Note: All unknown characters are mine!
The Grip Of Death
Part 7
A.J. Matthews
Legolas, Aragorn, and Seiren had been riding for nearly seven hours now, when Legolas glanced back at Seiren.
To his surprise, he saw that Seiren was fast asleep, barely clinging to the Elven horse he rode on.
"Seiren is sleeping, my love," Legolas whispered. "He looks very tired, indeed."
Aragorn peered over his lover's shoulder. "So I see," he whispered back.
The red-haired elf was pale to behold in his light blue robes as his grip weakened slightly. Unlike most elves, Seiren actually had his eyes closed as he slept.
"I thought elves slept with their eyes open, dear one," Aragorn said, frowning. "His are closed.
Legolas frowned as well. "He is well and truly exhausted."
"Do you want to stop and rest?" Aragorn asked gently. 'You could probably use more sleep as well, Legolas,' the man said in fluent Elvish.
"I'm only a little tired," Legolas protested. "Seiren needs rest far more than I."
Aragorn sighed, sensing the elf was going to be stubborn. "Do you want to stop or not?"
"Let's stop for a while, Aragorn," Legolas finally murmured.
Aragorn nodded. He pulled the reins on his horse, and it stopped besides a small stream.
Seiren's Elven stallion stopped as well.
Aragorn dismounted, and put his arms around Legolas's waist, before he lifted the elf to the ground.
"I am capable of dismounting on my own," Legolas said, a tiny pucker on his forehead.
Aragorn smiled. "I know."
Legolas smiled back. "Good."
Concern for his friend made Legolas go over to the Elven stallion.
Seiren opened his eyes weakly, as Legolas placed a hand on his shoulder. 'Sorry, my friend,' Seiren whispered in Elvish. 'I cannot move until I regain my magic.'
'I understand,' Legolas replied. He then realized that Aragorn was standing behind him.
Aragorn surprised him by lifting the nearly unconscious Seiren off of his horse. He set the elf on the ground, but Seiren nearly fell.
Legolas took one side, as Aragorn assisted with the other. Seiren only took a few tentative steps, before he sunk back into a deep sleep.
Legolas and Aragorn exchanged a look, before they carried the sleeping elf over to the soft grass beside the brook.
They lay him out flat, and knelt beside him.
Aragorn took off his torn cloak, and placed it over Seiren.
Seiren murmured something so softly in Elvish that Legolas barely heard it.
'Leave me, Legolas. You and Elessar must go before…'
'What do you speak of, Seiren?' Legolas asked in vain, for his friend spoke no more.
Aragorn's arms went around Legolas, for he could see that his lover worried about his friend. "We won't leave him," he promised.
Legolas leaned against Aragorn, letting his own weariness show. "I suppose I seem weak to you, my love?" the blonde elf inquired.
"Tis all right for others to see your weaknesses, dear heart. Not even elves can be perfect," Aragorn teased gently.
"I knew there was a reason I loved you," Legolas said with a tender, yet mischievous smile.
Aragorn kissed his lover, darting his tongue between the elf's lips.
Legolas moaned softly as he turned towards his lover, slipping his own tongue in Aragorn's mouth.
A whimper nearly came from Aragorn, as Legolas pressed his lithe and graceful body against Aragorn's own.
Enflamed desire crept up between them, as Aragorn's hands cupped Legolas's face, before sliding under the elf's white tunic and shirt. Legolas moaned uncontrollably.
Both froze, however, as they heard the sounds of someone approaching.
Leaves crackled, and sticks snapped as the figure approached.
Legolas and Aragorn jerked apart. They looked at each other, at Seiren, and then back at each other.
Both lunged towards the sleeping elf at the same time. Legolas took Seiren's arms, as Aragorn took his legs. They quickly carried Seiren into the brush.
The unknown figure approached rapidly.
Seiren jerked awake again. "Run," he moaned, as he looked at Legolas and Aragorn. Seiren knew what new evil that Motarasu had awakened.
The two lovers looked at Seiren in shock.
"No," Legolas said angrily. "I will not abandon you."
"You have to, Legolas. Kokushibyou is coming," Seiren said, trembling slightly. The time had come. Seiren had vowed to protect these two with his life. He had made his decision already.
Legolas froze in terror. That name brought utter fear to him.
Appropriately named 'black death', the foul creature was a menace that could never be stopped, as least while Seiren could not aid Legolas if they fought.
"Legolas, you have to live for Elessar, for Aradia, for your captured friends, and because you are the only one who can defeat the darkness." Seiren's eyes were turning from blue to amethyst again.
