The Unexpected | LotR Fanfiction

Chapter 39

Ooooof

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The gray light of morning filtered through musty windows, setting Legolas's hair glittering. With only one night separated from the insidious Ring he already looked revived. His skin tone returned to its normal radiance, his hair reflected his mother's and had its gleeful bounce back, his eyes held their classic Legolas light.

I couldn't have been more relieved. Every moment my eyes catch a glimpse of him, revived and new, my stomach did flips and my eyes threatened to overflow. But he wasn't the same, and I feared he never would be.

Sam, on the other hand, was unusually quiet. It wasn't hard to imagine why. And I couldn't blame Legolas for sitting as far from Sam—the Ring—as he could. At the moment, he's leaning against the wall in the entrance to the main room. His eyes wandered over everyone in the room, assessing the situation. He seems to not be listening to anything being said. Maybe his mind is still caught in the moment his soldiers shouted out their rage towards him, wishing him death.

"But that would split us up!" Pippin cried.

Aragorn shook his head. "I'm sorry, but having you hobbits travel with us to Helm's Deep would only take you farther from Mordor."

"That's the way it should be," Merry stated.

"Or... maybe Merry and I could stay with you...?" Pippin innocently inquired, throwing glances Sam's way apologetically.

"Sam will need his friends with him on his journey." Apparently, Legolas was listening in. "Now more than ever."

Aragorn warily eyed Legolas but eventually nodded. "I agree with him."

Gandalf spoke from where he sat in thought. "I do not think it is wise to leave the hobbits to themselves. Perhaps we can bypass Helm's Deep altogether and head for Mt. Doom."

Merry and Pippin nodded in sync.

But I was shaking my head.

"But that means we cannot help the survivors of the massacre." The two close hobbits gave me an irritated look.

"I won't leave them. They might need all the help they can get." When no one spoke, I continued. "Look, my mission is to help Middle-Earth, right? That means I don't leave those who might need me behind."

"But by helping the hobbits destroy the Ring, you'll be helping all," Gimli stated.

"If we all go to Mordor as a group, then none of us will be able to get through. We'll get caught. I thought we already discussed this!"

Still, none spoke. I twisted around. "Legolas?" Maybe he'll help.

He shrugged, "I'll go along with anything that'll get me as far away from that ring as possible."

"So, you agree with me?"

"If that is what your plan calls for."

I scowled, "typical elf. Neither saying yes or no."

He gave me a quirky grin.

Turning back to the group, I said, "if I were to tell you that I feel an inexplicable urge to go to Helm's Deep, one caused by a higher being, would you believe me?"

Mithrandir grunted his agreement, so did Gimli. And of course, Aragorn and Legolas did too. "Of course, my Lady," the hobbits all echoed.

"Okay, then believe me when I say that lately, that is exactly what I've been feeling. There is some unknown business I need to answer to at Helm's Deep. And Aragorn, I feel like you need to go to. I don't know why, but you do."