A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Especially to Frodo01228 - thank you for getting me moving again.
Sorry about the delays everyone!
Disclaimer: See Prologue.
Chapter 36
What is My Fate?
Gimli stoked the fire out of boredom, watching the orange flames consume the dead wood he had gathered.
It was night in Fangorn, and all were wary.
Aragorn was sharpening his sword expertly, narrowing his eyes every so often to examine the sharpness of the blade. His eyes wandered at intervals to where their wounded companion lay...
Legolas had laid Arodwen upon his cloak after she had fallen asleep, her head resting in his lap as he coaxed her into the waking world for but a few minutes; urging her to drink some water and take at least a little lembas while he cradled her head gently.
Her fever had stayed the same, but a few of her smaller wounds were beginning to heal. But the one deep gash that was poisoned remained open and bleeding slightly; which worried Aragorn.
She was asleep again, and Legolas was laying beside her, propped on one elbow. His free hand was holding one of Arodwen's; caressing it gently in a soothing manner. The mark of Sauron glimmered slightly in the firelight; marring the otherwise peaceful image. But the Prince of Mirkwood seemed not to notice the dooming scar; unaffected by the evil and sinister mark that would have made other elves tense just at the sight of it.
Ice-blue eyes were gazing about the dark forest with mounting unease...
"Something draws near..." Legolas suddenly hissed to Aragorn, sitting up slowly. His hands found his bow and an arrow, and he stood up with care. He posted himself in front of Arodwen, shielding her from view of anyone who came near.
The sounds of someone approaching could be heard; their footsteps somewhat light, and slow. Legolas peered into the darkness as Gimli called out to the intruder.
He could make the faint silhouette of a cloaked figure; somewhat bent, like an old man.
Aragorn called out to him, offering him to come and be near the fire for warmth if he was cold.
'Who is this man...?' Legolas pondered deeply, trying to discern a face from beneath the hood of the man.
Another sound abruptly broke in on Legolas's thoughts...
"The horses!" he cried, wheeling around at the sound of fleeing hooves, "The horses have gone!"
Aragorn turned back to the old man, only to find that he had disappeared.
"It was Saruman..." Growled Gimli. "I will bet on it - the old conniving sorcerer! Legolas - why did you not shoot him?"
Legolas did not answer as he returned to Arodwen's side, kneeling beside her and pressing the back of his hand to her forehead to check her fever.
"Legolas was right in what he did, Gimli." Chastened Aragorn, sheathing his sword. He too returned to his spot on the ground. "We cannot kill an innocent old man."
"But-!"
"Peace friend-Gimli!" Legolas called softly across the camp, "We may yet see him again."
The dwarf grunted in disagreement, but settled down to sleep anyhow.
Legolas looked up at the sound of Gimli's snores filling the camp, a small grin playing on his lips. He saw Aragorn, still awake, and watching the crumbling white logs.
"Rest, mellon nin, for I shall find none this night - I will take vigil, and watch over Arodwen."
Aragorn made to protest, saying he did not truly need the rest, but a single look from the elf silenced his objections.
Legolas watched Arodwen, the steady rise and fall of her chest; shallow, and swift. She seemed to tremble slightly in her sleep; perhaps a nightmare?
He bent to her neck, caressing her neck with a sweet kiss. "Quel kaima, meleth..." (Sleep well, love) he whispered. "Do not dwell on the evil in this world... Sleep in peace..."
Her trembling ceased, and her breaths became deeper. Legolas watched as her eyes opened slowly, and her gaze turned up to face him.
"I heard you..." she said softly, her voice slightly parched. "You made them stay away... Like you did before..."
Legolas smiled down at her, remembering those the first time he had slept beside her to keep her nightmares at bay. Now, he was simply taking in the joy that filled his heart at the sound of her speaking. What fear had been in his heart... Such sorrow... He ne'er wanted to experience such things again.
"They said they killed you..."
He looked sharply at her. Her eyes had glazed over with unshed tears, and her hands were gripping one of his own.
