Disclaimer in Chapter 1 - They may yet be alive.
Nin-dethro hîn, Mellon-nin.
Chapter 7 – By order of the King
Night had fallen apon the swamp where Sam, Frodo and the creature, Gollum where now sleeping; Except one certain Hobbit was not. The young Hobbit lay awake, the one Ring within his hand, stroking it as if it was a tiny pup that fit in his palm. He could not sleep for the constant thunder that howled through the barren land and the calls the Ring was sending him. The noise and seductive voice was growing stronger with each day they got closer to the land of fire, the black land of the dark Lord himself.
With each stroke the Hobbit made, a small ting sound could be heard. Frodo could never sleep in a place like this. He wondered why his blonde friend could sleep over the noise.
"So bright."
A soft but rough voice came from behind Frodo and he quickly snapped out of his trance and put the Ring back inside his shirt once more.
"So beautiful."
The Hobbit looked around and saw the abused creature stroking something within his own hand.
"Our precious." Gollum hissed, a small smile on his pale features.
Frodo's eyes widened as the creature spoke "What did you say?" He asked as he watched Gollum slowly turn his head towards him. The Creature's eyes resting on the floor beneath him.
"Master should be resting." Gollum ignored the Hobbit "Master needs to keep up his strength." The tortured creature then looked around and raised his hand slightly and stroked the thing within its bony hands.
Frodo got up and walked towards Gollum and saw that there was nothing within his hand. The brown haired Hobbit narrowed his eyes "Who are you?"
"Mustn't ask us. Not its business." Gollum answered quickly, shaking his head as he did so. "Gollum, Gollum" The creature gagged but to the surprise of the Hobbit, his voice never changed into the rough, harsh one they had heard before.
Frodo knelt down beside the creature "My old friend told me that you were one of the river-folk…"
"Cold be heart and hand and bone. Cold be travellers far from home."
The Halfling moved around to Gollum's side, still crouched and tried to look within the creature's eyes "He told me that your life was a sad story."
"They do not see what lies ahead. When sun has failed and moon be dead." Gollum avoided the Hobbits eyes, narrowing his own big blue eyes.
Frodo then moved round so that he was now crouched in front of the abused being. "You were not so very different from a Hobbit once. Were you?" The Halfling questioned and was met with silence. He watched as Gollum features slowly relaxed and his eyes had confusion within them. Frodo moved closer and then whispered the creatures name "Sméagol."
Gollum, the creature now known as Sméagol, lifted his ragged head and looked at the Hobbit before him; confusion now gone and replaced with sadness and another. Frodo could not tell. "What did you call me?" He asked just above a whisper.
"That was your name once, wasn't it?" Frodo still had his eyes narrowed, a small light of hope within them. He did not like what the dark Lord and the Ring had done to the poor creature. "A long time ago."
"My name." Sméagol whispered. "My name." He whispered again, a small smile appearing on his face.
"Softly trespass beyond…The indistinctive warmly glowing place of sacrifice
That I have stood before all…Too many times
But with never another face to bind into the…Depths of snow
Whispers…Of life on the wind softly dance
And call me onward
Secrets I'd give anything to know
Treebeard's voice rang deeply into his beloved forest. It was soothing and relaxing and Merry and Pippin were soon asleep for the night was young, but the trees made it hard to see for their thick branches would not let any of the moons light through.
And there is nothing past
But cold white infinite towering giants
Sleepless and aware
Keeping on ever boundlessly
I must reach the top
If only to look down to where I've been before
I'd give anything to know
Silently and swiftly be sure footed and confident in the path you choose
All but one leads to unspeakable horrors
They had been traveling for the whole day, Treebeard's songs never stopped and both Hobbits found themselves very bored. And Hungry. The Ent had given them a few raspberries for breakfast, blackberries for lunch and both combined for dinner. They had never had such a boring meal before.
1000 trees seem to ensure me
And keep me from that which i have set out to acquire
And not even the end could keep us apart
I dream of soaring between the birds and the clouds
You and i hand in hand wrapped in blue
nothing can stop us
nothing could keep you from me
or keep me from you."
