Mael-Gul

Authors note: Completely A.U. Legolas slave fic.
This story was inspired by Bluegolds story "Bound", which can be found at this archive, and also here:
http://daemel.freespaces.com/authors.html#blue. I use the plot idea here with her permission.
Feedback: Yes please! Send to Aislynn.Crowdaughter@gmx.net
This is my first LOTR fic, and I am no native speaker. Any comments welcome, including about grammar!
Disclaimer: The universe I play in is not mine. It was created by J.R.R. Tolkien, who also owns the characters, safe a few original characters in side roles. Peter Jackson owns the Movies. I just borrow both here for my own enjoyment. I make no money out of this. The idea of the Mael-Gûl, or Rhach e-Maelangwedh (Lust-Spell, Curse of Lustchain) however is entirely mine.

Some sentences of this chapter are directly liftet from Peter Jacksons movie, FOTR.

For Warnings, all other disclaimers and other authors notes see Prologue.

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IX.

Gimli jumped up. “Well, what are we waiting for?” he asked and rose his axe, only to bring it down full force directly on the Ring.

There was a great crash and a cry. The axe broke into little pieces. Legolas could see both Aragorn and Elrond shield their faces with their hands, and Glorfindel flinched away, too. The Dwarf cried and fell to the ground. He looked amazed and seemed too startled to get up for a moment, until two of his people knelt beside him and helped him rise. Over all the commotion and at the fringes of his perception, Legolas could hear a malicious voice speaking syllables that sounded a lot like the hateful words of the Black Speech Gandalf had uttered before. Frodo flinched in his seat. The little Hobbit looked as if he had felt the blow to the Ring physically himself, and now sported a profound headache.

The One Ring, however, remained completely unharmed, unscathed and unscratched, as before.

Lord Elrond gathered himself together. With dignity, he said:

“The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft we here possess. The ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there it can be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came. One of you must do this.”

Legolas eye were wide. So this was what they were planning? Who would Elrond appoint to carry this out? Surely Estel would have to go. Aragorn had been in Mordor before. But with the Ring of Power? Would he have to face this suicide mission alone? And what if the One Ring tempted him? Would he manage to withstand? Surely he would need some companions!

Even so it was a mission bordering on madness. Carrying that thing through the wilds when every single servant of the enemy was out looking for it?! On the other hand it sounded mad enough that it could just have the chance of success, and it was ingenuous in its simpleness. It sounded very much like an idea Mithrandir would have, and Legolas suspected the Istar had been the one who convinced Elrond to go through with it. Suicide mission or not, it sounded like it was their one possible chance. Maybe, just maybe, there was real hope!

Yet not everyone shared his opinion.

Boromir spoke up again. “One does not simply walk into Mordor,” the man of Gondor said. “It's black gates are guarded by more than just Orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. The great eye is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland, riddled by fire, dust, and ash. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with ten thousand men you could do this!”

Legolas had enough. Didn't that ignorant Adan realize that he sat here in the company of some who had been already there? Legolas himself had never been to Mordor, since Estel left him behind the one time he had to travel there, but his own grandfather Oropher had perished before the very gates Boromir just described, together with two thirds of his warriors. Only to have their sacrifice, and the hard-won victory of the Last Alliance, later betrayed by Isildurs greed, and to be accused posthumously to have caused Gil-Galads death with their early demise and failure to submit their warriors to the command of the Noldor king. Legolas own father Thranduil had fought there. Even Elrond and Erestor, as little as Legolas loved them, had fought within that war, as had Glorfindel. More so, Legolas thought with pain of Mirkwoods south, corrupted by the long presence of Sauron, and since then his servants, in Dol Guldur. And that man talked as if nobody of them knew what Saurons touch on a land would mean?

And besides, didn't that son of Denethor realize that only the destruction of the Ring could bring an end to Sauron and final relief from the war against the Shadow? Relief for Gondor; relief for Mirkwood, too, at least from the threat of Dol Guldur! He was beyond caring now. Whatever his own fate, he had to make sure that his home got this one chance at least!

He jumped up.

“Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said?” he fiercely exclaimed. “The Ring must be destroyed!”

Yet not Boromir answered him, but the Dwarf who had attempted to do just that without success. Challengingly, Gimli said: “And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?!” He jumped up in his anger, ready to face the hated Elf.

Legolas was startled. He had not realized he would provoke such a reaction from the Stunted One. Yet now it was too late. The man of Gondor jumped up.

“And if we fail, what then?” he asked. “What happens if Sauron takes back what is his?”

But it was the Dwarf again who finally tipped the balance. Clearly and pointedly, he cried:

“I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!”

Aragorn rolled his eyes and closed them briefly. He looked pained and resigned. 'Confound it, Legolas,' he thought, 'I did not think that you would take the task of representing your father quite that literally! Did you need to display his hot temper and his habits toward Dwarves, too?' Yet he could do nothing to stop what was happening now, so he remained in his seat, weathering the yelling and the angry arguments.

The Elves among the council jumped up as one. They advanced on the Dwarves who stood to face them and readied themselves to fight. Even the Elves of Elrond's household followed through. Only Elrond himself remained slumped in his seat, all too aware that he had completely lost any control of the situation.

They all heard Gimlis angry shout: “Never trust an Elf!”

