Chapter 4

An ethereal light, presaging dawn, penetrated tentatively through the leaves of the forest, but it did not wake the Ranger, nor did it rouse the tired Elf from the reverie into which he had fallen, lulled by the ever-present rumble of the Falls of Rauros.

Gollum gave a tiny hiss of satisfaction as he finally chewed through the last strands of his leash. As sneakily as he could, he tiptoed away from his captors, heading for the cliff where his agility would best serve his escape. He had made it almost to the fringes of the forest before a twig snapped beneath his foot.

Legolas jumped awake, and uttered a muffled curse as he saw the frayed rope dangling from the tree trunk. He sprinted after Gollum, who scuttled away as fast as his legs would take him. Then, in panic, he ran out upon the slippery ledge where he had perched the day before. Legolas ran at him full tilt, and Gollum dodged abruptly sideways just as the Elf reached him.

Legolas' foot slipped upon the rock and he tumbled over the brink of the falls, flailing ungracefully into the cold mist. Aragorn, only a few seconds behind, seized the remains of Gollum's leash, and holding him tight peered anxiously down into the spray. Dragging his prisoner to a nearby tree, he made short and rather rough work of retying him and then, sprinting back to the falls, he cried, "Legolas! Legolas!" But there was no answer, and no sign of the Elf in the violently churning pool below.

With no hesitation, Aragorn launched himself into a wide, arching dive over the plunging water. The surface below hit him like a murderous battle-blow, but he held his breath patiently, allowing himself to be buffeted this way and that until he regained his bearings and kicked his way to the welcome light and air. "Legolas! Legolas!" he cried again, but the falls' thunder was the only, mocking response. Aragorn dived once more beneath the tossing surface, and was rewarded after half a minute's groping and straining with a fistful of forest green serge. Yanking hard till he had a slim, limp body in his arms, he struck upwards once more and swam strongly backwards to shore. To his relief, Legolas coughed and sputtered within his firm grasp, and by the time they reached the bank, was breathing, albeit a little erratically.

The Ranger hauled him out and knelt beside him. He knew enough of Elves to be sure that, once out of water, Legolas would recover with almost frightening rapidity and would no doubt shrug off the incident with irritating sangfroid. But for now he looked like not only the fairest of beings but the most vulnerable, and Aragorn's hand caressed the damp cheek tenderly without his slightest volition. "Why are you here with me, you beautiful creature?" he murmured softly. "What is your mission, your mystery?" He sighed. "Whatever it is, I would be loath to lose you now. But do not worry, I will not disgust you with protestations or unwelcome advances." He withdrew his encroaching hand and set about the practical business of drying them both off a little, removing one piece of upper clothing at a time and wringing it out in the river before replacing it. As he started to squeeze Legolas' tunic, he felt something hard, and discovered in an inner pocked a miniature parcel, obviously precious, for it was wrapped tightly in waterproof animal hide. By its rectangular shape it was a notebook, or perhaps a small portrait. Aragorn was sorely tempted, but he was an honourable man. Setting it aside, he wrung out the tunic and placed the small package back in its pocket uninspected. The Elf was entitled to his secrets.

Legolas stirred. "My head pains me," he announced, rubbing a nasty bruise on his temple.

"Yes, you must have struck a rock. You were unconscious for some time." Aragorn kept his tone as cool as any healer's, though he felt anything but calm at the notion that the Elf could have drowned. "Can you stand?"

Legolas was already on his feet, donning his tunic then looking wryly up the cliff face they had scaled with so much effort the day before. "Sméagol?" he enquired.

"If he has not chewed through his bonds again, he is secured to a tree up there."

Legolas took a deep breath. "Then we should begin our climb."

Aragorn approached the Elf and held his face, still playing physician; he looked at his eyes (bright), his pallor (no more than usual), and his bruise (healing visibly already). "Very well," he said at last. "But I will go behind you, and you must rest if you feel faint.

Legolas smiled outright. "Yes, nana [mama]," he replied, and the dry joke reassured the Ranger as nothing else could. "You saved my life," began the Elf.

"So we are even," replied Aragorn quickly, putting an end to the topic. They climbed.

Gollum was still hissing and grumbling in his bonds when they reached the top and resumed their journey. "We shall have to give him less latitude," said Legolas.

"Yes, I was going to let him swim across the river alongside us, but now I think we should not cross until Sarn Gebin. There is usually driftwood there, and we can tie him to a piece and float him across."

And so they did, continuing their journey north by tracks as westerly as they could find, through the skirts of Fangorn, and so over Limlight, and then over Nimrodel and Silverlode to the eaves of Lorien.*

As they drew closer to the first of the mallorn trees, Legolas hesitated. "I know you wish to talk with the Lady," he said, his trouble creasing his fair brow. "But I… I have reasons not to wish my presence known here."

Aragorn clasped him by the shoulder and held his gaze. "You must do as you think best," he answered warmly. "Your aid has been invaluable to me, and I do not question you. I will go ahead alone with Gollum and, if Galadriel grant me an audience, unburden my cares to her. I will not mention your assistance, much though I would wish to acknowledge it. Will you meet me a day hence on the riverbank north of Lorien to resume our journey?"

Legolas breathed a relieved sigh and agreed. Before Aragorn could blink twice, the Elf had disappeared into the surrounding foliage.

"Come, Gollum," said the Ranger to his silent captive. "We shall have a welcoming party to meet us ere long, no doubt." And indeed, Haldir was already on his way.

*This passage is drawn/quoted from Unfinished Tales, chapter IV, p. 443.

End of Chapter 4.