Disclaimer: I have never owned any LOTR or any of its affiliates.
Curious about the song in the last chapter? It's by one of my fave artists: "Fade Into Darkness" by Avicii. I have no ownership at all to it. Also, one of my other fave songs in here, if you are a Firefly fan, sweet… sing it in your head – "The Ballad of Serenity" theme song version. I do not own that all either. Everything is to their appropriate owners.
To my reviewers who asked, you have received! POV: All Legolas. It's hard for me to adapt to appropriate linguistics of speech to how they formally talk in Middle-Earth, so my bad! XD Also, sorry it's so darn CHEESEY! BAHAHAHA :P
DO NOT FLAME ME FOR GRAMMAR/SPELLING BECAUSE I KNOW ABOUT IT. I DO NOT HAVE A BETA! Please PM me if you would like to assist me in those areas including punctuation. I don't take it seriously enough because this is just for fun. This is enough to make sense of it yourself and sorry if this throws you off.
This is all for my own pure enjoyment and I hope you all will enjoy it as well. Don't forget to review! :D
Chapter 9: Turned the Other Cheek
I had just arrived just after nightfall from a scouting mission, when I had heard of the witch and the hobbit who bears the Ring of Power sitting together on a bench in an open circled stone area chatting away. My first instinct was to keep an eye on her in case she tries to take the ring the Ringbearer. I carefully lightfooted my way behind walls an pillars until she was in my eyesight and path in case I needed to hold her down.
But I couldn't help be distracted by their conversation.
So indeed she was married. Perhaps I have had some prejudice against men who can take on multiple partners in their lifetime while the elves have but one and we tend to not to move onto another partner if something happens to our significant other.
So she has not bewitched her husband after all. After her husband had the affair, he wanted the witch back more than ever, but she refused him. Very intriguing. Seems as though she wanted to express how much worth she is. That is an excellent thought she had shared. You want to be with your love who already values your importance and not to enlighten you after such a grave mistake. I do wonder, why not find another husband. She is no elf, so why is she taking her time in finding another one? I do not understand the Race of Men at times, but it may be possible that her values are a little different than the values are held here. Curiosity of cultures has sprung my mind. I really shouldn't have said that her husband was bewitched and then set free. That comment, when I look back, was completely inappropriate and insulting.
I witness to see that she brings the Ringbearer closer to her embrace. I bring my guard and reach for bow and arrow that are on my back. I quietly draw an arrow on my bow and take aim. She may be doing something to him, until I heard a sweet, soft, clear voice of her song…
Looking up there's, always sky
Rest your head, I'll take you high
We won't fade into darkness
Won't let you fade into darkness
Why worry now
You'll be safe
Hold my hand, just in case
And we won't fade into darkness
Fade into darkness
No we won't fade into darkness
Fade into darkness
Fade into darkness
And we won't fade into darkness
Fade into darkness
No we won't fade into darkness
This world can seem cold and gray
But you and I are here today (I started to lower my bow.)
And we won't fade into darkness
Fade into darkness
Nothing to fear but fear itself
We'll be ok just keep the faith
And we won't fade into darkness
"We won't fade into darkness…"
By the Valar, how can this woman, with such a soothing soft sound come out of her? It is not perfect, this is very true, but I am shocked that a normal soothing sound came from her mouth. This song fits the both of them so well. I shake my head. No! This is how she bewitches males of all races! I draw my bow again, until I see her kneel before Frodo. I hear her speaking to him as if she cares for him very much, to remember the song she had sang, to not fade into the darkness. This song matches the state of their minds very much as well. She almost seems as if she is begging for him to not to go into the darkness. But how can this be? She IS the darkness. I do not understand!
She does not want the energy inside her to consume her either. She is very afraid.
I can see it now. She truly does not wish harm on us. I lower my bow again to put it away on my back this time. She encourages Frodo to destroy the Ring; he is the only one, but that she will always be there for him. And if that the Ring of Power is not destroyed, than she nor Middle-Earth will be set free from it. I see on the hobbit's face that he is inspired and encouraged to aspire to destroy the evil that sits with them both, but he still holds so much fear.
I witness the young hobbit yawn and thanks her for her singing. She is not perfect like an elf, but for her, it quite fits her. I was almost captured by it due to the words, the situation, her melody and tone, it had all come together to fit the scenario set before me.
She sits down on the bench again after they had bid each other goodnight. She is not tired as of yet? It is so late and I do know that men and women tend to sleep at this time of night. She sees the stars and I see her close her eyes. She almost looks very elegant right now. The stars are shining bright, her dress slightly glitters under the moonlight, and her hair flowing because of a normal breeze.
I listen to her sing the words again.
"And we won't fade into darkness
Fade into darkness
No we won't fade into darkness
This world may seem cold and gray
But you and I are here today
And we won't fade into darkness
Fade into darkness…"
She sang that verse again. Has this world been cruel to her? I know I haven't treated her much better. I have treated her all wrong. No one here is bewitched or spell bounded. She is a scared little girl who came upon our world in the worse circumstances.
