~Where Paths Meet Again~
The sun had just set as Legolas walked beside Aragorn, into the King's now dim hall. He was greeted by music and familiar laughter, and for the first time in centuries, he felt a sense of coming home.
Settled in a haphazard circle, beside a low fire in the open hearth which took pride of place in the center of the hall, chairs and rugs had been placed around and strewn upon them sat or lay: Gimli, Merry, Elladen, Elrohir, Éomer, Éowyn, Taurorn and Aerlaer.
Firelight played warmly on their faces as they laughed and talked quietly. Platers of food and drink lay about them and the small group were casually picking at, while Taurorn strummed a tune upon the cithara which he could just recall Merry had been playing the night before.
The small group realized they were now not alone and eight sets of eyes turned to he and Aragorn. He saw relief in Gimli, Merry and Éomer's and even Éowyn's eyes, and friendly greeting in those of the twins and Taurorn. Aerlaer, however, looked annoyed as she eyed him coolly.
"I can't believe you both went off for a merry gallop without me." She said flatly.
"I'm sorry Aerlaer, we tried to find you but your whereabouts was a bit of a mystery." Aragorn replied smoothly and shrugged apologetically.
"Tis true lass, Legolas was searching for you the moment he left his chamber's to ask you to go with them." Gimli added. So Gimli knew he had run off…
"Come to think of it, you said Legolas was looking for Aerlaer around midday too, didn't you Éowyn?" The Dwarf added and Aerlaer looked to the young blonde woman to see her nod. She must have known too. Legolas was unsure how to feel about that, but clearly they had pre devised a cover story of sorts, and Aerlaer knew no different. For that, he was grateful. He turned to Aragorn and quietly mouthed a thank-you to the Ranger who acknowledged it with a minute nod.
"Well didn't you get my note this morning?" Aerlaer asked sulkily and Legolas laughed.
"I did but you didn't write down where you were!"
"I was out there! How could you not find me?" Aerlaer replied in exasperation as she waved her hand gracefully towards the direction of the viewing platform.
"Sorry, I didn't see you there." He replied nonchalantly. It is not a lie, I did not see her, only heard her voice. He deviously consoled himself.
"Next time, I shall draw you a map." She grumbled and Elrohir and Taurorn laughed at her expense.
"Come, sit down and join us. There's plenty of food and drink." Éowyn beckoned kindly. Aragorn smiled, seating himself on the one remaining bench space, next to Éowyn. Legolas found himself sinking down on a rug beside Elrohir, leaning against the other end of the bench Gimli sat upon with Éomer facing across from Merry and Aerlaer, who was also resting on a rug, her back against a bench which Taurorn and Elladen sat upon.
He stretched his legs out in front of him aware his right leg was mere inches from where Aerlaer had her legs stretched out and delicately crossed at her ankles and drew his right leg back up towards him and rested his arm on it. Aerlaer seemed to have forgiven him and Aragorn for their 'ride out', without her, and placed a platter of assorted fruits and nuts between them so he could reach the food.
Casually she took a small apple and nibbled quietly on it. The hall had little light in it save for a couple candelabras and the warm glow of the fire. He watched as it flickered, warmly lighting the elleth's hair and making her eyes look more indigo. Could I tell her? Would she see me as more than a friend? He realized she was watching him from behind her apple and he quickly dropped his eyes and picked up an apple himself and hastily took a bite out of it.
"I'm surprised you are eating those so soon." Éomer chuckled, along with Taurorn. Aerlaer had a glint of mischief in her eyes as she watched him take another bite.
"What can I say? Despite you trying to poison me last night, I still favor apples above all fruits." He turned his head to grin up to the horseman. "And they really are quite irresistible when you add something as glorious as hazelnuts with them." He added as he picked up a handful of the round nuts and threw one in the air. Catching it in his mouth, and giving a satisfying crunch, the flavors burst in his mouth.
The others chuckled around him but he did not hear Aerlaer's laughter amongst them and looked to her. The elleth was staring at him as if she had seen a ghost. He looked at her questioning as he took another bite of his apple and she seemed to recover herself and a smirk replaced her spooked appearance.
