c Rightyho then. On with Part Four. Haven't got any gems of wisdom to impart to you since I only finished Part 4 six hours ago. But the Muse will not shut up. As alwys thanks for the reviews. I'm very happy that you all like it. I was tempted npt tp write this to see if 'Little Rat' wrote more fic but I want to start chapter sdix./ This might seem a bit long winded but I thought it would be better than saying. 'Three days later all was well...' or something because life here or in Middle Earth don't work like that! :o)
Oh also I realised I hadn't disclaimed the previous stuff. None of the characters are mine except Duredhel and the maid who will make her entrance shortly, appear for all of thirty seconds and then vanish. Never to be seen by mankind (or elfkind, or dwarf, or ent, or orc or...I'm pretty sure you get my drift) anyway... I'm not making any money. At all. From anything. I don't have a job. Boohoo. :o( So you can try to sue but I'd cry. :'o( for I am what is commonly known as...
... a wuss. Sorry.
***
Gimli hurried over the expanse of land before him on foot refusing, as ever, to mount a horse unless Legolas was firmly in control.
'Noro lim,' he said falteringly hoping the horse would understand, obligingly Arod picked up his pace causing Gimli to smile slightly. The night was still dark but was rising and the city walls of Minas Tirith were coming visible to the dwarf. He began to walk quicker hoping to return to the city only shortly after Aragorn. He hoped fervently that he had arrived safely with his cargo. Legolas had looked so ashen and motionless that Gimli feared greatly for his life. For although he knew the Elf was immortal, that he could recover from injuries and maladies that would have killed lesser men, the rasped words he had spoken chilled the dwarf to the bone.
***
Aragorn rode directly to the palace entrance and dismounted, thrusting Hasufel's reigns to the nearest guard before gently lifting his Elven friend from the horse's back taking care not to disturb the arrow which still protruded from his shoulder. Aragorn could feel the heat radiating from his friend who normally felt so cold to the touch of man. Still the familiar blue eyes were open and vacant. Aragorn hurried towards Legolas' chambers hoping Arwen would arrive quicker than she would have if they were at the Healing Halls. A maid passed and Aragorn called to her.
'My Lord?'
'Go to the Lady Arwen at once. Ask her to meet me at Legolas' chambers immediately.'
The maid nodded.
'Should I explain why my Lord?' she asked hesitantly her eyes straying to the wounded man in the King's arms.
'Tell her that Duredhel has come again and that the Elf Legolas has fallen. Go swiftly now, for there may not be much time.'
The maid hurried away and Aragorn returned his attention to his burden. The unblinking eyes seemed to be watching him.
'Legolas?' he spoke softly, hopeful the elf would hear him and awaken. He received no response and sighing opened the doors to the chamber of the Elf. Gently he laid Legolas on the bed. Slowly the blue eyes closed and then opened again.
'Legolas?'
the eyes blinked again.
'...Aragorn...' the voice was barely a whisper.
Arwen entered the room swiftly. Her keen gaze took in the room and fell on the fallen Elf. His appearance was more terrible than she had expected. His pale face was drawn and bloodless looking almost translucent in the candlelight. Sweat shined on his brow and his usual gleaming blond hair which reminded her so much of spun gold was limp, dirtied and unkempt. Most shocking was the arrow shaft which deeply penetrated his shoulder, blood had dried around it holding it upright as a trophy of their enemy. She crossed the room silently and took the Elf's hand, surprised to see eyes flick towards her in recognition,
'...Arwen...'
'Legolas? Who carried out this deed?' She asked in the flowing tongue of the elves.
A looked of fear crossed the Elf's eyes.
'...Arwen...Duredhel...returned...darkness....is...is....coming...'he lapsed once more into silence but his eyes were trained onto her face.
Gently she released his hand and moved to inspect his injury, grimacing as she heard a hiss of indrawn breath.
'Have you a knife?' she asked of her husband. He removed a small dirk from within his boot and passed it to her. Carefully she cut away the soiled cloth revealing angry red lines running away from the wound forming a red web across his chest.
