Author's Note
This is the last chapter. I've decided to end it here because, as enjoying as Legolas and Aragorn epic adventure stories are, I really don't have the attention span to continue!
Although this is not a slash story at all, I couldn't help but make Legolas a little more sensitive ( as in perception and emotions) than your average man. That's just how I think elves are, and not to worry, he's totally masculine!
I liked how Legolas seemed ignorant about humans at the end, and enjoyed writing it. But, I'm a little disappointed in the ending of this fic. I guess I kinda wrote myself into a corner, so to speak, and it ends up being a somewhat anticlimactic ending. Oh well. I'm sorry if I disappoint all you faithful readers and reviews out there!
But not to worry, I have an AWESOMELY cool fic coming up. See more author's notes at the end of chapter.
*** It doesn't matter
Chapter 4:
It was mind morning, and bright was the sky beyond the trees as I studied the face on the man lying before me. I had not had a chance to do so before now; but with the rest of my companions gone on with the hunt, I took the opportunity.
His face was no longer flushed; the fever had broken in the night and he was now sleeping peacefully. His jaw was strong and firm, his chin chiseled. The stubble and beginnings of a beard looked strange to me because elves did not grow hair on their faces as men did. The human's nose was straight, though heavy with bruises from his fall. His brow was smooth, though marred with a small gash. Having no concept of human age, I could not tell how old he was; but the absence of wrinkles and gray hairs led me to believe he wasn't old. Strider's hair, dark brown and medium length, was filthy and matted.
I smiled, absently fingering my own perfectly straight, combed, and clean blond hair, and waited for him to wake up.
He awoke in the afternoon, after more than 16 hours of sleeping. His eyes fluttered open, and I noticed for the first time how his gray eyes had something about them, a tint of blue and something more that made them look elvish. Not for the first time wondered who Strider really was.
"Welcome back, my friend," I said, kneeling beside him.
"I owe you my life, and I do not even know your name." he said, and I helped him sit up a little and offered him water. He accepted, gulping it down.
"My name is Legolas. How do you feel?"
He laughed. "Better. Much better, but I still feel quite horrible, and stiff."
I grinned. "I thought as much. How is your side?"
"It is fine. Your healer did a skillful job in tending to it. Where is he, and the others?"
"They are off hunting the rest of the warg pack that attacked you. They should be returning before the sun sets." I paused. Though I wanted very much to know what had befallen him, I restrained myself, and offered him some Lembas.
He accepted, and ate them ravenously, while I sat there watching him, amused. Did all humans eat like this? He finally noticed me staring at him. Brushing crumbs from the corner of his mouth, he spoke defensively, "I have not eaten in five days."
I noticed that he did look a bit thin.
He continued eating, though more slowly. I let him finish, before I asked, "You have told me your name, but not who you are, or where you are from."
"I suppose you are also curious to know how I came to be in such.unusual circumstances."
I nodded.
"Well," he began, "I think I told you that I am a ranger. It is my duty to patrol certain parts of Middle Earth, along with my fellow rangers. Eight days ago, while traveling on the edge of the wastelands, I was captured by Easterlings."
"Easterlings?" I said in surprise. I was only vaguely familiar with the term.
"Yes. They are wild and often dangerous men from the north, and have had a past of aligning themselves with the forces of Sauron and Mordor. I don't know what they were doing so far from their home, but I suspect that they were up to some evil business.. Anyway, I was attempting to find out when I was captured."
He did not go into any detail and even looked a bit embarrassed. But he continued on with the story.
"They stole my boots and treated me roughly, but they did not beat me, giving me water and food regularly. They were mostly decent. On the second day of my captivity, I tried to escape, but was unsuccessful. To keep me from escaping again, they binded me with the manacles you cut off. A slow, torturous device, they prevented any movement of my arms, which would strangle me, and the effort of holding up my arms caused me much discomfort. They loaded me onto a horse, a poor and sickly creature that it could barely support my weight.
"It was on the end of the second day that Easterlings met with a group of orcs. I don't know what business transpired there, but I am certain that in some way the Easterlings angered the orcs. It might have even been my fault. The orcs had eyed me greedily, but the Easterlings refused to give me up. What they planned to do with me I shudder to think about.
"On the third day, we left the orcs and were on our way again. We had entered into the edge of Mirkwood forest when we were ambushed by the very same orcs that they had dealings with. The orcs numbered about twice as many as we did, and before the Easterlings knew what had happened, more than half of them were dead; shot down by arrows.
