A/N: Sorry about the delay. Too much Lemsip I swear! Thanks for all your
kind comments.
Pause For Thought
As I perched in the tree I looked down onto the camp. I shook my head in disgust, my actions moments below were sure to alert Aragorn to the fact that something was wrong. I had vowed to keep it secret, yet I was now dropping hints.
I was still in shock I told myself, I had braced myself while strolling down to the lake, but it had not been enough. I had prepared for perhaps an inappropriate comment or suggestion, even a stray hand but nothing could prepare me for what occurred. The attempt to take advantage of me like that showed that the evil ring had planted seeds of true malice within Boromir. The lust that coursed through him was enough for him to need and take my body unwilling. What I should have been focusing on was that Boromir; the proud Son of Gondor had overcome the ring's power. All was not lost, it was a testament to Boromir and the long-doubted strength of men. I had often seen such strength in action.
Tears began to run down my face again. I had cried but three times in my life, and twice within the last twenty minutes. This was of course the real reason I had taken refuge in the treetops. I welcomed it's safety but also it's privacy. Up here I could be alone with my thoughts and no-one could see me cry. The tears were neither for me, nor Aragorn but for Boromir. As much as I had been certain that his secret and his honour were safe, I now feared they may be not. Both of those things led in the hands of the small figures that had seemingly set up camp at my feet. Even now they argued loudly, loud enough for even my tiny remainder of hearing to pick up. Ah, that brought back thoughts of the poison that polluted my body. I would now also have to tell Aragorn that the food I had just eaten was utterly tasteless. No, we would reach Lothlorien within a day, all being well. I had worried him enough for this evening.
I would have to talk to my new bodyguards, Frodo and Sam soon. They are keen to 'warn' the rest of the fellowship, though I have put them off momentarily, promising to speak to my lover myself. I severely doubt their actions have failed to raise suspicion.
I may have been just falling asleep when I heard movement below. I may not have, if it weren't the clumsy movement of hobbits directly below. In fact the camp in general seemed to be in motion. I heard swords clang hard against sheaths and was spurred into action. No orcs were in the area as far as I could tell, from the tone of Frodo's whispering to Sam, I knew who approached. Recalling how I got up, I clambered down from the tree careful not to make it look too difficult. I landed and reached out my hands at waist height, finding a small shoulder on each side. I squeezed gently hoping to convey a silent, subtle message. The figures tensed but stilled, I heard no more of their weapons. I stepped forward slightly but kept my hands where they were, careful to ensure my body was facing the same way the hobbits were. I would no longer be able to hear the footsteps of the approaching figure from such a distance, but as soon as they came into range I stiffened just as the hobbits had. I was alarmed to hear a grunted greeting from Aragorn from my left, he had felt the need to cross the camp and sidle up close to me. Had I been that obvious?
As soon as I heard a venomous whisper at my hip I made my move.
"Boromir . . ." That was too loud. "How was your stroll, did you succeed in clearing your head as you intended?" I almost patted myself on the back for my quick thinking. My words had easily silenced the hobbits and had explained the man's strange absence. However, Boromir's reply betrayed me. He was clearly surprised having expected me to run back to the others and tell all. I'd be willing to wager he had thought I would not approach him, let alone speak with him in such a manner. There was a long delay. Then his voice broke it, unsure and uncharacteristically quiet.
"Yes, Legolas." He managed to pronounce my name correctly only on the third attempt. "I am well." He added, despite the fact I had not questioned his health. Then, he turned and retreated to where he would make his bed for the night.
Even a blind man such as myself could see through his pretence.
Aragorn still stood at my side, he made no sound I could make out, but I knew he was there. After a moment he awkwardly left, murmuring something of a good night's sleep. He did not know had to act around me now. I hoped my damage was not irreparable, for I was in no position to explain myself. I made to follow him when a hand clamped over my own. Biting back a sigh of defeat, I kneeled to talk with the hobbits.
"You still haven't told him have you?" I was shocked to hear anger.
