Chapter 6
Aragorn raised the small dagger that still lay at his side, and poised to attack. But when he saw who the figure was he lowered his weapon and a small smile formed on his face.
" You are one very hard man to track, do you know that Estel," Elladan asked as he stepped closer to the fire.
Elladan's smile quickly faded as he got a closer look at the two occupants of the small cave.
"Are you all right," he asked with concern in his face.
"I am fine, however Legolas is hurt gravely. He was hit by an orc arrow, and I was able to get the arrow out, however I am concerned about poison," Aragorn stated as he turned to the prince.
Elladan nodded and moved to Legolas's side and removed the cloth that Aragorn had applied, and winced at what he saw. Even though the arrow had been removed, Elladan could see that poison was already in the prince's blood stream. The wound continued to bleed, however it was not red that flowed, but red tinged with black.
Quickly reaching into his pack he pulled out some herbs and water and began to mix them. Once he was satisfied with the mixture, he packed it into the wound. Uttering a small sorry when Legolas hissed in pain, he wrapped the wound in bandages and told the prince to rest. When he was sure Legolas had fallen asleep he then turned his attention to Aragorn, only to find him missing.
Elladan jumped to his feet and looked around, trying to find some sign of his brother. Moving to the front of the cave he peered out into the night calling for him to return. Torn between going and looking for his brother or staying and watching over Legolas, Elladan quickly made up his mind when he heard a soft moan come from behind him.
Legolas stirred ever so slightly, a small groan escaping his lips. Elladan looked up in surprise-- he didn't think the antidote would work that fast. Moving to the fallen Prince's side, he watched as Legolas became fully awake.
"How do you feel," Elladan asked as he rolled Legolas over to check the wound once more.
"Better. Thank you my friend. How is that you came to be here," Legolas questioned.
"Father sent me out to look for you when you didn't return. I figured you were coming to find Estel and Galàril, so I followed your tracks," Elladan said, but quickly paused as he noticed the flash of pain and then anger in Legolas eyes.
"Legolas?"
Legolas refused to look at him, yet Elladan could see the pain shining his blue depths.
"Legolas, please tell me what has happened? Why did my brother leave, and where is Galàril," Elladan questioned.
"Galàril is dead. By the hand of Aragorn. Yet I do not believe this is the whole story, for I do not see him killing Galàril, and then saving my life. It cannot be. And yet how can it not when he has admitted to doing it," Legolas softly replied.
Elladan sat back stunned, and was about to reply when the quite sounds of the forest where shattered by the cry of orcs. Quickly standing Elladan grabbed his bow and quickly left the cave, knowing that Legolas would be fine.
**
Aragorn quietly walked through the forest. He has left soon after Elladan had begun to care for Legolas. He needed to get out and have time to think about all that had happened to him. He knew deep down that it was not his fault that his friend was dead, yet he couldn't stop thinking about the doubt he heard in Legolas's voice. He could not deny the feeling of regret and shame when Legolas pulled away from him.
Legolas knows I killed Galàril, yet he still saved me. Do I deserve this kindness? Why should I have been saved, and Galàril is dead? What good am I when the person who saves me will end up dying any way? I should not be here. I should have died, not Galàril.
Aragorn was pulled out of his thoughts by the rustling of the bushes around him. He quickly glanced up and peered in to the bushes. He went to reach for his sword, but swore softly to himself when he found it was not there.
Not knowing who was out there, Aragorn quickly turned to look for a place to hide. Finding a tree, he quickly climbed up and hided amongst the branches, and waited.
Soon the figure came in to view, and once again found himself smiling in relief. Not wanting to let his brother catch him so easily, he waited until Elrohir was under him, before jumping down behind and grabbing his brother.
Elrohir quickly spun around bringing his blade up to attack, but quickly lowered it when he saw who it was.
"Estel! Don't you know that it is dangerous to attack an elf, especially in the dark? I could have killed you," Elrohir declared.
Aragorn never said a word, but turned and looked up the stars above him. Elrohir frowned at his brother and moved closer to him, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Estel," he asked softly.
"Death is not something I deserve," the Man said softly, a sad smile crossing his face.
"I do not understand, what are you talking about," Elrohir asked with confusion in his voice.
" I don't deserve to die such an easy death. Not after what I did. Legolas knows, that's why he no longer cares for me as he once did. I killed him Elrohir. My hand, my blade."
Elrohir looked at him in horror as well as confusion. What is this that he speaks of? Legolas dead? No! I can not be.
