A Life Worth Living
Chapter Five
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A/N: Holy Cow! I haven't updated in forever! Eeek! I'm so surprised so many people like this story! It's always great to know when a story is liked! I'm really sorry that you all had to wait so long, but as good as this is, it takes a while for ideas to hit ya know? But any ways, thank you all for reviewing, and let's all hope you like the rest of it. Oh, and I did go back to the 1st chapter and changed a few minor things.......
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Disclaimer: I do not own Legolas. I do not own Thranduil. I do not own Aragorn. I do not own Mirkwood. I do not own.... You get the point. Don't you?
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Legolas and took Aragorn to the Forest Gate, so they could follow an elf path that led straight to the Elven King's Halls. They did not speak, for neither of them wanted to disturb the darkened forest. The trees were dark, leaning in as if to want a better look at the new comers. There were no peaceful sounds in this wood, like those in Rivendell; they were strange noises, grunts and scufflings, and the strange sound of creatures crawling along the ground. There were webs as well, hundreds of them lined the path, and in the gathering dark you could catch a glimpse of shadows moving from tree to tree.
Though Legolas had not been here for such a long time, his senses came back to him, and his nerves were settled. His eyes easily adjusted to the dark, green glimmer, but Aragorn was having a harder time.
"Aragorn, do not push to see clearly. Just let the horse guide you, he knows where he's going." Legolas said, his eyes locked in front of him.
"Can't we ride? We can get there faster."
"I suppose," he said, climbing onto his horse, "Go Thallion, show me the meaning of haste." Thallion sped off, followed closely by Aragorn, and they rode for a long time. The forest was quiet, and all you could here was the pounding of the horses' hooves against the ground.
It was growing dark, and a cold chill filled the air. They would have to spend the night. Legolas kept them going until they reached a stream. Black and strong it was, but Aragorn did not see it.
"Aragorn! Stop!" It was so sudden, that Aragorn pulled hard on the reigns. But this startled the horse, and it bucked him off. Aragorn landed not so gracefully on his feet, and almost his balance, but Legolas was able to hold him back before he fell into the stream.
"You must be careful my friend. I remember this place. It is the Enchanted River, if I had let you fall, you would've been overcome with great drowsiness and forgetfulness." Aragorn let out a big sigh of relief, and climbed back onto his horse.
"Well how are we to get across? It must be at least 10 yards across, if not more," he asked.
"There should be a raft somewhere along the river bank. Well, there used to be when I was young." Sure enough, they found the raft floating in the water, tied to a tree. At least got off his horse, and pulled the raft to the bank.
"Will it hold all the weight?" Aragorn asked.
"Of course it will. It was made by the elves, not some human child," Legolas said. Turns out he was right, and in no time, they were on the other side, and making camp.
They did not make a fire, for Legolas said it would attract many unwanted creatures, so they kept watch, one at a time in the dark.
Morning came, all too slow, and they set off once more. Again, the two friends said very little, and urged their horses to go even faster. The scenery did not change, but the eyes that watched them go by were growing less and less.
"We are getting close, Aragorn," Legolas said, as the sun began to set once again, "we shall not stop this night. I see a faint light far ahead, there is not time to waste." Aragorn nodded in agreement. "We should be careful, the elves here do not welcome easily, unless of course it has changed since I've been here," he continued, put his hood up.
It was well into the night when they arrived, and the wood-elves did not take it likely. A whole group of them surrounded Legolas and Aragorn, bow's ready.
"Who are you?" asked one of them. He appeared to be of great importance. He was clad in a green robe, bordered with sliver trim, and had a silver headdress upon his head.
"That is none of your concern, master elf," said Legolas.
"I am chief of defense in these woods. My name is I do not think it wise of you to be smart with me," he replied.
"This is Aragorn. He is a ranger from the north," Legolas said, jumping off his horse, and quickly retrieved his knives. Aragorn, unsheathing his sword. The elves did not like this, and the arrows got even closer to them.
"What is a man doing with elvish weapons?" asked
"What makes you think I am a human?" Legolas asked, drawing back his hood.
"You ride with one. Elves do not usually associate with them," he answered.
"This is Lord Elrond's foster son, I met him in Rivendell. Do not be so quick in judging those of a different race."
"Fine, but you have yet to name yourself," ......
"I am native to these lands, and have come to see King Thranduil...my father." he said.
"Prince Legolas?" he asked, and quickly bowed his head, "we are deeply sorry. We did not know."
"Well now you do. Step aside, and take the horses to the stables," he ordered. The elves back away, and Legolas and Aragorn walked up to the palace. It was a beautiful place. Torches were lit, giving it a radiant glow, and it seemed to blend in with the forest itself. It looked so natural, as if it had just grown there. They walked along the stone floors, looking for the king.
