Falling For You*

Chapter Three: The Bridge of Doom

It's just your imagination rolling over the past, It can change your mind completely, It's just my imagination running wild and too fast, But I know it won't defeat me. ~Erasure~

“Come, my friends. Though much is taken, much abides, and though we are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are. One equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will. To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield,” Renee paraphrased as she stood in the doorway of the old chamber of records that was now a dwarf lord’s tomb. She couldn’t help shuddering as Gimli’s mourning began. Soon he would get his revenge.

This would be her first real battle against orcs. She stayed to Aragorn’s left side as the drums began in the deep. Sharing only a quick commiserating look with an abashed Pippin. He really didn’t mean to be a fool of a Took, but he was young yet and curious. Considerably more childlike than Renee could ever remember being.

Gandalf thrust his staff back out into the hallway. The rodent like oil spot eyes of the goblin men and the amber of thousands of orc eyes gleamed in the brilliant light. Arrows began flying through the air. Renee stayed at Aragorn’s side until the cave troll crashed through the double doors. One massive paw slammed into her and sent her flying back behind the deep well Pippin had disturbed. Laying flat and attempting to regain her breath seemed like the best idea so far this unfortunate journey.

Legolas lost sight of Aewnaur early in the fight but trusted Aragorn to keep her safe. As he rode the neck of the troll though he spotted her laying nearly lifelessly on the rock floor with two orc approaching. He quickly shot three arrows into the massive head just below the skull line and jumped down the rescue his mate.

Renee laid on the floor totally relaxed. She was an elf, two orc were not enough to defeat her. She would survive Moria. Slowly she moved her left hand behind her to grab the long knife still sheathed. As the orc attacked she sprang into action. Slicing crosswise with both weapons severing ones head before turning in one fluid motion to behead the one behind her. She caught Legolas’s wide smile before jumping back into the fray.

Frodo stabbed the troll in the foot with a ringing cry. ’For the Shire!’ Aragorn echoed. Gimli was cleaving an orc in two on top of Balin’s tomb when Aewnaur ran to his back. She stood hip to shoulder with the Dwarf fighting off orc after orc, when Gandalf finally gave the retreat.

As Frodo fell to the Orc chieftain Gandalf and Aewnaur stood knowingly to the side. She cleaned her blade on one of the dead then stood straight. They both knew what was coming. ’Does it make me a coward that I am glad not to share your fate?’ she projected the thought to Gandalf. It was difficult to speak to him in this manner and in other circumstances would have left her with such a pounding in her head to not be advisable but in this case her head was already hurting and her adrenaline was flowing. Gandalf gave a grimace.

‘Only a fool would share another’s destiny. I know not the outcome of my journey but I trust in my companions to see this quest fulfilled.’

“Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered,” Renee quoted. It seemed that if ever a story deserved those words it was this one.

Soon there was no more time for thought. They were fleeing thousands of goblin men and orc down the great halls. Until even those misbegotten creatures fled the coming evil.

“A Balrog,” muttered Gandalf. “Now I understand.” He nodded gravely at Aewnaur.

Legolas caught the strange look between his love and the traveling wizard. The blond elf liked the thought of Aewnaur helping fight this creature none at all. For that is what he thought at the look he witnessed.

“Gandalf,” he started to warn the wizard. But anything he had to say was quieted as the dark figure streaming with fire raced towards them.

They ran. Up steep stairwells, over great gaps, and then right and downward. She knew it as soon as she saw it. The Bridge of Khazad-Dum. Gandalf bid them to fly. To save themselves as none of them were equipped to fight a foe of this nature. Yet Boromir and Aragorn stood at the end of the bridge. Trying to stand firm in the defense of the Fellowship. Renee looked back only once then turned, unable to face what was to come.

It had been nice; having a family that cared for her. But she could see the end of all that she had come to cherish. Blame would be laid directly at her feet. The visions she had seen of the journey was well known. They, all of them would blame her for Gandalf’s fall. Somehow she knew though that to tell them of his return while yes would give them hope would also weaken the resolve of Aragorn. He needed to be the leader. Had to learn to trust his self and his ability to lead the group or he would never get them across the great Gap of Rohan. Always thinking that he was merely holding the position until Gandalf returned. This coming journey to Lothlorien was a turning point that directly led to Gondor and giving Boromir back his honor.

Renee stopped running when she broke through into daylight. Bright brilliant sunlight. Beautiful and bittersweet. She stood silently, contemplating all she felt she had lost. Visions came to her then. Legolas turning his back to her. Looking over his shoulder at all the host of Mordor. Gandalf the White no where to be seen. Despair unlike she had ever known struck her heart. Blinding pain in her chest, deep inside her soul wept. Legolas’s pain. His grief. She fought through her own pain, knowing it was but a temporary thing. And took in to herself all the overwhelming emotions Legolas was feeling. Until she stood nearly insensate to everything but the soul bond. She would not let Legolas kill himself with despair. Her mate would not fade.

