Starless Night and Weary Morning:

      Night had fallen, a dark tenebrous blanket on the world, but the clouds had not yet passed on to other lands. Legolas wondered if they would indeed journey under a brighter sun as he had reassured her. From the look of the sky it was not to be so for he could smell the rain that approached, sensing it upon the slender wisps of cool air that passed outside. He sat at a window, looking out into the dark world and wondering if there was light of any kind in his future. His days were laced with that blackness, even in the most stunning days. The elves were leaving, slowly but surely. With Galadriel and Elrond, sailing across the perfect Sea. He wanted the sea, wanted to fly across it and see where it would lead him, for whatever lay across the water had to be more than what he had on this side of it.
      Mordor.
      He bowed his head, long blond hair falling down either side of his face. The word itself still made him go cold inside, bringing visions of fire and doom. He had never ventured there himself really, not to Mount Doom where Frodo had lost his finger, and the One Ring, to the accursed fire. It would have been a grand adventure, for someone else. The place on the battlefields beside Aragorn and Gimli had been his destiny, not the campaign with Frodo to Mount Doom. It had not been meant to be and so it had not come to pass. And yet was this then Fate returning to claim him still? Was it necessary for him to go to Mordor? Had he somehow avoided the pitfall before only to fall headfirst into another?
      He did not wish to go.
      He lifted his head once more and looked across the alleyway toward the other wing of the inn where he could see Pippin and Merry happily dozing away in comfort and ignorance through their window. Gimli also slept but he shifted much, rolling upon the mattress as if it were made of stones and sharp angles. Legolas pondered the possibility of telling Gimli what Jei had said to him, of where their path was to lead. After she had told him he had fallen silent in thought and had not spoken much after. The night had wound to an end and Pippin’s eyes had fallen heavy. Legolas would spend the night in the same room as Jei, and the suggestion had made her blush scarlet and instantly throw out excuses, but he had calmly reassured her that he would be there only to watch over her. She had flushed even more at that, explaining that she had not meant any offense by it and he said easily that he had taken none.
      So now she slept, albeit uncomfortably, in the small bed several feet to his left and he stood awake at the window. He did not need to rest yet. The waking world of dreams could wait for a little while so long as she rested and healed. And in the morning they would set out.
      “Legolas?”
      He turned his head in surprise to see her facing him in the bed, gazing at him sleepily. Pulling away from the window he came over to her and slowly sat on a chair close to her bed, leaning toward her. “I am here,” he replied.
      She blinked dreamily, lying on her side, merely gazing at him. He returned the stare, a tender expression upon his face, wanting then to reach out and smooth away a lock of her soft black hair. But as she recognized him a moment later she fell limply in dismay. “I hoped it was a dream…” she whispered in a voice full of raw tears, closing her eyes tightly and grimacing. “I hoped that you had been a dream, a beautiful angel come to bring me peace. And with you, the death. But it is not a dream, is it?”
      Legolas tilted his head sadly, looking down at the floor. “No, it was not a dream. But I am here and it is still night. Sleep more. I will wake you in the morning.”
      He moved to rise, a hand supporting him on the bed, and she reached out blindly, clasping it. He came to a sudden stop, looking down at her questioningly, and also at her hand cupped around his. She had small hands but long, slender fingers.
      “Will you not rest?” she asked him, eyes coming open, and a single tear slipped down the side of her face and vanished into the pillow.
      He smiled faintly at her. “Perhaps later. At the moment I have…other things on my mind,” he answered.
      But she stared at his hand, fingertips running across the smooth skin. “You do not have the skin of an archer…” she murmured and he wondered if she was even awake anymore as she spoke incoherently. He slowly sat once more, allowing her to brush her fingers over his hand again and again, and he observed her.
      “Don’t I?” he asked.
      She shook her head a bit, finally pausing in the caress and merely cupping his hand. “You do not have the rough skin. The calluses…” she explained dimly, voice airy and he knew she was slowly being trapped between the dream world and the waking world.
