Chapter
8
““Legolas?”
The word stopped the ghost in his tracks. With agonizingly slow
movements he turned, moving to face the ancient elf. He couldn’t
believe what he’d just heard. He had not thought it was
possible to detect his presence. He stood where he was, not
know what to do or say.
“Please.” He thought. “Let him hear me. Let
me talk to him.”
Glorfindel’s
head was spinning. Was it possible? Had he really sensed the
presence of the dead Prince? With slow deliberation, he looked
all around him before speaking again.
“Legolas? Is that you? If it is, please make yourself
known to me.”
Legolas
grinned. Glorfindel had sensed him! “Glorfindel can you
hear me?” He asked urgently. He knew this could be the
most important thing that had happened since his return, being
able to communicate with one of the living could be invaluable
in his fight against this strange new enemy.
Glorfindel however, did not react to his words. Worried, the
Prince tried again. Still, there was no response. Legolas felt
slightly panicked. If he didn’t do something soon, Glorfindel
would leave!
The Balrog-Slayer sighed. His question had yielded no reply.
Perhaps he had been mistaken. There had been a lot happening
lately, it had probably awakened the painful memories of the
Princes’ death. With a sad sigh he went to leave.
“No!”
Legolas cried out as he saw Glorfindel move away. Glancing around
him, he searched for ideas. Only one came to mind. Knowing he
was probably going to regret it, he stepped in front of the
elf and waited as he stepped forward, once more placing Legolas’
spirit inside of him. As soon as the contact occurred, Legolas
shouted as loud as he could inside the Balrog-Slayer’s
mind.
“GLORFINDEL! CAN YOU HEAR ME?”
Glorfindel reeled back and almost fell. He certainly hadn’t
imagined that!
“Legolas! Yes, I can hear you!” Legolas sighed in
relief.
“Thank the Valar! I thought I had lost my chance!”
Glorfindel was, to say the least, stunned. Despite the events
of his own life, death and rebirth, he still found having a
conversation with a dead elf who was shouting inside his mind
slightly odd.
“Legolas how are you here? Shouldn’t you be in Mandos’
halls?” A wry laugh echoed in his mind and he winced.
“Could you keep it down please?” He asked. I can
hear you perfectly, you don’t need to shout!” Another
laugh; quieter this time and Legolas’ voice decreased
in volume.
“I am sorry my friend, I was not sure how much contact
was necessary.” He was elated; he had made contact with
another! The contact needed was not that much either, he was
now standing slightly away from Glorfindel, with only his hands
resting on the other’s shoulders. “As to the question
of my presence here – it is a long story.” The Balrog-Slayer
grinned and sat down under a tree. “I have all day.”
……….
~It smiled.
All the suffering was really quite delicious. The She-Elf’s
torture had gone far better than planned, resulting in deep
emotional pain for many. How it loved that pain and the power
that it gained from it.~
It had always
been in the world. It was as old as evil itself, but had never
gained the power to act on it’s wicked desires. It had
watched as Melkor, Sauron and other dark beings raised armies
and attacked the peoples of Middle-Earth. It had grown bitter
and jealous as they wreaked death and destruction all over the
lands, while it remained weak and powerless in it’s dark
void.
Then, a few hundred years ago, it had stumbled upon the answer.
Every several thousand years, a portal opened, allowing it passage
into Middle-Earth. For several days it could walk in those lands,
instead of just watching them. Previous trips had been uneventful
and had for some reason, always occurred in times of peace.
But this time had been different.
It had come upon a war being fought between men of different
kingdoms. Fascinated, It had walked among them, watching in
delight as men suffered and died all around. The pain created
an intoxicating feeling of power that it had never experienced
before. It had enjoyed the feeling greatly and had been angered
when the portal had opened again and pulled It back to the void.
However, back in the void, it had received a great surprise.
It had not only felt power coming from the suffering, it had
actually gained it! Although it was very little, the difference
was obvious. For the first time, it had some control over the
dark void. Over the next few thousand years, it had waited patiently
for the portal to re-open. Every time it did, it went through
and actively searched for places of suffering to fuel its power.
As time went on, its power grew and it’s control over
the void increased. Over time, it had learned how to open a
small portal of it’s own, not big enough for it to pass
through, but big enough to allow it to ‘feed’ directly.
The big breakthrough had come when the elf had been killed.
So dearly beloved was he that many hundreds of people had suffered
and grieved at his passing. It had created a wave of power that
had fed it almost constantly for twelve years. In that short
space of time it had gained incredible power over the void,
so that it could now enter the world at will, albeit for limited
periods of time. It had even managed to manipulate portals to
open where it desired, which was how it had got the she-elf
into the orcs den. That had required a lot of power, but the
resulting grief that had come from it had returned the power
tenfold. Now it needed just a tiny bit more before it could
finally take full control of the void and claim dominion over
the world.
