Hawk's Flight

The hall was unnaturally silent as the remainder of the Fellowship walked down it's cobbled floors. Their stepped echoed across the empty air.

They reached the main hall of the Keep, where the King's audience chambers stood, a wide set of double oak doors flanked on either side by armored guards. The guards looked towards them as they approached and, seeing who they were, stepped aside and opened the doors, allowing them to enter.

Gandalf went through first, his staff left in his possession, unlike the last time he had entered the King's throne room. Aragorn followed, his blade tied to his side, then Legolas, with Endarine on his shoulder and his own white knives on his back. Lastly came Gimli, still clad in his dwarven armor, which he'd never taken off, his stubby hands gripped almost painfully around his axe.

Theoden was sitiing at a table, upon what looked to be the most comfortable chair in the room, surrounded by his advisors and guards. The tabletop was littered with what looked looked like maps from the first age. Old ink bottles, black stained quills, and empty plates and goblets covered it as well.

As the group stopped, the king looked up. He turned to the others in the room, who without a sound bowed and left, leaving the room empty but for the king and his requested audience.

"You respond quickly, I see." Theoden said, as he stood from his chair with a groan.

The group remained silent, awaiting the next words.

"Where is the she-elf?" the king questioned, looking at each face in turn.

Legolas stepped forward slightly, the blue-eyes hawk on his shoulder remained silent.

"Endarine could not to come, Sire. She was detained. Though she did make us promise to tell her all of this meeting."

The king, who had been looking oddly at the bird, looked back at the elven prince and nodded, though his gaze went immediatly back to the hawk.

"Very well, princeling. It is not much that I ask for in any case. Though, you must be tired. Would you to have a seat with me?" And he gestured to the table where he himself had been seated not moments before.

They all sat around the table, Theoden at the end, then Gandalf and Aragorn across from one another, and then, in the same fashion, Legolas and Gimli.

"I'm sorry to bother you at such an early hour, but we've urgent matters to discuss and prepare for for the morrow. We have recieved word, courtesy of the trees that destroyed what remained of the Isengard army, than Isengard itself has been destroyed."

The group nodded, though they had already known this. Gandalf was the one, in fact, who had been told first by Fanghorn. But they didn't let the king know that.

"They say that the wizard, Saruman, is still held, locked in his tower and powerless. Tomorrow would be an ideal time to see what exactly he's been up to. Would you, and Endarine of course, like to accompany me as an entourage?"

Gandalf answered for all of them, "Of course, Theoden-king. We would be most pleased to join you."

Theoden nodded again. "Very well. Tomorrow, then, when we are near, we will break from the rest of the people heading home." and with that, he gestured for them to leave.

They got up and left, this time Legolas being last in line. Theoden still stared unnervingly at the hawk, who had not so much a squeeked during the entire conversation. Those blue eyes...they reminded him of something, moreso someone. He shrugged. He'd have time for it later.

The men made their way back to Endarine's room, to finish up any final preparations for their departure the next day. They were silent on their way back, each one lost in their own thoughts.

Gandalf, quietly hobbling along with his staff, in deep thought over their present predicament. What had gone wrong with the spell? He was sure he had read it correctly, said the words in proper pronounciation. Yet the magick had still backfired, leading his two elven freinds in quite a knot of trouble. How was he to fix this mess?

Aragorn wandered along next, thinking much along the same lines as the wizard in front of him. He wanted to help his two freinds as much as possible, but he did not have magick at his command as did Gandalf, and Endarine apparently. There was nothing he could do to help turn them back, though he desperately wanted to.

Gimli plodded thirdly, though his mind was not as much on his elven companions predicament as it was his next meal and glass of ale, and the next orc ass he was going to get to cut. Typical of dwarven thought.

Legolas came last, Endarine perched on his shoulder. He had the advantage of mindspeech with the elleth on his shoulder, and they spoke in silent conversation as they slowly made their way back down the cobbled hall.

**How are we to remedy this, mela?** The prince questioned. In response, the blue-eyed hawk squeeked and rubbed her beak against his cheek.

**I do not know, mela. I don't even know what magick I did to heal you. Gandalf said he coudln't understand a word that I said, and the last thing I remember before it happened was walking up to the door of my other room. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in bed to Gandalf asking me to try the spell he had found.**

Legolas nodded, understanding. Despite the few words relayed, they had spoken a great deal. He wanted to sat more, but at that moment, the bedroom's door came up, and they all entered as silently as they had walked to it.

Gandalf immediately went bustling around picking up the haphazard books he had left scattered on the table and floor. He picked them up, dusted them off, and placed them along a shelf that was lying against one wall.

Aragorn went around, picking up his few belongings and packing them, settling down in the corner to whet his blade and oil his bow and string.

