Title: Fallen Leafs
By: Areli
Rated: PG
Feedback: blessedbell64@hotmail.com

Disclaimer:  Middle-earth and its characters belong to J.R.R.Tolkien.

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Chapter Nine

Aragorn and Gimli finally reached the tower only to find it surrounded by orcs and 
goblins. The Uruk-Hai combed the area in search of any intruders. 
"Now what will we do?" Gimli wondered. Aragorn shook his head. 
"I am afraid I do not know." They flattened themselves against the stone wall as a few 
orcs passed by. An idea passed through him. 
"Dwarf, I have an idea." Gimli leaned towards Aragorn as he whispered his idea. 
"We simply surrender and pretend that we have joined with them. We can get Legolas, 
and fight our way out." 
"That is suicide!" Gimli whispered fiercly. 
"We managed to defeat most of the Uruk-Hai back and survived did we not?" Aragorn 
retorted. 
"Not without loosing Boromir." Gimli huffed. 
"I have no other ideas." Aragorn said stiffly. Gimli mumbled but went on to the open path 
and put his hands up as every creature put their weapons at him. 
"Do not shoot!" he cried. "I wish to join with Saruman!" 
Aragorn came into the open and pleaded the same thing. 
 
Saruman watched the two creatures come out into the open and hold their hands up. They 
dropped their weapons and were escorted towards the entrance of the tower. Saruman 
smiled. 
"So the two companions come and attempt to save their friend. But can they save 
themselves?" 
 
The two companions were shoved into the throne room. Saruman sat in his grande chair 
and eyed them curiously. 
"They claim to want to join you!" one of the orcs yelled in a distorted voice. 
"Ah so they claim. We shall see how loyal you will prove to be." Saruman said to them. 
Aragorn went up to Saruman and bowed before him. 
"I am at your service." he said looking at the ground. Gimli came up and did the same. 
"My axe will go against all who oppose the White Hand." 
"Truly? How odd that you should suddenly appear. Are you not after your lost 
companion?" 
"No. We do not care about him." Aragorn said. 
"I never liked elves anyway." Gimli added. 
"Hm yet how to tell..." 
"What test must we go through in order to earn your alleigance?" Aragorn asked. 
"You, Aragorn, son of Arathorn. An heir to the throne of Gondor." he turned to Gimli, 
"Gimli, son of Gloin prince of the dwarf kingdom. You ask what test I need of you?" 
"Indeed we do." 
"How interesting indeed that you two of all creatures in Middle Earth should suddenly 
wanted to join forces with me." Saruman mused. 
"We have for quite some time." Gimli said. "It wasn't until Legolas finally joined that we 
realized our error in ever opposing you Saruman." 
"He speaks the truth." Saruman grabbed his staff and pointed it at them suddenly, sending 
them flying against the other wall. 
They simply fell to the ground and stood up again only to bow before Saruman again. 
"I hurt you yet you still pledge yourself to me." 
"Indeed we do." Aragorn said. "Do with us as you will." 
 
After a long moment Saruman finally stood up from his throne. 
"Very well. I shall test you. Yet not tonight. Rest in one of the rooms I have and we shall 
discuss this further tomorrow. If you cause any problems I shall not hesitate to kill both 
of you." 
He smacked his staff agaisnt the ground and orcs filled the room. 
"Take them to the second chambers for the evening." the orcs nodded and escorted them 
out of the room. 
 
Saruman sat back down in his chair and closed his eyes. 
"I wonder how long the companions will remember their goal for...I wonder what they 
will do when they realize that they will fail?" 
 
Aragorn flopped down on his bed and wondered how they were going to find Legolas in 
the tower without Saruman knowing. 
"There is no way this will work." Gimli said. 
"One must always try I suppose." 
"To try is to fail." 
Aragorn said nothing more for he was already lost in thought as to where they could be 
keeping Legolas. 
"Probably in the dungeon...." he said softly. He stood up. 
"Where are you going?" Gimli asked. "If they catch you we shall die." 
"I do not fear death." he looked down at Gimli. "Nor should you." 
"A dwarf fears nothing." Gimli answered. 
"Then stay here and think of an excuse for my absence if they come." Aragorn said as he 
took off everything on him that was metal, save for the silver necklace Arwen had given 
him. 
He traced it softly and held it to his lips. 
"Arwen, please aid me in this." he whispered, kissing it. 
Aragorn then put on his elven cloak again and slipped out the door. 
  