Treebeard song came to an end and he looked at both Hobbits on his branches and smiled under his wooden lips. His thick hands gently lifted the Hobbits of him while saying "Sleep, little Shirelings." The Ent placed them gently onto the leafy ground "Heed no nightly noise. Sleep till morning light." The tree watched both Hobbits fidget in their sleep, getting into a more comfortable position. "I have business in the forest. They are many to call. Many that must come."
"The shadow lies on Fangorn." Treebeard began to walk away from the sleeping Hobbits "The withering of all woods is drawing near."
"Please, tell me it not so?" Legolas watched his father, tears now running down his strong cheeks, his head now buried in his hands. The broken Prince nodded his head at his father's question, no tears escaping his unseeing eyes.
"Estelwen…" Thranduil sobbed "...My beloved Estelwen." He then looked to his son, who just sat there, propped up against some pillows, his eyes dull and showed no spark of any life within them. The King pulled his son into a comforting embraced and immediately felt Legolas tense beneath him. "I am sorry, Greenleaf." Thranduil cried "I am sorry I wasn't quick enough to get to you and your mother."
Legolas nodded and then slowly wrapped his arms round his father's back, grabbing the robes so hard that his knuckles turned white. A single tear escaped his eyes but he said no word. He kept quiet and still, listening to his father's cries.
When Thranduil's sobbed came to an end, Legolas watched as his father gently pulled out of the embrace and wiped his tears from his own face and then reached out to dry the one tear that hand escaped his dull eyes. Legolas flinched at his father's touch as he expected a punch to land on him.
Thranduil smiled softly as he rubbed the wet tracks the tear had made "I am not going to hurt you, Greenleaf. I would never do such a thing. You know this." Thranduil hoped he did. The King had been grieving for so long for his missing wife and child, many had expected him to sail over to Valinor. Estelwen's body had not been found but a pile of blood had been left from where the Queen had been beaten till death.
After now confirming his fears about his wife, he had broken down. He did not mean to appear so weak but how could such creature be so heartless and let his son watch his wife be beaten till death and then thrown to a pack of Gundabad wargs, tearing her from limb to limb. How could such a young Elfling keep such strength within him after everything he had been through? Thranduil was nearly falling apart from just listening to the tale his son had just told him.
Both King and Prince faced the door as a healer walked through. "My Lord, Prince Legolas will need to take his medicine now." The healer smiled sadly as he approached the two royals, holding a small phial in his hand.
"Thank you, Sadron." The King smiled and turned back to face his son, who still had his eyes on the healer. "Legolas." Legolas turned back to face his father waiting for him to continue "Sadron, is going to give you your medicine. Is that okay?" When his son nodded, Thranduil motioned the healer to come closer and give the Prince the potion.
"Raise your chin a tiny bit, my Prince." The healer was surprised that the Prince obeyed him and gently placed the phial to his lips, "Drink this. It will help ease some of the pain you might be feeling." Sadron watched as the Prince swallowed obediently and soon the phial was empty.
Thranduil watched as his son's eyes began to drop. He smiled and then gently pushed his son down, pulled the sheets up to his chin and watched as the Prince gave into the sleeping drought. The King's eyes widened as he heard a tiny whisper come from his son's lips.
"Naneth." The Prince mumbled in his sleep and then woke with a gasp. He raised a hand to his blonde head and tried to settle his breathing. This was the first of his dreams to ever show him his father from outside of Dol Guldur. Legolas glanced around the room in which he was in and saw that he was now in a bedroom instead of the healing halls. There was tiny window at the end of the room and the Elf could see that the sun had now begun to make its way over the mountains.
"How long have I slept?" The Prince thought as he remembered arriving in Edoras in the morning's first light. Legolas sat up and the sheets that were on him fell slightly, exposing his chest. He cared not as he continued looking out the tiny window. When he did draw his eyes away, he saw that he was alone "Where is everyone?" Legolas saw the glow, that admitted from him, grow stronger and decided it would be best to fade the glow. The blond Elf pulled back the sheets completely and saw that his leggings were still on. "Aragorn." He sighed as he knew the ranger had taken his tunic of him.
Legolas swung his legs over the side of the bed and carefully stood, grabbing the bed's post as a wave of dizziness hit him. Once the wave disappeared, the Elf began to look for his tunic but to no avail. He couldn't find it anywhere. Sighing again, the Prince made his way to a door on the other side of the room and opened it, revealing a white bathroom, with a basin, bath tub and toilet within it.
