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Chapter 38
The News
Legolas looked to be on the verge of a complete nervous collapse.
The elf had scoured the entire city of Edoras for Arodwen, and had yet to find her. He had barely turned his back to her for but a few minutes! How could she have vanished? She was too weak to sneak off; even if she had wanted to.
Legolas let his head fall onto the wooden table that he sat at in the Golden Hall, with his head buried in one arm. He had failed her...
Horrible scenarios raced through his mind of where she could be; and what she may be enduring. It made his heart ache to think of it...
And it was all his fault.
"Can I do nothing right?" he gritted out, his eyes clenched tight as though he was in pain.
"You have done many things right, my friend," came a stern yet consoling voice, drawing nearer to the elf. "We will find her. Do not lose what hope we have left." He laid a hand on Legolas's shoulder, and gripped it in reassurance, but the elf was so numb that he barely felt his friend.
"My Lords!"
Aragorn and Legolas both looked around to the captain coming toward them, as well as an angered Theoden.
"Aye?" Asked Aragorn, wondering what more could've gone wrong.
Legolas rose from the table, attempting to pull the guise of emotionlessness over his features.
"Grima is nowhere to be found," Theoden said, his voice shaking with carefully controlled choler as he explained, "We believe that he may have taken your companion captive with him."
Aragorn looked to Legolas, only to see him stagger backward, his legs hitting the bench behind him where he collapsed onto it. He buried his face in a shaking hand...
"We are marching to Helm's Deep. Your presence would be most welcomed if you decide to join us. I understand if you will not. The horses given to you by my sister-son, Eomer, are yours to use at your will."
Legolas did not say anything, too overcome with his emotions to speak. As he forced his grief down, Aragorn answered, "We do not yet know our path."
Theoden continued to watch the elf before him, wondering who this woman was that caused this First Born so much grief...
Grima kept Arodwen unconscious through the entire journey to Orthanc.
The servant of Saruman watched the fair elf as she slept less than fitfully, his beady black eyes skimming over her seemingly perfect form; her fair dark gold hair, smooth light skin, pale pink lips... Everything about her was fair. None in Rohan could compare to her, save the White Lady. But the Lady Eówyn was far from his grasp now...
"You've done well for a worm Grima," Saruman told his pallid servant as he surveyed the unconscious elf lying before him. "Despite our loss of Rohan, we still walk away with a meaningful prize."
The White Wizard healed the elleth's wounds in moments, smiling maliciously at the rare jewel of A྄le. "What fools those Valar are..." He mocked, bringing his obsidian staff closer to his side. "Creating such a thing they know will be coveted by all..."
Saruman lifted a strand of her hair, disgusted at the feel of the silkiness of it in his hands.
"My leige," Grima began hesitantly.
"What!" Saruman snapped back at the incompetent servant, glaring at him.
"There were three others, my lord, that traveled with the wizard..."
"Speak then!"
Grima shuffled a little, looking to Arodwen's unconscious form, and back to the pitiless eyes of his master. "An elf, a man, and a dwarf."
"They are of no consequence." Saruman continued to glare at his captive, before snapping around. "The man, who was he? Was he from Gondor?"
Grima shook his head, wringing his hands. "No, I do not think so... His cloth was poor; one of the Dunadan rangers I thought he was... And yet, he bore a strange ring."
Saruman knew now what Grima spoke of, and the barest feeling of distress entered his mind.
"As I said, they are of no consequence..." He continued, turning back around.
"But my lord, the elf!" Continued Grima, hastening forward.
"What of him?"
"I believe that he is her lover, my lord," Grima said.
"Therefore? Do you honestly think that one elf will come gallivanting to Orthanc to save her? Grima, you are more of a fool than I thought," Saruman jeered.
Biting back a retort that would've cost him his life, Grima said, "He wasn't some common elf. His garb and weapons were that of a skilled and noble warrior. Part of the Fellowship, I believe he was."
"Then he is Thranduil's brat; Legolas," Saruman revealed, his evil grin back in place. "What a pity," he mocked, "The poor prince may die of heartbreak, and leave Thranduil without an heir. The Northern Kingdom of Elves will soon cease to exist Grima..."
Grima was silent, watching the shallow rise and fall of Arodwen's chest. "What are we to do with the elleth?"
"Sauron has desired to have her for quite some time. We will keep her here, until the war is over." Saruman took his staff in hand, and raised it over the body of the elf, "She won't know what is happening around her, for she shall be wandering alone in her darkest nightmares; her worst fears becoming a seeming reality..."
Well, there it is. I can't believe we're almost to forty chapters! Sorry about the shortness of this one, but I know some of you (points finger at Frodo01228) were getting anxious. I'm really really busy right now with Driver's Ed (the teacher is a nightmare!), a pageant, school work, and trying to keep the remnants of my friends together. But, that's life for ya'. PLEASE REVIEW! The more reviews, the quicker the update!
