The Lost Princess: [Legolas Fanfiction]

10. The Great River

Anira...

Several days passed and we continued to travel by boat. Legolas would allow me to assist him but most often he did it himself. Each day we made steady progress. At night we would dock the boats on land and make camp. The cloaks turned out to be a blessing, providing warmth and comfort. The days were most stressful. Often there'd be nothing for me to do but sit still. Gimli and I would talk during the ride with Legolas occasionally joining in. I even caught a few stares from Legolas.

As we rowed Legolas would occasionally glance at the Western side of the river. When he did, a look of worry would cross his face. "What is it, Legolas?"

He frowned and continued to peer into the depths of the forest. "I fear we are being followed."

"Orcs?"

"It appears to be so. However I have never encountered Orcs like these."

I bit my lip this was a troublesome thought. "Saruman has joined forces with Sauron. We do not know what the wizard has done." I said with a tone of anger in my voice.

That night we docked on some sort of beach and set up camp. When dinner was served, I ate my meal silently. Aragorn and Boromir said that they were both going to check the river. I sought out a place to sleep. When I found one I laid on the ground and curled up, shivering. I pulled my cloak tightly around my body and closed my eyes. The Orcs had sent me a little on edge.

"Anira, you don't look well."

I opened my eyes to see Legolas stand next to me with a concerned expression on his face.

"How so?"

He frowned. "You're so quiet and you're shivering."

I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm just cold."

Legolas kneeled beside me. "Are you sure? It pains me to see you like this."

It was impossible for me to lie to Legolas, he knew me too well. "I'm scared."

"Why?" He said gently, placing his warm hand on my shoulder.

"Being hunted. The thought that Orcs could be watching us. Staring down at us while we sleep, planning to attack, then to stab a sword through our chests."

Legolas didn't hesitate to wrap his arm around my shoulder. His warmth was comforting and protective. "It is all right to be scared. But know this, you should talk to someone should you feel scared."

"And who might that be?"

"Me. I will listen to anything you have to say."

"You're a great friend, Legolas. Could you stay close by?"

"Of course, Anira. I will be here if you need me. Always."

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Not long that we clambered back in the boats. We remained with the same groups as the previous days. Meaning that I was with Legolas and Gimli again. Not that I minded. I enjoyed the company of both Legolas and Gimli. Again Legolas insisted that he row for the entire voyage.

Time had passed as the three of us made small conversation. The topics varied, but mostly consisted of my kingdom and my parents. It was funny how the most simple things to me such as my kingdom and my parents could become so extraordinary to others. Of course, Gimli tried to hide his bewilderment but Legolas, I saw right through him.

Morning faded away and was replaced by the afternoon. Legolas steered the boat around a small bend in the river and my mouth was agape. Stood before us on other either side of the river were two statues. Both were extremely tall made of white marble. Their hands were outstretched and their facial expressions were hard, regal, magisterial and imposing. Both clearly people of power.

"Who are they?" I raised my head to look up at them in awe, hardly able to comprehend the sight before me.

"They were once kings of Gondor. They were Aragorn's forefathers." I turned around in the boat so I could continue to gaze upon the statues.

The current grew stronger beneath us and we docked at the western shore. When I stepped out of the boat and assisted everyone in setting up camp. Sam and I got a fire going and then unloaded the boats.

"We cross the lake at nightfall. Hide the boats and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the North." Aragorn said

"Oh yes?" Gimli spoke from his place on the rocks. I glanced over at him as he spoke. "Just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil, an impassable labyrinth of razor sharp rocks - after that, it gets better. Festering, stinking marshland as far as the eye can see."

"Sounds lovely." I murmured under my breath.

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

Gimli looked rather offended. "Recover my-" he grumbled. I muffled my laughter behind my hand.

"We should leave now," Legolas insisted in a low voice. Curious I walked to him, joining him in standing beside Aragorn.

"Does this have anything to do with what we saw, the Orcs?"

"This is why we cannot. Orcs patrol the eastern shore. We wait for the cover of darkness."

"It is not the eastern shore that worries me. A shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near. I can feel it."

A thump caused my head to whip around. Merry must gave been in the forest, for he returned with firewood that he dumped onto the ground. Merry looked around and then his eyes widened.

"Where's Frodo."

"What?" I gasped and I took another look at camp. My eyes widened as I saw that the young hobbit wasn't here. After what Legolas spoke of, I know it wasn't best for Frodo to go wandering alone.

But as I scanned camp, I noticed that we weren't only one short. Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gimli, Aragorn, Legolas...

Boromir...

My eyes fell upon the place Boromir had set up for himself. My heart dropped as I saw that his shield was left behind.