informed him. His eyes still wandered the thin, tall trees with their golden leaves and long limbs. They were large in number, and stretched as far as the eye could see all around them. There were no paths to be seen; only a carpet of lush grass, dirt, and scattered golden leaves." We have reached the realm of Galadriel."
" Elven queen, right?" Nevada asked, briefly wincing when she accidentally put pressure on her foot, which sent bursts of pain through her knee.
" Yes," Aragorn nodded. He continued aiding her with an arm around her waist, which she gratefully accepted as they all continued their walk, though at a much slower pace. The sound of their feet crunching on the leaves on the ground, accompanied by the occasional trill of a songbird, were the only sounds in the wood, which was a little bit unnerving to most. The constant aura from before still felt foreign to each of them, but not resonated with an odd feeling of comfort. They were safe here; nothing could get them.
" A witch," Gimli spurted out, sending Aragorn a dark look. He met it with exasperated tolerance, a look that Gimli chose to ignore." Stay close, young hobbits," Gimli warned anxiously, and motioned for them to gather nearer to him with his hands. Merry and Sam exchanged confused looks, but went along with it quietly, curious at his sudden fear. The wood seemed quite harmless and beautiful to them - what could be so dark about it?
" A great sorceress lives here," Gimli continued ominously, mindful of Aragorn's skeptical look. He knew what he had been told, and that so-called 'queen' was definitely *not* a benefactor as the ranger was making her out to be." An Elf-witch of terrible power. All those who look upon her fall under her spell." Sam felt a shiver run up his spine at the dark words - goodness, if this was true, then their worries would never come to an end! Wasn't Moria enough??" And are never seen again."
Frodo frowned slightly, taking in Gimli's words. He noticed the look Legolas was giving the dwarf out of the corner of his eye, and the disbelieving look in Aragorn's, and he didn't know whom to believe. All the Elves he had met had been kind and beautiful; he couldn't imagine her being a witch. Aragorn wouldn't lead them to Lothlorien if that was the case, anyhow.
*Frodo.*
The hobbit's heart jumped in his throat and he nearly stopped walking. Who said that?!
*Your coming is as the footsteps of doom.*
Who was saying that?! Frodo's blue eyes went wide with confusion and fear, and immediately his hand closed around the ring about his neck. The voice was in his head; a whispering but loud voice that was frightening the wits out of him.
*You bring a great evil here, Ring bearer.*
" Frodo?"
With a slight yelp of surprise, Frodo jumped back and saw Sam's concerned face." What, Sam? You frightened me half to death."
" Sorry," the hobbit apologized." Are you all right?"
" Yeah, you looked odd for a moment. Is everything all right?" As soon as the words came out of Merry's mouth, he realized how foolish they sounded, and Sam realized it, as well. Of course everything wasn't all right; Gandalf had just died. Things wouldn't be all right for quite a while. He regretted his careless words, and worried over what Frodo would say back.
The hobbits surprised him, however, by simply smiling sadly." Just preoccupied thoughts. I'll be fine, Merry; really." Merry nodded reluctantly and gave him a tentative smile back. At least Frodo was speaking more than a few words now, as opposed to before.
Legolas listened quietly to their conversation a few feet away. He looked at Frodo for a moment more, than turned his gaze elsewhere. The realm was certainly a comforting change from their previous location, but he still could not help the feeling of abnormality. He had never been to the Lady's realm before; it was as foreign to him as it might be for the hobbits and faeries. He was a little apprehensive, but that was again outweighed by the comfort of being in an elven realm again. The woods were truly as beautiful as legend told of it, but Legolas was slightly unnerved by the quiet. Where were the Elven patrols of Lothlorien? He knew they had one, and surely they would have spotted the members by now. The absence of Elven life in the area made him uneasy.
A quiet shuffling to his right brought his attention to a slim, shorter figure walking beside him. Liana's head was slightly forward, her eyes taking in a few trees before focusing her gaze slightly downward. Her arms were wrapped loosely around her own waist, and her sword gently hit her thigh with each step. She seemed oblivious to everyone, and only vaguely aware of the scenery. She didn't even bother to move the shorter strands of hair on her cheek, but rather let them be, reluctant to let her arms move from their position of self-comfort.
He briefly forgot his own grief, which was deep enough of its own accord, and took in hers. She looked lost; dejected. He couldn't imagine what it felt like to lose a father figure such as Gandalf was to her. His heart reached out to her as his arm did, which he placed around her shoulders, rubbing gently and moving his hand up to her cheek to touch it reassuringly.
Liana's head straightened and her eyes came back into focus. She turned her head and gazed up at him, eyes unreadable. She watched him for a moment, and when he smiled faintly, one side of her mouth turned up in a halfhearted attempt to return the gesture. It faltered rather quickly, and she just sighed and leaned slightly into his touch for a moment, gladdening his heart at her apparent change of mind.
The elf's keen hearing caught Gimli's next words, and he sent the dwarf a sharp, half amused, half annoyed glance with his comment." Well, this is one dwarf she won't ensnare so easily!"
Right, Legolas thought, humor briefly lighting his gray-blue eyes. His vision strayed from the dwarf to his surroundings, and suddenly he got the feeling of being watched by unfriendly eyes. Suspicious, the Elf's eyes narrowed. He instinctively brought Liana closer with the hand he had on her shoulder, and she gave him an inquisitive look. With the way he was acting, she caught on quickly and tensed.
" I have the eyes of a hawk, and the ears of a fox!"
Gimli's smug comment was brought to a halt with the appearance of an arrow in his face. Startled, Gimli nearly took a step back. He hadn't seen *any* of them coming! What insanity led to this invasion?! He *knew* he was right - these woods were nothing but absolute trouble.
Seconds before, Legolas had heard the familiar sound of arrows being pulled taut on bows, and when he did, he pulled an arrow out of his quiver and notched it tight in an elegant and superbly fast move. Figures stepped out of the trees, and the blonde elf found his target to be another blonde elf. Blinking in surprise, Legolas stared at his opponent with a strange mixture of unease and relief. Relief because there were other elves present, and unease because they were drawing weapons against them. Legolas chanced a glance to either side of him - they were totally surrounded. His gaze turned back to the few Elves in front of them. They had the same discomforted look in their eyes as they looked upon him. It was dark times indeed when Elves would draw weapons against another Elf, and Legolas didn't like it one bit.
The hobbits looked around with alarm, stumbling as they came to a halt. There were Elves and arrows everywhere! Where had they come from? Sam positioned himself near Frodo, and Merry and Pippin bumped backs in an effort to get away from the arrows. They weren't sure if they were supposed to draw weapons against elves or not.
Boromir looked at the cold, unforgiving, beautifully carved faces of the Elves with incredible unease and growing alarm. He had not heard this many of them coming, and it was disturbing to be threatened by a supposedly peaceful race. Their blank, determined stares only made the situation more confusing, and it also made him angry. Did they look to be in any position to pose a threat to them?
Liana instinctively pulled out an arrow of her own, its target being an Elf with dark blonde hair and eyes much like Legolas's. He stared at her from down his nose, and her initial panic and puzzlement turned into anger. What did they think they were doing? And did they really want to do that *now*, with emotions so highly strung? She wasn't exactly expecting a cordial welcome from these people, but she expected something more than being held under at least twenty arrows! She met the elf's stare with fierce determination, showing him her own anger and unwillingness to back down.' Look at me with disdain all you want,' she told him silently,' just remember that I don't care if you are an Elf; if you attack me, as far as I'm considered, you look just like an Orc.'
Aragorn instinctively wrapped a protective arm around Nevada's waist and pulled her closer. Their animosity angered him; here he brought the fellowship to this place to receive comfort and aide, and they were being held at arrowpoint like prisoners. He understood the need for caution, but could they not tell that they were friends, not foes? Nay, he did not appreciate all of them being under siege at all.
Nevada stared dumbly at the tip of the arrow in her face. It registered that they were in danger, but she was hurting so bad and so tired, that all she could do was stand there and take it. She had no hope of drawing a weapon and actually winning; hell, she couldn't walk on her own. Deep down, however, a spark of annoyance flashed - what kind of a threat did they take her to be? Was it really necessary to have an arrow *that* close to her face? ' Elves,' she thought darkly. The tip of the arrow wavered and came a bit closer, and Nevada reared her head back in irritation. She looked up from the arrow and spotted the Elf holding it, matching his glare with her wary one." Would you really shoot me?" she asked with a deadpan tone, and gestured to her busted knee. When he just stared at her, she cocked her head slightly to the right. If she could get a reaction out of this pretentious elf..." If I lunged at you right now, would you shoot me?"
