A/n wow, thanks to all of you how are now following this or have added it to your favorites! And as always a special thanks to my reviews! I love all you guys!
Disclaimer: not mine, sadly.
Chapter Seven: Off to Rivendell!
"Take it slow…" Aragorn cautioned, taking Legolas by the arms and slowly pulling the elf up. Legolas doubled over once again clutching his stomach as his nausea returned in full force, his breathing hitched and Aragorn was forced to take the elf's full weight again as Legolas lent against him.
"Just take it slow, you'll be fine" Aragorn said soothingly, attempting to help calm the elf down. After a few minutes Legolas straighten slightly, his face was very pale and sweaty, his eyes closed.
"Can you open your eyes?" Aragorn intently questioned, taking Legolas by the arms he began to carefully maneuver Legolas towards the hole in the wall.
"I could but..." Legolas began but trailed off hoping that Aragorn got the meaning, he was going to be sick if he opened them to see the world spinning around in such a crazy fashion. Legolas sudden tripped over a unseen rock and fell heavily against Aragorn.
"Is it really that bad?" Aragorn whispered his concern almost palpable, catching Legolas. Reaching out he brushed some of Legolas damp hair back behind the pointed ears. Legolas did not answer Aragorn's question, instead he reached out and began to feel for the rocks.
"Legolas," Aragorn sighed "You'll never be able to climb with your eyes closed"
"They aren't much… help open either!" Legolas muttered under his breath, secretly thinking that with the way his vision was so messed up it might be easier with them closed.
Aragorn smiled at the elf's words, before gently taking Legolas hands and placing them on the rocks. He had been up and down that wall enough to be able to guide Legolas up them without any difficulty. He was still forced to watch, however, in terror as Legolas made his way higher and higher. If Legolas was to fall now...he was not going finish that sentence.
This is a bad idea a really bad a idea. The human began to think in a panic, he should have made the exit easier to get to, or down lower or...or something!
"Wait for me at the top before you start descending!" Aragorn called up, tightly grasping the pommel of his sword until his knuckles were white with strain.
Legolas signed quick thumbs up to show that he had heard the man before concentrating fully on the moving his impossible heavy body up and forewords. He prayed to the Valar that he was getting closer to the top because he was going to be sick very soon. He hated concussions.
Aragorn was finally allowed to let out the breath that he had been holding for the past ten minutes, Legolas had made it to the break in the rocks. Scaling the rocks in about a minute, Aragorn placed a hand on Legolas back, holding the elf steady.
"Now I do not know the way down." Aragorn began, talking clearly, yet softly so as not to add to Legolas pain. "I am going to go first, I want you to follow me immediately!" the human instructed. Legolas smiled weakly in the direction of the man before shakily replying,
"I can understand you...fine. It was not...my ears which...where injured." Aragorn snorted and rolled his eyes before maneuvering himself past Legolas and stuffing his body through the hole. It was a good thing that Legolas was slimmer than he, himself, was. Bilking against the harsh sunlight, he waited impatiently for Legolas to join him. When Legolas did finally make an appearance, Aragorn could not stop a small gasp from leaving his lips. Legolas looked absolutely horrible; the poor elf was incredible pale with dark shadows under his eyes and the blood that could be seen of his skin stood out starkly. Dust covered him from head to toe. Legolas frowned at the noise, but he made no comment.
"It'll be a fast trip to the ground," assured Aragorn, steadying Legolas against the rocks before quickly climbing/jumping the rest of the way down.
Legolas was filled with joy beyond measure when he discovered that he was getting close to the earth. His head was pounding and his stomach had yet to calm. Carefully feeling for a foothold beneath him was caught by surprise when Aragorn suddenly grabbed his arms.
"Be still, mellon-nin." Aragorn whispered soothingly. "I am just helping you down the rest of the way." Legolas breathed a sigh of relief, before willing letting the human guide him to the ground. As his feet touched the ground the elf swayed, his light headedness having increased dramatically from the climb before his vision began to flicker oddly.
Aragorn barely caught the elf when Legolas slumped against him.
"Legolas...!" he called before attempting to pull Legolas down to the ground. However, the elf was still slightly conscious and pulled at Aragorn's hand, signing that he was 'fine'. Aragorn took no notice of it, though and lay Legolas gently down in the tall grass, concern weighing heavily on his heart.
Legolas felt a surge of relief fill his heart as his vision stopped flickering. He could have sworn that he was going to pass out there for a second. Blinking his eyes, he turned and found Aragorn's very worried gray eyes staring at him.
"I'm fine..." he whispered.
"Sit and rest," Aragorn commanded, not listening to him. Legolas frowned, but did as he was told. As soon as Legolas was resting comfortably as he could, the ranger reached inside his pocket and drew out the medicine. He suddenly chuckled. "Can I tell my brothers about having to help a wood-elf climb?" if looks could kill that Aragorn would certainly be dead.
"If you breathe a word about this…" Legolas began, trailing off and letting the man figure the rest out. Aragorn face suddenly paled and he shot a nervous glance at Legolas.
"You wouldn't…you wouldn't tell about the….the wine incident." he squeaked. His only answer was Legolas truly evil grin. "FINE, I'll keep quite." he said throwing his hands up in surrender. Scowling at the elf, he handed the flask of medicine over.
