Hello there everyone out in reader land. Just wanted to put in the normal disclaimer crap: I do not own any of this except the dragon. So there that is out of the way. Please review for him and I will just love all of you to all measure beyond everything…Did that make sense? Well, anyway, please review for me and I will keep writing.
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The fire crackled merrily and cast a warm glow around the camp of the two travelers. One lazily puffed on a pipe and created figures with the exhaled smoke. The other lay on his back, looking up at the sparkling stars with quiet contemplation.
The gazer's golden hair fanned out around his head to give the illusion of a gold halo. In the dark of night nothing could hide from his azure eyes that would occasionally scan the surrounding area. His delicate ears listened for any sound that would arouse wariness. Despite his attentiveness to his surroundings his long body was relaxed and almost looking bored. His dark green clothes molded comfortably to his lithe form to allow the most movement without hindrance. One of his arms was behind his head and the other was draped across his stomach, gently caressing his bow. His feet were crossed at his ankles and his entire body listened to the song of the earth coming through his body.
His companion leaned against the pack behind him as he smoked the pipe weed. He was comfortable with his grungy appearance and attire that he was known best for. A dark, dirty overcoat had been cast aside next to him for the warm night. Compared to the elf's attire, the man's clothing was stained and raggy. The tunic was obviously old and well used, several places were stitched and some stains were old and permanent. His loose black leggings covered powerful muscles that were built for long hours of battles and constant motion. He was an athlete and a warrior, one whose skills surpassed most men. His heart held compassion and pity for people that did or did not deserve his compassion or pity. His loyalty extended beyond death and his word meant his life. His ankles were also crossed as he leaned forward and tossed another piece of wood on the fire.
"What are you thinking of elf?" he asked as he watched the burning wood.
"I am thinking of questions that can not be answered."
"Such as?"
"What has the sky seen that we have not? What lays at the edge of Middle-Earth? And the most important of the questions: Is it possible for you to remain clean for one entire day?" the elf smiled before tipping his head back to look at his friend.
"I do not believe that this topic is one you wish to venture into elf," the human replied with a sparkle of mirth in his eyes.
"It is a very valid topic, my friend. Not once, in the time that I have known you, have you been able to remain clean. I believe your record is five hours and twenty-seven minutes, if your brothers are correct."
"You would take my brothers' word on this? Half of the time, it is them and their actions that force me into this position. My philosophy and answer are very simple. If I am unable to remain clean and continually become soiled, then I will not become clean. I remain dirty and when I become dirtier, it is of no matter because I was not clean to begin with."
The elf almost looked horrified at the human's concept. All elves were clean and almost immaculate by nature. It was foolish to believe that they were always clean; battles occurred, blood was spilt, mud did splatter but the majority of time the elves remained clean. The concept that the human proposed was unthinkable to the elf.
"You must be joking Aragorn," Legolas said, his eyes wide.
"Does it look like I jest?" he replied with his pipe clenched between his teeth as he opened his arms wide.
Legolas sighed and turned his gaze back to the sky to think more. Aragorn smiled, knowing how much his statement bothered the pristine elf. The human knew well what he presented to other people when he introduced himself. He knew he was grungy but that is what happens when he spends so much time in the wilderness.
"We should reach Mirkwood day after tomorrow," Legolas said and uncrossed his legs to stretch.
"I know."
"My father will be surprised. We shall be walking in uninjured."
"We still have a full day ahead of us. I would not out rule the possibility of anything occurring."
"Aye, traveling with you has taught me to expect the unexpected; no matter how ludicrous it may seem," Legolas said and heard Aragorn snort.
"The same goes for you my friend. I have concluded that you and I attract trouble where ever we go," Aragorn said as he emptied out the remains in his pipe.
"It is the result of our ongoing friendship."
"Aye, that it is," he murmured and slipped his pipe into a pocket of his long coat. "Go to sleep Legolas. I shall take the first watch and wake at."
"If you so insist."
Aragorn glanced to his side and moved his scabbard holding his sword closer to his thigh. His hand rested on the grip, ready for anything that might be revealed. A part of his mind drifted towards a familiar topic, one which he welcomed at any time.