"I don't want to fade into darkness… please… I don't want to fade…" I see her talk to herself, begging to anything that will hear her and grant her wish. She wishes to not be evil; she does not want to lose.
I have been wrong about her this entire time… what have I done?
I see her body tremble. Perhaps she is cold. I hear her breathing becoming heavier and she begins coughing. It looked as though she may vomit by such a force she is using. She finishes and then she looks at her hand that she used to cover her mouth. I'm still very reluctant in getting closer to her. I don't know if that power will have the same effect it does on Glorfindel or something different. I need to approach this slowly.
Blood. Her own blood on her hand. Is she feeling the illness again as when it was the night before the counsel? But there was so much blood in her room, there was no way her coughs were that terrible to spread it amongst a room. This is something different… something different is happening now then what had happened in her room.
I started to move away from where I had hid in the shadows once she started to rise from where she sat. "Gandalf…" I heard her voice, raspy and low. She could not walk properly as I see her drag her feet. I had stayed behind her at bit of a distance. "Elena? Can you hear me?" She didn't even pay attention to me. She focused on walking until I heard her use curse words when we entered a hallway. "Fuck this…" She put her back onto a wall and slid down. I rushed to her side and I had felt her forehead. She is very warm! I don't even think she knows that I am right in front her.
I then feel a sudden heavy weight on my chest, in which I start to breathe just a bit slower and deeper. This is perhaps what Glorfindel must feel when he is close to her. This is when I must overcome my fear and prejudice against her. She and Frodo are the real victims in the ordeal. How could I have been so insensitive all this time? I see her face is sweating and her breathing is still heavy and slow. I must do the right thing. She has been this way entire time since the Council of Elrond, trying to convince everyone that she is not evil and that she will now do her best in aiding the Fellowship. Then it dawned on me: I actually said something terrible about her failed marriage.
"I will take you to Gandalf." I had said to her. I don't even know if she heard me this time. I place one arm under her bent knees and another arm on her back and I begin to lift her and quickly rush my way to Gandalf's quarters. I stumble a bit being surprised by her weight. A little heavier than other women I have carried to safety in the past.
I try to run swiftly with ease to not disgruntle her in my arms. "Please don't hurt me…" She says in her delirium. My heart goes out to her as she said this. She still asks that no one hurts her. No one has. The other elves, with the exception of Lord Elrond and Lady Arwen, shun her. Is it possible since I am making contact, she thinks that I will hurt her?
"No one will harm you. Gandalf will take care of you." She nods slowly in my embrace and rubs her head closer in between my arm and my chest. Such an innocent gesture. This fouled mouth, pestering, unlady like young woman can look so childlike and peaceful. I can see a hint of beauty even through her heavy breathing, blood stained mouth area. She looks as though I had just found her near a distraught village.
I arrive to Gandalf's quarters and notice that there is a light. Good, it seems that he still awake. I adjust myself a bit and Elena so that I may talk on the door three times. I hear footsteps and Gandalf opens the door. He looks to me and then to Elena, smoking his pipeweed.
"Seems as though you have run into some sort of trouble there, Your Majesty." He seems very serious at this moment, not taking his eyes off of me. He moves to one side and nods his head toward his bed. I quickly rush in and set Elena down. I gather a pillow for her and move it under her head making sure she is comfortable.
"Is there anything that I should know about, Legolas?" I look back towards the voice, and Gandalf is now standing by his desk, close to the bed. He looks quite frightening by candlelight.
"Gandalf, please do not imply that I had done any harm to Elena. I had found her in her in this condition as I came back from s scouting mission." Though I do not blame him for having such assumptions. I have not treated this girl very well since she was revealed to hold the energy of the Dark Lord Morgoth.
I believe that Gandalf has seen truth upon my face, for he lowers his guarded face and nods. "Tell me what you have seen." He asked.
"I had come back from scouting trip and I came upon her and Frodo having a light chat. I don't know how long it was, but he had just bid her farewell. She sat down on a bench, I saw her coughing and when she had finished and pulled back her hand, I had seen that she had shed blood from her mouth, to which I believe is from her coughing. Then she had tried to go see you, but she could barely walk. She had to drag her feet to move, until she gave up and slid down a hallway. She never noticed my presence at all. I feel it in her temperature that she is very hot, and sweating. Her breathing rhythm fears me as well because I do not believe men have that as a normal rhythm. Then again, she is only half man."
Gandalf nods, absorbing all the information I had just recited. He reaches to his desk, opens a drawer, and pulls out a vile of a blue potion perhaps. "Give this to Elena, and she will recover from this. This is not a cure, but rather a treatment that can erase her symptoms temporarily, but not her energy." He hands me the vile that is only but the size of my palm and as wide as my thumb. "Why must I give it to her?" I do have to ask.
