A/N: Well, it really does seem like I'm apologizing every chapter! Finally, summer has arrived for me, and so I can update a lot more often!!! Wooo!!!! dances around
Orli is in the shower again. He was at the end-of-year party with me, and lets say that he had a little experience with a mud and my friends. =D hears chorus of 'Yo Ho' coming from shower
Yep. I think he's fine!
Disclaimer: I own Fanya. And Larien. And a bunch of other people. Yep... that's it! Tolkien owns the rest of the lot!!
I couldn't decide on a title, so I just chose both. One refers to Fanya, and the other to His Royal Hottness.
Chapter 22: Guard Duty / The Quest Begins
Lego-man POV
"There is no oath taken, no forceful bondage of this fellowship." Elrond's authoritative voice resonated over the nine companions, as well as the elves, dwarves, humans, and Bilbo. They had gathered to see the Fellowship off at the fiery sunset. "Any of you can depart from this mission, save one of your company." He threw a purposeful glance at the Ring bearer. Legolas was lined up beside a stiff-necked Aragorn, who seemed to be telepathically communicating with Arwen, their thoughts entwining into understanding.
"The company awaits the Ringbearer." Gandalf said solemnly. With this sobering statement, Frodo raised his eyes and looked temporarily mortified, as though being the head of a group would surely be his doom; but he collected himself and slowly made his way to the archway. Gandalf followed him, grey robes billowing behind him.
Legolas heard a whisper, "Gandalf, Mordor...is it right or left?" and he heard Gandalf direct him to his left. He chuckled inwardly at the Hobbit's innocence. Boromir was behind Gimli, and as he started to walk, Legolas sauntered forward as well. Aragorn stole a last glance at his beloved before he, too, ambled behind. He did not look back, as though seeing Rivendell another time would change his mind of leaving.
Clang! Clash! Legolas and Larien were sparring; a fiery shower of sparks each catapulting from their gleaming rapiers. Already in less than a month Larien had improved her sword master skills impressively. There still was quite a bit of room for her improvement, although she was quite a match.
Legolas faked right, she moved to block her left side, and Legolas came in on an inside position, where he twirled his knives in his wrists, ducked under her arm skillfully and pressed his blade to her neck from behind her in naught but a second. The expression of surprise on her face was indescribable.
The judge signaled that the match was over, and raised Legolas' arm in victory.
Legolas' fierce eyes scanned the horizon, evening sky rapidly becoming the color of ripe plums. It was his guard during the last shift of the day. All was quiet around him, and he could sense that there was no evil anywhere near them. Pippin was mumbling in his sleep about mushrooms, Aragorn and Gimli were snoring, Gandalf was pretending to be asleep, and Frodo, Sam, and Merry were silent.
It was nearing time when they had to leave, for the sun was rapidly sinking. Legolas was feeling extremely bored, and they were still close to Rivendell...
...He looked for something that would make a loud noise. He spotted Boromir's horn lying on top of his shield and pack next to him. Legolas picked up the horn and, standing right over Gimli, blew into it. Immediately all of the company jumped and awoke. Legolas, who had dropped the horn on Gimli's head when he was finished, was now fifteen feet away and chuckling.
"Legolas! You know better than that!" Aragorn scolded.
"Yes, but it was just so tempting!" Legolas laughed, no longer trying to hold his amusement back and clutching his stomach. "And we're still very close to Rivendell." He added, as if that settled the matter.
Pippin and Merry on the other hand, were completely in awe of Legolas' wake up call. "Wow! We have to try that sometime!" Pippin whispered to Merry.
"You will not!" Gandalf ordered. Pippin's mien dropped immediately and his face sank into an adorable pout. The group began to gather their supplies, and as Legolas was strapping on his quiver to himself, Pippin scooted over without anyone noticing. Legolas bent down and let the hobbit whisper into his ear, "Well, I thought it was funny."
The final match. Legolas was standing in the front row of the crowd. Aragorn and another elf, Intirion, were the finalists. Legolas had lost to Intirion, when he was caught off his guard and was tripped.