'The arrow is poisoned. It must be removed.'
'Yes.' Agreed Aragorn, 'That is what Legolas said. He also said three days.'
The hoarse voice spoke again.
'...yes...Gilgolas...three...days...before...he died.'
Arwen nodded reassuringly to him though it was belied by the tears in her eyes.
'Have no fear Legolas, we will send for my father immediately.'
At this Aragorn gestured his wife into a corner.
'We will never get a messenger to Rivendell in three days, much less bring back your father.'
She nodded.
'If my father were at Rivendell that would be the case. But he is not. He visits Rohan now, on his way between Lothlorien and Minas Tirith. He sent a messenger this morning notifying me of his impending visit.'
'I will send a messenger immediately.'
'No Aragorn, I will go on Arod, I am a good rider and Arod is young and strong.'
Aragorn was about to protest but he was beaten.
'....no...after elves....arwen....they...would kill....you...'
'He is right. I will take Hasufel. I will not be long.'
Arewn bowed her head in acceptance. Aragorn held her close.
'Take care of him Arwen. Don't let him leave us.'
Aragorn left.
In the corridor Gimli stood outside the door only to be greeted by a hurrying Aragorn.
'He is in there Gimli. I will see you soon.'
Aragorn left in the direction of the stable.
Gimli entered Legolas' chamber, relieved to see the Elf's head turn slightly at the sound.
'...Gimli...Arod?'
'Typical, Master Elf. More concerned for the horse than for me.'
'..you...walked in...he didn't....' A small pain-filled smile crossed his face.
'Arod is fine. He is in the stables. I brought him back for you since you leave your possessions lying around. Speaking of which...' Gimli laid a bow by the bed, 'I believe that is yours.'
'You...rode?' Legolas was amazed.
'No I did not ride. I walked. He followed. It was a long walk. Next time make sure I have a ride as well.'
Legolas nodded slightly.
Arwen spoke up,
'Gimli please go to the Healing Hall and fetch some kingsfoil. It will slow the poison' I hope. I will try to remove the arrow.'
Gimli hesitated.
'Go Gimli.' She said softly as Legolas' eyes became vacant once more. I will care for him.'
***
See it was long winded. It'll get better. when I decide what'll happen next. Please R+R!
Oh also I realised I hadn't disclaimed the previous stuff. None of the characters are mine except Duredhel and the maid who will make her entrance shortly, appear for all of thirty seconds and then vanish. Never to be seen by mankind (or elfkind, or dwarf, or ent, or orc or...I'm pretty sure you get my drift) anyway... I'm not making any money. At all. From anything. I don't have a job. Boohoo. :o( So you can try to sue but I'd cry. :'o( for I am what is commonly known as...
... a wuss. Sorry.
***
Gimli hurried over the expanse of land before him on foot refusing, as ever, to mount a horse unless Legolas was firmly in control.
'Noro lim,' he said falteringly hoping the horse would understand, obligingly Arod picked up his pace causing Gimli to smile slightly. The night was still dark but was rising and the city walls of Minas Tirith were coming visible to the dwarf. He began to walk quicker hoping to return to the city only shortly after Aragorn. He hoped fervently that he had arrived safely with his cargo. Legolas had looked so ashen and motionless that Gimli feared greatly for his life. For although he knew the Elf was immortal, that he could recover from injuries and maladies that would have killed lesser men, the rasped words he had spoken chilled the dwarf to the bone.
***
Aragorn rode directly to the palace entrance and dismounted, thrusting Hasufel's reigns to the nearest guard before gently lifting his Elven friend from the horse's back taking care not to disturb the arrow which still protruded from his shoulder. Aragorn could feel the heat radiating from his friend who normally felt so cold to the touch of man. Still the familiar blue eyes were open and vacant. Aragorn hurried towards Legolas' chambers hoping Arwen would arrive quicker than she would have if they were at the Healing Halls. A maid passed and Aragorn called to her.
'My Lord?'
'Go to the Lady Arwen at once. Ask her to meet me at Legolas' chambers immediately.'
