2. Taken
Legolas felt the danger as if it was a bolt of energy then had suddenly hit him. He turned toward Aragorn, but was not fast enough. He jumped forward hoping to grab his friend and pull him to safety, but his arms met empty air. Legolas coughed trying to see through the cloud of dust. His eyes could caught only gaping hole in the ground which his friend had fallen through.
"Aragorn!" He called desperately, feeling panic taking over his mind. Why did things like this always happen to them?
Calming himself the elf slowly crawled up to the edge of the crack careful not to cause more soil and rocks to fall on top of his friend. It was dark inside and even though he was granted by the nature with the king sight, Legolas could barely see the dark form of a ranger laying beneath him. He looked around seeking for anything that can help him to get to the friend.
That was the moment he heard noises. With all his concerns about Aragorn the elf had completely forgotten about humans. Legolas cursed himself for yielding to panic. What he was supposed to do now?!
He could already see first of the humans coming out of the trees. They were armed with swords and tridents, some of them had primitive bows. Legolas knew he could easily beat them but he would touch none of them if he could avoid it. Spilling blood would not change their mind for better.
Humans came closer looking frightened and angered the same time. Even if they had never seen an elf themselves, it was rather hard not to recognize his race.
"What are you doing here?" One of them asked eyeing the elf suspiciously.
Legolas hesitated with an answer. Should he mention Aragorn. Would this people help his friend? Probably not. There was no need in putting Aragorn into the fire of this human's rage. But before he could even try to answer another man took a step onward.
"Do not let it speak." He spitted. "It will put a spell on you!"
Legolas flinched as he heard approving mumbling among the other men. He needed to act quickly.
"I'm just traveling through this lands and..."
"Do not speak!" Someone called out.
"He caused the landslide!" Another voice shouted. "He must be the cause of all those tremors and landslides."
"My brother died during one of them." The huge man told, an anger written at his red round face.
Now all the men were shouting in rage. Legolas took his knife firmly in his hand waiting for the attack. He didn't want to kill this people, but he would not surrender easily.
The elf was parrying blows with easiness, moving more swiftly and gracefully than his attackers. He knocked out few of the men careful not to land any severe injuries. Well, it would hardly matter in the eyes of this humans, but at least his conscience will be clear.
Suddenly a thick branch hit back of his head hard. Legolas stumbled slightly, his senses blackening for a second. That was enough for him to loose the fight. Men were weaker then him, but they were furious and they were many. Soon the elf found himself at the ground, the mess of hands pressing him hard into the soil and heavy boots were kicking him all over. One of them hit Legolas' temple and the elf felt all his senses dulling before they faded into blackness.
XXX
Aragorn could not move. Agony was shooting through his body. As a healer he knew that his injuries were severe and that they needed proper tending but he could not provide it. He tried to at least remember what had awoken him.
Voices... Angry voices that seemed to be muted by the ground. Humans! Valars, they must have gotten Legolas.
Aragorn struggled to sit up. But even with the slightest move his body was overtaken by the pain. With a soft cry he relaxed against the rough ground, his vision blackening. Tears of pain and despair were running down his cheeks.
...TBC