"No Elrohir, Legolas is not dead. But I to him. I killed one of our best friends. I killed Galàril," Aragorn softly whispered.
"Estel, I do not understand what you are trying to say. How did you kill Galàril," Elrohir pleaded with his brother.
" We were captured and lead to the camp. A short time later the orcs came back, and beat me until I screamed, yet I still wouldn't give in. Seeing this the leader decided to play a new game with me. They brought in Galàril and threw him at my feet. They had beaten him much as they had me. I yelled at them to tell me what they wanted and why they were doing this, but they just laughed. I was released from my bonds and they dragged me to stand in front of Galàril. The leader placed my dagger into my hand and said that I was to kill Galàril or we both would die. Galàril looked at me pleading that I kill him, yet I could not. As I was about to refuse I was pushed from behind and my blade stabbed Galàril. I cried out in horror, and tried to get to him, but they wouldn't let me. They laughed and dragged me away. So don't you see, I killed Galàril," Aragorn stated as the tears once again began to fall.
Elrohir looked at his brother in shock. How could he think it was his fault? He had no control over what had happened? How could he think it was his fault?
Elrohir was about to respond when the silence of the forest was split by the cry of orcs. Quickly arming his bow, Elrohir looked into the night.
Aragorn also jumped up, but moved away from his brother, since he had no weapon to defend himself. Soon the band of orcs came crashing through the bushes heading for the two. Elrohir quickly released his arrow and armed another and sending it into the horde of orcs.
Aragorn seeing that arrows would last only so much longer, moved to his brother's side and removed the dagger that hung at his waist, and moved in to the mass of creatures. He dimly heard Elrohir cry his name, yet he took no notice. All that he could think of was protecting his family and avenging his friend's death. So intent on his purpose that he never heard Elrohir's cry of pain, or registered the pain that blossomed through his leg. He just kept moving, killing one orc after another.
Soon his surge of strength wore off, and he found himself falling to the ground in pain. He cried out in pain once more, as he felt something slam into his back forcing him to the ground. He was dimly aware of the fact that his hands were being bound, before blackness too him once again.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews.Here is the next chapter.Please review and let me know what ya think.thanks again..
PT
Aragorn raised the small dagger that still lay at his side, and poised to attack. But when he saw who the figure was he lowered his weapon and a small smile formed on his face.
" You are one very hard man to track, do you know that Estel," Elladan asked as he stepped closer to the fire.
Elladan's smile quickly faded as he got a closer look at the two occupants of the small cave.
"Are you all right," he asked with concern in his face.
"I am fine, however Legolas is hurt gravely. He was hit by an orc arrow, and I was able to get the arrow out, however I am concerned about poison," Aragorn stated as he turned to the prince.
Elladan nodded and moved to Legolas's side and removed the cloth that Aragorn had applied, and winced at what he saw. Even though the arrow had been removed, Elladan could see that poison was already in the prince's blood stream. The wound continued to bleed, however it was not red that flowed, but red tinged with black.
Quickly reaching into his pack he pulled out some herbs and water and began to mix them. Once he was satisfied with the mixture, he packed it into the wound. Uttering a small sorry when Legolas hissed in pain, he wrapped the wound in bandages and told the prince to rest. When he was sure Legolas had fallen asleep he then turned his attention to Aragorn, only to find him missing.
Elladan jumped to his feet and looked around, trying to find some sign of his brother. Moving to the front of the cave he peered out into the night calling for him to return. Torn between going and looking for his brother or staying and watching over Legolas, Elladan quickly made up his mind when he heard a soft moan come from behind him.
Legolas stirred ever so slightly, a small groan escaping his lips. Elladan looked up in surprise-- he didn't think the antidote would work that fast. Moving to the fallen Prince's side, he watched as Legolas became fully awake.
"How do you feel," Elladan asked as he rolled Legolas over to check the wound once more.
"Better. Thank you my friend. How is that you came to be here," Legolas questioned.
"Father sent me out to look for you when you didn't return. I figured you were coming to find Estel and Galàril, so I followed your tracks," Elladan said, but quickly paused as he noticed the flash of pain and then anger in Legolas eyes.
"Legolas?"
Legolas refused to look at him, yet Elladan could see the pain shining his blue depths.
"Legolas, please tell me what has happened? Why did my brother leave, and where is Galàril," Elladan questioned.