"I'll fight with you," Legolas shouted. "I will not lose another friend!"
"You are not ready for him," Seiren whispered. He turned to Aragorn. "As you love him, Elessar, get Legolas out of here!"
Aragorn froze. "Is this creature truly so evil?"
Seiren nodded. "There is a chance it won't kill me, but it will kill Legolas for certain." His amethyst eyes met Aragorn's dark grey ones. Sincerity shone in them. "He must live."
"Don't you dare," Legolas said to Aragorn, anger shining in his eyes. "Seiren, you are too weak to even fight!"
"Forgive me, Legolas," Seiren said softly. Blue light glowed around him as he grabbed Legolas's arm, flesh to flesh.
A glow surrounded Legolas, before the blonde elf suddenly collapsed.
The advance of the creature could still be heard. Darkness was beginning to fall across the small clearing.
Chills crept down Aragorn's spine.
"Go, Elessar. Take Legolas and my horse. I will bide you time. Tell him that I am sorry, but he is not ready to battle with this ancient foe," Seiren told Aragorn, a few tears running down his face. "I made my decision long ago. Go to Galadrial and tell her that Kokushibyou is free once more. Be well and be safe, Elessar."
Aragorn took Legolas in his arms and stood. He looked at red-haired elf. "Thank you for everything," Aragorn said, as he turned and ran.
Angry screeches sounded, as Aragorn vaulted onto Seiren's Elven horse, holding Legolas to him tightly.
The horse reared and galloped off.
For the second time in less than forty-eight hours, Aragorn was forced to abandon a friend to face incredible odds.
As they rode on, Aragorn looked back, and saw that it was as dark as night where Seiren remained.
**************************************************************************** *******
Seiren stood, as the enormous dark creature approached him.
"Where is the bearer of Eärendil's light?" Kokushibyou hissed.
"He is beyond your reach, Kokushibyou, so I have already won," Seiren said, as he brought his hands together.
"But you have light as well," the huge creature hissed.
Seiren gazed at his most ancient foe, who stood much taller than he.
Kokushibyou had dark fur, and burning eyes, blacker than the darkest night. Enormous claws served as hands for the evil being.
The battle began.
Pale blue light shone brighter than the stars, mingling with that of the darkness, as power clashed together numerous times.
Seiren did his best, but his own powers were severely diminished.
The utter evil of Kokushibyou affected the light within him, weakening his magic all the more.
Therefore, Seiren was hopelessly outmatched. But he fought all the more, to bide time for his 'brother in all but blood' to escape.
**************************************************************************** *******
Legolas came awake suddenly in Aragorn's arms.
Aragorn had halted the horse, as he looked down from the tall cliff that the Elven horse had brought them to.
He stood on top of the cliff, with the horse beside him.
"No!" Legolas screamed, as he realized that Seiren was not with them. He struggled in Aragorn's arms, but the human held him all the tighter.
Aragorn saw blue light fighting with that of black, streaks of each coursing through each other. He placed Legolas on the ground so the elf could stand, but kept a firm grip on his lover.
Legolas focused his attention at that spot, praying silently, as he momentarily ceased his struggles.
A small explosion sounded.
To Aragorn's horror, and that of Legolas's as well, the blue flickered once, and vanished.
"No, please…" Legolas whispered. "No! Seiren!" He fought to get free from Aragorn's arms, as tears began to run down his face. Pain rushed through the elf. Seiren… Seiren had lost the fight. That was the only reason his light go out.
Aragorn turned the elf to face him. "He chose, Legolas," Aragorn said gently, feeling pain as well.
To his surprise, Legolas turned on him. "Why did you take me away, Aragorn? I could have…"
"He wanted you to live," Aragorn whispered, as he held his lover close.
Legolas began to weep softly. "How many more friends will be lost because of me?" He thought of Frodo and the Hobbits, Gimli the dwarf, and Gandalf the wizard. And now Legolas's best friend was gone.
"Do not blame yourself, my love. They chose, not you."
Legolas pressed his face against Aragorn and let his lover comfort him, until he could cry no more.
*********************
In the clearing
*********************
Kokushibyou's evil laughter rang out, as he looked at the limp and bloody body of Seiren.
He picked it up in his right hand, cradling it almost tenderly.
"Very good, elf," Kokushibyou hissed. "You almost beat me, but you weren't good enough." The massive creature began to walk away, holding the Elven body.
The motionless elf said nothing, but the crystal around his neck flashed briefly. It lit up the darkness for a few moments.
Then its light faded away, and only darkness was left.
