Eternal Life, Eternal Pain
XXII. Summer's Farewell
x o x o x
What's the way of love?
Tell me your fiction
Tell me your lies
Say to me now you'll never forget this night
I'm feeling emotionless
My head's so clear
My enemies aren't the one I fear
x o x o x
It was a peaceful night, the moon hanging blissfully unaware in the sky, the stars shining brilliantly like diamonds. The sky was clear, and the air was heavy and fragrant with the scent of dying flowers.
Summer was ending. Autumn drew closer by the day.
Aragorn sighed as he thought upon this. He missed home. He missed his little girl and his baby boy.
"Are you ready?" he asked Legolas, though he knew Legolas's answer.
The elf gracefully turned his head toward him, and Aragorn was taken aback by the look in Legolas's eyes. He had never seen such a craving desire to kill before. "Never more," Legolas replied, his face and voice calm. Aragorn could only look on in shock, surprise. He was spared a response when Gimli cut in.
"Then," the dwarf declared, "let us continue! Bring on the orcs!"
- - -
Glancing ahead, Lixie saw Legolas with his bow held high, his eyes alert and ready. Lixie followed him uneasily, her eyes shifting back and forth. It was dark, and she did not trust the darkness. She wondered where Anya was now. Deep down, she feared Anya was already dead - they all did - but none wanted to voice this thought. Lixie glanced at Legolas who mercilessly sliced through the foliage. He and Anya have been through so much, Lixie thought. They just have to make it through.
Lixie sighed. Wasn't it just yesterday they were all happy, watching the twins as they tumbled on the grass in the sunshine? When evil seemed so far away? Now, look at them - trudging through thick roots and leaves. It broke her heart to think of all the pain Legolas must be feeling in his heart. And it tore her up inside, not knowing the fate of her best friend.
Suddenly, Legolas jerked his head backwards. Taking his cue, Gimli spun around and saw what the elf's sharp ears had caught: "There!"
And the fight began.
- - -
Anya glanced out the window at the moon. The night was so serene, so perfect... and yet so wrong. Then, abruptly, the silence was broken. She heard yells and clangs of metal coming from outside. Wrestling her binds, she managed to crawl over and pull herself up.
She gasped at what she saw.
The forest was alive with action and movement. The trees swayed unnaturally and leaves floated through the air. Anya could hear loud cries, cries made by voices she recognized.
"Legolas!" she cried.
- - -
Legolas drew another arrow and fatally shot another orc. Smirking, he pulled out another arrow, when he heard a cry, echoing softly.
"Anya?" Legolas looked up wildly and called out, "Gimli, did you hear that?"
But the dwarf, very much caught up in battle did not hear so he could not answer.
Following his heart more than his head, Legolas dashed off, glancing up at the dark, foreboding towers. Anya was in there. She just had to be.
x o x o x
You know your kiss confuses
This troubling soul
And I found out
That we're all breaking hearts
That we're all broken hearts
x o x o x
Carefully, Legolas looked around. He held his breath, listening for any sound. But there was none. The dark hallways, illuminated only by the moonlight that streamed in through the doorway, seemed empty and deserted. Uncertainly, Legolas walked ahead, not sure of which way to turn. All he could hear was the sound of his footsteps echoing off the high ceiling and walls. As he continued his search, he came upon a stairway. Hidden in the highest tower, the elf bemused. He smiled crookedly at the thought of his fiery Anya, locked up in a tower as if some sort of damsel in distress.
Taking up his bow and notching an arrow to its string, Legolas started up the stairway, continually glancing around. He could feel his heart beating against his chest. How he hoped Anya would be at the end of the stairway! Inwardly cursing himself, Legolas shook his head. What a fool he had been, deserting his friends to fend the orcs off on their own.
They can manage, Legolas thought hopefully. He reached the second level and looked. Still no one there. Not a stir. He continued up the flight of steps, until finally he reached the very top.
Anya, Anya, Legolas pleaded, please be there. Putting aside his bow, Legolas pushed open the door.
Lying by the window, clinging on as if for dear life, Anya suddenly looked up at the sound of the door. "Oh, Legolas!" she cried.
Staring, Legolas could muster no reply except a hoarse whisper, "Anya!" as the girl threw herself on him, sobbing into his shoulder.
"I never thought I'd see you again!"