Aragorn and Intirion bowed, both staring daggers at each other and not looking away. There was a tense moment, when a bell clanged, and in a sweep of movement both men were fighting.
Aragorn ducked a blow from Intirion's sword and he came in under him, with a quick sweeping movement. He and Intirion sparred for what seemed like hours. They were equal in skill, and many of the elves were intrigued at how the mortal had become that skilled.
Arwen was ecstatic. She was bouncing around and she was wringing her hands nervously, muttering "Don't get hurt...Don't get hurt..." Legolas placed a friendly hand on her arm in comfort.
"He will not be harmed. He is a skilled sword master, and he is exceptional in his defensive abilities." He tried to sooth the nervous she-elf.
Finally, with a sweep of his leg, Aragorn tripped the elf, and pressed the tip of his blade against the elf's heart. The bell was heard again in the distance and Aragorn was the victor.Going onto the mountain of Caradharas was one of the more stupid decisions of Gandalf, according to Legolas. The mountain wasn't friendly to them and the winds were bone chilling, whipping against them without mercy.
He, of course, didn't have to plow through the snow like his other eight companions; probably the more convenient aspects of being an elf.
Suddenly, Legolas caught an evil voice on the air. "Gandalf!" he shouted over the howl of the wind to the wizard, "I hear the voice of the enemy on the wind!"
Gandalf clambered onto hard ground, and attempted to use a counter curse, but the wizardry of the enemy was too powerful. He yelled, "It's Saruman!" to let the rest of the company know who was cursing the mountain. Without warning, snow from above came crashing onto the entire company, covering them over their heads.
Legolas was first to emerge. He gasped for breath and shook away the snow from his face and hair, before clambering out of the mass to help out the others. Gimli, Aragorn, Boromir, and Gandalf emerged, but the Hobbits, being barely tall enough to see over the snow's level at first, required some digging for. Once they were all safe, Aragorn managed to shout to Gandalf over the roaring winds.
"Gandalf, we must turn back!" Aragorn realized that the attempt to go over the mountain was futile.
"No!" Replied the wizard, trying with all his might to keep going forward against the wind.
Boromir voiced the concern of the hobbits, and then suggested that they take the Gap of Rohan then go to Gondor. Legolas perked up a bit at this statement, knowing Fanya was there. He silently prayed that Gandalf would agree... but alas, Gandalf said nothing, but Aragorn refused.
"If we cannot go over the mountain, let us go under it! Let us go through the Mines of Moria." Gimli boldly suggested. Legolas froze, but not because of the cold... he hated being under ground.
Gandalf considered it for a moment, before looking at the Ringbearer. "Let the Ringbearer decide... Frodo?"
Frodo, again, looked shocked that the judgment rested with him. "Let us get off this freezing mountain, and take the route under it. Let us go through the Mines." He stated slowly and unsurely. Gandalf and Legolas sighed, and slowly turned around, leading the company back off the mountain.
"Remind me never to go into a dwarf mine again," Legolas whispered to Aragorn, his discomfort mounting even higher than it had been for the past few hours. They were in the most dark and cavernous cave he had ever seen. The sound of water dripping was everywhere, and it seemed that every turn of the 3-foot pathways brought a creature to attack them. His Elven sight allowed him to see shimmering eyes staring back at him from the gloom, and he did not like being here.
"I'm afraid that I feel the same way, mellonamin." Aragorn whispered back. "I feel a sense of impending doom falling upon us like a veil."
"I can feel it too." Legolas replied. They carried on in silence. Gandalf started to tell the company about a Mithril vest that was given to Bilbo by the dwarves, saying that the hobbit didn't know it's worth: greater than the Shire and all that is in it. Legolas tried to listen to Gandaf's words, yet he could not seem to concentrate on anything at that moment. Bad visions kept on creeping into his head… of all things feared.
…A cave troll coming swiftly in his direction; he strung an arrow into his bow, but an arrow straight into its heart did nothing…
Legolas looked up, startled, having heard a low grunt of something. His breathing started to slow down and his heart stopped pounding against his ribcage. He must just be paranoid and uncomfortable in this place; it was probably nothing… yet he was sure he had heard a noise.
