| The Slave of the Ring The sun rose slowly over the small wooded area. Legolas had insisted they sleep the night. He knew the woods well and knew that they would have a long journey ahead of them the next day. Although it was he who told them to sleep, it was also he who could not. He daydreamed of Mirkwood, eyes cold and hair slightly tangled from the breeze. His bow lay beside him as if it was saying to turn back...to return to his home he had not seen in years. But more than he missed the fields full of berries and the warm lakes in which to swim, he missed his father. If only he could see him once again... A few years before Legolas had left Mirkwood, his father had given up his immortality for a peasent girl. Legolas could still not see why. Why should he have given up so much...and his own son...for someone who he could not possibly even love? What he love more than Mirkwood? As he sat with his head resting on a bent knee, he sighed sorrowfully. "Father," he whispered, though he knew it was silly, "let me feel what you felt. Allow me to know what this love feels like. I know not why you gave up your immortality, nor do I accept it. Perhaps if I could endure the same as you, I could know. Perhaps I would no longer be angry with you." A tear slipped down his fair cheek. "I want to forgive you, but I have no reason." Aragon stirred. "To whom do you speak?" he asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "I speak to no one," was the reply. "Only a memory." Aragon did not say anything else for the moment. Finally, he spoke tersly. "Memories are in the past, where they must say. Do not waste your time wallowing in lost time." Legolas nodded, yet answered, "Yet confronting memories is the only way to forget." "I do not argue, but you have not slept in days, fair elf. Rest...rest." Legolas sadly shook his head. "I have much to think about. Rest is not my priority. Besides, I know the woods well. I could walk through them even with a sleeping eye." Aragon let out a strangled laugh. "But you could better walk through them with an awake. Sleep. If we are to find Merry and Pippin in the morrow, we must be in good health." "You are right," the elf finally said, though quite relentless. "I must rest. I only fear the dreams that will come when I do." Aragon smiled encouragingly. "By this time tomorrow, we will have the hobbits. That should be knowledge enough to get you through the night." "Aye, in faith, it will be. Good night, humble swordsman." "And good night to you, fair elf." Although sleep was out of the question, Legolas finally drifted into a soft daze, and he did not dream. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Frodo awoke with a start. Day was fast approaching. He brought out the chain from beneath his shirt and lightly fingered the ring. Sam's eyes opened slowly to watch him for a bit. "Master Frodo, what are you thinking about?" Frodo, acknowledging his companion's awakening with a small smile, hesitated, then slowly answered, "I wish this were over. I wish the ring was destroyed. I wish...I wish the ring was never created. It has only caused harm and dissolution." "Master Frodo, I wish it too. And while I know our journey is only beginning, I know that I shall stay with you until it is ended." Frodo was silent for a moment until he said remorsefully, "Sam, if something happens to me--" "Master Frodo, nothing will happen to you! That is also what I wish!" "And I...but if something did...would you finish the journey?" "With a heavy heart," Sam answered. He paused. "Nothing...will...happen. Will it, Master Frodo?" "If only I knew, Sam," he said dryly. "If only I knew. |