A/N I would have posted this sooner today, but I was working on my next story and I was having waaay to much fun and lost track of time. :)
Disclaimer: not mine.
Chapter Six
Aragorn stared moodily ahead, taking long strides that carried him forward at a jog. The twins trailed behind him, conversing quietly in the still cool, early autumn, morning.
"We didn't plan this you know!" Elladan called forward when Aragorn glanced back and he caught sight of the man's expression. "You can stop giving us the cold shoulder."
The ranger stubbornly looked forward, crossing his arms as his glare darkened a notch. He had barely spoken since the start of the trip and was determined not to speak unless he absolutely had too.
"Estel! You are being ridiculous." Elrohir said in exasperation, taking several strides forward till he grabbed his younger brother's arm and swung him around. Aragorn slowed to a reluctant stop, but purposefully looked in the other direction, his eyebrows drawing together in anger.
"Let's just get to Bree." He whispered loudly, jerking free.
"No." Elladan and Elrohir said together, blocking the path. They had enough, Aragorn needed to stop acting like a spoiled brat. Yes, it hurt, what had happened to Legolas, but they had humored the man long enough. It was time for him to move on.
The air around them seemed to snap with electricity as the tension intensified until it was thick enough to touch and Aragorn stared at then, his first clenched.
"Being angry at us isn't going to make Legolas wake up." Elladan started, holding out an arm as Aragorn tried to shove past him.
"Stop putting up walls to protect yourself and let us help you." Elrohir added fervently.
"Can you give me my best friend back?" Aragorn snarled, not taking well to the talking too he was getting.
"No." Elrohir replied softly. "But Legolas wouldn't want you to act like this."
"He would want you to be free, to live life."
"But I can't. I can't let him go." Aragorn said miserably, despair shinning in his grey eyes.
"We will help you. You don't have to do it alone." Elladan said softly.
"Do you really think he would want me to move on?" he asked so softy that the twins almost missed it.
"Yes, yes he would." Elladan said just as quitely, giving the human a sad smile.
Aragorn turned away, taking a shuddering breath as he tried to think of what to say next.
The momentary silence was suddenly interrupted by a loud voice.
"Estel! Elladan! Elrohir!"
Swinging around all the sons of Elrond jumped, hands atomically flying to their weapons, though they realized a moment later that anyone who was willing to shout out their names like that were more often than not friends. To their surprise, they say a rider sitting atop of a horse on the ridge of the hill that they had crossed not long ago. Three riderless horses trailed him.
"It is Glorfindel!" Elrohir said in confusion, shading his eyes with his hand. Forgetting their discussion, the three brothers hurried back they way they had come, wondering at the older elf's purpose to finding them.
"What is it? What has happened?" Elrohir cried once Glorfindel was closer to them, but far enough away that they still had to raise their voices. The older elf grinned, which seemed odd, but waited until he was swinging off his horse before explaining. The other three crowded around, their faces carrying different amounts of worry and fear.
"It is Legolas…" Glorfindel began excitedly, but Aragorn cut him off, all the color draining form his face as he began to utter a loud protest. "No, no, you don't understand." The elf assured him swiftly with a wave of his hand. "Legolas has awakened!"
Elladan and Elrohir just stared dumbfounded at their friend, eyes wide, but Aragorn frowned, thinking he had misheard Glorfindel repeated the words and this time their full meaning sunk in. Estel began to sway dangerously, his mouth dropping open also.
"What did you say?" he asked faintly, gripping his brother's arm tightly to remain upright. "Did you…Legolas?" he finished weakly. Elladan slowly closed his mouth which had been hanging open and rotated to face his twin, who was wearing a similar expression.
"Legolas is awake." Glorfindel repeated for the thrid time, watching with amusement as the reality of the truth crept into their faces. Aragorn was the first to come to his senses, having believed that this day would come, and jumped up with a loud whoop, punching the air in victory.
The sound seemed to awaken the twins and they also let out loud yells, grabbing Aragorn and hugging him tightly before all three turned on Glorfindel, hugging him as well. All four ended up as a heap on the ground as happy exclamations where made.
"Get. Off. Of. Me." The much older elf growled, pushing them off him and staggering up right, trying to save as much of his dignity as he could. Aragorn was also upright once he came to his senses, his mood a polar opposite from before, as he dashed to his horse, which Glorfindel had thoughtfully brought alone. Horses would be able to cut their return trip time in half.
The twins also swung atop their horses and they were off in record time, the horses eating away at the distance.
TRUETOTHEEND
Legolas leaned back heavily against the stack of pillows that supported his aching head, his eyes closed as he conserved his energy. Elrond sat next to him, replacing the cloth on the prince's brow with a fresh, cold one in hopes of it helping ease away the lines of pain on his face.
"Can I sleep now?" Legolas whispered faintly, not bothering to open his eyes. The late afternoon sun was hidden behind several dark drapes and the room was dim, only a small candle lighting the interior. Elrond sighed, checking the prince's rapid and still slightly erratic pulse.
"A little longer, and then you may." He whispered back, keeping his voice low for the elf's sake. The prince moaned, dragging a hand up to rub at his burning eyes, digging his fingers in to have something to focus on. He was so tried…
"When will Estel be here?" he asked, for the tenth time.