To be continued
The Grip Of Death
Part 7
A.J. Matthews
Legolas, Aragorn, and Seiren had been riding for nearly seven hours now, when Legolas glanced back at Seiren.
To his surprise, he saw that Seiren was fast asleep, barely clinging to the Elven horse he rode on.
"Seiren is sleeping, my love," Legolas whispered. "He looks very tired, indeed."
Aragorn peered over his lover's shoulder. "So I see," he whispered back.
The red-haired elf was pale to behold in his light blue robes as his grip weakened slightly. Unlike most elves, Seiren actually had his eyes closed as he slept.
"I thought elves slept with their eyes open, dear one," Aragorn said, frowning. "His are closed.
Legolas frowned as well. "He is well and truly exhausted."
"Do you want to stop and rest?" Aragorn asked gently. 'You could probably use more sleep as well, Legolas,' the man said in fluent Elvish.
"I'm only a little tired," Legolas protested. "Seiren needs rest far more than I."
Aragorn sighed, sensing the elf was going to be stubborn. "Do you want to stop or not?"
"Let's stop for a while, Aragorn," Legolas finally murmured.
Aragorn nodded. He pulled the reins on his horse, and it stopped besides a small stream.
Seiren's Elven stallion stopped as well.
Aragorn dismounted, and put his arms around Legolas's waist, before he lifted the elf to the ground.
"I am capable of dismounting on my own," Legolas said, a tiny pucker on his forehead.
Aragorn smiled. "I know."
Legolas smiled back. "Good."
Concern for his friend made Legolas go over to the Elven stallion.
Seiren opened his eyes weakly, as Legolas placed a hand on his shoulder. 'Sorry, my friend,' Seiren whispered in Elvish. 'I cannot move until I regain my magic.'
'I understand,' Legolas replied. He then realized that Aragorn was standing behind him.
Aragorn surprised him by lifting the nearly unconscious Seiren off of his horse. He set the elf on the ground, but Seiren nearly fell.
Legolas took one side, as Aragorn assisted with the other. Seiren only took a few tentative steps, before he sunk back into a deep sleep.
Legolas and Aragorn exchanged a look, before they carried the sleeping elf over to the soft grass beside the brook.
They lay him out flat, and knelt beside him.
Aragorn took off his torn cloak, and placed it over Seiren.
Seiren murmured something so softly in Elvish that Legolas barely heard it.
'Leave me, Legolas. You and Elessar must go before…'
'What do you speak of, Seiren?' Legolas asked in vain, for his friend spoke no more.
Aragorn's arms went around Legolas, for he could see that his lover worried about his friend. "We won't leave him," he promised.
Legolas leaned against Aragorn, letting his own weariness show. "I suppose I seem weak to you, my love?" the blonde elf inquired.
"Tis all right for others to see your weaknesses, dear heart. Not even elves can be perfect," Aragorn teased gently.
"I knew there was a reason I loved you," Legolas said with a tender, yet mischievous smile.
Aragorn kissed his lover, darting his tongue between the elf's lips.
Legolas moaned softly as he turned towards his lover, slipping his own tongue in Aragorn's mouth.
A whimper nearly came from Aragorn, as Legolas pressed his lithe and graceful body against Aragorn's own.
Enflamed desire crept up between them, as Aragorn's hands cupped Legolas's face, before sliding under the elf's white tunic and shirt. Legolas moaned uncontrollably.
Both froze, however, as they heard the sounds of someone approaching.
Leaves crackled, and sticks snapped as the figure approached.
Legolas and Aragorn jerked apart. They looked at each other, at Seiren, and then back at each other.
Both lunged towards the sleeping elf at the same time. Legolas took Seiren's arms, as Aragorn took his legs. They quickly carried Seiren into the brush.
The unknown figure approached rapidly.
Seiren jerked awake again. "Run," he moaned, as he looked at Legolas and Aragorn. Seiren knew what new evil that Motarasu had awakened.
The two lovers looked at Seiren in shock.
"No," Legolas said angrily. "I will not abandon you."
"You have to, Legolas. Kokushibyou is coming," Seiren said, trembling slightly. The time had come. Seiren had vowed to protect these two with his life. He had made his decision already.
Legolas froze in terror. That name brought utter fear to him.
Appropriately named 'black death', the foul creature was a menace that could never be stopped, as least while Seiren could not aid Legolas if they fought.
"Legolas, you have to live for Elessar, for Aradia, for your captured friends, and because you are the only one who can defeat the darkness." Seiren's eyes were turning from blue to amethyst again.
