Where You Can Not Follow: The Journey

Chapter Six: What's To Come

The city of Rivendell faded into the distance as the trio began their slow incline up a steep path. Legolas was lithe and hopped from rock to rock without losing any breath like it was something her did everyday. Aragorn kept up the pace with him, but wasn't as graceful, and Joan fell behind, gasping for air as she tried to keep up with the two of them. She kept her head down, staring at her feet as she trudged up the hill until she saw another pair of feet standing in front of her and looked up.

Legolas had a small, crooked grin resting on the corner of his mouth. "Do you need a hand?" he offered.

Joan frowned, sticking out her bottom lip, "I'm fine. I can do it." But Legolas paid no attention to her and grinning, grabbed Joan who in her shock let out a scream so Aragorn spun around, his sword already drawn and stopped, seeing Legolas carrying Joan and let out a sigh, his eyes rolling and a grin slipping onto his lips.

"Legolas…"

Legolas laughed, and Joan thought she would die. He had the most beautiful laugh she had ever heard, it was perfect, and it made Joan laugh and she lightened up since the first time she had come here, almost forgetting what she was suppose to be doing.

Legolas carried her to the top of the hill with ease and set her down. He held her hand longer than someone who didn't like someone would have, causing Joan to blush. Legolas cleared his throat, looking away as his hand slipped from hers.
Aragorn on the other hand had stopped, and then raced up the rest of the way to stand near Legolas, speaking to him quickly in Elvish, but she could clearly understand the word: Darkyns.

"What are you saying?" Joan asked. The two men looked over at her and without any words, Legolas grabbed her arm. His eyes flickered around the dense woods like he was looking for something. He jerked Joan, making her hide behind a cove of rocks. He let her go, and then kneeled down in front of her, smoothing out her hair.

"Do not say a word, Joan." He ordered, "Do not make a sound." The two of them locked eyes, and then he was gone. Joan fell silent, and dragged her legs up closer to her body.

Legolas met Aragorn back at the small path, his bow drawn. In a flash a Darkyn jumped at Aragorn causing him to fall backwards. The Darkyn flew over him, and in a swift movement, Legolas pulled an arrow, shooting him square in the middle of the forehead. Aragorn had stumbled up finally, frantically looking around.

"There are too many!" Legolas called to Aragorn, "We have to run!"

Aragorn nodded to Legolas, "Get Joan. Take her. I will find you." He ordered to Legolas, striding towards him and placing a reassuring hand on the elfs shoulder before running off in the direction of where the Darkyns had come from.

Legolas jumped over the rocks where Joan was hiding, causing her to jump.

"Get on my back, Joan!" Joan scrambled up out from underneath the carved out log, jumping onto Legolas's back. He grabbed her legs at her calves and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Legolas jumped back over the log with her on it and met up with Aragorn again who had come back, (he'd been scouting to see how many more there were.).

"There's too many for the two of us, Legolas. We must make haste!" he urged, pushed Legolas lightly on the arm and the three of them took off, Aragorn and Legolas on foot and Joan on Legolas's back.

She was unsure of how long they had been running, but it seemed like forever, and the woods soon broke out into an open, rocky, hilly area. The sky was fading into pinks and purples and blues and blacks. Legolas had set down Joan once he and Aragorn felt safe enough and once they had found a 'camp.' It consisted of a few rocks that were weather-beaten to look like they were a natural fortress, surrounding the trio on one side while leaving the other side open but it was better then being right out in the open.

Aragon scavenged for piece of wood while Legolas became the temporary watchman. Joan sat huddled, her back up against a stone. If this was what to come from her journey, and was only bound to get worse she wondered how the hell she would ever be all right alone.

Aragorn returned from looking for wood, only having found a few pieces to start a very small fire and soon Legolas came to join them. Aragorn and Legolas chatted amongst themselves in Elvish while Joan half listened and half dozed off until finally sleep caught her and she drifted away.

Soon, Aragorn retired to sleep and Legolas was first to keep watch out over them for the first few hours. He became distracted by Joan though, and silently crept over to her, kneeling down and removing the woolen cloak from around him and laid it on top of her, smoothing the fabric down over her arms. His hand then drifted up, brushing away a strand of dirty blonde frizzy hair from her face, smiling faintly.

"Nadath na i moe cerich, Joan." He whispered to her softly before dissapearing over the rocky fortress.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: "Nadath na i moe cerich, Joan." - "You have much yet to do, Joan."