So I'm updating again with another chapter, because I guarantee all of you that I hated that cliff hanger as much as all of you and I can't stand it. So I'm updating so that you know what happened. This chapter covers the span of a few days, so I hope it doesn't get too confusing.
Shout out to mjg43 (Yeah I've never read about Legolas being blind before either, and it's really hard for me to write! Thanks for reading anyway and liking. :D it means a lot)! Thanks for that favorite and follow too! Also thanks to mpaulson for following!
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter as well. I've gotten a surprising amount of support for this story. I didn't think many people would read it because of how different it was, and I also thought some people might not like it because it was inspired by another story. I hope no one gets mad at me for that, but when I'm inspired stuff just kind of happens. ^^" I also added something kind of interesting to this chapter.
When the Fellowship arrived in Lothlorien, they couldn't make themselves relax no matter how much the elves insisted they rest from their long journey. It felt like forever since they had left Rivendell, but already they had lost Gandalf and were possibly losing Legolas as well. The wait for any answers at all was agonizing for the remainder of the Fellowship. Boromir grew more and more sad as the days went by, thinking that somehow what he had said had forced the elf over the edge. The others tried to assure him that this wasn't the case, but none of them had hope at all that the elf would survive. Elves scurried to and fro to help their Lord and Lady, and the Fellowship stopped them to ask about their friend. But the answer was always the same. He had not awoken yet and he had not stirred. Their hope was fading fast for him, and after more days, though it was impossible to tell hope many more here, they stopped asking and simply waited for the news that the elf had died. It seemed impossible that he would survive after he had survived so much. And they couldn't blame him for it. It would be mercy.
Aragorn began to tell the others fond tales he had of Legolas when he had first met him as a child. The elf had always hid well behind a mask and kept his emotions a secret. He followed the orders of his father and did not disobey him. Even when he became blind, the elf was still this way, strong and full of power. He did not fear the darkness but a few times when despair would take the better of him. He often came to Rivendell, where Elrond attempted to help him but was unable. They learned that the elf could be playful and disobedient at times as well, like a stallion that was well mannered but fierce. They learned that the elf was very patient and held his tongue, and that he was fiercely loyal above all else. This they realized they had seen in the mines when he had turned back to them and insisted that they leap across the ledge where he could catch them. Even terrified and knowing very well that he could die, he had not let a single one of them fall. They listened to Aragorn's tales both amused and sad, realizing that they would probably never get to see the elf again.
Even Lord Celeborn and Lady Gladriel were beginning to feel that there was no hope for the Prince of Mirkwood. But as they saw the downcast faces of the Fellowship their hearts went out to them, and they knew that they could not give up hope of the elf, because they had not given up hope on him. They needed his survival as much as they needed to see Gandalf again, because they could not stand yet another blow. Still, the elf proved more resilient than they thought. And one day around noon he at last opened his eyes and looked around.
The first thing he noticed was a warm weight on his chest, and he instinctively looked down. He paused because he could see the creature. It was not full of darkness, but instead full of such pure and beautiful light, so much so that he was more light than anything else around him. He could clearly see a dark black silhouette of the creature, a wolf. It was a large wolf, around four feet tall to the shoulder, and he had never seen one that large. The creature was male, and had long and soft fur. It brushed against the elf's neck as the wolf breathed. Legolas shifted slightly, unsure of the creature, and its head and ears came up. Upon seeing the elf awake, the wolf's ears laid back and its tail began to wag, as it reached forward and licked the elf's face a few times, whining slightly at the elf. Legolas reached up and laid his hand on the wolf's head, thinking to himself that the wolf somehow seemed very familiar.
Celeborn and Galadriel had not been very far away, and when they heard the wolf whine they instantly sprang up and ran into the room. They froze at the door as the looked at the Prince, who looked exhausted and very confused, but otherwise still himself. The two elves smiled and then crossed the room, sitting down in the chairs beside the bed. The elf turned his eyes to him, for he could see their light as well, slightly dark silhouettes to his eyes even now. They smiled at him though they knew he would not see it. Their light was bright as well among the elves, but the wolf's was still brighter. Celeborn reached out and stroked the wolf's head a little and the wolf settled down again with his head on the elf's chest still, though his tail continued to wag and he whined happily every now and then. Galadriel reached out and laid her hand gently on the Prince's face, and he looked up at her now.
"Hello my young Prince," she said gently. "Do not worry. You and your Fellowship are safe now. They are resting here among the trees. It has been a few days. Ah you gave us a scare Thranduilion."