A beautiful, pale face dominated his vision and he felt himself relax. He could feel her silky hair drifting through his fingers as he gently felt the long strands. She whispered soft elvish words to him and soothed his heart. He silently mouthed her name and sighed in remorse.
"Arwen," he breathed into the dark night.
He remained silent for the remainder of the night till he gently woke Legolas. Stretching out on his bed role, he sighed and let his eyes drift shut. His dreams were filled with memories of his love. His love that he could not have.
"Strider! Awaken!"
Aragorn jerked awake in shock and his hand immediately went to his sword by his side. Once grabbing the scabbard, he rolled and pushed onto his hands and knees as he looked up. His eyes widened as he watched a horse bear down on his and he rolled quickly to the side. The hooves pounded past him as he surged to his feet and slid his sword from the scabbard. He ducked as a sword sang over his head trying to decapitate him. Reaching out, he grabbed the reins of the horse and jerked the animal in a tight circle. His other arm came up and thrust his sword into the side of the rider. As the body fell off the horse, Aragorn leapt onto the horse and turned it towards the closest rider. He spied a mounted archer drawing and quickly estimated the path.
"Down Legolas!" he yelled to the blond warrior.
Legolas fell to one knee and ducked his head as an arrow flew over his head, ruffling his hair slightly at the proximity. Spinning on his knee, his white handled knives swept out to slash a man's stomach. With a gurgled cry, he fell as the elf stepped onto the man's back and jumped towards a passing rider. Wrapping his arm across the man's chest, he twisted him to the side and off the horse. Twisting one hand in the reins, his other hand wielded the deadly knife as he pushed the horse next to another rider.
Their attackers looked like the men from the North, tanned skin, dark hair, and brown eyes. They fought like common soldiers that knew enough to not be killed with the first strike.
Legolas turned and cast a quick look at Aragorn to see him standing beside a dead horse. He was fighting a man on the ground and seemed to be faring well. Movement drew his attention to a rider that rode towards Aragorn, holding out a rope. Not thinking, Legolas quickly killed his opponent and leaped from the horse he was astride. His powerful legs pumped under him as he sprinted to Aragorn. Nearing him, Legolas saw the rope fly from the man's hand and sail through the air. Reaching his friend, Legolas pushed him to the side just as a rope descended into his field of vision. An instant later he was jerked off his feet and a cry was forced from his lips. He slammed into the hard packed ground causing stars to explode before his eyes. His fingers clawed at his throat as the rope tightened around his delicate throat and drug him behind the horse. He saw the shapes of other horses around him as he chocked against the dusty air and the lack of air. Blackness tinged around the edges of his vision as his back and torso were torn ragged and raw from the rocky ground. He suddenly stopped and gulped the air greedily as he squeezed his eyes shut against the pain. Hearing voices around him, he slowly opened his eyes and attempted to focus.
"What do we have here but an elf?"
"What do you want with us?" he asked, hoping that Aragorn was still alive.
"Any information you may know about Sauros."
"I do not know of anything called Sauros," Legolas wheezed and tried to take the rope from his neck.
Before succeeding in getting it off, it tightened and pulled his backwards. One of the men had tossed the other end of the rope over a nearby tree branch and had pulled it taut.
"Sauros is not a thing! It is someone! Do you or do you not know of him?"
"No."
"String him up and let him die."
Eyes widened as Legolas was jerked to his feet and the rope around his throat tightened to unbearable pain. Cruel hands jerked his arms behind him and tied his hands behind his back as he struggles frantically to get loose. His feet left the ground as he choked and struggled to free himself. The men laughed as the tree silently wept for him and tried to lower the frantic elf. Legolas' struggles slowed and finally stopped as his eyes slowly blinked. The lack of oxygen caused his thoughts to become muddled but the thought that remained was that of Aragorn. He knew his friend would grieve for his passing and weep tears of sorrow. Legolas wished his could say a few words to his friend and family. His father would be heartbroken to discover that his son died this way. His muddled brain did not register the sudden commotion near him and the screams but allowed himself to slip into the welcoming darkness.
"Awaken Human!"