I see Gandalf leaving for the door already. "I have no intention to just sit here and dawdle. She will be fine and will recover once you get her to drink the solution. I must inform Lord Elrond immediately of whenever Elena has a reaction to the energy. The faster I go, the faster he'll know. Thank you Legolas. You have done your good deed for her. You owe her no more." And he shuts the door behind him.
I stand there in between the desk and the bed looking at the door dumbfounded. I turn back to Elena and I see her having another coughing scenario. She sits up quickly covering her mouth with one hand and other hand supports her balance. I rush to her side and sit on the bed next to her form. I lightly rub her upper back and gently pat it. I don't know what to do with this, but she hasn't swatted me away yet. Once she was done, she took her hand away and we had seen more fresh blood on her hand.
"Damn it. Damn it…" She sounds like as if she is about to cry. "When is this going to stop…?" I do feel sorry for her at this point.
She truly is cursed.
"I don't know when it will. You must endure this alone." Was all I could say. I do not think she realized I was there in the room with her until she whipped her head and I noticed our faces were very close.
She seemed baffled by my presence. "Wha-wha-what are you doing here?" She leapt off the bed quickly and pointed at me, but she almost stumbled. "Are you here to kill me Mirkwood Prince!?" She yelled. "Shh! Not so loud! No I am not here to kill you!" I hissed. I had risen my hands to show that I will do no harm to her. "Please calm down and rest. You had been coughing, and you have lost blood. Please don't put yourself in such hysterical behavior and rest." I tried to encourage, but she doesn't believe me.
"Yeah right. I bet all the elves around here chose you to kill me! I'm not here to do… I'm not…going to do anything bad. I promise." I see tears streaming down her face. All this time she is undergoing so much stress and difficulty and being ill at the same time, is not the best time to express it, but it seems as though she has reached a peak.
"Please listen Elena. We are in Gandalf's quarters right now and he has given me this potion to help you get better. See?" I showed her the vile. We had the bed in between us, so I outstretched my arm to help her get a closer look. She walked a few steps toward the bed, leaned towards it to see the solution, and stood up straight again. "No! You have poison! Gandalf wouldn't give that vile to anyone!"
I was getting frustrated. "You stubborn little girl! I am trying to help you! Who do you think brought you here in this room when you were just about to be in the cold and faint!" Her facial expression brought her anger into a meaning of calm and realization.
"You did? That can't be right. You hate me. Everyone does." She is shocked.
"I do… I did. I don't know. Perhaps not anymore. I have seen the truth now that you are not here to do us harm, on purpose that is." I shrugged my shoulders. I brought my arm back to my side.
"You did know it, but you were too stupid to realize it." She huffed. Alright. I suppose for being blind by my own prejudice against her, I wasn't in my right thoughts and logic, let alone compassion.
"Alas! I do believe you now." Before I could say anymore, she started to lose her center of balance and was about to fall the ground until I leapt onto the bed then to the floor on her side to catch her. I brought her to my embrace again and she looked up.
Her face was glistening under the candlelight which caused a gentle glow on her face, her eyes are of a deep brown, and her hair, quite odd, she has brown, some black, and some blue in it, by the back of her neck. How did she achieve such a color. I think she has noticed that my eyes trailed to her hair because she answered my question.
"The blue in my hair… it is from intense color dying. Completely normal and fun thing to do in my world." She giggles. "I miss home…" She breathes in deeply. I notice the blood is around her lip area. I don't know what possessed me, but I use the sleeve of my forearm to wipe it away from her mouth. After two to three wipes she was clean again. She grins. "Thank you, Master Elf." She wipes her hand that she used to cough with on her dress. After quite a few wipes, she shows it to me that it is clean. "Well done." She stares into my eyes this time…
"Wow. You have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. Enchanting crystallized blue, like the oceans, and a hint of gray streaks. A color I never ever see. Your hair so blond and shiny, that never falters even during a battle." I couldn't help but looking at her in a strange way. She is not like others I have met.
"Thank you for the compliment Elena. Now you really must rest. Take the potion and sleep." I lifted her up back into my arms and settled her on the bed. I put a blanket over her and I see her nestle herself underneath the covers. I hand her the vile and she drank it on her own. Almost immediately, her eyes begin to shut.
"Thanks Prince. You know, you're not so bad after all." She said and took a deep breath.
"Neither are you Elena." I start to make my way to the exit until I feel as though guilt as stuck me in my chest. I have treated her poorly, even haughtily at times during her stay here in Rivendell.
"You haven't left yet." I hear her sigh.
"Yes." I catch my breath as if I was caught.
"You can go back to your room now. Don't worry about anything. Gandalf will be back soon, that's for sure. He just has to tell Lord Elrond what happened. It's not the first time."
Not the first time? "Oh. I will bid you goodnight then." This is the moment for me to leave then.
"Good-"She coughs a little. I couldn't help but try to look, make myself taller or lean to the side, to see if she is spreading blood. "Night."
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. No blood."
"That's a relief." And I was. I have such a pang in my heart now of how I treated this woman, I can at least see that she is doing worse. I wonder if she has any ill will against me. Possibly revenge?