"Your Fellowship brought you here to us as fast as they could," Celeborn said. "They saw that you were fading but they would not let you be lost to us. I don't think they could take it either, for we all lost much within the mines. You remember, do you not?"
Sadness crashed into the elf again, and he looked up towards the ceiling sadly. He did indeed remember, and he missed the wizard terribly. But he was also surprised at the actions of the Fellowship. He had told them to kill him if he should have begun to become a Wraith, which obviously he had. And yet they had run here instead? To save him? He hadn't thought that they would risk so much for him. But obviously they had been very shaken to lost the wizard and had not wanted to lose another as well. His fierce loyalty overcame his sadness again, and he looked again to Celeborn.
"How are they?" he asked. Both of the older elves smiled when they heard this, knowing that he had again returned to normal and that he would be alright once again.
"They are worried for you," Celeborn replied. "They have not slept much, though we have gotten them to eat. They are simply waiting for news, though they do not have much hope for you. We will send Haldir along to speak with them, and they will relax now that they will know that you will be alright. Though you should rest. Most of the darkness has now left you, for your light is strong and so is your spirit. But this evil will not pass from you for a while yet."
"I know that it is a lot to understand right now," Galadriel said gently, laying her other hand on the elf's face as well. It was a motherly gesture, and a very gentle one. But she had once been a mother as well. "But you are safe here. Do not fear the gathering darkness now. Be only surrounded by the light."
Legolas did not try and fight her. He knew it would do no good. But he was so full of questions. He had to ask some of them. He settled instead for looking down at the wolf again, who wagged its tail and whined at him again. Celeborn saw him look and smiled again, patting the wolf's head very gently. He knew that this news would certainly cheer the prince up much more.
"You know of course," Celeborn began in explanation. "that elves can be reborn if they so choose. Just as the spirits of men and dwarves can linger in some place until released into peace, elves may do the same. Sometimes they choose to be reborn, to right some wrong or undo some evil, or any number of things. This wolf is one of those elves, and he knows you well, and I think you know him too. You see while he was alive his light was also stolen from him, so he was reborn as a wolf full of such wonderful light, as if to make up for such a terrible loss, or perhaps to help you. Who knows? He cannot tell us why, for he has no voice. He died in such a horrible way that he now looks to follow you again, for he did this once as well. You know him, and his light. For he was there the day you saw Sauron."
Legolas froze and looked down again at the wolf, disbelief in his eyes. He now recognized the light well, for he had helped to train the younger elf. It was an elf that had been named after a great elf from long ago, though the Silvan elf had bore no resemblance to the other elf. Legolas still remembered that day in vivid detail, and the pain of it still haunted him. The wolf seemed to sense this and began to lick the elf's face again, whining to tell the elf that it was alright.
"Angrod?" Legolas gasped.
Angrod, the elf that had died that day because of the darkness within his heart. The wolf's tail wagged harder and he licked at the elf's face more gently, soothingly. Celeborn and Galadriel both smiled, and he could make out as they nodded their heads in confirmation. But the elf needed little confirmation other than his own knowledge of his friend. Legolas suddenly lost all of his composure. For so long he had been alone with the quilt and knowledge that his friends were dead or lost because of him. But now the wolf had come to him and he couldn't keep the joy or sadness off his face. The elf began to cry, unable to stop. The two older elves simply smiled at him, both sad and happy. Sad to see him upset, but happy to know that the prince was no longer alone. Angrod instantly began to lick away the salty tears, trying to calm the elf.
"Yes it is Angrod," Galadriel said comfortingly. "He has returned to serve the prince that he once did. He is here to stay Thranduilion. And he will follow you on your journey. So rest now. You are exhausted, and you need to sleep."
She reached out and laid her hand on Legolas' forehead, entering his mind. Instantly he stopped crying and his body relaxed. He fell asleep once again and did not stir. Silently the wolf laid his head down again, and Angrod did not leave his Prince's side. Celeborn laid the elf's hands down by his sides again, then on a second thought laid one of his hands on the wolf's back, knowing it would comfort him. Galadriel smiled and placed a small kiss on the Prince's forehead. Relief was in their eyes, and they quietly stood and left the room again, feeling much happier than they had in a long time. Upon stepping into the sunlight, they called for Haldir. The elf soon ran up, worry in his eyes, but Celeborn smiled and held up his hand.
"Peace Haldir," Celeborn said. "Do not fear. It is good news this time. Go to the Fellowship and tell them that Legolas has awakened and is now doing well. He will recover."
"He must rest now," Galadriel said. "But we will send him to them when he is recovered enough. Tell them this, and let them rest at last."