      “No, I suppose I do not,” he replied quietly.
      She agreed with his agreement, a small nod that made his smile wider. And then, very gently, in a lost voice, she said,  “Elen síla lúmenn omentilmo...”
      Legolas stared at her, the smile fading a bit but not because of displeasure. As he stared at her he realized he was in awe of her. And so very confused by her at the same time. “A star shines on the hour of our meeting…” he whispered thoughtfully but she did not hear him as she slept again soundlessly, lips parted slightly. He gazed at her freely, now that she slumbered peacefully, and he was content. Reaching out slowly, reluctantly for fear that she would suddenly spring awake once more, his fingers hesitated just beside her lips. The small marks surrounding her mouth seemed to glow in the faint moonlight she was draped in and he brushed several, lips parted thoughtfully. His sensitive fingertips detected the raised skin of the scars and he traced them for a long while, realizing she had the smooth skin of elves even if she lacked the rest. And gazing upon her now he felt her innocent, burdened with a task that she should not have been thought to carry alone. Perhaps it had been Fate then, as he had earlier wondered, that had thrown them together. Perhaps between the two of them they would carry the burden and complete the task. But upon recalling her words before he looked out the window once more.
      “A star shines on the hour of our meeting…” he said again, mournfully gazing at the cloudy sky, “but it does not, does it?”
      She spoke no more and he watched her sleep for a long while, his hand clutched in hers in her sleep. He did not move away from it, comforted by her presence though she would only bring nothing more than tragedy. She seemed at ease with the way she slept and he felt somehow that if he moved at the moment she would squirm. He did not wish for her to anger her gash and bleed, not now that he had finally managed to bandage the wound with bits of wet athelas leaves. In the morning, before they set off, he would remove the dressing and clean the wound, prepare her for her journey. Their journey, now.
      Something small knocked against the glass panes of the window and he whirled instantly, hand clasping hers tightly. Nothing stood there and he supposed there wouldn’t be anyone there for they were on the second story of the inn but then the sound came again and he realized it was the result of a small pebble hitting the glass. And from the curve of the pebble it came from across the alleyway.
      Gently, he removed himself from Jei’s grip and walked silently over toward the window. Across the alleyway Gimli was at his window and the dwarf motioned that he wanted to speak with the elf in an irritated manner. Legolas nodded hesitantly, gesturing for the dwarf to come around to see him. Gimli left the window and a moment later light spilled into the room as he opened the door and slipped out. Pippin and Merry remained sleeping as if nothing had occurred.
      Winding about the bed Legolas cast a quick glance toward Jei to make sure she did not wake and he slipped out his own door as well, waiting in the hallway for Gimli to arrive. Flickering candles lit the cool corridor but there were very few of them and though his vision was excellent he did not enjoy the lack of illumination.
      Heavy footsteps trudged up a pair of steps announcing Gimli’s arrival and Legolas glanced at him curiously, leaning backward against the wall as he appeared at the end of the corridor. “What is it?” he asked quietly, keeping his voice low, for even if Jei was not a problem there were still others who were sleeping in the remainder of the rooms.
      The dwarf sauntered down the hallway, eyeing him quizzically. “Don’t mean to be disturbing your beauty sleep…” he said sardonically, and the tone did not receive any expression from the elf, “but I have been meaning to talk to you.”
      Legolas nodded, bowing his head at the dwarf’s words. “I know you have. I have been meaning to have words with you as well…” he said truthfully. And he motioned, “But please, after you.”
      Gimli straightened, patting his belly and seeming to get ready for a long speech, usually one meant for a disobeying child. “Well, just remember you had me go first.”
      Legolas wondered if it would be impolite to take back the offer.
      “Now, look, I know you feel guilty and all about what happened to the girl,” Gimli began. “T’is a very sad thing, it is, but it was not your fault in any way. We all reacted and they were after the boy to begin with. They went straight for him as soon as they came in, not us. So enough of this natter about you going with the girl because it’s her life journey now, not yours. Yours is over and done with and now you deserve your rest.” The dwarf nodded upon finishing, seemingly content with what he had said.
