This is it! 14th chapter. There will be yet 2 (not including this one) chapters and then we're starting with The Two Towers part which is my favourite. But this isn't important for now. Enjoy this chapter, our friends are leaving Lothlórien and I must say I'm pretty satisfied with this. But (spoiler) it makes me sad, you know, thinking about next ones, because we all know the original story...
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
~~~Chapter 14~~~
He hasn't spoken, not knowing the reason. Something was blocking his voice, he got nervous. Aragorn looked at him with his concerned gaze and grunted quietly.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice was almost silent.
The blonde elf glanced at him with a worry face expression. The ranger wasn't happy seeing it.
"Has something bad happened?"
"No."
"So what's wrong? Please, tell me, mellon nîn. Do not worry me like that."
"I was very busy with myself and I haven't even asked you how are you after.. you know, Gandalf's death." he whispered with tears almost invisible in his blue eyes.
"I hope you don't think of yourself as an egoist." he smiled gently. He knows him too well.
"I... uh..."
"Legolas, really, don't worry. If you ask me, I'm good. Of course, I am a little down because of that but as everyone here I suppose." he wanted to calm down his elven friend.
"You don't feel offended because I didn't even think about you? I should have asked you, at least."
"Don't be silly, mellon nîn. You are down more than I. And I understand you and know that you care about me anyway, even if you don't ask me every other second if I'm okay." he gave him a light, friendly smile.
Legolas smiled back and leaned against the tree behind him, closing his eyes with relief. He felt his friend's hand on his forearm.
"Are you alright? You are as white as snow." he asked worried, looking at his face.
"I'm fine. It is just this stress with our tomorrow leaving." their eyes met.
"Are you sure it's because of that? Aren't you dizzy, cold or something like it?"
"Don't think so. Really, I'm fine. But I didn't come here to talk about me. I wish to hear more about your feelings. Or I will feel like an egoist. I know you're hurt because of this situation. And I'm adding you another worry."
"No, you are not, really. I'm fine Legolas. Okay, I admit, first, I was feeling like someone hit me and played a joke on me. Because I couldn't believe this. Gandalf was my very good friend and I will never forget him and his sacrifice. But I know everyone here feels exactly like me."
"I can't even imagine how hard it must be for you. You know, leading us in such circumstances and conditions. If you ever want to talk about it you know I'm here waiting." he smiled.
Aragorn nodded, glad to see his friend's happiness.
"I know. Thank you very much my friend. But it is not necessary. However, I will remember your words."
They looked at each other with some kind of relief. It was getting even darker. But the neighbourhood was so silent. Aragorn looked around focused on his own thoughts. He drifted off literally for a moment. And when he looked around, he saw his companions and Legolas fast asleep. He smiled to himself under his nose seeing calm face of his friend.
"Losto mae, mellon nîn. May this night be peaceful for you." he whispered and laid by himself.
He closed his eyes, hearing his own breathe and nothing more, maybe except for Gimli's snoring. But to it he got used to.
~~~o*o~~~
When morning has come, they were all prepared for their journey. This time, the mysterious river was awaiting them. Elves gave them three boats, which were lazily hitting the coast. Haldir accompanied them, and with him were some other elves and Lady Galadriel with her husband as well.
"Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people. May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes." said Celeborn, giving the members of fellowship cloaks.
"Thank you, my Lord." bowed Legolas lowly, so did the rest of the group following his behaviour. "We appreciate your kindness very much."
The cloaks were warm and silk. At least, they felt in touch like they has been made of silk.
Some time later, they were preparing. Legolas was putting supplies to his boat, and boat of Boromir when he saw Lembas, lying next to hobbits. He took a piece of bread in his hands.
"Lembas. Elvish waybread." he bit small piece of if. "One small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man." he smiled to them and they nodded with agreement.
He left them to look for Aragorn, he will sail with Merry and Pippin, Boromir will take Gimli, and Aragorn - Frodo with Sam.