He lay his head down again, trying to calm his nerves. Right now, the rest of the company was sleeping, and Gandalf was on watch, smoking his pipe. He dared not speak. The enormous walls were sure to echo the step of a cockroach. The enormous pillars and high ceilings, all carved out of the mountain, loomed high above him... he could not see where it ended.
"Legolas, what troubles you?" Asked the wizard. As if of a miricle, his voice did not echo. Legolas stood up and walked carefully over the motionless bodies of his companions, to where Gandalf was sitting against a pillar. "I sense an insecurity about you." He continued.
"It is this cave, this world. I cannot seem to adjust to it, Gandalf." Legolas answered, head hanging. "I have been receiving visions of a doom soon to come… I am afraid." He admitted, looking up at the wizard.
"We all suffer fear in this hour, yet there is the strand of courage and hope that we all manage to cling to." Gandalf brought his pipe down from his mouth and blew out three butterflies, which fluttered away and faded into the darkness. "The Ringbearer cannot do this alone, he needs all of our courage as well as his own, though, in the end, it will all come down to him. The most we can do is be strong and show no fear."
Legolas nodded, taking in the meaning of his words. "Thank you, Gandalf...I feel slightly more encouraged now." He stood up again, and this time Gandalf followed suit. "We must be leaving." He told him. "We have rested enough, we must depart from this cave by tomorrow." Slowly, they stepped through their seven companions, gently waking and offering them a little food and water. Eventually, their company set off again.
Fanya POV:
"Your skills amaze me, for starting so late in your life." Orophin complimented as they sparred for the third time in a row. Orophin had won both times, but Fanya was a good match for him.
"Thank you, mellonamin, yet as good as you make me sound, I am sure that there is room for improvement." Fanya told him, swerving a strike that he had thrown at her left side.
"With a few good weeks of night training, I'm sure that you would be good enough to be a patrol of the Galadhrim." Orophin told her, attempting another strike above her head. Fanya blocked it.
"Oh, really?" She hissed, bringing their swords down together in a screech of metal. She knew that she could not win this sparring match with her skill, so she decided that she would try her wit.
"Oh, Orophin... look over there, pretty maiden waving at you!" she teased. Orophin rolled his eyes.
"Fanya, there is no maiden right behind me." He pointed out flatly, after turning around. Fanya was a bit too quick for him, and with the sweep of her foot she brought him onto the ground with a dull thud. She held out her hand to help him up.
"I win." She grinned.
"Yes, you win..." Orophin said, finally defeated. He allowed himself to be pulled up by the she-elf. The rest of the elves started to chuckle at Orophin's defeat, but they were silenced with a glare.
Fanya had now been in Lothlorien for a month. Every other night, she joined Orophin and the others to spar and train. She loved them all very much, and they were quickly becoming good friends of hers.
The only thing that she wished would go away was Haldir.
Haldir POV
I have been infatuated with her since I first saw her at the edge of Lothlorien. She is so beautiful, with her long golden hair, and her smile borders angelic. I'm beginning to think I love her, for every time I see her, my heart skips a beat, and I start to feel almost... floating.
I know that she doesn't return my affection, for I have confronted her about it, and she merely turns away. Why? Am I doing something wrong? Am I not worthy? Is there another? I hope not.
I, Haldir of Lorien, will make her fall in love with me.
Flashback
Fanya hummed to herself as she walked back from dinner. Orophin wasn't with her, because he had gone to join the others with training. She ambled slowly back to the deserted guest quarters. Someone stepped out from behind a tree.
Fanya jumped and shrieked, the person muttered an apology. "Oh, sorry, Haldir. I didn't see you there..." she mumbled. Haldir joined her, walking alongside her silently. "Why weren't you at supper?" she asked after an awkward silence, when Haldir said nothing."I had other things to do…" Haldir replied mysteriously. He stopped. Fanya turned around, and waited for him to come.
"Haldir?" she asked. Haldir stepped up.
