Yeah boiiiii

*********
         

I'm violently thrust from the memory, causing me to stumble back. The world spins as light sears my retinas. I raise a hand to my mouth, feeling bile rise in my throat. Not at the experience, but at what I had seen.

Innocents tortured in a way that made every part of me ached, an elven prince broken not in body, but in mind.

I had recognized Sauron as soon as I felt his dark presence in the memory. The fact that Legolas had been at his mercy filled me with horror, anger, and sorrow.

And how can Sauron and orcs take joy in torturing innocents? My mind simply cannot wrap around it. And frankly, I don't want it too. I've had enough of dealing with the pain in the world.

I just want to go home.

Legolas's rough panting caught my attention. He leans against the wall, a sheen of sweat making him glisten. The horrid Ring hung out of his tunic. I was shocked to see tears swimming in his eyes as he beheld me.

"Oh, Legolas." He held such a dark secret away from the world and from himself. Now he just relived it. My mind went back to when I saw him staggering through the forest, gagged and bound, blood of his fellow warriors and his own drenching his body. The blood had seemed to devour him, a red void of shattered innocence.

I advanced towards him. He had always comforted me, now it's my turn to comfort him.

But he turned his back to me.

"How can you even look at me?" he whispered, the words trembling like a leaf in the wind.

"What?" How can he say that? Why?

"I'm a monster. A murderer" Disgust dripped from the words.

"No, you're not. Don't say that." Hot liquid welled in my eyes.

He whirled around. "But it was I that led them to their deaths!" His face contorted in some emotion I couldn't place.

"And it was you who had the safety of your Elfdom in mind!" I closed the distance between us and gently took his hands in mine. Examining the way my hands sat in his, I saw that my skin was only slightly darker than his, although he had far more callouses than I. Years of existence had hardened him, not just his mind but his skin as well.

"You thought you were doing what was best for your people. You have changed much since then." I let go of one hand and press my free one to his soft cheek.

"I do not blame you." My thumb wiped away an escaping tear. "I only blame the Dark Lord."

His wide eyes held mine, searching to see the truth in my words. But his eyes didn't see it, he only felt the guilt and horror crushing him.

I gripped his hand tighter, "It is the Dark Lord who is destroying your home. He took away your friends. And he'll take away many more if we do not stop them." I pleaded with my voice, hoping against hope that he'd see reason and truth.

"He harmed you, didn't he?" The sudden change in topic stunned me into silence. Although, maybe it wasn't a change, not for him.

I didn't want to answer, but if it meant pushing him in the right direction then I will.

I nodded and couldn't stop my eyes from leaving him, wandering away to a not so distant memories.

My hands were almost crushed in his sudden vise-like grip. "I'll make him pay. I promise." The hardened steel in his voice made me glance back at him.

The promise had me go misty eyed. It also gave me the determination and drive to complete the task I had come in here to do.

"Legolas, will you help me?"

His nod was almost imperceptible, like he knew what was coming. "Anything."

I took in a lungful of oxygen. "Give up the Ring." Then quickly added, "to avenge Casdir, Amaron, and the rest of your dead soldiers and all the others who died by the cause of Sauron."

Legolas took in a shuddering breath—

And nodded.

His eyes never left mine as he reached for the chain around his neck. He hesitated as he made contact with it.

"It's okay. I'm here," I encouraged. "Remember your soldiers. They would want this."

The pain in his eyes gave him the strength to reach forward and pull back his sanity, the will to give up something more powerful than the raging ocean. And then he swiftly lifted the chain over his head—and held the Ring out to me, careful not to touch it's precious metal.

I hadn't even considered that if I had succeeded in this task that I'd have to handle the Ring. Not even for a millisecond. But do I take it and risk becoming enthralled in its surreal gleam?

"Take it!"

My eyes widening, I hurriedly took it by the chain. Whispers and longing filled every part of me. A dark blackened void opened before me.

Ah, Lumornel Tree-Shade. I delight in meeting you. Power of dreams makes up your being, your essence and flesh. Take me. Take me and save Middle-Earth. Save the innocents and banish the evil from the world, then your sorrow will vanish. I hold the secrets of the world, the future. You and—

"Samwise!" I yelled. "Aragorn!"

Aragorn came crashing in. No doubt he had been waiting outside the door.

"Is everything alr—" he froze at the sight of the dazzling Ring dangling from my outstretched hand. I want it as far away from me as I can get it. Now.

"Sam!" Aragorn echoed.

Little Sam appeared in the doorway with sleep messed hair and a frying pan in one hand. Pippin and Merry showed up behind him in a similar state.

"It is time you took on the role Frodo passed on to you," Aragorn said. "Carry out the task that has been appointed to you."

Then Sam saw the glittering gold hanging from my clenched fist. His eyes widened and he froze.

Striding to him, I thrust the dark whispers out of my mind and handed intrusive object to him. "Do not fail us, Sam. We are counting on you."

He only stared, dumbfounded. A lost child in the midst of a tainted forest.

"Take it!" I shook it in front of him.

Slowly he extended his hobbit hand and tangled his fingers in the silver chain. "For Frodo," he whispered, then, like a silent omen, place the silver noose around his neck.

I sigh in relief as the Ring's presence rushes from me, leaving behind light limbs and a fresh spring air. I felt so clean now that the tainted weight is not whispering temptations in my ear. I now know why Legolas had become the way he was.

I swiftly turn around to my Prince.

"Are you alright?" I asked hesitantly, still seeing the tortured state his mind must be in.

His eyes held a new light. A light that was a mixture of emotion and—and him.

His lips turned up in a smile that I have not seen in ages. Those wonderful dimples showed.

It's—It's him. It's Legolas. Not the Ring corrupted version of him.

I stride to him and wrap my arms around his middle. His warm embrace engulfs me and I feel his chin rest on my head. I squeeze my eyes shut to prevent water leaking out of them. They seem to be doing that a lot lately.

"I'm more than alright."

*********
"For we are happy here, and I don't wish to go"
         —Frodo, The Return of the King

So, thoughts? Predictions? What will become of the group now that Sam has the Ring?

I have a book to recommend to y'all.... The Way Of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson. Can't really explain it other than that it's awesome and High Fantasy. The fantasy world makes it seem that I'm actually there and immersed in the multiple cultures. There's multiple character (I love Kaladin) and THERES sword that cut through stone but not flesh, the blade cuts through soul. JUST TRY IT OUT. p.s. It's not in the Y.A. Novel section, it's in the adult fantasy section.

How's the weather where you all are at? Here it's cooold and snow and ice are becoming bothersome.

Okay imma stop rambling.

Novaer, mellyn
~awatin~