A/N: O_O Arachnids! *hint hint*
Chapter Six: Smothered Flame
Someone stepped on him. From his position on the ground, Aragorn could barely see anything. Another foot tripped over him, then kicked him.
"Stupid," a Warg-Orc muttered before rushing off. Aragorn tried to listen for something, anything.
Screams. Terrible screams. There was a battle going on. Aragorn tried to clear his mind. What time was it? How long had he been here?
This time, a horse tripped over him. Aragorn gave an involuntary cry of pain as its hoof jarred his wounded shoulder. The animal slid to a stop and the rider jumped off.
"Estel?"
Aragorn strained his eyes upward, gazing into the shocked face of Elrohir. The elf quickly untied the man's bonds.
"There's no time. Quick, get on Sirius," Elrohir said, stroking the horse's mane. Sirius turned his head to nuzzle his old friend. Hoisting himself unceremoniously into the saddle, he grabbed Elrohir's hand and yanked him up as an Uruk-hai charged at them, blade raised.
Elrohir screamed, waving his hands. Aragorn bit back an amused snort. Elrohir sounded distinctly like a girl. Sirius burst into a gallop, not sure what his master's intentions were.
Stupid man. Stupid elf he thought.
"We hunted your group of Warg-Orcs and found a, well, massacre," Elrohir said. "Legolas and Elladan were out cold. We flew into them and rescued the few prisoners, but couldn't find you or Trinity. There was a very strange character running around yelling orders. He got away."
"That was Dart," Aragorn snorted dispassionately. "He is the leader."
"Where's Trinity?" Elrohir asked gently.
"She is-" Aragorn couldn't say it. "-Not here. It's Dart's fault. He pushed her over."
"Into the Anduin?" Elrohir cried. "The rapids?"
Aragorn's nod was barely audible. "And you followed?" Elrohir's eyes were huge. Aragorn nodded again.
"Did you go over the waterfall?" Elrohir fairly screamed.
A single tear snaked down Aragorn's cheek.
"Aragorn!" a smile lit up Legolas' face as the king strode into his room. The weary travelers were resting in Legolas' childhood home, Mirkwood. "You're alive!" Then he grew serious. "Where's Trinity?"
The look on his friend's face said it all.
"I'm sorry, my friend," Legolas said softly.
"She was probably lying the whole time," Aragorn muttered. "But I still-"
"-Formed a bond with her," Legolas finished. "What can I say?"
"Nothing," Aragorn said bluntly.
Legolas shifted uncomfortably. His arm throbbed. "What is our next step from here?"
Aragorn looked up. "We must rally the forces of men and elves to stop Dart and Saruman."
"Is it just me or does this vaguely remind me of the battle of Helm's Deep?" Legolas asked dryly, recalling one of the epic battles during the War of the Ring.
Aragorn smiled wryly. "It does, my elvish friend. We were victorious then, weren't we?"
Legolas smiled and nodded, his eyelids growing heavy and he slipped off into peaceful slumber. "Only we may not be victorious this time," Aragorn murmured quietly.
No one heard him.
"You've seen these super-Orcs in action before, Aragorn," Thranduil said that evening. "Can you tell us anything?"
"Aside from the fact that ten of them were more that enough to take fifty of us down," Aragorn said sarcastically.
Thranduil frowned. "Whatever put you in such a bad mood; you had better come to grips with it," he said sharply. "Éomer's forces have either been scattered or destroyed. The elves cannot fight this alone. We need help."
"What about the Ents?" Haldir suggested. He had led the elvish army from Lothlorien on the midnight raid that had most likely saved Aragorn's life. "Should we send riders?"
"The Ents' strength has decreased over the ages. Besides, it would take days, if not weeks, to reply."
"Entmoot," Aragorn said with a short elvish curse, deliberately being nasty. He had been in a terrible mood ever since he arrived at Mirkwood, and it was reflecting in his behavior at the moment. Thranduil glared at him.
"We do have another option," Haldir spoke up. "And it is our last. We must go to Rohan and ask for Faramir's alliance."
"What about the dwarves?" Aragorn asked.
"Send Gimli out," Thranduil answered.
"Gimli?"
"He arrived last night, while you were sitting around moping over that girl," Thranduil said, intentionally jabbing at Aragorn. He immediately recoiled when he saw the hurt in the Aragorn's eyes.
"I'll talk to him," Aragorn said abruptly, standing up and walking out of the room.
"Good work," Haldir muttered. "Can't you see he's suffering?"
Thranduil snorted unsympathetically. "He gets attached to some girl he hasn't seen in years and flies off the handle when he suspects she is gone for good."
"Very well," Gimli said. "I'll take this- beast." He glared at the horse.
"Don't fall off," Legolas said with a smirk.
Gimli shot Legolas a murderous look and grabbed the horse's mane, yanking himself into the saddle like one who is climbing a mountain. "Forward, horse!" he yelled, pulling on the reins. "No! The other way!"
