Disclaimer: I'm lazy, so: NOT MINE!!!!!!!!!
Title: From Ancient Grudge
Rating: PG-13
CHAPTER 2
Aragorn leaned over him, concern evident in his eyes. The Elf prince's breathing was heavy and uneven and his eyes were closed tightly to try and block out the pain. The wound at his shoulder was bleeding heavily and he had a set of gouges down his chest from the warg's claws. Several other wounds decorated his arms and face.
"Legolas?" The Elf's grey eyes opened and he smiled slightly.
"I am well, Aragorn." He pushed himself to his feet, but blood loss had made him lightheaded and he swayed dangerously. Aragorn caught him and lowered him back to the ground.
"Are all Elves so stubborn?" Gimli growled, watching the grimace that crossed Legolas' face as his shoulder protested to being moved.
Legolas gave a quiet chuckle, "Are all dwarves so noisy? I barely slept last night for your snoring!" he countered, leaning back against a tree.
Aragorn pulled some healing herbs and bandages from his pack and moved back to his friend. "I
need to see your shoulder, my friend. Remove your tunic, let me see."
Legolas glared at the Human. "I am well, Aragorn. It is but a scratch." Aragorn raised an eyebrow and gave Legolas' shoulder a rough poke with his finger. The Elf yelped in pain and surprise and clutched his shoulder.
"It is more than a mere scratch, Legolas."
Legolas growled irritably. "You will kill me yet, son of Arathorn."
Aragorn laughed. "I'm doing this for my own benefit as well as yours, you know. What would King Thranduil say if I brought his son home wounded and delirious…again?"
"The last time was different." Legolas grumbled, "I didn't know spider venom worked so quickly."
Aragorn chuckled and began cleansing the various wounds, ignoring Legolas' grimace. "Neither did I. I didn't even know what was wrong with you until I found that bite mark on your neck--two days after the attack!"
"It slipped my mind?" Legolas said, a look of feigned innocence on his face.
Neither had noticed Gimli's sudden silence until Aragorn glanced his way and noticed the strange expression on his face. "Gimli?"
The Dwarf looked up, fixing his flashing dark eyes on Legolas. "Your father is the King of Mirkwood?"
Legolas was taken aback by the amount of hatred and anger in his friend's tone. "He is. What troubles you, my friend?" Gimli looked about to strike the Elf, but held himself back.
"You are no friend of mine." he growled quietly before turning on his heel and stomping from the camp.
Legolas watched him go, stunned incomprehension on his face. He turned to Aragorn who, for his part, looked just as shocked. Legolas jumped to his feet to go after the Dwarf, but the sudden move made his head spin and he dropped back to his knees, pain lancing through his shoulder and chest as black spots danced before his eyes.
Aragorn was at his side in seconds. "Peace, mellon-nìn." he whispered, "Come. I must treat the rest of your wounds." He eased Legolas back against the tree.
"But--"
"He will return." Aragorn said, glancing pointedly at the Dwarf's cloak and bedroll, still on the far side of the camp. "Then we can find out what plagues him." The Elf prince nodded reluctantly and sat back, allowing the Ranger to bind his wounds.
Aragorn reached for bandages to bind a deep gash on Legolas' right forearm when he looked more closely at the wound. The flesh around it was inflamed and hot, suggesting poisoning.
"Legolas, I think this is…Legolas?" he looked up at his friend.
The Elf looked to be asleep, but what startled Aragorn was that his eyes were closed. Elves never slept with their eyes closed and he had fallen asleep far too quickly. "Legolas? Legolas!"
Uh oh…cliffie! I'm sorry!!
Review replies::
Cheysuli - Here's more for ya!! Thanx for the review…my first one *ever*! And I love your fics as well! I'm honoured!!
KayteUnfading - OMG!! You edited my fic and you're reading it as well?! I'm surprised you're not sick of it by now…but I'm not complaining!! Thanx for putting up with me and reviewing as well!! ;)
