It had been hours since Legolas had been abducted, and at least an hour since they'd made camp. Gimli was scarfing down his grub. Not because he really cared for food at the moment, not when his friend, 'the laddie', was in mortal danger and all alone. But the angered, saddened dwarf's blood was boiling so hotly he just had to sink his teeth into something, rather than sink his ax into the trees, not wanting to offend them!
Aragorn had gathered some herbs he'd found and mixed them, turning them into medicine, should they need it, when they found Legolas! He tried to keep at task, but the constant pictures in his mind of Legolas by himself, and helplessly trapped by an army of monsters who would relish in making hell real to him, ate away at his gut and filled with him with deep worry. No, Legolas is strong! He will come out the victor, not them! Aragorn dismally couldn't take his gaze off of Alasse who sat in the shadows alone against a tree, angry and flustered, struggling to repair her brother's bow. She'd wrapped, unwrapped, and rewrapped the twine around the wood several times, but to no avail. But it kept her hands busy, and made her feel like she could do at least something for Legolas! Aragorn's shoulders slumped as he watched his close friend's anguish. It made his stomach hurt. Why hadn't he just commanded Gimli and Alasse to follow him as he ran straight after the Orcs, instead of letting them get away? He'd been trying to protect him in a losing battle. But Legolas? He'd failed to protect. And now Legolas was in the enemy's hands, alone, most likely hurt, and without his trusty weapon! Aragorn grimaced with remorse. Legolas was his very best friend, and he thought of him as his own brother! How could he have let him just be taken like that! Every minute that he watched his friends worry away, he inwardly cursed himself. I will make this right, Legolas! D-. I will not rest until you are back safe with us!
Alasse had never, ever thought she could feel this angry with Aragorn! He was her dear, faithful friend, and she trusted him with all her heart, every bit as much as she did Legolas. Aragorn was ever wise, and kind, and brave. He always put others' needs and safety before his own. And more often that not, he never did anything questionable without a good reason. That was why his friends respected and loved him so. But today? It wasn't that Aragorn had not tried to go after Legolas himself during the battle that was feeding Alasse's already whirling emotions. What hit her the hardest was that he had tried to stop her from saving Legolas, her own brother! She knew that deep down, Aragorn must have made the right choice, but right now she could not and did not want to see what that was!
It wasn't fair! Why shouldn't she go after him? Alone? She was a highly-trained elf warrior princess. She could look after herself! But, her conscience reminded her that should she flee, Aragorn and Gimli would follow and no doubt catch up to her, then they'd just argue all over again and lose precious time getting closer to Legolas! Hot tears ran down her face as she tried to put Legolas's bow back together, bleary-eyed.
Gimli came beside her. "Care for a bite, lass?" He asked, offering her a plate of stew. "It's warm." Right now, even the fragrance of the delicious stew did nothing for her appetite. She didn't want food.
"No," She shook her head. "I have no stomach for food."
"Aye. But ye must eat." Gimli sighed. "You'll need it come first light! We've a long road ahead."
"Maybe later." Alasse tried to wipe her eyes. She had no intention of eating any time soon. She honestly believed that if she took food, she'd throw it up. Gimli removed his helmet.
"I know. You're a-worried about the lad." He said sympathetically.
"What do you think? Of course I'm worried!" Alasse snapped, then hung her head. "I'm sorry, Gimli. I shouldn't have lashed out on you like that."
"Bah. Think nothing of it, lassie." He chuckled, patting her hand. "I hear tell that elves have nasty tempers!" He teased. Alasse shrugged.
"Then you should thank the Valar that you are not in the presence of my father!" She replied.
"Aye!" Gimli agreed, wide-eyed. His reaction brought a sad smile to Aragorn's face as he watched the pair and listened. "'Ere. Let me see that." Gimli took the bow from her trembling hands.
