This is probably the latest I've updated (save for the vacation I took) Sorry :(
Anyway, I have been attacked with minor writers block...! I have a story and I know what I want to happen, but I'm not inclined to write it...don't worry though, I hate when authors leave stories unfinished, so I will keep updating as soon as I can.
Legolas awoke with his head against a mossy patch growing on a tree. His golden hair was filled with knots and clumps of mud, along with his clothes which were equally covered in mud. The storm had stopped sometime in the night, but the puddles of mud and the wet trees remained. The large log that had burned that night had burned out a few hours before daylight and now everything was quiet. Aragorn looked no better than Legolas did, in fact, he looked worse, however Aragorn looked like he did now most of the time anyway and didn't look very different than usual.
"How was your rest?" Aragorn asked sarcastically. Legolas sighed, running his hand through a clump of his mud splattered, tangled hair.
"Delightfully." He answered, equally sarcastic. Aragorn finally looked at his friend and noticed the way his friend, the elf, looked.
"Legolas, you look terrible." He observed, trying to keep the amusement at seeing his usually perfect elf friend muddy from showing on his face. Legolas looked positively horrible. He glared at Aragorn, not amused.
"Just pack up with me and lead us to that cave." Legolas commanded. Aragorn regained his composure and helped Legolas pack up the little things they had out.
"Do you still have the stone?" Legolas asked. Aragorn nodded and checked through his saddle bags, just to make sure. He pulled out his spare clothes and cloak that were both soaked through. He shook his head, not happy that his things were soaked. Legolas, in turn, checked through his saddle bags as well. His spare clothes and cloak were also soaked through, along with his lembas bread, which had turned to mushy lumps. Just then, Aragorn exclaimed in exasperation and Legolas turned to see Aragorn holding a dripping healing pack with plants that were meant to be kept dry, covered in water.
"Well, Estel," Legolas said, observing Aragorn's ruined healing pack. "I suppose we will just have to remain uninjured for this trip then." Legolas said. Aragorn dug around his bags until he pulled out the stone, still glowing brighter than ever and completely dry, despite the other soaked objects in Aragorn's bag.
"I have it." Aragorn confirmed. "Come; let us go to that cave."
`'~,*,~'`'~,*,~'`'~,*,~'`'~,*,~'
Riding through the forest was not easy after the storm. The ground was mushy and the horses found it hard to tread the sinking mud. Eventually, Legolas and Aragorn rode back to the entrance of the forest, which was not very far, and left their horses outside in the hills, while they continued inside on foot. Even without their horses, walking through the Fangorn forest wasn't exactly pleasant after the storm. The mud sucked at their boots, clinging on and making steps hard. After a few hours, they came to a large boulder blocking their way. They could not simply walk around the boulder because the sides of it were blocked with tall thorn bushes, thick all the way through, and stretching far to either side.
"Is this the way, Aragorn?" Legolas asked, skeptically. Aragorn looked around.
"You must understand. I have not been to this cave in many years." Aragorn said. He examined their surroundings and nodded forward. "We should climb up this boulder. I believe what we seek is beyond this." Legolas examined the boulder and cocked his head, seeming to think this boulder a pretty easy climb. He stepped forward, grasping a rocky ledge and starting to scale the boulder easily. Aragorn followed him up with similar ease. After climbing for a while, it became apparent that the boulder was much larger than they had originally guessed; it was taking too long to get to the top. Legolas placed hand after hand on the rocky ledges, climbing swiftly without tiring. Aragorn followed, not tired either. After a prolonged period of time, Legolas finally reached to top. The surface of the top was flat enough, but bumpy in certain places and rounded over in others.
"Aragorn, the top is nearer than you may think. Come up, for the view is magnificent." Legolas called, leaning over the ledge. In no time, Aragorn also was sitting at the top, admiring the view. They were at the same level as some of the trees, and the leaves spread out like a dark lush meadow.
"You were not lying about the view, mellon nin." Aragorn smiled wearily at his elf friend. Legolas still looked terrible, covered in mud and his usually flawless golden hair in tangles. Legolas smiled back, looking over the horizon at the vast stretch if trees meeting the beautiful blue sky that had blossomed after the storm, he kept most of his lembas bread despite the fact that the little bread they has would not keep for very long in the soggy ruined state it was in.