The maid nodded.
'Should I explain why my Lord?' she asked hesitantly her eyes straying to the wounded man in the King's arms.
'Tell her that Duredhel has come again and that the Elf Legolas has fallen. Go swiftly now, for there may not be much time.'
The maid hurried away and Aragorn returned his attention to his burden. The unblinking eyes seemed to be watching him.
'Legolas?' he spoke softly, hopeful the elf would hear him and awaken. He received no response and sighing opened the doors to the chamber of the Elf. Gently he laid Legolas on the bed. Slowly the blue eyes closed and then opened again.
'Legolas?'
the eyes blinked again.
'...Aragorn...' the voice was barely a whisper.
Arwen entered the room swiftly. Her keen gaze took in the room and fell on the fallen Elf. His appearance was more terrible than she had expected. His pale face was drawn and bloodless looking almost translucent in the candlelight. Sweat shined on his brow and his usual gleaming blond hair which reminded her so much of spun gold was limp, dirtied and unkempt. Most shocking was the arrow shaft which deeply penetrated his shoulder, blood had dried around it holding it upright as a trophy of their enemy. She crossed the room silently and took the Elf's hand, surprised to see eyes flick towards her in recognition,
'...Arwen...'
'Legolas? Who carried out this deed?' She asked in the flowing tongue of the elves.
A looked of fear crossed the Elf's eyes.
'...Arwen...Duredhel...returned...darkness....is...is....coming...'he lapsed once more into silence but his eyes were trained onto her face.
Gently she released his hand and moved to inspect his injury, grimacing as she heard a hiss of indrawn breath.
'Have you a knife?' she asked of her husband. He removed a small dirk from within his boot and passed it to her. Carefully she cut away the soiled cloth revealing angry red lines running away from the wound forming a red web across his chest.
'The arrow is poisoned. It must be removed.'
'Yes.' Agreed Aragorn, 'That is what Legolas said. He also said three days.'
The hoarse voice spoke again.
'...yes...Gilgolas...three...days...before...he died.'
Arwen nodded reassuringly to him though it was belied by the tears in her eyes.
'Have no fear Legolas, we will send for my father immediately.'
At this Aragorn gestured his wife into a corner.
'We will never get a messenger to Rivendell in three days, much less bring back your father.'
She nodded.
'If my father were at Rivendell that would be the case. But he is not. He visits Rohan now, on his way between Lothlorien and Minas Tirith. He sent a messenger this morning notifying me of his impending visit.'
'I will send a messenger immediately.'
'No Aragorn, I will go on Arod, I am a good rider and Arod is young and strong.'
Aragorn was about to protest but he was beaten.
'....no...after elves....arwen....they...would kill....you...'
'He is right. I will take Hasufel. I will not be long.'
Arewn bowed her head in acceptance. Aragorn held her close.
'Take care of him Arwen. Don't let him leave us.'
Aragorn left.
In the corridor Gimli stood outside the door only to be greeted by a hurrying Aragorn.
'He is in there Gimli. I will see you soon.'
Aragorn left in the direction of the stable.
Gimli entered Legolas' chamber, relieved to see the Elf's head turn slightly at the sound.
'...Gimli...Arod?'
'Typical, Master Elf. More concerned for the horse than for me.'
'..you...walked in...he didn't....' A small pain-filled smile crossed his face.
'Arod is fine. He is in the stables. I brought him back for you since you leave your possessions lying around. Speaking of which...' Gimli laid a bow by the bed, 'I believe that is yours.'
'You...rode?' Legolas was amazed.
'No I did not ride. I walked. He followed. It was a long walk. Next time make sure I have a ride as well.'
Legolas nodded slightly.
Arwen spoke up,
'Gimli please go to the Healing Hall and fetch some kingsfoil. It will slow the poison' I hope. I will try to remove the arrow.'
Gimli hesitated.
'Go Gimli.' She said softly as Legolas' eyes became vacant once more. I will care for him.'
***
See it was long winded. It'll get better. when I decide what'll happen next. Please R+R!