The marchwarden looked at them with wonder and amazement in his eyes. But there was joy there as well to know that the Prince of Mirkwood would survive after all. He turned instantly and sprang away, knowing that he soon must reach the Fellowship to tell them the good news. They would be overjoyed to hear it. He ran on without talking to anyone else who tried to stop him, not even his own two brothers. He ran on instead to find the Fellowship.
He found them as he had always found them, at their tent, where they had been sent by Galadriel once they arrived. He paused to catch his breath, looking over all of them. They were all so sad looking, and his heart went out to them. But he knew that soon there would be cause for them to smile and be merry again, as well as the other elves of Lothlorien, who did not fear the darkness within Legolas as the people of Mirkwood had, for no darkness entered here but what darkness they allowed. And they did not fear the Wraiths. The elf at last sighed and stepped forward towards them.
Instantly once they saw him they all sprang up, looking at him. He paused, looking into all of their eyes and seeing that they were worried and tired. But more than that he could see despair forming in their eyes. He held up his hands and looked at all of them. Then he at last began to speak. Though his face held no emotion, he wanted badly to smile.
"Peace," he told them. "Well, it seems that the strength of Mirkwood runs deeper than we thought. It is rare to see a Silvan bloodline mixed with a Sindarin bloodline, for we did not know what would happen. But it seems the children of such lines are blessed with the strength of the Silvan and the blessed light of the Sindarin, as well as the courage of both. We have seen it before with others, but not to this extent." He paused a moment. They seemed perplexed, but Aragorn knew he was talking about and his jaw fell open in disbelief. Tears sprang to his eyes at the thought of what the elf was saying. Was it possible?
"Speak plainly," Boromir sighed but without malice. He was too tired of this. The others seemed the same way. Haldir met Aragorn's eyes and then he smiled, his eyes twinkling brightly.
"Legolas will survive," the elf told them, and he only smiled broader at the gasps of relief from the Fellowship. "He is very exhausted, and it will be a while before he recovers. But he will be fine. The darkness has not claimed his heart or his soul. Lady Galadriel promises to send him to you when he is strong enough. Now she bids you rest your weary minds and relax. You need not be so worried any longer. You will see your elf again."
The Fellowship was full of questions, but the elf had no other answers for them, and so he waved them away and told them to rest. At last, though it was still day time and light was all around them, they obeyed their weary bodies and laid down to sleep. They were all asleep within moments and the elf smiled, then returned to tell everyone the good news that the prince would recover at last.
Another day passed before Legolas woke again. The elf was soon greeted by Galadriel who brought him food and drink and waited by his side like a mother would with a sick child until he ate all of it. Angrod had been out of the room, and quickly ran back in when he saw the elf sitting up and awake, leaping back up onto the bed and laying down beside the elf. Legolas smiled at the wolf, glad to know that he wasn't alone, and he stroked the wolf's head a little. Galadriel took the empty dishes from him.
"Still so full of life," she said. "You have faced more struggles in your young life than many of us. And yet you still fight to face the evils around and inside you. You are strong Legolas, and for that our people will always look to you for guidance. You are the elf that fought on and showed loyalty to others when by every right he should not have. Like Arwen is the Evenstar, and a light to our people, from this day forward I call you the Morning Star. It is a darker star, but a star with a much greater legacy to leave behind none the less. You will counted among the greatest of our people. Though you were named after an elf before you, none shall forget Legolas Greenleaf, Thranduilion, of the Fellowship of the Ring."
Legolas paused as he looked up at the Lady of the wood. He had no words to say. For so long he had been surrounded by people who had feared him for being what he was. He still could not understand how the Fellowship would have fought so hard for the life of an elf that they had seemed to hate when they first met. But to be loved for what he was? The thought had never once crossed his mind. But it suddenly touched him all the same and he felt grateful for it. He nodded to her and managed a small smile.
"My heart cannot believe it," he said. "But I thank you for your words all the same."
"Your heart cannot believe it now," Galadriel said with a small smile. "but it is true all the same. You will one day realize this as well. But come. You must bathe now and let your sore muscles disappear. We will leave new clothes for you as well while the rest of your clothes is laundered."
The elf nodded his head in thanks, and Angrod leaped down. Galadriel helped the elf to his feet, but he was strong enough to walk alone. She led him to Celeborn, who took the elf and led him to a spring filled with steaming water and a stone table nearby. The Lord of Lothlorien then turned and left again, though Angrod sat nearby. Legolas quickly stripped down out of his clothes and folded them on the table and stepped into the water.