"How many did you eat?" whispered Merry to his cousin.
"Four." he heard in response.
He smirked and approached Aragorn talking with Celeborn.
"Every league you travel south, the danger will increase. Mordor Orcs now hold the eastern shore of the Anduin. Nor will you find safety on the western bank. Strange creatures bearing the white hand have been seen on our borders. Seldom do Orcs journey in the open under the sun, yet these have done so." the elf said and Aragorn nodded.
Legolas, however, didn't want to disturb, so he went to speak with Haldir. The servant smiled at the sight of the prince.
"Mae govannen." he said. "Êl síla nan lû e-govaded vín"
"Haldir. Glass nín gen achened." he smiled back.
"So it is our farewell I guess." he switched to Common Tongue.
"Probably."
The silence fell for a moment and then, Legolas spoke again.
"I hope we will see each other again one day."
"Yes, I also wish we could do that. The time of our meeting is about to end, and you're again leaving to continue this dangerous journey. Tell me, don't you want to stay here and wait for Aragorn's coming back?" he asked and they both looked at the fellowship. "We would be very pleased to have you in our realm for a bit longer."
"Thank you for your kind offer but I do not think so. I must go with them. This is my destiny and duty. Besides, there is my best friend. I could not see him alone in this big world, you know." he chuckled quietly.
"Yes, I do. Farewell then, my friend. Garo lend vaer. Harthon gerithach raid gelin a chwest adel thraw lín." he placed a hand on his heart and bowed with a smile.
"Hannon le, mellon nîn. Nîn velui a lalaith veren nalú en-agovaded vín." he bowed as well and turned away, looking at smiled Haldir. He smiled back and went to his companions.
Aragorn looked at him and approached placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. The elf glanced at him and smiled.
"Come on. It's time to go." he whispered.
Legolas nodded, sighing lightly and quietly.
"Right. We have a long journey to process."
Legolas one last time looked at Haldir and then, jumped into the boat, and Merry with Pippin right after him. The boat slowly bounced off the shore.
"I can row! When I was younger, my grandpa used to take me on fishing." said Merry smiling.
"Great! I can't." spoke Pippin now. "I've never been to the lake or river before."
"So you don't have any water experience? Cool Pip, what if we sunk?"
"Sunk? Why should we? Are we too heavy? I can't swim!" panicked younger hobbit.
"Calm yourselves, my friends. We're not going to sink. Don't worry, I won't let it happen." calmed them Legolas and saw Aragorn and Boromir in their boats as well.
There were elves, and Lady Galadriel with her husband on the ground. Sam wished to be there now, he hates water so much.
"Look at them, mr Frodo. They are saying goodbye to us. On the ground. Why aren't we on the ground now?" he said and Frodo smiled widely, amused by the gardener's panic.
When they were quite far from the shore, they turned back, seeing Lady Galadriel, smiling at them calmly. Her posture, even seeming to be small, was still full of grace and beauty.
"Do you think Merry, that we will make it? You know, survive the river, I mean." asked Pippin looking around, admiring the view of Lothlórien so far from them.
"Why wouldn't we? We're here, on real adventure! Would you like to bore in Shire now?"
"I don't know. The Shire is safe, you cannot sink there."
"Don't be a kid Pip. We'll make it, I'm sure."
"Listen to your cousin, Peregrin Took." said finally Legolas and the hobbit turned to him. "Merry is right, nothing bad will happen here. Anduin, although it is only water, still can be a friend."
"What? How so?"
"Rivers, trees, wind... nature. They are all our friends. If we are friendly to them, they answer us with the same kindness we give them. Sometimes they can save lives." he smiled to himself.
"I've never heard of a bigger absurd!" Gimli's hoarse voice filled the air. "Water and trees cannot be our friends, they are not alive."
"You couldn't be much wrong, son of Glóin. They are alive. They hear you and listen to you. They feel." he whispered looking at the sky and white clouds up there. Then, his gaze fell on the river and strong water under them.
