1 CHAPTER 2
Legolas cried out in pain as he woke from his terrible dream, only to feel an unimaginable burning in his chest where the wound was. He struggled to sit up, but he felt iron-strong arms holding him down against the earthen floor. He could feel himself hot with fever, but he ignored it; where was Gimli? Suddenly, there was the face of Aragorn before him, a poultice for the poisoned wound in his hands. The concern and worry on his face was unmistakable, as was the exhaustion. He had stayed up all day and night tending to the dying Legolas. But his work paid off at long last, as Legolas was now awake and would be fine, though at the moment he was delusional.
Aragorn flinched when he heard Legolas cry out as he applied the poultice; he hated to see his elvish friend in pain.
Legolas gasped, the burning sensation in his chest relentless. Suddenly though, in all his pain and deliria, he cried out the name of his friend, who he thought dead from his dream.
"Gimli!" Legolas' voice was horse and not very loud for all the effort had put into that one word. Gimli's head snapped up as he heard his name called softly by his injured friend, and he ran over to the limp form.
As Gimli came into his line of vision, Legolas sighed in relief, not caring if he believed it was truly Gimli or not. But even the thought of trying to talk to him, and the previous exertions since he woke up were too much for the weak, wounded elf; causing him to slip into unconsciousness once again. Thankfully, this time dreamless sleep.
Legolas woke to the sound of arguing. The pain in his chest had receded and he was fine for the moment, wide-awake and aware, but he kept his eyes closed and did not move.
"We must move on! I can feel the need for haste in my mind"
"Well that's grand my fair king, but what about our wounded elf lying over there. We shan't just leave without him, and without our horses, how do you propose we carry him all the way to Rohan?"
"Oh stop it, the both of you! Legolas is healing fast, as you can see, which means we shall be resuming our journey once again, and once we get out of this blasted forest I shall be able to call Shadowfax to me and have him round up your lost steeds. Does that satisfy both of your needs? Hmmm?"
"That is splendid. Thank you Gandalf, you always have a solution in that complex head of yours. You are surely our light in these dark and dreary times. Now, we must see to our sleeping friend."
"Oh leave him in peace Aragorn. You said yourself that we must use haste, well then leave Legolas be and let him heal as he knows how."
"Calm down Gimli. Why don't you and Aragorn go and rest while I keep watch, for it is dusk, and night is coming. You will need your sleep as we will most likely be leaving tomorrow."
"Rest? Rest, you say! I'm a Dwarf you fool old wizard! My kind is strong and resilient; we don't need sleep! We are cunning with keen senses and acute stamina! We-"
"Fool old wizard! I'll show what a fool old wizard I am you-"
Trying to hide the amused smile on his face, Legolas sat up and chose this time to break into the heated argument going on, "My friends, I think this is all quite unnecessary. I am fine, and I choose to be the first shift to stand watch tonight. I shall let the rest of you catch up on your much needed sleep," Gimli, though quite surprised and thoroughly pleased, glared at Legolas when he came to this statement, "Yes, even you, my proud dwarf. Everyone needs to rest sometime, even I." But then, Legolas stopped and slowly, careful not to disturb his still healing wound, stood up. He walked over to stand in front of Gandalf the White, clasping arms with him. "It is good to have you back my friend. I thought it not possible, and all your surprises exhausted, but you have proved me wrong. And I am glad." Legolas gave Gandalf a genuine caring look, telling him how much he had grieved and missed with wise old wizard. And with that, he turned around and looked above him, eyeing one of the low branches. In one fluid motion Legolas sprung up and grabbed hold of it, swinging himself around and over it to land on the upper side, where he could comfortably squat and keep watch.
Gandalf looked up to where the elf that had just been in front of him now resided and shook his head. He always enjoyed the company of elves, but Legolas in particular was truly a joy to journey with. He was considerate of his companions, kind, grateful, always aware with his keen elvish senses, and a fierce warrior; very useful to have around. Gandalf could name many redeeming qualities about the elf above him in the trees, but decided to put his turning mind to rest and sleep. Aragorn, future king, and Gimli son of Gloin had decided to surrender to their exhaustion as well. Soon three out of four of the traveling companions were sleeping soundly on the forest floor, while Legolas kept a valiant watch above in the trees, now ready for anything Father Fate could throw at him.