Legolas stepped back and tried to regain his composure. Smiling softly, he pushed back the hair from her face and looked into her eyes. "I am here now, Anya. Do not cry."
"I am not," came the stubborn reply.
Legolas laughed softly. "All right, you are not. Now, let us go, before more trouble comes to find us."
Smiling, Anya agreed. Together, they went down the stairway and out the door, when suddenly Anya stopped and her face fell.
"Oh, Legolas! How could I have forgotten! Laelia and Brayden!"
- - -
"He has found her, master."
"Good."
"Shouldn't we go get them - "
"No fool! They will come for us soon."
"When...?"
"Patience, fool. Soon." His master smiled menacingly. "Do you not think they will not come back for their young ones? Why should I seek them out when they will come running for me? Mark my words... they shall find me. Patience, my fool."
- - -
The battle, long and hard, was won. The objective was to retrieve Anya and the twins, and at the very least, they had Anya back now. After Legolas returned with Anya - to the shock and surprise of all - they took off, running as fast and far away as they could. The group had set camp in the forest several miles away, near a running brook. Byron had started a fire - enough for warmth, but too small to be seen.
Lixie saw her best friend, sitting by the brook. Softly, Lixie walked up and sat down, right next to her. "Anya," Lixie said softly. No reply. "Anya, do not fear. We will find them."
Anya nodded, but she continued to stare down at the moonlit water.
Aragorn and Arwen sat together, deep in conversation. Lixie looked over, wondering what the two might be discussing. Probably how to find the twins, she thought. If anyone could find a way to bring those two back, Aragorn could.
Byron sat by the fire, occasionally giving it a poke with a long stick. Gimli sat next to him, talking rather animatedly about all the orcs he had slain, and Byron listened intently with an amused look on his face. Legolas sat by the two, pretending as if he were listening, but truly, his mind was miles and miles away.
"... and then I thrust there! Another down!" Gimli said triumphantly. Byron gave the dwarf an admiring smile. "What d'ya think of that Legolas? Legolas?"
"What?" Legolas turned his head to stare blankly at the dwarf's expectant glare. "Oh, splendid," he said blandly.
Byron frowned. "What's bothering you Legolas?"
"Isn't it obvious, lad?" Gimli looked at Byron almost reproachfully. "What could Legolas be thinking about but the fate of his children? Legolas, look. There is nothing we can do until the sun rises. The best you can do for Brayden and Laelia are to go to sleep and rest. Tomorrow is a long day."
"You speak with reason," Legolas replied. He rose up gracefully, brushing the leaves and dust from his clothes. "For once," he added with a forced grin.
"That's the spirit!" Gimli cheered. Then Legolas's jibe dawned on him. "Hey wait a moment..."
- - -
Legolas waited until nearly everyone was asleep. All were sleeping soundly except Aragorn who was keeping watch. Even Anya had put aside her sorrows and closed ehr eyes.
Aragorn sat by the fire, tending it. Legolas held his breath, wondering if the man would hear him. The elf stepped delicately and silently through the trees, farther away from camp. Gripping his bow, he carefully dodged through the branches and leaves, making as little sound as he possibly could.
Success, the elf thought to himself. He looked back and saw not a movement except for the flames dancing on the brush. Turning around he prepared to run off when...
"Going somewhere?"
Legolas was met by the face of Aragorn, staring at him.
"Well?" Aragorn asked expectantly. "Are you?"
Legolas bit his lip, knowing he had been caught. He tried to regain his dignity. "Possibly."
Aragorn sighed. "Legolas, I know you want to find your son and daughter as soon as possible, but honestly, this is not the way to go about it..."
"What do you know!" Legolas suddenly exploded with all his pent up anguish. "You do not know what it is like to be wondering if your children are alive or dead!"
"Legolas," Aragorn said sternly, gripping the elf's arm, "you are right. I do not know. But what I do know is that if you go out there now to find them, you certainly will die. Is that what you want? To leave Anya even more alone when she needs you more than ever? To die before you could save your children because of some rash decision? Think, elf! Do not let anger and desperation take control of you!"
Legolas almost hung his head. He had been a fool. Did he truly expect to take on a whole army alone?
"Now," Aragorn said, his tone lightening slightly, "follow me back to camp. It is your turn to keep watch.
x o x o x
If only love could find us all
If only hearts didn't have to fall
We can't mislead to make things right
So instead, we'll sleep alone tonight
x o x o x
The sun rose, and thus marked the beginning of a day that would be drenched in blood and sorrow.
