A/N: I have again outdone myself by getting this up early. Read on!
It Begins
The darkness was deeper than that of Moria, though I could see just as little. All I could hear around me were horrified gasps. I could distinguish each person, and could even make out Boromir bending down to collect his sword. Aragorn. His reaction struck me as the arrow had penetrated my heart. He had let out a tiny cry, though obviously tried to hold back so as not to panic me. Perhaps he had forgotten that my hearing was just as sharp as ever. His soft words floated into my head.
"You're sure?" I smiled at him, despite the situation. What a stupid question. I swear I even heard him chuckle.
"Yes, Estel, I would think I'd know." From my side came a disgruntled sound. Boromir. I had never truly felt comfortable around the man, though I had always put that down to not knowing him well enough. Since his strange disappearance and reappearance during the battle I had vowed to keep a closer eye on him. Now, I thought bitterly, that would not be possible.
"I'm there's something we can do, Legolas, do not fear, it may not be permanent. I have received news from Lothlorien regarding the ----."
He was scrabbling desperately to make me feel better. He had injected a false light-heartedness and optimism into his speech. It was not becoming of him. I would have made comment if not of the strange way he had stopped mid sentence. A realisation, but of what?
"What is it?" My words full of dread, the rustling of parchment was my only answer. I tried to stand but large hands pushed me back down, just a little too hard. I winced in pain. I could almost see the look that Aragorn shot Boromir despite my blindness. He was so protective, but now I wished to know what concerned him. For the first time, someone other than Aragorn addressed me, a hobbit.
"He's reading, Legolas." I was sure that was Merry.
"Yeah, it's the letter the bird brought from Lothlorien." Undoubtedly Pippin.
Bird? I searched my mind for a bird that could fit the description. Obviously Frodo was aware of my thinking.
"The white one. Peri- Peri- something."
"Perinue." I quickly corrected. This evidently pleased the fellowship; they were all smiling at me I could tell.
"Stop that!" I feigned annoyance. I small 'huh' was heard in the direction of Gimili, who had taken up a modest position leaning against the tree. Aragorn drew himself closer, so close I heard hear him breathing, I imagined his face to be close to mine. I reached out, grateful to find his cheek, I ran my hand down it, stroking softly. I almost jumped when he started to speak, even though he whispered.
"I have reread this message from Galadriel, she knows of what ails you my love. A poison known as elisur. It is designed to attack elves specifically and is quite . . . . ." He paused looking for the right word. I raised my hand to his face once more to urge him on.
"Dangerous. What the lady has now makes more sense than when I first read them. Elisur attacks the senses ridding the victim of them one by one; the elf becomes very vulnerable and is often killed easily if attacked."
Again he paused; this was so hard for him. I needed to know what he had to say. I willed him strength.
"There is a cure, if administered in time the effects are reversible." I could hear his joy, and visualised the twinkle that always graced his eyes when he was in this mood. A mood I had rarely seen him in, the last time had to be Lothlorien. I asked the questions on everyone's lips.
"How long do I have? Can they prepare this cure in Lothlorien?" I shuddered as my voice betrayed me. My normally strong voice shook and faltered; my fear was evident.
Aragorn brushed his lips against my cheek and whispered into my ear in soft elvish.
"They are preparing it as we speak my love, the time-span varies depending on the strength of the elf, and you are very strong. Do not fear. I will let nothing hurt you Legolas, you are still a valued member of the fellowship and we will get you to Lothlorien that I promise you."
His words held such conviction that I would dare not to challenge them, even if he had been telling me that my golden locks had turned jet black.
Days had passed, I felt weak but not ill. I found myself still able to use my bow, though I now relied on my enemy to make a mistake. I picked them out using sound alone. Aragorn reassured that my aim was as accurate as ever. I had expected the fellowship to treat me as a child, holding my hand as they took me anywhere, but they learnt just to walk alongside me.
The darkness I lived in became easier to live with gradually as we set off towards Lothlorien. I knew of what around me as we were merely going back over ground we had previously tread. I spoke with Frodo of my crushing guilt at holding up the quest. The small creature reassured me that was as important in this journey as even the ring itself and a few days more travel would not prevent the defeat of evil. I found myself taking comfort in his words.
The emotion I felt more was helplessness and uselessness. It had been my job in our party to forewarn of any danger. What use was a blind elf?
I had fallen to the back of the group to converse with the hobbit; I preferred it there. At least at the back I knew of what was ahead of me.
To my surprise, I heard Aragorn call to me angrily.
"Legolas, why do you ignore me so?"
Ignore him? I had not ignored anyone.
"I have called you three times and asked you to join me at the head of the party, yet still you remain here."
I blanched. My lover's tone softened as began to call me once more.
However it was the hobbit that surprised me by being ahead of everyone. The awful thought had struck him too. He tugged at my leggings.
"You didn't hear him did you?"
A/N: I truly am evil I know. Let me know what you think. Chapter 5 should be up tomorrow.