      Legolas was nodding as he spoke and as he finished he lifted his head to the dwarf in understanding. “Elen síla lúmenn omentilmo...” he said quietly and he smiled at the confusion that spread across the dwarf’s face. “You know what it means, I trust?”
      Gimli nodded after a moment. “Sure I do,” he replied. “But it didn’t, really. We didn’t much like each other from the start-“
      “And yet look at us now, my friend,” Legolas said quickly. “The star shines still.”
      “So?”
      Legolas leaned away from the wall, rising to his full height. “She said those words to me, not too long ago. And while I see not the star I see the beginning of our friendship and I see it now as it has come through the years. Gimli,” he said quietly, “I need to go with her. I need to understand why her and why this place and time.”
      “You don’t even know where she’s going-“ Gimli said quickly.
      “But I do,” the elf replied, bringing the dwarf to a complete stop. “I know where she goes and though I wish beyond all I hold dear I did not have to go…I must.” He nodded to himself, hands clasped behind his slender back. “I must.”
      Gimli merely stared at him with his beady, nearly hidden eyes, before growling in impatience. “Where are you going then that is so important? And if you mention the sea t'all I very well will tie you up to a tree till she has gone far away.”
      Legolas smiled faintly. “Perhaps afterwards, but at the moment, she goes to Mordor.”
      For a moment there was nothing but complete and wonderful silence. Legolas would have been foolish to think Gimli would accept it and a moment later he was rewarded for his brilliant planning. A bellow cut the air and everyone who woke knew it could only be the shout of a highly angered dwarf.
      “Mordor!?”


      "Mordor. Can you believe it? Mordor!" Gimli threw open his door, without a care that it slammed against the wall with a resounding bang. He had left the elf as soon as the word had come from his mouth and now he stomped into his room, muttering under his breath.
      Merry blinked with eyes full of sleep, rising up in bed a bit. "Gimli, what is it?" he asked hoarsely. "And was it you just screaming from all the way thither?" He pointed out the window toward Legolas' wing.
      "Yes, it was me!" Gimli shouted, effectively forcing Pippin suddenly from sleep. The other hobbit immediately rose on the bed, eyes wide.
      "Where is it? Where is it? Where's my blade?" he asked, breathing in gasps. And he paused, looking about. "Wait. I say, where are we and where did that Ringwraith go..?"
      "Straight back to Mordor if I have anything to say about it!" Gimli replied furiously and he waddled over to his bed and threw himself down upon it. "Mordor! Ha!"
      "Mordor?" Merry asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "What are you going on about? And what time is it? It's still dark!" He said as close to anger as possible for it was indeed dark and everyone knew that to wake any hobbit before at least dawn was just unacceptable.
      But Gimli was not to be swayed from his point of argument. "Mordor!" he said again. "He wants to go to Mordor!"
      Pippin was frowning at him, finally roused enough from sleep to make sense of some things. "Mordor? Well who in their right mind would want to go-" and he broke off, mouth forming an o as he understood. "Oh...no! Are you certain? Mordor?"
      "Who?" Merry asked, frowning. "Who?"
      "Legolas," Pippin answered him patiently.
      Merry looked at Gimli. "No," he said slowly in disbelief.
      "Yes!" Gimli shouted angrily. "The girl is off to Mordor and he is adamant about following behind her like a love-struck...elf!" He rolled over on his side, facing away from them both but they were not about to leave it at that.
      "Love-struck? Legolas? I would think not..." Pippin disagreed slowly.
      "Well, what else could it be?" Merry asked him in a hushed whisper. "The girl is going off to Mordor and he follows? Why would he want to go to Mordor? Like you just said, who would want to go to Mordor?"
      "He says it is because he feels guilty..." Pippin said uncertainly.
      "When have we ever known Legolas to be guilty about anything? He is an elf, as if you need any reminding," Merry nodded wisely.
