Chapter Twelve

~ Legolas ~
I could see that something had once again changed between Elena and Aragorn. The two seemed more relaxed in each other's company, and overnight Aragorn had suddenly acquired a fierce protectiveness where Elena was concerned.

Like right now, for example.

Mithrandir had apparently forgotten the path now, and we waited for him to figure out which road we were to take. Aragorn, Elena, and Boromir sat together, and I stood by Aragorn's side. Elena's eyes were closed, and her head rested on Aragorn's shoulder. I could tell that she was exhausted, and her steady, quiet breathing told me that she was in a light sleep. I was surprised that Aragorn would tolerate such an open display, but he had merely smiled fondly at the girl.

I frowned slowly. It was rumored that Aragorn was in love with Arwen, Elrond's daughter, so why would he allow a woman to act thusly?

But as I studied the way the two sat, different revelations seemed to appear. Elena's relaxed posture indicated complete trust in Aragorn, whose body posture was such that he both supported and protected her. In fact, the way he sat indicated not love, but more a fatherly affection for the girl. And Elena's head on Aragorn's shoulder was not because she felt love for him, but rather a sort of . . . trust that he would protect her.

"Ah!" Mithrandir said suddenly. I looked over to him as he nodded toward one of the paths. "It's that way!"

~ Aragorn ~
I whirled around just in time to see Estel stumble over something. Instantly, I reached out and snatched her back from falling flat on her face. She gave me a grateful smile before scowling over her shoulder at the offending piece of rock she had tripped on.

I couldn't help but offer a small smile in return. She reminded me so much of myself when I had been younger that sometimes I just could not understand how I could not have seen the connection between us.

"I don't like this place," I heard Estel mutter under her breath.

I put my hand on her shoulder. "We're almost at the end," I reassured her. I saw Estel bite her lip. I knew that she didn't like it down in Moria. I could tell from her actions that she would rather be caged anew – as she had been as a slave – than be forced to dwell in the freedom in the darkness that was Moria.

I glanced around, and then leaned closer to Estel as if telling a secret. "To be honest, Estel, you won't be the only person who will be very relieved when we leave Moria," I told her quietly.

Estel took a deep breath. "Thank you," she said. "Sorry for moping."

I smiled. "It's all right," I replied at once. "You're the youngest one here, Estel. No one expects you to behave perfectly."

Estel scowled at when I mentioned her being the youngest. "Age means nothing."

I raised an eyebrow and opened my mouth.

"Don't even go there, Aragorn Arathornion," she snapped, her thankful tone – and fear – dissolving to be replaced by a feistier one. "Just because you are at the prime of your life doesn't mean we all are."

I smiled innocently. "Isn't that exactly what I said?" I asked pointedly.

Estel glared at me, but the glare melted away as my point got across to her. I hugged her briefly. "Relax, Estel. You'll be fine."

"Gimli!" I looked up just in time to see the Dwarf in question sprint away from the group.

~ Boromir ~
I halted just in front of the gap. I had learned my lesson with the other gap, where I had nearly fallen over if Legolas hadn't seized me and yanked me back. Legolas leaped across the gap first. The Elf's natural abilities allowed him to land easily on the other side. I eyed the gap dubiously. We weren't all Elves, and it was like Legolas could ferry us back and forth. How were we supposed to cross?

The Elf gestured to Gandalf. "Gandalf," he said, his voice barely heard above the rumble of whatever was coming.

The wizard hesitated for a moment before jumping. He landed safely. Arrows began to fall all around us. I saw Legolas whirl around and begin to return fire.

Not stopping to think, which would probably result in my common sense overcoming my thinking to jump, I snatched up Merry and Pippin and leaped across with a shout. Aragorn tossed Sam over next, but Gimli jumped himself – and had to be pulled up by the beard by the Elf.

I looked across the gap. Only three remained on the other side – Aragorn, Frodo, and Elena. I felt the urge to call out, to shout to them to hurry.

The creature roared again.

~ Aragorn ~
Only three of us left, I thought. But those three couldn't be of a worse combination. It was Frodo, the Ring-bearer, the only hope for destroying the Ring. It was me, last heir to the throne of Gondor.

And it was Estel, the very last heir left of all.

Estel seemed to comprehend the situation just as fast. She seized Frodo and tossed him to Legolas, who caught him easily. But as she made to jump, the Balrog roared. Pieces of stone fell and dust flew.

I leaped forward to yank Estel back as the end of the structure crumbled. She fell backward, taking me with her. I rose to my feet at once, surveying the situation. The gap was even bigger now; there was no way in Valinor that we could jump across that gap and make it to the other side.

I grabbed Estel's shoulder as a huge stone crashed into the stairs behind us. "Steady!" I told her. She merely clung closer to me.

I gazed at her. Her grey-blue eyes were filled with equal amounts of fear and determination. She was so young. And she was truly the last hope for her people.

"Do you trust me?" I asked her, gazing into her eyes and seeing bits of Arwen's grey and my blue.

The whole world seemed to suddenly slow down and freeze. Everything seemed to be watching, holding its breath for this moment. I could no longer hear the roars of the Balrog, no longer see the arrows raining down from above, no longer feel the heat of the fires.

All I saw was Estel.

For a long moment that seemed to stretch into eternity, Estel looked at me and I looked at her, waiting for her answer. The plan that was half-formed in my mind wouldn't work without her trusting me. Would Estel, my descendant who had been raised to doubt my existence, still doubt me?

Then she nodded, and everything speeded back up.

As the bridge began falling towards the others, I tightened my hold on Estel. I wasn't so sure if my plan would work, but if it did not, I would make one last attempt to get her over.

~ Estel ~
I could only register numbness. I walked automatically into the woods of Lothlórien, not even thinking. Nothing in the tales and legends and stories I had read and heard had ever told me that Mithrandir had died. Nothing!

"Elena?"

I looked up, not bothering to conceal the tears in my eyes, to see Legolas. "I . . . didn't even get a chance to say good-bye," I choked out. I felt at once ashamed of my weakness, but I was past caring right now. The wizard had been a steadying figure in this dizzying world that was my past, and now he was gone.

He was dead.

Legolas came closer. His hands came up to rest on my shoulders. "He would not have wanted you to wallow in grief," he said softly.

Those words registered deeply within me. Legolas spoke the truth. Mithrandir would not have wanted to walk weeping and doing nothing because he had died.

I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders, giving Legolas a nod. He gave me a brief smile, which then turned into a frown.

"They say that a great sorceress lives in these woods, an Elf-witch of terrible power," Gimli was saying in a hushed voice. Legolas scowled at this insult. I quickly grabbed his arm, restraining him before he did something he would regret. "All who look upon her fall under her spell . . . and are never seen again."

I exchanged a puzzled glance with Legolas. I knew that Aragorn had been to Lothlórien before – when he and Arwen Undómiel had pledged their troth – and he was here, safe and sound and under no spell of any sort. What was so scary about Lothlórien?

"Well, here is one Dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox – "

Gimli cut off abruptly as Elves suddenly appeared around us, bows at the ready. Legolas in a flash has his own bow out and ready, although I doubted that he would have ever actually fired on his own kin. I set my hand cautiously on my dagger, although I didn't think I would need it.

Aragorn looked around for a moment before a tall, golden-haired Elf appeared. "The dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark," he stated, giving Gimli a superior look.