A/N 2015 - Hello everyone! It's been a long time since I attempted to rewrite this whole fic, but I was so adamant and excited about it that I started rewriting it into half a book. I bled myself dry of inspiration and will. I had already written this once and was so proud if it I wanted to make it better for my readers (seeing as I wrote this when I was so much younger).
My intentions are still to tend to this one day and make it into that half a book, it's something I'm too proud of to say "I'll never finish." But for now I simply am not in that place, I hope you can understand that. I deleted the original chapters at first, but since I am not and will not tend to it any time soon, I give them back to you. I have been remiss into giving the ending to my new readers. So apologies for the difference in writing, the grammar and spell fails of old (I am at the very least throwing a spell-check over it, but it doesn't always catch everything)- but I hope you can at least enjoy the story.
10. Searching For Aid
Aragorn cradled the elf in his arms as the dwarfs broke through the wall. Gimli was by their side in an instant, "What is wrong with the elf?" he asked Aragorn.
Aragorn shook his head, "His side, it's bleeding badly" he suddenly noticed his white shirt stained with red.
Aragorn touched it with his fingertips and felt it being wet, "Why is it not healing?" he whispered to himself.
"Get him in the open air!" Gimli suddenly shouted as he got hold of the green cloak which belonged to his fallen friend. "Aragorn, take him outside, the fresh air might help".
Aragorn nodded and stood, holding the limp body of his lover in his arms. Once outside, he was immediately being crowded by his worried friends.
"What problem is at hand my friend?" Aragorn felt a hand on his shoulder as he laid Legolas down. "I do not know Gandalf, all but the fact of his wound not healing and bleeding badly" he spoke softly, concern in his eyes as they met Gandalf's.
"I do not know what to do Gandalf, his wound has received all my aid, what am I to do?" he stood carefully.
A frown appeared on the wizard's face, giving Aragorn an answer he feared, even the wise wizard did not know. He bend down to the body and noticed it to be pale, "Much blood has drained from his body...Why? Why does his wound not heal?" Aragorn whispered. "Wake up Legolas, please, wake up and tell me you are alright..." he spoke in elvish.
It did not go as expected, the elf did not wake up, though all the fellowship pleaded him to do so.
Legolas had indeed fainted of the loss of blood, after his lovemaking with Aragorn, he had fallen into a new nightmare. In his dream the dark one had tormented him with the painful blows and it had ripped the wound open, making it bleed harder.
Aragorn had not noticed, for he was already out of the bed. He had awakened the elf from his bad dream and had not noticed him slowly being drained. Legolas had noticed though and the habit of caring for others more than himself, let him hid his injury again.
When getting out of the bed, he had wiped off the wound, so no blood could be seen very well in the cave's dark light. Quickly had clothed himself with his leggings and white shirt, the beautiful tunic he had worn in Lothlorien before, his green cloak still on the floor.
While Aragorn had been speaking to Gimli, he tried to walk, but the loss of his lifeblood and the aching of his wound did not permit him too as he collapsed on the floor.
"Legolas!" Aragorn was shaking the elf's shoulders now, but again, it was of no avail.
"Aragorn!" Merry and Pippin grabbed the upset man from both sides and looked at him. The man's eyes shone out concern, but did not cry. "Do not do this, he will wake up eventually" Pippin told the man. "Yes Aragorn, let us carry him with us on our journey" Merry added.
"But how my hobbit friends? Though Legolas is light, I cannot carry him over the Caradhras, it would be too hard, even if the mountain is at peace now" the king said.
"He is right, even one build as Aragorn could not, for the Caradhras is hard to cross even at the easiest times" Gimli added as he had discharged the other dwarves, whom were now heading back for Moria.
Merry and Pippin cursed under their breaths for their attempt to brighten the king's mood and turned their faces to Gandalf.
He shrugged once more, even he did not have an answer. "We should take him to Lothlorien, perhaps Lady Galadriel has a solution, but I do not know how, the elf is no state to take such a long journey. Even we are hasty in our steps, we could not reach Lothlorien in time" Gandalf spoke, saddening the entire fellowship, what were they to do?
"Do not fear friends, the prince of Mirkwood will survive" A kind voice that almost seemed to be singing reached the ears of the fellowship.