Swallowing back his nausea Legolas gulped down a mouthful or two before the ranger took it from him. After a few moments more of rest Aragorn rose, staring sadly down at the elf, he wasn't sure if this was the wisest of things to do; pushing Legolas to hard was dangerous.
"Come, let us go home!" grabbing his friend under his arms, Aragorn hauled the elf to his feet, steadying him when the elf's knees buckled dangerously.
"Home? You're the one going home!" Legolas replied, his fist curling into a tight ball in Aragorn's sleeve. Aragorn bit his lower lip, but keep silent. Making sure that they left no marks, Aragorn pointed them towards the dark trees and the next hurdle of their journey.
FORYOUMELLON-NIN
The sun slowly sank down across the sky, casting a shadow of darkness across the path of the two travelers far below. Aragorn squinted hard trying to find a good shelter for the night, because Legolas could not go any farther without some sort of rest. To be truthful, Aragorn could not go much farther either. The human was simply exhausted having had no rest since the short nap he had taken at the cave. Legolas was in an even worse condition. He was able to support only a small amount of his own weight, leaving the rest to Aragorn. As the light darkened, Legolas found himself beginning to see bright flashes of light. He could take no more.
"Aragorn..." He gasped with the little breath that he had left.
"Soon mellon-nin," Aragorn replied heavily, glancing down at the deathly pale face. It took a lot of the elf to admit that he needed rest but they needed to keep moving. Legolas accepted the human's words and attempted to carry more of his own weight so that Aragorn would not be so burdened...but he was so exhausted.
Far too soon, when night had truly fallen, the inevitable happened. Legolas's lost his footing and fell. Aragorn almost caught the elf. Legolas lay on the ground breathing heavily, before weakly pushing his hands under his body and pushing himself up. His arms trembled with the strain before he clasped, again. However, this time Aragorn's hand slid underneath his body and lowered him gently to the ground.
"I'm...sorry...I...can't...go...on." Legolas gasped, unable to get even two words out in one breath. Aragorn sighed, his eyes wanting to close on themselves but his tire mind comprehended one thing. He had to get Legolas off the path and into the trees. They were both unable to go on, it was time to stop, but not in the middle of the path.
"Yes, you can. Listen you only have to go to the trees." Aragorn pleaded with the elf from where he knelt on the ground next to him. Reaching under Legolas again he forced the elf prince to his feet.
"No..." Legolas begged, his body was just too tired to continue moving. The ranger ignored his friend's labored word and dragged him step by step off the path. The two were just past the first tree before Legolas suddenly doubled over in Aragorn's grasp and threw up. Wincing in sympathy, Aragorn helped his friend to the ground. This would have to be a suitable stopping spot.
Legolas moaned before retching again before beginning to dry heave. Aragorn sighed, but wasn't surprised. There was nothing left in the elf's stomach to spit back out. Several times throughout the past day they had been forced to stop so that Legolas could be sick. Kneeling next to the prince once again he rubbed small circles on the elfs back hoping that the nausea would soon debate so they both could get some much needed rest. Tiredly pulling back Legolas long hair, he used his sleeve to wipe at the remnant of vomiting that covered the elf's face. He was to drained to find anything else to use at the moment.
Soon Legolas symptoms slowed to stop and the elf miserably curled into a tight ball, arms wrapped securely around his stomach. Aragorn jerked his eyes open, when the elf moved. He hadn't even realized that he closed them. Scooting over so that he lay next to the elf, he forced his hand in between Legolas arms and found his wrist. He forced himself to stay awake long enough to count Legolas pulse. The elf's heart was racing...but before he could do anything his eyes closed and he fell into a deep sleep.
Legolas whimpered slightly the pain in his abdomen and head were excruciating. He felt Aragorn's searching hand wrap itself around his wrist but surprised when Aragorn did not release him after several seconds. Worry for the human caused the elf to lift his heavy head off the ground so as to be able to see Aragorn, however the blinding flash of pain was too much for him and his head fall back against the ground. The seconds turned to minutes as Legolas lay there in pain but unable to do anything about it. As the minutes grew longer the elf's eyes slowly slipped shut.
FORYOUMELLON-NIN
Out of the dark shadows two figures on horseback appeared on the same path that Aragorn and Legolas had traveled earlier, except they were coming from the opposite direction. They went slowly along the path, scanning the trail for some sort of sign. Suddenly one held up its hand indicating for the other to stop. Whispering in words to quiet to hear he pointed off the path and into the trees. The other one broke into a smile as he followed his companion's finger. Dismounting from their horses, they walked quickly yet soundlessly through the trees stopping to kneel next to a man and an elf.
Reaching out one of them quickly reached out and shook the ranger. Aragorn simply moaned slightly before turning over and attempting to go back to sleep. The other figure knelt next to Legolas, grasping his wrist tightly. The cloaked figure over Aragorn reached towards his pocket pulling something that glitter sliver in the moonlight holding over the sleeping human…
TBC…
He he he… hope you guys like the chapter! This was a new turn of events! Please….please…please review!
Review Response:
fe-chan13: Thanks!, and as for Aragorn…in my next story he is going to get some of it, and maybe just a bit in the next chapter!
imaginariamente: hmm…who knew! Thanks so much! I am so glad you like it so far.
robinsmum: Hannon le, I will update quicker next time, I promise!
tigerra79: Thanks so much! Yea…grammar is not my strong point. Thanks for pointing it out.