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Chapter Ten
The tower was surprisngly quiet at night. Not a sound was made except for the noises 
outside and the faint tapping of Aragorn's feet against the floors as he slinked towards a 
window. 
He looked out slightly and found that everyone was outside and down in the caverns they 
had built. Aragorn wondered what they were doing exactly. 
He quietly fell into the shadows and crept down the long staircase that he supposed led to 
the dungeons or worse. 
When he got to the bottom of the spiral staircase he found himself in a long hallway 
riddled with rooms on either side. 
Breathing in deeply, Aragorn opened the first door. 
Inside he found a cot with a skeleton of a creature on it. Chains were tossed carelessley 
on the floor. A window let in moonlight to illuminate the tiny room. 
Aragorn closed it quickly and went across the hallway. 
This one was empty yet was set up in the same manner. 
After a while Aragorn began to notice that all of the rooms were either empty or 
contained a skeleton of some sort. 
He had given up hope when he opened up the last door and found nothing inside. The 
search was in vain. He wondered if Legolas was down in the caverns the creatures had 
created. 
Aragorn sat down on the cot for a moment and closed his eyes to think. 
To his surprise he heard a soft creaking noise as a wall to his left suddenly opened 
towards him to reveal a staircase. He stared at it for a moment in disbelief. It was 
probably a trap... 
Still, Aragorn had nothing to lose and blindly went down the staircase, one hand against 
the wall, one hand on his sword. 
 
Meanwhile Gimli stayed in the room, pacing. He looked out his window at one point and 
noticed that the moon filled the area, making it easy to view everything that was 
happening. His eyes weren't incredibily good for seeing things at a distance but he could 
make out Saruman in his white robes walking next to a large Uruk-Hai and muttering 
something as goblins raced by with swords and metal. 
The door creaked open suddenly. Gimli raised his axe and found himself face-to-face 
with an orc. 
"Why are you still awake?" he asked. 
"Why are you barging into my room at this hour?" Gimli retorted. 
"I heard noises." he said. "Where is the Man?" 
"He went to find Saruman. He wanted to speak with him." Gimli said fearlessly. The orc 
nodded, muttered and left. 
Gimli sighed in relief. 
I suggest you hurry Aragorn. he said to no one. 
 
Aragorn found himself in a large tavern from the feel of it. A cold wind blasted him as he 
stumbled along. His very senses were teeming for anything that could help him along. 
The air smelled foul and yet not as foul as in the tower. He could hear drops of water 
falling into puddles. It was almost like a cave save for the chains he heard ratteling 
against the wind. 
"Ara..." he heard. Aragorn stopped and looked around. He couldn't hear or see anyone 
and wished his eyes would adjust more quickly. 
"Ara...Aragorn..." he couldn't tell where the voice was coming from. It simply echoed as 
if it had come from no where. 
"Who calls to me?" Aragorn called. He heard a faint cough and a soft reply that echoed 
many times as though driving itself into his very skull. 
"Legolas..." the voice said. 
"Legolas?! Please tell me where you are and I can come find you!" 
Silence answered him. 
"Legolas? Legolas!" Aragorn cried. He ran/stumbled around the cavern and suddenly 
almost ran into a wall. He could make out the form of a creature slumpped down against 
the wall. 
"Legolas?" he asked. The creature moved and looked up at him. 
Aragorn felt the creatures wrist and felt the cold metal of chains on them. He took his 
sword and expertly cut the chains off, leaving the brackets still on the wrists. 
He then picked the half-dead creature up and slung them gently over his back. 
"Aragorn..." he heard the creature moan. 
"It will be all right Legolas." 
Aragorn put his hand against the wall and followed it for a long while until he finally 
found an opening. He kicked at the opening and found that there were stairs. 
Taking them, he managed to find himself back in the small room. The wall remained 
open. 
The hallway was still dark while Aragorn raced down it and up the stairs. The tower was, 
to his relief, still empty. 
He went up the stairs further and burst into the chamber. Gimli glared at him for a 
moment, his axe raised. 
"Aragorn! Where have you been? An orc has been in here." 
"What did you tell it?" 
"I said you were looking for Saruman." Gimli said. 
Aragorn laid Legolas on the bed and found his to be in a sorry condition. 
His body was tainted with cuts and bruises. His clothes were tattered to make for a dismal 
piece of cloth. 
"What happened?" Gimli asked in shock. 
"I am uncertain. I found him this way." 
"We need to leave this place." 
"The place is surrounded. How will we accomplish this?" 
An idea struck Aragorn. 
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Chapter Eleven
 "We shall sneak out." Aragorn said. "Pretend that we are carrying him to his death. If 
any question us, simply say that we are off to dispose of the traitor." 
"It is odd that your idea makes sense to me." Gimli said. 
Legolas' breathing grew more laboured. Aragorn went to his side. 
"Legolas...do you still have the ring?" he asked softly. Legolas nodded faintly. 
"Why did they not simply take it from him I wonder..." Aragorn thought out loud. 
"Come, we must flee then. Take your things." he said suddenly noticing Gimli. 
 