"Nice party trick." She quipped and he grinned at her although in the back of his mind he wondered what had worried her. Maybe she thought I was going to choke. He thought, bemused. Yes, that must be it.
"Now we are all finally together, save for Pippin who already knows, you can finally tell us what transpired when you were taken by those filthy Orcs." Gimli said to Merry.
"Yes, I will gladly tell you and then maybe you can tell me a little of the adventures you have had." Merry replied and received eager nods from the small group.
...
Merry took a deep breath. So much had happened between being taken from the Fellowship and then meeting up with them again.
"Well, we discovered those Uraks do not sleep, for they carried Pip and I for many hours at a swift pace over many different terrains. At some point on the first night, they ran into different Orcs and there was a disagreement, although we do not know of what.
We did learn that we were not being taken to Sauron like we had first thought but instead to Saruman, but luckily for us, he had ordered our captors to not harm us. Pippin managed to pull off his leaf brooch from his cloak, we hoped if you were all perhaps tracking us, it would help.
We tried to escape at the same time, under the veil of darkness, but the Uraks were too watchful of us and after that first attempt, watched us even more warily. Eventually, but I guess quite quickly really, we came near to a great wood and there, the Uraks were intercepted by horseman during the night.
I now know that it was Lord Éomer and his men who enabled our escape." Merry sent a grateful smile to the man sitting across from him, and the man nodded his head in return.
"We crawled and crept away and once we had cut the ropes which bound us, we raced away as fast as our legs would carry us towards the not so far away forest.
An Orc chassed us, and followed us under the trees. We quickly climbed up a tall tree to get away from the horrible creature's grabbing hands and blade. Then there was a scream and the Orc had been killed by a tree. A tree!" Merry shook his head still amazed by the memory of it.
"Then the tree we had taken refuge in began to move and to speak! We tried to scramble back down and the tree started talking and thought we were Orcs too! Pippin and I managed to convince him we were harmless Hobbits and he agreed not to kill us. We learned his name was Treebeard and he was an Ent, but he still was not sure of us, and holding us hostage in his branches, he told us he was going to take us to the white Wizard!
We of course thought it was Saruman he spoke of but to our delight it was Gandalf, returned to us. Gandalf told us of what had happened with Frodo and Sam, and then he said he was off to go and see Aragorn and his company. We were overjoyed to hear you were well.
We stayed with Treebeard safely in the forest and learnt many things from him. Did you know there are Entwives? But none of the Ents know where they have gone. Anyway, we convinced Treebeard to move closer to Isengard, and there he realised Saruman and his army had destroyed and burned much of the trees there.
Treebeard was furious and summoned all the Ents and they sieged Isengard. Then you all arrived and sorted out Saruman and we came back here." Merry finished and took a drink from the tankard of ale by his side.
"Well, you have certainly had quite the adventure." Gimli rumbled. "I dare say, save for our time spent here, your time away from us with the Ents must have been of comfort and safety, although I do not envy you, young Hobbit, being held captive by those filth, Urak. I am glad to say, Urak will not bother another member of our Fellowship again." Gimli added firmly.
"Saruman said something about wanting you dead Aerlaer, did that have something too to do with the Uraks?" Merry asked, remembering now the anger of the Wizard before he had fallen. He turned and looked up to the she-Elf beside him.
"Yes, I think Gimli maybe can tell you of it and of anything else if he wishes for I believe he saw more than I." She laughed lightly and Merry noticed Legolas quickly look at her, worry upon the wood-Elf's face. It made Merry wonder at what Aerlaer meant, as she either chose to ignore Legolas's gaze, or did not see it as she instead looked to Gimli, who nodded before clearing his throat.
"Twas a bad business at the deep. Saruman sent the full force of his army to us and during the night, it was five hundred against ten thousand. They had put plan into their siege and blew up the main wall.
Aragorn, Aerlaer and I got caught in the explosion and fell from the wall. None of us knew, but Aerlaer was blinded by it. I saw her slay down an Orc myself and never would I have picked she couldn't see it.
We all got caught up in the fighting and a short while after, I saw those bloodthirsty Uraks had both Aerlaer and Legolas. I was closer to the lad and managed to take down one of the Urak, that had him in its grip. It was all I had to do, Legolas slayed the remaining Urak-Hai with such menacing ferocity, some of the Orcs around us backed off!