The hand touching her shoulder barely registered. She was swung around and a fist connected with her jaw. Several teeth were loosened and a definite popping sound echoed through her skull and still she did not react. Her mind now firmly locked in her visions and controlling the bond between her and her mate like she had never attempted before. She could feel everything he felt.

Boromir saw the elf girl standing still as soon as he was through the Great Gate and the orc following them were dealt with. He took advantage of Aragorn’s distraction, still hacking away at the evil spawn killing until the last fled in fear. He grabbed the usurping false heir and brought all his grief into one blow. Backhanding her across the face in a strike that had felled lesser Men.

That she did not react enraged him even more, he lifted his hand for another blow but was stopped before he could put any real force behind it. He swung around to confront this newest threat. His blood still singing for revenge against the Elvish witch and was confronted by the tall blond elf’s blade.

“She knew and she did nothing. She is to blame for the Wizard’s fall,” spittle flew as he spoke. His blazing eyes looked up into calm blue.

“If you strike her again, I will cut you down.”

The threat was offered in a terrifyingly composed voice. Boromir had no doubts that his life was forfeit if he moved even an inch in the direction of the female.

Legolas did not understand what was going on. He had felt unbearable grief then guilt and despair then nothing. He was calm; focused. It confused him that he felt nothing when his friend all this long age Mithrandir had just fallen into Shadow. Yes, the wizard had saved them all yet he had lost his life in the doing. He should feel something. Then he saw Boromir break Aewnaur’s jaw. He knew then, not only by the fact that she showed no reaction but that he was still calm, that she was taking his grief and now his anger from him. Into herself. Into her own soul, making his despair bearable so he could function until they reached somewhere safe. Somewhere he could heal and not let himself fade any further.

It came to him then that the guilt and despair hadn’t been his own. Perhaps that she had been human before and had experienced much misery in her life was shoring her up now. Under not only her own sentiments but his as well.

Boromir stood at the end of Legolas’s blade until Aragorn approached. He walked slowly up to the wood elf.

“Legolas,” he whispered. “What is this?”

“Look to Aewnaur,” said Legolas, never taking his eyes off the Man.

When Aragorn saw the huge bruise on his sister’s face and that it was already starting to swell he swung his own fist. Boromir hit the ground with a groan.

“One warning only, Boromir. Never again look upon her in anger or it will be your life,” Aragorn growled down at the man on his knees before him. He looked to Legolas; there was something else wrong with his friend. Worry for Renee was first in his mind however and he walked to her slowly. She was again lost in her vision.

He removed his glove and took her hand aligning their bond marks. Slowly she came around whispering his lineage yet again. Different this time as last. It seemed that her visions of the future changed with every step the company took.

Every word an agony to her Renee tried to stop the flow of the vision but as always it had her in it’s grip until the very end. Yet again the vision of the elf children caught the tale end of Aragorn’s titles. Renee’s eyes finally opened and she stared up into her brother’s grey blue gaze. She looked for condemnation. Looked for blame, that he rightfully blamed her for Gandalf’s fall. She found only love and concern. Yes, there were questions lurking there for when there was more time. Relieved she passed out again.

~

When she woke she was being carried in strong arms. Who? She let out a bit of her power. Legolas. She really should have known it would be him. How long she had been out she could not tell. The pain in her jaw had not lessened at all though so probably not long.

‘Lirimaer, what you have done for me,’ Legolas began.

‘It was too much for you to bear for a while. I don’t mind,’ Aewnaur thought back cutting off whatever he would have said, which she suspected had something to do with giving him back the pain. Deep inside however the deep well of grief threatened to consume her. Tears began and she buried her face against his chest and sobbed.

Aragorn would not let them stop until Sam and Frodo fell too far behind. He then allowed them a small fire as he checked out the hobbit’s injuries. Sam had a cut along the side of his face that Aragorn bathed in his athelas. When he checked Frodo out the company found his mithril under-shirt. Aewnaur thought it looked a bit like titanium and pearl mixed together. It was very beautiful, she could definitely understand why it was such a costly ore.

As the company prepared to walk on Gimli took notice of the strangeness of Legolas’s countenance.

“And what Master Elf is the matter with you? Have you no feelings at all? What deviltry is this?”

“Aye,” sneered Boromir. “I thought all elves felt emotions much keener that mortal man? It seems to me that the witch and the elf think nothing at all of Gandalf’s passing.”

“You stop calling Ms. Renee a witch. She‘s a Seer. She loved Gandalf as much as we did. ‘sides I seen her face before an’ she was crying.” Sam defended her. Though he too was perplexed at Legolas’s calm.