The Prince ran the tap and splashed water onto his face. He then grabbed a cloth that hung from the basin and dabbed it on his face. When Legolas was sure his face was dry he looked up and saw himself in a mirror that was above it. He frowned when he saw his braids had been undone and he turned, making his way out of the bathroom and made his way towards the bed, sitting on it once more and began braiding his hair.
When Legolas had finished braiding he final one, a soft knock at his door drew his attention and he said "Come in." He stood facing the door and watched as it opened to reveal the same blonde maiden that Aragorn had stopped in King Théoden's golden hall. The Prince furrowed his brows when he saw the shock on her face. He looked down to where her eyes were set and saw that he still had no tunic on. The Elf cursed.
"Forgive me, my Lord." She said, handing the tunic and undershirt that she carried.
Legolas walked softly to her, no sounds in his steps and took the tunic and undershirt while saying "Thank you, my Lady…"
"Éowyn." She averted her gaze "Just Éowyn, my Lord."
Legolas smiled gently and walked back over to his bed; sitting on it while he pulled on his undershirt then his tunic "I thank you, my Lady Éowyn." He then turned and faced her "You can look now." He smiled.
Éowyn turned, the blush slowly fading from her cheeks and smiled nervously "I hope you are well, my Lord. How did you sleep?"
"Please, call me Legolas." Éowyn nodded "I slept fine. Could you tell me how long I have been sleeping for?" Legolas asked, not wanting to know he had been sleeping for several days.
"You have only slept for a day." She answered, looking at the floor.
The blonde Elf saw her fidget beneath his gaze "Something disturbs you, my Lady?"
Éowyn lifted her head and looked at the Elf sitting on the bed "Those scars…What happened?" She watched as he visibly cringed and looked away from her, shaking his head. "I am sorry, I did not mean…"
"It is alright." Legolas interrupted and began to tell her about them "My body has ninety four percent of scar tissue from what I experienced in the past. My Elven healing stopped healing them many years ago for I was constantly tortured with many poisons, weapons and brands. The poisons were never the same, some deadly and some mild. The amount I was given was so great that some traces could still be within my blood stream. This is why my healing does not heal those it can't. If I receive a new wound then that will be healed, not those from the past."
When Legolas had finished, the room was in silence. Muffled sounds from outside the tiny window could be heard and some from down the hall but inside the room it was silent. Éowyn stepped towards the Prince and sat next to him, placing a hand apon his own. She smiled as he faced her "All wounds heal in time. Some just take longer than others." She broke the silence and watched the Prince smile at her.
"I do hope you are right, Lady Éowyn. You do remind me of a very good friend I left behind awhile back." He chuckled lightly which made her smile widen.
"And why did you leave her, if you don't mind me asking?" She asked.
"I left for the Fellowship. When I, Gimli, Aragorn, Boromir and Gandalf left for the little town of Bree, she was to visit Círdan, the Lord of the grey havens. We said our farewells and I have not seen her since." Legolas explained.
"What was her name?" Éowyn looked at the Prince when she saw sadness within them.
"Her name was Elarinya. Like me, she is the first Elf that had set foot on these lands after departing from Valinor. She sailed to Middle-earth shortly after her parents died from a very rare disease us Elves get. She went to Círdan who fostered her for a short time but the Lord was too busy with the ships that he could not watch her and the ships progress. Elarinya was then passed to the Lord of Imladris, and his Lady, who took her in with loving hands, caring for her for many years." Legolas smiled at his tale. He remembered the Elleth greatly for she was like his light in dark times.
"You sound like you really like her." Éowyn winked when the Prince looked at her.
"I do." Legolas laughed which was like music to the blonde maidens ears. "She has made me happy and I her. There is no-one else but her for me."
"Then I am very happy for you." She hugged the Prince and he returned it. Both smiling and laughing as they broke apart. "Come now." Éowyn stood "We are both needed in the halls where your friends await you. News had been sent from across Rohan."
Legolas quickly put on his boots and soon, both blonde's made their way through the corridors, getting closer to the golden Hall hearing news about what had happened.