      Pippin didn't look so sure.
      Gimli squirmed a bit, almost rolling back to face them. "Damn that girl!" he cursed. And then he finally just settled, facing the wall several feet away. The door had closed by itself after he had slammed it open and now the room was dark again save for the stormy light that trailed in. The clouds had not yet gone and he wondered if it would rain in the morning. He hoped it would. One more reason, on top of the many others, for Legolas not to follow the girl.


      Jei opened her eyes, vision swimming. A bright light was in her eyes, dizzying her, and she grimaced, turning her face away from it. It felt like morning and the light that fell on her was wonderfully warm. Blinking wearily, she managed to focus and she noticed that the light was the sun shining in greeting.
      And directly in front of the window sat Legolas still, looking as if he hadn't moved an inch.
      She slowly settled again, gazing at him. The sun shown lovingly on his blond hair, like silk spun gold, and she smiled to herself. The elves, the first race. The most beautiful. Nimble, slender, tall and poetic. His cheekbones stood high upon his face, indenting hollows underneath, and a straight line to his jaw. His color was green, a silver green, and brown, and his bow and quiver of arrows rested next to him on the floor. He held himself straight and yet at the same time seeming completely at ease. She wondered if all elves had the ability to seem so laconic.
      With an inward sigh she finally rolled over onto her back, stretching carefully. Her wound pulled a bit and she frowned, reaching down gingerly. Her shirt had been folded up about her ribs and fastened there, and she came in contact with the bandage Legolas had wound around her waist. The bandage was dry, however, and inspecting it closer she felt the clump of athelas leaves surrounding her gash.
      "Legolas?" she asked and she winced as she slowly sat up. The wound did not allow her to move freely but it did not hurt and for that she was relieved. She heard him rise from his chair and when she opened her eyes again he stood beside her, one hand gently taking hers. He helped her sit up all the way and she flashed him a grateful smile, settling once she was upright. "Am I late?" she asked.
      "Early, actually," he replied, studying her. She was still a bit pale but as she spoke small dots of color appeared in her cheeks. He motioned toward the window. "The sun has risen just now and the rain is well on its way toward Hobbiton."
      She nodded, her free hand supporting her on the bed. "I had a dream that the rain poured and the wind howled. And someone bellowed, 'Mordor!' It sounded strangely like your friend Gimli..." she said now that she remembered it and she frowned faintly, staring off thoughtfully.
      Legolas' expression didn't waver in the least although she thought a corner of his lips twitched almost into a smile. But he quickly stepped back a bit, pulling her gently. "Yes, well, I've always said that Gimli's voice is the very voice of dread..." he said in an offhand tone and he helped her slowly rise to her feet. She hesitated, dropping her legs over the side of the bed and pausing to take a breath. Then with a firm expression she rose to her feet confidently.
      Legolas nodded in satisfaction. "It will be a horror for you on your horse but I think you will rise to the occasion," he said, his hand still clasping hers. "I need to have a few parting words with my friends and then we will be off."
      He went to let go of her but she quickly took his hand tightly, bringing him to a stop and making him look at her questioningly. She stared at him, eyes leveled with his. "You still wish to go, then?" she asked him quietly.
      His blue eyes gazed calmly into hers as he spoke. "I have not changed my mind, no," he replied in a soft tone. His stare floated down to her lips, and he was thoughtful as he gazed at her.
      She knew what he saw. Her marks. The strange little dotty scars she had surrounding both her upper and lower lip. And, rather shamefully, she tightened her lips into a thin line, wanting him to stop looking at them and seeing a disfigurement, small as it was. She wanted him to stop staring at them altogether even though a part of her knew he was not actually aware of them, merely gazing at her as he mused over his decision.
      "I will not stop you, then," she said finally and he lifted his gaze once more to hers, eyes narrowing as he smiled. "But I feel your reluctance to go, Legolas, and do not feel that I am forcing you. On the contrary, I would have you far from where I need to go if it were up to me."