The elf's eyes widened a fraction, then narrowed in irritation. Aragorn turned and glared at Nevada, which she met with her own smug look. The look faltered, however, when Pippin's voice rose up out of pure curiosity." *Could* you lunge at him right now?"
Nevada seethed and glowered down at Pippin, who retreated a step back." That's not the point, Pippin!" she reprimended. In her annoyance, she temporarily forgot about the position of her right knee, and ended up taking a heavy step with that foot. Agonizing pain went through her knee, and she tried not to cringe. She hurt so bad in so many places, this wasn't fair...Nevada looked up and met the Elf's eyes once more." Just do it," she told him in a pain-filled, defeated voice." End it."
" What?!" Aragorn bit out the exclamation and whipped his head around to give her an amazed look. She just shrugged at him, and he shook his head, disgruntled. She was the only person he knew who would say something like that. He wasn't given much time to ponder the sanity of his friend, when one Elf made himself known from the others by stepping forward from the group of silent, blonde warriors.
" A dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark." The words were haughty, and the voice held notes of pride that was obvious to even the hobbits. One of the Elven warriors made himself known from the others by stepping forward and up to the Fellowship. His dark blue eyes were trained on the dwarf, hints of disdain swirling through their depths. He wore a gray uniform like the others, with black leggings, and long blonde hair that swept down to his broad shoulders.
Gimli snarled at the arrogant Elf, using every dwarfish curse he knew in his mind to slander the Elven man.
Nevada took in Haldir's form, from his clothing to the way he held himself, and decided that she did not like this Elf. At all. At the same moment, Haldir's gaze went to her, and a wave of insult swept through her at his incredulous stare. He, in turn, took in her battered form, from the bloodied knee, bandaged arm, cuts and bruises like most everyone in the Fellowship, and the last remnants of a black eye that colored her left eye yellow and pale purple. His expression took on a demeaning 'What happened to *this* one?', before he dismissed her with a look that made Nevada stiffen, and turned to Aragorn.
Yes, she very much hated this Elf.
" Haldir o' Lorien," Aragorn raised his hand to his chest in a formal greeting gesture, and Haldir nodded in acceptance.
Haldir, Nevada thought to herself. I'll have to remember that name.
" Henion anmron, boe ammen i dulu lnn. Boe ammen veriad lnn," Aragorn continued.*
" What?" Nevada whispered in confusion, and Liana and the hobbits wore the same look.' Nice way to keep the rest of us informed, Aragorn,' Nevada snapped in her mind at him, giving him a baleful glare.
" Aragorn, these woods are perilous!" Gimli suddenly shouted out, turning everyone's attention to the dwarf. His eyes shifted from his companions to the Elven warriors, and his lip curled in disdain. He didn't trust them, especially when they held arms against him and his companions." We should go back!"
" You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood," Haldir's vision swept over to Gimli, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly at the dwarf." You cannot go back." The march warden's cold blue eyes paused at Gimli, before turning and stopping at Frodo. The young hobbit looked up and found himself caught in the Elf's gaze. He seemed to stare right through him, and it unnerved him. Did he know he had the Ring? Would he try and take it for this Lady of the Wood, or...Frodo didn't know. But he didn't like being stared at by the strange Elf.
" Come," Haldir finally spoke softly." She is waiting."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Liana stared darkly at the Elven warriors accompanying them along Lothlorien's pathways and trees. They were silent; faces etched in stone, not saying a word to anyone but the faint responses they gave their leader, Haldir. She did not care for his haughtiness, either, and was starting to wonder if coming here had been the best thing. Were there any alternatives to these unfriendly faces that seemed to loathe anyone not of Elven blood? Shaking her head slightly, Liana reminded herself that it wouldn't do good to wonder. They were here, and that was that.
She noted that Frodo looked worried, yet awed at the same time. He had good reason to worry; he didn't know who these people were, or where they were taking him, and it was enough to even make her worry. She related to the certain awe that lit up his blue eyes, for she knew hers did, as well. The area they were in was magnificent, she had to admit - she could stare at the trees and the streams all day. There was constant movement along the trees, as well - falling leaves, birds flitting from branch to branch, and a light breeze going through and ruffling the branches and golden leaves. Yes, her surroundings were a wonderful change of scenery, but it meant nothing if the people inhabiting it turned out to be just as silent and cold as its warriors.
Nevada still used Aragorn as a crutch to walk, and she kept quiet while he spoke to Haldir in the elvish tongue. She didn't look too happy about it, Liana smiled to herself; in fact, she looked ready to smack the expressions off their faces. It was pretty rude to speak in a language ones charge couldn't understand. Nevada's gaze shifted to her friend, and they shared a look. Aragorn laughed quietly at something Haldir said, and Nevada rolled her eyes, making Liana smile. They really needed to learn how to speak Elvish.
The roaring of a body of water became apparent as they walked, and soon everyone was looking for a break in the foliage that would explain the sound. When it came, the companions stared at a racing, dark blue stream at least ten feet wide, with no bridge in sight.
" Where's the bridge?" Nevada asked.
Haldir gave her an unreadable look, and she fought the urge to sneer at him." There is no bridge."
Startled, she gaped at him." What?"
" I believe I spoke clearly the first time," he responded, annoyance in his tone. She glared at his back as he turned back around and whistled; low and long. From across the deep stream, another Elf stepped out of hiding and nodded. Haldir pulled out a coil of gray rope and threw it skillfully across. The other Elf caught it, and proceeded to tie it to the trunk of a slim but strong tree.
" What is he doing?" Merry asked Pippin quietly, who shrugged.
" No bridge?" Nevada asked, still stuck on his first statement. Baffled, she gestured to the large trees behind her." Is there anything else that we can use? A tree, even?"
Haldir turned quickly, his expression horrified. The Elven warriors nearby mirrored it, and she felt like she had said something incredibly stupid. But she was right, dammit! What was wrong with using a tree to get across?
" Nay, we will do nothing of the sort, foolish girl," Haldir told her, teeth clenched in irritation. She bared her teeth at him and fought back a wave of extreme anger at being insulted by this high and mighty Elf.
" Celebrant is already a strong stream here," Haldir informed them after he had calmed down somewhat, shooting a last glare at the upstart faerie standing before him." It runs both swift and deep, and is very cold. We do not set foot in it so far north, unless we must. But in these days of watchfulness we do not make bridges." He gave Nevada another look, and she gave him a dirty one." This is how we must cross." He fastened his end of the rope around another tree, and to everyone's amazement besides a choice few, ran lightly across it.
Nevada felt her mouth drop open, then quickly closed it and merely stared. He expected her to do...that? Glancing down at her knee, she applied some pressure and hissed under her breath. There was no way she would be able to keep her balance on that thing, let alone cross it as fast as he did. She could hardly walk as it was. Folding her arms, Nevada stood there and shook her head, glaring at Haldir's makeshift bridge." Well, I suppose I will walk a ways and try to find another way across. Either that, or I will sit here and wait for you to come back after you're finished speaking with Galadriel."
Her comment elicited various reactions from the fellowship. The hobbits gaped at her, Boromir, Liana, and Legolas looked as if she had lost her mind, and Gimli looked almost cheered by the aspect.' He would,' Nevada thought darkly. Aragorn was one of the ones gaping, until he shook himself out of it and in turn shook her arm slightly.
" Stop talking this nonsense," he told her quietly but firmly." We are not leaving anyone behind."
" I can't-" she began, then, out of slight embarrassment, lowered her voice to a whisper." I can't cross that," she told him. Her expression was a mixture of frustration and desperation." You cannot expect me to cross this stream on a bloody *rope*! I can hardly walk!"
Aragorn nodded slowly. He had taken that into account, as well as the fact that neither him, Boromir, Gimli, nor the hobbits would be able to do it, either.
To the man's surprise, Legolas spoke up." I can walk this path, as can Liana, but the others have not the skill or ability. Surely they would not have to swim..?"
Nevada blinked. Was the elf *defending* her and the others? Another blink. Well, there's a first for everything, isn't there?
" No," Haldir shook his head." We have two more ropes. We'll fasten them above the first; one shoulder high and another half high for the hobbits. If they hold on to these, they should be able to cross the bridge."
The raven-haired faerie's brows furrowed as she envisioned accomplishing this. She would be able to do it, but it would be very hard going. She'd have to pull herself along. While the thought didn't settle well, she realized that she had no other choice; she would have to cross it that way, or not cross at all.