It was warm and soothed his tired and sore muscles. Tensions that he hadn't realized he'd had relaxed from him at last as he let the blood, gore, and dirt drift away from his skin. It was very soothing, and he wasn't sure how long he'd stayed in the water. His skin did not get wrinkled in this bath after all, for it was filled with elvish medicine and made his skin seem as smooth and well tended as it had within his father's halls. His hair began to shine again as well, its beautiful golden color surrounding the air around him. He stepped out of the water and dried his body and hair on the towels he found lying there, and then paused as his hands found the clothes.
They were silk, as elves were very fond of wearing, and though he couldn't see it, it was the color of silver and though it was simple for an elf of his high bearing, it was still fair. He slipped them on, and he knew that he would not look the same to the Fellowship. None of them but Aragorn had ever seen him in such fair attire, and they would not believe it was him. He slipped on the silver boots as well, knowing that he would be rude to refuse what had been offered him and he couldn't run around naked. He found the long comb and combed out his hair carefully. It had been taken down, but now he pulled his bangs behind his head again into the braids of a warrior.
Once he had finished, and his hair was smooth again, Celeborn returned. He smiled at the elven prince, for he himself had almost forgotten how fair the Prince of Mirkwood was when he wore clothes that were not dark as his people tended to favor. Carefully he walked over to the prince, and Legolas paused as he noticed he was carrying something in his hands. But Celeborn wouldn't let him wave him away and placed a silver circlet on his brow.
"This is not my home," he said. "I have no need to wear this here."
"Perhaps not," Celeborn replied with a small smile. "But you are as precious to us as you are to your father. We will send word to him as we are able to let your people know that you are faring well on your journey so far, for none have them have left for the undying lands. They will not until your part in this tale is complete and they hear of your victory or your demise."
"I thank you," Legolas replied. "But I still do not think-"
"Enough," Celeborn said gently. "My Lady should like you to accompany us and get some fresh air. So should you not look your best?"
At last Legolas laughed and relented, seeing that there was no point in arguing with the older elf and that he was going to look like a prince whether he wanted to or not. Celeborn led the prince back to the very beautiful Galadriel, who then stood between both and wrapped her arm around Legolas' so that he was escorting her though he really had no idea where he was going. He found this slightly amusing.
For a moment they walked on in silence and said nothing, simply enjoying one another's company. They were all of course of royal stature, and elves moved out of their way with smiles and slight bows of their heads. All three looked very proud and fair suddenly, for even Legolas came of a high breeding of elves and looked at home here as much as Celeborn and Galadriel. Angrod followed at Legolas' side, as if guarding him.
They walked together and spoke of things with light hearts, for there was no darkness reaching here, and Legolas felt at ease. They walked for hours with no destination in mind, but their tread was light and their hearts were glad in the company. They didn't notice the hours as they passed by, but at last Galadriel stopped and turned Legolas to a side path.
"There is where the Fellowship is," she said. "I do not know how many remain there now, but there is where you would find them. Go now and put their minds at ease."
Celeborn and Galadriel silently left the elf there, and he paused. But Angrod walked in front of the elf, so he followed the wolf's tread down the stairs and to a place where the wolf paused. The elf listened a moment. He didn't know where the others were, but he recognized Gimli's breathing as he sat there, thinking to himself. He could sense the sadness in the air of this place, and with his heart so light he couldn't let it remain that way. He smiled and laughed. The dwarf turned to him in surprise, but didn't seem to recognize him at first, so the elf spoke.
"Didn't I tell all of you to kill me if I should begin to become a Wraith?" he said. "And yet you brought me all the way here. I thank you for that."
For a moment there was silence. The elf couldn't see the dwarf, but he could hear his breathing change as he fought to retain his composure and not to cry. The dwarf stood, and he tried to sound angry. But he couldn't manage it.
"You gave us all a scare," the dwarf cried. "We thought you were going to die and we were going to lose two in the mines of Moria! Right at the start of our journey. But here you are standing here and...standing here... it's good to see you laddie."
It was quite a lame ending, but the dwarf had no words to say. He was surprised to see the elf in such attire, glad to see him, and wanting to be angry but only able to be relieved. He glanced down at the wolf at the elf's side, but he said nothing. The wolf glanced at Legolas, and seeing that the elf wanted to go to the dwarf, stood and led him down the small path to the dwarf. The elf followed the wolf as he had before with Aragorn on their journey, and the dwarf understood this because he had seen it before. The elf touched his chest in a show of respect for the dwarf, though he knew the dwarf was ignorant to his customs.
