Hello! Thank you for your lovely reviews!! I've been somewhat stuck, and reviews definitely get me back on track. I haven't exactly planned this story out, so I'll probably just keep going until I can't possibly write any more. Hope you guys like long stories! I promise to keep it filled with fluff and smut so that it's worth reading (and writing!).
Ch. 5
It was altogether evil; everything about the creature of the deep mines told Legolas to get away, and fast. Its darkness actively pursued anything good, attempting to consume it completely. Even the hobbits felt this; they crowded together, hiding behind Legolas' body as if his light could shield them from the evil on the bridge. Only Frodo stepped forward, realizing what Gandalf was doing on the stone arch. Legolas, for his part, had complete confidence in the Istari's ability to overthrow the Balrog. To him, Gandalf was infallible, a constant source of good in Middle Earth.
When he fell, pulled down into the endless darkness by the monster, Legolas forgot how to breath, or think, or move. It was only when an arrow sliced by his head, grazing the smooth skin on his neck, that instinct forced him into action. Gimli and Boromir, who still carried Frodo, were already moving toward the doorway that led out of the mines. Legolas pushed the rest of the hobbits ahead of him, ensuring their safety before killing a final goblin and running himself. Once the entire Fellowship was out in the fresh air of the mountainside, the realization of Gandalf's death hit.
Every member of the company grieved differently, and Legolas watched each in turn. He had never known sorrow like this, nor was he sure how to express it. Many of the companions cried, some looked too shocked to do anything, and Aragorn… Aragorn looked unaffected. In fact, the man commanded him to get the company moving. Legolas, not knowing anything else to do, began to urge to hobbits to stand. They looked heartbroken, and it struck a strange note in the elf. Surely mortals must feel grief just as strongly as immortals, if not more. Why, then, did their grief not kill them? Surely if Legolas felt the loss of Gandalf as keenly as these small hobbits, he would be dead already of a broken heart.
It frustrated Legolas that this did not make sense to him; there was little the elf was unable to comprehend when he put his mind to it. This, combined with his fatigue and slight pain at his bleeding neck, soon became too much for him. As the group began to run toward the forest of Lothlorien, Legolas urged his mind to go blank. He did not wish to dwell on the loss of Gandalf, nor on the feelings he had for Aragorn, nor on anything else until he was safe in the land of his kin. Perhaps the presence of elves would sooth his conflicted soul and set his mind at ease for the first time since the Fellowship entered Moria.
Aragorn also attempted to keep anything from entering his mind except the image of the ground beneath his feet. With Gandalf gone, he would have to lead the Fellowship, making the decisions regarding their path and the risks the group would take. Risks that could, and probably would, lead to the death of more of his friends. If it came down to it, who would Aragorn let fall? The Hobbits? Gimli? Legolas? No, Aragorn could not imagine losing any of them; the elf least of all. They had shared something in the dark of Moria, and though Aragorn knew not what it meant or where it would lead them, he knew that he would gladly lay down his life for the archer. Yet the responsibility of leading the Fellowship was paired with his duty to Gondor, to his future as the King of Men. It was all too much for Aragorn, and so he pushed his feelings of grief and fear out of his mind, focusing only on getting the remaining companions to the safety of the forest. Once there, Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn would be able to guide them in their next move. They would know what to do, and Aragorn would take whatever council they could give him.
It was not yet nightfall when the weary group entered the trees that marked the border into the realm of Lorien. Legolas, for one, felt immense relief. If not for the somber mood of his companions, the elf would have been singing to the trees that welcomed him so warmly into their presence. It felt like waking from a long and terrible sleep; the air was fresh and crisp, the forest alive with creatures and growing things, all of whom called out to Legolas. Though his heart was weighed down with grief for Gandalf, his soul was soaring at the freedom it found outside Moria. Even traveling to the forest was more a relief than a taxing journey. To run freely, without stone and darkness to hold him back, had been a joy for Legolas. He felt immensely better than he had in days, though now, as the Fellowship walked carefully along the path, the sorrow of death began to press upon him. He could not even bring himself to patronize Gimli for telling the hobbits a foolish tale of an elf witch in the woods.
Yet Legolas was not so distracted that he was unaware of the many sets of eyes watching them walk. His bow was notched with one of his few remaining arrows in a flash, knowing it was futile even as he did it. The company was already surrounded by the Galadhrim, and Haldir was remarking on the dwarf's loudness when Legolas lowered his weapon. It had been centuries since Legolas had set foot in the Golden Wood, yet it had changed little. Unchanged, also, was the Marchwarden of the forest. He firmly refused to permit them entrance to the city, knowing full well the burden Frodo carried. Legolas and Aragorn knew that they had to convince the elf otherwise, for the Fellowship had nowhere else to turn.
"Haldir, I understand your priority is the safety of this forest, but you cannot turn us away. There is more at stake here than you realize," Legolas told him in Elvish, trying to convey the full weight of his words through his eyes. He had known Haldir a long time; long enough for the Lorien Elf to understand that Legolas was not one to reveal emotion unless it was of the utmost importance. Still, he had his doubts.