Aragorn flinched at the booming voice that pounded through his aching head. The last memory he possessed was seeing Legolas shove him to the ground. Memories of the battle trickled through his foggy brain as he reached up and felt the bleeding cut at his temple.
"Do you wish for your elf friend to die while you lay here?"
At that, Aragorn's eyes snapped open to see a massive shadow above him. His eyes widened in shock at the animal that stood over him.
"It is a dragon," he whispered to himself in disbelief.
"Yes, and in a few minutes your comrade will no longer be a live elf!"
Aragorn looked past the dragon and cried out in horror as he scrambled to his feet. He half ran and half stumbled towards the tree and saw the leaves quivering in sorrow. Burnt bodies littered the ground as he rushed past them to reach the tree that his friend hung from. The healer side of him sped through a list of possible injuries and what he could do with the herbs he had. He needed to get Legolas down and remove the rope before working on the problem.
"I need him down," he muttered and followed the deadly rope.
"Cut the rope human, I will catch him."
Aragorn glanced over at the dragon and nodded, silently marveling at the massive size of the mythical creature. The dragon reared up and carefully cradled Legolas in a clawed foot, relieving the tautness in the rope. Aragorn's sword easily cut through the tope and hurried back to the dragon as the creature lowered its foot to the ground. He paused upon seeing the sharp claws that were about half the length of him. Despite the size and obvious strength, the dragon carefully laid Legolas on the ground. The dragon stepped back as Aragorn knelt next to the elf and did a quick examination. He felt a pulse but it was weakening with each passing moment. Pressing a hand against his friend's chest, Aragorn didn't feel the lunges expand. With gently fingers, he opened his friend's mouth and looked at the back of the throat to see it swollen.
"The tissue is swollen resulting in not enough air," he muttered and brought everything from memory about strangulation.
Quickly deciding, he patted all his pockets and pulled out a pipe that was still in the process of being carved. Reaching to his leg, he pulled out a small spare dagger and broke off the stem of the pipe. Slowly, Aragorn tilted Legolas' head back slightly and watched as the trachea was outlined. With his other hand, he felt the vital pulse and mentally marked its place. Gently pressing aside a muscle, he rested the tip of the dagger against the tender flesh and took a deep breath as he murmured a soft prayer. A steady hand pressed down on the dagger and pressed until he heard a soft pop as the blade went in. There was a sudden loud gurgled, and a wet kind of whistling noise; the sound of air being sucked through blood. Legolas' chest moved. It was only then that Aragorn allowed himself to breath also.
Dropping the dagger to the side, his fingers held open the wound while he slipped the hollowed wooden piece in the hole. It was smaller than he would have liked it to be but it served its purpose.
"That was very impressive human. The healer that taught you must be very talented."
Aragorn jumped slightly, forgetting that the dragon was still behind him. He turned and looked at the creature and looked over the animal.
The dragon was about six times bigger than any horse and a single horse would come up to the top of the dragon's leg. Its scales were a dull shine and it was a dark red, almost blood like. The wings were folded loosely against its side and the head rested on its front clawed feet. Horns ran from the top of its head down its back and to its tail. Keen, intelligent, and wary eyes watched the human as he stared at the dragon.
"I was taught by the best," Aragorn replied wearily.
"You had best tend to those other wounds of his. Pity for him to die after all of that, it would be," the dragon said, its lips curling around the words. "I shall watch him till you return."
Casting a glance at Legolas, Aragorn stood and hurried to search the remains of their camp. Collecting everything he could, he ran back to his friend and started to organize the supplies before starting to build a fire.
"I can help you with that. Really, I can."
Turning its massive head to the side, one clawed finger covered a nostril and blew hard. Aragorn was knocked onto his back from the intense heat as flames exploded from the nostril. A moment later, the flames stopped and a pile of wood was burning steadily. Mouth handing open, Aragorn looked at the dragon as it slowly moved to stand on four legs.
"I bid you farewell human."
Its massive wings unfolded and with a powerful beat, the dragon lifted into the sky. With an amazed shake of his head, Aragorn turned back to his tasks. He couldn't wait to tell Legolas and his brothers of the dragon.