Ithildin - Legolas x OC

Chapter 14: Son of Gondor

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We row for the entire day, and once we reach the statues of Arganoth towering high above us, the river opens in size. Gone are the cliffs, now we sail on the open water; and ahead...the perilous drop of a waterfall.

We—or rather, Legolas—rows us down the water until we stop along the bank, the sky above turning pink with the setting sun. We pull the boats up onto the shore and gather our belongings to make camp for the night.

I turn, walking to the treeline and looking around. Everything is still again.

Boromir makes a fire, and proclaims we need more wood before setting off. The Hobbits instantly crowding around to heat up some food, whilst Aragorn unloads the boats of our provisions.

"We cross the lake at nightfall." He declares. "Hide the boats and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the north."

I glance to the side as Legolas approaches, his eyes narrowed on the trees before us. We share a concerned look.

"Oh, yes?" Gimli says, drawing my attention. "Just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil, an impassable labyrinth of razor-sharp rocks—and after that, it gets even better!" I look away from him, shaking my head. "Festering, stinking marshland as far as the eye can see."

"That is our road." Aragorn replies. "I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Dwarf."

I smirk to myself as Gimli starts to grumble and protest.

"Recover my—"

Legolas turns, grazing my arm with his hand as he does. "We should leave now," he says quietly to Aragorn.

"No." Aragorn dismisses. "Orcs patrol the Eastern shore. We must wait for cover of darkness."

I turn, catching Legolas' eye before he looks up into the trees.

"It is not the Eastern shore that worries me. A shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind. Amariel's too."

Aragorn looks to me and I nod once.

"Something draws near." Legolas looks back to Aragorn. "We can feel it."

Aragon sighs, but before he can say anything, Merry draws our attention.

"Where's Frodo?"

We all startle, turning and standing and looking for the Ring-bearer. I turn again, counting our companions when my eyes rest on Boromir's empty bedroll. His shield and belongings discarded.

"Frodo!" Aragorn, having seen the same thing as me, runs into the trees.

My head whips around as he runs and I turn to Gimli.

"Stay with the Hobbits!" I shout, running after Aragorn with Legolas right behind me.

"Stay with—I will not!" I hear Gimli shout but have no time to tell him otherwise as we run into the woods.

"Thand!" Aragorn yells back at us.
(Part!)

I comply, turning left as he continues straight on, Legolas turning right. My legs move fast, my head turning and spinning as I try to see as far as I can, my ears trying to find any sound of Frodo or Boromir. There is none.

"I do not like this place." I whisper, stopping and spinning again to get my bearings.

Ruins stand to my side, large, crumbling rocks that once resembled statues or monuments or a building. Long forgotten now.

Metal hitting metal meets my ears and I turn, gasping before running, jumping and leaping and ducking past any obstacle in my way. As I near, the foul scent of the Orcs fills my nose, my face scrunching.