Authors notes: - Thank you again for all the great reviews. Much
appreciated! Especially Cheysuli who has reviewed both my stories a number
of times. I am trying to get round to posting it on your site! The prequel
is giving me trouble so it won't be around for a while. I know how it is
going to pan out but starting it is difficult! Must have had 10 beginnings
already!! I am hoping to get the extended DVD soon but unless I stop eating
I have no extra money!!! Sigh!
Legolas woke. He was wet it was raining. Legolas gasped, opening his mouth to catch some of the moisture. Rain. How long since he felt it. Awareness crept slowly back into him. He was lying on the ground face down in the wet mud. There was pain but there was always pain so he ignored it. He waited. Someone would discover he was awake and beat him. He waited for the strange wizard to return. The one with the power like his masters servant who liked to torture him. The other voices weren't there. After what seemed to long a time Legolas dared to move. Turning over he waited for the blow that would undoubtedly follow. A gust of wind made him jump. There was no wind inside so he must be outside. Warning bells flashed in mind. It could only mean that there was another hunt. Legolas trembled and started to shake. There were no sounds of the orcs yet so he still had time to hide. His breathing was coming in short gasps, which made his chest hurt. Shivering he climbed to his feet. Opening his eyes he looked around. He couldn't see any shapes, nothing moved. He was alone in the dark. It must be a hunt. Sauron released him occasionally to train his new breeds of orc. It they caught him they would be allowed to have some fun but he survived till dawn the orcs would be punished, he lost both ways because the orcs angry at their companions demise would exact there revenge. Screams echoed through the air. Orcs were closing in. His eyes were getting worse he ran but he fell. His legs had no strength, he felt so sick. He would let them get him, he couldn't run anymore and he didn't want to. Master was going to punish him whatever happened so he curled up and cried.
*
The orcs stopped as they entered the clearing. Their master's pet was laid in the centre. They smiled as they crept slowly forward, master would be pleased that his pet elf had been returned to him. Approaching the elf slowly and cautiously they watched. He was an elf and vicious when attacked. Their leader stepped forward and kicked the elf hard in the ribs. A sharp intake of breath was their only indication that the pathetic creature still drew breath. Gleefully they set about teaching the elf a lesson.
*
Gimli marched over to Aragorn and stood pointedly in front of him with his axe raised.
"Ready to go master dwarf?" he questioned wryly. Gimli glared.
"We should not have left him." Gimli snapped. Aragorn was about to respond when Glorfindel reappeared.
"The orcs have retreated."
"I want patrols to check for wounded and bring them back here. Glorfindel, Elladan, Elrohir, Gimli your with me. Lets go." The quintet left the safety of the halls and ventured out. The dawn was cold and a layer of frost had settled on the ground crunching softly under their feet. Bodies of dead orcs and men lay frozen as they died creating a surreal setting. It was still; no wind and the wounded had long since fallen silent. They walked through the trees closely watching for any movement. A couple of hours later they found no trace of the elf but the amount of tracks made it difficult to track a single elf.
A cry shattered the silence. Legolas.
The elves instantly disappeared into the trees.
"Over here!" Gimli heard Elladan shout. The dwarf ran in the direction of the voice. He entered a clearing and stopped dead. In the centre stood Legolas very unsteadily surrounded by dead orcs. The elf was bleeding from a number of wounds. A wild expression graced his features,
"I won't go back. I won't go back." He whispered scrubbing his hands trying to remove the black blood that covered them.
"Legolas." Aragorn said stepping forward. The elf ignored him and sank to the ground rocking gently.
Aragorn approached slowly and knelt before him.
"Noooo!" Legolas screamed and jumped up swinging a knife around. Aragorn through himself backwards just avoiding the blade. Legolas sprang backwards into a crouched position.
"I won't go back. I AM AN ELF!" Legolas cried and he cut his arm. He waved the arm about. "Its black. My blood is black I am not normal I am deformed. No one loves me but my master."
Aragorn saw the elf's blood. It was red. The elf's eyes were betraying the elf.
"You are not deformed Legolas." Aragorn said. The elf snarled and lunged at Aragorn. Aragorn quickly moved out of the way.
"You can't hurt me." He snarled a feral look graced the elf's features.