When the ropes had been set, the fellowship proceeded to cross. Some went very cautiously and slowly, others easier and swifter. Of all the hobbits, Pippin was the fastest and most sure of himself, and Sam fought off a sick feeling in his stomach as he watched the water rush beneath his feet, clutching hard on the rope while he slowly pulled himself along. When Nevada's turn came, she placed her uninjured foot on the shaky rope and gripped the one near her shoulder with both hands. Heaving a breath, she clenched the rope tightly in her fingers and half pulled, half dragged herself across. She kept her gaze focused on the other side and the calm faces of Liana and Legolas, and the anxious faces of the hobbits, and tried her best to ignore the restless water underneath and the pain shooting through her knee, so consuming that tears burned in her eyes. If she slipped, that would be it. So Nevada slowly but surely made her way across, and breathed a sigh of relief when her good foot touched solid ground. She let go of the rope and pressed her red hands together, feeling the chafed skin from the rope burn rub uncomfortably together. Looking back to see Aragorn following on the ropes, she limped over to the others and grudgingly accepted Legolas's arm of support.
She caught her breath and looked at Liana, who half smiled at her." That was fun," she told her friend huffingly." Let's *never* do it again."
Liana's smile turned into a grin." No, walking tightropes isn't exactly our kind of fun."
" You got that right."
" You know, they could've made us swim."
" Yeah, and I would've been screaming halfway down the stream into a set of waterfalls, with my luck."
" You and Gimli, maybe a hobbit or two." Legolas made a sound that could have been a laugh, which caused the girls to look over.
" You would think that was funny," Nevada told him irritably." Liana, you really know how to pick them." Liana laughed and opened her mouth to speak, but Haldir spoke instead.
" Now that everyone is across, we shall continue," he informed them." As was agreed, we shall blindfold the eyes of Gimli the Dwarf-"
" What?!" Gimli cut the Elf off sharply." The agreement was made without my consent," he argued justifiably, growing pink in the face with outrage." I will not walk blindfolded like a beggar or prisoner, and I am no spy! I am no more likely to betray you than Legolas, or any other of my companions!" The Dwarf was very nearly shaking with anger, and his hand was straying dangerously close to his axe as he glared at the march warden of Lothlorien.
" I do not doubt you," Haldir said coolly, with only a thread of agitation at the Dwarf's outburst," yet this is our law."
Gimli planted his feet and closed his hand around the heft of his axe." I will go forward free," he growled," or I will go back and seek my own land!"
" Gimli," Pippin said, startled at the Dwarf's willingness to leave them. Surely it wasn't *that* big of a deal, was it? But by the looks on everyone else's faces, it was.
" You cannot go back," Haldir told him sternly. Gimli snarled and drew his axe from his belt, and the Elven warriors pulled taut their own bows, ready to aim at the obstinate Dwarf on command.
" A plague on Dwarves and their stiff necks!" Legolas fairly hissed out, his narrow gray-blue eyes focused on Gimli. While Legolas was not so sure he agreed with the method of blindfolding, he knew there was nothing he could do to sway the march wardens.
A plan had been formulating in Aragorn's mind, and when he reached his decision, he stepped forward, in between Gimli and the Elves." It is hard upon the Dwarf to be singled out," he told Haldir matter-of-factly." Therefore, I propose that we shall all be blindfolded, even Legolas."
Liana looked startled, the hobbits looked crestfallen, and Nevada and Legolas gaped." What?!" Nevada snapped at Aragorn. Some bright idea he had!' Who appointed him leader anyway?!' Nevada thought angrily.
Gimli looked at all their faces and broke into laughter." A merry troop of fools we shall look!" Ignoring the murderous looks he was getting from a few of the members of the fellowship, he continued on." Will Haldir lead us all on a string? But I will be content, as long as Legolas is blindfolded, as well."
Legolas's mouth open, then closed, then opened again. He was thoroughly insulted that Aragorn would suggest they all be blindfolded; an Elf being blindfolded in a territory of Elves! What was he thinking?" I am an Elf and a kinsman here," he explained, clearly aggravated.
" A plague on the stiff necks of Elves," Aragorn murmured rhetorically. Legolas turned his hot, incensed gaze on the human, who only shrugged apologetically." The Company shall all fare alike," he told them, but more so to Legolas." It is only fair. Come, blind our eyes, Haldir!"
" He must've gotten knocked in the head in Moria," Nevada rationalized through gritted teeth." It's the only thing that explains these really dumb ideas that pop into that human's brain."
" Either that or he left his brain in Moria," Liana muttered darkly, not happy at all that she was to be blindfolded and led like a stray puppy through the golden wood of Lothlorien. She wanted to see this place, not be dragged along like a common criminal! Sighing in frustration, she didn't have but another split second to look at glower at Aragorn and the Elves before a white cloth went over her eyes and her world was pitched in blackness.
Nevada went blind, as well, and felt it being tied at the back of her head. A hand closed around her arm, and when she tried to jerk it away, it held fast.
" Relax, young Faerie," a fair Elven voice told her." I am to assist you in walking. Unless you believe you can manage?"
She bit back a sharp retort, and with one quick movement shook her head. She started to walk slowly, and the arm of the Elf kept her steady as they all began their sightless walk through the woods of Lothlorien.
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Disclaimer: We don't own any characters original to the Lord of the Rings - the only claims we hold are on the Faeries, and other minor characters we add in.
Try to forget you,
But without you I feel nothing.
Don't leave me here, by myself.
I can't breathe.
I run to you, Call out your name,
I see you there, farther away.
'Farther Away' by Evanescence
Chapter 20
" Come on!" Legolas shouted.
Frodo closed his eyes briefly, then opened them as Aragorn grabbed his shoulder and the two jumped. The hobbit felt himself fly through the air for one breathless moment, then Boromir caught him and Legolas caught Aragorn.
Everyone breathed a sigh of extreme relief, and continued on once most of the Orc archers in the wings had been taken care of and everyone was accounted for. They could hear the remainder of the staircase crack and fall with a great shudder behind them, which urged them on even faster to avoid a fall of their own. They reached the bottom of the stairs moments later, and ran past what looked like a great pool of fire. They stopped at the terrible sight of all that fire, but Gandalf beckoned them on.
" To the bridge! Hurry!" The fellowship took off in the direction of the narrow bridge, and Gandalf followed a few short feet before stopping. He knew the Balrog was close. Somehow, he had to stall for them so they could get safely across and away from this demon. He knew what he had to do.
" Gandalf!" he heard Liana and Nevada cry, beckoning him to come. He shook his head at them, faintly irritated at their insistence, and otherwise ignored them.
"Gandalf, please," Nevada pleaded, a desperate ring in her tone. She didn't want to come any closer than she was, but she didn't want to leave him, either." Come with us!"
" If we leave now, we'll all leave alive!" Liana added. She fought to catch her breath and stared uncertainly at the wizard's unmoving form. What did he think he was doing? He couldn't fight it, could he? The thought of him trying to fight that thing made her increasingly sick to her stomach. There was a level of *wrongness* she felt when she thought about him fighting. He *had* to go with them - there was nothing else to it.
" No, my dear faeries," he said quietly, almost to the point where they had to strain to hear him. He turned to smile almost sadly at them." I know what I must do, and you must go." When they didn't obey him, he got angry and gestured them to the right direction." Go!" he roared, and to the girls' own surprise, they listened to him and caught up with the others.
At that moment the terrible monster they had all been dreading reared its ugly head out of the flames, and Gandalf gritted his teeth, holding his staff tightly. The large, winged and horned creature braced its front paws on the ground and gave an evil and horrible roar that flamed the very air in front of it. The wizard held his ground, waiting until he knew, could *feel* that they were making their way safely across the bridge before moving another inch. It gave another roar and got up to pursue after the wizard, hell-bent on destroying everything that got in its path, and Gandalf knew it was time. The wizard immediately turned and ran to catch up with the others, hoping there was still a chance for his own survival.
The Fellowship reached the narrow bridge, and Aragorn sent Boromir across first to wait for everyone on the other side. Aragorn looked back briefly to see the fire of the Balrog following them, and, gritting his teeth, urged the others onward.
The Faeries stopped just before crossing, horrified at the shadowy depths mere inches from their feet." Oh HELL no," Nevada blurted out. She shook her head and backed up, face pale and eyes as dark as the chasm she could likely fall in at the merest hint of a stumble." If you think I'm crazy enough to cross that thing you call a BRIDGE-"
Through Nevada's tirade, Liana could only stare in terror. Her stomach gave another sickening lurch, worse than before, and she clenched her fists until the knuckles were white. Who knew how far that went down? And it was so *narrow*, she couldn't possibly...No. She couldn't do this. It made her dizzy to just look at the inky blackness surrounding the bridge.
Dimly, Liana felt a hand rub her back reassuringly." It is only a bridge," Legolas remarked, his voice behind her ear." You will not fall. I promise." He gave her a gentle push forward and walked behind her to make sure she wouldn't lose her footing out of fear.
She blinked slowly, trying to will away the numbing fear in her heart, and finally nodded, glancing back at the elf. She couldn't stall any longer, and getting away was more important than staying with the Balrog.