"There is no need to take that tone with me, ringbearer." I did not even grace him with his name, noting how much I sounded like my father. He had the decency to sound apologetic.
"It's just we care for you Legolas." Sam then swiftly took over.
"We're worried, 'bout you, and what Aragorn will do, and what if it happens again? Oh its such a mess!"
I felt myself going with them and quickly had to cut short this threat of group hysteria.
"It will not happen again." I desperately hoped that sounded sure enough. "I will deal with Aragorn."
"Will you tell him?"
"That is my decision, and you will face my anger if you force my hand in it." I said, hoping to make an impact. The long silence was enough.
"Ok."
"Alright Legolas, but if he tries anything again I'll -- " Not only did I not want to hear the end of that sentence but also Sam's voice was beginning to rise.
"Yes, yes Sam. Now hush, we will speak no more of this. We reach the golden woods tomorrow and I will need you rested."
They thankfully took the somewhat heavy hint. Now, I had lain to rest this problem with the hobbits, perhaps I could do so with Aragorn. I would make an important gesture.
Remembering how I had first got to the tree from Aragorn I retraced my steps, lying down when I almost tripped over a sleepy figure. I tucked myself right up against him, careful not to touch him just in case. My silent question was answered when he rolled over covering me with his blanket and encircling his arms around my waist as he always did. I whispered an elvish apology into his ear, blaming my blindness for making me 'jumpy,' which it did, only not to the extent I implied. I almost jumped with joy as he began to nibble my ear.
But as it seems with this quest, happiness cannot last for long. An agonising pain shot through my body, I jerked and cried out.
Aragorn sat up and leant over my face, questioning, pleading.
I knew what was happening. It was finally beginning to kill me. After weeks of it lying in wait, picking at my senses, denying me sight, taste, hearing and even sensation in part, I now faced the crushing decline ahead. According to the message from Lothlorien it would now turn my own body against me.
It had finally begun its attack on my nervous system; it's attack on my life, and me.
A/N: Scary. I hope to bring more of the madness tomorrow, but it will have to be late in the day.
Pause For Thought
As I perched in the tree I looked down onto the camp. I shook my head in disgust, my actions moments below were sure to alert Aragorn to the fact that something was wrong. I had vowed to keep it secret, yet I was now dropping hints.
I was still in shock I told myself, I had braced myself while strolling down to the lake, but it had not been enough. I had prepared for perhaps an inappropriate comment or suggestion, even a stray hand but nothing could prepare me for what occurred. The attempt to take advantage of me like that showed that the evil ring had planted seeds of true malice within Boromir. The lust that coursed through him was enough for him to need and take my body unwilling. What I should have been focusing on was that Boromir; the proud Son of Gondor had overcome the ring's power. All was not lost, it was a testament to Boromir and the long-doubted strength of men. I had often seen such strength in action.
Tears began to run down my face again. I had cried but three times in my life, and twice within the last twenty minutes. This was of course the real reason I had taken refuge in the treetops. I welcomed it's safety but also it's privacy. Up here I could be alone with my thoughts and no-one could see me cry. The tears were neither for me, nor Aragorn but for Boromir. As much as I had been certain that his secret and his honour were safe, I now feared they may be not. Both of those things led in the hands of the small figures that had seemingly set up camp at my feet. Even now they argued loudly, loud enough for even my tiny remainder of hearing to pick up. Ah, that brought back thoughts of the poison that polluted my body. I would now also have to tell Aragorn that the food I had just eaten was utterly tasteless. No, we would reach Lothlorien within a day, all being well. I had worried him enough for this evening.
I would have to talk to my new bodyguards, Frodo and Sam soon. They are keen to 'warn' the rest of the fellowship, though I have put them off momentarily, promising to speak to my lover myself. I severely doubt their actions have failed to raise suspicion.