"The horse was shot down from under me, and I too was shot in the side. But I took the opportunity to escape, running into the forest in the opposite directions of the orcs. I was able to run no more than a league when I collapsed, able to go no further. When I awoke, I saw a handful of orcs nearby, apparently tracking me. I spent the rest of the day and night trying to evade them. It took up all my skill, and I was more or less helpless without the use of my arms. My wound was bleeding and grieving me, but I could do nothing to see to it. I was only able to sleep after I was convinced that I had lost them; and then the sleep was fitful.
"I managed to drink some water from a stream, but otherwise, I had no food nor a way to eat it. I have traveled through Mirkwood on two occasions previously, so I knew about some of its dangers, and set about following one of the rives to find a main path. Then, on the sixth day, two days ago that is, a pack of wargs caught my trail. The whole day I spent running and hiding from them, at great abuse to my feet. I was completely worn out by the time you happened on me and drove off the wargs."
He ended his story.
I thought for a moment. "That explains a lot, if you are telling the truth, which I believe you are based on all evidence. But, Strider," I said, emphasizing his name, "you have not told me how you, a human, happen to be in the graces of Lord Elrond."
He sighed. "I am tempted to tell you that that is none of your business. But, because you saved my life and are still probably looking for assurance that you did the right thing, I will. First of all, Strider is not my real name."
I smiled triumphantly. That is what I had guessed, and I told him so.
"Some call me that, and that is what I usually go by as a ranger. Do you know how many children Lord Elrond has?"
"Yes," I said, puzzled. "He has three. I know all of them intimately. They have visited here many, many times."
"It is your turn to surprise me," the man said, astonishment showing on his face. "For you to know all of Lord Elrond's children, you must be royalty."
I brushed it aside with a bit of annoyance. I always hated to be treated differently because I am the son of Thanduril King of Mirkwood. "Yes, I am a prince; but that doesn't matter. Continue on."
Strider continued. "Well, prince or not, you are wrong. He has four children, three of the elves and one a human, which he adopted into his family about 35 years ago."
I nodded, remembering. My father had told me about it, but because it happened so recently, I was not yet accustomed to it and it had slipped my mind. "Yes, I remember. A small human boy named Estel. He has visited here once too, when he was very young."
Strider grinned. "Well, Legolas, I am Estel."
My jaw dropped. "You?" I stammered. "No, it can't be. You are lying. Estel is very young, not even half your size."
Strider erupted, laughing so hard he had to grasp his injured side in pain. "Ah, my dear elf. How ignorant you are when it comes to humans. We grow very fast. It has been about thirty years since I visited and you saw me, though I do not remember you. That is half a life time for a mortal."
"Estel?" I addressed him hesitantly. I still could not believe it. But I did remember him, as a small boy. He had brown hair and a cleft in his chin, and gray eyes that looked almost elven.
He laughed some more, seeing recognition dawn on my face.
....
When my brother and the rest of my friends came back, Estel was sleeping again, still very tired form his journey. Their hunting trip had been completely successful, without any injury on part of the elves. I related Estel's story to all of them, but only told my brother his true name. All I can say is that he was more shocked than I was.
After another three days, Estel was ready to travel again, but he refused to return with us to our home. He insisted that he had to return back to Imaldris, to tell Elrond about the strange events that had transpired with the orcs and the Easterlings.
During his recovery, though the other elves talked with him and grew to like him, he and I became fast friends. Before he departed, he promised to return for a visit, and I knew that that was not the last I would be seeing him.
......
I was brought back to the present, at Elrond's Council, with Gandalfs story about the betrayal of Saruman. With one last thought in the past, I mused on how small the chances, and odd the circumstances, that Aragorn and I had met that day in Mirkwood.
***
THE END
***
Right, I'm so excited for my next fic! The whole Legolas and Aragorn meeting thing has been done over and over again, I know; but this is different and new and.Oh man am I excited!! But as for what it is exactly..you'll have to wait and find out : )
Hopefully I can get it started in the next couple of days.
Lastly, I'd like to sincerely thank everyone who reviewed for me: addicted, Wings of Change, Zan, Thorn Rose, nayru, Aralondwen, gemstone, Lina Skye, Thorn Rose, Nili, Rings of Saturn, Ashley, marbienl, staran, zipzoey, SSJ Girl, sparkley-purple-babe, LoP, and anyone else I forgot to mention. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
And a special thank-you-kiss-the-hem-of-your-robes- to: Magpie Poet and ThE iNsAnE oNe!!!