That did it. Legolas felt old, long honed instincts of royalty and well-trained royal command taking over and completely forgot his position as a slave. He advanced threateningly two or three steps on the insolent Dwarf, who squared himself to meet him. Behind himself, he could feel his warriors advance, ready to fight, and his arm sneaked out, preventing them in a silent command. However that obstinate Stunted One made his blood boil, they were on Elrond's territory here and the Dwarf was Elrond's guest and under the protection of Imladris hospitality. Even if Mirkwood, and themselves, had all been free, they would not have been within their rights to attack here. Even so, his mind was in a haze, hot anger boiling within him he didn't fully understand. Yet he was too upset to care much about it.

He was not the only one. All the other Elves beside Elrond himself were on their feet, too. So were all the men except Aragorn. The Dwarves were standing too. All were shouting in anger at each other. Finally the wizard entered the fray.

“Do you not understand? While you bicker among yourselves, Saurons power grows! None can escape it! You'll all be destroyed!”

Most of the assembly ignored him. They simply continued to argue and yell at each other. The only one remaining seated now besides Elrond and Aragorn was the Hobbit. Frodo looked at the Ring as if it held some odd fascination for him. Over the whole bickering, the angry arguments, he could hear the voice of the One Ring in his head, repeating the verse Gandalf had quoted earlier over and over. It was as if the golden band was riddled in flame, poisoning all around it with its malice. Frodo could hear clearly its voice:

'Ash nazg durbatuluk, ash nazg gimbatul.....'

Sick to his stomach, he cried: “I will take it!”

They did not hear. He jumped up and cried again. “I will take it!” he repeated. “I will take the ring to Mordor!”
Finally, Gandalf heard him and turned around to him. They all looked at him. The bickering died down.

In the sudden silence, Frodo repeated: “I will take the Ring to Mordor.” More quietly, he added: “Though I do not know the way.”

Gandalf seemed to recover. He gave the Hobbit a solemn bow.

“I will help you to bear this burden, Frodo Baggins,” he promised, “As long as it is yours to bear.” Solemnly and with great dignity, he made his way over to the Hobbit and placed himself beside him.

They all looked at them in wonder. It was as if they had awoken from a trance. Then, Aragorn stood. Determinedly he made his way over to the Hobbit.

“If by my life, or death, I can protect you,” he said intently, “I will.” he went down to one knee in front of him. “You have my sword.” He stood up and placed himself behind Frodo. He looked at Legolas.

Legolas looked back at him. There was no question. Where Estel went, he would go, too. If he was still alive to do it.

“And you have my bow,” he added without further hesitation. He went over to stand beside Aragorn. He caught the expression of his masters gaze, and it was one of renewed hope and veiled triumph. Aragorn turned his head to look at Elrond.

Elrond seemed angry and about to intervene, although Gandalf shot him a hopeful look. They were distracted by the Dwarf.

“And my axe!” Gimli said and went to place himself besides the Elf. Legolas rolled his eyes. Valar protect them! This was all they had needed! Yet he did not dare to speak. Before anyone could say anything else, Boromir intervened.

Proudly he stated: “You carry the fate of us all, Little One! If this is indeed the will of the council, Gondor will see it done!” He stood beside the dwarf.

Gandalf still looked at Elrond, who stood up now himself and watched them with wrinkled brows. Still, before Elrond could say anything, he was interrupted by a shout.

“Mister Frodo doesn't go anywhere without me!” A strange Hobbit sprinted forward out of the bushes, placing himself besides Frodo. Gandalf smiled at Elrond. Elrond relented. He sighed.

“No, indeed, Samwise Gamgee. It is hardly possible to separate you, even when he is invited to a secret council, and you are not!” He turned back to the others, but was interrupted by two more shouts.

“Oy! We're coming too!” shouted another Hobbit Legolas had never seen before. He realized that this had to be another one of the three who had accompanied Frodo to Rivendell. The Perian was accompanied by the forth of the gang, who looked a bit older. “You have to send us back tied up in sacks to stop it!” this other one said. They stood beside Frodo and the one called Samwise.

Elrond straightened up. He seemed taken by some kind of vision.

“Nine companion,” he said. “So be it! You shall be the fellowship of the Ring!”

Legolas caught his masters eyes, who was looking at him with relief and hidden triumph. So Aragorn thought the matter of Mirkwood's penance closed. Legolas bowed his head. He doubted that it would be that easy.

He was proven correct with the next words of Lord Elrond.

“The council is adjourned,” the Lord of Rivendell announced. “The midday meal will be served soon. I invite you all to meet us there again.”

The Hobbits seemed all eager. Frodo went over to the little stone table in the middle of the council place to take back his Ring. The assembly slowly dissolved, when Elrond raised his voice again. “I ask my fellow Elves, however, to stay awhile. We have still to discuss the matter of Mirkwood.” He shook his head at Mithrandir. “No, Gandalf, this is a private matter of the Elves. I suggest you go and talk the coming journey through with Frodo and the others.”

Some of the Dwarves and the man of Gondor looked up at that with sudden distrust, but since the One Ring was safely back with the Hobbit and the Elves obviously did not intent to invite the Ring Bearer to their meeting, they let it go and left.


Aragorn stayed. He looked at his slave in alarm. His face fell. Legolas squared his shoulders. It was time for him to pay up, then.

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-- TBC --