"I am going to kill you." He snarled. Aragorn was truly frightened by the look on Legolas's face. Gone was the peaceful, calm and slightly mischievous look and it was replaced by a wild terrified look, which was totally alien on the elf's face. Before he could try to again calm the elf a black arrow impaled itself in the elf's chest. A scream died in Aragorn's throat as he watched the elf jerk and stagger. A look of defeat and resignation passed across Legolas's face as the knife fell from his numb fingers. His legs failed and he fell to his knees. Aragorn rushed to his side and caught him before he fell backwards. His sole attention focused on his wounded friend and he didn't see Elladan kill the uruk - hai with an arrow. He watched the elf gasp for breath and his eyes glaze over.
"No." Aragorn whispered. "No."
An eagle cry caught his attention. The eagle king Gwaihir swooped down with Gandalf on his back. Gwaihir landed and Gandalf dismounted.
"Quickly Gwaihir is going to take Legolas back to Rivendell and Lord Elrond. I have informed him of the situation. Aragorn go with him." Gandalf ordered. The man didn't move.
"Aragorn now!" The ranger climbed aboard and Gandalf handed the dying elf to him. "Take care of him. He is strong. It is not too late."
*
The land flew by but Aragorn hardly noticed his sole attention was focused on his elven friend. Legolas's chest had resumed the rattling that it had had during the height of the fever. His complexion had paled despite the fever and he looked like death. Aragorn wished that none of this had happened. That he had listened to Legolas and sent aid to Mirkwood. Now his best friend was led dying in his arms, Mirkwood had fallen and a new darkness was threatening the land.
"We are here." Gwaihir said as he flew lower. Aragorn looked as Rivendell appeared in view. Gwaihir landed gently and Lord Elrond stepped forward. He cast a sad look at the elf that Aragorn carried.
"Bring him inside." Aragorn climbed off and thanked Gwaihir. The eagle nodded and took off. Aragorn climbed the stairs behind Elrond and followed him to one of the guest rooms. Aragorn laid him on the bed and sat by his side. He held his friends hand and with the other brushed the hair off his forehead.
"Please help him." The man begged his father. Elrond nodded.
"I will Estel I promise." The other healers rushed in. "You must leave us now Estel. It will be a very hard experience on Legolas and I do not wish you to see it."
"He is my friend. He needs me. I cannot leave him."
"Estel." Elrond placed a hand on his foster sons shoulder. "Gandalf told me that Legolas is so badly traumatised that he doesn't recognise anyone. Please.I will call you as soon as I know something." Aragorn looked down at his friend.
"Don't you dare give up mellon." He said and leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. Squeezing his hand one last time Aragorn got up off the bed and left.
Legolas woke. He was wet it was raining. Legolas gasped, opening his mouth to catch some of the moisture. Rain. How long since he felt it. Awareness crept slowly back into him. He was lying on the ground face down in the wet mud. There was pain but there was always pain so he ignored it. He waited. Someone would discover he was awake and beat him. He waited for the strange wizard to return. The one with the power like his masters servant who liked to torture him. The other voices weren't there. After what seemed to long a time Legolas dared to move. Turning over he waited for the blow that would undoubtedly follow. A gust of wind made him jump. There was no wind inside so he must be outside. Warning bells flashed in mind. It could only mean that there was another hunt. Legolas trembled and started to shake. There were no sounds of the orcs yet so he still had time to hide. His breathing was coming in short gasps, which made his chest hurt. Shivering he climbed to his feet. Opening his eyes he looked around. He couldn't see any shapes, nothing moved. He was alone in the dark. It must be a hunt. Sauron released him occasionally to train his new breeds of orc. It they caught him they would be allowed to have some fun but he survived till dawn the orcs would be punished, he lost both ways because the orcs angry at their companions demise would exact there revenge. Screams echoed through the air. Orcs were closing in. His eyes were getting worse he ran but he fell. His legs had no strength, he felt so sick. He would let them get him, he couldn't run anymore and he didn't want to. Master was going to punish him whatever happened so he curled up and cried.
*
The orcs stopped as they entered the clearing. Their master's pet was laid in the centre. They smiled as they crept slowly forward, master would be pleased that his pet elf had been returned to him. Approaching the elf slowly and cautiously they watched. He was an elf and vicious when attacked. Their leader stepped forward and kicked the elf hard in the ribs. A sharp intake of breath was their only indication that the pathetic creature still drew breath. Gleefully they set about teaching the elf a lesson.
*
Gimli marched over to Aragorn and stood pointedly in front of him with his axe raised.
"Ready to go master dwarf?" he questioned wryly. Gimli glared.
"We should not have left him." Gimli snapped. Aragorn was about to respond when Glorfindel reappeared.