Glorfindel
let out a long breath. He was deeply concerned about what he’d
just been told. Gondor was in more danger than anyone realised.
Anyone except Legolas that is. Glorfindel realised how frustrating
it must have been for the prince, not being able to communicate.
Glorfindel had a sneaking suspicion that Legolas had only been
able to communicate with him because of his past. He’d
known death, spent time in Mandos’ Halls. For the first
time, he felt glad of those events. His death may have helped
save lives thousands of years later. That is, if they could
find and stop this thing in time.
“Have you any idea as to what this being is?” Glorfindel
asked Legolas. He heard the prince sigh.
“No.” He replied. “I only know that its presence
is strongest in the palace. I fear for Estel and the others.
I can watch over them – but I can take no action.”
Glorfindel smiled.
“Fear not.” He said. “Now that I know, I can
guard them. I suggest you concentrate on trying to find out
more about this evil and hopefully a way to defeat it.”
“I agree.” Legolas replied. “I will leave
now and return when I know more. Thank you Glorfindel. It eases
my heart greatly to know that another is watching over them.”
Glorfindel smiled.
“You are welcome Legolas. I hope you are successful.”
“Thank you.” Legolas replied. He went to leave,
then stopped suddenly. “Glorfindel?”
“Yes?” The Balrog-slayer responded. Legolas was
silent for a moment before continuing.
“I think it would be best if you refrain from telling
anyone about my presence. It is most likely they would not believe
you and think you ill, I would not add to their burdens.”
Glorfindel sighed, but he knew that Legolas spoke the truth.
It was up to them, at least for now. “Very well. I will
head back to the palace immediately.” Then he turned and
left, leaving Legolas to ponder his next course of action.
“Well
well.” It mused. “This is most interesting. What
could sustain such a frail form in that world? I must find out.
It could be a great source of power to me. But what would be
the best way to go about it? Ahh yes, I know…”
Aragorn
lay on the bed, curled up next to Arwen. She had finally convinced
him that he would not hurt her with his presence. In truth,
his nearness brought her great comfort. Now that her sight was
lost to her, she craved touch, using it to anchor herself to
the world.
Glorfindel quietly opened the door and slipped into the room.
His heart almost broke at the sight. Estel looked so fragile,
worse in some ways than Arwen. He blamed himself for her pain
and the guilt was eating away at his soul.
“Ai, Legolas.” Thought Glorfindel. “I hope
you find a way to end this needless suffering. I fear Estel’s
heart can not take much more pain.”
He moved forward and pulled a blanket over the sleeping King.
He was reminded suddenly of all the times he, Elrond or one
of the twins had done the same thing when Estel was but a child.
How much had changed since those happy times. Stepping back
he suddenly froze as an icy chill ran through his body, paralysing
him. He gasped and tried to breathe, but found he could not.
Panicking now, he tried to fight against the darkness that began
to encroach upon his vision long enough to call for help, but
he found that he no longer had any control over his body. A
wave of fear washed over him as consciousness fled and he crumpled
to the floor.
Legolas
glided swiftly to where he had seen Gimli engulfed by the dark
being. Perhaps there was some sort of clue to be found there,
some way to trace this evil to its lair.
The moment he arrived at the spot, he felt an instant increase
in the aura of evil that surrounded the entire city. Even if
he had not witnessed the events that had occurred here, he would
have known that something was amiss. The whole area screamed
of darkness much worse than the mere absence of light.
~It almost
laughed. The ghost had done exactly as he’d predicted
and incapacitating the other had been easy. Now it would find
out what kept the elf-spirit tethered to this world.~
Legolas
tried to relax and open his mind. He reached out with his thoughts,
blocking out the physical elements around him. He let the world
fade from around him, much like he had done for inner clam when
he had been alive. Now though, he sought answers from the other
spirits that inhabited the world, the spirits and souls of trees,
plants, insects and animals. So many beings, one of them must
know something. Yet as his mind travelled, all he found was
fear and pain. He tried to push past it, but it seemed only
to grow in strength. It came from everywhere and seemed to be
deeply engrained into all that he could feel. Then a surge of
fear hit him like a physical blow. Mentally reeling, he pulled
his mind back to the world, trying to focus on where he was.
However, he was horrified when he found that he could not see
the hallway in which he was standing. He could not see anything
but a dark cloud. Too late he realised that he’d been
trapped, the evil being he’d been seeking had found him
first and had ensnared him in it’s evil net. Now there
was no way out.
END
CHAPTER 8
What has
‘IT’ done to Glorfindel? Will Legolas escape the
evil net? Join me in chapter 9 for elf-lord angst and ghostly
terror! COMING SOON!
Heh heh
– a cliffie – go me!
