Author: Deathangelgw
Author email: deathangelgw@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: The characters belong to Tolkien, not me.
Though I wouldn’t mind them! ~_^
Warnings: AU, slight OOC, sap, angst, dark, lemon/lime,
slash.
Pairings: Elrond/Legolas, hinted Erestor/Glorfindel,
Elladan/Haldir, and Elrohir/Rumil
Rating: PG-13
Summary: A time to explore finds new things for a certain
Mirkwood prince
Notes: Well! It has indeed been a while! So sorry on the
wait! Thanks for the reviews and to MA thanks for the beta! Love ya! Enjoy!
Feedback is much loved and appreciated!
‘thoughts’
The crackle of the fire blended with the sounds of people
mingling as Legolas sat outside of the encampment that was set up on the way
from Edoras. It had been a hard journey, with many battles, but now, the final
battle loomed over their heads, resulting in the greetings being almost
desperate. He glanced over, watching as Aragorn strode off with Théoden, their
heads bent in discussion as they made plans on what might happen next.
Much had happened since they had left Lothlorien. The first
had been the sundering of the Fellowship, which had involved the separation of
Sam and Frodo from the group, the capture of Merry and Pippin, and the tragic
death of Boromir. With heavy hearts, Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli had given
pursuit to the Uruk-hai that had taken Merry and Pippin, ending in Rohan and
then in Fangorn. There, in the ancient forest, they had been reunited with a
reborn Gandalf and their Quest had been refocused on protecting Rohan and the
Horse Masters. Now, with the last battle and victory against the Uruk-hai of
Sarumon at Helm's Deep, the once Fellowship, along with what was left of the
Rohirrim, were making ready to go to Gondor, where they would be needed and
where Mithrandir and a rather remorseful Pippin were already stationed. They
were taking camp up presently outside of what the Men were saying was the Paths
of the Dead. Even he was feeling the chill of the dark mountain.
Looking up at the stars as he smiled softly, Legolas sent a
prayer to Elbereth to watch over the other two Hobbits that were missing from
their Fellowship. He prayed they were safe and sound, hoping that they were at
least still alive. But in these dark times, he wondered if he should indeed
think to hope. The power of the Enemy grew daily, looming as a dark cloud to the
East. It was only a matter of time before the final strike and it was quite
certain that Minas Tirith would be the target.
Sighing softly, Legolas looked to the West, where his
beloved remained in watch and worry. He stretched out his faer, seeking for the
one who was his other and felt a swell of warmth and love in return, nearly
undoing him. He curled up, burying his face in his knees as he soaked in the
love, feeling it balm his wailing soul and heart from all that had happened.
Never had he needed his Peredhel so much as he did now, in this darkest hour.
But, even as the warmth and love faded to a dull presence in his faer, Legolas
knew that he could continue.
Bringing his head up, Legolas smiled as he breathed deeply,
contentedly. He was safe in that knowledge of absolute love and it gave him that
extra strength to keep going. Nodding, he stood and looked over towards the
sprawling plains of Rohan. But, as he looked, he stopped, seeing shapes moving
towards them. It was a group of riders, not large, but enough to be noticed. He
turned his head as he heard the whisper of cloth and saw Théoden and Aragorn
standing with him, watching the group intently as they neared the encampment.
Intent, Legolas focused his gaze on them, and then
stiffened in shock and joy. He didn't heed Aragorn's questions as he suddenly
ran towards the group, who had picked up their own pace once sighting the camp.
The troupe stopped and the two lead riders dismounted swiftly as Legolas
approached, meeting him halfway in a warm embrace as Théoden and Aragorn hurried
over along with several of the Rohirrim. Laughing for the first time since
Lothlorien, Legolas hugged the two hooded figures. "Elladan! Elrohir! Oh it is
good to see you both, meldiren!" he whispered joyfully as they held him tightly.
(my dear friends)
“It is good to see you hale and whole, Legolas. Ada was
worried, no matter what he said,” Elrohir teased Legolas with a grin as they
leaned back, then all three faced Théoden, Aragorn, and the group from Rohan.
"Elladan…Elrohir…your presence brings light to our hearts.