They stole away into the night and hid among the crevices of the rocks. Goblins forever 
passed them by yet none seemed to question why the Man carried a sack over his 
shoulder and a small figure cloaked in black trailed behind. 
Aragorn stared up at the wall that blocked them from leaving. It surrounded the fortress. 
"What will we do?" Gimli questioned. "If we scale it, the goblins will surely kill us." 
"Bow..." he heard Legolas say. Aragorn laid him down against the wall and uncovered 
him. Legolas' was gasping for breath at this point. "My...bow...swords..." he muttered. 
"They have his weapons." Aragorn stated. 
"Well obviously. We cannot simply go back and get them. He shall have to live without 
them." 
Aragorn nodded and looked into Legolas sadly. 
"I am sorry my friend but we cannot get them for you." Legolas' head lowered. Whether 
it was from fatigue or sorrow, they could not be sure. 
Aragorn covered him once more and slung him over his shoulder. 
"And where are the two companions going off to?" They heard a voice ask from behind 
them. Saruman. 
"We are going to dispose of these goods." Aragorn said. "They are of no use to us now." 
"And what goods might they be?" Saruman questioned. 
"Elven goods from Lothlorien. I cannot stand the sight of them any longer." 
"Hm..." Saruman murmered. He stroked his beard for a moment in thought. "Very 
well...but you will have to be escorted." 
"As you command my master." Aragorn said, bowing. Gimli bowed as well. 
 
Three Uruk-Hai's followed closely behind them. 
"Have you really become traitors?" one orc asked them. 
"A dwarf is not a traitor." Gimli huffed. "I simply chose the better side." 
The orcs laughed. "Indeed you did!" one cried. 
Aragorn did not stop walking until they reached the borders of Rohan. 
"That is far enough for you to dispose of them." an orc told Aragorn. 
Gimli looked at Aragorn for a brief moment. Aragorn flashed the "now" signal. 
Gimli suddenly spun around, his axe in hand, and attacked. 
The orcs, surprised, simply recoiled instead of deflected. One laid dead within seconds. 
Aragorn gently laid Legolas down in the fields and drew his sword. 
In a matter of minutes all three orcs laid dead. Aragorn wiped his blade in the fields and 
put it back in it's holder. 
"That was not so hard." He said with a slight grin. 
 
"Ahhh!" Legolas suddenly cried sharply. They turned around and found that Legolas was 
twitching horribly. 
Aragorn removed the sack and wondered what it was from. 
"Perhaps the ring is calling to him again." Gimli wondered. 
"Legolas...calm yourself..." Aragorn soothed. For a moment, Legolas' eyes simply glazed 
over and he did not see them. 
His body finally laid still yet his breathing became shallow. 
"He will not live long." Aragorn said sadly. "We must do something." 
"Yet what?" 
"There are no suitable herbs here for me to be able to use." Aragorn said, frustrated. 
"Nothing except open fields. He cannot survive like this!" 
"I know this. And yet what can we do? We are days away from anything." 
"Perhaps I could be of assitance." said a new voice. They turned around, weapons ready, 
and found a man concealed in a grey cloak. The voice sounded so familiar. 
"Who are you?" Gimli ordered. The man did not answer yet instead went to Legolas' side. 
After chanting a few words, Legolas' wounds simply faded away. He breathed fully again 
as his eyes suddenly adjusted. 
He uttered one word. 
"Mithrandir..." 
 
