Disclaimer: I don't own any bit of LotR or it's characters, I'm just borrowing! Lol. No profit is made here either…crap
WOOOOOO-HOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Wow! You guys have no idea how happy I am with the reviews! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope I didn't piss anyone off cause of the lack of posting. I've been VERY sick and for a few days after, 3 whole days!, I had a big bad case of writer's block. Grrr! Well, this chapter is out now, though I don't like it much. Hopefully the next will be better. The beginning might be kind of confusing, but it will explain itself as you read. Hope you guys like!
Please continue to review! I promise I will post sooner now that I'm healthy and Writer's Block Free! Please! Thanks! Love you guys! *Hugs!*
Chapter Six: The Darkest Dawn
Aragorn looked at the Healer that hurried around the room. The night had grown deep and he feared what it would bring. The fire flickered as the Healer quickly moved outside without a word. The King of Man looked to Gimli who grumbled something then to King Thranduil who was looking out the window.
Aragorn sighed. Again he leaned forward in his chair, bracing his elbows on his knees and rubbing his face.
Legolas had been running for some time and yet none of the Uruk-Hai were catching up to him. Wonder began to seep into his mind, wonder and suspicion. Why were they only chasing him? Were they distracting him? From what?
Only the very minor noise of a tree's branch moaning made Legolas drop down to his knees then fall onto his back in order to avoid the Orc that had sprung from the tree just infront of him. The Orc flew barely over him and tumbled into the leaves. Legolas sprang back up, knowing that that was what they were chasing him to as another Orc dropped from the trees right infront of him and swinging his blade out.
Arwen had not said anything either when she had come in the room. Her father's many years of healing put Gimli's heart at ease but Aragorn still worried as he watched her and the other Healer that had fetched her earlier from the hall. Her face was lined with worry for her patient as sweat still dripped down him in fever.
Only once did he catch her gaze and silently begged her to answer his question. She glanced at the patient and only looked back. She did not know.
The Prince julted back just out of reach of the tip of the weapon then hit it away from the next attempt with his own small blade. The Orc growled in frustration, drool seeping down his chin.
"Stupid Elf!" He exclaimed lunging out again.
Legolas side stepped as he knew his companion was coming from behind. He grabbed a handful of the the other's disgusting hair and rammed his neck into his ally's blade then kicked the first away. Turning he avoided the next sloppy attack and trust his short blade into his neck.
"Legolas!"
The Prince paused only a moment to look for the origin of the voice. It was Vilnor the Guardain that had led him into the city. The Elf raised his bow and Legolas ducked down just before he released it. The deadly point flew through the air and embedded itself in an on coming attacker.
"Aragorn…"
The Man King looked to Arwen and away from Thranduil who was quietly arguing with the original Healer in whispered hisses and jotty gestures around. His eyes were burning and he had every right to make them burn.
"Gimli, you as well." Arwen motioned for the Dwarf. He quickly came to her side as she stood next to the bed. "..Hold him down."
"Hold him down? He's unconcious, what are you going to do to him?" Gimli exclaimed defensively.
"It will hurt him, but it will help, I promise Gimli." Arwen told him. Gimli knew this, but he did not want to see further pain on this Elf.
Aragorn grasped one of the patient's arms and put a gentle hand on his should as Gimli did the same to the opposite side. Arwen sighed as she sat on the bed, a bowl of a mixture in her hand with a cloth. She glanced and the two as she took a bit of the mixture and held it over the blackened wound to the side of the victim.
"Hold him tight, but do not hurt him." She instructed. Was she nervous about this? The two males nodded and she sighed again before applying the mixture. The reaction was almost instant.
Thranduil ended his argument abruptly as a cry rang through the room's walls.
The Prince stood again parrying two separate attacks as the Uruk-Hai and Orcs began to close in on him completely ignoring the third of an army of Elves that rained onto a near by elevation of land. Legolas did not know, for he was far too distracted to notice, but Gimli and Aragorn were among them.