"I'll fight with you," Legolas shouted. "I will not lose another friend!"
"You are not ready for him," Seiren whispered. He turned to Aragorn. "As you love him, Elessar, get Legolas out of here!"
Aragorn froze. "Is this creature truly so evil?"
Seiren nodded. "There is a chance it won't kill me, but it will kill Legolas for certain." His amethyst eyes met Aragorn's dark grey ones. Sincerity shone in them. "He must live."
"Don't you dare," Legolas said to Aragorn, anger shining in his eyes. "Seiren, you are too weak to even fight!"
"Forgive me, Legolas," Seiren said softly. Blue light glowed around him as he grabbed Legolas's arm, flesh to flesh.
A glow surrounded Legolas, before the blonde elf suddenly collapsed.
The advance of the creature could still be heard. Darkness was beginning to fall across the small clearing.
Chills crept down Aragorn's spine.
"Go, Elessar. Take Legolas and my horse. I will bide you time. Tell him that I am sorry, but he is not ready to battle with this ancient foe," Seiren told Aragorn, a few tears running down his face. "I made my decision long ago. Go to Galadrial and tell her that Kokushibyou is free once more. Be well and be safe, Elessar."
Aragorn took Legolas in his arms and stood. He looked at red-haired elf. "Thank you for everything," Aragorn said, as he turned and ran.
Angry screeches sounded, as Aragorn vaulted onto Seiren's Elven horse, holding Legolas to him tightly.
The horse reared and galloped off.
For the second time in less than forty-eight hours, Aragorn was forced to abandon a friend to face incredible odds.
As they rode on, Aragorn looked back, and saw that it was as dark as night where Seiren remained.
**************************************************************************** *******
Seiren stood, as the enormous dark creature approached him.
"Where is the bearer of Eärendil's light?" Kokushibyou hissed.
"He is beyond your reach, Kokushibyou, so I have already won," Seiren said, as he brought his hands together.
"But you have light as well," the huge creature hissed.
Seiren gazed at his most ancient foe, who stood much taller than he.
Kokushibyou had dark fur, and burning eyes, blacker than the darkest night. Enormous claws served as hands for the evil being.
The battle began.
Pale blue light shone brighter than the stars, mingling with that of the darkness, as power clashed together numerous times.
Seiren did his best, but his own powers were severely diminished.
The utter evil of Kokushibyou affected the light within him, weakening his magic all the more.
Therefore, Seiren was hopelessly outmatched. But he fought all the more, to bide time for his 'brother in all but blood' to escape.
**************************************************************************** *******
Legolas came awake suddenly in Aragorn's arms.
Aragorn had halted the horse, as he looked down from the tall cliff that the Elven horse had brought them to.
He stood on top of the cliff, with the horse beside him.
"No!" Legolas screamed, as he realized that Seiren was not with them. He struggled in Aragorn's arms, but the human held him all the tighter.
Aragorn saw blue light fighting with that of black, streaks of each coursing through each other. He placed Legolas on the ground so the elf could stand, but kept a firm grip on his lover.
Legolas focused his attention at that spot, praying silently, as he momentarily ceased his struggles.
A small explosion sounded.
To Aragorn's horror, and that of Legolas's as well, the blue flickered once, and vanished.
"No, please…" Legolas whispered. "No! Seiren!" He fought to get free from Aragorn's arms, as tears began to run down his face. Pain rushed through the elf. Seiren… Seiren had lost the fight. That was the only reason his light go out.
Aragorn turned the elf to face him. "He chose, Legolas," Aragorn said gently, feeling pain as well.
To his surprise, Legolas turned on him. "Why did you take me away, Aragorn? I could have…"
"He wanted you to live," Aragorn whispered, as he held his lover close.
Legolas began to weep softly. "How many more friends will be lost because of me?" He thought of Frodo and the Hobbits, Gimli the dwarf, and Gandalf the wizard. And now Legolas's best friend was gone.
"Do not blame yourself, my love. They chose, not you."
Legolas pressed his face against Aragorn and let his lover comfort him, until he could cry no more.
*********************
In the clearing
*********************
Kokushibyou's evil laughter rang out, as he looked at the limp and bloody body of Seiren.
He picked it up in his right hand, cradling it almost tenderly.
"Very good, elf," Kokushibyou hissed. "You almost beat me, but you weren't good enough." The massive creature began to walk away, holding the Elven body.
The motionless elf said nothing, but the crystal around his neck flashed briefly. It lit up the darkness for a few moments.
Then its light faded away, and only darkness was left.
To be continued