“Enough both of you,” Aragorn hissed to the Dwarf and Man who had stopped to stare at the two elves. He desperately wanted to be the one to carry his sister. When he had suggested it though Legolas had nearly growled at him. At least now she could walk on her own. Something was indeed going on. Perhaps it had something to do with the bond they shared. One day he hoped to bond with Arwen as deeply.

“Whatever is or isn’t going on can be dealt with in Lothlorien. There we will be safe. We must not tarry here.” said Aragorn as he shouldered his pack.

Later still when deep night had fallen, Legolas finally spotted the edge of the great wood of Lothlorien.

“Let us hope that the virtue of the Elves will keep us tonight from the peril that comes behind,” said Aragorn with a lighter spirit than had been heard since the beginning of the deep dark of Moria.

“Great, more elves,” Boromir rolled his eyes and muttered as he threw his pack down next to the pit the hobbits had dug for the fire.

“You have something against elves, Steward’s son?” Aragorn questioned. The barely contained violence evident in his eyes. He would not soon forgive this man for his sister’s injury and never forget.

“Not all elves, no,” Boromir stated then fell silent letting the other’s think what they would.

They made a small camp there for the night. Aragorn and Legolas flanking the young girl with the broken jaw. Gimli who still looked to Legolas with mistrust and doubt never the less set aside this age old grudge to attempt light conversation with Renee. They had grown quite fond of each other while in Rivendell. Over the course of the journey south they had not had much time to keep practicing with their axes and even fewer moments for useless conversations.

When the watch had been set and all was still for the night Renee curled up next to Aragorn and allowed herself to sleep. By silent agreement Boromir took first watch before Aragorn. When Aragorn woke Legolas for his watch the elf looked to the sleeping elleth.

“I will watch until the sun rises, she still sleeps with her eyes closed.”

“What is going on, my friend. I know you. You would not be unaffected by the fall of Gandalf, yet that is what it seems,” Aragorn whispered in concern.

“She felt my pain and made it her own. For me the grief was nearly overwhelming.”

Aragorn stood stunned for a moment before stepping back from his friend. “How? Is this the bond or her own gifts? Elves can fade from pain of this nature. How can she stand this?” His anger grew as his heart caught up with his mind. “Why have you let her do this? Will she fade?”

“I think not. Something, perhaps that she is from another world, I know not what. But something is buffering her. Her light is just as bright as ever,” Legolas couldn’t tear his eyes away from the sleeping female. He took a deep breath. “Lay down, Aragorn. She looks to you for comfort and you alone can make her sleep restful.”

~

The had gone little more than a mile into the forest when they came upon another stream flowing down swiftly from tree-clad slopes that climbed back westward towards the mountains. It was the Nimrodel, of which many songs had sung.

‘Sing the song for me Legolas. Let me hear it truly with my ears not just my heart and mind.’ Renee requested. Sleep she might have but rest she had not, as was evidenced by the exhaustion that even that small communication brought on. Legolas picked her up and carried her when he felt her mind slip into a peaceful lull while walking.

When the Company turned from the path into the deeper woods Legolas relinquished his hold on Renee. He set her on her feet and watched her look around in wonder. The purple bruise on her cheek the only thing marring the beauty of the moment. He wanted to hurry into the safety of the Elven Realm so he could regain his own emotions and be properly irate. The Man certainly needed to learn his place which was very far beneath his mate.

Renee looked around at the huge silver tree trunks, the foliage on the trees didn’t even begin for at least two stories above them. A poem flittered through her mind and even with the constant ache in her jaw she had a deep need to share it. Maybe it was just the nature of elves to be story tellers but since she had fallen into Middle-Earth more and more songs, stories and poems had come back to her. She called to Legolas mind to mind for him to repeat the poem to the hobbits, thinking that if any of the company would appreciate the words it would be they.

Welcome to my Eden,
Please be careful where you tread.
Dreams hide in the darkness
Amongst all the green and red.
Normality we forbid,
But if you would like to stay,
Come in and have a little fun
I'd love for us to play...
So lock the gates behind you
And leave the real world far behind
Dance, laugh, and make merry
As you slowly lose your mind...

He smirked as he spoke the words ringing true in this place. Renee went to Aragorn’s side and walked quietly for a while. They walked in peace until Legolas and Pippin began discussing the Mellyrn or Mallorn trees. She giggled when Legolas told the young hobbit to dig a deep hole in the ground to keep away from orc but startled roughly when Legolas dropped back down out of the tree he had been about to climb. She was pushed behind her elf. Her back to one of the great silver trees, her front to Legolas’s back. She stood on tip-toe when she heard another voice that did not belong to any of her companions. Her eyes grew huge when she spotted the arrow aimed directly at her forehead.


tbc...

~in order of appearance~
Ulysses, Tennyson
The Labyrinth
~Michi~