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Chapter 39
Deep Sleep
The battle of Helm's Deep had changed many; some physically, and almost all mentally.
Legolas had watched the enemy cut down and murder mere children before his eyes. The pain in his heart was great, but none could see it save for those who knew him well. Aragorn and Gimli did their best to keep the elf distracted from thoughts of Arodwen, and of the horrors they all had seen.
"We ride for the Fords of Isen!" Mithrandir declared from atop Shadowfax. The snow-white stallion tossed his head eagerly.
Legolas looked up at the wizard's words, a slow anger beginning to flare from within him at the thought of Grima and Saruman.
Aragorn could see the sudden rigidness in his friend's stature, and said, "Calm yourself, Legolas. Do not give way to the flaws of men and let your anger rule your head."
The prince did not answer the future king of men, but mounted Arod stiffly, and pulled Gimli up behind him. The dwarf and man exchanged mutual looks of exasperation, but said naught.
Isengard was flooded with water, debris, and Eru-knows what else.
They were met by their two missing hobbits at the entrance to the wasteland, who wasted no time in bombarding them with questions and tales of their own. When the two saw that Legolas did not ride with Arodwen, and nor was she with anyone else, they grew worried.
Legolas was glad to see his little companions again, but his eyes were ever drawn to the black tower, where he knew Arodwen was somewhere inside. Gandalf, Theoden, Aragorn, Gimli, and himself climbed the stairs to the doors of Orthanc to treat with the vile Saruman.
Gandalf beat on the door with his staff, which made a low and hollow sound as he called out, "Saruman! Saruman, come forth!"
The sound of a window opening could be heard, and a familiar timid voice entreated, "Who calls?"
Legolas's eyes burned with ire, and he made to draw his bow as he recalled the sound of that voice.
But Gandalf commanded, "Stay your bow Legolas!"
Legolas would not have had the strength to lower his weapon if Mithrandir had not forced him to do so. His breathing was harsh, and his eyes were still glowing with fury.
Mithrandir turned back to the window high above, and called, "Fetch and fetch your master since you have become his footman, Grima Wormtongue! And do not waste our time!"
Gimli looked to his elvish comrade, and saw that his knuckles were white against the wood of his bow.
They waited, and soon they heard another voice. It was low, melodious, and enchanted, and lulled them into a false sense of secureness. Those without sharp wit and mind were entranced and lost all thought of purpose and goodness.
The beguiling voice swarmed around Legolas's mind, muddling his thoughts like his father's rich wine. Gandalf did not need to fight against the wizard's voice, but Theoden, Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas sorely had to.
"But come now, two of you at least I know by face. Gandalf I know too well to have much hope he seeks help or counsel... But Theoden, son of Thengel, why have you come? And why not before and as a friend?"
The words of Saruman fell thickly upon the ears of men, and some soldiers began to stir and murmur in agreement with Saruman's words as he continued on. They even began to doubt their own king, and the wizard.
"The words of this wizard are treacherous!" growled Gimli, his hands gripping firmly to his axe, "In the tongue of Orthanc, help means ruin and saving means slaying! That is plain!"
Saruman's eyes lost their light, and his voice became less suave. "I did not speak to you, Gimli, son of Gloin. Far away is your home and small concern of yours are the troubles of this land."
Legolas could not now allow himself to be silent while all around men were being entranced and his friends abashed. In a clear strong voice, he called, "Saruman your evil is at its end! Your spells have no sway over us! Foreswear your staff, the keys of Orthanc, and Lady Arodwen, or your life shall be forfeit!"
To the riders, the sound of the high laughter from above was like that of waking to a crow's call.
"You care not for my staff or a fortress, Prince of Mirkwood, but only for your wench!" Saruman jeered, and Legolas was quick to notch his arrow, poised to release. "What expense she will be to you now, I know not!"
Legolas's grip dramatically slackened in fear, and he called out hoarsely, "I swear by Eru, wizard, if you have harmed her - !"
"Be silent elfling! You will find another elleth to warm your bed, for this one is of no use to you! Go back to your father's halls for you have failed her!"
"I shall never yield to you wizard! Where is she!"
"Legolas," Gandalf began to admonish, but his warnings were in vain to the elf, who turned him a deaf ear. "Saruman! Your staff is broken!"