Legolas snickered as the horse, clearly tired of Gimli's insensitivity, yanked the reins through the Dwarf's hands and bolted off towards the forest's borders. The loud, crazy Dwarf upon his back yelled and waved his arms.
"He's a lost cause," Legolas muttered to Aragorn, who had conveniently wandered away. "Aragorn?"
The King of Gondor sat in the lush grass by a small, bubbling river, watching the sunlight color rainbows in its rippling depths. He was at the one place where the sun shone in Mirkwood. He was heedless of the dangers that lurked in the forest, almost wishing he would be attacked so he could let out all his pent-up helpless rage.
He sighed, picked up a leaf, and let it coast down the river. He quietly nestled into the grass and was soon sleeping, his breaths soft and his face peaceful and relaxed. Yet he could not hear the danger creeping above him in the trees- the eight-legged danger.
"Aragorn?" Legolas called. He scanned the palace grounds. "Where is that foolish man?" He kicked at a rock in frustration.
Legolas halted, eyes wide with fear. A terrified scream ripped through the woods. His friend's scream. Legolas ran towards the sound, thoroughly alarmed for his friend's life.
The spider hissed at the trembling man, red eyes gleaming with hunger. Its jaws slavering with venom, the slime dripping onto Aragorn's skin as the arachnid reached for his throat. Aragorn whimpered in fear, Anduril too far away from his hands to be of any use.
Aragorn lashed out at the spider on his back, rolling over onto his back. The spider snarled at him and sunk its fangs deep into the man's shoulder.
Aragorn screamed again, this time from the pain and the knowledge that the spiders liked to eat their meat alive. The spider's eyes gleamed with glee as it raised its fangs to stab the Ranger's unprotected neck.
The spider flew off Aragorn's body with a shriek of pain, its stingers inches away from the man's neck. Its bulky form was run through by a sword- cleaving it neatly in two.
The rest of the arachnids, clinging to trees, swung down angrily, each meeting their doom when they were caught and sliced by the flashing blade.
Aragorn opened his eyes. Through blurred vision, he saw the spiders, sticky gore flying from gashes in their abdomens. He could barely distinguish the blade, glowing as if with fire, and the girl that wielded it.
The final spider fell, green fluid gushing from its ruined eyes. Aragorn hauled himself up on his legs and looked at the girl, eyes widening with disbelief.
"Trinity?"
"No, just an overgrown bug ready to eat you. Why were you so reckless?"
Aragorn said nothing, the burning pain of his shoulder forgotten. "Why-? How-?"
Trinity cocked her head sideways. "I walk for miles just to see a reckless man who fell asleep to be attacked by spiders? Might I also add that this particular man can't talk?"
Legolas tore through the underbrush. "Aragorn-" he stopped, his eyes widening. Aragorn fell over in shock.
"Surprised?" Trinity asked innocently. "Maybe we should get Aragorn back to the palace. I think one of the spiders bit him."
Aragorn growled grumpily.
"I'll take that as a yes," Legolas hauled Aragorn to his feet and draped him over his shoulders. "Wake up, Ranger."
"No, Ada, don' wanna wake up," Aragorn mumbled, words slurred, dragging his feet painfully.
"What bit him?" Legolas asked Trinity, who walked behind the pair, sword raised attentively.
"A spider."
"No, what kind of poison did it inject?"
"I'm not sure what poison it was, but I have a pretty good idea."
"Yes?"
"That certain spider ejects two venoms; one paralyzing agent and one toxic one. I think he stabbed Aragorn with the paralyzing one, because he obviously can't move." Trinity wiped green slime from around Aragorn's shoulder. "Anyone could have figured that one out."
Legolas said nothing, silenced by the pained moans from his friend.
"Lucky I have the right herbs," Thranduil said. "He should be fine. Let him sleep the toxin off for a few hours." Legolas nodded, and stood up.
"I'll look at the girl," he said.
Trinity sat on the dresser, kicking her heels against the wood. "I'm okay."
Legolas gave her a look and dipped a cloth into a bowl of warm water; softly rubbing dried blood off her neck and her mouth. He gazed at her. "You seem to be remarkably whole for someone who has just tumbled over a waterfall."
He gently bound her cut wrists with bandages and felt her arms for breaks. He tilted his head in skepticism. "No breaks?"
"No."
Legolas shrugged. "Rest for awhile." With that, the elf left the room muttering, "I can't believe it."
Trinity exhaled. He didn't ask. Good.
Her arm was broken, the pain cutting through her foggy senses. She had seen the Orcs drag Aragorn away and had lost hope, knowing that she was probably going to die.
The bushes rustled. Trinity looked over at the shrubbery. Langaresh whickered, her massive white wings twitching nervously at the smell of Orc.
The horse's muzzle was glowing golden through the mists. Trinity smiled weakly at her.
If I've ever needed you; you were there.
"You can't heal me," Trinity said weakly.