He then led Aerlaer, who was still blinded by the explosion, back to the keep, fighting off every Urak that came too close or got in his way. The lass was able to heal herself and went straight back out to fight again by his side. Aragorn and I fought off Orcs at the gate, and the Elves got us out of there in the nick of time before the gate collapsed. I then had the honor of blowing the great horn of Hammerhand, while the King and remaining riders charged the enemy from the gates, to give the woman and children a chance to flee.
As dawn spilled over the rise of the deep, Éomer's riders arrived with Gandalf and the remaining Orcs fled to Fangorn, where I've been told the trees dealt with them, I imagine in the same fashion they dealt with the Orc which followed you.
After the fallen were buried, we rode to Isengard and that is where our stories join again." Gimli finished his retelling and Merry and the others sat in silence, contemplating all that had been said.
"I didn't know that, little cousin. I hope you are truly well now." Elladen said quietly, placing a hand gently on Aerlaer's shoulder and Merry looked up to the she-Elf beside him, just in time to see a wild look flicker through her eyes and then it was gone. From the way Legolas was looking at her too, eyes searching hers, he realised the blonde Elf had also seen it.
"We owe you thanks, Legolas." Elrohir said gratefully to Legolas, and Merry noticed he looked uncomfortable by the situation. There must be more to this story. He realised sadly.
"Gimli was also there, and if it were not for him, I could not have done anything..." He trailed off quietly and looked towards the Dwarf who merely shook his head.
"Bah, I merely assisted in freeing you, you saved the lass." Gimli insisted and Merry saw how Legolas shrugged, his eyes downcast. His gaze lifted only when Aerlaer nudged his boot with her bare foot.
For a long moment, they seemed to lock eyes, and Merry wondered what Aerlaer tried to convey to him without words, for the way Legolas gazed intensely back. It was almost uncomfortable, and to Merry's relief, Gimli broke the heavy silence which had fallen.
"Oh, I forgot to mention the little wager the laddy, lass and I had going." Gimli smirked and Merry looked at him curiously, as did the others.
"What was that?"
"Who could slay the most Orcs, a head count." He chuckled
"Who won?" Elrohir asked eagerly, a grin forming on his face.
"Aerlaer and I drew even by one Orc to Legolas." Gimli replied smugly and Merry swore the Dwarf's chest puffed out a little bit. Elladen and Elrohir burst into laughter and Elrohir nudged Legolas in the ribs.
"Oh, not only beaten by a Dwarf but by Aerlaer too!" He chortled. "Oh Legolas, the shame you bring upon your lineage."
"Yes, yes, no need to point it out." Legolas replied frostily, brows furrowed in annoyance.
"Not quite as bad as the great secret he spilled last night about the mighty Thranduil!" Elladen quipped and received an icy glare from the wood-Elf.
"What have I don't to deserve such a mocking?" Legolas tipped his head up and asked the ceiling to which Aerlaer laughed and so too did Merry, glad they were all cheery once more.
…
"Shall we sing again?" Merry asked the small group and received a questioning look from Aragorn and Legolas. "Before you both arrived we had been playing with the cithara. Elrohir, Taurorn and Aerlaer are quite good at playing it." He grinned.
"That is the instrument you were playing last night is it not?" Legolas asked and he nodded and Taurorn handed it across to Legolas so he could look at it.
"I am surprised you remember Merry playing it." Aragorn laughed quietly.
"I barely do. Last night was truly a blur after a certain point." He replied to the snickers of Elladen and Elrohir.
"I remember you two dancing like fools." He quipped at them as he experimentally strummed at the strings on the instrument.
"Well at least we weren't spinning around the hall like a mad thing. Elrohir retorted indignantly. "Honestly who dances that quickly?" the dark-haired Elf asked in bafflement.
"Sinda, from the Greenwood do." Legolas smirked to the Elf beside him and nudged him. "Couldn't you sluggard Noldor keep up?" He teased and Elrohir smirked back at him.
"If you weren't so drunk you might have remembered that your dance partner kept up splendidly." Elrohir quipped and Legolas shrugged, feeling a little saddened he could not quite remember dancing with Aerlaer.