" I will *crawl* over this bridge, you cannot make me cross-"
" Faerie, just go!" Gimli bellowed. Speechless for a moment, Nevada blinked as he shoved past her and ran, and then she started dumbly running after Merry and Sam. She gulped and tried not to look down at the awesome depths. Another roar rendered the air, and the Balrog gave a leaping jump to get closer the bridge. When he landed, the ground shuddered unexpectedly, and Nevada stumbled.
" Nevada?" Sam turned around.
" Just keep going!" Nevada shouted at him. He nodded, face pale, and started running. Nevada ran close behind, and the next tremor that hit the pathway made her stumble into Sam. The hobbit kept going, however, and with nothing in front of her to fall into, she hit the ground hard, stopping herself with her right knee. Immediate blinding agony shot through her leg, and she let out a gasp at the pain. A bloodcurdling roar sounded before, and Nevada's mind froze with terror and suffering. The Balrog was coming, and she needed to get up!! As Nevada pushed up with her foot in her bad knee, ignoring the pain and the blood she knew was dripping down her leg, the faerie turned body to see how close the Balrog actually was. She had forgotten about her left foot as she was turning, which was already off the edge, and when she used her knee to get up, it buckled under the new pressure. With a startled cry of anguish, Nevada felt herself fall backwards and her left leg slipped completely off the edge. In her state of imbalance, she went with it.
Nevada screamed, her arms flailing and trying to claw at the bridge as she felt the weightlessness that went along with freefalling fill her with terror. Mindlessly, she reached out and her hands grabbed the rough surface of the bridge, halting her fall and leaving her hanging there.
The fellowship gaped at what they had just witnessed, her terrified yelling and pleading filling the air. Most were too shocked to react, and she seemed so far away that they wondered if they could even reach her in time.
Liana stopped running just as she reached the other side. Her mind went one-track and she screamed her bestfriend's name.' Oh shit, oh shit, Nevada, I've gotta help her, she has to hang on, I can't lose her-' Without thinking, she went to sprint forward to do just that, but two strong hands firmly gripped her arms and pulled her back.
Liana's head whipped around and she gaped at Legolas and Boromir." What are you doing?!" she said shrilly.
" You can't reach her in time, Liana," Boromir told her brokenly. He was torn; he wanted to help, but he wasn'tsure if he could. He and Legolas knew there was nothing that Liana could do, so there was no use in her risking her life, as well.
" What?!" Liana exclaimed." I would if you let me go!"
" Even if you did, you wouldn't be able to lift her up, you're much too small yourself," he finished.
" Then help me!" she pleaded with him frantically. She looked from Boromir to Legolas's stony face, not understanding why they wouldn't do anything. Legolas, why are you just standing there?! she questioned in her head." We can't leave her!"
" Aragorn is over there," Legolas informed her, and she turned to take a look. She felt him rub her shoulder to comfort her and calm her fears." He is closer than us."
" Liana!" Nevada screamed out desperately." Help me! Gandalf! Please!! Aragorn! Legolas! Boromir!" One by one, Nevada pleaded for every member of the Fellowship - someone, *anyone* to come and help her. She didn't want to die - oh, she couldn't face death. Death was too terrifying, too foreign, this couldn't be happening..." Please, don't let me die!!" Her voice shook with fear, and she grasped onto the rock for dear life. She felt her palms grow slick with sweat, and to her horror, her right hand began losing its grip. Panic fired through her, and she let out a harsh, abrupt scream when she lost grip on that hand, leaving her dangling dangerously by her left hand.
Aragorn heard every one of Nevada's yells, and each one ripped at his heart. He was still running across the pathway, and he saw her hanging by one hand, her feet kicking in the inky blackness of the chasm. Blind panic and fear clouded and consumed his mind. What if he didn't reach her in time?" Nevada!" he roared in alarm." Hang on!" She couldn't let go - he *had* to reach her in time. She would *not fall*. He could not imagine going on without her, and he would be damned if she was going to fall now.
" I can't!" she sobbed back. Her left palm was growing sweaty, and the ache in her arm was almost unbearable. She felt her muscles being stretched to their limit, and all her weight was bearing down on that one arm.
" Nevada, don't let go, you can do it!" Aragorn reassured her. He was almost there, just a little further. He could get to her, just a few more feet....
" It hurts!" she hitched out, and she let out a stream of choked, scared cries as she felt the last of her strength drain away. This was it; she was going to die, and she was going to fall for a long, long time. Who knows when she would hit the ground? She could fall for over a minute and have all the time in the world to scream and think about her own death.
Aragorn reached her prone form and kneeled down. Nevada was holding on by three fingers, and right when Aragorn reached out, her aching fingers couldn't take the pain anymore and they slipped. Nevada felt herself let go and plummet down. She shrieked Aragorn's name, and the man's heart lurched as he lunged forward and grabbed onto her hand. Nevada's body jerked as it stopped falling, and she hung, suspended and swinging back and forth in the empty air.
" Aragorn!" she wailed desperately. He was only able to grab her tightly around the knuckles, and her fingers were slipping slowly through.' Oh no, no, no, no,' she thought dreadfully." Don't let me fall!"
" I won't let you fall," Aragorn confirmed raggedly. She sounded so young and afraid, it terrified him - he never wanted to hear her like that again. He reached over with his other hand and swiftly, but firmly grabbed on to her forearm to keep her from slipping further. He went to replace it with the one that had been holding her hand so he had a tighter grip on her.
Nevada felt herself dangle again for a moment, and she panicked." I don't want to die!" she cried out.
" You're not going to die, Nev," he tried to say soothingly, but it came out gruff and emotional." I won't let anything happen to you." He reached down for her other hand and she reached up with a trembling arm. He pulled her up a distance, then switched from her hand to under her armpit when he had the chance. Now that he had her securely and he was sure that he wouldn't lose his own grip, he pulled her up with all his might and set her back on the bridge. The Faerie was shaking visibly when she reached solid ground, and she grasped onto his cloak for balance-her pupils were severely contracted, so much that all could be seen was wide purple irises, and her color was drained.
" Thank you, thank you," Nevada whispered mindlessly, and Aragorn clutched her to him for a brief moment, his own heart pounding with relief and fading anxiety. Briefly, he noticed the blood gushing down her knee, but at least she was alive.
" Let's go," he told her." We have to hurry. Here comes Gandalf!"
Another roar let loose behind them, and Nevada ran with Aragorn, fighting to ignore the pain that shot through her knee as she ran to get to safety and away from the bridge. The moment she reached the others, Liana lunged forward and grabbed her in a fierce hug. The faerie sobbed and held her friend tight, and Nevada clutched back, grateful that she was alive and thanking the high heavens for Aragorn and sheer dumb luck.
Everyone had made it across the bridge just as Gandalf made it on, and they watched him anxiously as he ran. He made it to the middle before slowing down, and to their puzzlement, stopping. To further their confusion, he turned his back on them and faced the oncoming beast.
" What is he doing?" Frodo whispered.
Nevada stared at the old wizard's back, and when she spotted his staff, it dawned on her." He's denying the Balrog passage. He might be able to do it."
" What good is that going to do?" Liana whispered fiercely. Her heart contracted at Gandalf's vulnerability, standing before the Balrog like that. She felt like he really should be with them, running to get out of here." Gandalf!" she called out pleadingly, but he didn't hear her over the roar of the Balrog.
" You cannot pass!" Gandalf's voice rang out strong and angry through the cavern. The monster gave another bellow in response, and put on a show of lifting to its full height and releasing flames throughout his body. Merry and Pippin whimpered in fear, their eyes round with morbid fascination at the monstrous beast towering over them.
" Gandalf!" Frodo screamed in fear.
" I am the servant of the secret fire," Gandalf rumbled his chant menacingly. He lifted his staff high, the rock at the end glowing painfully bright." Wielder of the flame of Anor. The dark fire will not avail you, Flame of Udun!" The Balrog raised a fire-red sword and brought it down on Gandalf's staff, who deflected the blow amidst a shower of sparks." Go back to the Shadow," he growled at the monster. It took another step forward and wielded a fiery whip as its next weapon, snapping it against the stone threateningly and roaring.
" YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" Gandalf bellowed out, raising his sword and staff and bringing them crashing down on the rock with a deafening noise.
The Balrog flared his nostril and went to run forward, but the fury of Gandalf's magic collapsed that section of the bridge, sending the monster flailing and roaring as it fell into the Shadow. The company looked on in amazement as the gigantic creature fell out of sight. Gandalf, who seemed so terribly magnificent before, now just looked weary and tired as he turned to them, an old man who looked as if his battling days were over.
A crack of a whip echoed through the cavern, and as Gandalf was walking away the orange flame snapped and snaked around the wizard's legs, pulling him down with a crash.
