A/N: You guys owe me. Due to popular demand I stayed up until some ungodly
hour writing this so you would not have to wait until Sunday, enjoy this
then. Warning it's longer than previous chapters.
Desperate Times
Again as I watched helplessly, the world slowed, almost grinding to a halt as my beloved hit the ground.
I had seen from afar how he rose, a bizarre look on his face, one of confusion, yet comprehension. Almost acceptance. His left foot edged backwards. My faith in his abilities such burned strong, I told myself he merely adjusted his stance. That, of course was not the case. I could not have been more than ten feet away when he first began to fall. I madly observed, even in my race to get to him, something fall from his hand. I knew that my shock driven, split second hesitation, my complacency had cost my dear. That tiny pause as he stepped back meant I would not reach him in time. I foolishly screamed, even if he were to react, revive; now mid fall, he would still not escape injury. I was doomed to watch him. The thud as he impacted the ground was sickening. I rushed to his side, sliding unceremoniously on my knees. Gimili turned away expecting grievous injury or even death, shielding the hobbits from the sight. I was grateful for this one act of kindness, at least now Legolas would have some dignity. I quickly ran my hand over my beloved's body, searching for injuries that would prevent me from moving him. Prevent me from turning him over, how I longed to see his face. I had noticed a wound between the shoulder blades; it was bleeding profusely. I instinctively ripped fabric from the sleeve of my tunic and applied pressure, calling for bandages. Though I knew that Legolas' tunic would tear more easily, I would not do him this injustice.
To my surprise it was Boromir who reacted swiftly to my call and was rifling rabidly through my pack. Until recently he had been standing numbly at my side, his jaw agape. The sound of his sword hitting the ground had been timed perfectly with that of Legolas.
I frowned cursing, the wound alone would not cause Legolas to fall, and the fall alone should not make him lose consciousness. Something else was at work here.
"Aragorn?"
Normally I would have ignored the ring bearer at such a time as this, I needed to concentrate at the task in hand. But something in his tiny voice made me look up. Fear I would have expected, but there was a slight quaver in the name, it chilled my heart. Frodo had slid down from the tree above and held something before him. He held it as if it were fragile, yet deadly. I imagined it was how I would carry the sword of Islidur. It was an arrow, no doubt the one that had pierced my elf's flesh. I regarded it with anger and hatred, though knew of its importance. I snatched it harshly and looked closer. My breath caught in my throat.
I knew nothing of it, nothing of its content, purpose or origin yet it ruled my thoughts. A poison. That I was certain of. I noted its appearance and handed the precious article to Boromir. I was sick of it. I needed to more know of this substance, from its violent effects, I deduced that this vile concoction must be intended solely for elves. Nothing had previously affected Legolas so.
I had to get a message to Lothlorien; I desperately needed counsel. The elves there seemed wise, worldly, more so than in Rivendell. How would I reach them? Lothlorien was many days journey from here, and a perilous one at that. Something I could neither risk nor afford.
In such desperate times, you must make use of what is around you. A voice spoke out inside my head. I knew that voice, I knew of when those words had been spoken.
*************************
Legolas and I lay in a most beautiful clearing, the woods of Lothlorien were inspiring. It was late at night, nay, early morning. Last night we had declared our love. My mood was joyous; I had waited for this moment for so long and wanted to share the news with all I knew. As I shared the sentiment with him, Legolas smiled beneath me. We kissed passionately, exploring each other, my hands roamed all over his perfect body tugging at the ties of his silver tunic and leggings. Legolas then pulled away, I released him immediately. Had I done something wrong? To my relief Legolas merely smiled again and then, for some unknown reason, whistled. He laughed at my confused expression, and indicated something that had appeared at his side. A sparkling white dove. It cooed softly.
"You said you wished to tell the rest of the fellowship, it might make things easier if you did anyway. I thought you would be in no mood to move from your current position, and frankly neither am I."
He turned to the dove, which he called Perinue, and told her in elvish to collect the rest of the fellowship.
My mouth was still open when she flew off into the distance. The elf's eyes twinkled in amusement.
"In such desperate times, you must make use of what is around you."
*************************
The words still echoed through my mind, I owed it to my lover to heed his words. I whistled attempting to emulate Legolas' call. I heard and saw nothing. Would she only reply to elves, or only Legolas? I turned back to his prone body, tears shining in my eyes.
Then I heard a familiar coo. The swish that had signalled Legolas' doom may now sound his saviour.
Perinue landed to the left of Legolas and I quickly informed her of the situation. The fellowship looked on, sure of my madness. She took off as soon as I had said my piece.
In the two hours that followed we made Legolas as comfortable as we could. We lit a fire and salvaged what we could of our camp. I had attempted to burn away the poison to no avail and placed herbs on his face and back to numb the pain of the wounds there. He had began to moan; perhaps he would awake.
We were all crowded round him as the dove returned. I stepped away from the party and untied the parchment from around the bird's feet.
Estel, this is indeed grave news.
I read on, the words meaning nothing, I saw them but I took nothing in. I was disrupted by activity ahead. He was awake.
I rushed to him; he thrashed around wildly his eyes still closed.
"Legolas, calm, 'tis I Estel, love."
This subdued him only momentarily. His eyes opened but did not focus. I attempted to stop him from speaking further. I had stopped the pain, and would eventually know more of the poison and how to cure it once I re-read the parchment. Things would be fine. But alas, his voice rang clear.
"Nay, beloved, you do not understand. I-I I'm blind."