"I..." She tried to speak but swallowed tears instead. Gimli inspected the wood, and reached into his pocket. He pulled out an herbal substance that Alasse had never seen before. He spat into it and kneaded it together in his hands. Then, taking the bow back, not only redid the twine, but also rubbed the goo between the stakes first then crunched the wood hard till the fragmented splinters merged to the point that smacking them with one's hand could not penetrate the wood! "How did..." Alasse sputtered.
"Impressed, eh?" Gimli smirked. "We dwarves have some secrets we never share with anybody till the moment of absolute need! Aye, me dwarf brethren taught me how to fix odds and ends. Learned many times the hard way from breaking my momma's favorite dishes!"
"Thank you, Gimli." Alasse nodded, sniffling. "It's as good as new. Legolas will be most pleased."
"My pleasure, lassie." Gimli smiled. "And don't fret about Leggi. He's as tough as they come. He'll come running back to us before we even have the chance to rescue him and he'll take all the credit for freeing himself, the repulsive dwarf!" Alasse giggled.
Gimli finally drifted off to sleep. It had been a long, wearing day and Aragorn insisted he get some rest. Aragorn watched Alasse endlessly. Alasse sat by herself away from the campfire, under a weeping willow. She felt soothed by the tree, its branches sympathetically waving back and forth kissing her face reassuringly with a gentle, wispy breeze as if the tree understood how sad she felt. Alasse hunched over dejectedly, her countenance etched with defeat. She tightly clasped Legolas's bow at her side, refusing to let go, trying to keep a large, physical and sentimental part of Legolas as close to her as possible.
Aragorn sighed deeply as he approached. He felt rotten for having so cruelly to had pulled her away while her brother was most likely being taken to his death. But she never would've lasted against them on her own. Aragorn quietly touched her shoulder and offered her a hot mug of herbal tea. She shook her head without so much as giving it a glance. "It will soothe the worry." He said kindly. "Take it." Alasse slowly accepted it, staring straight ahead and not meeting his eyes. Aragorn knelt down to her level next to her. "Alasse, I am very sorry." He said fervently. Alasse subtly turned her head toward his voice but said nothing. "I blame myself for us losing Legolas! I swear, I only did what I did to protect you all. But I failed Legolas. And I will not rest till he's out of their clutches."
Alasse said nothing to reassure him that it wasn't his fault. But she didn't rub it in either that it was! She just listened. "Courage, Alasse. We'll get Legolas back." Aragorn assured her.
"I should've gone after them!" Alasse snapped, not facing him.
"There wouldn't be anything you could do, on your own." Aragorn said.
"Who knows what hellish torture they're putting him through?" Alasse began to shed tears. "They're monsters! Vile, heartless, cruel, evil, foul in every sense of the word! Who knows what they'll do to him!"
"Legolas is strong, meld." Aragorn touched her arm. "Stronger than ten men put together! He would not just let the Orcs make him suffer. If there is anyone you should worry about, it's the enemy! I would not want to be one of them to endure your brother's wrath once his strength has returned!" Aragorn smiled. Alasse bit her lip, but he did hear a giggle.
"I'm afraid for him, Estel." Alasse sniffled, finally looking at her good friend. He nodded sympathetically. "Legolas...he's always been there for me, no matter what. And I've always taken care of him. We'd be lost without each other. I...I just can't lose him! Aragorn...I can't lose my brother." Tears streamed down her face. Aragorn warmly grasped her hand.
"You won't lose him, meld Mellon." Aragorn promised. "Not Legolas. I swear to you on my life, we will get him back! Ha's u-nia, my mellon. (It's not over, my friend.) Ennas na- still estel (There is still hope)."
"I pray so." Alasse moaned. Aragorn briefly kissed her on the head then left her to tend to the horses. Alasse gazed up at the stars, wondering if Legolas was gazing up at them too, or if he was too far gone near death to notice them. The Orcs couldn't just kill him! "Legolas..." She whimpered with tears. "Please, meld gwanur, Tul- back na ammen (Please, dear brother, come back to us)! Please, aen, Tir- nia hon (Please, Valar, watch over him)." She prayed.