But what brings you here?" Aragorn asked as he clasped forearms with his foster
brothers, his face warm with his joy at seeing them.
"We bring the Grey Company with us, gwadoren, and offer our
services to you and yours," Elladan answered as they bowed their heads, mirrored
by the group of Dunedain that they had been leading there. (my sword brother)
"Your words bring us great hope," Théoden declared softly,
gruffly as he clasped forearms with the two Peredhil. "I accept your aid with
gratitude. Come…you and yours must be tired and hungry. Rest yourselves around
our fires and we shall share our news with equal ardor," he suggested as he
gestured to the waiting encampment.
"Aye, your hospitality is well received, Théoden King. A
good rest would be well taken," Elladan declared with a broad grin, eyes
twinkling as Théoden nodded and smiled back before they all headed over towards
the camp, where Men were gathering in curiosity and cheering began to rise as
the news spread.
Legolas walked between the twins as Aragorn fell back to
speak with Halbarad of the Dunedain. Legolas smiled softly as he spoke with his
friends, telling them somewhat of his journeys and speaking of his time in
Lothlorien, which brought warm smiles from the twins. They came to the
encampment and, before they parted, the twins took Legolas to the side.
"Ada wished us to give you this, to lend you strength in
the upcoming darkness," Elladan whispered softly as he handed over a scroll that
was sealed with Elrond's seal. The twins smiled softly as Legolas took the
scroll with a grateful look before swiftly going to his tent.
Once inside, he hastily broke the seal and unrolled the
scroll, feeling tears well in his eyes as he took in his beloved's delicate
handwriting. He sat down quickly as he instantly took in what was written;
hungrily digesting all of what his love had to say.
~My beloved wind chaser,
The days and nights seem endless as we wait for news on
your Quest, and yet I know in my heart that you are safe. I feel your love
within my soul at all times and I send you my love as often as possible, yet it
sometimes does not seem to be enough. I have felt your despair and feel my own
rise up to mingle with yours, longing for it to be calmed and quieted even as I
pray that you are safe…
Legolas sighed quietly as he continued reading, his cheeks
flushing here and there as Elrond's impishness came through the loving words in
imagery for their reunion. He took in the scent of the paper deeply, catching a
hint of his beloved within the wood and ink smell and causing his need to flare
in interest before he returned to reading. His heart ached as he read the
despair his beloved was suffering from with Arwen's choice as well as the pride
evidenced for his sons. But most of all was the love that permeated the letter,
causing longing to stir within him as he shivered slightly.
Curling up on his bed, he reread the letter several times,
taking to memory all of the words before placing it in his pack for safe
keeping. He stood up, and then blinked as he heard a slight commotion outside.
Stepping out of his tent, he cocked his head as he saw Gimli, Elladan, and
Elrohir speaking softly as they watched Aragorn, who was packing Roheryn's bags
grimly. Curious, he stepped over to them. "What is going on?" he asked quietly
as he tilted his head towards Aragorn in indication.
"Aragorn has decided to go into Dwimorberg," Gimli
explained gruffly, grumpily as he nodded at the two. "These two decided to talk
to him and all of a sudden, he is deciding to go into that forsaken place!"
Intrigued, Legolas looked at the solemn twins. "What say
you?" he questioned them seriously, frowning as they looked at each other.
"Ada bade us speak with Estel on this. We need more men…and
there are plenty within the Dwimorberg," Elladan answered softly as he glanced
over at his foster brother.
"You speak madness!" Gimli hissed out almost angrily as the
three Elves gazed at him in semi-amusement. "There are said to be the dead of
betrayers there!"
"Aye. Betrayers who long for release. And Aragorn is
Isildur's heir…therefore he must not go alone," Legolas murmured firmly,
smirking as the twins and Gimli looked at him in surprise. He went back into his
tent, followed by Elrohir.
"What do you plan, gwador?" Elrohir demanded as he came in,
then stopped as he watched Legolas pack his own bags and strap on his weapons.
(sword brother)
"What I am sure my love knew from the start…that I would go
with Aragorn. Will you come?" Legolas queried as he straightened and faced his
friend firmly.
Frowning, Elrohir glanced outside briefly before sighing.