Gimli went back to his corner. His only possessions were already attached to him, so he didn't have much to do until they left. He sat down, and withing a few seconds, his heavy, sowlike snoring filled the hollow chamber, echoing off the walls.

Aragron laughed at this. The other three looked at him, and he gestured towards the dwarf.

"Only he could fall asleep like that in times like these. I doubt even a cave troll could wake him at the moment."

His comment brought to humorous chuckles and a light squawk. Legolas went over to the table, where Endarine promptly hopped down and settled herself on the edge of the table, her talons wrapped around the wood.

Legolas followed Aragorn's example, sitting at the table and pulling out his bow and knives. He removed a fist sized whetstone out of his pouch and began running it along the the edges of the eight inch blades.

The only sound in the room was stone on metal. Eventually, Aragorn broke the silence by sighing heavily and loudly. At his overly audible breath, the others in the room looked up, including the blue-eyed hawk, who aquawked and hopped a few steps more down the table at the Northern ranger.

"That went as well as it could have." he observed. "The king did not really ask many questions, including any concerning Endarine's absence. We will have to explain eventually, however."

Gandalf nodded, adding in his own comment. "Yes, we know this Aragorn. But for now, until we know more, it would be in everyone's best interest to keep this quiet."

Thay all agreed with him. Even if others found out, they would have no more explaination for them than they did for their own selves.

Soon, the weapons were as sharp as they could make them. They oiled them, put them away, and once again sat silently in quiet companionship.

Legolas looked out the window, and his eyes widened. The sun was nearly set! How had so much time passed? Oh well, it was probably for them better. Hopefully this fast passage of time would hurtle them closer to the answer they all needed and wanted.

Gandalf had noticed the sun as well, not commenting upon it. His mind was still befuddled by the lack of information of any kind that could lead him towards a solution.

When the sun was nearly upon the horizon, the entire group stood up to prepare for the change. Legolas stood right beside the window, Endarine had perched herself upon the sill, looking up into the elven eyes in front of her.

As they waited for the expected poof, a wind picked up and began blowing the beforehand still clouds into movement.

Just as the sun was touching the horizon, a cloud blew in front of the orb, and there was a poof, just as expected. But, surprisingly to everyone, only from Endarine. Legolas stood, confused, as he watched the hawk perched in front of him poof from avian to elven right before his eyes. He hadn't seen such before, as he had changed at the same moment as she.

In less time thatn it took to take a breath, Endarine stood before him, in elven form, and he stared back at her, still a two-legged blonde.

They were all frozen with shock, as the two golden-haired elves stared at one another.

The lovers broke the silence by crying out and throwing themselves into each others arms. Endarine fell into his embrace with a cry, curling up into his chest, whilst he wrapped his arms around her, caressing her back and her hair, his lips trembling to keep from letting tears flow. They held each other only for a moment, and then released, staying close.

Thats what it took for the rest of the group, minus the still snoring dwarf, to jump up and hug them again. Soon they all stood back, stupid grins gracing all four faces.

Gandalf, while smiling, was still feeling trepadation. He felt that there was still soemthing he had missed.

Aragorn noticed this. "What ails you, Gandalf? Can't you see? They are cured!" And he turned and gave his elven friend another hug.

Legolas returned it, but still stood back, looking at Gandalf with concern. " Come now, Gandalf. Explain."

"I still cannot see how this spell has just suddeny stopped. Magick does not last temporarily, at least none like this. It is permanent until the spell is reversed or changed."

Legolas' smile turned to a frown. Gandalf was right. Something said that this was just something temporary.

Endarine realized it too. Aragorn still stood there, slightly dumbfounded, but realization soon crept upon him too. He was the one that asked everyone's question.

"Then why did this happen? What caused the spell to stop like this?"

Gandalf answered, "I do not know, Aragorn, but soon it will be answered, I hope, unlike so many others."

In the background, unbeknownst to all save one, the cloud had blown away from the sun, which was still barely perched upon the horizon.

Endarine screamed, and with a poof, was one again a hawk. Gandalf looked at her, then at the rays shining through the westward window. He also noted the cloud still blowing away from the horizon, and an idea formed in his mind, though he revealed its possibilities none.

The sun continued it's descent, and barely a few seconds after Endarine's double change, she squawked and Legolas screamed, and with twin poof, each changed their form.

Once again, Endarine stood with Legolas upon her arm, both with a wild look of confusion on their faces.

Gandalf hmphed, and gestured for them to lie down and rest, and they did so, Endarine pulled tight under the covers and Legolas perched on the headboard. Soon, both were asleep. As soon as he was aure, Aragoen whipped around to the wizard.