A/N: I'm really am proud of myself. Truly, more on Sunday.. I will not pull an all - nighter again. That is of course as long as you review. (You don't have to really; it's just I live off these things).
Desperate Times
Again as I watched helplessly, the world slowed, almost grinding to a halt as my beloved hit the ground.
I had seen from afar how he rose, a bizarre look on his face, one of confusion, yet comprehension. Almost acceptance. His left foot edged backwards. My faith in his abilities such burned strong, I told myself he merely adjusted his stance. That, of course was not the case. I could not have been more than ten feet away when he first began to fall. I madly observed, even in my race to get to him, something fall from his hand. I knew that my shock driven, split second hesitation, my complacency had cost my dear. That tiny pause as he stepped back meant I would not reach him in time. I foolishly screamed, even if he were to react, revive; now mid fall, he would still not escape injury. I was doomed to watch him. The thud as he impacted the ground was sickening. I rushed to his side, sliding unceremoniously on my knees. Gimili turned away expecting grievous injury or even death, shielding the hobbits from the sight. I was grateful for this one act of kindness, at least now Legolas would have some dignity. I quickly ran my hand over my beloved's body, searching for injuries that would prevent me from moving him. Prevent me from turning him over, how I longed to see his face. I had noticed a wound between the shoulder blades; it was bleeding profusely. I instinctively ripped fabric from the sleeve of my tunic and applied pressure, calling for bandages. Though I knew that Legolas' tunic would tear more easily, I would not do him this injustice.
To my surprise it was Boromir who reacted swiftly to my call and was rifling rabidly through my pack. Until recently he had been standing numbly at my side, his jaw agape. The sound of his sword hitting the ground had been timed perfectly with that of Legolas.
I frowned cursing, the wound alone would not cause Legolas to fall, and the fall alone should not make him lose consciousness. Something else was at work here.
"Aragorn?"
Normally I would have ignored the ring bearer at such a time as this, I needed to concentrate at the task in hand. But something in his tiny voice made me look up. Fear I would have expected, but there was a slight quaver in the name, it chilled my heart. Frodo had slid down from the tree above and held something before him. He held it as if it were fragile, yet deadly. I imagined it was how I would carry the sword of Islidur. It was an arrow, no doubt the one that had pierced my elf's flesh. I regarded it with anger and hatred, though knew of its importance. I snatched it harshly and looked closer. My breath caught in my throat.
I knew nothing of it, nothing of its content, purpose or origin yet it ruled my thoughts. A poison. That I was certain of. I noted its appearance and handed the precious article to Boromir. I was sick of it. I needed to more know of this substance, from its violent effects, I deduced that this vile concoction must be intended solely for elves. Nothing had previously affected Legolas so.
I had to get a message to Lothlorien; I desperately needed counsel. The elves there seemed wise, worldly, more so than in Rivendell. How would I reach them? Lothlorien was many days journey from here, and a perilous one at that. Something I could neither risk nor afford.
In such desperate times, you must make use of what is around you. A voice spoke out inside my head. I knew that voice, I knew of when those words had been spoken.
*************************
Legolas and I lay in a most beautiful clearing, the woods of Lothlorien were inspiring. It was late at night, nay, early morning. Last night we had declared our love. My mood was joyous; I had waited for this moment for so long and wanted to share the news with all I knew. As I shared the sentiment with him, Legolas smiled beneath me. We kissed passionately, exploring each other, my hands roamed all over his perfect body tugging at the ties of his silver tunic and leggings. Legolas then pulled away, I released him immediately. Had I done something wrong? To my relief Legolas merely smiled again and then, for some unknown reason, whistled. He laughed at my confused expression, and indicated something that had appeared at his side. A sparkling white dove. It cooed softly.
"You said you wished to tell the rest of the fellowship, it might make things easier if you did anyway. I thought you would be in no mood to move from your current position, and frankly neither am I."
He turned to the dove, which he called Perinue, and told her in elvish to collect the rest of the fellowship.
My mouth was still open when she flew off into the distance. The elf's eyes twinkled in amusement.
"In such desperate times, you must make use of what is around you."
*************************
The words still echoed through my mind, I owed it to my lover to heed his words. I whistled attempting to emulate Legolas' call. I heard and saw nothing. Would she only reply to elves, or only Legolas? I turned back to his prone body, tears shining in my eyes.
Then I heard a familiar coo. The swish that had signalled Legolas' doom may now sound his saviour.
Perinue landed to the left of Legolas and I quickly informed her of the situation. The fellowship looked on, sure of my madness. She took off as soon as I had said my piece.
In the two hours that followed we made Legolas as comfortable as we could. We lit a fire and salvaged what we could of our camp. I had attempted to burn away the poison to no avail and placed herbs on his face and back to numb the pain of the wounds there. He had began to moan; perhaps he would awake.
We were all crowded round him as the dove returned. I stepped away from the party and untied the parchment from around the bird's feet.
Estel, this is indeed grave news.
I read on, the words meaning nothing, I saw them but I took nothing in. I was disrupted by activity ahead. He was awake.
I rushed to him; he thrashed around wildly his eyes still closed.
"Legolas, calm, 'tis I Estel, love."
This subdued him only momentarily. His eyes opened but did not focus. I attempted to stop him from speaking further. I had stopped the pain, and would eventually know more of the poison and how to cure it once I re-read the parchment. Things would be fine. But alas, his voice rang clear.
"Nay, beloved, you do not understand. I-I I'm blind."
A/N: I'm really am proud of myself. Truly, more on Sunday.. I will not pull an all - nighter again. That is of course as long as you review. (You don't have to really; it's just I live off these things).