"You sure live up to your title, Legolas," Aragorn laughed, "you haven't been here in how long, yet it's as if you never left." As they continued walking, they saw an elf maiden walking along, with a pile of cloth in her arms.
"Excuse me, my lords, is there something I can help you with?" asked the elf.
"Actually there is. Could you tell us where we can find the king?" asked Legolas.
"He is in his chambers, take a right down this hall, and it is the farthest door on your left. He is not in his right mind, sirs, you might want to watch what you say," she said.
"Thank you, we will keep that in mind, carry on," Legolas replied, and they continued on their way. "There was something oddly familiar about that elf, Aragorn," he told him.
"Maybe she had visited Rivendell," Aragorn said.
"Maybe."
They approached the king's door, and Legolas reached out to open it. His hand froze just as he touched it.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" Aragorn asked.
"I...I...don't know. My father is right there, but a part of me doesn't want to see him. A part of me is still..."
"Who's there?" asked a voice from the other side of the door. Slowly Legolas opened the door, and walked into the room. What he saw was not good. There was his father, laying in bed, like a sick man. He was pale, and his voice was raspy. He looked so weak just laying there. A healer was by his side, giving him a drink of tea.
"What happened?" asked Aragorn.
"He's in grieving, his son left long ago, and he could never find him. He finally gave up, thinking that he had been killed. His second wife died also, not to long ago. If this keeps up, he could die," the elf answered.
"Who are you people?" asked the King, and Legolas walked to the side of his bed.
"King Thranduil, I have come here from Rivendell with my companion Aragorn. We heard news of your condition, and came as soon as we could."
"Answer my question! Speak!" he ordered.
"Do you not recognize your own son ada?" Legolas asked.
"My son?" he whispered, "my son... Legolas, he's..."
"Right here ada, your son is right here,"
"Oh my son!" Thranduil cried, opening his arms, and welcoming his son in a warm embrace. "It has been too long."
"I know, I know ada. I'm so sorry, I should have came back earlier. I was just so scared, I'm sorry." Legolas said.
"No, you have no reason. It was I who scared you away. It was me, I should be apologizing to you." Thranduil weaped.
"Ada, let us forget the past. You do not have to grieve any longer. I'm home."
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A/N: So......what did you think?? Please Review!!!!
Chapter Five
~~~~~~~~
A/N: Holy Cow! I haven't updated in forever! Eeek! I'm so surprised so many people like this story! It's always great to know when a story is liked! I'm really sorry that you all had to wait so long, but as good as this is, it takes a while for ideas to hit ya know? But any ways, thank you all for reviewing, and let's all hope you like the rest of it. Oh, and I did go back to the 1st chapter and changed a few minor things.......
~~~~~~~~
Disclaimer: I do not own Legolas. I do not own Thranduil. I do not own Aragorn. I do not own Mirkwood. I do not own.... You get the point. Don't you?
~~~~~~~~
Legolas and took Aragorn to the Forest Gate, so they could follow an elf path that led straight to the Elven King's Halls. They did not speak, for neither of them wanted to disturb the darkened forest. The trees were dark, leaning in as if to want a better look at the new comers. There were no peaceful sounds in this wood, like those in Rivendell; they were strange noises, grunts and scufflings, and the strange sound of creatures crawling along the ground. There were webs as well, hundreds of them lined the path, and in the gathering dark you could catch a glimpse of shadows moving from tree to tree.
Though Legolas had not been here for such a long time, his senses came back to him, and his nerves were settled. His eyes easily adjusted to the dark, green glimmer, but Aragorn was having a harder time.
"Aragorn, do not push to see clearly. Just let the horse guide you, he knows where he's going." Legolas said, his eyes locked in front of him.
"Can't we ride? We can get there faster."
"I suppose," he said, climbing onto his horse, "Go Thallion, show me the meaning of haste." Thallion sped off, followed closely by Aragorn, and they rode for a long time. The forest was quiet, and all you could here was the pounding of the horses' hooves against the ground.
It was growing dark, and a cold chill filled the air. They would have to spend the night. Legolas kept them going until they reached a stream. Black and strong it was, but Aragorn did not see it.
"Aragorn! Stop!" It was so sudden, that Aragorn pulled hard on the reigns. But this startled the horse, and it bucked him off. Aragorn landed not so gracefully on his feet, and almost his balance, but Legolas was able to hold him back before he fell into the stream.
"You must be careful my friend. I remember this place. It is the Enchanted River, if I had let you fall, you would've been overcome with great drowsiness and forgetfulness." Aragorn let out a big sigh of relief, and climbed back onto his horse.
