Ithildin - Legolas x OC

Chapter 6: Changing course

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A fortnight has passed on our journey, our days filled with walking from dawn 'til dusk.

This gained regular complaints from the four Hobbits in our company, so I try my best to speak to them as often as I can to bide their time on the way. If I'm not doing this, I'm at the front of the group along with Gandalf and Legolas as we keep a sharp eye on our path ahead.

"I am thankful for you both." Gandalf says quietly, but from either side of him both mine and Legolas' ears hear his words clearly. "Having one reliable and skilful Elf is handy, but two...I fear this Fellowship may be in dire need of you both before the end."

I glance at him curiously but say nothing as he continues.

"We must hold to this course, West of the Misty Mountains for forty days. If our luck holds, the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us. From there, our road turns East to Mordor."

After spending the night, the Fellowship rest, eat and train around me as I stand upon a boulder looking out at the plains before us. Legolas stands in the same position somewhere behind, with Gimli, Gandalf and Aragorn watching Boromir spar with Pippin and Merry, dear Sam cooking breakfast.

"Two, one, five. Good! Very good!" Boromir praises as the sound of metal against metal reaches my ears.

"Move your feet." Aragorn instructs through his pipe.

"You look good, Pippin!" Merry grins to his friend before sparring with Boromir himself.

"If anyone wants to ask my opinion, which I note they're not," Gimli speaks up, causing me to sigh, "I'd say we were taking the long way round."

He's right of course, we are taking the long way around the Misty Mountains, but it's safer.

"Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome."

"No, Gimli." Gandalf says firmly. "I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice."

Despite all the commotion occurring from around me, my eyes hone in on a dark cloud of sorts quickly approaching us.

"Legolas," I say quietly with a frown, my voice not audible to the others but gaining his attention perfectly.

Not a moment later he appears by my side, his arm brushing mine as he stares at the cloud with a frown matching mine.

"What is that?" I hear Sam ask, his attention on the mysterious cloud after seeing Legolas move.

"Nothing, it's just a wisp of cloud." Gimli tells him, but the more I stare the more I come to believe it is more than just that.

"It's moving fast." Boromir observes after being tackled by the Hobbits. "Against the wind."

"It...looks like—" I begin.

"Crebain from Dunland!" Legolas shouts.

"Hide!" Aragorn yells.

"Hurry! Take cover!"

"Frodo! Sam! Come on!"

I feel Legolas tug my arm, and I quickly follow him to the nearest bush, sliding down the dirt on my back so we conceal ourselves. I pull my braid over my shoulder so it's covered by the branches.

Barely a moment after everyone has managed to hide, the Crebain swarm around the area, their caws and cries high pitched and on the cusp of being screeches.

I try to keep my focus on watching their departure, but the soft breath of Legolas against my ear starts to draw my attention.

I turn my head to look at him, his face is mere inches from mine, his arm perched over my body with his hand resting on the dirt beside me. His eyes flicker to mine, scanning my face before resting his gaze on my lips.

A cry from the Crebain causes me to quickly look away, watching their departure. My heart beats loudly in my chest, and I breathe deep to calm it.

Once the Crebain disperse, we all emerge and watch as they fly away.

"Spies of Saruman." Gandalf says as we regroup, myself staying far from Legolas, embarrassment washing over me. "The passage South is being watched. We must take the path of Caradhras." Gandalf looks up at the snow-capped mountain beside us, and I realise that our journey just got miles, and days longer.

*

Trudging through the deep snow proves to be difficult to everyone but Legolas and I, who can easily tread and barely leave a mark, whereas the others are knee-deep in it.

Halfway up a rather steep incline we all stop and turn as Frodo trips and rolls backwards in the snow, Aragorn catching him and helping the Hobbit to his feet. I watch as Frodo dusts the snow off his body, quickly realising the Ring is no longer safely around his neck.

My gaze then flits to Boromir, who retrieves the chain from the snow beneath his feet, and holds it for far longer than necessary.

"Boromir." Aragorn says calmly, watching him.

"It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt, over so small a thing." Boromir speaks quietly. "Such a little thing."

Instinctively my hand moves to my waist, unsheathing one of my daggers and prepared to throw if necessary.

"Boromir!"

The man seems to snap out of the daze he was in, looking up at Aragorn.

"Give the Ring to Frodo."

My eyes narrow slightly, trained onto Boromir's back as I flip my dagger in my hand, catching the tip of the blade but keeping it at my side, ready to throw. Boromir slowly walks toward Frodo.

"As you wish." He holds the Ring out, Frodo snatching it back from him as soon as it is in his reach. "I care not." He chuckles and ruffles Frodo's hair before turning and making his way towards the rest of the group.

My eyes flicker to Aragorn now that Boromir has moved from blocking him, and I see that even he had his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Aragorn catches my eye and I recognise the conflicted look in them. I turn my head to watch Boromir walk past me, oblivious to my stance, but I sheath my dagger, sharing one last look with Aragorn before moving.

~*~