I may have been just falling asleep when I heard movement below. I may not have, if it weren't the clumsy movement of hobbits directly below. In fact the camp in general seemed to be in motion. I heard swords clang hard against sheaths and was spurred into action. No orcs were in the area as far as I could tell, from the tone of Frodo's whispering to Sam, I knew who approached. Recalling how I got up, I clambered down from the tree careful not to make it look too difficult. I landed and reached out my hands at waist height, finding a small shoulder on each side. I squeezed gently hoping to convey a silent, subtle message. The figures tensed but stilled, I heard no more of their weapons. I stepped forward slightly but kept my hands where they were, careful to ensure my body was facing the same way the hobbits were. I would no longer be able to hear the footsteps of the approaching figure from such a distance, but as soon as they came into range I stiffened just as the hobbits had. I was alarmed to hear a grunted greeting from Aragorn from my left, he had felt the need to cross the camp and sidle up close to me. Had I been that obvious?
As soon as I heard a venomous whisper at my hip I made my move.
"Boromir . . ." That was too loud. "How was your stroll, did you succeed in clearing your head as you intended?" I almost patted myself on the back for my quick thinking. My words had easily silenced the hobbits and had explained the man's strange absence. However, Boromir's reply betrayed me. He was clearly surprised having expected me to run back to the others and tell all. I'd be willing to wager he had thought I would not approach him, let alone speak with him in such a manner. There was a long delay. Then his voice broke it, unsure and uncharacteristically quiet.
"Yes, Legolas." He managed to pronounce my name correctly only on the third attempt. "I am well." He added, despite the fact I had not questioned his health. Then, he turned and retreated to where he would make his bed for the night.
Even a blind man such as myself could see through his pretence.
Aragorn still stood at my side, he made no sound I could make out, but I knew he was there. After a moment he awkwardly left, murmuring something of a good night's sleep. He did not know had to act around me now. I hoped my damage was not irreparable, for I was in no position to explain myself. I made to follow him when a hand clamped over my own. Biting back a sigh of defeat, I kneeled to talk with the hobbits.
"You still haven't told him have you?" I was shocked to hear anger.
"There is no need to take that tone with me, ringbearer." I did not even grace him with his name, noting how much I sounded like my father. He had the decency to sound apologetic.
"It's just we care for you Legolas." Sam then swiftly took over.
"We're worried, 'bout you, and what Aragorn will do, and what if it happens again? Oh its such a mess!"
I felt myself going with them and quickly had to cut short this threat of group hysteria.
"It will not happen again." I desperately hoped that sounded sure enough. "I will deal with Aragorn."
"Will you tell him?"
"That is my decision, and you will face my anger if you force my hand in it." I said, hoping to make an impact. The long silence was enough.
"Ok."
"Alright Legolas, but if he tries anything again I'll -- " Not only did I not want to hear the end of that sentence but also Sam's voice was beginning to rise.
"Yes, yes Sam. Now hush, we will speak no more of this. We reach the golden woods tomorrow and I will need you rested."
They thankfully took the somewhat heavy hint. Now, I had lain to rest this problem with the hobbits, perhaps I could do so with Aragorn. I would make an important gesture.
Remembering how I had first got to the tree from Aragorn I retraced my steps, lying down when I almost tripped over a sleepy figure. I tucked myself right up against him, careful not to touch him just in case. My silent question was answered when he rolled over covering me with his blanket and encircling his arms around my waist as he always did. I whispered an elvish apology into his ear, blaming my blindness for making me 'jumpy,' which it did, only not to the extent I implied. I almost jumped with joy as he began to nibble my ear.
But as it seems with this quest, happiness cannot last for long. An agonising pain shot through my body, I jerked and cried out.
Aragorn sat up and leant over my face, questioning, pleading.
I knew what was happening. It was finally beginning to kill me. After weeks of it lying in wait, picking at my senses, denying me sight, taste, hearing and even sensation in part, I now faced the crushing decline ahead. According to the message from Lothlorien it would now turn my own body against me.
It had finally begun its attack on my nervous system; it's attack on my life, and me.
A/N: Scary. I hope to bring more of the madness tomorrow, but it will have to be late in the day.