"It's good to see you as well," the elf said. "Come then. Do not be so sad and lonely. Come see the glories of Lothlorien, since you have eyes to see them."
"You want me to come with you?" the dwarf asked. He was surprised to see the elf in such a good mood and wanting to be in his company when before he had been so cruel to him. But the elf seemed to bear him no ill will and only laughed.
"I would not ask if I did not," the elf said. "Come now. Let us go enjoy the day while we may."
Somewhat confused, but glad to see the elf in such a good mood, the dwarf readily agreed. Soon the two were walking together and talking. They spoke of nothing in particular, their conversation ranging from where they had grown up and the people they had known in those days. They talked of their fond memories of the places they had grown up. They talked for a long time about all of the things they liked, and the found that they weren't so different as their people had once made them assume. This, coupled with the long battles they had fought and survived in together even to this small point, began to spark a friendship between the two. And once they realized this, they only laughed as they realized that it would have happened either way. Then Gimli mentioned that it was getting dark and they should return, so they made their way back to the Fellowship.
The elf followed Angrod carefully back towards the others, and they all looked up when they heard the high clear laugh of the elf accompanied by the deeper more hearty laugh of the dwarf. They were surprised to see Legolas looking so fair and in such a good mood. But they were even more surprised to see that the elf and the dwarf were getting along. They glanced towards the wolf and then looked away, realizing that it was no threat to them. They all turned to the elf and he looked towards them. There was a few moments of awkward silence, before the elf's clear laugh brought them back into the present state, and they couldn't help but laugh too.
"Legolas," Pippin suddenly cried.
He and Merry launched themselves off of a rock and landed on the elf's chest, both managing to hug him without smashing their heads together. The elf laughed and caught them before their weight fell completely onto his thin shoulders. Sam huffed in an irritated sort of way.
"Will you two ever act your age?" he asked.
"The Fellowship would not be the same if they did," Frodo said.
At that mention, the members of the Fellowship suddenly fell silent and did not speak. Sadness seemed to descend upon them as they thought suddenly of their lost wizard. The elf carefully put the hobbits back down on the ground and looked over all of them, smiling.
"Come now," he said. "Gandalf would not want us to be so sad. We must rejoice while we can, because soon our path will lead us into dangerous lands again."
"When did you become so wise?" Aragorn asked in surprise.
"I am no more wise than I was before," the elf laughed. "I am simply more at peace. So much darkness has left my heart, it is lighter now. I have despaired for too long. I would like to smile and be happy once again." Aragorn smiled at his elf friend.
"And perhaps that is the greatest gift that any could ask for now," he said.
"Now I would like to know," Boromir said, looking between the elf and the dwarf. "What happened here."
"Nothing much," the dwarf replied. "We just started talking and found that we had much more in common than we thought."
"Well we're glad to see you're not trying to kill each other now," Frodo said with a smile.
"And the wolf?" Sam asked, nervously glancing at the huge canine. Legolas smiled.
"This is Angrod," the elf said. Aragorn winced at the name but the elf smiled. "Yes it truly is Angrod. Sometimes elves can be reborn, and he chose to be reborn as a wolf. He was a good friend of mine, and now he will join us on our journey."
"How did he die?" Pippin asked.
Suddenly there was silence. Aragorn turned and his look suddenly silenced the rest of the Fellowship. It was a look of warning, and a slightly pained one. Pippin realized that he might have just overstepped a boundary that he should not have, and he began to apologize though he wasn't sure what for. However to their surprise, the elf held up his hand.
"No that is alright," he said. "I will tell you. He was there that day as well, the day when I became what I am now. He was the elf that died that day."
There was again more silence. The elf seemed distracted by the thoughts of that day, but not too distracted. The wolf whined at the elf and his mind returned to the present. He gave them a small, sad smile.
"Perhaps we should all sleep now," the elf said.
They all silently nodded and then returned to the tent like structure. They all laid down in the beds that had been given to them by the elves. Legolas turned his blind eyes towards the ceiling, lost in his thoughts for a moment. Angrod leaped up onto the bed next to the elf and laid his head down against the elf's side. Everything fell silent and soon Legolas could hear the breath of sleep from his friends and the snoring of the dwarf. He closed his eyes at last and gave into sleep, still feeling quite weak from his encounter with the Balrog. But his dreams were peaceful memories, and nothing like the nightmares that had plagued him before. The light of the wolf was powerful after all.
This chapter had kind of a rushed ending, so sorry for that. I hope though that you still enjoyed. This was a chapter with a light feeling to it. Legolas' encounter with the Balrog has made him stronger. So leave a review below if you feel like it.