Fiction GotG Chapter 06

Title: Gamble Of The Gods

Author: Restive Nature

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to either J.R.R. Tolkien’s "Lord of the Rings" universe, nor David and Leigh Edding’s "Belgariad".

Rating: PG

Genre: Crossover of LotR and The Belgariad

Type: WiP

Timeline: LotR- The beginning of the Fellowship (follows the movies mostly.)

The Belgariad- post books. Beldaran is a young woman now, about seventeen now.

Summary: In an effort to encourage the Fellowship, help is brought into the world in the form of a young woman whose world has already seen the end of its own war.

Chapter Six

Legolas was delighted when he received a missive from Beldaran the next morning. He’d been up at sunrise and had already begun sorting through his pack, deciding what to take on the journey to Mount Doom. The company was only going to linger in Rivendell a few days more. The mission was pressing on them and according to Gandalf, it would take forty days for the first trek of the journey alone. So when the servant delivered her message, Legolas was glad for the distraction. He had been directed that the Lady Beldaran was in a small glade, close to the city itself and was waiting for him.

When he arrived, the beauty of the scene laid out before him, captivated him. Beldaran, dressed once again in her Ranger clothing, was skipping among the trees, stopping every so often to watch birds take flight overhead, or embrace one of the trees that caught her attention. Legolas felt a lifting in the burden of his heart. Almost he could join in, but too many years under his father’s harsh tutelage had worked those childish impulses out of him. So instead, he was content to watch her frolic. Finally, with an agility that he admired, she scampered up into one of the larger trees, nestling herself into the sprawling branches. Legolas could no longer resist. He moved forward silently, until he was under the very tree she perched in.

He stared up at her, wondering where the dreamy look on her face came from. She looked so content, in her own little world. He hated to interrupt, but their time here was precious. He grinned. "You are as bad as a squirrel, dreaming while the rest of your mates work." Her eyes popped open and as she leaned over to see the intruder, she lost her balance. With a shriek, she fell from the tree. Legolas darted a step forward; his arms open to catch her. Unfortunately, the ground was uneven and he wasn’t settled before she impacted on him. They tumbled together with the petite beauty lying atop the bemused Elf. She stared down at him a moment before she blushed deeply and scrambled backwards.

"Oh, Legolas," she gasped, kneeling before his outstretched legs. "I am so sorry. You should have just let me fall. I would have been fine."

"I could never do that lady," he chuckled. He reached out a hand and Beldaran obligingly pulled him to sitting position. "So, do you play often among the trees?" he asked softly, trying to put her at ease.

"As much as possible," she laughed. When she saw the amusement on his face, she shyly ducked her head down. "I’m sorry, trees make me a little giddy."

"Giddy?" he tested the word.

"Silly and joyous at the same time," she shrugged, hoping he would be distracted from his seemingly self-appointed task of teasing her.

"Giddy," he said again. "I like it." He could see her grin, even through the curtain of hair that fell around her face. He waited a moment. "So my lady, how may I be of service to you?"

"Oh," she glanced up finally. "I was wondering if you, or someone, it doesn’t have to be you, but someone would help me, that is if they have the time…I mean I know we have to leave soon, but I thought…that is you said you would. But perhaps you would prefer-!"

Legolas finally silenced her with a finger upon her lip. She blinked rapidly as he leaned in closer to her. "If you wish to know, just ask," He instructed softly. She sighed and he removed his finger.

"It’s been a while since I last fought and I was hoping to find someone to spar with," she explained. "I don’t want to be a liability." Legolas nodded. He could sense still that she was not yet ready to share her feelings, if any towards him. So instead he offered friendship.

"It will be as you wish," he announced, glad to see the relief in her eyes. "Which weapon do you prefer?"

"Well, I trained initially on the sword," she thought aloud. "And my sword does seem to do most of the work for me. Perhaps a range weapon would be good. Bow and arrow?"

"Ah," Legolas joked. "Then you have come to the right Elf."

"Wonderful," she breathed. "When can we start?"

"Immediately, if you prefer," he offered. "We can go get you a bow and quiver and make our way to the training range." Beldaran agreed and soon, they were alone upon the field. Archery was a true love of the elves and Rivendell was no different from any other Elvish dwelling. There were large targets set up, stuffed with dried grass and various marks to aim for.

Legolas began with he basics, ascertaining what she already knew. It was a little. He had chosen a short bow, knowing that the traditional Elven long bow would be awkward for her. He instructed her how to hold the bow, how to notch the arrow in, aiming, and the proper length to draw the string. Soon enough she was taking a few practice shots. She was minorly proficient and Legolas was glad that he could work with her. She was an apt pupil, taking all his suggestions for improving and managing to implement most of them together. In their short time, she had improved dramatically, and it pleased him that she was interested in something he enjoyed.

But their peaceful session was soon disrupted by the arrival of the two men that had traveled from Gondor with Boromir. Of their travelling companion, there was no sign of him in the glade. As the men snickered over Beldaran’s attempt at imitating the men, Beldaran felt her concentration slip and her arrow flew wide of the mark she’d aimed for. She flushed angrily as the men guffawed once more. Finally the taller of the two could no longer resist.

