Niphredil Elentary (Legolas love story) / first book

Chapter 22: The voice of the Dark Lord

five days later, they reached Brown lands and as they went on, borne steadily southwards, the feeling of insecurity grew on all the Company. For a whole day, they took to their paddles and hastened forward. Legolas and Niphredil were almost sure that they were being watched by the unseen unfriendly eyes.

Legolas was looking at the mournful banks. His keen eyes were scanning for any sign of the enemy. He curled his arm around Niphredil's waist unconsciously and pulled her closer and the movement caused the boat to sway swiftly.

"Hey, you two pointy ears!" Said Gimli. "Don't you think I can't see you. I have eyes on my back as well. I know something is going on between you two. Behave, both of you."

Niphredil and Legolas laughed a bit and Legolas kissed Niphredil's temple soundlessly. Their boat was the last one in the row, so no one else could see them. Niphredil felt weak. Her power was draining as they traveling more to the south. She felt nauseous. It was the power of the ring.

No matter how much she tried, Sauron was a Maia and he was one of the most strong ones just like Lady Melian. Her power was not enough to fight with him all the time. She knew this power was affecting Boromir as well. She could see his eyes focused on Frodo. He had sat, muttering to himself, sometimes biting his nails, as if some restlessness or doubt consumed him, sometimes seizing a paddle and driving the boat close behind Aragorn's, but Niphredil couldn't do anything from there but only wait and pray for the best.

That was not the only thing that made her worried. Legolas had shown her something else on the first night of their journey. Gollum. Somehow he had managed to follow them. Aragorn and Legolas had tried to catch him but they had failed, for he was slier than a fox, and as slippery as a fish. They were afraid he inform the enemy of their location.

The next two days passed almost uneventful. The banks on both sides of the river changed rapidly to the high cliffs. They were drawing near to the gray hill-country of the Emyn Muil, the southern march of Wilderland. After they saw an eagle flying high in the sky, Aragorn decided to travel only in the cover of the night.

The eighth night of their journey came. It was silent and windless; the gray east wind had passed away. The thin crescent of the Moon had fallen early into the pale sunset, but the sky was clear above, and though far away in the South there were great ranges of cloud that still shone faintly, in the West stars glinted bright.

"Come!" said Aragorn. "We will venture one more journey by night. We are coming to reaches of the River that I do not know well, for I have never journeyed by water in these parts before, not between here and the rapids of Sarn Gebir. But if I am right in my reckoning, those are still many miles ahead. Still, there are dangerous places even before we come there: rocks and stony eyots in the stream. We must keep a sharp watch and not try to paddle swiftly."

To Sam in the leading boat was given the task of the watchman. It was close on midnight, and they had been drifting for some while, hardly using the paddles, when suddenly Sam cried out.

Only a few yards ahead, dark shapes loomed up in the stream and he heard the swirl of racing water. There was a swift current which swung left, towards the eastern shore where the channel was clear.

As they were swept aside, the travelers could see, now very close, the pale foam of the River lashing against sharp rocks that were thrust out far into the stream like a ridge of teeth. The boats were all huddled together.

"Hoy there, Aragorn!" shouted Boromir, as his boat bumped into the leader. "This is madness! We cannot dare the Rapids by night! But no boat can live in Sarn Gebir, be it night or day."

"Back, back!' cried Aragorn. "Turn! Turn if you can!" He drove his paddle into the water, trying to hold the boat and bring it round. Niphredil took her paddle and helped Legolas to guide the boat. They did it easier than the others for they were familiar with the roaring rivers.