LOTR || ⤜𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙩 → [Legolas x OC]

⤜ 21 → battle scars

[Rosa]

I slipped through the waterfall with Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and Haldir in tow. We re-emerged dry and completely untouched by the water, the magic still managing to leave me astounded and slightly impressed.

Now, I finally understood what I had to do.

Currently, the enemy's motives were to find the Bloodstone. If it was powerful enough to summon the Ancient Passageways, it was also powerful enough to cause great destruction. So we simply had to find it first. And once we did, I could open the Passageways and return home, and Aragorn would then return it to the skies to reunite the two halves of the Fallen Star.

When I asked how he was planning to do just that, the corner of Legolas's mouth had tugged into a smile and he pulled from his quiver a sleek black arrow, carved from volcanic ash, armed with a head of silver. A thin, lightweight rope was strung across a hook attached to the shaft.

They were going to shoot it back into the sky. Quite literally.

And at my look of utter bewilderment, I was told the Fallen Star (the other half which was still in the sky) had created some form of gravitational force, which was strong enough to draw the missing piece towards itself and seal the break between them, making the star whole again. The missing piece was the Bloodstone presently on earth, which we had to find.

The plan was straightforward and thoroughly devised – which I'd have hoped so, considering the many years spent studying the Curse, trying to understand the enemy's motives, and planning the Search. Therefore, all we had to do now was learn how to summon and control the Passageways.

Rivendell was our next destination – a place hidden within the valleys of great mountains and forests, the home of lord Elrond, and the location of many old archives secured and shielded in the library – one of which held details on the Ancient Passageways. We would retrieve the book, and from there our journey would continue north to find the Bloodstone.

"The road is long and dangerous," Haldir cautioned, walking by my side. "You will meet many perils long the way."

"Aye, but nothing we can't handle, laddie," Gimli waved his hand in the air, brushing away the concern. The dwarf's earlier words resonated in my mind. We take the risk, or we lose the chance.

"I have no doubt in your strength nor your courage." Haldir's voice pulled me from my thoughts. "But I will still caution you to be careful."

I mumbled under my breath. "That's funny coming from you."

Haldir's ears perked upon hearing that. "Oh?" he raised a brow. "How so?"

I gave him a look, quickly concealing the smirk that threatened to appear on my face. "Bellethiel told me that you are rather reckless and careless yourself."

Now both of Haldir's eyebrows were raised. "Did she now?" The corners of his lips twitched upwards. "Careless? No. Reckless? Oh most definitely," he grinned.

I huffed a laugh. "What did you even do to earn those flattering titles?"

The Marchwarden seemed to ignore the comment entirely, walking quietly beside me under the trees. I stole a quick glance at him, catching a flicker of emotion behind his eyes and a slight tightening of his jaw. But his features had quickly returned to one of casual ease. What happened? I wanted to ask again, yet I refrained myself before I could pry into a sensitive topic he clearly did not wish to indulge in.

The growing silence soon became bothersome, and so Haldir eventually sighed.

He stopped walking, pulling me to one side and allowing Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn to walk past us. My eyes narrowed slightly at the consoling look Aragorn had subtly offered Haldir before walking past. Moments later, they disappeared through the trees. The Marchwarden and I remained where we stood.