He placed a hand on her cheek. "You are beautiful, arwenamin." He whispered. Fanya looked shocked and tried to step backward. "Yes, you are…" Haldir assured. "I noticed it the first time I saw you…" he took a step closer, to where their chests were almost touching. Haldir leant forward and pressed his lips against hers.
What the in Middle Earth is he doing?! Fanya asked herself. She jerked back from his kiss and gave him a good push. He stumbled backward, a look of surprise plastered onto his face. "Haldir, what is wrong with you? What are you doing?" Fanya half-yelled at him. "What might happen if I was belonged to another? What would you say then?"
Haldir muttered something along the lines of an apology to her before standing and running away from her. He seemed almost ashamed at what he had done.
End Flashback
She shivered, and cast the thought of Haldir away from her mind. Just a week ago, he had walked up, and kissed her. She had been on her guard ever since, trying to stay away from the March warden; but he always managed to find her, and tonight was one of those nights.
She heard clapping from the other side of the arena, and she turned around to see her favorite elf. She rolled her eyes, and whispered to Orophin. "Please, please tell your brother to back off..." she asked him. Orophin nodded. He still hadn't learned about exactly who she loved, but he respected her privacy nonetheless. Orophin walked over to his eldest brother, preparing himself to let his brother down slowly, wondering what to say.
"Hello, Haldir." He finally said, giving him a gentle hug.
"Vedui,"(Greetings) he replied, his eyes following Fanya on the other side. She was walking over to talk to Cerimon, who started to help her with her archery skills.
"Listen," Orophin bluntly ordered, getting straight to the point. "She does not love you. I see that you love her; it is obvious. But, my brother, she loves another." Orophin stated slowly, trying to make his sibling see sense.
Haldir froze, his eyes wide and what seemed like his entire existence freezing. "Wh- what?" he stuttered, mortified.
"She loves someone else. She has asked me to tell you to stop following her."
Haldir was dazed. "Thank you for informing me. I will leave now..." Haldir muttered, giving his brother a final nod before disappearing into the forsest. Orophin shrugged at Fanya.
Fanya thanked Orophin. "I believe that I will turn in for the day, for I am tired." She told him. She apologized to Cerimon, but he merely bowed.
"I understand, Fanya. Rest well."
"Would you like me to escort you to your quarters?" Orophin asked her. Fanya nodded.
"I'll be back later, mellonaminie!" (my friends) he called over his shoulder. They continued to spar amongst each other.
"You are getting quite good with your sword, and Cerimon is continuing to teach you well with the bow and arrow." Orophin complimented.
"Thank you," Fanya replied. She didn't feel like talking much, she felt that she had really hurt Haldir's feelings and broken his heart... yet, how could he love her, if he had only met her a month ago?
Legolas POV
"Get behind me!" Gandalf yelled. All four hobbits scurried behind the wizard, as he stood ready for a battle. The hobbits' eyes were wide with fear, and they were clutching their daggers tightly.
One shot, two shots... Two deadly arrows soared through a crack in the wooden doors and into the foreheads of two orcs, let loose by the ranger and the elf. Legolas reached back to whip another arrow out, when the hoard of orcs came storming through the broken door, teeth bared angrily. He heard Pippin squeal and hide behind Merry again, holding his little dagger tightly. Legolas shot arrow after arrow at the creatures and heard them hissing with fatal accuracy, but there were too many... He didn't have enough arrows for all of them!
He finally shot his last arrow into the inky heart of the next orc, and he twirled around his twin blades and sliced the heads off of the nearest two attackers. His blades sung as he defeated one after another...
Soon, probably too soon, the flow of orcs coming through the door lessened greatly, and the company was able to regroup. Aragorn and Legolas yanked arrows out of dead orcs, not bothering to see whether they belonged to them, just stuffing them into their quiver. A loud grunt startled the entire company. Every head turned simultaneously in the direction of the noise.
"Protect Frodo!" Aragorn ordered. Merry, Pippin and Sam stood protectively around Frodo, whose dagger was glowing bright blue. Crashing through the door was an enormous cave troll, followed by more orcs.
Legolas took his bow again and started whipping arrow after arrow out of his quiver and shooting them into the cave troll... but it was no use.
