…ehm…sorry? No, really, I AM! Well, sorta'. I mean you're still reading it, aren't you? ;) Besides, you're not alone or anything. I'm sure that poor Legolas and Ara- hehe - LINA'S Aragorn aren't enjoying this either. ;)
Actually, Cheysuli, I made up Bengwiil. And, for all those who would like to know, it means "without peace" in elvish…yeah, I thought that a fitting title. :D And no, I can't answer your questions. DON'T get me wrong, I like you! :) But it *would* be a shame to give away the exciting conclusion right before it's chapter! ;)
*starts running away from Leggyfan* AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! Everyone's trying to kill me. *starts moping* and I AM sorry, legolas' sweetie…sorta. *grin* ;)
No, Karateelf, I'm no "I love Leggy" person either. It would be rather pleasant if he didn't die though, wouldn't it? ;)
*ducks flower-vase, snowball, chair, grand piano, and ff.net rule book* YIPES, Myfanwy! DON'T KILL ME cause if you do, this thing'll never end! You won't find out what happens. *picks up ff.net rule book* and as for the cliffy rule…that's a load of hooey. Nothing but bologna. Who made that rule up anyway? *reads over previous posts* oh ya. Hehe, I did. Well…umn…OH forget it. I don't like this book. *chucks ff.net rule book*
Whoopsies! *pats Kellen on the head* sorry 'bout that. No really I didn't MEAN to hit you with the ff.net.hooey book of rules!…*looks at black stare* WHAT? Oh, yeah I know. I didn't MEAN to make you sick again either! I'm a miserable failure. *sniff* can I borrow some of those tissues?…*sniff*….*brightens up* a teacher? REEALLLY? Aw, you're too kind, Kellen. *grin* :D
And sorry, kayleigh_talitha, but I can't tell you what happens. I know, I know, I'm the meanest person to walk Middle Earth, but hey! You'll find out soon, I can tell you that! ;) Good at cliffies? Well, thank you! 'though, most would say that' not much to brag about. *casts a wary eye at Leggyfan and legolas' sweetie*……….*shivers* ;)
Hehe, LOL, Siri! I cracked up! And you say *I'm* the one with the funny posts! ;) And yes, I didn't think that you'd think of poison. It was a very ingeeeenious idea, wasn't it? *practices haughty gate* yeah, but you know. Don't feel bad, because some are just born with talent, and others- *gets pillow in her face* HEY! Well, fine, fine. 'f you don't want to just WAIT a few measly seconds, HERE'S your post. HERE you go. *starts grumbling*. :P
WELL, everyone, completely sorry I left you with that awful cliffy, and I must warn you…umn…*speaks really rushed* this-one's-notta-lot-better! *jumps behind scowling dwarf body-guard* what? Hey, do you honestly think that an ELF would decide to be my body-guard so I can post more Leggy-tourcher-cliffies? Yup, you were right Laebeth. He didn't like the idea too much. ;)
Anways, his name is Greemy son of Grimy. Say hello, Greemy…..*crickets* he's a bit shy, and I'm a bit crazy, so why don't we just post, huh? Goody.
Well once again, thanks for the fantastic reviews! Now, onto the post. I'll be hiding behind Greemy, and umn…browsing in Lina's shop! I'd very much enjoy a Legolas T-Shirt…*grin* ;)
Kay! Here we go!
Chapter 9
Iston
"Legolas! Hold on! Hold on!" Aragorn shouted, trying once again to brake free of the dwarves.
"He cannot hear you." Bodruith hissed delightedly "He cannot hear comfort."
Legolas fell forward on his hands and knees gasping for breath, shaking all over from artificially triggered adrenalin. He could barely hold himself up.
"Stop it!" Aragorn pleaded "Leave him alone! He is someone's son! Someone's- someone's friend! Please, have you no mercy?! He is a son just as you!"
"Indeed." Bodruith whispered in silent evil. "But he yet has his father. I do not."
Aragorn shook his head in desperation. "Please! Take me. Indeed, I am in relation to many elves as well! Take your revenge on me!"