"Well how are we to get across? It must be at least 10 yards across, if not more," he asked.
"There should be a raft somewhere along the river bank. Well, there used to be when I was young." Sure enough, they found the raft floating in the water, tied to a tree. At least got off his horse, and pulled the raft to the bank.
"Will it hold all the weight?" Aragorn asked.
"Of course it will. It was made by the elves, not some human child," Legolas said. Turns out he was right, and in no time, they were on the other side, and making camp.
They did not make a fire, for Legolas said it would attract many unwanted creatures, so they kept watch, one at a time in the dark.
Morning came, all too slow, and they set off once more. Again, the two friends said very little, and urged their horses to go even faster. The scenery did not change, but the eyes that watched them go by were growing less and less.
"We are getting close, Aragorn," Legolas said, as the sun began to set once again, "we shall not stop this night. I see a faint light far ahead, there is not time to waste." Aragorn nodded in agreement. "We should be careful, the elves here do not welcome easily, unless of course it has changed since I've been here," he continued, put his hood up.
It was well into the night when they arrived, and the wood-elves did not take it likely. A whole group of them surrounded Legolas and Aragorn, bow's ready.
"Who are you?" asked one of them. He appeared to be of great importance. He was clad in a green robe, bordered with sliver trim, and had a silver headdress upon his head.
"That is none of your concern, master elf," said Legolas.
"I am chief of defense in these woods. My name is I do not think it wise of you to be smart with me," he replied.
"This is Aragorn. He is a ranger from the north," Legolas said, jumping off his horse, and quickly retrieved his knives. Aragorn, unsheathing his sword. The elves did not like this, and the arrows got even closer to them.
"What is a man doing with elvish weapons?" asked
"What makes you think I am a human?" Legolas asked, drawing back his hood.
"You ride with one. Elves do not usually associate with them," he answered.
"This is Lord Elrond's foster son, I met him in Rivendell. Do not be so quick in judging those of a different race."
"Fine, but you have yet to name yourself," ......
"I am native to these lands, and have come to see King Thranduil...my father." he said.
"Prince Legolas?" he asked, and quickly bowed his head, "we are deeply sorry. We did not know."
"Well now you do. Step aside, and take the horses to the stables," he ordered. The elves back away, and Legolas and Aragorn walked up to the palace. It was a beautiful place. Torches were lit, giving it a radiant glow, and it seemed to blend in with the forest itself. It looked so natural, as if it had just grown there. They walked along the stone floors, looking for the king.
"You sure live up to your title, Legolas," Aragorn laughed, "you haven't been here in how long, yet it's as if you never left." As they continued walking, they saw an elf maiden walking along, with a pile of cloth in her arms.
"Excuse me, my lords, is there something I can help you with?" asked the elf.
"Actually there is. Could you tell us where we can find the king?" asked Legolas.
"He is in his chambers, take a right down this hall, and it is the farthest door on your left. He is not in his right mind, sirs, you might want to watch what you say," she said.
"Thank you, we will keep that in mind, carry on," Legolas replied, and they continued on their way. "There was something oddly familiar about that elf, Aragorn," he told him.
"Maybe she had visited Rivendell," Aragorn said.
"Maybe."
They approached the king's door, and Legolas reached out to open it. His hand froze just as he touched it.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" Aragorn asked.
"I...I...don't know. My father is right there, but a part of me doesn't want to see him. A part of me is still..."
"Who's there?" asked a voice from the other side of the door. Slowly Legolas opened the door, and walked into the room. What he saw was not good. There was his father, laying in bed, like a sick man. He was pale, and his voice was raspy. He looked so weak just laying there. A healer was by his side, giving him a drink of tea.
"What happened?" asked Aragorn.
"He's in grieving, his son left long ago, and he could never find him. He finally gave up, thinking that he had been killed. His second wife died also, not to long ago. If this keeps up, he could die," the elf answered.
"Who are you people?" asked the King, and Legolas walked to the side of his bed.
"King Thranduil, I have come here from Rivendell with my companion Aragorn. We heard news of your condition, and came as soon as we could."
"Answer my question! Speak!" he ordered.
"Do you not recognize your own son ada?" Legolas asked.
"My son?" he whispered, "my son... Legolas, he's..."
"Right here ada, your son is right here,"
"Oh my son!" Thranduil cried, opening his arms, and welcoming his son in a warm embrace. "It has been too long."
"I know, I know ada. I'm so sorry, I should have came back earlier. I was just so scared, I'm sorry." Legolas said.
"No, you have no reason. It was I who scared you away. It was me, I should be apologizing to you." Thranduil weaped.
"Ada, let us forget the past. You do not have to grieve any longer. I'm home."
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A/N: So......what did you think?? Please Review!!!!