" Gandalf!" Frodo and Liana shouted in horror. Frodo leapt forward to help, but Boromir pulled him back.
Nevada looked on in dumb horror as the wizard struggled to get back up, his hands grasping the rock. Her eyes were empty of everything but horror and alarm, and for the first time in a long while, she did not know what to do.
Liana did. She wanted to help the wizard she had known since she was a very young child, who took care of her when her parents died, who trained her and Nevada and gave them a purpose and a place to stay when they were far from home. Her heart lodged in her throat, and she lunged forward at breakneck speed to reach Gandalf before anything happened.
Only to be pulled back.
" No, Liana," Legolas grabbed her around her waist quickly and tightly, fear for her consuming him and making him act.
" Let me GO!" she screamed shrilly." I can help him!"
" You would die trying!" he told her, his voice rough with concern.
" He can be saved!!"
" NO!" She fought him ferociously, kicking his shins and trying to scratch his arms, drawing blood on his left hand. Desperate, he held her under him, pinning her arms and stepping on one of her feet so she couldn't kick him anymore. He leaned his head next to her ear and whispered fiercely," This is meant to happen. There is nothing we can do to help him. Calm down, Liana! You must live!" She settled for gripping his forearm so tightly her hand shook, as she watched him flail in the air in torment.
Time stopped for the few precious seconds where Gandalf stared at them from across the way, and they could do nothing but stare back. Frodo stopped struggling to watch, and Nevada tried but failed to keep her emotions in check.
" Fly, you fools!" he gasped out, and a second later, let go of the platform. In an instant, Gandalf the Grey was gone.
" Nooooooooooo!" Frodo gave a sharp, piercing yell, and Boromir dragged him back.
" Gandalf," Liana could only whisper, and she let Legolas pick her up and drag her to the exit hall before she shoved him away in disbelief. Startled, Legolas stared at her for a moment, then his expression became unreadable as they all ran out to safety.
Aragorn had the same look of astonishment and grief, but he stopped to look at Boromir and tell him to get the others out, who nodded and had to push Nevada, Gimli, Merry and Pippin toward the exit. Aragorn lingered for a few moments.
The grief in his heart swelled, and he felt that if he didn't have to be strong for the others, he would have wept like a child at the loss. His mind seemed to drop off of rational thought as sorrow consumed him; his mind whirred back to when he first met the wizard, when Gandalf trained him, gave him strength when he didn't think he had any, and the compassion he had shown the exiled young man so many years ago. Only the threatening whistle of arrows from the other cliff brought him back to the present, and made him run to catch up with the others.
He found a terrible sight when he reached the top of the mountain cliff. The bright light seared his vision for a moment, but then he had a clear view of the well of grief surrounding the remaining fellowship members as he ran up. Sam had sat down on a rock and was weeping fitfully with his hand resting on the side of his head, shaking it every few seconds and mumbling something to himself through his grief. A few tears rolled down his cheek, his personal torment so great it was hard to breathe. How could someone as strong as Gandalf fall? How could they let it happen? Why Gandalf?
Gimli was bellowing in outrage, wanting to go back in there and avenge the wizard's death against the monster who took him, anything to lessen the pain of grief in his heart but Boromir was holding him back and fiercely hugging him, trying to comfort the dwarf and himself with his words.
Aragorn numbly walked by Merry and Pippin, glancing down with sympathy. Merry was staring off into space, forgotten tears rolling down his cheeks, as he held on to Pippin; the poor thing was weeping his heart out, clutching his friend's cloak and uttering out," It was my fault! My fault! I let him down, I called the Orcs there, I should have listened to him. I got him killed, and he's gone now, it's all my fault..."he ceased talking when the sobbing took over. Merry listened numbly; part of him sympathizing with his cousin, and part of him still stuck on the horrifying image of Gandalf falling into the shadow, growing smaller and smaller and finally disappearing.
Aragorn looked over at the Immortals as he cleaned off his sword. Liana was standing there, the same glazed look in her eyes as Merry. She was trying to understand what had just happened, and when she did, she had to sit down. Her breath started to hitch with the effort to hold her emotions in, and something between a sob and a growl of disappointment in herself that she couldn't help him came out. Her golden eyes filled with a thousand emotions, and more tears escaped as she fisted her hand against her mouth to stifle more sobs. Oh, Valar, it wasn't fair. She couldn't believe it. Gandalf was really dead. And this time, he was never coming back. She shook her head, her vision blurring with tears as she tried to imagine life without the wizard that had helped make her the person she was today.
Pain; keen, sharp pain covered Legolas's features, clouded his eyes, and he shook his head in disbelief. Tears threatened to gather, and Legolas almost let them fall; it might lessen the anguished feeling in his heart. Being almost 3,000 years old did not lessen the grief of losing someone one grew to love. And living an eternity knowing he will never see Gandalf again deepened the heartache. It baffled him how easily life could be taken away, and he struggled to come to grips with the loss of their leader: the one person who kept them together and kept them alive.
Nevada sat herself down on a nearby rock and slowly brought up her damaged knee. It was soaked in blood, along with bits of rock and dirt from the bridge itself, and she could see where her skin was torn and jagged. Grimacing at all the blood, she ripped part of a rag in a long strip and began to blot some of the blood up with one end of it, baring her teeth with the pain. Throughout the process, Nevada kept her thoughts directed on that and nothing else. Viciously, she pushed her thoughts of Gandalf away, in a safe, dark corner of her heart so that she didn't have to think about it. She was used to him going away; he went away all the time, and this was no different. Dying was a natural part of life to the mortals, and she was well acquainted with it herself; there was no need to get emotional now. There was too much to do. When she had wiped away most of the blood and dirt, she found the scrape to be deeper than she had anticipated, and quite ugly. Shrugging it off as just that, a scrape, she wound the long strip around her knee and tied it tight to staunch the flow of blood, hissing as more pain pounded through her leg. She couldn't believe how badly she had hurt herself by merely slipping and falling; it was preposterous.
Aragorn watched their various reactions for a moment longer, then decided it was enough time for now: they could grieve later. Slowly, he stood up, sheathing his sword as he did." Legolas!" he called out. The Elf looked up, his eyes still hazy from memory and grief." Get them up," he ordered. Legolas just stared at the human, unsure if he had heard him right. They were to move...now? He watched Aragorn bend over slightly and talk to Liana. She looked up in a similar daze, but the confusion cleared as he spoke again, his words unheard to the Elf. Liana nodded, wiped her eyes, and stood up to walk over to Merry and Pippin.
Boromir watched Aragorn's back in stunned amazement. How could he be so callous to them now, after they had just lost the most important member of the fellowship?" Give them a moment, for pity's sake!" he pleaded their case, gesturing all around him." Let them grieve!"
" By nightfall, these hills will be swarming with orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlorien. Liana, Legolas, get them up!" Aragorn looked down at Sam, then reached down and grasped the hobbit by his shoulders." On your feet, Sam." He patted him reassuringly on the arm, and Sam nodded, eyes red and puffy from crying.
" Come on, Pippin, get up," Liana encouraged the young hobbit, her voice low and thick with emotion. Pippin's sobs slowed, and he allowed himself to be pulled up by the faerie. She smoothed his curls back from his forehead in an unconscious movement, and let him get up on his own two feet. A slim but strong hand came into view, and pulled Merry up on his feet, as well. Liana stood up slowly and faced Legolas. Their eyes locked, each remembering the other's actions in the midst of Gandalf's death.
" I will not apologize for holding you back," Legolas said quietly, and she stiffened." But I will apologize for the pain it caused you."
" Don't bother," she told him, a little more ice in her tone than she had meant to put. She softened the edge with a slightly bitter," You were only doing what you thought best, no matter how much I didn't agree with it. I'm sorry for hurting your arm," she gestured towards the bleeding nail marks on his left hand.
He nodded, feeling as if their disagreement was still unresolved. As she walked past him, he watched her go, his expression mute. No matter what she said about not holding him accountable, she was still upset with him. He couldn't blame her, but this riff between them grieved him.
Aragorn counted heads, and when he realized they were missing one, he stopped and looked around. When he spotted the figure he was looking for, he shouted for him." Frodo!"
The hobbit stopped walking, nearly slipping on a rock. His chest heaves with the effort to hold his emotions in check. He didn't want to wait; he wanted to get away, as far as he could from this place. Just crawl in a hole and lie there in a miserable ball, alone so he could weep for the loss of the wizard that meant so much to him. Aragorn called his name again, and Frodo turned his head slowly, as if it pained him to do so. He looked back and met Aragorn's gaze, and seeing everyone else's slumped, defeated forms, the lump in his throat cracked, and a tear rolled down his cheek.