      His smile turned impish once more and it struck her that the smallest quirk of his lips would give him an altogether different look. "Are you merely trying to tell me you do not wish for my company on your quest?" he asked her, "because simply saying that you will not have me come with you would not deter me from your path."
      She grinned at him, enjoying the gesture for it made her feel wonderfully new. "Which is why I did not say it," she replied. "But just so you know-"
      "I go because it is my wish," he nodded in agreement.
      She gazed at him, grin softening to a smile. "Very well," she said at last. "Then perhaps a bite to eat and..?"
      "Onward to Mordor."


      Gimli did not look the slightest bit happy to see her when the group of them sat together for breakfast. Nor did Barliman Butterbur for that matter but Jei knew better than to apologize to any of them for being such a burden. She merely sat herself down with her back to the stained floor at the back door of the inn and had a bit of tea.
      The two hobbits stared at her, one of them in wide-eyed wonder and the other seeming to size her up suspiciously. She looked down at her tea and then raised her eyes once more, feeling very awkward. The younger looking hobbit’s gaze didn't stray at all, seemingly content to study her. And Gimli directly across from her stared at her in just about the same way but with a deeper suspicion than the other hobbit.
      Finally she straightened, hands winding about her cup of tea. "Pippin, is it?" she asked the younger hobbit curiously. "Peregrin Took."
      He nodded, looking even more surprised that she would know. "Yes, yes it is, my Lady. How did you know?" he asked eagerly.
      She gestured awkwardly. "Oh, well, he told me much about the Fellowship and the...um, Campaign to...Mordor..." she said slowly and unevenly.
      "Yes, speaking of Mordor-" Gimli cut in.
      "He?" Merry asked in interest.
      Jei's eye flew to Gimli as she answered Merry's question. "He. My...friend, yesterday..." she explained faintly and at her answer the table fell quiet once more, even Gimli who had not gotten his chance to speak.
      Legolas hardly seemed a part of the conversation, leaning back in his chair, eyes averted as he thought. Beside him Jei was the very picture of awkwardness and he knew it had to do with himself and his decision to go with her. But at the same time it made him feel good that the others worried about his safety and well-being. The Fellowship had been more than a Campaign, he realized yet again and he lifted his eyes to look from one member to the next. Yes, much more than a Campaign.
      "I've had just about enough!" Gimli said suddenly, bringing his hand down on the table and nearly upsetting all the drinks and food they had ordered. His beady eyes glared at Jei and she straightened stiffly once more under his scrutiny, eyes widening. "I wish to hear everything, at this very moment! Everything!"
      "Everything?" she asked in a tremulous voice.
      "Everything!" he repeated loudly. "All this foolish talk of Mordor and your journey! I wish to know exactly why you go and why Legolas goes with you!"
      Legolas shook his head wearily, remaining quiet.
      Jei looked from the elf beside her to the dwarf breathing fire in her direction. "Well, Mordor...yes, I'm going to Mordor. I was accompanied by...my friend yesterday. But with his death it is up to me now, to go to Mordor," she explained.
      "A child?" Gimli asked her gruffly. "What kind of companion is a child? Where are his parents now? Have they even been informed of his death? Or did you just steal him away in the night to have a companion to go with to Mordor?"
      "Gimli!" Pippin turned to the dwarf, Legolas' face shadowing a bit tiredly.
      "No," Jei said, now becoming angry herself. "He chose to go. He was better suited for the journey than I was. And I will forever mourn his passing but with his death the burden falls on me to go."
      Gimli looked a bit pleased with himself. "The burden?" he asked slowly.
      Jei clenched her jaw. "The burden. Yes. My burden. Not yours." She leaned forward in her chair, staring him dead in his eyes and she saw him rearing to fight, ready to defend his group if he so saw fit. "If you want to know about me, Gimli, just ask the question," she said in a hiss.
      The dwarf stared back and all around it seemed as if the inn dropped away, Pippin, Merry and Legolas far away.
