Fiction GotG Chapter 10

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 Ten

The fellowship followed Gandalf’s light, strung out with the warriors making sure that the smaller Hobbits and Bel were secure in the center. All were on guard against unforeseen danger. Gandalf’s words were not taking lightly. And then they had come to the stairs. Endless steps leading only to darkness. But up they went, for there was no other choice. Every once in a while, someone might slip on the steps, narrow as they were, but the person behind always made sure that a helping hand was there. Occasionally, Gandalf would cautiously swing his light back, to count heads and make sure no one had fallen or was lagging behind. It was with great relief that they finally reached the top of the stairs.

Gandalf led them into what seemed to have been a large, almost foyer, such as it could have been. His eyes darted around nervously. There were a couple of passages to choose from and he swept through his mind, looking for something familiar. The others of the group shuffled hesitantly, until he finally admitted defeat. "I have no memory of this place."

With a collective mental groan, the group collapsed where they could. Gimli pulled out his pipe and tobacco, taking advantage of the unexpected break. Sam had filched a little food from the pack and had snuck some to Merry and Pippin. Frodo sat, gazing about in the darkness, his small body still tense. Legolas lounged against a fallen stone, watching Beldaran as she plaited her hair. He’d never seen women pull their hair back that way and the design she used, similar to his small braids intrigued him. Boromir and Aragorn sat near each other, but for all their closeness, their body language gave away the mistrust between them.

Finally Beldaran finished with her hair and was putting her comb away as Aragorn made his way to her.

"How are you faring?" he whispered softly. He knew that Gandalf wanted them to be quiet, but he also knew that he might not have another opportunity like this to discuss the Elf. It was important to Aragorn for many reasons, that both of them understood that the mission had to come first. Not that he was against his friend being happy. But dealing with a relationship, as he suspected these two might start, took too much time and effort. And right now they needed to focus on their journey. He felt that Bel seemed to be doing that fairly well. But when she was in danger, it was to her that Legolas looked to protect first. And while Aragorn’s manners and upbringing prompted the same reaction, he tamped it down and concentrated on the reason for this quest. Frodo and the Ring.

"I’m fine," she whispered back. Aragorn stared at her for a moment, then glanced at Legolas, who was trying to project the air of someone mildly interested in all those around him. But to someone, who knew him as well as Aragorn, he was failing miserably. Aragorn knew that with his Elven senses, the Elf would hear their entire conversation. And he had yet to remind the Elf of his duty. Aragorn was hoping he wouldn’t really have to. It was not really his place to tell them what to do. But the safety of the company weighted heavily on the Ranger.

"Are you sure?"

"Aren’t we supposed to be quiet?" she countered with a smile. Aragorn smiled as well as he nodded. Suddenly, his eyes widened as he heard her voice in his mind. ‘Then perhaps we should find another way to speak.’ That had not happened to him in many years. And telepathy was not something he associated with humans. Just certain Elves and the Maia, like Gandalf. Suspicion crept into his mind.

"My lady?" he whispered harshly. She frowned at him. ‘Do not speak the same words aloud Aragorn,’ she instructed him. ‘Just think it, I will understand.’ He gazed at her in wonder. He’d never been able to communicate his own thoughts to others in this manner.

‘You can hear me?’ he demanded silently.

‘Of course,’ she smiled. ‘I have had plenty of practice at this.’

‘This is wonderful,’ he grinned. ‘Can you do this with the others?’

‘I have with Legolas,’ she thought at him. ‘That’s how he knew I was on the ledge, on Caradhras.’ Aragorn glanced at the Elf, noticing the dangerous glint that had crept into them. Ignoring it for the moment, he turned his attention back to the redhead. ‘Of course, I’m sure that it would work with Gandalf. The others I’m not so sure about.’

‘Why did you try it with me?’

‘Anything is worth a try,’ she shrugged. Aragorn nodded.

‘There is something I think we should discuss,’ he carefully avoided her eyes.

‘What is that?’

‘Legolas.’

Beldaran stiffened when Aragorn sent the word to her mind. She knew that the Elf had been growing more attentive to her. And if she were honest with herself, she felt more for him than she had back in Rivendell when they’d first met. And in her insecurity about the newness of things still, she’d been leaning on him more than she should. She’d first believed that his behavior was cause of the spell she’d caused before she came to Middle Earth. But it had lingered and was becoming more intent. She’d talked to Arwen about it, but as they’d begun their journey, her common sense had kicked in. She knew she couldn’t become involved with him beyond simple friendship. She had a job to do and once done, she’d be returning to her home. It would be cruel of her to let him come to care for her, when she’d just leave him in the end.

‘What about Legolas?’ she finally thought-asked him. Aragorn glanced up at the glowering Elf with a smirk. Legolas flushed briefly.

‘He’s jealous.’ Beldaran twisted around to look at the Elf herself. She caught a fleeting glimpse of the anger Aragorn had seen, but then the Elf flashed her a sweet smile. She smiled back hesitantly, then turned to face Aragorn once more.

When Beldaran turned away from him, Legolas felt as if a little crack ran it’s way through his heart. His face slipped, his hopes dashed. Ever since Aragorn had made his way to her side, he’d kept track of their few words and then their facial expressions. He watched the smiles and grimaces and body language. If they were Elven, it would indicate a silent talk between the two. But they weren’t, and the only other thing Legolas could think of was that they needed no words to communicate with one another. Small flashes of memory gave credence to this belief. Her easy nature around the Man. Her unspoken invite to walk with her, even though Legolas had been the one to invite her. Holding Aragorn’s hand as they ran into the cave earlier. Now sitting with him, sharing things she had not shared with the Elven Prince.