Gandalf was dead. And there was nothing Frodo could do about it.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
" We will flee to the fields below and cut across into Lothlorien," Aragorn explained to the silent group. He waited for their nod, then stood up to his full height." Let us go, then, and quickly; we do not want to be caught out in the open when the sun sets." They all got up to follow Aragorn, and Nevada pushed herself up with her arms. She stood up on her good leg, but when she put pressure on her right knee, she gasped at the shooting pain that went up her leg and nearly fell forward. She caught herself by placing a hand on a rock for balance, but her mind was reeling from the agony that caused.
Aragorn noticed her discomfort and walked over." Is your knee bothering you?" he asked her quietly.
Nevada nodded, not trusting herself to speak just yet. She let the pain wash over her, and when it subsided, she hesitantly put her foot down again. A brief spark of pain flitted through her knee at the light touch, and she gritted her teeth." I doubt that I can run." she admitted grudgingly. Aragorn's frown was dark. This would definitely be a problem." Can you put some force on it?" he asked her.
Nevada took a deep breath and stepped with her right foot. It hurt, immensely so, but after a few more steps, it was a little bit less painful." Some."
The ranger sized up the situation, and reaching a decision, nodded." You can use me as a support, and we should be able to make good time. Slower than I wanted, but good time nonetheless."
" I do not need your help, I am sure I will be able to keep up," Nevada retorted angrily.
" Now is not the time to be stubborn, Nevada," Aragorn lectured sternly." You will accept my aide, unless you want to slow down everyone else and put us at risk for attack."
That stung. She glowered at the man, loathing to have to lean on him for support to *run*, for Valar's sake. Slowly, however, she realized that she would not be able to do this on her own, not with her knee acting this terribly, and she nodded reluctantly. He slipped an arm about her waist, and she sighed irritably and put her arm around his neck so she could pull half of her own weight with her left leg.
Once they were secure, Aragorn nodded to the others." Let's go!"
The Fellowship jogged as quickly as they could manage down the mountain, into forest, and through an open field that would eventually lead them into Lorien territory. Nevada gritted her teeth as she hobbled along, keeping a tight arm around Aragorn's neck as he equally supported her with an arm about her waist. Her mind was focused primarily on the pain shooting hotly through her knee, and the forest looming ahead. Once they reached that, she could slow down and stop jogging. The pain wouldn't be as bad then, and she could relax a little bit more. She shot Aragorn a few glances when her eyes weren't trained on the forest, vaguely noting his stern, slightly worried expression. She understood why they were moving as fast as possible through the field; to avoid attacks, but it didn't make her like it. They were all tired,shocked and wearied, and in all honesty, elven realm or no, she couldn't wait to reach it. First agenda when she got there was to get her knee patched up, sit down and rest her screaming muscles, and eat. She chanted the mantra to herself as they jerkily moved across the wide, open field.
The hobbits stumbled along with the rest of them, their minds numb from emotion. Pippin kept his gaze trained on the tall grass he was running through, occasionally looking up to make sure he didn't run into anyone, but otherwisekeeping himself mesmerized with the fleeting patterns of the wild grass underneath his bare, dirty feet. Every time he thought about what had just happened back in Moria, a lump formed in his throat and he choked back tears of guilt and sorrow. When the tears formed, he'd look over to Merry and his concentrated, determined face. Merry's dry and stern eyes gave the young hobbit enough strength to gain control over his emotions and just focus on the running.
It wasn't long before the ragged and worn Fellowship reached the first line of trees that marked the territory of Lothlorien. The moment they broke into the elven queen's land, a strange, abnormal energy hit each member, causing them to slow down and stare at their surroundings in wonder. They forgot about their previous pain for a few brief moments as they took in the alien feeling that coursed through them. The inexplicable force didn't feel safe, but it didn't feel threatening, either; if anything, the energy lapping at their minds in waves could be pinned down to a form of magical sovereignty.
" What madness is this place?" Boromir asked with a hushed tone.
" 'Tis not madness," Aragorn informed him. His eyes still wandered the thin, tall trees with their golden leaves and long limbs. They were large in number, and stretched as far as the eye could see all around them. There were no paths to be seen; only a carpet of lush grass, dirt, and scattered golden leaves." We have reached the realm of Galadriel."
" Elven queen, right?" Nevada asked, briefly wincing when she accidentally put pressure on her foot, which sent bursts of pain through her knee.
" Yes," Aragorn nodded. He continued aiding her with an arm around her waist, which she gratefully accepted as they all continued their walk, though at a much slower pace. The sound of their feet crunching on the leaves on the ground, accompanied by the occasional trill of a songbird, were the only sounds in the wood, which was a little bit unnerving to most. The constant aura from before still felt foreign to each of them, but not resonated with an odd feeling of comfort. They were safe here; nothing could get them.
" A witch," Gimli spurted out, sending Aragorn a dark look. He met it with exasperated tolerance, a look that Gimli chose to ignore." Stay close, young hobbits," Gimli warned anxiously, and motioned for them to gather nearer to him with his hands. Merry and Sam exchanged confused looks, but went along with it quietly, curious at his sudden fear. The wood seemed quite harmless and beautiful to them - what could be so dark about it?
" A great sorceress lives here," Gimli continued ominously, mindful of Aragorn's skeptical look. He knew what he had been told, and that so-called 'queen' was definitely *not* a benefactor as the ranger was making her out to be." An Elf-witch of terrible power. All those who look upon her fall under her spell." Sam felt a shiver run up his spine at the dark words - goodness, if this was true, then their worries would never come to an end! Wasn't Moria enough??" And are never seen again."
Frodo frowned slightly, taking in Gimli's words. He noticed the look Legolas was giving the dwarf out of the corner of his eye, and the disbelieving look in Aragorn's, and he didn't know whom to believe. All the Elves he had met had been kind and beautiful; he couldn't imagine her being a witch. Aragorn wouldn't lead them to Lothlorien if that was the case, anyhow.
*Frodo.*
The hobbit's heart jumped in his throat and he nearly stopped walking. Who said that?!
*Your coming is as the footsteps of doom.*
Who was saying that?! Frodo's blue eyes went wide with confusion and fear, and immediately his hand closed around the ring about his neck. The voice was in his head; a whispering but loud voice that was frightening the wits out of him.
*You bring a great evil here, Ring bearer.*
" Frodo?"
With a slight yelp of surprise, Frodo jumped back and saw Sam's concerned face." What, Sam? You frightened me half to death."
" Sorry," the hobbit apologized." Are you all right?"
" Yeah, you looked odd for a moment. Is everything all right?" As soon as the words came out of Merry's mouth, he realized how foolish they sounded, and Sam realized it, as well. Of course everything wasn't all right; Gandalf had just died. Things wouldn't be all right for quite a while. He regretted his careless words, and worried over what Frodo would say back.
The hobbits surprised him, however, by simply smiling sadly." Just preoccupied thoughts. I'll be fine, Merry; really." Merry nodded reluctantly and gave him a tentative smile back. At least Frodo was speaking more than a few words now, as opposed to before.
Legolas listened quietly to their conversation a few feet away. He looked at Frodo for a moment more, than turned his gaze elsewhere. The realm was certainly a comforting change from their previous location, but he still could not help the feeling of abnormality. He had never been to the Lady's realm before; it was as foreign to him as it might be for the hobbits and faeries. He was a little apprehensive, but that was again outweighed by the comfort of being in an elven realm again. The woods were truly as beautiful as legend told of it, but Legolas was slightly unnerved by the quiet. Where were the Elven patrols of Lothlorien? He knew they had one, and surely they would have spotted the members by now. The absence of Elven life in the area made him uneasy.
A quiet shuffling to his right brought his attention to a slim, shorter figure walking beside him. Liana's head was slightly forward, her eyes taking in a few trees before focusing her gaze slightly downward. Her arms were wrapped loosely around her own waist, and her sword gently hit her thigh with each step. She seemed oblivious to everyone, and only vaguely aware of the scenery. She didn't even bother to move the shorter strands of hair on her cheek, but rather let them be, reluctant to let her arms move from their position of self-comfort.
He briefly forgot his own grief, which was deep enough of its own accord, and took in hers. She looked lost; dejected. He couldn't imagine what it felt like to lose a father figure such as Gandalf was to her. His heart reached out to her as his arm did, which he placed around her shoulders, rubbing gently and moving his hand up to her cheek to touch it reassuringly.
Liana's head straightened and her eyes came back into focus. She turned her head and gazed up at him, eyes unreadable. She watched him for a moment, and when he smiled faintly, one side of her mouth turned up in a halfhearted attempt to return the gesture. It faltered rather quickly, and she just sighed and leaned slightly into his touch for a moment, gladdening his heart at her apparent change of mind.