The troll paraded around the tomb, whacking orcs around with its brute strength. His jaw hung, and drool was coming out of the corner of its hideous hole of a mouth. Its gray skin was thick, and the arrows did not seem to do anything to hurt it... they only made him madder. Sam was whacking around orcs with his pan... he was doing quite well with it, knocking them unconscious then sticking his dagger into their hearts. The troll found Frodo and he started backing up against the stone wall, the fear welling up in his eyes like tears. He braced himself for a blow, but Aragorn stepped up between them. The troll waved his arm and it collided with Aragorn's stomach, knocking him back and into the wall. He fell to the floor unmoving and unconscious.
The entire company stopped to watch as the cave troll sneered at Frodo, before impaling him with his mighty spear. A grunt from the poor hobbit echoed around the entire tomb, and Frodo sank to the floor...dead. In a blind rage, the entire company started to hew the orcs. Legolas skillfully scaled a pillar, and leapt onto the troll's shoulders. It could not tell where the light elf had come from and it spun around, trying to find him. But Legolas had already strung two arrows into his bow and he fired them through the head with fatal accuracy.
The enormous creature swaggered, and Legolas leapt off of it, before it collapsed to the ground.
Fanya POV
"Fanya! Fanya!" shouted Orophin, who was tearing through the deserted guest quarters in search of his half-elven friend. "Fanya?" he asked to the dim light. It was dawn, and Fanya was nowhere to be seen.
"I'm over here, Orophin!" she called. She was sitting on a rock with her feet in the spring. Light streaks were piercing their way through the trees in the sunrise. It was nearing mid-january, and the sunrises were early and beautiful. She scooted over and patted the place next to her.
Orophin shook his head, and informed her, "Fanya, I'm in a hurry, but I was wondering if you wished to come to the edge of Lorien with the guard to greet a company of travelers. They are expected within the week." He offered a hand to her, and she stood up.
"It sounds fun. Who are they?"
"I do not know who is with them, but there are rumors that come with them." He said. They started to walk over to where Fanya's bag was. "The rumors are that the One Ring comes with them..." he muttered, as if someone would overhear them.
A memory stirred within her... a company, a ring... where had she heard this before?
"I'll come. Although, it is almost as if you are telling me to come with you..." She winked, showing that she was joking around.
"Well, I guess...but do you know how boring it gets out there?" Orophin sighed, rolling his eyes. "You spend all day sitting in trees and holding your bow tense every time you hear a sound...But I'm glad you are coming." He thanked her.
"When do we leave?"
"Well...I believe that some of the guards set off earlier today, but I trust that we can come late. I know where we will be stationed. Bring your weapons and comfortable clothes... you'll need them." He informed her. "I'll be back in about an hour. Bye!" he said.
"See you later!" she answered. She walked back to the spring and stripped herself of her nightgown. She immediately shivered, for the morning air was crisp. She stepped into the hot spring and bathed herself.
When she was done, she took a cloth and dried herself off. She squeezed water out of her hair and back into the spring. Once her hair wasn't dripping anymore, she walked to her pack, which she had moved closer to the spring, and put her traveling clothes on. The elves had provided her with cloth and sewing needs, so when she had nothing else to do, she sat with other maidens, chatting and sewing. She had made some friends through this little group of about 10 maidens, all whose jobs were to provide tailors with clothes.
They were amazingly fast and worked with perfection. She would see them start a gown in the morning, and finish it by dusk. They had given her a couple beautiful dresses as presents, and they had helped her make some clothing of her own... she was afraid that she would not have any room in her pack to carry everything! Her new traveling clothes were a navy blue tunic, a plain white shirt, and she had made about the same kind of leggings: brown and coming to about halfway up her calf, where her boots covered the rest of her leg. (think capris...)
She slung her quiver over her shoulder, strapped her sword to her waist, and picked up her new Galadrhim bow. Orophin had given it to her when she had beaten him in an archery match a month ago. She loved the way the smooth wood felt on her palm, and it was strung with a strand of Galadriel's hair. The wood was a light color and it was very strong, and didn't break or wear down.