"Well then, I'll just have to convince said, splendid dance partner to dance we me again another time so I remember it." He replied looking across to Aerlaer with a smirk. She grinned back at him. Satisfied he had outdone Elrohir, and cheered he would hopefully dance again with Aerlaer in the future, he went back to playing around with the cithara, strumming at the strings.
"It is much like a lute, but the sound is not so sweet, yet it is pleasant to the ear." He mused and after trying each string to see what type of note it would give him, he tried to strum a part of a song and found the instrument responded beautifully. He eesclosed his eyes and unthinkingly began to sing softly.
"I've been out on the ocean,
Sailing along, travelling nowhere.
You've been running on hard ground,
With just you around, your heartbeats the only sound."
He gently strummed the next notes to the song and then another voice began to softly sing the chorus.
"But I know, once in a while we will find,
That the sound of your heart beats with mine."
He opened his eyes to see Aerlaer gazing warmly at him and he let his voice flow into hers.
"And when it's time,
I'll leave the ocean behind."
"So I'll look out for a light house,
See through the fog, search the horizon."
He sang alone again a smile playing on his lips as he felt immersed in the music he was creating and then Aerlaer smiled and it seemed the smile was for him alone and his heart skipped and he forgot the next words.
"And you'll be, waiting there for me.
And when the fog lifts, I'll see you clearly now."
She sang with feeling and he found his words again.
"And someday, the crash of the waves will beat our way,
And I will sail in your arms.
Because when its time, we'll leave the ocean behind."
He let his voice softly fall away, his eyes locked on Aerlaer's warm, indigo ones. A small smile played on her lips and was it the firelight or was her hair glowing? He could not be sure.
"That was beautiful." Breathed Éowyn in absolute awe and Legolas came back to reality tore his eyes from Aerlaer, handing the instrument back to Merry, feeling very uncomfortable by the heavy silence that now ensued. Taurorn was watching him thoughtfully.
"Someone else can play now." He said quietly and grabbed another apple from the platter and more hazelnuts to distract from the pressing silence, examining the nuts studiously.
"Taurorn, here you go." Merry handed the cithara to the young Ranger and Legolas breathed a silent sigh of relief as he felt Tauron's calculating gaze leave him.
The Ranger leant down to Aerlaer, who looked as if she was counting the seeds on the strawberry in her hand. Legolas could not catch what he whispered to her but a bright smile formed on her face and he grinned as he began to strum at the cithara. That tune, it is familiar…
"Well this place is packed with many but your face is all I see,
And the music's way too loud but your voice won't let me be.
So many pretty faces, all dressed to impress,
But the thought of you alone has got me spun,
And I don't know what to say next."
Legolas looked up baffled by the singing elleth and Ranger. He knew that song, he was sure it was Elvish. The music certainly was, it was meant to be dancing music but the tune Taurorn strummed was slower. Aerlaer sung in the common tongue and he was sure verses were missing.
"Yet I'm feeling like,
There is no better place than right by your side.
I had a little taste.
And I'll only have to leave here anyway
Everyone is looking fine
But you're the only one on my mind
La da dee la da dee doo
La da da me, la da da you.
La da dee, la da dee doo
There's only me, there's only you.
La da dee la da dee doo
La da da me, la da da you.
La da dee, la da dee doo
When I'm gone I'll think of you."
Legolas was feeling a bewildered by the joyful song when they finished in laughter and clapping from Merry, Gimli and Éowyn.
"Where does that song hail from?" He asked keeping his voice calm. He had not heard it for many, many years, certainly more lifetimes than the Ranger who had just played it.
"Oh, we are not really sure." Aerlaer laughed. "I had a tune and a few Elvish lyrics and we decided to add to it." She answered innocently. "Why do you ask?"
"The song is old." Was all he replied and she cocked her head watching him curiously.
"You know of it?" She asked.
"Well yes, it is Elvish, Sindarin to be precise." He answered.
"Will you sing it to us?" She asked, hopeful, He shook his head.
"No, I can't quite remember the rest of the words to it either." He replied. "I just recognized the tune." He gave her a small smile although she seemed disappointed he did not know more.