The elf's keen hearing caught Gimli's next words, and he sent the dwarf a sharp, half amused, half annoyed glance with his comment." Well, this is one dwarf she won't ensnare so easily!"
Right, Legolas thought, humor briefly lighting his gray-blue eyes. His vision strayed from the dwarf to his surroundings, and suddenly he got the feeling of being watched by unfriendly eyes. Suspicious, the Elf's eyes narrowed. He instinctively brought Liana closer with the hand he had on her shoulder, and she gave him an inquisitive look. With the way he was acting, she caught on quickly and tensed.
" I have the eyes of a hawk, and the ears of a fox!"
Gimli's smug comment was brought to a halt with the appearance of an arrow in his face. Startled, Gimli nearly took a step back. He hadn't seen *any* of them coming! What insanity led to this invasion?! He *knew* he was right - these woods were nothing but absolute trouble.
Seconds before, Legolas had heard the familiar sound of arrows being pulled taut on bows, and when he did, he pulled an arrow out of his quiver and notched it tight in an elegant and superbly fast move. Figures stepped out of the trees, and the blonde elf found his target to be another blonde elf. Blinking in surprise, Legolas stared at his opponent with a strange mixture of unease and relief. Relief because there were other elves present, and unease because they were drawing weapons against them. Legolas chanced a glance to either side of him - they were totally surrounded. His gaze turned back to the few Elves in front of them. They had the same discomforted look in their eyes as they looked upon him. It was dark times indeed when Elves would draw weapons against another Elf, and Legolas didn't like it one bit.
The hobbits looked around with alarm, stumbling as they came to a halt. There were Elves and arrows everywhere! Where had they come from? Sam positioned himself near Frodo, and Merry and Pippin bumped backs in an effort to get away from the arrows. They weren't sure if they were supposed to draw weapons against elves or not.
Boromir looked at the cold, unforgiving, beautifully carved faces of the Elves with incredible unease and growing alarm. He had not heard this many of them coming, and it was disturbing to be threatened by a supposedly peaceful race. Their blank, determined stares only made the situation more confusing, and it also made him angry. Did they look to be in any position to pose a threat to them?
Liana instinctively pulled out an arrow of her own, its target being an Elf with dark blonde hair and eyes much like Legolas's. He stared at her from down his nose, and her initial panic and puzzlement turned into anger. What did they think they were doing? And did they really want to do that *now*, with emotions so highly strung? She wasn't exactly expecting a cordial welcome from these people, but she expected something more than being held under at least twenty arrows! She met the elf's stare with fierce determination, showing him her own anger and unwillingness to back down.' Look at me with disdain all you want,' she told him silently,' just remember that I don't care if you are an Elf; if you attack me, as far as I'm considered, you look just like an Orc.'
Aragorn instinctively wrapped a protective arm around Nevada's waist and pulled her closer. Their animosity angered him; here he brought the fellowship to this place to receive comfort and aide, and they were being held at arrowpoint like prisoners. He understood the need for caution, but could they not tell that they were friends, not foes? Nay, he did not appreciate all of them being under siege at all.
Nevada stared dumbly at the tip of the arrow in her face. It registered that they were in danger, but she was hurting so bad and so tired, that all she could do was stand there and take it. She had no hope of drawing a weapon and actually winning; hell, she couldn't walk on her own. Deep down, however, a spark of annoyance flashed - what kind of a threat did they take her to be? Was it really necessary to have an arrow *that* close to her face? ' Elves,' she thought darkly. The tip of the arrow wavered and came a bit closer, and Nevada reared her head back in irritation. She looked up from the arrow and spotted the Elf holding it, matching his glare with her wary one." Would you really shoot me?" she asked with a deadpan tone, and gestured to her busted knee. When he just stared at her, she cocked her head slightly to the right. If she could get a reaction out of this pretentious elf..." If I lunged at you right now, would you shoot me?"
The elf's eyes widened a fraction, then narrowed in irritation. Aragorn turned and glared at Nevada, which she met with her own smug look. The look faltered, however, when Pippin's voice rose up out of pure curiosity." *Could* you lunge at him right now?"
Nevada seethed and glowered down at Pippin, who retreated a step back." That's not the point, Pippin!" she reprimended. In her annoyance, she temporarily forgot about the position of her right knee, and ended up taking a heavy step with that foot. Agonizing pain went through her knee, and she tried not to cringe. She hurt so bad in so many places, this wasn't fair...Nevada looked up and met the Elf's eyes once more." Just do it," she told him in a pain-filled, defeated voice." End it."
" What?!" Aragorn bit out the exclamation and whipped his head around to give her an amazed look. She just shrugged at him, and he shook his head, disgruntled. She was the only person he knew who would say something like that. He wasn't given much time to ponder the sanity of his friend, when one Elf made himself known from the others by stepping forward from the group of silent, blonde warriors.
" A dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark." The words were haughty, and the voice held notes of pride that was obvious to even the hobbits. One of the Elven warriors made himself known from the others by stepping forward and up to the Fellowship. His dark blue eyes were trained on the dwarf, hints of disdain swirling through their depths. He wore a gray uniform like the others, with black leggings, and long blonde hair that swept down to his broad shoulders.
Gimli snarled at the arrogant Elf, using every dwarfish curse he knew in his mind to slander the Elven man.
Nevada took in Haldir's form, from his clothing to the way he held himself, and decided that she did not like this Elf. At all. At the same moment, Haldir's gaze went to her, and a wave of insult swept through her at his incredulous stare. He, in turn, took in her battered form, from the bloodied knee, bandaged arm, cuts and bruises like most everyone in the Fellowship, and the last remnants of a black eye that colored her left eye yellow and pale purple. His expression took on a demeaning 'What happened to *this* one?', before he dismissed her with a look that made Nevada stiffen, and turned to Aragorn.
Yes, she very much hated this Elf.
" Haldir o' Lorien," Aragorn raised his hand to his chest in a formal greeting gesture, and Haldir nodded in acceptance.
Haldir, Nevada thought to herself. I'll have to remember that name.
" Henion anmron, boe ammen i dulu lnn. Boe ammen veriad lnn," Aragorn continued.*
" What?" Nevada whispered in confusion, and Liana and the hobbits wore the same look.' Nice way to keep the rest of us informed, Aragorn,' Nevada snapped in her mind at him, giving him a baleful glare.
" Aragorn, these woods are perilous!" Gimli suddenly shouted out, turning everyone's attention to the dwarf. His eyes shifted from his companions to the Elven warriors, and his lip curled in disdain. He didn't trust them, especially when they held arms against him and his companions." We should go back!"
" You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood," Haldir's vision swept over to Gimli, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly at the dwarf." You cannot go back." The march warden's cold blue eyes paused at Gimli, before turning and stopping at Frodo. The young hobbit looked up and found himself caught in the Elf's gaze. He seemed to stare right through him, and it unnerved him. Did he know he had the Ring? Would he try and take it for this Lady of the Wood, or...Frodo didn't know. But he didn't like being stared at by the strange Elf.
" Come," Haldir finally spoke softly." She is waiting."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Liana stared darkly at the Elven warriors accompanying them along Lothlorien's pathways and trees. They were silent; faces etched in stone, not saying a word to anyone but the faint responses they gave their leader, Haldir. She did not care for his haughtiness, either, and was starting to wonder if coming here had been the best thing. Were there any alternatives to these unfriendly faces that seemed to loathe anyone not of Elven blood? Shaking her head slightly, Liana reminded herself that it wouldn't do good to wonder. They were here, and that was that.
She noted that Frodo looked worried, yet awed at the same time. He had good reason to worry; he didn't know who these people were, or where they were taking him, and it was enough to even make her worry. She related to the certain awe that lit up his blue eyes, for she knew hers did, as well. The area they were in was magnificent, she had to admit - she could stare at the trees and the streams all day. There was constant movement along the trees, as well - falling leaves, birds flitting from branch to branch, and a light breeze going through and ruffling the branches and golden leaves. Yes, her surroundings were a wonderful change of scenery, but it meant nothing if the people inhabiting it turned out to be just as silent and cold as its warriors.
Nevada still used Aragorn as a crutch to walk, and she kept quiet while he spoke to Haldir in the elvish tongue. She didn't look too happy about it, Liana smiled to herself; in fact, she looked ready to smack the expressions off their faces. It was pretty rude to speak in a language ones charge couldn't understand. Nevada's gaze shifted to her friend, and they shared a look. Aragorn laughed quietly at something Haldir said, and Nevada rolled her eyes, making Liana smile. They really needed to learn how to speak Elvish.
The roaring of a body of water became apparent as they walked, and soon everyone was looking for a break in the foliage that would explain the sound. When it came, the companions stared at a racing, dark blue stream at least ten feet wide, with no bridge in sight.