She realized that Orophin wasn't going to come for a while, so she sat back down and started to plait her hair in the slightly more feminine Mirkwood warrior style. It was a fishbone plait down the back with half of her hair, and braids behind her ears. But she added some braids in the other loose parts of her hair around her head. She quietly waited for Orophin to return.
When he did, he was wearing some slightly more fancy clothing, the clothing he wore when he met her. It was a green, almost gray, tunic, which bore the symbol of Lorien. He had the same style breeches, except a bit darker in color. His cloak was the same color, and it had a delicate leaf brooch holding it together. The cloth seemed to change color depending on how the light hit it, and he almost blended in with the environment behind him.
"Like it?" he asked. "It's what we wear when we are on duty, in case a foe is detected. The fabric will hide you from any enemy. Here," he held out a bundle, which Fanya took and unfolded. "This is for you. It is the same cloak that we wear on duty. And this is the brooch." He handed her the same green-jeweled breech. "It will hide you if anybody unwanted will come."
"But why are you giving me this?" Fanya asked. She was slightly astounded at all of this secrecy.
"Haldir sent word. There are orcs at the border of the city. He does not wish anybody harm... and I wanted to give it to you. I had it specially made for you." He smiled.
"Well, thank you," she said, folding the cloak she had on and putting it beside her bag. She unfolded the beautiful Lorien cloak and fastened it on with the pin. The brooch shined when the light hit it and it was very beautiful.
"You look like a Lorien guard, except with your own clothing!" he laughed. "Grab your bow, and let's go to the patrols. We should stop and pack some Lembas as well." He led the way to the flet where an expert cook made all of the meals. Orophin took a few wafers of Lembas bread and wrapped them in leaves, putting them in his own pack. Fanya had left hers with the rest of her clothing.
They both made their way to the guards, talking about Mirkwood again. It was a common subject between the two of them, for Orophin was fascinated with the realm. Fanya promised that she would take him there, and he could stay with her for a while.
Fanya's new cloak was very warm, and though it was a thin fabric it retained heat well. 'Another wonder of Lórien,' Fanya thought to herself.
Hours later, as dusk was approaching, Fanya and Orophin reached their posts. They climbed into the trees, where a talan was hidden well with branches and leaves. They found Rúmil waiting for them.
"There you are!" he sighed. "You could have come earlier! Orophin, take your post over there." He pointed to a large branch overseeing the river Nimrodel. "You know the signal if anyone is coming. Fanya, I am assuming that you are here to help as well, so you will be positioned further down the river. When you climb down this tree, you'll see a tree west of this one with a ladder hanging down from it. Just climb up there, pull the ladder up with you, and wait. The signal is a birdcall. If you see anyone or anything, just use the birdcall. High pitch for an ally, low pitch for an enemy." Rmil instructed.
Fanya had never used a birdcall, so Rúmil showed her how, after spreading the word that he was showing her how to use one, so as nobody would panic. Fanya climbed back down the tree and wandered down the river going west. She spotted a rope ladder hanging down from a tree about 100 yards away from the one she had just left and started to climb. There was nobody in this tree, so she sat alone on the branch after folding up the ladder.
She started to sing softly a song of a maiden who would sit on a branch and watch travelers pass by. After that, she sang the song that went with the first one. It was about how the two met again, and danced in the moonlight.
The wind whispers through the night,
I see you standing there,
Waiting for me silently,
Moonlight weaved in your hair.
Again you take me in your embrace,
You kiss my rosy cheek,
You entwine your nimble fingers in mine,
As we walk beside a creek.
The sound of the rippling water,
Soothes my tightened chest,
It runs throughout my being,
And slowly comes to rest.
The moonlight cracks through the trees,
Its shimmering light downcast,
Its quiet rays beating on your face,
As every night hence past.
Silver eyes scan the surroundings,
Tis nobody in sight,
You wrap your arms around me,
And continue to hold me tight.
I know that there is nothing,
To compare to what I feel,
To feel as if I'm floating,
It's almost ethereal.