"Galàril is dead. By the hand of Aragorn. Yet I do not believe this is the whole story, for I do not see him killing Galàril, and then saving my life. It cannot be. And yet how can it not when he has admitted to doing it," Legolas softly replied.
Elladan sat back stunned, and was about to reply when the quite sounds of the forest where shattered by the cry of orcs. Quickly standing Elladan grabbed his bow and quickly left the cave, knowing that Legolas would be fine.
**
Aragorn quietly walked through the forest. He has left soon after Elladan had begun to care for Legolas. He needed to get out and have time to think about all that had happened to him. He knew deep down that it was not his fault that his friend was dead, yet he couldn't stop thinking about the doubt he heard in Legolas's voice. He could not deny the feeling of regret and shame when Legolas pulled away from him.
Legolas knows I killed Galàril, yet he still saved me. Do I deserve this kindness? Why should I have been saved, and Galàril is dead? What good am I when the person who saves me will end up dying any way? I should not be here. I should have died, not Galàril.
Aragorn was pulled out of his thoughts by the rustling of the bushes around him. He quickly glanced up and peered in to the bushes. He went to reach for his sword, but swore softly to himself when he found it was not there.
Not knowing who was out there, Aragorn quickly turned to look for a place to hide. Finding a tree, he quickly climbed up and hided amongst the branches, and waited.
Soon the figure came in to view, and once again found himself smiling in relief. Not wanting to let his brother catch him so easily, he waited until Elrohir was under him, before jumping down behind and grabbing his brother.
Elrohir quickly spun around bringing his blade up to attack, but quickly lowered it when he saw who it was.
"Estel! Don't you know that it is dangerous to attack an elf, especially in the dark? I could have killed you," Elrohir declared.
Aragorn never said a word, but turned and looked up the stars above him. Elrohir frowned at his brother and moved closer to him, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Estel," he asked softly.
"Death is not something I deserve," the Man said softly, a sad smile crossing his face.
"I do not understand, what are you talking about," Elrohir asked with confusion in his voice.
" I don't deserve to die such an easy death. Not after what I did. Legolas knows, that's why he no longer cares for me as he once did. I killed him Elrohir. My hand, my blade."
Elrohir looked at him in horror as well as confusion. What is this that he speaks of? Legolas dead? No! I can not be.
"No Elrohir, Legolas is not dead. But I to him. I killed one of our best friends. I killed Galàril," Aragorn softly whispered.
"Estel, I do not understand what you are trying to say. How did you kill Galàril," Elrohir pleaded with his brother.
" We were captured and lead to the camp. A short time later the orcs came back, and beat me until I screamed, yet I still wouldn't give in. Seeing this the leader decided to play a new game with me. They brought in Galàril and threw him at my feet. They had beaten him much as they had me. I yelled at them to tell me what they wanted and why they were doing this, but they just laughed. I was released from my bonds and they dragged me to stand in front of Galàril. The leader placed my dagger into my hand and said that I was to kill Galàril or we both would die. Galàril looked at me pleading that I kill him, yet I could not. As I was about to refuse I was pushed from behind and my blade stabbed Galàril. I cried out in horror, and tried to get to him, but they wouldn't let me. They laughed and dragged me away. So don't you see, I killed Galàril," Aragorn stated as the tears once again began to fall.
Elrohir looked at his brother in shock. How could he think it was his fault? He had no control over what had happened? How could he think it was his fault?
Elrohir was about to respond when the silence of the forest was split by the cry of orcs. Quickly arming his bow, Elrohir looked into the night.
Aragorn also jumped up, but moved away from his brother, since he had no weapon to defend himself. Soon the band of orcs came crashing through the bushes heading for the two. Elrohir quickly released his arrow and armed another and sending it into the horde of orcs.
Aragorn seeing that arrows would last only so much longer, moved to his brother's side and removed the dagger that hung at his waist, and moved in to the mass of creatures. He dimly heard Elrohir cry his name, yet he took no notice. All that he could think of was protecting his family and avenging his friend's death. So intent on his purpose that he never heard Elrohir's cry of pain, or registered the pain that blossomed through his leg. He just kept moving, killing one orc after another.
Soon his surge of strength wore off, and he found himself falling to the ground in pain. He cried out in pain once more, as he felt something slam into his back forcing him to the ground. He was dimly aware of the fact that his hands were being bound, before blackness too him once again.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews.Here is the next chapter.Please review and let me know what ya think.thanks again..
PT