They cocked their heads around to see of whom the voice belonged to. They did not see a thing, until several miles from them they heard noises. Not having the elven abilities, they could not make out from whom it was, nor what kind of noises it were.
"Do not fear, I bring answers to your current questions.." the voice sounded through their heads again.
"What is this kind of sorcery? Who can talk to our minds with such distance?" Gimli roared.
Aragorn walked away from the body, "A bright light is approaching" he suddenly spoke.
"A bright light?" Sam repeated in amazement, "bright light?" Frodo asked, just as surprised.
"I feel we do not have to hold fear in our hearts" Gandalf added.
And so the fellowship waited, though it were mere minutes before the being was within ear reach, it felt like hours. Slowly the bright light took the form of a horse and it walked up to the fellowship, until Pippin noticed it.
"A unicorn!" he gasped. The others noticed it too and looked at it in amazement.
Gandalf smiled upon the unicorn, "My dear Ceriella, so good to see you" he spoke.
The others looked at Gandalf in surprise, "You know her?" Merry said.
"It has been long Gandalf, though it has not been long since my last meeting with the prince" she turned her gaze to the body on the ground.
"He had lost much blood within the last hours" she spoke softly. "What?" Aragorn approached and stood next Gandalf, "Within the last hours? That cannot be, I would have noticed!" he proclaimed.
"Then you should have observed the elf better king of Gondor, for his bed is stained by his blood, see for yourself if you do not believe me".
Aragorn made no attempt to run in the cave to fetch the blankets, so Frodo ran for him.
He returned with the blankets which had formed their bed and indeed, they were drenched with elven blood. "Aragorn...she is right" Frodo whispered in awe.
Aragorn let his head hung low in guilt, "I could have prevented this..." he whispered.
"Son of Arathorn, do not feel guilty for the elf intentionally hid it well. And if an elf wants to hide himself or his injuries, no mere being can find out" the unicorn's words let some of the man's guilt flow away.
"What can I do to save him Ceriella, what am I to do?" he asked now.
"Indeed Gandalf was right, Lady Galadriel perhaps has the power to heal, if not, Legolas could rest in Lothlorien, with good food and care he will heal by himself. We should hurry, ere he bleeds to death" she spoke.
"But Ceriella, we cannot bring Legolas to Lothlorien in time by feet, nor could a mere horse carry us fast enough across the Caradhras" Gandalf pointed at the top of the mountain, which was covered in snow.
"You are right again Gandalf, but I bring the solution.. Let me do this first, to gain more time" she walked over to Legolas and looked at him sadly.
"Prince of Mirkwood, I warned you so, though I know it is not your fault, hold on. I respect your wished and shall not reveal what you do not want me too. Now let me gain us some time" she whispered to the elf in elvish.
Slowly she bent her head, all of her light flowing to her horn and she touched Legolas's wound with it.
She lifted her head and turned to Aragorn, "Estel, the wound has stopped bleeding, but not for long. Amount me and hold Legolas with you. Together we can reach Lothlorien in time" she spoke in elvish.
"What are they saying?" Pippin whispered to Merry as he shrugged in reply.
"I was saying Perigrin Took, that king Elessar and Legolas could reach Lothlorien in time, ere they rode me" Ceriella turned to the hobbits.
"And us? What about us?" Sam said. "Prince Greenleaf needs time to heal, he will not yet be healed when you reach Lothlorien by foot. And I doubt the Mestiando would trouble you on your way there" she turned back to Aragorn, "Estel, let us be off before it is too late" she said gentle, yet demanding.
The hobbits were about to protest again, but Gandalf stopped them, "She is right my friends, let us be off to Lothlorien by foot".
Gimli nodded as well, "Take good care of him Ceriella and Aragorn, though I have no doubt you will" he bowed before the mystical animal.
"Rise son of Gloin, do not kneel before me. I am but another concerned friend of prince Legolas and my intention is to see him well, as is yours. I am no greater than you. And for your request, I will do the best I can. Be well son of Gloin, for Legolas treasures your friendship" were her last words as she bend down to let Aragorn amount her with Legolas in his arms.
She rose and ran off, even faster than Shadowfax could have and Gandalf watched in awe.
"Be well Legolas, be well" he whispered.