To the person or persons who keep posting as "Guest" or otherwise Anonymous Reviewers: I'm sorry that real life comes first. I haven't had time to update any of my stories in quite some time. Your complaining in reviews isn't helping. I understand that you like the story and want to see if finished, but there's no need to spam my email inbox with it every five seconds because it isn't done right now. Please be courteous and keep in mind that I am a busy person. Thank you.
And continuing right along! Here we get to see Legolas wake up after the battle and greet Sam though Frodo is still out. He won't wake up for a while. Like the Lothlorien Chapters this one will have basically vague mentions of time as they do some things and plan for Legolas to return home and wait for Frodo to wake and Legolas to heal a little more. There will also be some parties and stuff. Anyway this will be a lot more lighthearted than it was originally, and we'll learn something that will set up the story for the second story.
Anyway, thanks so much you guys for all the support, and I'll keep on writing. I know I've been away for some time but I'm still going. I just have a lot of stuff going on right now.
Now I'll stop talking and go right ahead to the chapter!
Legolas wasn't sure he wanted to wake up after moving his leg a little and feeling the pain lancing up it terribly. He instead focused on opening his eyes and getting his bearings. His clothing again had been changed and his leg bandaged as well as his arms. He was laying alone in a room, except of course for Angrod who was at his side in an instant and licking his face happily. He smiled a little and managed to sit up and pat the wolf's head a little. His sightless eyes wandered around the room a little bit, trying to make sense of where he was. Somewhere in Gondor no doubt. Someone had taken great pains to ensure that he was as comfortable as possible. He still winced though as his wounds pained him.
The door opened and on instinct he looked up. He of course couldn't see anything but Angrod's form as usual, but he smiled as he recognized the wizard's breathing. Gandalf likewise smiled even though the elf couldn't see it and crossed the room, pulling a chair over and sitting in it by the elf's side. He looked at Legolas for a long minute.
"You're feeling alright?" the wizard asked.
"Not really," Legolas replied, but with humor in his voice. "I feel like I got stabbed in the leg."
"Well you certainly seem in better spirits," Gandalf chuckled. "You gave us quite a scare Thranduilion. We thought perhaps you had died. But you once again proved stronger than I would have ever hoped. We'll have to return you to your father soon. I think your people have waited long enough for that." (Son of Thranduil). Legolas nodded.
"It will be good to go home," he admitted. "I've missed those trees, dark as they are. With Sauron gone the light can finally return there."
"Yes but not to you," the wizard said pointedly.
At this Legolas paused. He was going to ask the wizard what he meant, until suddenly he realized. They had defeated Sauron yet his sight was not back. He was still trapped within the realm of the Wraiths and this one. The thought was a numbing one, and Legolas felt suddenly cold. How was an elf supposed to live in a place like this without his light? What was he going to do? He had gone on this quest with the hope that defeating Sauron would have restored him to what he previously was. And this hope had failed him.
However he was surprised to find that this thought no longer crushed him. It was nearly completely certain he would live the rest of his days like this, trapped in the realm of the Wraiths. But he didn't feel anguished by this. This was his curse, and he had survived it. There was no doubt that he could continue living this way. Yes he was still part Wraith, but he was stronger than the frightened elf Prince that had first journeyed away from the Last Homely House with the Fellowship. He was different, and he wasn't scared of the darkness anymore.
Besides he realized, if he wasn't back to normal then there was no way that Oropher and Saeros were. They would be confused and scared, and he needed to help them now more than ever. He was their Prince, and it was his duty to look after them. He was the only one who could hear their words, he was the only one who knew them for what they truly were. He was determined suddenly to bring them back home with him too and explain the situation to his father.
And the Fellowship! They were his friends. They had put up with him for this long and had endured his presence. They had befriended him unlike anyone else had ever. He would have gladly given his life for them. They wouldn't mind that he had not been cured of his odd disease. None of them had really known him any other way. With his mind made up, he looked up at Gandalf.
Gandalf paused to see the look in the Prince's eyes. Yes, Legolas was still blind, but there was nothing but determination in his gaze. His loyalty had sparked stronger than his own self loathing and fear. Gandalf found himself surprised. This was not the same elf they had left with. This journey had changed him. Gandalf smiled, feeling proud of the elf suddenly.
"You are not the same elf we left with," Gandalf said. "You have grown Legolas Greenleaf."
"Perhaps," Legolas relented. "But I learned that I would rather live than be in fear of the dark, for they are not the same thing. Tell me, how is the rest of the Fellowship?"
"Always thinking of others," Gandalf chuckled. "Everyone is fine. No one else was injured that badly in the battle. You'll need to stay in this bed for a couple of days though, until I deem your leg good enough for you to be walking around much. Oh yes, and you'll be glad to know. We found Sam and Frodo. They were outside of Mount Doom and surrounded by Lava, exhausted both of them, but they'll recover. They're getting some well deserved rest, though Sam is awake now and worrying about you. I think I'll send him to talk to you and go get the others as well. They'll be much less high strung knowing you're feeling better."