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Chapter Twelve
The two companions backed away from the old man in fear and wonder. 
"What a mess you have gotten yourself into Legolas." the man said. 
"G-Gandalf...?" Aragorn stammered. 
The old man froze for a moment and stood up. He removed his cloak to reveal Gandalf 
dressed in white robes. They stared at him as if he was a ghost. 
"Do not gawk at me so." Gandalf admonished. 
Legolas got to his feet and lowered his head towards Gandalf. 
"Thank you for healing me." he said. Gandalf smiled. 
"Indeed you are most welcome." 
"There are many riddles afoot!" Gimli exclaimed. "What happened to Legolas and why 
are you alive?" 
The four companions stood facing each other. Legolas and Gandalf on one side, Aragorn 
and Gimli on the other. 
"If only I had the time to tell." Gandalf said. "But I am afraid that I have great need to 
ride to Rohan's kingdom and speak to their king." 
"Do you not have even the time to tell us how?" Aragorn asked. "We have the utmost 
curiosity." 
Gandalf sighed. 
"Very well. But it must be brief." he said. 
"I had fallen with the creature for what seemed an eternity. We fell into a pool of water. I 
managed to beat the hideous monster off of me yet grabbed a hold of him as he retreated. 
He led me to a long staircase which I climbed. I went up to the top of the mountain, 
compeletely exhausted, and simply laid there." 
"My winged friend suddenly came by and took me to Lothlorien where I recovered for 
many days and heard that you had been there previously. There, they clothed me in white. 
Since that time I have been searching for you. I heard that Legolas had been taken to 
Isengard and went in search of him there. I haven't managed to keep up with you three 
until now." 
Gandalf pulled some objects from underneath his cloak. 
"My bow! My quiver! My swords!" Legolas cried, grabbing his weapons. 
"Yes indeed. I knew they were of some value to you." 
"Indeed they are." Legolas said. 
"Now we must make haste!" Gandalf said. He whistled in such a high-piched tone that 
the companions could hardly believe that it had come from him. 
Soon three horses had come to them. 
"We must ride to Rohan's kingdom this instance." Gandalf said. 
Legolas stayed on the ground next to his horse. Aragorn and Gimli made no move as 
well. 
"What is the matter with the three of you? We must be off now!" Gandalf roared. 
"No..." Legolas said. He fished his hand into his pocket and withdrew the ring. Gandalf's 
eyes widened as he dismounted his horse. 
"You have the Ring of Power? Yet how?" 
"That is another long story my friend." Aragorn said. 
"This changes everything..." Gandalf said unhappily. 
"Frodo is dead." Legolas said. "The four hobbits are dead." 
The three stared at him in shock. "Saruman told me..." he said lowering his head. 
"Then all is lost..." Gandalf moaned softly. 
"All is not lost! We can still destroy it!" Gimli cried. "We can take it ourselves to 
Mordor." 
"What chance have we?" Legolas questioned. 
"Dwarves are much sturdier than elves and hobbits. I could survive." 
"We have no choice. We must destroy it at all costs." Gandalf said. There was a long 
pause. "First we travel to Fangorn. I must speak with Treebeard." 
"With Treebeard? Who is Treebeard?" Aragorn asked. 
"That is not a relevent question at present." Gandalf said, mounting his horse again. 
Legolas mounted his horse as well but was suddenly thrown off. The other three stared at 
him. 
He stood up and dusted himself off. 
"How strange." He murmered. He mounted again and whispered something into the 
horse's ear. The horse remained calm. 
"Let us be off!" Gandalf announced and took the lead. 
"An elf is never thrown off a horse is he Aragorn?" Gimli whispered from behind 
Aragorn. 
"No master dwarf. They never are." Aragorn began to wonder about the horse. 
 
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