"I will not be swayed in this matter, Legolas. The evil your company carries has no place in the Golden Wood. You may rest here on the border until all are refreshed and healed, but then I must ask you to continue on your journey."
This was not good enough for Aragorn, who could barely keep an even tone as he spoke; "Will you not send word to the Lady of the Woods at the very least? We are not your enemies, Haldir, and we are in need of her council."
"Indeed, Estel, for if you were a foe we would have shot you down long before you ever set eyes on us," Haldir retorted. Though he respected the man greatly, Haldir had trouble understanding Aragorn's impatience and quick temper. Feeling the need to settle the situation somewhat, he added, "It is best to wait for now. Lady Galadriel was aware of your presence here as soon as you set foot in the forest. We will know soon whether or not she wishes for you to proceed. Until that time, Son of Arathorn, you can do nothing, and so I bid you rest."
This was not what Aragorn wanted to hear, which he made known immediately The air filled with the angry sounds of arguing, and Legolas could see how frightened the hobbits were becoming at their lack of understanding of the Elvish words. From their point of view, the conversation had become increasingly intense. Now Aragorn was yelling and waving his arms about, while Haldir stood his ground with a dangerously calm expression on his face. Anyone could see that the disagreement would lead nowhere, for neither man nor elf would readily back down. Legolas decided it was best to step between the two before something worse happened.
"Saes! Haldir, Aragorn, this bickering is not going to help anything! Haldir is right; we must take this opportunity to rest, for the road before us is long, and we carry many burdens. The Lady will send word soon; we must trust in her judgment. Come Aragorn, we should tell the others and ease their discomfort."
Without waiting for a reply, Legolas moved across the talan to sit with the hobbits and explain to them what happened. He was frustrated; Aragorn knew better than to lose his temper in front of the others, and to an important figure like Haldir, no less. The Fellowship was already indebted to the hospitality of the marchwarden. Legolas understood Haldir's thinking; protecting his homeland came before any ties of friendship. Legolas knew this well from his own duty to Mirkwood; any threat to the forest was to be kept out at all costs. Of course, he hoped the Lady would allow them entrance to the forest city, but Legolas could hold no grudge if they were told to move on. For the time being, Legolas settled for bandaging the cuts and bruises of the hobbits, as well as his own small wound.
Aragorn felt the same way as Legolas, despite his earlier anger. He harbored no ill feelings for the Galadhrim; in fact, he respected them immensely. It was just the prospect of being turned away that frightened the man into his earlier actions. He had no plan for the company and nowhere else for them to go. He needed Galadriel's wisdom and any strength the elves could give him. Anyone else in his position would act just as irritable and impatient… except perhaps Legolas. The elf was right to interrupt him, though the remarks still stung his pride. Legolas was many hundreds of years older than he, yet the archer rarely used this as a means to gain authority. In fact, in all the years the two had been friends, Aragorn never remembered feeling mortal, for lack of a better word, when he was with Legolas. The elf allowed him to lead without question, giving Aragorn the false idea that they were equal, that Legolas wasn't older, wiser, and stronger. The fact that Legolas used this against him now was more a mark of the immortal's stress than anything else, but Aragorn still felt like a child who had to be reprimanded by a parent.
Before Aragorn was able to brood further on this matter, Haldir approached him. The man stood quickly, intending to apologize to the elf for his rudeness. But before he could even open his mouth, Haldir cut him off with a wave of his hand.
"'Tis no matter, Estel. You were looking out for the well-being of your companions, as was I. Let us put it behind us, for word has arrived from the Lady Galadriel. She has granted your fellowship passage to the city, and wishes to speak to you all upon your arrival. Please make haste to gather the others; we leave shortly."
With that the Marchwarden turned and left to gather his own followers. Unnoticed by Aragorn, the elf could not keep a smile off his normally stoic face. Haldir simply could not understand mortals; one moment Estel was ready to do him physical harm, and the next he looked relieved enough to hug him. They were a strange race, men. Not to be trusted as a whole, yet still able to surprise even the oldest of elves. Haldir knew the following days and even weeks would be interesting to behold; an odd assortment of races living in the heart of Lothlorien, mingling with the fair race… yes, Haldir was certainly looking forward to this visit.
The walk through the woods was a silent one, with each member of the Fellowship marveling at the beauty of the forest. Yet none were so filled with joy and wonder as Legolas. He felt fresh and new, as though everything before the mines was part of another life. The songs of the forest had never felt so strong and lovely; even the feeling of the earth beneath his feet filled him with gladness. His previous anger at Aragorn's outburst was forgotten, and the grief he felt at Gandalf's fall was numbed, though not quite gone. This feeling of bliss increased tenfold when the group entered the great city of light, with its enormous trees and elaborate talans, all filled with elves.
All were relieved; they were safe, and would soon be in the presence of the Lady of Light. She would give them direction and a renewed sense of hope for the road ahead. Not to mention, thought each hobbit to himself, a soft bed and a warm meal or two.
A/N: Let me just say that I am very excited for the next chapter, because it makes me smile. I just thought I'd tell you that so you'll be full of anticipation for when I post again. Teeheehee.