Bodruith heard none of it. He was completely enveloped in watching Legolas writhe on the floor, trying to grip himself.
"Now you know. You know what it is like to be dieing for the pain to be gone? Well I shall not give relief to you. As your father did to mine, I shall do it to his son."
Legolas could barely hear him. "Aragorn!" He gasped.
"Legolas! Breath!" Aragorn shouted, but he knew the elf would not hear him.
"Oh, worry not, human. If his mind is crumbling as I think it is, he will go mad. Then, he shall lose what he holds dearest. All he needs is something to trigger it." Bodruith nodded to Binwen, and the large dwarf moved forward with his axe, lifting it high above Aragorn's head.
***********
Legolas writhed on the floor, trying to lift himself up. Aragorn shouted something, but he could not make out words. Bodruith laughed, and began to speak, but again Legolas could not decipher what he spoke of either.
"Aragorn." He pleaded in a hoarse whisper, but there was no response. He finally looked up, but suddenly wished he had not. Aragorn was being held up by a hoard of Orcs, and one lifted his scimitar. Above Aragorn's head.
Legolas shut his eyes to the dull thud. When he opened them, Aragorn lay on the floor, blood running down the side of his head. His eyes stared at nothing.
"No!" shouted Legolas as loud as he could "No, Aragorn! No!" His body started to shake from tears now as well as adrenalin.
"Each nin er estel." he cried softly "Oh Estel."
//you are my only hope.//
As despair took him, Legolas felt his wits slip away, his breathing become so labored that there was no point in endeavoring to make breath come. There was no point in breathing anyway, though. Not anymore.
*********
Aragorn's head pounded, and he felt blood pour down his face. He looked along the floor he was now even with, and saw Legolas shaking all over. "Oh Estel." He whispered.
A shield. Legolas had to build a shield. If he could only hear comfort, his mind would build a shield strong enough to let him live at list awhile longer. But he could *not* hear comfort! Somehow, he *had* to get through!
**********
Breath in. Breath out. He didn't want to, but his tired body did, and went on operating correctly without his permission.
"You've taken my father, my comfort, my life, and now my friend." He rasped to the cold dwarf on his high throne. "You cannot hurt me anymore."
"Then it would be best to die, would it not?" Bodruith answered flatly.
"It would." Legolas agreed. "But not for you. Estel." It felt as though he merely wished to commit suicide, but he knew he would not live anyway. Even if he survived the poison Bodruith had injected him with, he knew full well his heart would never make it with Aragorn gone. He would die of a broken heart, and he would rather die beside his old friend.
He sighed deeply, pain wracking his body with the feat, willing his body to stop working.
***********
He knew if he spoke, Legolas would not hear him. What then? How in the world was he supposed to get through?!
Then, Aragorn remembered a comment of Bodruith's.
"…he was still an elf. His way of life, his instincts, his love of the stars, they did not change. Only he…"
His way of life…Lennathon!
*********
Legolas couldn't convince his body to stop working. To stop receiving the air it needed to survive. But finally, he thought of Aragorn again. The thought of him lying there, dead, was enough, and his body agreed it was time to go.
Slowly, the air left his lungs, and he did not refill them. His heartbeat grew slower, and he did not excite it into motion. He turned as much as he could, so he could see Aragorn. He wanted his friend to be the last thing he saw…before he died.
Then, "Gwiil, nin mellon!"
//peace, my friend!//
He listened as close as he could with his dieing ears, and caught…"Gwiil, Legolas!"
//peace legolas!"
Someone was speaking peace. It took his dulled mind a moment to pick it up, but finally he translated his native tongue. Aragorn?
"Maem! Meam, Legolas! Urin dant-mina dae!"
//I am well! I am well, legolas! Do not fall into shadow!//
"Estel-" He whispered with the last breath he had. For a moment he considered coming back, but then he looked at Aragorn, motionless on the floor. His mind played tricks on him, he thought bitterly. Aragorn's voice was only echoing from the past. He was dead. And all Legolas wanted now was to join him.