"The Wild Men are moving through the Westfold, burning as they go." Éowyn opened the door and both blonde's stepped through quietly, looking at Éomer who continued to speak "Rick, cot and tree." Éomer finished and looked towards the two as they stepped forwards. The rider smiled and ran towards his sister and hugged her, swirling her around "Éowyn, it had been so long!" He laughed as she laughed also while kicking at him to let her go. Théoden smiled at the whole scene before him.
"Dear brother. I have missed you so. You had me worried." Éomer placed Éowyn on the ground and she kissed him on the cheek while hugging him gently, enjoying his presence.
"I am sorry I did." Éomer apologised "That worm locked me up after I had returned from slaying the band of Uruk-hai's near Fangorn."
"Why did I not know?" Éowyn frowned within the embrace of her brother.
Legolas smiled at the two siblings and watched as Aragorn made his way over.
"How do you feel?" The ranger asked as placed a gently hand on the Elf's.
"I feel fine. Well rested I must say." The Prince smiled and then it soon faded "How is the Kings son?" He asked Aragorn through his mind. Not wanting anyone else to hear.
"He is holding up pretty well." The future King of Gondor replied with a smile "Because of you, he is stable and will hopefully be well within the next couple of days."
Legolas nodded while his smile grew wider "That is very good news indeed."
Gandalf smiled as the Prince looked at him but then cleared his voice making everyone in the room face him "Can we get back to the matter at hand?" When everyone nodded and seated or stood comfortably, he spoke once more. "What Lord Éomer has told us is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash. All the more potent for he is driven by the now fear of Sauron." The Wizard looked deeply into the Kings eyes "Ride out and meet him head on."
Théoden looked towards the door at the end of his Golden hall and moved his eyes when he saw the Wizard placed a hand on his throne while saying "Draw him away from your woman and children. You must fight."
"From what Éomer has told us earlier, you have two thousand good men riding alone, trying their best to protect the villages in Rohan as we speak." Aragorn spoke up which drew the attention of both Wizard and King.
Éomer nodded and spoke also "These men are loyal to you. They will return by your command and fight for their King."
Théoden suddenly stood, Gandalf seeing this and stood also, walking towards both Éomer and Aragorn but stopped halfway, slowly pacing "They will be three hundred leagues from here by now." A minute silence was within the hall until the King spoke once more "They cannot help us now."
Gandalf moved forwards to the King but stopped as the King said "I know what it is you want from me but I will not bring further death to my people." The King watched as the Wizard narrowed his eyes "I will not risk open war."
"Open war is apon you..." Théoden looked at the ranger once more, Éowyn and her brother looking at him also. "…Whether you would risk it or not."
"When I last looked…" The King growled "…Théoden, not Aragorn, was King of Rohan." Both glared at each other until Gandalf broke it.
"Then what is the King's decision?" The Old man walked towards the King slowly, stopping only a few feet in front.
"Háma." The King looked towards his doorward "You know what to do."
With that the guard left, all eyes apon him, opening the great doors and shouting down at the people who had gathered "By order of the King, the city must empty."
Gandalf slowly shut his eyes and cursed. He sighed in frustration and walked past the King, being followed by the Dwarf, Elf and two Men along with the maiden.
As they walked out of the hall they could still here the King's doorward shouting "We make for the refuge of Helm's deep. Do not burden yourselves with treasures. Take only what provisions you need."
All six came to the bottom of the steps and Gimli growled "Helm's deep. They flee to the mountains where they should stand and fight." They all walked through the stable doors, still following the white Wizard "Who will defend them if not their King?"
Éomer looked down at the angry Dwarf "My uncle is only doing what he thinks is best for our people."
Éowyn nodded, agreeing with her brother "Helm's deep has saved us in the past."
"Indeed it has, Lady Éowyn..." Gandalf spoke "...But what you should know already is that there is no way out of that ravine." All stopped when they came to the end of the stables, near a stall that held the Lord of all horses'. "You uncle is walking into a trap. He thinks he is leading you to safety."
Aragorn held the stall door open and the Wizard walked through it, stroking Shadowfax's nose. The Wizard then turned back to face both siblings "What you will get is a massacre." Both siblings gasp. "Théoden has a strong will but I fear for him. I fear for the survival of Rohan." Gandalf then faced Aragorn, his eyes going to Gimli's and Legolas' "The defences have to hold."
