"He felt that the darkness was full
of unimaginable horrors – and the
trouble with unimaginable horrors was
that they were only too easy to imagine..."

― Terry Pratchett, The Light Fantastic

27. To Isengard, To Isengard

Kat lay in her favorite spot, rolled into a ball between Legolas' head and his shoulder. Exhausted after the battle, he was sleeping soundly despite having to lie on the floor in a stone fortress. She probably should try to do the same, but her mind was still too full of everything that had happened during the night. Gandalf's disappearance, the frightened children in the Caves, the explosions, all the orcs she had fought.

Tommy purred loudly where he lay on Gimli's stomach beside them, looking very pleased and very sated. Kat had lost count of the amount of rats he had eaten, after Legolas and Gimli politely declined his gifts. Soon he would no longer be a half-starved stray; Gamling and his nephew Yngling had promised to adopt him and give him a home here in the Hornburg. Rather amused, Kat found she would actually miss the annoying tom. But perhaps she could visit him after her quest was done.

Dropping her thoughts of Tommy, Kat snuggled closer against Legolas' neck. It was comforting to listen to his calm breaths and indulge herself with his scent, and just be grateful that he had survived. Smiling to herself, she recalled how happy he had been to see her again. That was one of his strengths; he didn't hold a grudge. If they quarreled it never lasted long – and in this case, they had both been nervous about the impending battle, so no wonder they were short-tempered. Still, if they were ever separated again – and according to Mr Pretty Voice, they would be – Kat promised herself to make sure they parted as friends, and that he knew what she felt about him. She owed it to both herself and to him.

And then, when she was back in her own body, perhaps he would consider her as something other than a friend? For she had to be allowed that; Mr Pretty Voice had talked of a reward – to grant her life either in this world or her old world – and he couldn't have meant life as a cat or he would be beyond cruel.

Would she choose to live in this primitive world, though? That meant no more coffee, pizza, warm showers, murder mysteries or silly mobile games for as long as she lived. She could never again listen to Despacito at top volume, or meet the children and fellow staff at the school where she worked. And she wouldn't see Mamma again. All that, just to be with an elf who may or may not grow to like her that way?

No, that would be stupid. He could never be her reason to stay here. It was a choice she would have to consider carefully, if she survived to make it.

/\_,,_.,
( –ᆽ– )

The battle had ended in the morning, and after sleeping through the day, already the same evening they would leave Helm's Deep. Gandalf was in a hurry to go to Isengard, and King Théoden had decided to follow him with a few of his best men. According to Gandalf no larger army was needed, for someone else had already defeated Saruman. Who that was, he wouldn't say, as secretive as always.

When Tommy was told of his adoption, the tomcat's eyes became large and he tucked his tail between his legs. Why are they abandoning me?

They aren't, Kat tried. But you're needed better here. There are rats for you to hunt, and a boy who wants to be your friend.

Blondy and Hairy need protection. And I still haven't mated you!

Yngling also needs protection – and food. Look how much he loves you already!

Tommy glanced at the boy. He is a good petter. But...

I'll protect Blondy and Hairy for you. I promise, Tommy.

Tommy? Who's Tommy?

You. Blondy gave you that name.

That's strange. The cat soundeed puzzled. I already have a name.

You do?

I'm The Stillness Before Dawn, at your service. His tail straightened in a cat greeting.

I had no idea. That's beautiful! She rubbed her face against his. Farewell The Stillness Before Dawn. It's been an honor to meet you.

She had no time to say more, for Yngling picked up the tomcat and started back to the Hornburg. With one last look at the couple, Kat jumped up in front of Legolas on Arod. If she survived this, she promised herself to come back for the cat.

Someone sniffled silently above her.

Are you crying?

Me? Am not. Just a speck of dust caught in my eye.

Aww, Legolas... He'll be fine here. It's better this way.

I know. He smiled sadly, and then echoed Kat's thought. If I am yet alive when the war is over, I shall return to him. I am sure he would enjoy roaming my father's halls.

/\_,,_.,  /\_,,_/\
( u _ u ) ( u _ u )

The road to Isengard took the riders through a new, mysterious forest. Gimli and Legolas told Kat how it had appeared in the heat of battle, and swallowed up all the orcs who escaped into it.

Kat wasn't the only one who peered suspiciously around her as they rode between the gnarled giants. Is this really safe? Those guys look angry.

You are with me; no tree would ever hurt an elf.

After a while, he continued: These are fascinating trees indeed. I cannot quite understand what they say. I wish there was more time, so I could walk among them and learn more.

You don't seem to be that much in a hurry, said Kat sardonically. Legolas had stopped to listen to the forest every other meter so far.

I think they must have come from Fangorn, he mused, not paying attention to Kat's remark.

