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Date Posted: 00:53:52 01/31/03 Fri
Author: Sue
Subject: LOTR fan fic- Carry On

This is my first attempt at a LOTR's fan fic. It was in the response of a challenge/contest on a site I frequent-No, not FFN- I haven't worked up the courage to post there yet!!! The owners of this site offered up a challenge/contest in respoonse to a picture they posted, which unfortunately I can't display on this site, since I don't know how to, but if you read the fic, a description of it is in paragraph two. The rules were that it must mention the picture, and be under 2000 words- a small feat for wordy me! :) If you decide to read this, let me know what you think. I haven't submitted it yet. Thanks! Sue


Carry On



A/N- Though I wanted to make this story book verse, one thought kept returning to me as I
looked at the picture for the contest, so it has been done as a movie verse selection. The
following does contain a spoiler for “TTT”, so I would refrain from reading it if you don’t want
to find out what might happen. This fan fic takes a moment from the movie and expands upon
it. While trying to stay as true to the film as possible, there are some changes for the benefit of
the tale told. I hope you enjoy it. :)


The impenetrable barrier of the Deeping Wall loomed before them and above it the Hornburg
glared down offering challenge to any outlander not deemed worthy to enter within its walls.
Legolas drew Arod to a brisk halt as the surviving contingent of Rohirrim riders proceeded
onward toward the gate. His companion behind him upon the steed noticed his hesitation
immediately and spoke out. “He’d want us to carry on, laddy.” But his words fell unheeded
around him, muffled by the beat of pounding hooves upon the harden turf below, and the Sylvan
elf took no notice.

Stretching his arms out to his sides, his bow now clutched but still in his right hand, he closed
his eyes to the movement surrounding him, blocking out its clamor while his mind and senses
searched outward. Surely he would feel something, anything, anything but this deep and aching
emptiness that now filled his soul. Was this what death was like? This nothingness, this
numbness? Surely he should feel something, and his mind cried out beckoning for some sort of
supplication though receiving none.

The dwarf behind him felt him stiffen with deliberation and offered consolation once more.
“He’d not want us to mourn for him.” Gimli spoke though the catch in his voice belied the
intended meaning of his words.

“No, he wouldn’t.” His companion acknowledge woodenly, drawing his arms back toward him
as he repositioned his bow before grasping the reins and spurring Arod onward . He caught up
to their complement again and once through the castle gate, he drew their steed to a quick halt,
and dismounted, reaching up to offer assistance to his stocky friend. Gimli brushed his
overture aside mumbling to himself that it would be a fine day indeed or he’d have to be greatly
infirmed before he’d gladly accept the hand of another while dismounting from a horse. His
words only caught in his throat once more as his eyes hazard toward those of the invulnerable
creature below him. The blue gray eyes that stared back at him held a profound sense of
bewilderment, and Gimli wanted to speak up. He wanted to offer comfort to his companion, but
he himself was at a loss for words; Aragorn’s death being so new and fresh in his mind. He had
no assurances of consolation to offer Legolas which made his heart all the more heavier.
Making his way ungainly down from the horse, his feet finally touched ground, and he hurried
after his friend.

A swarm of activity surrounded the two as the injured were being carried forward, and many a
reconciliation between awaiting kin within the walls was made. It was through this
pandemonium that the elf caught sight of one, the fair haired Eowyn, poised and searching
through the throng surrounding her. Her eyes seeking out one in particular, and Legolas knew of
whom she sought. Unable to meet her, he drew Arod to the side in search of a paddock in which
to stable the horse temporarily, leaving Gimli behind. Her first words upon meeting up with the
dwarf drifted toward him, reaching his keen ears and with them spoke the name of the one now
lost. He could not bear to talk of Aragorn now, not here, not with her, not with Gimli, not
with anyone, and he moved onward like a haunted specter bound to an earthly life until his
sentence had been served.

Mindlessly he found some boarding for Arod before he ventured out once more toward the
crowd, the milling commotion assaulting his senses, and he turned quickly away from it in
search of quiet and refuge. His line of vision caught sight of a stair and pushing his way toward
it, he began its ascension; each step taking him further and further away from the hectic din
below.

