Something Evil This Way Comes

Disclaimer/Author's Notes: I own nothing but the Original Characters and their adventures. Everything else belongs to JRR Tolkien, the Tolkien Estate, New Line Cinema/Peter Jackson, et. al. This was done purely for entertainment and as an exercise in creativity.

************************************************************

“He has completely vanished,” Haldir said with disgust. Orophin and the twins shared his frustration. The man had an uncanny ability to fade from sight, blending into shadows and crowds. Four Elven warriors; and they could not find one man.

Legolas and Rumil met up with their friends in the courtyard. They could not believe the others had lost the Khandun.

“Are you sure he is mortal?” Elladan could have sworn he’d seen Lastharos not ten feet away, then the man had passed into the shadow of a column, and never come out the other side.

“Yes,” Legolas replied. He is definitely a Man, though he may have other blood as well. He---.” His words were cut off by the arrival of a group of the Rhunian Elves.

“Vanurion had us follow the man identified as Lastharos,” their captain said.

“But he had left the ballroom,” Rumil said.

“He returned,” replied the Eastern Elf. “He spoke to Charika and Alexandra, then moved back into the crowd.”

”What did he say to them? Did he threaten them?” Legolas could not believe the creature had been so close to Alex.

“I do not know. But he only seemed to speak with them briefly, then left. I believe the dark lady was frightened, but other than that, unharmed.”

“Where did he go?”

“When last we saw him, he was heading out into this courtyard. We surrounded it, yet he never left. He should be here now.” The Elves spread out, but there was no one to be found other than themselves. Glorfindel and Saelbeth, who had spoken with Gilraen, came out and joined them. When they were told of Lastharos’ seemingly magical disappearances, Glorfindel shook his head.

“He has dark creatures at his command: werewolves, vampires and shadow figures. That he may have magic to hide his escape is no surprise.”

“But we would have been able to see the signs of his magic,” Elrohir said.

“Perhaps, his creatures hide him. Remember, Legolas was taken in the midst of the forest guard, and no one saw him.” Saelbeth looked at his young kinsman. “You will only be able to fight him when he so chooses.”

Both Legolas and Rumil let out some particularly vile curses in Sindarin, Westron and even Dwarvish. Their companions simply allowed them to vent their frustrations.

“Then Charika will never be safe,” Rumil said. “As long as that thing lives, she will be in constant terror.”

They went back to find the women. Both Rumil and Legolas had a moment of panic when they found Alex and Charika missing, but Gilraen quickly calmed them. The twins, Haldir and his brothers, Glorfindel and Saelbeth followed Legolas to the chambers he shared with Alex. Along the way, they encountered a lone Haradrim woman, her veil pulled up protectively when she saw their approach. The Elves all gave respectful bows and stood aside so she could pass, but her fright was palpable and each felt sympathy for the woman. Her kind feared theirs and for an unaccompanied Haradrim woman to suddenly encounter a group of eight Elven warriors in a remote corridor of her enemy’s stronghold … they understood her feelings.

After she passed, Rumil looked at Legolas.

“Was that not Lady Krionen?”

“I believe it was. What was she doing in this part of the palace? Alone?” The prince shrugged and they moved quickly on to his chambers. When he found the door secured, he felt a thrill of fear. However, after calling out to Alexandra, the door opened readily.

Charika stood near Meriel, somewhat behind the long couch. Vanurion was by the door to the bedchamber and Alex had opened the door. Legolas gathered his wife into his arms and kissed her, holding her tightly, ignoring everyone else in the room.

When she saw Rumil, Charika ran to his arms and he picked her up, holding her as she began to cry. Vanurion indicated Rumil should take her into the other room so they could have some privacy and she could calm her frayed nerves. The other Elves relaxed, Elladan and Elrohir sprawling on the couch before Orophin stepped over their stretched out legs and seated himself between them, forcing them to sit up a bit.

Haldir leaned against the wall near the fireplace and Meriel came to stand next to him, his arm around her waist; and Glorfindel and Saelbeth took two of the chairs. Legolas and Alexandra simply held each other until Elladan spoke.

“Well, this is just like old times. We’re all together, doing what we do best: sitting around watching Legolas and his lady as they demonstrate the infamous Mirkwood Maneuver.”

Vanurion raised a quizzical brow as the other Elves chuckled.

“If you spend much time with them, you find it is easier to just let them get it out of their system. On the road, it is a good time to get in some target practice, eat something, take a nap. If you are trapped in a dwelling or building with them, you simply ignore them,” Elrohir counseled their eastern cousin.

“Or,” added Saelbeth, “you can simply watch and learn.”

Legolas and Alexandra laughed at the comments. They knew they were inordinately affectionate and did not care who was around when the mood hit. But really …

“We’re not that bad,” Alex said. “Are we?”

Their friends did not answer, but she heard something that sounded like a snort coming from near the fireplace---and it wasn’t Meriel.

“Did you find him?” Alex brought them back to the reason they were there.

Legolas shook his head. “He evaded both us and Vanurion’s warriors. The man is … elusive. What did he say to you and Charika?”

She repeated the Khandun’s words; his threat that he could find Charika anytime he wanted; how the woman now believed she had brought the danger to Rumil and the rest of the Elves.

Unnoticed by the others, Rumil called softly to Vanurion, and the Rhunian Elf joined him and Charika in the other room.

“And if she knows he cannot be found … She will never feel safe.” Glorfindel did not know what would help. They had to be prepared to meet Lastharos on his own terms. Since he could apparently evade them, they would have to let him choose the time and place of the fight. But they would meet his challenge. Now that they knew about him, they would be watching.

EPIILOGUE


Alex and Legolas stood with their friends and watched as Rumil lifted Charika into the covered litter. The Elf spoke to her softly and kissed her tenderly. Charika clung to him and her tears flowed freely.

They had discussed their options and Charika told Rumil of Vanurion’s offer. Rumil agreed the solution seemed to be the ideal one for the child. He wanted to give Charika’s babe its best opportunity for a good life, and knew it would not come from remaining with him and with a mother who saw it only as a reminder of her tormentor.

Now, she was going to Rhun with Vanurion’s people to deliver her child. The eastern Elf assured them they had healers skilled in the type of delivery Charika would likely require. She was also more comfortable around the more open eastern Elves, than she had ever been in Ithilien.

She would return after the babe had been born. In the interim, Rumil planned to track Lastharos down and remove him as a threat. He did not want Charika anywhere near the Khandun’s sphere of activity. Lastharos knew to look for her in Ithilien; he would not think of looking in Rhun.

The other Elves and Alexandra watched as Charika reluctantly settled back inside the litter and the Elf guiding the horses which pulled it, bowed respectfully to his western kin; then they started off.

Rumil stood alone and watched Charika vanish into the trees. He felt, in his heart, he may never see the woman again. Meriel told him the pregnancy was taking a hard toll on the woman; she was never meant to bear children. In the end, Lastharos may have his revenge on the woman who escaped his grasp.

He finally turned back and saw his friends, his brothers, his kin gathered in the main courtyard in front of Legolas’ home. He walked slowly into the midst of the group and took comfort from being surrounded by those who loved him and who also loved Charika. Alex wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly. When she released him, he met Legolas’ eyes and an unspoken message passed between them. Neither of them would leave Middle Earth before they had sent Lastharos into the Halls of Waiting.