"I'm glad to know they're safe," Legolas said with evident relief. "Is Frodo asleep?"
"Yes still," Gandalf replied. "Though I think it's only doing him good. The poor hobbit's been to hell and back. I'll be sure to let you know if he wakes up too. Though Legolas, we must talk frankly for a while before I can leave you in good conscience."
At the tone of the wizard's voice Legolas paused and looked up. He could tell that it was a very serious conversation and knew he couldn't take it lightly. He let his eyes travel upwards towards where the wizard's face would no doubt be. He waited for a moment until Gandalf was sure he had his attention and then nodded.
"Very well then," he said. "I'll be frank. The fact that you are still the way you are troubles me."
"More so than usual Mithrandir?" Legolas asked.
"Yes," Gandalf replied. "Much more so than usual. It means the spell that was cast has not yet dispersed. Do you understand Legolas?"
"It means that you think it could affect more things," Legolas guessed.
"Indeed I do worry that," the wizard said. "Magic has laws, but laws can be bent. And with a spell created such as this...well I don't know what it does. No one knows what its true purpose was supposed to be. It obviously still exists, so I worry it might effect more. Perhaps its just my paranoia getting the better of me. I am old after all. However I think it is something to keep an eye on."
"I understand Mithrandir," Legolas said.
"Very good," Gandalf said, sounding much happier. "I'll go get Sam then, and you two can talk while I go and find all the others. Oh and, be sure not to mention this little conversation to any of the others. Wouldn't want to worry them after all."
Legolas nodded and Gandalf turned and left the room, mumbling a little to himself. Legolas patted Angrod's head again as the wolf worriedly wondered about the wizard's words. The wolf licked his hand again and then leaped off the bed, laying down in the floor. He was obviously worrying over the words of the Wizard and the once again uncertain fate of his Prince.
Several minutes passed by before there came a knock on the door. It wasn't a timid sound, though it was quiet. It was as if the person outside was afraid of spooking him if he was asleep. Angrod raised his head at the noise but just as quickly put it down on his paws. He obviously wasn't worried about it. Legolas erased the worry of his affliction from his face and turned his head towards the door instead.
"Come in," he called quietly in his sing song voice.
The door opened, and Legolas heard the sound of light and quick hobbit feet, bare as they always were, enter the room. He took a little longer than usual to recognize the breathing that he was hearing, but smiled and motioned the hobbit to come closer. It was Sam, and Legolas could tell that he was still tired. Even so, he hobbit came over quickly and sat in the chair that Gandalf had previously been occupying.
"How are you feeling?" Sam asked lamely. The elf's head tilted just a little.
"I feel fine, mellon-nin," he replied. (My friend). "But I can tell that the same is not true for you."
"I'm just a little tired," Sam admitted. "But...what are you planning on doing now?"
"Return home of course," the elf replied with a smile. "I may not be able to see, but I am no longer afraid of the path or where it leads."
"The curse didn't lift?" Sam asked with a frown.
"It did in a way," the elf replied, continuing to smile. "Perhaps I am still half wraith, but I am no longer afraid. I will not fear the darkness, and I will continue to survive. The affliction remains, but the terrible symptoms no longer effect me. Thus, the curse has lifted."
The halfling went silent for a long time, obviously watching the elf. Legolas couldn't help but wonder what the tiny creature was thinking about him now. No doubt he knew him enough to be able to tell that there was something off in the way he was acting. Even so, he seemed to take the information he was given with no question. Maybe he was afraid to push the elf for information. No doubt they would all be worried he'd be in a fragile state after the battle at the gates. He probably shouldn't have survived it at all.
"I'll go see if I can find the others," he said, quickly getting up and leaving before he could say anything that could betray his thoughts to the others.
Legolas sighed quietly. Well they'd certainly know that his sight wasn't back now. Even if he hadn't told Sam, someone would have eventually figured out that he still couldn't see. He'd still keep his promise to Gandalf, and he certainly wouldn't say anything to worry his friends more. But Legolas got the feeling that this wasn't over.
Whatever that really was, it was definitely still affecting them. And that meant that the Fellowship's blind elf would remain a while longer.
Kind of a shorter chapter. The more chapters this story has, the shorter they may become. That's simply because I've run out of canon to draw from and have to write the rest of this story from what I'm planning for this story and the other.
Again, I WILL be finishing this story. You don't have to spam me to remind me that you all like it so much. If I can't update, I can't update. The only thing those people (or person as it might be) who keeps doing this is only going to ruin it for everyone else.
Keep that in mind when you review. I'd rather have the reviews actually be about the story itself and how you think I am doing rather than the annoying spam that this person or persons continues to create in the reviews. Life is complicated, and sometimes I just don't have the inspiration to write on something.
ANNOYING COMMENTS WON'T HELP. If I see anymore reviews like this on the story telling me I need to continue the story they will be deleted. This is ridiculous.