"You can go. Have a good night, Prince. And thank you." I shook my head. I cannot see her facial reactions because her back is to me, but I can tell in her voice, that she is trying to stay as melancholy as possible.
I shrugged a bit, not wanting to be called by my title. "Please call me Legolas, Elena." Then I see her turn over from her bed, and on her face, is it the look of hope?
"So… I'll see you around?"
I sigh with a half grin. "Around the city? Most likely. Goodnight." This is when I made my exit back to my flet. I laughed softly to myself. How many times did we just say goodnight to each other?
I think to myself, there seems to be no distress in her voice. She does not sound or appear angry at me.
We shall see what happens tomorrow.
Should I check on her on how she is doing this day? It is almost the beginning of the afternoon, and I haven't seen her yet.
No. She is fine and has Gandalf to look after her. As he said, she is of no concern of mine. Though once you see what I have seen, you cannot help but to slightly worry and be more curious about her. Was it the same illness that I had seen that one night before the Council of Elrond? How many times has this happened to her? I don't even know her that well and I'm going to be on a journey with her for some time.
Even the dwarf, Gimli, has spent time with her drinking ale and other wines.
What have I been doing? Glorfindel, Arwen, and Lord Elrond, possibly Erestor, are the only elves in this city who respect her and dare I say, find her charming? They seem to develop closer relationships than respect.
This is too much to think about. Perhaps, I should do what the others do and just, talk with her.
A new day has sprung and I am already out and about in Rivendell and walking light. I decided to wear my light blue tunic that I wear under my brown-green one, and my brown light boots and leggings. I have been on scouting missions throughout my stay here and I am doting on the time I have to myself when I am not off on another objective in retrieving information of the whereabouts of Sauron's evil trails. I had spoken to Aragorn this morning concerning Elena before he left on another outing to speak to the Dunedain.
He seemed very concerned of her. Who wouldn't when someone shared with you that the person you are to train and protect on this journey is spewing up blood and has dizzy spells. I could see the worry and anguish in his eyes and expressions that he wishes that he could do something for her, but he is frustrated that he cannot. He only mentioned to me that she would need her rest in the meantime while he is away. I can only assume that he heard the news from either Lord Elrond or Gandalf about Elena's turmoil last night.
Continuing my way around this city, I come upon Lord Elrond and Gandalf and they had ceased their conversation as soon as their eyes turned to me. Not being rude, I walked towards them and I bowed. "Greetings Lord Elrond. Gandalf."
"Legolas, I understand from Gandalf that you had brought Elena to his quarters when she became ill. I would like to thank you for that even though I understand your prejudice against her." Lord Elrond slightly bowed with his head to me, though I do not understand why. "It did not inconvenience me at all. I believe that I have reached an understanding and an acceptance of her presence and of her current situation. I can only apologize that I have treated her so unjustly during our stay here." I lowered my head apologetically and I hear a scoff from Gandalf, and do I detect a hint of chuckling?
"Dear Mirkwood Prince. You have settled your score and owe her nothing more or less. Your assistance to her last night was all that she needed. She is only looking for acceptance. She knows all the peoples will fear her. She is from a distant world that none of us can ever comprehend unless we experience it for ourselves. She is full of wonder and oddity that even though I have spent all my time with her, I can't ever truly know what she is thinking." He lays a hand on my shoulder to give me a minor shake and puts it down. "Do not worry for her. Once we depart, you will not need to keep her from harm."
That is true. It will not be my responsibility to protect her, but to protect the Ringbearer on this journey.
"I understand. I am only required to protect the Ringbearer."
"You may go Legolas. I still have much to discuss with Mithrandir." I bow and I see them turn and leave. My curiosity had gotten the best of me.
"Out of curiosity, and forgive me if I am out of line, but, how is Elena fairing from her illness last night. I haven't seen her around the city." They halted their movements and turned around. I stepped closer to them and I didn't hide my mild concerned expression.
They looked at each other as if they were having a conversation and then they turned to me. Gandalf turned to me and shared a small smile. "She is doing well. She is peacefully resting in my quarters."
"And Arwen is with her helping her be comfortable." Lord Elrond mentioned. "Is there anything else you would like to know?"
Of course I have more questions. "Will she ever be free from this curse?" I see them both shift in their stances and Gandalf lightly coughed. "We don't know. This is the first time I have ever seen this in all my years and I would absolutely want to say that she will be free once the Ring is destroyed. That is my only hope."
"But that answer is not set in stone. This is not Sauron's energy, but that of his predecessor. She is not a child of Ilúvatar like the rest of us. We do not know if the Valar will want to help her, and perhaps, worst case scenario, will want to see her destroyed or to be put away into the Void where Morgoth resides. We ultimately do not know her fate and for my foresight is very dark and I cannot see what awaits her." Lord Elrond said in a somber voice as he rubs his forehead.
"Destroyed or set forth into the Void? But she is so- she'll die either way!" I had lost control of my voice and my composure stumbled upon hearing this news of possibilities.