Upon completion he found himself looking out over the Deeping Wall to a stream below. Its
waters clear and sparkling in ceaseless flow. The movement brought to mind how parched he
now felt and reaching toward his water sac he drew it to his lips; its contents momentarily
refreshing. Replacing it, he stared out once again, this time toward the coomb, his keen eyes
taking in its rolling brown grasses and hilly landscapes until they reached the base of the
mountains in the distance. Scanning the majestic peaks his mind went over what distance they
had covered thus far and how far they had yet to go. Leaving the rise, his eyes retraced their
path until they reached the stream and its flowing waters once more. How trivial its flux seemed
in comparison to the swirling tides that had carried his friend away before his eyes caught sight
of him. “Oh Aragorn, are you really gone?” He breathed softly to himself. “Surely I would feel
it, know it inside of me...but I feel naught, my heart is like stone, would it not burst with sorrow
having known your life was extinguished? Though my mind tells me thus is so, my heart denies
it. Would I not feel it if you were lost to me irrevocably?”

Sinking down upon the cool buttress below him, its rock hardness offered little comfort, and he
yearned for the solace and calm of his homeland. He was at one with the earth and the
woodlands that flourished there. If he was there, he might escape this heaviness that now
penetrated his very heart and soul. But his mind would not allow him to escape the thoughts
that prevailed and plagued it, and he allowed it to travel back to the brief confrontation with
the warg riders.

The battle had been over, and those still standing were making their way among the fallen and
dead to provide aid to those still in need of succor. It was then that Aragorn’s absence was
keenly noted. Legolas’s eyes searched those around him coming up flat. “Aragorn?” He called
out. His voice rose above the dismal landscape surrounding him. “Aragorn?” He beseeched
again.

The desperate tone of his voice reached above the moans of the injured and the few final
gurgles of those close to death. “Aragorn?” He shouted once more this time drawing the
attentions of both Gimli and Theoden and those of another a foul creature lying in the throes of
death. It was the latter who spoke first. “He’s dead. Drug over the cliff he was.”

“You lie.” He had challenged.

Gimli had stood at his side and stared down upon the heinous being whom had spoken these
words eyeing him warily. “Speak the truth and I will ease your parting.”

“The one you seek is dead, fallen.” He repeated. “Drug over the hill by a beast...” He cackled
with a final contentment until it turned to a gurgle and the creature was no more, his body
falling slack while his hand opened to reveal a glimmering ornament, so familiar to the eyes that
gazed down upon it.

He had knelt to retrieve it as Gimli spoke its name in reverence. “The Evenstar.” His heart
falling heavy with the words. Surely his companion, Aragorn, would not part with such a
treasure while he still drew breath. What the orc had proclaimed met with truth. His eyes
moved from the foul creature and back to the elf at his side, who now held the beloved jewel in
his hand. Clasping his hand gently about it, Legolas had moved toward the cliff that the orc had
gestured too in his dying breath, and his eyes looked downward over the jagged decline and the
swirling waters below. The carcass of dead warg littered one of the shelves, but there was no
body? Surely if he was dead, there would be some sign of it? “Aragorn?” He hailed loudly
once more, hoping, entreating for an answering call. There was none. Could a human survive
such a fall? His mind acknowledge that such a possibility was grim. At that moment he had
felt a hand upon his shoulder. Turning he found Theoden, son of Thengel, beside him. His eyes
full of empathy over the loss of comrade so worthy in battle.

“We must go.” He stated. Denial sprang quickly toward Legolas’s lips, but Theoden did not
allow him the chance at hesitation proclaiming resolutely to all around him. “Gather the
wounded! Leave the dead!”

Legolas’s heart burned within him in self recrimination. He had not taken the time to provide
his friend with a fitting burial. Time was off the essense, but surely he should have searched for
the body. “Aragorn, forgive me.” He whispered and reaching toward his cloak, he withdrew
the Evenstar once more; its cool smoothness spilling across his palm.

And what would he tell her he wondered? How could he explain to her the inadequacy of his
actions surrounding Aragorn’s final moments? And what of Elrohir and Elladan, who were as
much as brothers to him as the one fallen? And Lord Elrond, his fostering father? How could
he admit that he had failed the “hope” of men; the final “hope” for lasting peace? “Estel” He
breathed while his throat tightened with this admission of guilt. Legolas dreaded the
responsibility that now befell him for he knew how grievously those left behind would mourn
for him , for it was just as deeply now that he finally allowed himself to do the same , and the
first of many tears strayed down upon his cheeks, falling to wet the Evenstar.

A/N-Okay it's me again. Realizing that some of you are not as fanatical about LOTR's as I am I should note that Estel is one of the many name's that Aragorn goes by and that it means hope. Btw, I hope it's not a problem that I'm posting off topic fan fiction here. Let me know if you'd rather I not do so Thanks! And dq if your reading this you have reason to dread since my excuse for not bothering you is now done. Ack! Take some consolation that I've stayed up late and will be in no state to read, email or post anything until Saturday. :)

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