"Soon." Elrond replied once more. "He was going to Bree, but he will be back as quickly as he can, I am sure."
"I still don't understand…" Legolas murmured, working up the effort to crack an eyelid open and watch the elf lord. "None of this makes sense."
"All in good time, young one, and it will make sense." Elrond had decided that it was for the best if Legolas didn't know how long he had been sleeping. He figured that the elven-prince had been through enough.
They sat in silence till Elrond sat up straighter, ears perked.
"They are back!" he exclaimed, jumping to his feet and rushing to the door. Pulling it open, he walked swiftly down the hallway and towards the highly excited and rather loud voices. Aragorn came charging into view, a wild, joyful smile on his face as he yelled out his friend's name.
"Aragorn!" Elrond called, elongating his steps. The human rushed forward, crushing his father in a tight hug.
"He is awake!" The ranger celebrated, his jubilation bubbling over.
"Yes, yes, he is." Elrond affirmed, wrapping his arm around his son in return. Breaking apart, Aragorn attempted to move past, but his father grabbed his arm, pulling him once again to a stop. "Before you go in, you must know that Legolas is very weak and in quite a bit of pain, you must be gentle with him."
Aragorn nodded, having expected as much, and started off at a quick trot, more determined than ever to see his friend. Behind him, he heard Elrond intercept Elladan and Elrohir, giving them the same warning and smiled widely. His father was ever the healer.
Almost bursting at the seams with excitement, Aragorn slipped through the door and turned to face Legolas. Instantly he was hit with an unexpected wave of intense emotions that caught him off guard and made him catch his breath with a sharp intake of air as he froze, unable go forward.
"Legolas." He whispered, around the lump in his throat that was suddenly there. The chalk white elf on the bed had his eyes closed, and appeared to still be sleeping, but then his eyelids flickered open and he looked up, exhaustion and pain filling blue eyes. Legolas smiled, though it turned out as more of a grimace, and whispered two words.
"You're late."
That was all Aragorn needed and he was moving forward once more. Sitting on the bed, he drew Legolas up in his arm and hugged him tight enough that the currently fragile elf gasped weakly from pain and lack of air. The man couldn't find it himself to loosen his hold, however, and only gripped tighter.
"I'm late!" he choked out, the lump in his throat growing. "You should check the date…" He burred his face into the prince's shoulder and took several deep breathes as Legolas returned the hug, feeble though his grip may be. He had faithfully waited for this to happen, but now that this happy moment was there, he wasn't sure if he was dreaming or not.
The door opened behind them and Elrond entered with the twins. They stood against the wall, patiently waiting for their turn to greet their friend with identical smiles on their faces.
After several long minutes, Aragorn broke away from Legolas and grinned.
"I've missed you more than you could ever imagine, mellon-nin." He whispered, helping the prince recline back against the fluffy pillows once more, before stepping back and allowing the twins to move forward.
"Thank the Valar that you have rejoined us." Elladan said as he gripped the Mirkwood elf's shoulder. "Estel was about to do something stupid without you around to stop him."
"We've missed you as well." Elrohir said softly, smirking lightly as Aragorn rolled his eyes behind Elladan's back. Clasping the ill elf's hand momentarily, he stepped back and allowed Aragorn to slide back onto the side of the comfortable bed. The prince held out his hand to Aragorn, who took it.
Legolas sighed contently, giving them all a small smile. He let his body relax back into the bed and the warmth of the blankets as the pounding in his head started to increase. Elrond picked up on this instantly and bend forward, interrupting Aragorn who had been opening his mouth.
"Legolas needs rest. There will be plenty of time to catch up later when Legolas is feeling more up to it." Elrond suggested and Aragorn immediately snapped his mouth close, throwing his friend an apologetic look.
The prince waved it away, instead turning to face Elrond.
"You mean I can sleep?" he asked tiredly, his eyes shining with hope. Elrond sighed, but finally gave his consent.
"Yes, young one, you may. We will be waking you often, though." Elrond warned, watching as Legolas instantly let his eyes slip shut.
Once they were sure that the prince was truly sleeping, Aragorn looked up at his father, words spilling from his mouth faster than a swift flowing stream. Elrond raised a hand, slowing the tirade with a gentleness that did not contain a rebuke.
"Legolas is mentally fine, as you can all see." Elrond started explaining. "As for if his physical abilities we are unsure. Glorfindel found him on the floor, indicating that he at least was trying to walk."
Aragorn nodded soberly, along with the twins, before frowning.
"You crazy elf!" he murmered to his sleeping friend. "What in the name of all thst is good were you trying to do? Of course, only you, would try and get out of bed. Only you." There was such fondness in his voice, that Erond couldn't help but smile.
"I think the main thing to focus on right now is that Legolas is alive." Elrohir said, to which the others all nodded again.
Aragorn suddenly grinned, the wide smile stretching his face, "I told you so! I told you so!" He crowed triumphantly.
TBC...
Well, now Aragorn knows and everybody is happy! *heheh*
Review Reply:
Belle: Thanks so much! It makes me very happy that you are enjoying it so! :)