They continued. On either side of the road the forest stood dark, but above them the sky was slowly turning pink. It almost seemed like the trees were moving aside to give them access, making the path wide enough for several horses abreast.

Gimli sat behind Legolas again, and had not spoken much since they set out. Kat felt his worry emanate in waves; he obviously feared the trees too.

You should speak with Gimli. He's so silent; I think he's afraid.

"What are you thinking of, my friend?" Legolas asked over his shoulder.

"I'm trying not to think of roots crushing me and branches strangling me." He shuddered.

"Only if you were an orc. Fear them not! They do not hate dwarves, nor elves or men."

Gimli relaxed somewhat. "I guess I should be grateful to them for ridding us of the enemy. But I don't love them, like you seem to do."

"As I did not love the stone of the Hornburg, though it served us well."

"I think even you would have loved the Glittering Caves, though." Gimli rummaged in his pocket and passed an egg-shaped stone to Legolas. "I hope the horse lords forgive me for taking a souvenir."

Legolas took the rock, and found that it had split into uneven halves which could be opened like the shells of a clam. On the inside it was covered with tiny blue rock crystals, making it glow purple in the evening sun. "This is beautiful," he acceded.

A bit like Gimli himself, thought Kat. Rough on the outside, and beautiful on the inside.

That was poetic! And aye, I agree.

"It's called a geode," said Gimli. "But that's only one of the many wonders of that place."

"Describe the Caves to me," Legolas suggested.

Gimli happily obeyed, entering on a lengthy account of each of the halls he had passed through, as well as all the ones he had peered into but not had time to explore. As he was speaking, Kat could feel his nervousness wane and disappear entirely. She smiled inwardly; Legolas knew his friend well. Getting the dwarf to talk about rocks was a sure way to ease his tension.

"You move me," said Legolas when Gimli had finished his tale. He admitted he was actually curious to see the Glittering Caves now. Maybe they should strike a bargain? If they survived the war they would travel together for a while, exploring both Fangorn and the Caves. And of course, they must retrieve the poor tomcat.

Chuckling, Gimli agreed and took Legolas' hand, shaking it in the dwarf fashion. "We have a deal, Master Elf!"

By now, the strange forest had ended and they were back on the rolling plains. Legolas paused a bit outside, and gave it a final, longing look.

"There are eyes!" he suddenly exclaimed. Something was looking at him from the darkness under the trees, something he had never seen the likes of before.

He eagerly began to ride back.

"No! No!" yelled Gimli, pounding on Legolas' shoulder to make him stop. He certainly didn't want to see any eyes; if the elf persisted in his madness he must let Gimli off the horse first.

Then Gandalf commanded Legolas to halt, and reluctantly he had to obey.

Kat stared at the forest. The eyes Legolas had discovered were attached to the strangest creatures she had ever seen; tall as two Aragorns standing on one another's shoulders, gangly and thin, and walking with a swaying gait. Their skin was wood colored and their hair and beard green and spiky, as if made of moss or lichen, and their many-fingered hands resembled thin branches. Dryads, perhaps?

The tree-people called out in hooting voices, which sounded not entirely unlike a brass orchestra. Their call was returned, for now more tree-creatures came striding down from the north, and together with the newcomers they went back into the forest and were gone.

Some riders had drawn their weapons at the frightening sight, but Gandalf calmed them. These creatures were not enemies. Ents, they were called, or tree herders. Legends had come to life tonight, for once again creatures from the tales and songs of old were walking visible under the sun.

Amazed, King Théoden admitted he had forgotten about the mysteries of the forest. He and his people had lived their lives in ignorance, caring little about what happened beyond the borders of Rohan and Gondor.

When they continued towards Isengard, Legolas rode in silence; his eyes large and filled with wonder. Maybe to him, this was like meeting a live dinosaur? If so, it was not surprising he was awestruck.

I'm glad for you. Seeing ents must be a dream come true.

It is. I– I lack words. I know Gandalf said the hobbits had met ents, but I never expected to be allowed to see them myself. And yet here I saw many! I so wish I could go back and talk to them.

You will. Didn't you talk with Gimli about exploring Fangorn after the war?

True. I cannot wait to take him there!

Kat felt a pang of envy at his longing tone. Would he invite her too on their journey? Not likely; it would probably be one of those bromance bonding trips.

The night grew darker, but the moon was nearly full and soon gave enough light to ride by. After a while the riders arrived at an almost dry river, with large, flat stones for horses to walk over. The Rohirrim said it had used to be full to the brim, deep and lively, and with a strong current. Had Saruman drained it somehow?

Wolves howled from across the riverbed, but Gandalf easily chased them away on Shadowfax. The pack had been circling around a newly dug mass grave, and King Théoden made a short break by the mound to pay his respect to the fallen. The warriors who had defended the crossing were buried here; those killed when Saruman brought his army into Rohan.