"Keep your voice down!" We all looked around, hoping that no one had heard my little outburst. "That is the worst case scenario. We do not know for sure. There is no concrete answer until we finish our mission. There is no room for experimentation but to only keep going forward. She must come with us to see that through." Gandalf finished.
My eyes can only grow wide. This young girl, young woman I should say, has no idea what is in front of her.
She could either be at death's door or at the Void's…
"Is there nothing that we can do for her?" I whispered aloud.
"We must leave Rivendell soon, prepare her for battle, possibly find her friend, and destroy the Ring of Power."
Her friend? "She came to this world with a friend?" They only nod. I grow curiouser…
"Yes. She did. In their world, they were surrounded by darkness. From what Elena had said, she saw her friend, Layla, heading towards a white light, and sadly, Elena was surrounded by the Eye of Sauron. Once that happened, she came to me as sphere of fire and well, you remember the rest." I do. She appeared to Gandalf as a sphere of fire in the shape of Sauron's fiery eye, turned white, took her shape, and she was very injured and branded.
"Branded by one of the Dark Lords? Where and what are these brandings?" More questions about here are rising. I want to know more.
Lord Elrond spoke. "That's enough talk of this. We must be off. She is like an open book, Legolas. Why don't you ask her yourself."
Gandalf digs into his pocket and gives me another blue vile, another one like the one he handed me last night. "Just in case. Arwen and Frodo have one too if she has another sickly moment. It doesn't hurt to have one on your person." Then they take their leave.
So much information that I have taken in. I have learned more about Elena's possible fate, and it even fears me. It's also very sad, some so very young, not knowing anything in this world to suffer so much. I have lived for almost three thousand years, and I have only experienced external horrors of my father's kingdom succumbing to the darkness, the spiders arriving, and more orcs than ever, but to have something inside your very being, changing what you are, causing illness and suffering the weight of darkness, knowing that your body is belonging to someone else…
By the Valar, how do you survive that?
I then make way to Gandalf's quarters, making typical greetings to other elves whom I pass by. These are the ones who continue to give Elena the cold shoulder, and I do not blame them. They fear what is inside of her.
I approached the door and I can already hear voices… and laughter?
"Oh my God Arwen, seriously? He can't be that bad… come on now, he was raised with Elves. You would think more often he would do that." That's Elena's voice.
"I would have to yell at him at times to get him to take a bath once he comes home. The turmoil I go through so I can at least embrace him without scrunching my noise and holding my breath so I would try and not smell him!" Arwen's voice.
It sounds like they are having a good time chatting away. I decided to listen in more.
"Please, no matter where you go, a man is a man. They think they can do whatever they want." Elena seems to be giggling.
"And so do you Lady Elena. You think just because you are feeling better, you think should go on out and about."
"I can't help it I just get so bored of just being in bed all day. The potion Gandalf makes for me allows me to sleep so deeply, so once I wake up, I'm so refreshed. This time though, I do have a bit of a headache, so I will take it easy once it's gone. Just keep me company!" I hear her whine.
"Alright. Alright. I just don't want you to push yourself, but I do have to go see to a few things. I need to visit the seamstresses about making you your light traveling clothes and proper boots. It seems that since your body is becoming more fitting for the journey, we must tuck them in." She said that as if it congratulatory.
"Yeeessssssssss! Woo hoo! I never would have thought that would happen to me! That beautiful phrase… 'we must tuck them in'… I never would have lost weight back home. It's so hard." Why would it be difficult to have a balanced diet and physical activity in her world? And why would she worry about what her body looked like. She seems like the other elleths around here, just not a real elf. Though I do not pay too much attention to the elleths anyway.
"From all the stories you have told me, I can only imagine the horrors." I hear Arwen's giggle. "I will return once I am finished and we can have more of this 'girl talk', as you call it, tomorrow. I'll bring the wine."
"Aw yeah! Then we'll really grind our gears!"
"So I will see you then." I hear shuffling. I start to walk away from the door and hide behind a wall. "Alrighty then Arwen. Tell Sivela I said hi and thanks for making me my stuff." I look towards the door and I see her come out. I hide once again, knowing for a fact she did not see me, but I can now feel her presence adjacent to me, but behind me on the corner of the wall.
"I heard what you have done for her last night Legolas. I was just as surprised as she was when it was you who told her. After witnessing it all, do you finally understand what she is going through?"
I did not see her at all, but only leaned my back to the wall, let out a sigh, and looked straight ahead. "I do. I wanted to know how she is doing." I have a feeling she knew I was eavesdropping on their conversation, but she told me anyway. "She's doing well. She does have headaches from time to time in addition to dizzy spells, but she fights them off, wanting to do other things."
"That is a relieve. I'm happy to hear that she is doing better." I said. I genuinely meant it.
"Please, don't cause her anymore stress. I know the man Boromir still does, but he hasn't had a chance to see her like you did when you saw her last night. She is actually a very sweet girl, and quite humorous."
"And odd. Very odd." We shared a light laughter.