"Perhaps you’d learn a little more if one of us were to give you a lesson, little girl," he laughed uproariously. Legolas flushed as well at the implied double meaning of the Man’s words. He would have leapt to Beldaran’s defense, but she put a small hand on his arm to hold him back.

"I don’t think you know anything that I think is worth learning," she replied coolly. She was about to turn away, but thought better of it. "In fact, I would wager that even with the limited lesson Prince Legolas gave me, I am a better shot than you are." Her little sneer brought about more laughter from the pair.

"And what would you be willing to wager?" the tall one demanded. Beldaran put her hands on her hips and looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Hmm, as I have no possessions that you would deign to use, I suppose I shall have to offer a boon to be named in future time." Legolas groaned at the look of interest playing over the men’s faces. He pulled on her elbow.

"That is not a good idea, little one," Legolas hissed quietly. She grinned up at him.

"Trust me," was all she murmured. She turned back to the men. "Well?"

"You have yourself a wager!" he exclaimed. "I will offer a boon as well."

"All right then," Beldaran agreed. She barely noticed that a small crowd seemed to have gathered, attracted by the noise and lure of the practice range. Beldaran shooed Legolas away and he moved reluctantly to the sideline. Aragorn shouldered his way through, asking his friend for details. Legolas explained through clenched teeth. Aragorn looked slightly mutinous, but Legolas held him back.

"She would not appreciate interference," he growled at the man beside him. Aragorn rolled his eyes.

"Is she that bad?"

"She was improving," he muttered back. "Until they showed up." They both fell silent as the crowd watched with anticipation.

"Done then," the shorter of the men laughed. "The wager from each is a future boon. One arrow each." He turned and joined the rest of the crowd. Beldaran and the tall one had a quick discussion and she moved away to allow him to shoot first. Legolas and a few others groaned when the man hit his mark in the dead center. A few others cheered, enjoying the good show. Beldaran watched the man preen for a moment, then walked forward to take her position. She threw a glance at Legolas and smiled. He was clenching his teeth, a little muscle in his jaw betraying his tension. Unlucky for him, he didn’t know that she had a secret weapon.

She notched her arrow as he’d taught her and drew the bow up to the proper angle to allow for the arc. It was unnecessary. She could have shot straight in the sky with what she planned to do and still accomplished a bulls-eye, as it were. She slowed her breathing and centered her eye line on the protruding end of the man’s arrow. She focused carefully and as she let the arrow loose, whispered, "fly."

Her aim and sorcery were true. There was a decided ‘thunk’ as her arrow split the man’s in twain. Surprised silence, then a roar of good-natured cheers. Beldaran took in her opponent’s slack jaw, then turned and caught Legolas’ equally stunned expression. She strolled over to where he was standing with Aragorn.

"Wonderful shot my lady," Aragorn laughed. "Legolas taught you well. And in such a short time." She simply grinned at him then turned to the Elf.

"What is the matter, o teacher of mine?" she teased. "Did you have so little faith in your student?"

"How did you do that?" he demanded finally. Beldaran giggled.

"I suppose you should learn now that I am a very determined woman," she lectured him mockingly. "When I put my mind to something, I stop at nothing to achieve it."

"Ah," Aragorn clapped a hand on the Elf’s shoulder. "You’ve been duly warned, my friend." The poor blonde Elf looked over at his friend, then down into the gleaming eyes of the woman he so desperately was craving.

"Yes," he whispered. "I have been warned." He paused for a moment, the muscle in his jaw twitching again. He wondered if Beldaran had deliberately put on a poor show for him, just as an excuse to be close to him. In the matter of the dance of courtship, he would have been amused at such a tactic. But somehow, he’d expected better from this mortal woman. Before he could say anything else, Beldaran turned to Aragorn.

"Of course, if I didn’t have a little trick up my sleeve," she grinned, "then that shot would have been beyond me."

"What trick is that?" Aragorn kept his voice quiet, not wanting the Gondor men to overhear and claim Beldaran as a cheat. Knowing more of their nature, they would demand Beldaran yield to them a boon too distasteful to think of. Beldaran was obviously thinking among the same lines. She leaned closer to the pair.

"Sorcery," she whispered so slightly that they both could barely make it out. Aragorn’s eyes widened, as did Legolas’. Beldaran watched them digest that news.

"You mean, you…?" Aragorn trailed off. She simply nodded. He thought for a moment. "Well, I suppose that might just come in handy. But why on earth did you waste it on something mundane as an archery contest?" Her face flamed indignantly.

"They were insulting Legolas," she rapped out. Aragorn laughed as he saw his friend bristle slightly. "I know that he’s more than Elf enough to deal with the likes of them, but I thought it would be better if the woman, who by the way, is completely unaware of the boundaries of normal behavior, were to handle the problem, rather than resorting to violence. Things are strained enough already without there being a rift between Legolas and Boromir." Both men looked about to object at the start of her tirade, but her quick words left them dizzy.

"Uh, your logic is impecable?" Aragorn ventured. Beldaran laughed.

"It always is, my friend." Man and Elf looked to one another and shrugged. They both knew that it was useless to argue with a woman. Even if one was right, a woman’s displeasure was something not to be taken lightly. "So, since my archery lesson seems to have ended abruptly, perhaps we can spar. I need to work out the lag in some of my technique. Are you up for it Aragorn?"

Chapter Seven