"What in the Valar was that Gandalf? I saw the look in your face, the glint in your eyes. You know something. Out with it. Now." He was fairly shaking with anticipation of the coming words.

Gandalf laughed, deep and throaty. He gestured to the bed.

" I observed their surroundings as well during their changes. Do you not think think it odd that the past few days have been relatively clear of bad weather? Only sun and moonlight has been shown, and that is when their changes were regular and expected."

Aragorn nodded, beginning to see the conclusion. Gandalf continued.

"Today, however, before the sun was fully set below the horizon, clouds blew across and blocked the direct sunlight. That is when they both became human again. And as soon as the clouds blew away, and the sunlight hit them again, Endarine changed back. Then, again, the sun dipped completely, and they went through their normal change."

"So you are saying that their changes are caused by direct contact with sunlight?" Aragorn questioned.

Gandalf nodded, "Or the lack thereof. Moonlight may also play a role, because it has been close to full these past few nights."

"I understand, but that little fact takes us little forward in discovering the cure."

"True. And now, before we run our minds ragged with thought, let us turn in for the night. We depart tomorow, and if we are to sidestep into Isengard, we will want our senses to be at their best."

With that, both he and the ranger went abed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The wizard and ranger were both woken the next morning at dawn by the usual screech of the two elves. Aragorn bolted up from his sleeping skin on the throw rug, looking up and clearing his eyes in time to see Legolas standing there with the the magic of changing melting in the air around him. He looked slightly offbalance, and tumbled forward onto the floor.

Aragorn laughed *I guess sleeping on the headboard is a bad idea of your suddenly going to grow ten times your size.* He sat up from the sleeping skin and made his way over. Holding out a hand, he helped Legolas up from the floor. From the bed came a slight squeek, and they both turned to see the familiar lump hopping up and down underneath the covers of the bed. They both laughed, and Legolas made his way over to disentangle his love from the sheets.

*Diolla lle, Legolas* Came the thankfull reply, and Legolas rubbed his nose against the birds' beak, giving the end a slight kiss before moving the bird to his shoulder.

With their bags already packed, and the adrenaline-jolting way they had woken up, there was nothing much for them to do until the noon horn blew to announce their departure. Legolas and Gandalf went around, seeing to whomever needed their aide. Aragorn and Gimli went to the stables to pack their meager bags on their mounts.

When the horn of the the Berg finally blew, courtesy of Gimli again, the entire community of Rohirrim and elves gathered and took off, leaving Helm's Deep looking as dilapidated and ancient as the old cities of the mountain men.

As they walked, the elves eventually broke off, returning to their respective homelands. Likewise, groups of the Rohirric broke off as they neared or passed by their villages, until soon all that was left were the inhabitants of Edoras.

As they plodded along towards Isengard, Theoden broke away from the vanguard and slowed down to meet Gandalf, Aragorn, and Legolas in the back. Once again, he noticed the blue-eyes bird sitting atop the elf, but said nothing. "Where is the Lady Endarine, my lords? I have not seen her at all this day."

Gandalf had already prearranged to do the talking. " She has been riding back and forth today, Sire. She was concerned for the welfare of the injured traveling with us."

"Ah," The kind answered, "Well then. By the way, my lord elf, where did you come across such a beautiful bird? It wouls make a fine addition to any hawkery."

Legolas blanched at the question, and it was noticed but not commented on by the king. "She is a bird of my home, your majesty. She dislikes me being away for any period of time, and will usually track me down if I am gone for more than a fortnight or two." He laughed, forcefully.

"I envy you such a beautiful animal. Do all elven hawks look thus?"

"Not all, my lord. She is a rarity. A lily among the thorns, if you will. Or a diamond against the earth."

"You love her very much, don't you?" Theoden bluntly asked.

Legolas gasped and looked at the king. Aragorn and Gandalf had enough sense to remain quiet. Theoden had a glint in his eyes as he looked from the elf to the bird.

"Yes, princeling, I know your secret. It is too obvious with the way you and the other three treat the bird, and her eyes say more than any bird's would. They are too human."

Legolas nodded, a little fearful. "I don't know what to say, your majesty."

"You needn't say anything. I will keep your secret. No doubt you and that wizard will find a cure for whatever has befallen poor Endarine. Soon, you'll have her back. Your diamond of the earth."

Legolas nodded again. "Indeed, Sire. She is my jewel." And left it at that. He didn't trust his voice to speak.

With that, Theoden sped back up to the front of the line, Leaving Legolas and the others confused and grateful. Endarine took the moment to rub against her roosts cheek.

**Indeed, my love. I am your jewel, and you are mine.**

The mindspeech brought brimming tears to Legolas's eyes, and the rest of them, Gimli included, were fighting to keep their own eyes dry.