"Yes Legolas, I agree. If you would like to speak with her, I don't think she would mind. She is like an open book once you warm up to her." Her father said the same thing about her as well. At lease Elena doesn't seem so closed off, but when I first met her, she didn't want to share too much information about herself.
"I understand. Talking to her wouldn't do any harm. I'm not even on the same level as, Gimli. Even he has shared drinks with her." I scoffed. Dwarves and their drinks…
"I remember, I was there, and Elena can certainly hold her drink." Arwen let out a giggle. "Gimli and Elena almost fainted from the alcohol. They had so much, calling each other names, wanting to fight each other, it was so… refreshing and vexing. She is different when she is drunk."
Now I know she can drink like dwarf.
I started to feel serious and her laughter died down. "Arwen. Do you… do you ever feel the darkness in her? Perhaps, do you fear her at times?" I hear her sigh and she begins to talk again. "Yes and no. It is a difficult thing to feel, but I feel that somehow, even though she is not the child of the Ilúvatar, I believe she will be saved. I feel the heaviness in my heart, but nothing lethal. It's as if, the energy is only wanting to be acknowledged that it does exist inside her. She tells me that she feels the heavy feelings on her chest, and when it is the heaviest, that's when she starts to cough. It's as if the energy speaks to her mind, trying to convince her to take the form of an elf. None of us know, let alone Elena, if she will still be herself if she happens to accept this power. If she ever does, the more reason to keep her away from Sauron himself. She cannot be near Frodo for long due to him carrying the Ring of Power, because it being his predecessor's energy, it adds to her discomfort and fear that she may change into something else, but she takes the risk to being with her friend."
"How selfish. Risking the lives and this world just wanting to be with your friend." I do believe that it is selfish.
"Can you blame her? She's been alone with this burden, and so has Frodo, and they seek each other out because they are on this common ground all alone. Please Legolas. They need each other at this moment to share the burden, otherwise, the burden would consume them separately. Together, they can motivate one another to stay strong."
That's when I remembered Elena speaking with Frodo last night and sharing her song about not wanting to fade into darkness.
Another thing I come to understand now.
"I see."
"I must be off and see to the seamstresses. Do not hesitate to speak with her. Quickly now, before the hobbits get to her. They are quite protective of her since the council last month. Goodbye Legolas." I hear walk away. "Till next time Arwen." I replied.
I walk towards Gandalf's door again and before I knock, I hear her humming a somber slow tune, and then she begins to sings:
"Take my love, take my land
Take me where I cannot stand.
I don't care, I'm still free
You can't the sky from me
Take me out, to the Black
Tell'em I ain't coming back
Burn the land and boil the sea
You can't take the sky from me
Have no place I can be
Since I found Serenity
But you can't take the sky from me…"
Why would she sing those words? Those specific words sound so selfish. Where is this 'Black?' Burning the land? Boil the sea? What in the world could she mean that as long as she has the sky?
My curiosity grows more of her.
I knock on the door and I hear a gasp. "Yeah uh, come in!" I hear her clear her throat and I walk in.
I give her a questioning look and she gives one right back to me. "Legolas? Hi. What are you doing here?" She was standing next to the bed and she seemed to breathe a little more than normal. It's as if I almost caught her doing something she didn't want to show anybody. "Hello Elena. I wanted to see how you are fairing from last night's illness." I walk closer to her room and I stand opposite side of the bed, and once again, we have the bed in between us.
She fidgets a bit but then starts stretching her arms. "I'm better. Just a sore throat and a little headache, otherwise, my fever broke, and I'm pretty much there to refreshness… thanks for asking though and checking on me. How are you?"
Now it was my turn to shrug a little. I don't know what to say. I have many questions to ask of her, but I couldn't say one. I need to break this tension. "I'm well thank you. I was walking along in this area and decided to see you." I coughed. So much uncomfortable feelings in this room, I could probably pierce an arrow with it. She raises an eyebrow and smirks, "You wanted to see me huh?" Now she's getting cheeky…
"No! No! Not that I didn't want to see you. I just wanted to check on you. I brought you here to Gandalf's quarters myself of course your rescuer would want to see how you are doing. To know that my actions did not just go in vain."
She keeps her smirk and crosses her arms. "Uh-huh yeah sure. Keep telling yourself that, Lego. For your assurance, yes, I am fairing well. Thank you for last night."
"My name is Legolas." I hesitantly cross my arms and looked around the room. I have no idea why I am acting this way. This is so strange. I have to see her as a normal being.
She is normal.
She is not evil.
She is not a witch.
Alas! She is not normal. She is half mortal and immortal at the moment, but she is not evil.
She did not choose this life.
"I know I scare you. I know you're frustrated, slightly angry and scared." She says out of nowhere and sighs.
My arms come back to my side and I put on a guarded face. "I am neither of those things you speak of."
