Of Futures Past (Legolas)

33

"You are the luckiest, the canniest and the most reckless man I ever knew!" Gimli hugged Aragorn around the waist. "Bless you, laddie!"

"Gimli, where is the king?" Aragorn demanded, starting to follow when he was stopped by the two elves waiting for him.

"Le ab-dollen." (You're late.) They smiled at each other. Legolas paused and looks at Aragorn's wounds. "You look terrible."

Alana smiled, observing the relief she could see in his eyes, knowing how devastated he had been, as good as he always was at hiding his emotions. She squeezed his hand gently before giving Aragorn a quick hug.

"We were worried. Don't you dare do that again." Alana pointed her finger at him threateningly and Aragorn just pushed it away, smiling.

"I'll do my best."

Legolas took Aragorn's hand and placed in it the Evenstar pendant which Arwen had given him. Aragorn clasped his shoulder gratefully. "Hannon le." (Thank you).

They led Aragorn to the keep, where the king was waiting. Aragorn's account of what he had seen proved to be ill news, sullying the happy atmosphere of his return.

"A great host, you say?" Theoden clarified, unnerved.

"All Isengard is emptied." Aragorn answered.

"How many?" 

"Ten thousand strong at least."

Alana squeezed Legolas's hand in fear, imagining the hordes of orcs coming towards them, and her vision altered. It was dark, a great cloud covered any light from stars or the sun, so it was impossible to know what time it was. The ladders came up the walls, and the first orc approached her, cackling madly. She saw herself freeze, and saw the orc swing its weapon at her, and no one came to save her. Legolas was nearby, watching her death with destruction in his eyes as tears freely flowed down his face, and he screamed as he watched her fall. 

Returning to the present, Alana moved closer to Legolas, looking down at the floor guiltily. Is that truly the future that will come to pass? There are other possibilities that I have not seen yet. It is not guaranteed. The thoughts running through Alana's minds had her, for the first time, seriously considering what Gandalf and Legolas had asked of her. She turned to her lover, eyes sad, can I really not fight by his side? Can I really do nothing to ensure he stays alive? 

Meanwhile, Theoden had made a decision. "I want every man and strong lad able to bear arms to be ready for battle by nightfall." He told Gamling, his right hand.

Gamling nodded and took off, while the Fellowship remained with Theoden.

"We will cover the causeway and the gate from above. No army has ever breached the Deeping Wall or set foot inside the Hornburg."

"This is no rabble of mindless Orcs. These are Uruk-hai. Their armor is thick and their shields broad." Gimli scoffed.

"I have fought many wars, Master Dwarf. I know how to defend my own keep." Theoden replied evenly. Alana frowned at his indifference to Gimli's comments.

Gimli also seemed miffed, and Legolas clapped a hand on his shoulder in reassurance.

"They will break upon this fortress like water on rock. Saruman's hordes will pillage and burn, we've seen it before. Crops can be resown; homes rebuilt. Within these walls, we will outlast them."

"They do not come to destroy Rohan's crops or villages. They come to destroy its people. Down to the last child." Aragorn insisted.

Theoden drew close to Aragorn, speaking lowly. "What would you have me do? Look at my men. Their courage hangs by a thread. If this is to be our end, then I would have them make such an end as to be worthy of remembrance."

"Send out riders, my lord. You must call for aid."

"And who will come? Elves? Dwarves? We are not so lucky in our friends as you. The old alliances are dead."

Alana's eyebrows drew together as she considered his question. If she could have visions again, perhaps she could gather enough strength to send her own messenger. Pulling her hand out of Legolas's, she gave him a look as if to tell him to trust her. He nodded, turning his attention back to the king while Alana silently exited the keep. 

Letting out a clear bird call, Alana waited for a few moments, before a thrush flew to her. A thrush. How fitting. Without a second to waste, Alana told the bird instructions, reaching inside herself to pull out the grain of power that seemed to have returned to her to place a protection spell on the bird.

"Fly quickly, little one."

The thrush chirped, then was on its way northwards, towards Lothlorien. Alana smiled, watching it fly away.

As she slipped back into the keep, she heard Theoden calling out orders as he left. "Get the women and children into the caves!"

As he passed her, he looked her up and down, noting the weapons she carried. "My lady, you are not of my people, so I cannot tell you to go into the caves with the others, but the doors will be closed swiftly, so your decision will be final."

Alana looked down at her feet dispiritedly, looking briefly over at Legolas, who was already listening to the conversation keenly. After a moment, Alana nodded. "I'm going in the caves. I'll be the last defense for the women and children."

Her three companions stared at her, flabbergasted, while the king nodded his approval, before moving on to shout more orders.

Legolas was by her side in an instant, the relief in his eyes palpable. "You're not fighting."

Alana sighed, shaking her head. "No. I'm not fighting."

The two gazed into each other's eyes, and Aragorn and Gimli left the room, exchanging glances.

Legolas pulled Alana into a hug, smiling bittersweetly. "I am relieved. Thank you."

Alana wrapped her arms around him tightly. "I'm not. I hate that I cannot help."

Legolas pressed a light kiss to the top of her head. "You can help the women and children in the caves, distract them, ration food." Alana huffed. "I know it's not the same, Alana, sometimes smaller actions are more impactful."

Shocked to find tears in her eyes, Alana sniffed. "I know. It is not so much that. I fear the reason I do not like it is more selfish than that."

Legolas pulled away, wiping the stray tear that had fallen. "What is it, meleth nin?"

"I do not know how I can sit still, not knowing whether you are alive or dead. I'm not... I'm not patient enough to not be agonizing over it for the entire battle." Alana sniffled, before turning her gaze hard. "You're not allowed to die. Do you hear me? You're not allowed to, or else... or else... Just stay alive, please."

Alana's wide, green eyes were pleading with him, tears ready to fall.

"I cannot promise that, meleth nin." Legolas murmured, brushing hairs out of her face.

Alana nodded numbly, before wrapping her arms around him once more. "I'm counting on you anyways. You're not dying without my permission."

Legolas chuckled, caressing her head. "Understood."