"Come, dance with me tonight,"
You whisper into my ear,
You kiss my hand and hold it tight,
And you bring my body near.
Again we dance to music,
That exists for us alone,
The melody is sweet and slow,
For only you and I to know.
As the sun creeps o're the mountain,
You do not let me go,
Water continues to fountain,
In the river, calm and slow.
"My fair night prince, I must depart,"
I whispered into his hair,
"I will wait for our next meeting,
Only well, I hope you fare."
He let go of me finally,
After a night of tight embrace,
He placed a kiss on my lips,
His hands caressed my face.
"My dear and fair night maiden,
I shall not see you soon.
For I depart for my homeland,
At today's high noon."
His eyes were glistening with tears,
As he embraced me one last time,
He whispered, "I will come back for you,
If you wait, you shall be mine."
She finished her song, and dropped back into silence, as a few elves applauded. She laughed softly, before resuming her watch.
"Gandalf, No!!" Frodo cried; eyes widened in fear. "Gandalf!" he cried once more, he flinched, his side still hurting from the cave troll's puncture. Bilbo's chain mail had proved useful enough to save his life. He attempted to get out of Boromir's grip, but the human was holding him tightly- he was way too strong for the little hobbit. Gandalf was facing off the enormous evil demon Balrog, and was charming the bridge, so the creature could not pass.
The Balrog charged blindly forward, and the bridge crumbled. It seemed to be gone for good, but the demon's fiery whip caught the wizard's ankle. Gandalf was forced to the ground and was dragged to the edge of the rapidly collapsing bridge.
"Fly, you fool!" Was all he could manage before he let go... Frodo attempted another charge out of the mortal's arms, but he was unable to. Boromir dragged him out of the cave; the hobbit was kicking and flailing around like a child, trying to get to his lost friend.
The 8 companions broke into the sunshine, and they blinked into the light. Legolas cast his eyes around, looking for a good rock to collapse onto. The entire company was crying... Merry and Pippin were holding onto each other, Boromir had his head in his hands and was weeping; Sam was sitting in quite the same position as Boromir... Frodo wasn't making a sound; his tears were falling down his cheeks, where they would drip off his chin, or pool at the edges of his mouth. Legolas did not cry, but he was feeling the pain inside of him bursting, and he did not know what to do with it, so he started to sing a mournful tune to the company. Aragorn was wiping away tears, though he was a brave man. He called for Frodo to come back to the company, because he had started to wander off…where to? Nobody knew.
"Boromir, get them up." Aragorn ordered. He was taking command of the group, because he was the only one who knew of Gandalf's plans past Moria. "Get up, Sam." He pulled the hobbit up and comforted him with a soft clap on the shoulder.
Legolas stood up, having finished his tune, and he walked to Aragorn. Dirt and grime covered the body of the mortal, and there were streaks of slightly clean skin where the tears had leaked down. The entire company looked like that, actually. He looked for directions from the new company leader. "We depart for Lorien." He stated, looking east into the valley, where Lórien resided. Something arose within Legolas, something happy...as if there was someone there that he wanted to see... but no. Nobody he knew was in Lórien right now, he told himself.
The company slowly made their way down the hills and into the heart of the dale. They came to a river: the river Nimrodel.
"Follow me!" Legolas cried happily as he approached the river. "The water is said to relieve the weary." And indeed, as soon as his feet touched the water, all of his fatigue left him, and he continued onto the other side. He proceeded to sing the Song of Nimrodel, and his voice carried over the company and calmed them.
"That is a beautiful song, Legolas." Frodo complimented.
"There is much more, but I cannot remember it. It is very long and sad, and it speaks of how sorrow fell upon Lothlórien when the dwarves unlocked the evil in the mountain."
"Yes, but they did not make the evil, elf." Gimli haughtily corrected Legolas.
"I did not say that, but the evil came." Legolas sadly said.
The company rested and the Hobbits nearly collapsed. Legolas felt quite guilty telling them to get up, for they had to continue. He felt at home in the trees, much more so than in the cavernous Moria. He felt his spirit lifting, even though the sorrow of Gandalf still dragged his heart down.