Across the river was a road, an ancient highway leading to Isengard. They followed it at speed until midnight, before taking a break to eat a simple, cold meal and let the most tired catch some sleep.

Kat went to the bathroom in the tall grass. When she returned to the camp, she found Legolas at the edge of it, listening intently to the darkness.

Do you hear something? She sat beside him, trying to lick away a knot in her fur.

Aye. The voices of the forest whisper in the distance, though I cannot understand how, since we left it several leagues back.

Kat heard only the rustle of the wind in the grass. But wait... Wasn't that the creak of a branch? Maybe he was right, and the ents were following them. She had not really found them frightening, only strange. She didn't doubt they could be dangerous if they were angry, but she felt safe with Legolas.

Just in case, she positioned herself on his shoulder. The ents won't hurt an elf, right?

Of course not, he huffed, and absent-mindedly scratched her neck.

Soon the sounds grew louder, and those who had slept woke up. Gandalf walked around, calming everyone and persuading them to put down their weapons. They just had to be still, and whatever was coming would not harm anyone.

"What have you done, lad?" groaned Gimli and sat down very close to Legolas. "You tried to speak with them back there, didn't you? And now they'll follow you everywhere like that tomcat."

"I am sure they will not," said Legolas, but looked like he secretly hoped they would.

The night turned very dark around the huddling, trembling company, and a great shadow passed them on either side.

It is trees. The trees from that forest. Not ents, but walking trees! This is amazing. Legolas was so excited he was almost bouncing where he sat. I think they are heading to Fangorn. Back from whence they came...

"Be still!" hissed Gimli. "You'll anger them." He was practically sitting in Legolas' lap now.

Legolas smiled and put his arm around him. "Nay. I told you not to worry."

He was right. Ignoring them, the trees went past as dark shadows, silent apart from the occasional groan and whisper in the wind, and then they were gone. The darkness subsided somewhat as the moon and stars were visible again, and everyone except for Legolas drew relieved breaths.

Nobody slept more that night, and therefore they all heard something else, much more welcome arrive: water. The riverbed was becoming filled to the brim with merry, dancing waves, as if someone had turned on a tap upstream.

I wonder if the trees did this, Legolas mused, regarding the glittering stream. He dipped his fingers and smelled them. The water is fresh; I think I shall take the opportunity to wash myself.

Already? Didn't you say you bathed in the Deeping-stream after the battle?

That was almost a day ago, and I've been traveling most of it. He sniffed his hair and grimaced. Aye. I definitely need another bath.

If you say so. I'll stay here, then, Kat offered innocently. I mean, just to make sure nobody disturbs you. I'm not gonna watch.

He chuckled. Of course not.

Legolas removed his tunic and hose in the semi-darkness and waded out a bit, scrubbing both himself and his long undershirt thoroughly with a bar of soap, and rubbing some sort of hair balm into his blond tresses. Thankful for her night vision, Kat conveniently forgot she wasn't going to – and watched.

He was achingly beautiful. Who could have resisted?

When Legolas returned, he was shivering, but sat down on the riverbank in only his shirt to let it dry despite the cold.

You watched. He smirked knowingly.

Oh. Well... I thought I saw a crocodile so I had to make sure you weren't eaten.

Ah. He was smiling, but then a thought seemed to hit him and his smile quickly waned. I guess it is only fair. I saw more than that in Galadriel's Mirror.

It was an accident. You did nothing wrong. Did he still feel guilty after so long? Besides, I'm glad you did, so you could draw my likeness. Kat looked at her pendant.

For that, I only needed to see your face. He toyed with the hem of his sleeve.

Kat couldn't resist. Well, then. I'll watch your chest too, and we'll be even. Your undershirt is rather see-through when wet – did you know? But it's fine to take it off, if you prefer.

His gaze flicked to his shirt and then back at her, his lips twitching. You are so bad.

I know. She grinned.

A glint she could not interpret suddenly appeared in his eyes. Without warning, he pulled his shirt over his head and spread it on some reeds beside him. It dries faster that way.

Kat's breath hitched. He only wore the medieval equivalent of boxers now, and he looked at her steadily, as if challenging her to be embarrassed.

Goodness. I– I was joking, Legolas. She dropped her gaze, but it was too late. His pale, muscular body, shimmering in the moonlight, would be forever etched on her retinas.

Ha! This must be the first time ever that I made you blush.

I'm in a cat form; we can't blush, she mumbled, still looking down. Put that back on before someone comes.

You blushed mentally. He stretched out in the grass, giving Kat another alluring glimpse of male perfection.

Okay, okay, you win. I'm embarrassed. Now get dressed!

I wonder if I ought to let my last garment dry too?

Kat fled.

A/N:

Glad so many liked the last chapter and Legolas' point of view! Thanks for all the comments and votes, I appreciate them so much. <3