Legolas was already up when the others woke from their sleep. He waited patiently as they prepared themselves, and the moment they were ready, Legolas silently turned and began walking.
Nothing would stop him from getting his children back. Nothing.
- - -
"Where would we find him?" Aragorn asked Anya.
"I do not know," Anya answered truthfully.
Gimli stopped in his tracks. "So we are walking for nothing?"
"Well," Anya said, "I suppose... we will find him." Anya said assertively. "He knows we are looking for him... and we will find him. He will be waiting for us."
"And so I am, my pretty."
The entire party whirled around to face the speaker, a dark figure cloaked in black. Anya stared, her mouth hanging slightly open. Everyone stood frozen except for Legolas who shoved his way to the front.
"You! Coward!" Legolas cried in a voice very much not his own. Brashly, Legolas drew an arrow on his bow and shot it at him. He caught it in the air.
"Tch, tch," he leered mockingly. "Almost. Not a bright thing to do when I have hundreds of fighters at my disposal."
Legolas laughed gratingly. "But you are alone now. And you are outnumbered."
"True," came the reply. "But am I as alone as you think? Perhaps not."
"What do you want?" Aragorn cut in, his voice cold and harsh.
The black figure moved closer. "Why," he said almost lightheartedly, "to kill you all."
Anya cried out. "It is only me and Legolas you want! Leave the others alone!"
"Me?" Legolas stared at Anya. "What does he want with me?"
"He has your uncle, Legolas!"
Legolas faced the villain in rage. "You senseless wretch! Let my uncle go! What has he ever done to you?"
The figure moved forward, thoughtfully. "Too many things to be named," came the quiet whisper. Shaking out of his seeming reverie, he quickly said, "Never mind that fool. This is now between you and me."
"No," Gimli said, stepping forward. You were greatly mistaken if you thought we would let our friend fight alone!"
A evil laugh filled the air. "You were greatly mistaken if you thought I would let you fools overtake me!" With a sweep of his arm, orcs appeared out of nowhere, knocking all but Anya and Legolas unconscious. "Hmm... that may have been a little too easy."
"Coward!" Legolas roared.
"Merely taking necessary precautions. This is between us now." He waved his hands and the orcs disappeared as quickly as they came. "Now, arm yourselves... for now, we fight."
- - -
Legolas knew his bow would be useless. It had already been proven. Instead, he took Aragorn's sword and charged. He knew he was at a great disadvantage for he was far more adept at using his bow. Behind him, he could hear Anya's footsteps as she charged ahead too.
"Legolas! Take the left, and I'll take the right!" Wordlessly, Legolas obeyed.
The clash of metal rang through the forest. Anya pressed hard, knowing the life of her twins hung in limbo. She fought with all the skill her years of training had given her. Her swordplay was far superior to Legolas's. Cutting mightily, she forced her enemy against a tree.
"How do you like that now?" she jeered.
When it seemed like he could move no more, he pushed out his hands and Anya was knocked back with a great force. He moved in on Anya, swinging his blade but was suddenly cut off by Legolas. Legolas had used his sword to block the blow and he pushed hard until the black figure stumbled backwards and fell. Hatred and anger glowed in Legolas's eyes and he lifted his blade, ready to kill. However, sense quickly took over his rage, and instead Legolas swiftly knocked him on the head, successfully rendering him unconscious.
After tying him up, Legolas went over to Anya. "Are you all right?"
Smiling, Anya replied, "Fine. Good job you did not kill him."
"We still need to find our twins, right?" Legolas replied softly.
Anya nodded happily. Hearing soft rustling, she turned her head to look at their companions. "Oh, look, they're coming to."
Gimli was the first to recover. "Ugh, nasty blow to the head."
Aragorn cuffed Gimli. "Just be grateful you are alive."
"Oh my head..." Gimli continued to wail.
Anya and Legolas watched them, laughing. The five were finally regaining their senses, though still quite dazed and shaken.
"So I s'pse you took good care of... Legolas! Watch out!"
Legolas turned quickly to see that Helnullka was right behind him, with a dagger raised in the air. He stood, transfixed. The dagger came down, down, down...
"No!" Legolas was shoved roughly away, and the dagger missed its target, finding Anya instead.
"Anya!"
AN: Yuppp... finally wrote this chapter. Oops. What have I done?!