"What they can feel, mr Legolas?" asked Sam.
All three boats were close enough to make a calm, quiet conversation.
"Many things... A danger... A weather... feelings of others... and many, many more."
Pippin closed his eyes and focused on the nature surrounding them.
"I can't feel or hear anything." he said.
Aragorn laughed quietly and Merry hit him in the head.
"Ow! Why did you do that?!"
"You can't because you aren't an elf, fool!" he responded in disbelief of how much his cousin can be dumb sometimes.
"Elves are too perfect..." he whispered disappointed.
Legolas smirked again and looked at Aragorn, who seemed to be in very good mood. Anduin was peaceful today, but something was disturbing its water. An evil is nearby, he felt it. Something is in the forest, on the shore. Something's hunting them. Birds chirped and he felt the presence even closer. He turned his head to look at the coast, but nothing has been seen there.
Frodo was admiring the view, he needed to be alone, his burden got heavier and stronger. He was thinking about Shire and Bilbo. Will he be okay when The Ring is destroyed? He's had it for a long time, a lot of memories. What will he do if he discovers about Balin's death?
Sam closed his eyes, trying to calm down. His breath was fast, and his panic was rising. The farther they are from the shore, the more panicked he felt in his heart.
Merry and Pippin was in panic state as well. At least Pippin was. Merry likes water, and he could sail all day. And if the circumstances were different he would walk in the river's water close to its coast with pleasure.
Gimli, still amazed by Lady Galadriel's beauty and light, was thinking only about Lothlórien, what was odd for him. Why is he thinking about elves? He hates them more than everything and everyone else.
Aragorn felt a true peace for the first time since they have left Rivendell. Despite the danger upon them and the difficulty of this task, he found enough strength to smile and even laugh. As Celeborn said, the eastern shore is being watched, and on the west, strange creatures have been seen. They need to be careful. They must protect the Ringbearer.
~~~o*o~~~
When the evening came, they hid their boats in the forest and made a campfire. Sam sighed with relief when his feet touched the ground.
"We're sleeping here tonight. Try to be as quiet as you can. We don't want to catch any attention." said calmly Aragorn, studying neighbourhood.
"Worry not Strider. We will be quiet." smiled Frodo.
"I'm taking a watch tonight." said Legolas and quickly felt eyes of his companions upon him.
"Don't you want to sleep yet tonight?" asked Aragorn.
"No, I had enough sleep in Lothlórien." he came up to him. "Besides, I feel something. It would be better if I took a closer look on it." he whispered.
Aragorn looked around and nodded after a while.
"But I can take it with you."
"It won't be necessary."
"Fine." he nodded again. "But be careful. It can be dangerous."
"I will wake you up if something is wrong. Don't worry."
"Okay, I trust you this time." they smiled to each other.
"This time?"
"Uh, well... you know, you are sometimes hard to trust or believe." he smiled hoping the elf will answer with the same.
There was a moment of awkward silence but then, the fair prince chuckled suddenly and shook his head with a wide smile.
"I know." he responded. "But don't worry. Should I make a promise to you?" he smiled.
"No. It won't be necessary, my friend. I believe you will wake me if something is wrong."
"I will. Now go. Rest."
"And what about you? Aren't you hungry? Supper will be very soon."
"No, thank you. I'll eat when I'm on my watch. Now, I need a moment to be alone. I need to think about some things..." he whispered quietly, looking at the ground under his feet.
Aragorn nodded and smiled lightly, understanding his desire. He also wants to be alone sometimes.
"I will leave you, then. Come when you're ready." he placed a hand on his back, and with an almost invisible smile, he walked away leaving his elven friend alone.
At the camp, Boromir was looking at the water with a mysterious gaze. He came up to him and sat right next to, on a small rock near the coast. He hasn't spoken, nor has Boromir. The silence has been an eerie eternity.