**********
Aragorn watched a momentary change in Legolas as he called to him, but then the elf turned away. Aragorn pushed his knees under him, and eventually stood, wiping his bleeding forehead on his shoulder. Binwen had indeed hit him hard with the back of his axe, and now he saw why.
When Legolas saw Aragorn fall, and blood on the side of his face, his delusional mind made it out to be a murder, and his despair weakened him further.
"He cannot hear you."
Aragorn turned angry eyes on the dwarf lord. "Yes he can!"
"But it will do him no good." Bodruith continued. "It is of no comfort to him, because though he hears it, he does not believe it. He sees you dead!"
Aragorn shook his head. So he had to *know*. Know…
*********
Last breath. He had used his last breath to whisper his friend's name. That is the way Legolas would have liked it anyway. He felt himself slip through the floor as if he were walking in a dream. This isn't quite what he thought death would be like, but he actually found it refreshing.
As darkness crept around him, he heard a sound. Another voice. But this time it spoke something else. Something deeper.
"Eam layaa mellon, Legolas!"
//I am your friend, legolas!//
Legolas hovered in mist awhile, remembering the last sight he'd seen. Aragorn was dead. He could not speak. Then it came again.
"Eam layaa mellon, Legolas! Legolas!"
"Es- Est-" he tried to gasp, but it merely drained any chance of breath out of him. Darkness reached out and took him. There was nothing to live for.
"See with your heart, Legolas." He heard the familiar words of Aragorn's. "You *can* see with your heart. Do not trust your eyes, for you know they lie to you. Look through the eyes of your heart, and know. Know I am your friend!"
In that moment, Legolas mind was clear. He seemed to fly, and he knew if he wanted to, he could've seen anything he wanted to. Even the stars. All was real, all was well. His father lived, his eyes saw, his heart loved and longed, the stars sang, Middle Earth went on… and Aragorn was his friend.
"Eam layaa mellon, Legolas! Eam layaa mellon!"
He heard the words, and finally knew what to do, for he knew anything at all. In a quietly powerful, sadly joyful, confused understanding voice, he whispered "Iston."
"No!" Bodruith's voice seemed far away "No! He cannot know!"
"Eam layaa mellon!"
"Iston!" He shouted louder, filling his lungs painfully with air.
"Eam layaa mellon, Legolas! Legolas, I am your friend! I will *always* be your friend! I am here! I am well! I am your friend!" Aragorn shouted, and mixed with his words, Legolas too shouted.
"Iston! Iston, nin mellon! Iston each nin mellon! Eam layaa!"
//I know! I know my friend! I know you are my friend! I am yours!//
Legolas' heart raced out of darkness, his spirit decided against leaving the room, and returned to him. As his mind came out of despair, it started fighting the Bengwiil that poisoned his mind just as Bodruith said it would. Life rushed fully into his lungs, hope filled his heart. Then, vision returned to his eyes, and he could see. Truly see!
Aragorn's eyes saw him, and no longer stared in death. He was standing upright, and was looking down at Legolas. And for he first time, it seemed to Legolas, in eons, he saw his friend smiling. Tears were on the ranger's cheeks, and he looked so tired, but he was alive. He was feeling. He was there. And he did not hate Legolas.
"No! No this cannot be!" hollered Bodruith in vain.
Aragorn tore away from the dwarves who still tried to restrain him. Even with Dreago and Binwen holding him back, Aragorn got away, and ran to Legolas. Nothing would separate them now. Not now that Legolas lived.
Aragorn knelt beside Legolas, and since he could not embrace the elf with his hands tied, Legolas reached out and wrapped his arms around the human.
"Oh. Estel…" Legolas whispered in a voice choked with tears.
Aragorn nodded against Legolas' shoulder. "Yes, Legolas. I am here now. Truly here."
"You were always truly there." Legolas told him softly "Always, my friend."
Bodruith shook with rage. "Take him! He cannot live!"
Dreago and Binwen slowly went forward, and grabbed Aragorn again. The human tried desperately to stay by Legolas, but the stronger dwarves pulled him back.
"Now, elf, you know you see right. Then, I shall give you truth you do not wish to see!" Bodruith turned to his large dwarves again. "Kill the human."