The soft light of the golden sun shone upon the rugged face of Aragorn, son of Arathorn, heir to the throne of Gondor. He slowly opened his eyes to meet the sunrise of the new dawn, squinting against the bright, radiant shine of the morning sun. He silently sat up, reaching into his shirt pocket for some lembas while looking around him for his companions. Gandalf and Gimli were both sleeping peacefully on the earthen floor of the forest still. Suddenly Aragorn checked himself, Legolas should be here on the floor sleeping. If Gandalf and Gimli were still sleeping, that meant Legolas had not woken them during the night to take on their second and third watch. He himself had not been woken either, which meant Legolas had stayed up the whole night with no sleep, enabling them to rest. He was too kind, almost foolish. The wound would not heal properly if he did not rest. Aragorn immediately jumped up from the floor and looked above him to the trees where he knew Legolas solemnly resided. As he had thought, Legolas was sitting on a large branch connected to a tree close to their camp. He had climbed up to a higher bough than the one he had initially jumped onto. His back was resting against the trunk of the large tree and his long elven legs were stretched out in front of him. He was singing softly to himself in the high boughs of the tree's canopy. His voice mingled with the soft wind that blew by, rustling the elf's elegant blond hair, and it slowly floated down to touch Aragorn's limited human ears. He could not make out what Legolas was saying but he could tell that even though the elf seemed detached in his singing, he was fully aware that Aragorn had woken.
The sound of soft singing ceased as Legolas looked down to see his friend Aragorn staring up at him. He knew that Aragorn had discovered what Legolas had done, from the disapproving look he was showing on his rough, soiled face. Legolas sighed and shook his head, averting his eyes from those of Aragorn. He knew that what he'd done was, though foolish in Aragorn's eyes, a good thing, for it let the rest of the company rest their tired minds after a tense time of healing the elf.
Legolas swiftly climbed down the tree from branch to branch until he reached the lowest one, and from there he swung down to land gracefully in front of his friend. But though his landing was light and smooth, the jolt as his padded feet hit the floor caused a sharp pain to bolt through his body. From his aching wound through his head, giving him a dizzying headache as well as causing his wound to start bleeding lightly, as it opened up a little. But though Aragorn could not see the blood soak through the bandage over the wound which was under Legolas' clothes, he could see Legolas visibly pale to an unnatural color. And faster than Legolas could shoot, Aragorn's annoyance turned into genuine worry for his injured friend. He hurridly rushed to Legolas' side as his step faltered for a moment, and his breathing quickened. But Legolas' eyes were blazing a warning of pride and determination as he straightened. Aragorn was not fooled though, and he knew that Legolas was pained by his wound.
Legolas met the concerned gray eyes of Aragorn and gave a small smile to his dear friends needless worry. This show of humor and affection on the fair elf's face eased Aragorn's mind greatly, and he was content to leave the injured Legolas and wake the others.
A/N: I hope you like so far. If so~ YAY! If not ~ Poo. Well anyway, don't freak out cause I have more on the way real soon. Reviews are appreciated. Thank you so much.
Legolas cried out in pain as he woke from his terrible dream, only to feel an unimaginable burning in his chest where the wound was. He struggled to sit up, but he felt iron-strong arms holding him down against the earthen floor. He could feel himself hot with fever, but he ignored it; where was Gimli? Suddenly, there was the face of Aragorn before him, a poultice for the poisoned wound in his hands. The concern and worry on his face was unmistakable, as was the exhaustion. He had stayed up all day and night tending to the dying Legolas. But his work paid off at long last, as Legolas was now awake and would be fine, though at the moment he was delusional.
Aragorn flinched when he heard Legolas cry out as he applied the poultice; he hated to see his elvish friend in pain.
Legolas gasped, the burning sensation in his chest relentless. Suddenly though, in all his pain and deliria, he cried out the name of his friend, who he thought dead from his dream.
"Gimli!" Legolas' voice was horse and not very loud for all the effort had put into that one word. Gimli's head snapped up as he heard his name called softly by his injured friend, and he ran over to the limp form.
As Gimli came into his line of vision, Legolas sighed in relief, not caring if he believed it was truly Gimli or not. But even the thought of trying to talk to him, and the previous exertions since he woke up were too much for the weak, wounded elf; causing him to slip into unconsciousness once again. Thankfully, this time dreamless sleep.
Legolas woke to the sound of arguing. The pain in his chest had receded and he was fine for the moment, wide-awake and aware, but he kept his eyes closed and did not move.
"We must move on! I can feel the need for haste in my mind"
"Well that's grand my fair king, but what about our wounded elf lying over there. We shan't just leave without him, and without our horses, how do you propose we carry him all the way to Rohan?"
"Oh stop it, the both of you! Legolas is healing fast, as you can see, which means we shall be resuming our journey once again, and once we get out of this blasted forest I shall be able to call Shadowfax to me and have him round up your lost steeds. Does that satisfy both of your needs? Hmmm?"
"That is splendid. Thank you Gandalf, you always have a solution in that complex head of yours. You are surely our light in these dark and dreary times. Now, we must see to our sleeping friend."
"Oh leave him in peace Aragorn. You said yourself that we must use haste, well then leave Legolas be and let him heal as he knows how."
"Calm down Gimli. Why don't you and Aragorn go and rest while I keep watch, for it is dusk, and night is coming. You will need your sleep as we will most likely be leaving tomorrow."