"They will hold." Aragorn said and the Elf and Dwarf nodded, agreeing with the future King.
"Good." Gandalf gave a half smile and then turned to Éomer "I will need your help in getting the Men that ride further away from us. They will listen to you, Éomer."
Éomer nodded and went to retrieve his horse, Éowyn following him.
"With luck our search will not be in vain." He spoke as he mounted and watched the King's nephew do the same. "Look to our coming at first light on the fifth day."
"Be safe, brother." Éowyn said, watching as her brother take his weapons he needed from a stable boy that had gone and retrieved them.
"I will, dear sister." Éomer smiled "Be safe as well."
"At dawn, look to the east." Gandalf finished and with a hard nod from the future King, he nodded back with a smile, a true smile this time and rode out of the stables, Éomer right behind him.
"Come, Gimli. Let us get Arod ready." Legolas spoke through the loud neighing that had just started.
"You finally putting a saddle on him, Laddie?" Gimli asked, a slight light of hope within his eyes.
"Never, Master Dwarf." Legolas replied with a smile causing Gimli growl and follow him over to the white house.
Aragorn looked around, wanting to know where the loud neighing was coming from. He walked down the stables and saw two men trying their best to calm down a horse that was rearing and backing up into the stable, trying to get away from some unknown being. Aragorn began to walk fast and then a call from behind him made him face the person.
"That horse is half mad, my Lord. There is nothing you can do. Just leave him."
Aragorn ignored the man and turned back to the horse, muttering under his breath in the grey tongue. "Man gostach chen? Ea na qwiil." *What frightens you? Be at peace.* He placed hand on one of the men's shoulders, who had a rope within his hands, trying his best to calm the horse down.
The man turned at the touch and then with a nod from the ranger he handed the rope to him.
"Ma trastale behén?" *What troubles you like this?" Aragorn moved closer, a small smile crept on his lips as the horse slowly began to calm, its whining and neighing suddenly quieting. "Ea na qwiil." He undid the rope on the horses mouth guard and passed it to the other man that had wide eyes as he looked at the exchange. The horse was now silent, giving into Aragorn's soft words and touches.
Éowyn walked out from the stall she was in as she had heard the whole thing. She was shocked that a ranger knew the language of the Elves. She walked towards the man and horse "His name is Brego." She watched as the ranger faced her "He is Théodred's horse."
"Brego?" Aragorn furrowed his brows and then smiled as he stroked the horse's nose "Ðin nama is cynglic." *Your name is Kingly.* Aragorn chuckled as Brego nuzzled him "Man le trasta, Brego. Man cenich?" *What troubles you, Brego? What do you see?*
Éowyn watched as the ranger continued to stroke the horse, Brego enjoying every moment of it. She closed her mouth after she realised it was open and swallowed, facing the ranger "I have heard of the magic of Elves but I did not look for it in a ranger from the north." She looked deeply into the man's eyes "I heard you speak it before too Legolas. You speak as one of their own."
"I was raised in Rivendell for a time. I had been there from the age of four to twenty one. That is when I decided to join the rangers up north. I would always come back though. The Elven realm is my home after all." Aragorn explained as a small smile crept on his face.
"What happened to your parent's?" She asked, wanting to know the answer but also not wanting to know.
"They both died. My father was slain by an Orc who attacked our camp and my mother died shortly after from grief." The future King looked towards the floor, his smile no longer there.
"Aragorn!" The ranger and maiden looked towards the Elf that shouted from the back of the stables "Lye ier desiel, mellon-nin." *We are ready, my friend."
"Sai quel. I will be ready shortly." *Very good.* Aragorn replied as he watched the Elf mount his steed with a very uncomfortable Gimli behind him. The ranger then looked to Éowyn "Is your cousin coming with us?"
"Yes, but he will be riding with my uncle and sometimes with my uncle's lieutenant, Gamling." Éowyn answered.
"Very well. If it is alright with you, I can look after Brego for some time. I fear he has seen too much blood and war and it might spook him." Aragorn asked, already in love with the dark brown horse beside him.
"You may, my Lord." Éowyn blushed slightly, unknown to the ranger. She watched him mount, happy with the adjustments he made and he and Brego were out the stables within a few seconds, Legolas and Gimli on Arod close behind.
