Crystal Tears of Blood
Chapter 11
Do They Ever Disappear?
"If you wound the tree in its youth the bark will quickly cover the gash; but when the tree is very old, peeling the bark off and looking carefully,
you will the scar there still. All that is buried is not dead"
Olive Schreiner
Legolas sat in front of Estel, wrapping his sprained wrist. That idiot of an orc had tried to have his 'fun' with the boy not too long ago, but Legolas would not have it. The elves and human had a good laugh at the creatures broken nose, despite what had taken place before. Estel could still not find it in his heart to forgive himself for what he had done even though Legolas did countless times. The Mirkwood elf knew he was not to blame, had no hard feelings against him, and even forgot it for a time. But Estel did not. Elladan tried to reassure him that it was all right, that they didn't care, that it was not his doing... but humans are easy to take the blame.
"Thank you." said Estel as Legolas finished up. The elf smiled.
"Just try not to get yourself into anymore fights with these things," he nodded to the orcs about camp. "I'm not so much a strong healer." Estel grinned, leading Legolas to believe that the two were done, but as the elf went to sit by his tree (one he had been having very interesting conversations with), Estel grabbed him by the arm.
"You were hurt too, Legolas." he said referring to the many lashes across his back. Legolas stiffened.
"I am fine, Estel."
"No, you're not!"
"Please, Estel, I truly am alright."
"But you-"
"Estel." The boy looked towards his brother, looking at him as to say 'You know I am right!'. Elladan just shook his head. "I will take care of it. Now, please try to sleep. We all need some rest." Estel nodded reluctantly, still wishing that he had been able to treat Legolas' back. But he obeyed his brother, knowing that his much superior healing skills would be more affective than his any day. But as he closed his eyes, he wondered why Legolas did not protest against Elladan...
O0O0O
The Fire in camp burned low, smoldering into mere embers as the night dragged on. Perhaps 60 orcs lay asleep on the ground, creating the smell of rotting corpses even though they were, regrettably, still alive. But once again, their was one in the camp that should have been sleeping, yet sat up against a tree, very much awake. And another waking. As the second came to sit by the first mentioned, he spoke in an thankful whisper.
"Hannon le, Elladan." Elladan smiled. A sad smile that almost spelled out pity, but not quite.
"It was nothing, Legolas. He does not yet need to know."
"I'm surprised he did not see before." He whispered.
"It was hard to see anything, mellon nin." Elladan grimaced. "Too much blood. And I don't think Estel was looking." Legolas merely sighed.
"To have to hide yourself from someone, just because what they might see could frighten them... It is sickening. No one should have to go through this at so young. He is only 14."
"You were younger." Elladan stated bluntly. "You've gone through more than anyone ever should." He gently turned Legolas' head so their eyes met. 'So much pain' he thought to himself. "Stop worrying about everyone else and start worrying about yourself. Stop pretending that you're alright." Legolas knew what was coming. "Let me look."
"No."
"Legolas, don't even." Elladan said sternly. "I will not have you die on me because you refused to be tended to. Now let me look." Before Legolas could even say one word of protest, his shirt was off, revealing a scarred and bloodied back that made even Elladan cringe at the sight. It was horrible. Scar after scar lay on top of each other. Old, new, bleeding... If his back was all you could see, never would you believe that inside was one of the elvin race. Elladan had to blink back the tears that threatened to fall. He gently dabbed at Legolas' back, using a small strip of cloth from his already very torn up cloak. Soon the cloth had changed from a deep blue to a dark purple-crimson, Stained with Legolas' blood. The wood-elf had not made a sound the entire time, but when Elladan wrapped a strip of cloth around the more abused area, he could hear and feel the sharp intake of breath on Legolas' part.
"I don't understand," he began, "How you feel when I help you, but are as hard as stone when they beat you."
Legolas laughed.
"If you show weakness towards them, it's showing the weakness of your race. Show that you are strong and the fear you." Elladan handed Legolas his tunic. "I am with someone who does not care about those things, who does not think like that. I show what I truly feel."
Elladan looked towards the fire, then to the orcs that lay around it. His eyes were filled with hate, but with something more; pity. "It kills you to think that before, they were elves. They had a heart and soul... To take any race be it elf, human, or even the dwarves and mutilate them into this,"
"I'd rather die to go through such pain to become what they are now." Legolas said. For a long while the two sat in absolute silence, the slow, rhythmic breathing of Estel the only sound on the wind. It was disturbing, to say the least. Wood elf or no, to not hear anything but your heart beat was frightening enough to drive you to insanity.
"Why does he hate you so, Legolas? Why does Naharâk want you dead so badly?" Elladan asked in a soft whisper.
"He was once an elf of Mirkwood." Legolas said, remembering all his father had ever told him about the elf when he was young and what he had learned on his own. "Long ago, he was captured and tortured. Every day, every night they would beat him, burn him, until he had forgotten who he was before. Until he was like them. He is stronger, smarter, more powerful than any others. Everything they needed him to become so he would harm those he once loved. That's what happens to them. They hate who they once were, what they were, the family they loved. He led his followers to Mirkwood and attacked, killing half of greenwoods population including her queen and prince. His goal is to bring down an entire elvin realm, a great realm like Lothlorien or Imladris, but Mirkwood was all he could get his hands around. He wants us all to die, but he finds the slow way to that goal the better deal. He wants to know how to get in, that's why his target is me."
"What would your father do if he found out what has happened to you?" Legolas looked to the sky, searching for Erendils light. Seeing it meant their was still hope. He smiled, but in his eyes was great pain.
"My lord will sacrifice himself if it means my safety. I can only pray that it will never happen."
TBC...
Well, it is only two days late! I'm so very sorry this chapter is so bad. It's the worst one in the entire story so far. It's just to much talking and not enough action, badly thrown together... sighs oh well, what can you do? Oh guess what? That orc captain has a name! Hah, I totally forgot! It's Xanthar, so when I refer to someone as Xanthar, it's the orc captain, savvy? wink
Well guys, I only got 4 reviews. I'm seriously starting to doubt whether should continue this story because the response to it is so low. If you even remotely care, would you be so kind to leave a review for me? Hannon le.
xxxdarkstarxxx