Some of the Uruk-Hai took notice as Vilnor exclaimed, "Fire!" in Elven. This small distraction had given Legolas the advantage on a few near him and had struck out sending them to the forest floor.
Arrows shot through the air going directly to their targets taking down almost half of the on coming Uruk-Hai. Some aimed for their steeds, others for the riders themselves. One arrow flew right by Legolas and behind him to an Orc he could not defend against as he was being attacked by another. In an average situation when he had both of his swords he could have easily taken care of both, but with only one short blade it was far more difficult and dangerous.
"Attack!"
Now was when Legolas noticed Aragorn was there for that was his voice. The Elves raced down the slope and fiercely threw themselves at their Prince's attackers. Gimli's loud battle cry was unmistakable as he rammed himself directly into a large Uruk-Hai.
"Legolas!"
The Prince turned to see Aragorn. He threw him a sword not of his own, but well enough. Legolas grasped it and twisted it comfortably into his grasp before he swung out again.
Arwen stood as the patient continued to toss on the bed, Aragorn and Gimli trying to hold him still. Thranduil only looked from a distance, unable to come closer. He looked at Arwen and she quietly said, "It was what must be done."
Thranduil only looked back to the bed as raspy breathing continued and hisses of pain stung the air.
The Uruk-Hai weren't exactly ready for the onslaught of sudden attacks against them. Few were able to remain on their focus of the Prince of Mirkwood..but a few did. One in particular stayed on his task as he stood in the brush near, his stead having been brought down minutes before. A strong arrow was notched, the bow it was on curving ever dangerously.
The eyes behind the grim and the mud that caked his face watched only one figure, and one figure alone. In the chaos of a battle it was difficult, but he had seen him before, he had been in that chaos before…
Legolas could sense something was not right. Well, in this situation nothing was really right anyway. But still, there was something in the back of his mind that was trying to get out. It was trying to escape only to tell him something, but he could not let it as he was too focused on the many Orcs and Uruk-Hai around him.
He suddenly stopped what he was doing. At first he didn't know why but he just stood there, sword in hand and all. He blinked and slowly looked around. Couldn't hear very much, it was as if all around him were moving extremely slow. He did, however, hear his name. His eyes slowly swept over those around him to find the caller to be Aragorn.
"Be at ease Legolas. It is alright, be at ease my friend." Aragorn whispered to his pained friend in Elven. Legolas slowed his thrasing and breathed heavily on the bed, the fire's yellow and orange light flickering off his sweat soaked face and exposed torso.
Arwen watched the wound carefully to see that it wasn't jarred too badly as to make it bleed again. It was not, thankfully, and the blackness around it was beginning to fade slowly at the edges. It was a good sign, one they all needed. They being those in the room and the many in the hall just outside.
"Legolas!" Aragorn called again. The Elven Prince slowly looked at him. Aragorn's eyes slid to his friend's side and a feeling of dread swept over him as the few remaining Orcs were slaughtered.
Legolas seemed not to notice the happening as his eyes drifted around. Slowly his sword slipped from his hand and dropped into the leafy forest floor as he went to his knees, not even noticing the chaos the action had caused.
Aragorn had caught him before he fell forward and leaned him back. "Legolas." He muttered.
Legolas looked at him and suddenly the burning feeling in his side came into mind. That's what happened..he had been hit by an arrow. ..A poisoned one?
"Get a horse!" Vilnor ordered as he rushed to his fallen Prince.
Gimli busselled his way through to find his good friend in a hardly concious state. He kept muttering about finding. He must find something.
"Quiet you crazy Elf, keep your strength." Gimli told him, trying to hide the desperate feeling pulling so hard at him.
A horse was quickly brought up and Vilnor stood saying something about Aragorn getting him back to the city. Aragorn agreed, Gimli gathered that because he had not heard it as he was trying to rouse his friend from his strange state.
Legolas had long calmed by now. The black poison that had barely entered his system for the arrow that struck him went through and through so quickly. They were emensely lucky that it had not struck any internal bleeding.