"The orcs have retreated."
"I want patrols to check for wounded and bring them back here. Glorfindel, Elladan, Elrohir, Gimli your with me. Lets go." The quintet left the safety of the halls and ventured out. The dawn was cold and a layer of frost had settled on the ground crunching softly under their feet. Bodies of dead orcs and men lay frozen as they died creating a surreal setting. It was still; no wind and the wounded had long since fallen silent. They walked through the trees closely watching for any movement. A couple of hours later they found no trace of the elf but the amount of tracks made it difficult to track a single elf.
A cry shattered the silence. Legolas.
The elves instantly disappeared into the trees.
"Over here!" Gimli heard Elladan shout. The dwarf ran in the direction of the voice. He entered a clearing and stopped dead. In the centre stood Legolas very unsteadily surrounded by dead orcs. The elf was bleeding from a number of wounds. A wild expression graced his features,
"I won't go back. I won't go back." He whispered scrubbing his hands trying to remove the black blood that covered them.
"Legolas." Aragorn said stepping forward. The elf ignored him and sank to the ground rocking gently.
Aragorn approached slowly and knelt before him.
"Noooo!" Legolas screamed and jumped up swinging a knife around. Aragorn through himself backwards just avoiding the blade. Legolas sprang backwards into a crouched position.
"I won't go back. I AM AN ELF!" Legolas cried and he cut his arm. He waved the arm about. "Its black. My blood is black I am not normal I am deformed. No one loves me but my master."
Aragorn saw the elf's blood. It was red. The elf's eyes were betraying the elf.
"You are not deformed Legolas." Aragorn said. The elf snarled and lunged at Aragorn. Aragorn quickly moved out of the way.
"You can't hurt me." He snarled a feral look graced the elf's features.
"I am going to kill you." He snarled. Aragorn was truly frightened by the look on Legolas's face. Gone was the peaceful, calm and slightly mischievous look and it was replaced by a wild terrified look, which was totally alien on the elf's face. Before he could try to again calm the elf a black arrow impaled itself in the elf's chest. A scream died in Aragorn's throat as he watched the elf jerk and stagger. A look of defeat and resignation passed across Legolas's face as the knife fell from his numb fingers. His legs failed and he fell to his knees. Aragorn rushed to his side and caught him before he fell backwards. His sole attention focused on his wounded friend and he didn't see Elladan kill the uruk - hai with an arrow. He watched the elf gasp for breath and his eyes glaze over.
"No." Aragorn whispered. "No."
An eagle cry caught his attention. The eagle king Gwaihir swooped down with Gandalf on his back. Gwaihir landed and Gandalf dismounted.
"Quickly Gwaihir is going to take Legolas back to Rivendell and Lord Elrond. I have informed him of the situation. Aragorn go with him." Gandalf ordered. The man didn't move.
"Aragorn now!" The ranger climbed aboard and Gandalf handed the dying elf to him. "Take care of him. He is strong. It is not too late."
*
The land flew by but Aragorn hardly noticed his sole attention was focused on his elven friend. Legolas's chest had resumed the rattling that it had had during the height of the fever. His complexion had paled despite the fever and he looked like death. Aragorn wished that none of this had happened. That he had listened to Legolas and sent aid to Mirkwood. Now his best friend was led dying in his arms, Mirkwood had fallen and a new darkness was threatening the land.
"We are here." Gwaihir said as he flew lower. Aragorn looked as Rivendell appeared in view. Gwaihir landed gently and Lord Elrond stepped forward. He cast a sad look at the elf that Aragorn carried.
"Bring him inside." Aragorn climbed off and thanked Gwaihir. The eagle nodded and took off. Aragorn climbed the stairs behind Elrond and followed him to one of the guest rooms. Aragorn laid him on the bed and sat by his side. He held his friends hand and with the other brushed the hair off his forehead.
"Please help him." The man begged his father. Elrond nodded.
"I will Estel I promise." The other healers rushed in. "You must leave us now Estel. It will be a very hard experience on Legolas and I do not wish you to see it."
"He is my friend. He needs me. I cannot leave him."
"Estel." Elrond placed a hand on his foster sons shoulder. "Gandalf told me that Legolas is so badly traumatised that he doesn't recognise anyone. Please.I will call you as soon as I know something." Aragorn looked down at his friend.
"Don't you dare give up mellon." He said and leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. Squeezing his hand one last time Aragorn got up off the bed and left.