      "Who are you?" he asked coldly, in a voice far too faint to be his own.
      Jei didn't reply for a moment, content with the fact that the more silent she stood the angrier he became. "My name is Jei," she answered firmly. "I do not know how old I am, I do not know who my parents are and I do not know where I come from."
      Legolas looked at her with a small frown, arms folded across his chest. "You do not know..?" he asked quizzically.
      "I've no memory of my life," she said, still focused on Gimli. "You can ask me whatever you wish, Master Dwarf, but I assure you that you will be angered more so by my lack of record."
      Legolas turned his face away, eyes staring blankly as he mulled over the new piece of information.
      "But you know your name is Jei?" Pippin asked.
      Jei glanced at him as if suddenly remembering he was present. "No," she answered and she sat back, finally breaking from Gimli who still sat burning. "The name was given to me. By Palin..." and she motioned behind her toward the back door.
      "The boy gave you your name?" Merry asked with arched eyebrows. He glanced at Pippin, throwing him a look.
      Jei averted her gaze, frowning. "He took me in. Palin. It feels like so long ago but it really isn't, not really. He found me, gave me my name. Educated me on everything around me. Even told me the Tale of the Fellowship and the War of the Ring. I don't remember anything before our first meeting but he seemed to know me for he took me in as if I were a long lost friend and he cared for me."
      Legolas leaned forward against the table, staring at her. "How long ago?" he asked curiously.
      She looked at him. "Two decades ago," she said quietly, reluctantly.
      "Twenty years ago?" Pippin asked in outright disbelief. “Why, isn’t that about the same time-“ and he glanced at Merry who nodded solemnly. Beside Jei Legolas seemed satisfied with her answer, turning his face away once more.
      "That child was not twenty years old," Gimli said, not in anger anymore but no less gruff.
      Jei nodded. "You're right," she agreed. And she shrugged. "He was much older."
      Gimli sent her a withering look, which she calmly ignored. Instead she continued on. "We decided to set out together after we spoke one day. It seems I had something that...preoccupied him. Our destination would be Mordor." She frowned as she spoke, shaking her head. "I do not know why but whenever he mentioned the name to me I became afraid. I knew it for what it was, Mordor, and there should have been no reason why it would have scared me so, but it did. It does. And a part of me is anxious as well. A part of me..." she hesitated, "wishes to know what will be there when I arrive and if a piece of my life will...return to me. Give me some semblance of a true existence."
      Pippin and Merry seemed taken by her, staring at her in silent wonder. Gimli promptly snorted, leaning away from the table in exasperation.
      "So yer off to Mordor to find out about yourself. That's just wonderful, although I can surely tell you about many other places, which are brighter to visit. Rivendell, perhaps? Even the Golden Wood..?" he said slowly, seeing how it would affect her.
      "The Golden Wood?" she asked with a frown, looking at him. "I had heard that you all were there, Enchanted Lothlorien. I wondered if it was just something you had all dreamed up in the middle of a hunger-driven hallucination..."
      "Oh, no. We were there," Merry said, Pippin nodding beside him excitedly.
      She nodded. "And is it as beautiful as they say?" she asked.
      "Even more so," Legolas murmured absentmindedly and he reached for his cup, taking a bit of his drink.
      She nodded. "How wonderful, then."
      Legolas agreed silently before finally rising. "I think we should be off," he said to Jei and he glanced at the rest of the group.
      She slowly rose as well, setting her cup aside. "I would like to stop by the stables, if I may. I can not leave without Stormrider," she said and she paused, glancing behind herself to the back door and the small blanket that had been laid over the stain of blood. "And a blacksmith, perhaps..."
      Gimli rose then as well, hand straying to his axe and Legolas frowned at him, straightening warily. "My friend..."
      "I am going with you," he said in a final tone.
All images and works done/altered by ShiNoFuriko and TasogareBan. Please do not steal and always give credit to where it is due.
The Pendulum