"You can't lie to me. The energy in me tells me so- uh- I just feel it I mean. I've been learning this new technique since I have been in Rivendell. I figured it out, or Gandalf helped me figured it out one night after I was done training. Because I contain negative dark energy, I can sense those feelings in others. Just like Frodo can with the Ring of Power. That's why it grows stronger when there are negative feelings around it. We both can feel it." Then stares into my eyes. "Listen, its okay if you don't want to deal with me. At least I know you tried to get along with me and that's what counts. Thank you." She smiles.
Then it reminded me of what Gandalf said: she is only looking for acceptance.
I shook my head and decided to change the subject. "What was the song you were singing about? It's almost frightening and selfish." She looked taken aback and blushed, but she huffed and shook her head. She understood me.
"It was a song to one of my favorite shows called Firefly. It was the short version of the theme song: The Ballad of Serenity." She walked over to a windowsill and sat on the wide ledge. Then I decided to move and sit on the bed and placed my elbows on my knees and let my hands dangle. I was interested in what she was going to say.
"The song itself to me, means freedom. You can strip away everything from a person, but never the sky because it is infinite. There is neither a beginning nor an end. That is the direction where I always look to when I feel like I am at a dead end. Life ends at death, but I believe, that's where I'll be once the time comes. Everything can happen on this land, but to the skies, nothing…" She drifted off and she looked to the skies and used her hand to block out the sun's rays.
"And what made you sing it today?"
"I dreamt of my death last night." My eyes widened. She said it so casually like it was any other dream. I couldn't say anything and she never took her eyes off of the sky. "I was in the sky, high above that light blue layer; I stared off into the black of space, of nothingness. I was with the stars that sparkle so bright and I floated… and I was at peace with a smile on my face and tears in my eyes, then it was all black." I shrugged my eyebrows. Such a death almost sounds peaceful and not of this world. "I even woke up a little teary eyed. Hella weird right?" She laughs lightly and turns to me. "Oh sorry. Was that too gloomy for you?"
I didn't understand what she meant at first until I realized I felt my body slightly tense, my hands clasped together and I relaxed my facial muscles. I straightened from where I sat. "Not gloomy as you say, but you say it so casually. This doesn't scare you?"
She shakes her head. "As the daughter of man, yeah of course. What's after death? But like, it is something that I have to accept as does everyone else. We go on knowing that our number will come up, so we have to make the best of it. Ahhhh I love that song so much." She laughs again. "The show is about that man has advanced their machinery so much, they can travel up to the nothingness beyond the sky called space, exploring the entirety of the universe, nicknamed "The Verse", going from world to world where two languages dominate… and I'm totally boring you… but yeah it was all just a dream!" She waved her hands frantically to stop her own topic of conversation. But I was very much interested in this story.
I have never thought about going past beyond the sky. What else could be out there? More worlds?
And there we were chatting away for what seemed like hours, telling me about this "show" … story called "Firefly", and other shows like it. It was fascinating. This entertainment and storylines existing in her world and thousands more. Then I come to learn about the real "science" of it all… no magic, enchantments, wizards, elves, hobbits, dwarves… wait, Gimli shouldn't know how the term dwarf is used a medical description of abnormality or cute little statues that belonged on lawns.
Men, normal men leaving legacies behind to help with making their world better for future generations. She also says that when things get easier, more problems arise as well. People are never satisfied and things get taken for granted.
"Extraordinary…" I want to learn more of this science. "I'm no whiz kid or anything, I'm completely average. I never did super well in learning, but I know enough to get by, and I'm always willing to learn something new. Hey if you ever drop by in my world, I'll show you around. Just be prepared to cough a lot. I don't think you'll do well in the main cities due to their smog."
"What is smog?" She rolls her eyes and smiles. "You are seriously like a little kid wanting to know everything right now. Because of all the machines that we use, it requires fuel that comes from deep below the ground, and when burned, it unleashes a kind of smoke that really doesn't… go away. It's the word smoke and fog combined. In the city where I'm from, you can see a grey layer hover over it."
"That is disgusting!"
"Yeah, I know, but what can you do. You get used to it." she shrugs her shoulders. She looks around the room and we notice that the stars have now risen.
"Oh man. We talked way too long. Sorry for keeping you from anything else you had planned today." She gets up from her ledge and stretches once more. I didn't even realize how much time really has passed. "No, my apologies. I should have let you rested more." I stand up and smooth out my tunic.
Then I hear little shuffles outside the door and four little figures rush in.
"Miss Elena! Gandalf said to bring you your dinner since you weren't feeling well today!" Samwise the Hobbit is holding a tray of food.
"We brought you some wine too. That always gives the fixins to any ache!" Pippin raised a small goblet.
"We also snuck in some sweet bread from the kitchens! Plenty to share!" I only counted five in Merry's hand…
"What are you doing here?!" Frodo… that's when everyone suddenly realized it. Sam puts the tray quickly on Gandalf's desk, same with the wine Pippin had, and Merry's sweet bread.
"Don't you dare harm her!" Pippin was the first to rush to Elena's side and put his fists.