Yes, I can. I owe it to you- to save you from death. Your time is not yet come. Gondor needs you. Aragorn needs you. I swore to my creator that I would protect you- and I will.
"Can't understand a single bloody thing you're saying."
Langaresh gently nuzzled Trinity, the healing warmth spreading throughout the injured girl's body…
"Elrohir, were Arwen and my children alright when you left them?" Aragorn asked worriedly.
"Relax, Aragorn," Elrohir smiled. "I left them in reliable hands in the mountain fortress of Bastión."
"Great place," Aragorn muttered. "I need to go there. I need you and Haldir to bring the elvish army."
"Army? Why?" Elrohir asked.
"Saruman's Orcs will stop at nothing. They want to destroy mankind, starting with us," Aragorn said empathetically.
"We want to duplicate the Battle of Helm's Deep?" Elrohir asked skeptically. "We almost lost that one!"
"Still, there is no other option, save to surrender to Saruman," Aragorn murmured. "The Bastión fortress was built by studying the weaknesses of Helm's Deep. It is stronger and should hold."
"Will it explode?" Elrohir asked fearfully.
"It shouldn't."
"Feeling better?" Aragorn walked up to Trinity and sat down next to her. "How did you get here from the falls?"
"I walked," Trinity suggested. Aragorn rolled his eyes. He doubted that she had gotten to Mirkwood unaided, but decided to leave it alone.
"I'm heading for the fortress of Bastión tomorrow," he said. "I would be honored if you came with."
"I don't know. The last time I said yes, I almost got killed," Trinity said wryly. "But, I would enjoy it just the same. If it's alright with everyone, I'll come."
"It is. I checked in advance," Aragorn grinned.
"We ride south to Minas Tirith!" Haldir shouted to his troops. "We must defend the fortress of Bastión- and defeat Saruman's army!"
Elladan and Elrohir waved goodbye as the elvish army marched out of the forest, Aragorn, Trinity, and Legolas leading the way.
The marchers stopped for a quick meal and proceeded to begin the march again, but not before Legolas and Trinity teamed up to dunk Aragorn into a river. The Ranger came up, spluttering, and lunged for the giggling elf and girl, spaying cold water.
That night, they camped for a few hours and marched until the sun was rising in the horizon and Legolas pronounced that they were close to their destination. A large cloud of black smoke rose into the sky.
"The city burns again," he said sadly. Trinity passed a hand across her face and heard a rustling in the bushes to her right. She glared at it, straining her eyes to see if there was an animal or- something more.
She saw nothing. The tawny Warg-Orc exhaled, its fur blending perfectly into the ground as it silently watched.
"Estel!" Arwen screamed, running across the courtyard and leaping into Aragorn's arms. "I was afraid you'd-" He gently pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her.
"I'm here now, that's all that matters," he said quietly. "Where are the children?"
Serenity and Eldarion sat near a fountain, floating small boats made from leaves on the water. Serenity looked up.
"Ada!" she yelled, dragging Eldarion to his father's side as he embraced them.
"Where's Jinjer?" he asked, his brow furrowing in worry. Arwen's eyes lowered to the ground.
"I- we- lost her during the escape to the fortress," she said softly. "Elladan went to look for her, but never returned. Then Elrohir left to muster an elven army."
"And they are fine," Aragorn soothed. "They remained behind at Mirkwood."
"Good," Arwen sighed and leaned her head on her husband's chest. "But still I worry."
"Close the gates," Legolas instructed as the last of the elven army marched in. "Let no one in."
Trinity stood atop the gate, gazing off into the distance. Suddenly, she leapt down fro the wall. "Legolas, don't close the gates yet! There is something coming towards us!"
Jinjer stumbled into Bastión, exhausted. Aragorn immediately rushed over to her. "What happened?"
Jinjer threw herself into her father's arms. "Oh, Ada, they captured me!" she yelled into her father's dark hair, sobbing. Aragorn patted her back and nodded to an elvish medic.
"We need to examine her," he started walking towards the door where all the sick warriors were housed. "She can tell us the whole story in there."
"Who the devil was that?" Trinity yelled, jealousy striking her directly in the heart.
"That was Jinjer, the adopted daughter of Lord Aragorn," Legolas said dutifully. "Taken your place in the family, I might add."
Trinity scowled. "We'll see," she muttered. "We'll see."
"I'm sure you remember Legolas," Aragorn said to Jinjer later that afternoon. "And this is Trinity."
Jinjer's blue gaze probed Trinity carefully. Trinity's blue-gray eyes were hard.
Jinjer sniffed disdainfully. Trinity growled low in her throat. This girl would be trouble.
"We've got it!"
Aragorn jolted awake. Legolas stood panting in the doorway. "Haldir saw a winged horse on the outskirts of the city and captured it!"
Aragorn vaulted out of bed and followed Legolas out of the room.
A/N: Ooh. Evil cliffie- of sorts. What DID they find? What part of this puzzle does Trinity still have to play?