"No!" Legolas shouted "No, you wish to kill me, not Aragorn!"
"No, no, I wish to kill you both." the dwarf-lord's arrogance began to return at the terror in Legolas' eyes.
Dreago and another dwarf held Aragorn firmly by his arms, and stood, while Binwen pulled out his axe.
Legolas tried to rise, but two dwarves were soon on top of him, and held onto him down on the floor.
Binwen raised his axe over his shoulder, and aimed for Aragorn's heart.
Aragorn shook his head slowly. "I am sorry it must end this way, Legolas." He whispered. "Namá rië , nin mellon."
"Estel, please!" Legolas begged, as though Aragorn could have done it differently. "I do not want to lose you…" Legolas remembered Aragorn whispering those same words to him many times. Now he knew how the ranger had felt. He couldn't help the feeling that he just didn't *want* this to happen! He couldn't bear it!
"You will not lose me." Aragorn quoted his friend's well-known reply, and Legolas shook his head slowly, and closed his eyes, understanding how frustrated Aragorn had been with the calm reply.
"I want you with me." He whispered again, so softly that not even Aragorn could hear him.
Aragorn turned his eyes to the dirt ceiling, and decided it was no good standing there, just waiting for the blow to fall. His heart and mind cringed at the thought of the axe striking him through the chest, and he desperately needed a distraction. Softly, he whispered.
"The Road goes ever on and on
Out from the door where it began.
As he sang, his mind turned to his adopted family. Elladan, Elrohir and Lord Elrond. He would miss them almost as much as Legolas. Would they ever know what had become of their beloved Estel?
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
Let others follow it who can!"
Binwen paused a moment as Aragorn sang, his clear melody filling the chamber. He was then joined by another high soprano from across the room. Legolas wanted to be together on everything with his friend to the end, if possible.
"Let them a journey new begin,
But I at last with weary feet
Will turn towards the lighted inn,
My evening-rest and sleep to meet. "
Aragorn closed his eyes, waiting for the blow again…but it did not come. Binwen dropped his axe, which fell with a clatter to the floor.
"What are you doing, fool?!" Bodruith demanded angrily. "Kill him!"
Binwen turned the dwarf. "No, my lord. He- he may be a prisoner, and goodness knows he has given me enough trouble. But-" The dwarf looked momentarily as though not even he could believe he was saying this. "But he is also the first time I have seen hope in our people. One this courageous, this selfless, cannot be killed so easily. Or if he shall be-" he glanced down that the axe on the floor. "It will be not by *my* hand."
"It will not have to be!" Bodruith jumped down from his throne, and ran down to Binwen, grabbing an axe from Gulrin on his way. He prepared to swing it at Aragorn, but Binwen pushed in front.
"Out of the way." Bodruith's tone was dangerously quiet.
"No, Bodruith." the dwarf-lord's eyes darkened when the other didn't call him by his title. Legolas, as he watched the dwarf, saw an unexplainable look in his eyes. A look of cool defiance, and yet- yet there was confusion. As though he still wasn't sure why.
"Kill him, Binwen," Growled the angered dwarf-lord "or I shall."
"You will have to kill me first." Binwen responded stubbornly.
"Let me kill him," Bodruith snarled "and the blood will not be on your hands. You have naught to worry about!"
"Perhaps," Binwen shook his head slowly, still looking slightly confused. "but our people do. We have dealt with your madness long enough. It shall end here!"
"Binwen." Aragorn said quietly "Do not give yourself for me."
"When you would give yourself away for another, human?" he motioned towards Legolas. "So shall I."
"Yes, you shall." Bodruith swung the axe back, but found he couldn't bring it forward. He turned, and found Gulrin hold the other end, preventing the dwarf-lord from swinging it forward.
"Let go, Gulrin. Now!"
Gulrin shook his head slowly. "'tis *my* axe you hold, lord."
Bodruith let go of the axe, and pulled out a dagger from his belt. "I shall kill him, Binwen! I shall! I *shall* have my revenge! I *shall* make the son of Thranduil suffer!"
"No you shall not!" Binwen shouted back.