" Where's the bridge?" Nevada asked.
Haldir gave her an unreadable look, and she fought the urge to sneer at him." There is no bridge."
Startled, she gaped at him." What?"
" I believe I spoke clearly the first time," he responded, annoyance in his tone. She glared at his back as he turned back around and whistled; low and long. From across the deep stream, another Elf stepped out of hiding and nodded. Haldir pulled out a coil of gray rope and threw it skillfully across. The other Elf caught it, and proceeded to tie it to the trunk of a slim but strong tree.
" What is he doing?" Merry asked Pippin quietly, who shrugged.
" No bridge?" Nevada asked, still stuck on his first statement. Baffled, she gestured to the large trees behind her." Is there anything else that we can use? A tree, even?"
Haldir turned quickly, his expression horrified. The Elven warriors nearby mirrored it, and she felt like she had said something incredibly stupid. But she was right, dammit! What was wrong with using a tree to get across?
" Nay, we will do nothing of the sort, foolish girl," Haldir told her, teeth clenched in irritation. She bared her teeth at him and fought back a wave of extreme anger at being insulted by this high and mighty Elf.
" Celebrant is already a strong stream here," Haldir informed them after he had calmed down somewhat, shooting a last glare at the upstart faerie standing before him." It runs both swift and deep, and is very cold. We do not set foot in it so far north, unless we must. But in these days of watchfulness we do not make bridges." He gave Nevada another look, and she gave him a dirty one." This is how we must cross." He fastened his end of the rope around another tree, and to everyone's amazement besides a choice few, ran lightly across it.
Nevada felt her mouth drop open, then quickly closed it and merely stared. He expected her to do...that? Glancing down at her knee, she applied some pressure and hissed under her breath. There was no way she would be able to keep her balance on that thing, let alone cross it as fast as he did. She could hardly walk as it was. Folding her arms, Nevada stood there and shook her head, glaring at Haldir's makeshift bridge." Well, I suppose I will walk a ways and try to find another way across. Either that, or I will sit here and wait for you to come back after you're finished speaking with Galadriel."
Her comment elicited various reactions from the fellowship. The hobbits gaped at her, Boromir, Liana, and Legolas looked as if she had lost her mind, and Gimli looked almost cheered by the aspect.' He would,' Nevada thought darkly. Aragorn was one of the ones gaping, until he shook himself out of it and in turn shook her arm slightly.
" Stop talking this nonsense," he told her quietly but firmly." We are not leaving anyone behind."
" I can't-" she began, then, out of slight embarrassment, lowered her voice to a whisper." I can't cross that," she told him. Her expression was a mixture of frustration and desperation." You cannot expect me to cross this stream on a bloody *rope*! I can hardly walk!"
Aragorn nodded slowly. He had taken that into account, as well as the fact that neither him, Boromir, Gimli, nor the hobbits would be able to do it, either.
To the man's surprise, Legolas spoke up." I can walk this path, as can Liana, but the others have not the skill or ability. Surely they would not have to swim..?"
Nevada blinked. Was the elf *defending* her and the others? Another blink. Well, there's a first for everything, isn't there?
" No," Haldir shook his head." We have two more ropes. We'll fasten them above the first; one shoulder high and another half high for the hobbits. If they hold on to these, they should be able to cross the bridge."
The raven-haired faerie's brows furrowed as she envisioned accomplishing this. She would be able to do it, but it would be very hard going. She'd have to pull herself along. While the thought didn't settle well, she realized that she had no other choice; she would have to cross it that way, or not cross at all.
When the ropes had been set, the fellowship proceeded to cross. Some went very cautiously and slowly, others easier and swifter. Of all the hobbits, Pippin was the fastest and most sure of himself, and Sam fought off a sick feeling in his stomach as he watched the water rush beneath his feet, clutching hard on the rope while he slowly pulled himself along. When Nevada's turn came, she placed her uninjured foot on the shaky rope and gripped the one near her shoulder with both hands. Heaving a breath, she clenched the rope tightly in her fingers and half pulled, half dragged herself across. She kept her gaze focused on the other side and the calm faces of Liana and Legolas, and the anxious faces of the hobbits, and tried her best to ignore the restless water underneath and the pain shooting through her knee, so consuming that tears burned in her eyes. If she slipped, that would be it. So Nevada slowly but surely made her way across, and breathed a sigh of relief when her good foot touched solid ground. She let go of the rope and pressed her red hands together, feeling the chafed skin from the rope burn rub uncomfortably together. Looking back to see Aragorn following on the ropes, she limped over to the others and grudgingly accepted Legolas's arm of support.
She caught her breath and looked at Liana, who half smiled at her." That was fun," she told her friend huffingly." Let's *never* do it again."
Liana's smile turned into a grin." No, walking tightropes isn't exactly our kind of fun."
" You got that right."
" You know, they could've made us swim."
" Yeah, and I would've been screaming halfway down the stream into a set of waterfalls, with my luck."
" You and Gimli, maybe a hobbit or two." Legolas made a sound that could have been a laugh, which caused the girls to look over.
" You would think that was funny," Nevada told him irritably." Liana, you really know how to pick them." Liana laughed and opened her mouth to speak, but Haldir spoke instead.
" Now that everyone is across, we shall continue," he informed them." As was agreed, we shall blindfold the eyes of Gimli the Dwarf-"
" What?!" Gimli cut the Elf off sharply." The agreement was made without my consent," he argued justifiably, growing pink in the face with outrage." I will not walk blindfolded like a beggar or prisoner, and I am no spy! I am no more likely to betray you than Legolas, or any other of my companions!" The Dwarf was very nearly shaking with anger, and his hand was straying dangerously close to his axe as he glared at the march warden of Lothlorien.
" I do not doubt you," Haldir said coolly, with only a thread of agitation at the Dwarf's outburst," yet this is our law."
Gimli planted his feet and closed his hand around the heft of his axe." I will go forward free," he growled," or I will go back and seek my own land!"
" Gimli," Pippin said, startled at the Dwarf's willingness to leave them. Surely it wasn't *that* big of a deal, was it? But by the looks on everyone else's faces, it was.
" You cannot go back," Haldir told him sternly. Gimli snarled and drew his axe from his belt, and the Elven warriors pulled taut their own bows, ready to aim at the obstinate Dwarf on command.
" A plague on Dwarves and their stiff necks!" Legolas fairly hissed out, his narrow gray-blue eyes focused on Gimli. While Legolas was not so sure he agreed with the method of blindfolding, he knew there was nothing he could do to sway the march wardens.
A plan had been formulating in Aragorn's mind, and when he reached his decision, he stepped forward, in between Gimli and the Elves." It is hard upon the Dwarf to be singled out," he told Haldir matter-of-factly." Therefore, I propose that we shall all be blindfolded, even Legolas."
Liana looked startled, the hobbits looked crestfallen, and Nevada and Legolas gaped." What?!" Nevada snapped at Aragorn. Some bright idea he had!' Who appointed him leader anyway?!' Nevada thought angrily.
Gimli looked at all their faces and broke into laughter." A merry troop of fools we shall look!" Ignoring the murderous looks he was getting from a few of the members of the fellowship, he continued on." Will Haldir lead us all on a string? But I will be content, as long as Legolas is blindfolded, as well."
Legolas's mouth open, then closed, then opened again. He was thoroughly insulted that Aragorn would suggest they all be blindfolded; an Elf being blindfolded in a territory of Elves! What was he thinking?" I am an Elf and a kinsman here," he explained, clearly aggravated.
" A plague on the stiff necks of Elves," Aragorn murmured rhetorically. Legolas turned his hot, incensed gaze on the human, who only shrugged apologetically." The Company shall all fare alike," he told them, but more so to Legolas." It is only fair. Come, blind our eyes, Haldir!"
" He must've gotten knocked in the head in Moria," Nevada rationalized through gritted teeth." It's the only thing that explains these really dumb ideas that pop into that human's brain."
" Either that or he left his brain in Moria," Liana muttered darkly, not happy at all that she was to be blindfolded and led like a stray puppy through the golden wood of Lothlorien. She wanted to see this place, not be dragged along like a common criminal! Sighing in frustration, she didn't have but another split second to look at glower at Aragorn and the Elves before a white cloth went over her eyes and her world was pitched in blackness.
Nevada went blind, as well, and felt it being tied at the back of her head. A hand closed around her arm, and when she tried to jerk it away, it held fast.
" Relax, young Faerie," a fair Elven voice told her." I am to assist you in walking. Unless you believe you can manage?"
She bit back a sharp retort, and with one quick movement shook her head. She started to walk slowly, and the arm of the Elf kept her steady as they all began their sightless walk through the woods of Lothlorien.
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