It Begins
The darkness was deeper than that of Moria, though I could see just as little. All I could hear around me were horrified gasps. I could distinguish each person, and could even make out Boromir bending down to collect his sword. Aragorn. His reaction struck me as the arrow had penetrated my heart. He had let out a tiny cry, though obviously tried to hold back so as not to panic me. Perhaps he had forgotten that my hearing was just as sharp as ever. His soft words floated into my head.
"You're sure?" I smiled at him, despite the situation. What a stupid question. I swear I even heard him chuckle.
"Yes, Estel, I would think I'd know." From my side came a disgruntled sound. Boromir. I had never truly felt comfortable around the man, though I had always put that down to not knowing him well enough. Since his strange disappearance and reappearance during the battle I had vowed to keep a closer eye on him. Now, I thought bitterly, that would not be possible.
"I'm there's something we can do, Legolas, do not fear, it may not be permanent. I have received news from Lothlorien regarding the ----."
He was scrabbling desperately to make me feel better. He had injected a false light-heartedness and optimism into his speech. It was not becoming of him. I would have made comment if not of the strange way he had stopped mid sentence. A realisation, but of what?
"What is it?" My words full of dread, the rustling of parchment was my only answer. I tried to stand but large hands pushed me back down, just a little too hard. I winced in pain. I could almost see the look that Aragorn shot Boromir despite my blindness. He was so protective, but now I wished to know what concerned him. For the first time, someone other than Aragorn addressed me, a hobbit.
"He's reading, Legolas." I was sure that was Merry.
"Yeah, it's the letter the bird brought from Lothlorien." Undoubtedly Pippin.
Bird? I searched my mind for a bird that could fit the description. Obviously Frodo was aware of my thinking.
"The white one. Peri- Peri- something."
"Perinue." I quickly corrected. This evidently pleased the fellowship; they were all smiling at me I could tell.
"Stop that!" I feigned annoyance. I small 'huh' was heard in the direction of Gimili, who had taken up a modest position leaning against the tree. Aragorn drew himself closer, so close I heard hear him breathing, I imagined his face to be close to mine. I reached out, grateful to find his cheek, I ran my hand down it, stroking softly. I almost jumped when he started to speak, even though he whispered.
"I have reread this message from Galadriel, she knows of what ails you my love. A poison known as elisur. It is designed to attack elves specifically and is quite . . . . ." He paused looking for the right word. I raised my hand to his face once more to urge him on.
"Dangerous. What the lady has now makes more sense than when I first read them. Elisur attacks the senses ridding the victim of them one by one; the elf becomes very vulnerable and is often killed easily if attacked."
Again he paused; this was so hard for him. I needed to know what he had to say. I willed him strength.
"There is a cure, if administered in time the effects are reversible." I could hear his joy, and visualised the twinkle that always graced his eyes when he was in this mood. A mood I had rarely seen him in, the last time had to be Lothlorien. I asked the questions on everyone's lips.
"How long do I have? Can they prepare this cure in Lothlorien?" I shuddered as my voice betrayed me. My normally strong voice shook and faltered; my fear was evident.
Aragorn brushed his lips against my cheek and whispered into my ear in soft elvish.
"They are preparing it as we speak my love, the time-span varies depending on the strength of the elf, and you are very strong. Do not fear. I will let nothing hurt you Legolas, you are still a valued member of the fellowship and we will get you to Lothlorien that I promise you."
His words held such conviction that I would dare not to challenge them, even if he had been telling me that my golden locks had turned jet black.
Days had passed, I felt weak but not ill. I found myself still able to use my bow, though I now relied on my enemy to make a mistake. I picked them out using sound alone. Aragorn reassured that my aim was as accurate as ever. I had expected the fellowship to treat me as a child, holding my hand as they took me anywhere, but they learnt just to walk alongside me.
The darkness I lived in became easier to live with gradually as we set off towards Lothlorien. I knew of what around me as we were merely going back over ground we had previously tread. I spoke with Frodo of my crushing guilt at holding up the quest. The small creature reassured me that was as important in this journey as even the ring itself and a few days more travel would not prevent the defeat of evil. I found myself taking comfort in his words.
The emotion I felt more was helplessness and uselessness. It had been my job in our party to forewarn of any danger. What use was a blind elf?
I had fallen to the back of the group to converse with the hobbit; I preferred it there. At least at the back I knew of what was ahead of me.
To my surprise, I heard Aragorn call to me angrily.
"Legolas, why do you ignore me so?"
Ignore him? I had not ignored anyone.
"I have called you three times and asked you to join me at the head of the party, yet still you remain here."
I blanched. My lover's tone softened as began to call me once more.
However it was the hobbit that surprised me by being ahead of everyone. The awful thought had struck him too. He tugged at my leggings.
"You didn't hear him did you?"
A/N: I truly am evil I know. Let me know what you think. Chapter 5 should be up tomorrow.