"You'll have to answer to us, Master Elf!" Merry grabbed the chair that was by the desk and seemed threatening with it. Sam went in front of Elena and spread his arms out. Frodo walked towards me and looked straight up to my face. "You haven't answered my questions. What are you doing here?"
I was stunned. These hobbits do not care for her curse, not even the Ringbearer. "Please be at ease. I had only wished to make amends with her and make peace." I had put up my hands. Of course with everyone's skill level, they are no match for mine, but I must make peace now.
"It's true you guys. Don't worry about him anymore. He's finally understood." She came down to their level and the hobbits surrounded her. "Are you sure?"
"He hasn't pulled any magic strings on you has he?"
"Blink twice if he has!"
"Relax! I'm fine. Now, let's put that past behind us, and move on. I'm starved!" And just like that, no more threats, except maybe a small glare from Frodo and Merry, but that was all. Sam gave her the tray of food, Pippin her wine, Merry a whole sweet bread, and Frodo had to keep a small distance from her so as not to burden her with the energies of the Ring. They all sat on the floor and conversed as she ate and they ate the bread. She patted a space on the floor next to her.
"Dude, don't just stand there, have a seat. It's weird to have you just stand there while we're sitting down here." She waved me down. 'Dude?' a term of endearment I suppose…
And that's what I did. I took a seat next to her. She ate her dinner, shared her sweet bread with me, the hobbits ate as well, sang and danced and later she joined them. I watched it all from where I was sitting. I see her laughing and attempt to sing, but she isn't using her soft clear singing voice she shared with Frodo last night.
Humans and hobbits are remarkable. To temporarily cease their suffering, even if for mere moments to just be together with one another.
I grow curiouser and curiouser… about her.
Confound it. There's that heavy feeling my heart now. My breathing pattern is a tad bit heavier.
I stand from where I am and move a few feet away and she sees me in this action. Her smile is intact but her eyes share sadness. She slows down her movements and then stretches and pretends to yawn.
"Well my precious hobbits, I must call it a night for I feel rather fatigued!" She over dramatizes herself as if she is very hurt and places her hand on head. The hobbits whine, but accept.
"Alright. It is rather late, and we want to visit you again Miss Elena. May I have breakfast with you tomorrow?" Sam asked as he picked the food tray for her off from the floor.
"Don't forget us!" Merry.
"You'll need more good company!" Pippin. Those two seem to always have some spur of energy. They picked up the wine glass and any mess left behind.
"We'll see you tomorrow outside if you are well enough. I'll see if Bilbo will come as well." The Ringbearer had said. He and Elena had shared a smile and she ruffled his hair. "You bet." After a pause she says, "Screw it," and quickly embraces Frodo and he embracers her back and the rest of the hobbits follow suit. It was a very quick hug as we all know, of what happens when those two are together for too long. They broke the embrace and said their farewells.
I follow the hobbits to the door and Elena follows behind us. Once I reached the door, I stood still and Elena bumped into my back because of my sudden stop. I turned around once the hobbits were out of view from the door; it didn't take long.
"Hey. What gives?" She rubbed her nose and had pout smile, looking up at me with those eyes that I noticed are a dark brown. I shift in my posture.
Do I just say that even though you hold the darkest energy known in all of Arda, my home world, that I don't mind spending quality time with you like the others despite the fact I feel the heavy burden reaction on my chest…?
"Did you have a good time? Are you feeling alright?" Her face turned serious and with a worried look.
I sighed and gave her a slight smile. "I did. Let's do this again sometime while we still have some peaceful times before we embark."
She lets out a long breath and nods. "Sounds good, Lego." She leaned on the doorway. I shook my head and it was my turn to ruffle her hair a little. "Hey!" she tries to fix it.
"My name is Legolas. Remember that."
"I'll always remember your name, but since I have some nicknames such as 'Witch', 'Demon', oh did I mention 'Witch'? I figured you can use some as well." She smirked and crossed her arms.
I nod my head in defeat and in guilt. "I do apologize in how I treated you. I should not have portrayed my actions the way I had done in the past. In all honesty, it may have been out of fear, shock, and anger that Lord Elrond and Gandalf were keeping a being such as yourself here in Rivendell and then to actually send you with the Fellowship, journeying with the Ring of Power, you cannot blame me for feeling the way I did."
"Yeah, I get it. I'm the demon dark lord incarnate." She rolls her eyes. I should hurry and make her feel better. "But you have turned this around. You should not be shunned because of what you are cursed with. And you should not have others bring you negative feelings onto you. I for one, want to be your friend. I'd never had met someone quite like you."
She brings her hands behind and she fidgets in her stance. "Well, you have barely even seen, touched, or scratched the surface." She brings her hand to my face. I was taken aback by this gesture and then she squeezed my cheeks softly together and caused my lips to form that of a fish. I just stood there, letting her do this to my face.
"And you ain't seen nothing yet! Goodnight!" She bowed.
As did, humoring her. "Goodnight." Then she closed the door.
I shrugged my eyebrows and lightly shook my head to myself.
How peculiar indeed.