This is the last chapter. I've decided to end it here because, as enjoying as Legolas and Aragorn epic adventure stories are, I really don't have the attention span to continue!
Although this is not a slash story at all, I couldn't help but make Legolas a little more sensitive ( as in perception and emotions) than your average man. That's just how I think elves are, and not to worry, he's totally masculine!
I liked how Legolas seemed ignorant about humans at the end, and enjoyed writing it. But, I'm a little disappointed in the ending of this fic. I guess I kinda wrote myself into a corner, so to speak, and it ends up being a somewhat anticlimactic ending. Oh well. I'm sorry if I disappoint all you faithful readers and reviews out there!
But not to worry, I have an AWESOMELY cool fic coming up. See more author's notes at the end of chapter.
*** It doesn't matter
Chapter 4:
It was mind morning, and bright was the sky beyond the trees as I studied the face on the man lying before me. I had not had a chance to do so before now; but with the rest of my companions gone on with the hunt, I took the opportunity.
His face was no longer flushed; the fever had broken in the night and he was now sleeping peacefully. His jaw was strong and firm, his chin chiseled. The stubble and beginnings of a beard looked strange to me because elves did not grow hair on their faces as men did. The human's nose was straight, though heavy with bruises from his fall. His brow was smooth, though marred with a small gash. Having no concept of human age, I could not tell how old he was; but the absence of wrinkles and gray hairs led me to believe he wasn't old. Strider's hair, dark brown and medium length, was filthy and matted.
I smiled, absently fingering my own perfectly straight, combed, and clean blond hair, and waited for him to wake up.
He awoke in the afternoon, after more than 16 hours of sleeping. His eyes fluttered open, and I noticed for the first time how his gray eyes had something about them, a tint of blue and something more that made them look elvish. Not for the first time wondered who Strider really was.
"Welcome back, my friend," I said, kneeling beside him.
"I owe you my life, and I do not even know your name." he said, and I helped him sit up a little and offered him water. He accepted, gulping it down.
"My name is Legolas. How do you feel?"
He laughed. "Better. Much better, but I still feel quite horrible, and stiff."
I grinned. "I thought as much. How is your side?"
"It is fine. Your healer did a skillful job in tending to it. Where is he, and the others?"
"They are off hunting the rest of the warg pack that attacked you. They should be returning before the sun sets." I paused. Though I wanted very much to know what had befallen him, I restrained myself, and offered him some Lembas.
He accepted, and ate them ravenously, while I sat there watching him, amused. Did all humans eat like this? He finally noticed me staring at him. Brushing crumbs from the corner of his mouth, he spoke defensively, "I have not eaten in five days."
I noticed that he did look a bit thin.
He continued eating, though more slowly. I let him finish, before I asked, "You have told me your name, but not who you are, or where you are from."
"I suppose you are also curious to know how I came to be in such.unusual circumstances."
I nodded.
"Well," he began, "I think I told you that I am a ranger. It is my duty to patrol certain parts of Middle Earth, along with my fellow rangers. Eight days ago, while traveling on the edge of the wastelands, I was captured by Easterlings."
"Easterlings?" I said in surprise. I was only vaguely familiar with the term.
"Yes. They are wild and often dangerous men from the north, and have had a past of aligning themselves with the forces of Sauron and Mordor. I don't know what they were doing so far from their home, but I suspect that they were up to some evil business.. Anyway, I was attempting to find out when I was captured."
He did not go into any detail and even looked a bit embarrassed. But he continued on with the story.
"They stole my boots and treated me roughly, but they did not beat me, giving me water and food regularly. They were mostly decent. On the second day of my captivity, I tried to escape, but was unsuccessful. To keep me from escaping again, they binded me with the manacles you cut off. A slow, torturous device, they prevented any movement of my arms, which would strangle me, and the effort of holding up my arms caused me much discomfort. They loaded me onto a horse, a poor and sickly creature that it could barely support my weight.
"It was on the end of the second day that Easterlings met with a group of orcs. I don't know what business transpired there, but I am certain that in some way the Easterlings angered the orcs. It might have even been my fault. The orcs had eyed me greedily, but the Easterlings refused to give me up. What they planned to do with me I shudder to think about.
"On the third day, we left the orcs and were on our way again. We had entered into the edge of Mirkwood forest when we were ambushed by the very same orcs that they had dealings with. The orcs numbered about twice as many as we did, and before the Easterlings knew what had happened, more than half of them were dead; shot down by arrows.
