:S I never got a chance to tell you guys before I went away… Oops. And now school's back, so I will only be getting a chance to update every two weeks, I think, but I will alternate Revenge of the Hobbits one weekend and Captive the next, so for those of you who are following both, you get an update every weekend! It's just too much typing to do! Some of these chapters are really long!
Chapter Twenty Six
The next morning, Legolas was back to being 'fine', and tried his best to act cheerful, though it was obvious that he was in pain. He ate what he considered to be a generous portion of lembas for breakfast to prove this, even though he wasn't hungry, and took his medicine unaided. Once everyone was ready and camp was pitched, Aragorn wrapped Legolas up against the cold and together he and Árë got the elf up onto Nienor. Legolas put in some mild protesting to keep up his façade, but really he was glad of their help. They set off into the cold, Aragorn riding behind Legolas and Árë leading Roheryn. Fortunately it was only snowing lightly – Caradras could be a lot worse. Even so, Legolas began to shiver slightly, and Aragorn wrapped his arms around his friend, hoping to lend some body heat, and gave the elf frequent sips of a hot drink he had prepared, which contained herbs to combat pain and nausea. After a few sips, Legolas found himself feeling much warmer, but also quite sleepy from the combination of herbs.
oXo
"Are you all right?" Aragorn asked anxiously when the elf slumped forward. The Ranger tightened his grip, careful of Legolas's injuries.
"Mmm," the elf muttered, "Just…sleepy…" He raised a hand to rub his eyes. They were so heavy.
"Sleep then," Aragorn told him.
"Uhhh…" Legolas's eyes closed. The shuffling of Nienor's hooves in the snow was like a soothing lullaby, and he soon fell into a deep, healing sleep.
oXo
"Legolas?"
"Ugh?"
"I'm sorry to have to wake you," Aragorn apologised, "but I'm afraid it's time for your medicine."
"Oh, then it must be about…" Legolas tried to calculate the time, but his head felt too fuzzy from sleep.
"Midday," Aragorn informed him.
"Here," said Árë, passing up a cup. Legolas took it and drank down the contents quickly. When he was finished, he passed it back and asked with concern,
"Árë, meleth nin, are you not tired, walking in the snow – it is deep." He shivered.
"No," the she-elf lied. Legolas could tell that she wasn't telling him the truth.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Oh." The elves' eyes didn't meet and there was an awkward silence, Árë glaring at her boots as if she intended to bore a hole in them and Legolas staring at Nienor's withers. Aragorn cleared his throat.
"Uh, let's move. Every second counts." The Ranger could feel the tension in the air and wanted to end it.
"Yes, let's," Árë mumbled, and jerked on Roheryn's reins, startling the horse into movement. The she-elf's shoulders sagged with exhaustion.
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Legolas worried all through the remainder of the day, and it did nothing to improve his pain. The same thoughts over and over again, repeating themselves and repeating themselves and repeating themselves. .:Why didn't Árë tell me the truth? Why did she keep it from me, when we both knew the truth? Why did she keep it from me a second time:. She was still being cool to him, no, make that icy, and it made him uneasy. .:Árë is so moody sometimes. At times quick to forgive, other times unforgiving. Ai, I hope this is not one of those times. But I haven't done anything wrong:. Legolas was miserable, but insisted to Aragorn that he was merely cold and in pain, but that neither were severe. The Ranger seemed not to believe him thought, for he just gave a sympathetic look, as if to say 'I understand, Legolas.'
.:Ai:. the elf thought wearily, .:Now I am the one who is lying:.
oXo
Sorry this one is so short – just how it turned out. Next one will be longer. It's about Thranduil and Elenath though. Not so exciting, I know, but we can't leave them out of it :S Heheh, Legolas and Árë's relationship just got WORSE! :)