There was a great CRACK, as the great black staff of the wizard of Orthanc was destroyed utterly, and was less than even splinters.
Apparently in retaliation, Grima hurled something over the edge of the balcony, missing everyone by a dreadful distance, but apparently causing Saruman a great deal of rage. For the wizard yelled such a cacophony of curses in his anger.
As the hobbit, Pippin, clambered off the horse he shared to retrieve the object, Legolas bolted past the doors, heedless of the shout of Mithrandir.
Up black stairs he ran, faster than he had even when in pursuit of Merry, Pippin, and Arodwen. His heart hammered in his chest, and his breathing came harsh to his ears.
"Arodwen!" He yelled, his voice echoing off the solid stone walls that surrounded him. Looking around in desperation for her, he called out again, "Arodwen! Answer me! Please!"
"Legolas!"
The elf spun on the spot to see Aragorn and Gandalf at the top of the stairs, walking briskly toward him.
Mithrandir's staff made dull reverberating thumps as he hurried along, saying, "He would not keep her around here, Legolas. Come now, follow one who knows the path he walks!" Gandalf's eyes were stern yet filled with a worry that was not dissimilar to Legolas's own.
Both ranger and elf followed on the heels of the wizard, Legolas struggling to sprint ahead of the wizard and continue the search on his own.
Gandalf soon stopped before a set of far grander doors, and opened them with a large bang from his staff.
Aragorn rushed inside with his hand half drawing his sword, Legolas with a knife in hand.
The ranger's grey eyes fell upon a black dais somewhat in the center of the circular obsidian like room. Upon it, was their quarry; pale, much too thin, without wounds, but seemingly lifeless.
His eyes moved to see what Legolas looked like, and wished he hadn't. The emotionless facade was gone, to reveal a tortured and broken elf who was at his lowest point.
When the elf made to move forward, Mithrandir's hand shot out to hold him back, "Legolas, no,"
The Prince merely removed the hand of the wizard as though it were nothing but a leaf that had fallen upon his shoulder, and continued to walk toward Arodwen.
His dull blue eyes gazed up and down her unmoving body till they rested upon her pale face, blank of emotions. Her eyes were closed as if in slumber, and her lips were pulled into a frown. He let the long knife slip through his grasp and fall to the black floor with an echoing clang that he ignored.
Closer he stepped, until his feet hit the dais. Never once now moving his eyes from her face he knelt beside the ambo with his hands resting upon the edge.
Aragorn made to move forward, but Gandalf gripped his shoulder, his eyes showing the pity he felt for the elf. The old wizard shook his head sadly, "Let him be..."
Legolas slowly reached out a hand, enclosing one of her own within it. It was warm. She was alive...
"Arodwen..." he called in a soft, pleading voice. To which she did not stir or move the slightest. "Arodwen," Legolas said more firmly, gripping her hand gently when he did so.
"Legolas wait," Gandalf said sternly, going forward to pry the elf from his beloved elleth.
But Legolas would have none of it. He stood up, gazing down at her with intensifying worry, "Arodwen! Arodwen, wake up!" He gripped her shoulders, shaking her slightly to make her open her eyes. But still, the elleth did not respond. "Arodwen please! Wake up! It's Legolas!"
"Legolas stop!" Mithrandir demanded, pulling the elf with surprising strength away from the dais, and looking at him squarely in the eye. "You cannot wake her, Legolas."
"Then who can! Why won't she wake?" Legolas asked furiously, fighting to return to her side. He wanted to hold her, see her eyes, make her wake up and smile...
Gandalf was not about to let him go, "She has to leave, Legolas."
"That's what I want to do! I want to take her away! To Rivendell, or Lorien!" Legolas exclaimed, his eyes wide with panic.
"No, Legolas. She will not wake up whilst here in Middle Earth. She has to leave."
The prince stopped fighting, and unwillingly let the words the wizard was telling him sink in. As he understood, he shook his head frantically. "No - No! We can heal her here! She doesn't have to go!"
"Legolas, if we do not, she will never wake up. Ever again."
I am sorry that I always seem to leave you off with a cliffie, but I guess that's just how it goes. I need lots of reviews in order to get the next chapter up - Legolas says so. And I can't say no to my favorite elf (who just so happens to be the sexiest). Lol. PLEASE REVIEW! Where is Arodwen going to go? Hmm?