‘Jealous?’ she cast the questioning thought to the Ranger before her. ‘Ah, well, um, he doesn’t have any reason to be. I mean, um, I thought we were just friends.’ Aragorn caught himself before he laughed aloud. Poor Bel spoke as if she were trying to gently dash any hopes he might have.

‘I understand little one,’ he smiled gently at her as he thought. ‘My heart already belongs to another.’

‘Arwen.’ He could hear the relief in her thought and nodded a small confirmation.

‘Perhaps when this journey is done,’ Aragorn tried to make her understand his position without threatening or hurting her, ‘you and Legolas will be able to explore what is between you.’ He was not prepared for the absolute terror on her face, nor the pain he saw in her eyes.

‘We can’t,’ she cast to him as a tear slipped down her cheek. Feeling his chest tighten, Aragorn reached out and rubbed her cheek gently, wiping the tear away. He noticed Legolas bristle, from the corner of his eye, but didn’t care at the moment.

‘Why not, little one?’

‘Because, when this is done, I will leave. I will return to my home, or my Master’s side. I was not meant for this world.’

Aragorn took in a sharp breath. He’d never considered that possibility. Even in the short time he’d known the little redhead, she’d seemed to fit into this world so naturally. Never questioning customs or ideals. She seemed born to it. It was easy to forget that she was more than stranger to the world. She was an alien to them. And now he knew why her eyes held sadness when she beheld the Elf. What would she have to give up were she to forsake her former life? Her family, her duty, her whole sense of being. All on the chance that she and Legolas might love. And then there was another matter, close to his own heart. Legolas was immortal Elven. Beldaran was not. Suddenly, his heart ached, not only for his friends, but also for Arwen and himself.

‘You should tell him,’ he finally instructed her. ‘It will only hurt more if you put it off.’ She nodded.

‘I will.’

Before Aragorn could reply, a small cry went up. "Ah! It’s that way," Gandalf cried. They saw that Gandalf and Frodo had been talking together.

"He’s remembered," Merry rejoiced after he’d yanked his pipe out of his mouth. He scrambled to get his pack on and hurried to the wizard’s side. Gandalf shrugged as he patted the Hobbit’s shoulder.

"No," he disagreed. "But the air does not smell so foul down here." He glanced down with a grin. "If in doubt Meriadoc, always follow your nose. The Hobbits grinned and the company began to follow the wizard’s lighted staff once more.

But Bel hung back a little, watching the Elf. He turned swiftly, realizing that she had not moved. Tempering his expression, he gestured for her to come along. She bowed her head and moved forward cautiously. Legolas averted his eyes from her, absentmindedly rubbing the spot where the flower she’d given him resided. He wondered now if she had only made it for him because he’d admired Frodo’s. That was probably it, he decided. She was beside him now, but had stopped again.

"My lady," he reverted back to stiff formality, "we must go."

"Not until I know that you will be okay," Beldaran sighed softly, hurt because he was hurting.

"I am fine," he lied, still unable to meet her eyes.

"No, you are not," her tone was low, but he could hear the urgency in her tone. He forced himself to believe that it was the same care she held for the others, nothing more. But he knew also that he could not tell her the truth. Not if she cared for another.

"It is just being in the mines," he offered carefully. It was partially true. "Elves should not be separated from the sky and the trees." He was relieved as she sighed.

"I’m sorry Legolas," she whispered. "I never considered that." They were quiet for a moment and Legolas turned to help her down the next set of steps, but her hand forestalled him. "Is there anything…can you do something about it?" He frowned, then realized she was talking about the bleak darkness surrounding them.

"Just remember that it is not forever that I will be here, I guess," he admitted. "Just cling to my memories of the wind on my face and the smell of the trees after a gentle spring rain."

"Oh, like this?" she asked with a smile. She reached up and placed one small hand over his heart. Legolas would have rejoiced at the much longed for, but denied contact, but his mind’s eye was filled by something that caught his full attention.

It was a place he’d never seen before, but as he glanced around, he knew it could only be the place that she had described. Her home, the Vale. The grass, soft under his feet was a purer shade than any he’d seen in so long. Small animals scampered about; oblivious to any threat he might pose. The sky was cloudless and went on forever it seemed. He could even feel the warmth of sunlight pouring over him. Without conscious thought, it seemed that he moved closer, eagerly to a thicket of trees. But the closer he got, the more stunned he was to realize that it was simply one tree. One tree that far outstripped those of Caras Galadhon, the most beloved trees of Middle Earth. Soon, in his mind, he’d reached the tree, absently noting the hundreds of birds seeming to perch and wheel around the welcoming piece of nature.

Legolas reached out in the vision and hesitantly, reverently placed his hands on the trunk of the humungous tree. He gasped softly as the tree immediately connected with him, offering peace beyond any he’d known. It calmed the fear, torment, and pain in him. Whispered to him of secrets unknown to mortal beings. Spoke to him of a time unknown that the tree endured. He understood now, why this tree, this Vale was Beldaran’s sanctuary.

Softly, the vision began to fade, but Legolas made no outcry against that. For the feelings stayed with him. The love and understanding that came from the tree raced through his mind. His yearning for clear air was not denied as he simply thought of the memory and it eased over him. He looked down in awe at the woman who’d gifted him with so precious a treasure, his love for her magnified by the emotion that he knew the tree bore for her. It was a force that would not be denied, no matter the odds against it.

Legolas leaned down and touched a kiss to her forehead. It was a gesture of love, gratitude and understanding. "Thank you," was all he could say.

Chapter Eleven