"Lunch, my friend?" Legolas asked, pulling out a leaf wrapped wet lump of what used to be lembas bread. Aragorn looked quizzically at the bread in his friend's hands, wondering why Legolas would be carrying whatever it was Legolas was offering him.
"It is lembas." Legolas stated, seeming to sense Aragorn's confusion. "The rain-" Legolas continued. Aragorn smiled at this and took a piece off the mushy lump.
"Hannon le, mellon nin." Aragorn said, biting into the soggy lembas. Legolas finished the rest of the bread, not exactly liking it when it was wet. The friends sat atop the boulder for awhile, just enjoying each other's company and the view.
"Alright." Legolas said, breaking the silence, "Which way to the cave?" Aragorn nodded in response to Legolas' question, looking towards the opposing ledge from where they had climbed up.
"I believe I recognize this place" Aragorn said, "The cave is not far from the other side of this boulder." Aragorn walked to the edge, and looking down, swung himself over the edge and started his decent. Legolas swung himself over the edge as well and the two started to go down. Only a few minutes into climbing down, did Aragorn reach for a rock to put his hand on only to find it not as sturdy as he had thought. The rock was loose and when Aragorn put his hand on it, it came out, falling down the side of the boulder and his hand slipped.
"Aragorn!" Legolas exclaimed, having seen his friend lose his hand holds. Legolas instinctively let go of one of the rocks he was holding to reach down and help his friend. The ranger did not need the help his friend was offering, however because he has already grabbed another rock and was safely climbing again. Legolas realized his movement to help was not needed only a second too late, because he slipped down after letting go of his own hand holds. Legolas' hands fell off the grips and he fell backwards, losing all purchase he had on the rock until he was falling straight down.
"Legolas!" Aragorn yelled as Legolas fell closer to the ground. Legolas hit the ground, only to find he was on some sort of...slope? He rolled down into a dark area and soon found himself falling straight down a hole of some sort. The fall was short and when he emerged from the hole, he saw the ground rushing up to meet him. Quickly adjusting his position, Legolas tried to land on his feet, but when he hit the ground, he fell forward, falling on his hands and knees.
Aragorn watched Legolas fall and disappear beneath him.
"Legolas?" Aragorn called tentatively. When his friend didn't answer, Aragorn hurried his decent. After getting to the bottom, Aragorn noticed a sloping ditch leading into a carved out space in the boulder. There was an imprint in the dirt suggesting Legolas had slid down into the ditch. Aragorn slid down into the carved out space, to find a deep hole going straight down. He jumped down the hole.
Legolas shook his head, getting to his feet. He had bruised quite a few places, but it seemed he hadn't broken anything, a miracle for him after the fall he had taken. He looked around, seeing nowhere to go except back up the way he had come or forward into a cave-like tunnel. Legolas steppeed back, fully intending to climb back up, as he saw nothing appealing about going down a dark, inclosed tunnel. Hearing a sound, the elf turned to see his human friend fall down the hole above and tumble a bit upon hitting the ground, but not injure himself. Aragorn pushed himself off the ground to be met with a most welcome sight; Legolas already standing to meet him.
"Legolas, I saw you fall. Are you alright?" Aragorn asked. Legolas smiled at his friend's concerns, brushing them off.
"Estel, I am fine." Aragorn picked up on Legolas using his elven name and using the word 'fine'. Which on numerous occasions had come to mean 'dying or injured'
"Truly, Aragorn. I tell you no untruths this time." Legolas added, sensing his friend's suspicions. Aragorn grudgingly accepted the elf's answer and looked around, examining where they were.
"I know this place." Aragorn murmured. Legolas nodded, prompting Aragorn to continue.
"Is this the cave where the stones are?" Legolas asked. Aragorn started to walk down the tunnel straight ahead.
"Aye, mellon nin. Come, follow me." Aragorn disappeared into the seemingly long, dark tunnel and Legolas paused for a moment before hesitantly running forward to meet his friend.
The play I was in is finished and done and it went so well! I hoped now that the play was done I would have more time to focus on writing, but I guess I still have the same amount of time, so here it is, I'll update as soon as I can!