Hi, here I am, ready to continue,
Chapter 11--Crime And Consequences
Early the next morning the prisoners were brought before the King and Queen. Aragorn eyed them grimly. "I will ask you once again and you both will answer. Are you guilty of kidnapping Prince Legolas?" he asked. He was not surprised when both adamantly denied having anything to do with it. "Legolas, you can come out now," he said.
Legolas stepped out of an alcove hidden by a tapestry. "It is them, my liege, I recognize their voices," he said quietly.
Aragorn nodded and returned his attentions to the prisoners. "I warned you that lying to me would make your punishment more severe, but obviously you did not believe me. At first I only planned to banish you from Gondor. That has changed, five years in the dungeon, take them away," he ordered.
The man cursed and the woman sobbed as they were taken from the audience chamber, the double doors closed behind them. Aragorn sighed and rubbed his temple wearily.
"Are you all right, love?" Arwen asked.
"I am fine, I just have a headache, I believe I will lay down for awhile--" he turned to Legolas. "--Do you think you can stay out of trouble while I do?" he joked.
Legolas bowed with mock servility. "As my liege commands," he said.
Aragorn laughed. "Get out of here, Legolas, go find Jaisia or something.
Laughing, Legolas left the room. He went out to the garden, but Jaisia wasn't there. Legolas thought about calling her mentally, but changed his mind. He would enjoy some time alone.
**Meanwhile**
Aragorn went up to the royal chambers and undressed down to his britches then took a medicine to help with the headache. He lay down and was asleep in minutes. Horrible nightmares invaded his sleep and he couldn't wake up. He heard Darrin laughing at him from his throne, Arwen and Sandi nude, chained at his feet. He saw Legolas and Jaisia brutally tortured to death before his eyes. His screams filled his mind, but none escaped his lips.
An hour later Arwen came in to find Aragorn burning with fever and his breath rasping in his throat. She ran from the room to fetch the healers.
Legolas looked up as a guard hurried in the garden. "Prince Legolas, the king has fallen ill, Queen Arwen wishes your presence immediately. Please follow me," he said.
When Legolas entered he found the healers fussing over Aragorn. Jaisia was there as well. "Arwen, what has happened?" he asked.
"I do not know, the healers can find no reason why Aragorn is sick and I am afraid," Arwen said.
Darrin's words popped into Legolas' mind. "Darrin!" he burst out. "He said he wanted to see us suffer."
"Do you think he did this somehow? Is it a magical sickness?" Arwen asked.
"I do not know," Legolas admitted.
"Lilith could tell; we need her to help us!!" Jaisia said. "We have to go to our village and fetch her!!"
"But it is a month away. We do not know if he will survive that long!!" Arwen protested.
"But it is our only hope if this is magic he will certainly die. Lilith is our only hope," Legolas said.
Arwen took a deep shuddery breath. "Then go fetch her, but hurry, please. I cannot lose him, I would surely die of grief," she whispered.
Jaisia hugged her, tears stinging her own eyes. "Aragorn is strong, he will not die and we will hurry as fast as we can--I promise," she said.
"We will hurry, Arwen. Be strong for yourself and him," Legolas said. He and Jaisia hurried from the room. They paused only to grab supplies and in twenty minutes they were galloping towards the Centaur village.
Arwen turned back to her stricken husband and took his hand in hers. "Please, Estel, do not leave me and our unborn child," she whispered. She winced as Aragorn cried out in pain for the first time and tears spilled down her cheeks. "Fetch Gimli," she ordered a guard. "We may need him to help restrain my husband if he gets any worse."
Neither Legolas nor Jaisia spoke as they raced against time, knowing that the life of a dear friend of both of them was depending on them. All they could do was pray that Aragorn would still be alive when they returned with Lilith.
After two weeks of hard travel Jaisia staggered into the village to find Lilith waiting for them. "Lilith, Aragorn is deathly sick," Jaisia gasped.
"I know, I saw it in a vision earlier," Lilith snapped. She handed then both a cup. "Drink this then we will leave. I have all I need."
They gulped down the sweet liquid and felt new strength surging through them. They were on their way back to Minas Tirith in minutes…..
Mwahahaha, maybe I'll kill off Aragorn! That might be fun!!! R/R please!!