The journey to Helm's deep had begun.
SNOW! The whole of the UK has been hit with snow! I am so happy :D Although I didn't go out in it, I missed college instead which gave me time to write this chapter because yesterday I was out celebrating my friend's birthday :3
Thank you all those that reviewed! There were a lot of ya' and it makes me happy to know what you all thought. :') Thank you for that!
Things you need to know?
1. Legolas has a lover :'( - I wanted our tortured Elf to have some king of love because I felt sorry for him because he was alone with only his fathers and friends love. It made me upset and I quite like this idea ;) Although I am upset about it not being me! :( ahaha! xD
2. Aragorn's parents- I am sure you all know what happened to them both. I just changed it a slight bit :)
That's it I think? :o
Reviews;
BrightWatcher; Ahaha It will happen, I can tell ;) Awww that's probably where he disappeared to :o! I love torturing him, I hate it at the same time though :p Ahaha I am glad you enjoy reading about it ;D I will never quit until it finishes :D You have a promise, mellon-nin :D I am really happy that you are still watching this, really I am! :'D
Jasperslittlesister; I love to put him in pain ;) *Tells to stand* Awww thank you! :3 I hope this was soon? :L
ArwenElf16; I hate it too but I love it as well :p HE LIVES! I wanted him too, considering I killed off Boromir and it would be different then ;) Gimli is just so cute! I love him but not as much as Legolas :') She is isn't she? :o Glad you can't because here it is! Hope you enjoyed it :D
Calemireth; Thank you :D I hope this was soon! I am trying to but he is nowhere to be found D:
.Serious96; Ahaha could help but laugh when I wrote that :L Aha because she is going to flirt with *your* husband? Well you are gonna hate Arwen more when Aragorn marries her ;) It's alright, no need to apologise mellon :P I know you're not pretty when you're angry…Then same when your ill…You are so mean! ;D Love chu too :)
LightsCDark; That ranger is going to die when I catch him -.- xD No second?! What is the world coming too?! O.O ;) He will indeed :D I wanted a cool twist because I killed our good friend Boromir :/ Thank you! I wanted that to be a twist as well ;) Ahaha that's alright! :L It pees more off as well when I read a story and I don't bother looking at it as well :L I will try! :D
Sherlockholms; Thank you! Such good friend's aren't they? :')
Exotic Nightmare; Thank you for joining! :D Ahaha this made me smile when I read it :') Yay! Sauron, GreenleafUndomiel and Exotic Nightmare will rule the lesser beings XD Tauriel is in the upcoming second Hobbit film "The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug." She is the captain of the Mirkwood guard and is also in my first story "Hannon le, mellon-nin" Explaining who she is etc. :) He does live indeed! Aragorn did an excellent job at saving him :p Hope you haven't waited long enough :D
Bubbles975; Ahaha YAY! I am glad you are :') Aww thank you :3 I really hate making people wait and it just comes a thing for me… I have no idea what I would do if I finished this :( Of course I am going to do a hell lot more :D It has to be done and it is because we love him ;) I am glad that it does make sense :o! That is what I always worry about because I'm a bit thick XD Hope you didn't wait long! :3
will zona; Thank you! :) I am getting some of your reviews. Have you been reviewing everyone because then I haven't :/ But thank you anyway :D Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Nightrunner144; I will explain that possibly in the next as they make their way to Helm's deep :) Thank you very much! :'D
1Olivia; Thank you! Hope you didn't wait long for this :D
Erestor: Where on Arda could that boy be?
I have no idea! When I see him, I'm gonna…
Thranduil: You 'gonna' what, Sophie dear?
Nothing…Thranduil…
Glorfindel: It has been four days and still we can't find a mere human! It's frustrating.
Celeborn: What are you all doing this fine day?
Lord Celeborn! We are searching for a ranger…
Elladan and Elrohir: …Who pushed Gandalf into a closet and locked it!
Bilbo: Oh my! We will help, if you like?
BILBO! I love you *-* When you were young of course.
Bilbo: Thank you, my dear *blushes*
Before we go, one of my reviewers wants to join ;D
Elrond: *nods* Let us go and search for the human.
/Bilbo, Celeborn and Exotic Nightmare join "Lets hunt a ranger!"\\
Namarië!