"It is probably enough song anyway, I think I might retire for the evening." Aragorn said and slowly stood up. Gimli rumbled in agreement and suddenly Merry gave a tired yawn.
"Yes, agreed there, I am still tired from last night." Éomer chuckled and bid them all goodnight. The twins stood too and the small group bid one another farewell until morning, and departed their own separate ways. Legolas noticed Aerlaer followed Taurorn out of the hall after the twins, he supposed back to the Ranger's camp for the eve.
He felt a twinge of jealously towards the Ranger which he quickly dismissed. It was the closeness he envied but he knew the brotherly relationship they shared was a far cry from what he wished he could have with her. He found himself walking outside to the viewing platform and gazed out over the horizon, the moon was shining brightly but the stars seemed veiled. Something did not quite feel right about the night but the city seemed safe enough. He looked searchingly into the dark sky but could discern nothing. Aragorn came to stand beside him.
"What is it?" He asked quietly after a long moment.
"I am not sure, something seems to stir from the east but I cannot discern what it might be. Legolas replied. "I believe we are all safe." He added.
"Then that is the best we can hope for." Aragorn replied. "I have been worried that Pippin's use of the Palantir may have caused us some trouble from our enemy but we have been lucky." Legolas nodded and turned to him.
"Aerlaer also saw a glimpse into the Palantir." He murmured and worry crossed the Ranger's face. "She assured me it was too brief for our enemy to acknowledge, but she seemed a little shaken by it."
"Are you well now, my friend?" Aragorn asked a smile crinkling the corners of his eyes and Legolas nodded.
"Yes, although I think I should probably wash all that was painful from today away." Aragorn inclined his head and Legolas retreated to his chamber.
…
Aerlaer returned to the King's house, contently humming a quiet tune. It looked as if everyone had retired for the evening. She skipped up the stairs and then stopped suddenly, before her chamber door. She was alone in the half-lit corridor.
Uncertainly, she approached Legolas's door which was closed, without light beneath the door. Should I knock? This is silly. There is nothing wrong with being alone. Still, she stood there, undecided as a shadow of fear wove like a ribbon through her mind. I am safe, Edoras is safe, we have defeated the enemy.
Turning from the door, she made her way to her own, resolutely pushing it open and entering her own chamber. There was enough light within, cast by a bright candle in its holster, and she picked it up, carrying it to the portioned off wash area, where a warm bath awaited her.
Washed and donning the creamy nightdress which had been laid out upon her bed, Aerlaer set the candle upon the dresser and began untangling her nearly dried hair. The chamber felt empty, but she purposely ignored the feeling, although she felt on edge. Perhaps there was danger here? No, no I am imagining such things.
No sooner had she admonished her fears, a blood chilling shriek ripped apart the silence of the night. Aerlaer, spun, dropping the wooden comb she held and it clattered to the dresser, knocking the candle over, diminishing its light.
Heart pounding, Aerlaer froze as another shriek, more terrible than the last, echoed against the walls, closer than the last and the world was plunged into darkness as a chilling breeze entered the chamber from the open windows, chilling Aerlaer to her very soul.
Different Worlds with slightly altered lyrics by Jes Huddak
La da dee with slightly altered lyrics by Cody Simpson - Because that is exactly the kind of tune elves of the Greenwood would dizzyingly dance to!
Wicked – Great to know the re write is still lovable! Not many changes in this chap until the end, and then a few early changes into the next which I think are stronger than what I had initially written.
Deploying, I can only imagine the stress of that. I have a friend who is thankfully still in the country, but for how long I'm unsure. He wants to serve and is undergoing training and it is wonderful he is, and amazing to witness his fitness transformation to make the army and the determination there alone, but not looking forward to when he does go overseas.
Legolas is so silly. Ha ha. I really must get onto the next chapter of Fated, your very concise description of Legolas had me laughing! Gosh, Sea Salt, must get onto that one too, but it is both easy and draining to write that one, which is why I keep putting it off.
ElizabethUndomiel – Thanks! There will be more Elven craziness to ensue!
EmberBeastie – Really glad you enjoyed this chap, hope you found my inbox. So sorry for your loss. New chapter as promised. x