He was about to climb into the trees, when a commanding voice shouted, 'Tampa!' He froze, and obeyed.
Fanya kept one eye open as she leant back up against the tree trunk. She had been there for two days, and it was getting more boring by the minute. Orophin had given her a wafer of lembas bread the day before, but other than that, nobody said anything, save for a couple outbursts of songs every once and a while from different elves, and nobody moved, save the rustle of someone shifting position.
A new voice broke into song just as Fanya started to doze. It was a very heavenly voice and it just made her want to fall asleep. She let the elf sing, and gradually her mind started to work... she knew that voice. She sat up straight and peered down to where a company of eight people: two humans, four hobbits, a dwarf, and an elf resided...
She knew that elf.
"Legolas," she murmured. Her heart leapt and started to soar. A smile graced her lips, and she let out a high-pitched birdcall. She did not move, but a restlessness was stirring up inside of her...how she wanted to jump out of that tree and wrap her arms around him...
The company was about to start off... she was sure that she would lose her chance to surprise the elf. She lightly and silently climbed down the tree, and pulled an arrow out of her quiver and notched it into her bowstring...
She leapt onto the ground and pulled the string taught, holding the arrow an inch away from between the elf's eyes.
"Tampa!" she ordered the rest of the company. She let down the bow and replaced the arrow into her quiver. The entire group was shocked out of speech and she smirked as three elves appeared behind her.
The whole time, Legolas was staring directly into her eyes, and finally finding his voice he croaked, "Fanya?"
A/N: evil cackle Yep. Me and those cliffhangers! I shall retain you no longer from your beautiful review responses now!! (I got fifteen this time!!)
Harmony99: Oh, it's great to see you reviewing!! I'm glad that you still like the story!! Thanks for the review!
Loveroflegolas: I know what's eating Haldir!! jumps around being authoress... and now you know! I hope I made his little crush semi-realistic... =D Well, thanks for the review! (and I'm an Oro-fan too!! =D )
Elvenpirate: Sure I can have Orlando Bloom! He's in the shower right now! Watches as steam drifts out of the bathroom and into the rest of house. Thanks for the review and the compliment!
Shivvers: You rock the E.M.'s mellon nin!! Thanks a bunchles for betaing this time! (you may be assigned another chapter soon!!! =D) C U in the Mists!!
Elizabeth: Oh wow! I loved your review! Thanks for noticing that I have gotten better...its slightly scary to think that I've gotten a lot more advanced in writing since last August!! Your review brightened my day, thankies!! (I may just have to send you an email too... ponders) Thanks again!!
Will Turners-little-stalker: I got 10! I even got fifteen! Woo! passes cookie to Orli Thanks for the review!! (I like your penname, btw!!)
Idget2301: I agree with you totally. high fives. Go you. You rock. You're totally on my good list now!! Thanks for the review, and I think that all people need to think like us for the world to go 'round!! high fives again
Riako: Thanks for the note! Sorry I didn't do the tournament the way you asked, but I found I'm not that good with battle scenes (much better with romance!), so I chucked that idea and went for the whole flashback deal! Well, hope you liked it!! Thanks for the review!
Merlinsmagic: Glad that you found this one to read! Hope you enjoyed it!!
Scorchio: thanks for the FIVE reviews! I hope that you have read more, because I liked all the reviews! grins Thanks again!!
A/N: And those are all...I may have to raise the bar for this chappy, just because I can! I demand... hmm...13 reviews sounds nice! Although 21 would be fun, because that would break the 200's! Woo! (I've got 180 reviews...cheers).
Random bit of the day: Never let people pluck your eyebrows for you! shivers.
I'll leave you to push the button and write a pretty comment for my email inbox, because if you don't leave a comment, then Orli will be locked in the shower forever, and he'll get all pruny!! So save Orli! Review!!!! ReVieW!!!! rEvIEw!!!
Super thankies to: Shivvers and Ardonelle (well, 'Drunk on Diet Coca-Cola', I believe she is now) =D I'm working on the next chapter, you guys!!
The Hobbit Ivy
May 24, 2004, 5:08 PM