"The horse was shot down from under me, and I too was shot in the side. But I took the opportunity to escape, running into the forest in the opposite directions of the orcs. I was able to run no more than a league when I collapsed, able to go no further. When I awoke, I saw a handful of orcs nearby, apparently tracking me. I spent the rest of the day and night trying to evade them. It took up all my skill, and I was more or less helpless without the use of my arms. My wound was bleeding and grieving me, but I could do nothing to see to it. I was only able to sleep after I was convinced that I had lost them; and then the sleep was fitful.
"I managed to drink some water from a stream, but otherwise, I had no food nor a way to eat it. I have traveled through Mirkwood on two occasions previously, so I knew about some of its dangers, and set about following one of the rives to find a main path. Then, on the sixth day, two days ago that is, a pack of wargs caught my trail. The whole day I spent running and hiding from them, at great abuse to my feet. I was completely worn out by the time you happened on me and drove off the wargs."
He ended his story.
I thought for a moment. "That explains a lot, if you are telling the truth, which I believe you are based on all evidence. But, Strider," I said, emphasizing his name, "you have not told me how you, a human, happen to be in the graces of Lord Elrond."
He sighed. "I am tempted to tell you that that is none of your business. But, because you saved my life and are still probably looking for assurance that you did the right thing, I will. First of all, Strider is not my real name."
I smiled triumphantly. That is what I had guessed, and I told him so.
"Some call me that, and that is what I usually go by as a ranger. Do you know how many children Lord Elrond has?"
"Yes," I said, puzzled. "He has three. I know all of them intimately. They have visited here many, many times."
"It is your turn to surprise me," the man said, astonishment showing on his face. "For you to know all of Lord Elrond's children, you must be royalty."
I brushed it aside with a bit of annoyance. I always hated to be treated differently because I am the son of Thanduril King of Mirkwood. "Yes, I am a prince; but that doesn't matter. Continue on."
Strider continued. "Well, prince or not, you are wrong. He has four children, three of the elves and one a human, which he adopted into his family about 35 years ago."
I nodded, remembering. My father had told me about it, but because it happened so recently, I was not yet accustomed to it and it had slipped my mind. "Yes, I remember. A small human boy named Estel. He has visited here once too, when he was very young."
Strider grinned. "Well, Legolas, I am Estel."
My jaw dropped. "You?" I stammered. "No, it can't be. You are lying. Estel is very young, not even half your size."
Strider erupted, laughing so hard he had to grasp his injured side in pain. "Ah, my dear elf. How ignorant you are when it comes to humans. We grow very fast. It has been about thirty years since I visited and you saw me, though I do not remember you. That is half a life time for a mortal."
"Estel?" I addressed him hesitantly. I still could not believe it. But I did remember him, as a small boy. He had brown hair and a cleft in his chin, and gray eyes that looked almost elven.
He laughed some more, seeing recognition dawn on my face.
....
When my brother and the rest of my friends came back, Estel was sleeping again, still very tired form his journey. Their hunting trip had been completely successful, without any injury on part of the elves. I related Estel's story to all of them, but only told my brother his true name. All I can say is that he was more shocked than I was.
After another three days, Estel was ready to travel again, but he refused to return with us to our home. He insisted that he had to return back to Imaldris, to tell Elrond about the strange events that had transpired with the orcs and the Easterlings.
During his recovery, though the other elves talked with him and grew to like him, he and I became fast friends. Before he departed, he promised to return for a visit, and I knew that that was not the last I would be seeing him.
......
I was brought back to the present, at Elrond's Council, with Gandalfs story about the betrayal of Saruman. With one last thought in the past, I mused on how small the chances, and odd the circumstances, that Aragorn and I had met that day in Mirkwood.
***
THE END
***
Right, I'm so excited for my next fic! The whole Legolas and Aragorn meeting thing has been done over and over again, I know; but this is different and new and.Oh man am I excited!! But as for what it is exactly..you'll have to wait and find out : )
Hopefully I can get it started in the next couple of days.
Lastly, I'd like to sincerely thank everyone who reviewed for me: addicted, Wings of Change, Zan, Thorn Rose, nayru, Aralondwen, gemstone, Lina Skye, Thorn Rose, Nili, Rings of Saturn, Ashley, marbienl, staran, zipzoey, SSJ Girl, sparkley-purple-babe, LoP, and anyone else I forgot to mention. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
And a special thank-you-kiss-the-hem-of-your-robes- to: Magpie Poet and ThE iNsAnE oNe!!!