"Twould indeed be folly if he went alone and he is our brother. What would Ada
say if we said no?" he asked teasingly before winking at the grinning Legolas.
Nodding, Legolas stepped out and went to Arod, setting his
bags up before taking his steed over to where Aragorn was arguing with Gimli. He
smirked as Elladan and Elrohir also brought their horses over, earning a scowl
from Aragorn as he looked at them. "Did you not learn anything, meldiren, on
Dwarves? They never listen," Legolas said teasingly.
"You better accept it, laddie. We're going," Gimli added
smugly, chuckling as Aragorn sighed and shook his head.
"Fine…hurry then," Aragorn replied irritably, though they
all knew it was good natured, and mounted up, heading for the Path. Elladan
followed after, then Elrohir, ending with Legolas and Gimli. They all knew that
this had to succeed…or all would be lost.
*~~**~~*
Legolas stood on the hill overlooking the Fords of Gilraen,
breathing deeply of the salty sea air as the wind whipped through his hair. His
eyes hooded in bliss as he felt an intense longing rush through him, filling him
with a need so overwhelming that all else was blocked out. He looked around,
feeling his very soul ache with this desire as the waves filled his ears with
their crashing noise and the sounds of the gulls flying overhead echoed around
him. He wanted to follow the sea to the ends…to bliss and beyond…
"Legolas! Legolas wake up! Legolas!"
Elladan's shout cut through Legolas' reverie slowly,
echoing dimly around him before the sounds of battle finally broke through his
haze. He looked over, startled, to see his friends were fighting the Haradrim
and Corsairs of Umbar fiercely just as the Dead men of the Dunharrow came
roaring down to extinguish the life of the pirates and taking hold of the fleet
that had been traveling up the Anduin River to help in the Siege of Minas
Tirith. When the battle was done, Legolas knew that he had somehow failed.
"Legolas? What happened to ye, lad? You went all dreamy on
us and wandered away from the battle!" Gimli shouted angrily as he stomped over,
waving his axe at his friend while the twins and Aragorn secured one of the
ships.
Looking away sheepishly, Legolas fidgeted in an
uncharacteristic show of guilt. "I…can not explain it to you, meldiren. Twas
like the sea was beckoning to me…" he mumbled as he fiddled with his bow.
"You have the sea calling then, gwadoren," Elrohir stated
grimly as he came over with his twin and Aragorn. "It afflicts all of the
Firstborn, but most especially those who have not seen the sea."
"Ye make it sound as though twere like an illness, so grim
are your words, Master Elf," Gimli commented gruffly, though his brow was
furrowed with concern.
"Aye, Master Gimli, tis indeed serious. For soon then,
Legolas will long to sail West. And if it hits him now, he will be more than
distracted as you just saw," Elladan explained as he placed a firm hand on
Legolas' shoulder.
"Forgive me, meldiren. I did not mean to lose myself so,"
Legolas whispered in shame as he bowed his head.
"Is this the first time you have seen the sea, Legolas?"
Aragorn asked quietly as he stood next to Elrohir.
"Aye, my ada sought to keep us from the sea, perhaps for
this very reason," Legolas murmured softly as he looked longingly out over the
pale grey waters that crested on the shore. But a firm squeeze of his shoulder
broke through his trance and he blinked up at Elladan in surprise before looking
away.
"Come, we best sail off now. We can not dally," Aragorn
stated firmly before leading the way back to the ship, followed by Elrohir and
Elladan.
Legolas hung back a bit, looking down at the ground. He
could not believe that he had been so distracted that the battle had almost been
lost before it had begun. He looked up slowly as he felt a hand pat his arm
almost soothingly and looked into the warm eyes of Gimli. "Gimli."
"Legolas…ye best not worry on this. You just better watch
yer back and my own…we do have a score to settle, aye?" Gimli remarked slyly,
his eyes twinkling with mischief as a grin blossomed on Legolas' pale face.
"Aye, you are right, Gimli. May the best Elf win," Legolas
replied, and then laughed as Gimli guffawed before smacking his back hard in
amusement. They walked up the plank and readied the ship to set sail. It was
time to head for Minas Tirith.
TBC