"Rest? Rest, you say! I'm a Dwarf you fool old wizard! My kind is strong and resilient; we don't need sleep! We are cunning with keen senses and acute stamina! We-"
"Fool old wizard! I'll show what a fool old wizard I am you-"
Trying to hide the amused smile on his face, Legolas sat up and chose this time to break into the heated argument going on, "My friends, I think this is all quite unnecessary. I am fine, and I choose to be the first shift to stand watch tonight. I shall let the rest of you catch up on your much needed sleep," Gimli, though quite surprised and thoroughly pleased, glared at Legolas when he came to this statement, "Yes, even you, my proud dwarf. Everyone needs to rest sometime, even I." But then, Legolas stopped and slowly, careful not to disturb his still healing wound, stood up. He walked over to stand in front of Gandalf the White, clasping arms with him. "It is good to have you back my friend. I thought it not possible, and all your surprises exhausted, but you have proved me wrong. And I am glad." Legolas gave Gandalf a genuine caring look, telling him how much he had grieved and missed with wise old wizard. And with that, he turned around and looked above him, eyeing one of the low branches. In one fluid motion Legolas sprung up and grabbed hold of it, swinging himself around and over it to land on the upper side, where he could comfortably squat and keep watch.
Gandalf looked up to where the elf that had just been in front of him now resided and shook his head. He always enjoyed the company of elves, but Legolas in particular was truly a joy to journey with. He was considerate of his companions, kind, grateful, always aware with his keen elvish senses, and a fierce warrior; very useful to have around. Gandalf could name many redeeming qualities about the elf above him in the trees, but decided to put his turning mind to rest and sleep. Aragorn, future king, and Gimli son of Gloin had decided to surrender to their exhaustion as well. Soon three out of four of the traveling companions were sleeping soundly on the forest floor, while Legolas kept a valiant watch above in the trees, now ready for anything Father Fate could throw at him.
The soft light of the golden sun shone upon the rugged face of Aragorn, son of Arathorn, heir to the throne of Gondor. He slowly opened his eyes to meet the sunrise of the new dawn, squinting against the bright, radiant shine of the morning sun. He silently sat up, reaching into his shirt pocket for some lembas while looking around him for his companions. Gandalf and Gimli were both sleeping peacefully on the earthen floor of the forest still. Suddenly Aragorn checked himself, Legolas should be here on the floor sleeping. If Gandalf and Gimli were still sleeping, that meant Legolas had not woken them during the night to take on their second and third watch. He himself had not been woken either, which meant Legolas had stayed up the whole night with no sleep, enabling them to rest. He was too kind, almost foolish. The wound would not heal properly if he did not rest. Aragorn immediately jumped up from the floor and looked above him to the trees where he knew Legolas solemnly resided. As he had thought, Legolas was sitting on a large branch connected to a tree close to their camp. He had climbed up to a higher bough than the one he had initially jumped onto. His back was resting against the trunk of the large tree and his long elven legs were stretched out in front of him. He was singing softly to himself in the high boughs of the tree's canopy. His voice mingled with the soft wind that blew by, rustling the elf's elegant blond hair, and it slowly floated down to touch Aragorn's limited human ears. He could not make out what Legolas was saying but he could tell that even though the elf seemed detached in his singing, he was fully aware that Aragorn had woken.
The sound of soft singing ceased as Legolas looked down to see his friend Aragorn staring up at him. He knew that Aragorn had discovered what Legolas had done, from the disapproving look he was showing on his rough, soiled face. Legolas sighed and shook his head, averting his eyes from those of Aragorn. He knew that what he'd done was, though foolish in Aragorn's eyes, a good thing, for it let the rest of the company rest their tired minds after a tense time of healing the elf.
Legolas swiftly climbed down the tree from branch to branch until he reached the lowest one, and from there he swung down to land gracefully in front of his friend. But though his landing was light and smooth, the jolt as his padded feet hit the floor caused a sharp pain to bolt through his body. From his aching wound through his head, giving him a dizzying headache as well as causing his wound to start bleeding lightly, as it opened up a little. But though Aragorn could not see the blood soak through the bandage over the wound which was under Legolas' clothes, he could see Legolas visibly pale to an unnatural color. And faster than Legolas could shoot, Aragorn's annoyance turned into genuine worry for his injured friend. He hurridly rushed to Legolas' side as his step faltered for a moment, and his breathing quickened. But Legolas' eyes were blazing a warning of pride and determination as he straightened. Aragorn was not fooled though, and he knew that Legolas was pained by his wound.
Legolas met the concerned gray eyes of Aragorn and gave a small smile to his dear friends needless worry. This show of humor and affection on the fair elf's face eased Aragorn's mind greatly, and he was content to leave the injured Legolas and wake the others.
A/N: I hope you like so far. If so~ YAY! If not ~ Poo. Well anyway, don't freak out cause I have more on the way real soon. Reviews are appreciated. Thank you so much.