"Do you sometimes think about your family?" interrupted it Boromir, whispering quietly, not throwing his gaze away from the river.
Aragorn nodded silently.
"Aye, I do."
"Do you miss your brothers?" turning his head to him, their eyes met.
"Of course. I would love to hear anything from them. But it is not possible now."
"They surely miss you too. You seem to be very close." he smiled lightly.
"We are. I have known them since I was a child."
"And then you met Legolas in the forest."
"Yes."
"How old were you?" he asked and looked into his eyes.
"Well, we were 21. But, our age is... a little bit different than yours."
"How so? You are human like me."
"Of course. But I'm immortal like elves. I won't explain it, believe me, too long story."
Boromir sighed and nodded, fighting with shock inside him. How a normal human can be immortal? He shook his head and looked at the water again.
"And what was he like?" he asked again, mentioning of Legolas.
"Well... he was a big mystery to me. He hasn't talked much. He hasn't laughed very often... he was incredibly... serious and quiet. First, he didn't want to tell me anything. I felt like he wasn't even keen on making friends, like... he was rejecting my hand."
"But you haven't given up."
"Of course. Time has been passing, but I was curious of him more and more. I saw in him something more than a graceful creature with pointy ears." he chuckled.
"I discovered he's an awesome, sensitive and honest person. I discovered he is full of empathy. I found a friend in him, a brother. He wasn't like anyone I had known. He helped me feel and understand this world better. I knew I could tell him everything. I still can. And I have never felt I made a mistake. I don't want to tell you too much, but he has been through a lot. He has survived some things which many of people would not. He hasn't given up. I've never actually told him but... I admire him and I wish there were more people like him. No doubt I'm very lucky to have such an amazing friend." his eyes were full of peace, talking about Legolas he was sincere, he told Boromir only the truth.
"You're speaking of him beautiful words. I have no doubt he's your best friend. As well as you are his."
"There was a short time we had only each other." he smiled to himself lightly. "I'm so sorry, I surely bore you, I didn't mean to talk that much."
"No, no, no! It's totally fine. I would love to hear more about your amazing friendship. My brother used to say 'you know who is your real family when you see the steps of this other person taken to make you happy.' Seems like he was right. Legolas surely can feel safe around you. And he isn't lonely."
"I must agree. And he will never have a reason to feel lonely. I won't let him be alone, ever." he said and smiled and Boromir answered with the same.
"Do you miss your brother?" asked the ranger after a short silence.
Gondorian smiled and nodded.
"Yes. And I'm worried, actually. He is in a harsh relationship with our father. And I hope he is alright. I want to go to Gondor after destroying The Ring, to see him and never leave his side again."
Now, it was Aragorn who smiled and his gaze fell on Legolas, standing far from them, looking around. He understood Boromir's feeling perfectly. But Legolas would understand him even more. He sighed and stood up, wanting to check on hobbits.
"I'm sure your brother is fine, Boromir. Come, let's join the rest. Don't bother your head with situations which you are unable to change." he placed a hand on his shoulder and saw him nodding.
They both got up and quickly joined the group, the ranger one more time looked at Legolas and his serious face expression, but not wanting to disturb his peace, he turned his head away and sat on a log next to Frodo.
T.B.C
Dictionary:
Êl síla nan lû e-govaded vín - A star shines on the occasion of our meeting
Glass nín gen achened - It is my joy to see you again
Garo lend vaer - Have a good journey
Harthon gerithach raid gelin a chwest adel thraw lín - I hope you will have green paths and a breeze behind you
Nîn velui a lalaith veren nalú en-agovaded vín - Sweet waters and light laughter until next we meet
Short note: Be patient, every mysterious part of this story and past of Aragorn and Legolas will be revealed in next books. I'm working on the past of Aragorn now and how he became immortal, because to be honest, I haven't even thought about this part. ;D I'm also working on a cover of this story but I can't tell you when it is ready, for I'm not a graphic master :) Greetings to you all! :)