Queen Naehlara (LOTR, Legolas love story)

Chapter 9

It took nearly three days for them to reach the snowy part of the mountain. The higher they got the colder it got, both Legolas and Naehlara were quick to give their cloaks to one of the hobbits to try and help them keep warm. Legolas and Naehlara stayed at the front of the group to watch for any enemies, and Aragorn stayed to the back to keep an eye on everyone.

Hearing Sam call for Frodo, Naehlara looked back. The rest of the fellowship stopping, watching the poor hobbit roll down the hill, until Aragorn caught him and helped him up right. Naehlara, grabbed Legolas arm pulling him to a stop. Both watching as Frodo frantically grabs at his neck and patting his chest.

A glint in the snow catches Legolas' attention as Boromir walks over to it. Grabbing the chain of the necklace and lifting it into the air. "Shit." Naehlara whispered, setting her hand on the hilt of her sword as they watched Boromir. He seemed entranced by the ring, dangling in front of him.

Aragorn takes a step forward, "Boromir" He calls, trying to pull his attention from the ring.

"It is a strange fate that we should suffer such fear and doubt over so small a thing, such a little thing." Boromir whispers, not looking away from the ring. Aragorn shifts in the snow, moving his hand to the hilt of his sword as unease washes through him. Legolas putting a hand on Naehlara's as she went to draw her sword.

"Boromir, give the ring to Frodo." Aragorn seems to plead. Boromir looks up, noticing Aragorn's hand on his sword, a smile breaking across his face as a laugh slips out of him, unnerving everyone in the fellowship.

Walking over he hands the ring to Frodo. "As you wish. I care not." Ruffling Frodo's hair he turns back to the rest of the group and continues up the mountain. Naehlara's hand stayed on her hilt, as she let Legolas go ahead and she joined Boromir in the middle of the group.

"You do not need to keep an eye on me. I can take care of myself." Boromir says, feeling angered by the presence of the elf.

"I'm sure you can Boromir." She says, not wanting to anger him, but staying by his side as they climbed higher, before making camp for the night.

A blizzard had made its home on the mountain. The next day, Naehlara stayed in the middle of the group helping Aragorn and Boromir with staying level footed as they carried the hobbits on their backs as the snow continued to pile. The wind bitting against her skin, the snow melting into her hair and clothes. Gimli followed behind Gandalf letting him push through the snow so the dwarf could more easily walk.

Legolas ran to the edge of the cliff looking off into the distance as a voice sweeps through the wind. Naehlara quickly joins him, walking over the snow. "There is a voice in the wind." She whispers to Legolas, nodding his head, he looks to Gandalf.

"There is a fell voice on the air." Legolas yells, so Gandalf can hear him.

Gandalfs eyes widen, "It's Saruman!" He yells. Thunder rumbles through the sky as rocks tumble down the mountain.

"He's trying to bring down the mountain. Gandalf! We must turn back!" Aragorn pleaded.

"No!" Gandalf yells, set on his plan to go over the pass. Raising his staff he steps away from the side of the mountain. "Losto Caradhras, sedho, hodo, nuitho i ruith." He chants, battling Saruman's magic.

(Sleep, Caradhras, be still, lie still, hold your wrath.)

The voice on the wind grows louder, Naehlara and Legolas look to each other in worry. Quickly stepping away from the edge of the mountain. There's a loud crack above them as lightning strikes the mountain. An avalanche of snow, comes crashing down. Legolas quickly grabs Naehlara pulling them to safety, so the coming snow won't push them off the edge.

The strength of the snow pulls Naehlara from Legolas grasp, enveloping her in snow. Reaching up her fingers break through the snow, it was dark, too dark. Naehlara began to panic trying to push up as she breathed in snow. She hated the dark, always reminding her of Morgoth and the battles that took place there.

Legolas emerged from the snow, looking around for Naehlara. Boromir and Aragorn digging the hobbits out of the snow. Looking around again, he notices Naehlara's hand peaking out of the snow as she frantically grabbed at the snow trying to climb out. Grabbing her hand, he lifts her through the snow. Pulling her into his embrace as she shakes. He knows it could not be that she was cold, but he could not think of another reason for her whole body to be trembling as she held tightly to him.

Naehlara breathed in deeply as she grabs onto Legolas. It had felt like she was in the dark and never ending cold of her endless slumber again. The blizzard still raged against them as Naehlara refused to let go of Legolas. Holding her tightly, he softly rubbed her back in a comforting manner. "You are safe, I promise." He whispered softly pressing his forehead to the top of her head.

"We must get off the mountain!" Boromir yells, "Make for the Gap of Rohan and take the West road to my city!"

Naehlara turns in Legolas' hold looking to Gandalf. "We can't." She argues, looking to Aragorn to agree with her.

"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn yells, agreeing with Naehlara. Watching the way Legolas holds Naehlara causes Aragorn's heart to ache. Reminding him of Arwen, who would be leaving for the Grey Havens soon.

"This will be the death of the Hobbits!" Boromir yells.

"If we cannot pass over the mountain. Let us go under it. Let us go through the Mines of Moria." Gimli reasons, and it seemed reasonable to Naehlara, it would be warm and the dwarves would cloth them and give them food. Yet the way Legolas tensed aginast her back, had her wondering if he knew something about the mines that she did not.

Looking down Gandalf takes a moment before looking to Frodo. "Let the ring bearer decide." Gandalf states, all eyes turning to Frodo.

Frodo glances around, Naehlara in Legolas' arm looking as scared as he's ever seen her. Pippin and Merry shivering in Boromir's arms. His attention is brought back to Gandalf as he calls his name.

"We will go through the mines." Frodo says quietly, praying he had made the right decision.

"So be it." Gandalf says, the Fellowship turning and starting there way down the mountain.

"You fear the mines, why?" Naehlara quietly questions Legolas, not leaving his arms as they stay to the back of the group.

"I do not like the dark. Being so far away from nature and the sun. The mines leave me uneasy, and the dwarves they will not so easily welcome us." Legolas explains.

"Why would they not welcome us? We travel with Gimli and he is the son of one of the Dwarf Lords."

"I mean us, elves. Balin the Lord of Moria, he travelled with the company of Thorin Oakenshield." Legolas explained. Oh, the company Legolas' father had locked up in the dungeons of Greenwood, Naehlara realized.

"I'm sure everything will work itself out." Naehlara says quietly, hoping she was right. "Thank you or digging me out of the snow." She adds trying to change the topic.

"You're welcome." Legolas says, Naehlara having been teaching him the basic phrases in her language as they traveled. A smile grows across Naehlara's face, it caused a warmth to flow through her when he would speak Quenya. Like it was a language just for the two of them. "I told you, I would always be there to keep you safe." He adds quietly, causing a foreign feeling to sprout through Naehlara as her cheek turn pink.

When Naehlara had been pulled from his grasp pure horror washed through Legolas until she was back in his arms. Trembling in his arms Legolas realized something, a familiar feeling rising in him. Something he hasn't felt in 60 years. It did not scare him however, no what scared him was the idea of losing Naehlara to this quest that was certain to bring war. In that moment as they walk down the Mountain, Legolas vowed to protect her with his life.

A/N I'm just on a posting/writing spree to be honest, I hope you guys are enjoying!

Have an amazing day my loves!