Legolas shook his head, gently easing her into his arms, and cradling her to his chest as he had done before. "I am here..." He urged her head to lay upon his chest, his warm and cautious fingers running through her hair; coaxing the knots loose. "Just ill dreams, penneth. Pay them no heed."
"I did not know what to do..." Arodwen said, liking the feel of his hands combing through her hair. "I was afraid... And I did not want to be frightened - I tried -"
He silenced her with a tender kiss, and whispered, "It is alright to be afraid; everyone feels fear."
"Even you?" Arodwen asked sleepily, sounding more like a child.
To her astonishment, she heard Legolas chuckle in amusement.
"Aye, meleth, especially me," He laughed. "I was afraid too. Afraid of losing you - of failing you."
"You never fail me, Legolas..." she murmured in a far away, dreamy voice. She was half-asleep while speaking to him, after all.
"Very well then, my little optimist," he grinned cheekily, "I am happy to know you feel well enough to speak to me, but you need to rest. You are still very ill."
"Elves don't get ill, silly..." Arodwen said with her eyes closed.
"Silly, am I? Elves can certainly get ill from poison, dear one. And you, are most certainly ill."
"Mhmm..." he heard her mumble incoherently, as his words were of no consequence. He looked down to see her slumped in his arms - out cold from exhaustion and illness.
He chuckled softly despite himself; her oblivious innocence lightening his heart for the first time in days.
Legolas carried Arodwen in his arms, the elleth in a deep healing sleep, as he followed Aragorn through the forest. Her fever had worsened through the night; her skin was washed of color and slightly clammy too. Worry filled the elf as Aragorn's words about her condition rang over in his head; "Herbs can only keep her alive for a while. Unless we can get her to Edoras soon so she can rest and heal, she will die..."
"These tracks are unfamiliar to me... They are enormous, and strange..." Aragorn said from where he knelt beside a great indent in the forest floor.
Gimli was staring around the forest with his axe at the ready; as though a warg was about to jump up from out of the ground.
Legolas let his eyes wander around as well, taking in the darkness and forbidding aura of the trees. "They do not wish us here... They are angry..." Legolas said quietly, shifting Arodwen higher in his arms.
A sudden prickling sensation erupted on the back of the elf's neck... Someone was watching them.
The tree branches above creaked ominously, and Legolas hissed to Aragorn, "Estel, nad no ennas." (something's out there)
Aragorn rose from the ground slowly, his hand drifting casually to the hilt of his sword.
Gimli tightened his grip on his axe; not knowing what the elf had said, but understanding the tenseness that had suddenly fallen on them.
Legolas was far more than tense though. Arodwen was wounded and unconscious in his arms, unable to defend herself, and he had no way to use his weapons without setting her down.
Aragorn caught Legolas's eye, nodding inconspicuously to Arodwen, and then to the tree Legolas was standing near; silently ordering the elf to hide with Arodwen. "Do not let him speak - he will put a spell on us," the ranger whispered, unsheathing his sword a ways out of its sheath.
Then, as man and dwarf whirled around to face their enemy, Legolas dodged behind a tree to shield Arodwen; holding her tightly against him as though he expected a barrage of arrows to pierce him.
When he could hear no signs of battle, he cautiously peered around the tree with a long white knife in hand - ready to face Saruman.
However, when he saw what was there, the knife fell from his grasp and thudded to the leaf-strewn forest floor...
She dreamed of the Eye...
She dreamt of fire, destruction, and death...
She saw the one she loved slain before the Black Gates, calling her name softly as his life left him...
She heard His voice hissing her execrable fate in her ear, mingled with the screams of innocent lives being taken...
"You seek to punish her for my faults...?"
"It is not a question, Aule. I do as I am ordered."
The same visions she had seen in the mirror kept playing in her mind's eye over and over... Of falling from her horse; pierced by arrows... Legolas; shouting her name, pleading with her to not leave him...
What would be her Fate?
Would she perish at the hands of Sauron?
Die in this war?
Or, in an end dealt to her by the Valar...?
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