Bodruith lunged forward with his dagger intended for Binwen's heart, but Aragorn pulled away from the dwarves, who were so preoccupied with frightening change of events, that they didn't think to hold on tighter. His hands were still tied, so he used his shoulder to move Binwen. The two of them went flying just when Bodruith lunged. Both the dwarves who had been holding onto Aragorn, also dodged, and their lord ended up sprawled on the dirt floor behind them.
Bodruith pulled himself to his feet, and turned a dark glare on everyone. "You- you have betrayed your lord!" He spat.
"Indeed." Binwen responded, pulling himself off the floor, and helping Aragorn up. "But you have betrayed us. You have let our people go to ruin, while you plan your revenge. Dwilen, whom you sent to poison the elf, was killed by wolves on his return. Drofer you killed when he told you you would not be able force the elf to take your poison. You've put no effort into rebuilding the broken tunnels, and do not allow us to leave unless you say. There is but one staircase to the surface, and you've not built more that more might get fresh air. Our people have grown old and sickly from the lack of clean air! And now you try to kill me, and the human, and possibly everyone to get your revenge! When will you cease? You have tormented the elf much, and he has learned his father's lesson. Do not punish *us* as well. Let them go, and give us peace!"
"No!" Shouted the dwarf-lord, picking himself up off the floor. "It is my destiny to *kill* him! Kill him! Not torment him for a day or two! I shall kill him!" Bodruith raised his dagger again, and rushed to Legolas. "Hold him still!" he told the dwarves. Unfortunately, at the sight of their crazed lord rushing towards them with a dagger, both dwarves let go of Legolas, and leapt back. The elf was not expecting this, and fell over on the floor. Bodruith rushed so quickly, that when his hit Legolas with his running feet, he flew over him, and landed a little ways away.
Legolas cried out, and held his aching ribs where the dwarf had unintentionally, but unremorsefully kicked him.
"Legolas?!" Aragorn cried, turning around, so Binwen could cut his bonds.
"I am well." Legolas gasped, though he neither looked nor sounded it.
Aragorn shook his hands free of the now slack ropes, and ran to Legolas. Helping him slowly to his feet, he looked over at Bodruith. But the lord was not there.
"Binwen!" He called "It appears your lord has gone."
"He is not my lord." Binwen said gruffly.
"Well, to that, Bodruith has gone." Aragorn amended, supporting Legolas to the stone steps of what used to be a lord's throne. He then turned to one of the dwarves who had held onto Legolas. "Where did he go?"
They were silent.
"I know you saw him," Aragorn said calmly "Where did he go?"
"He is our lord." one of them responded, but there was a distinct uncertainty in their tone.
"He has not been a lord, as much as we *have* been his slaves." Binwen said passionately "There is yet hope lying in these halls in the darkness. Do not throw away our excellence for complacency and foolish pride over our supposed rulers. Come, brothers. Let us win our freedom back, and be the Gibil Khazâd of Gûndu again!"
At this, the dwarves shouted agreement, and raised up their cry "Beware gibil uzbad! Khazâd ai-mênu!"
Aragorn was not entirely sure of what the dwarves shouted, for it was in their secret tongue of khadul. But what he did know, was they were at last on the right side.
The group of dwarves followed Binwen down the passage that the silent ones had seen Bodruith go down. Aragorn took off after them. "Stay here, Legolas, I will go ask for directions out of here!"
Legolas nodded tiredly, and watched Aragorn run through the huge hall gates, and after the group of dwarves.
It was silent in the chamber, and the musty smell of damp earth was beginning to make him feel nauseated. He lay his head on his knees, and tried to let his dilapidated body rest. It was not easy, as good as dieing and then becoming alive again, and more than a little painful.
Suddenly, he heard Aragorn reenter the room. "Strider?" He looked up, but did not like what he saw there.
"Hello, elf." Bodruith grinned "We are at last alone."
Oh, one quick note, I put together a fun-to-make, though rather uninteresting cover for this, and if you'd like, you can see it at:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/53705226/53815069hTglqo
Tell me what you think! Okay, that's it! *jumps back behind Greemy*