Now Aragorn still sat here, Gimli softly snoring in another chair. Arwen had gone to tend to something about an after brew and Thranduil had escaped with her. She said he would live and be awake come morning.
Silently he couldn't help the small bit of guilt that plagued him. Well, it wasn't generally small, but that's what he wanted to call it right now. He had watched the entire thing. He knew that if Legolas had 'watched' he..well, he wouldn't have watched. His reflexes were faster than Aragorn's, and this would not have happened to him.
Something else was eating at him as well. Something strong. He wasn't quiet sure what it was, but a small realization earlier that Syla was not among those outside made him shiver. He hadn't had time to think on it then but now he did as all was quiet and calm, and the steady rise and fall of Legolas's chest under the blankets was even. Syla was not among those outside and he could have sworn that she was with Legolas when he entered those woods. He had been told such. But, she was not there during the battle, she hadn't come from the forest later. So, where exactly was she?
Aragorn stood with a huff. Slowly he turned and looked out the window. Crossing his arms he did not like that the stars were not out..never a favored thing for Elves. Guilt and that silent worry continued to beat at him and he was certain he was going to go insane with the only noise in the room being the crackling from the fire when he caught the sound of a soft moan.
Turning the King of Gondor could not help the smile that came as he saw Legolas move slightly. He must be dreaming, Aragorn thought as he moved back to the comfortable chair beside the bed. He first made sure that the Elf did not seem upset in the dream. He was pleased to find him slightly smiling, just barely. All worries and guilt slipped away for a time and the King was plenty happy with just sitting there now.
~~ Dream ~~
Legolas's eyes scanned the area. The golden and brown leaves that littered the ground shone in the morning's dew. Gently he fingered his bow again. It gave him ease to feel the wood under his fingers.
Thrundir was somewhere out here, he knew he was. His brother was not going to best him this time. This time the younger brother was going to win this game of hawk and mouse. It wasn't exactly a game, and yet they turned it into one. Thrundir, being the older one, usually won, but Legolas had just returned and this time he was going to.
Silently he walked over the earth, the birds sang loudly and covering any noise. The sound the the water near him flowing in the river was relaxing as the trees lazily swayed in the gentle wind of the morning.
The gentle sounds were suddenly interrupted by a large splash. It even surprised the birds and Legolas swung around looking for the source. Ripples in the water guided his eyes and yet he still found nothing. With a slight frown he continued on the side of the bank until he saw the edge of a cloak slip behind a tree. So Thrundir thought he could trick him by wearing a cloak…again? Not this time, he was very long past his 200 now, very long.
Legolas quickly shot through the trees silently ready to cut his brother off as he followed the only slightly disturbed leaves on the ground beside the river. He slipped his bow around his back, having a better idea to get his brother. He'd have no chance even to talk his way out of this one.
Again he saw the cloak's tip and he shot around the trees and sprang out shouting, "Decent try!" in Elven before lunging forward and flipping his cloaked brother backwards without even looking at the front version of 'his brother'.
Legolas couldn't quite understand the strange scream until it finally hit him. As he watched the figure tumble down the river bank and splash into the water he came to the horrid realization that the cloaked figure was not his brother.
"What do you think you are doing?!" The figure shouted as they surfaced, fighting with the cloak until throwing it off and stood there in the water. The She-Elf did not look very happy.
Oh dear…now Legolas was laughing. He really did not want to be laughing right now. She had a look that could kill him but for some reason he found this very hilarious. She was now soaked and standing in waist deep water, her fair hair tangled and wet and apparently she had been carrying herbs and flowers or such for they were all drifting in the water around her.
"Well I am certainly glad you find this amusing Sir." She said as she stomped out of the water and up the bank.
"Truly, I am..I am very so-sorry." Legolas laughed as he forced himself to reach down to help her. She grasped his hand but didn't pull herself up, instead pulled him down. Unbalanaced and not ready for such a thing the Prince flew off the bank and into the water. Sputtering, he surfaced with his long hair plastered to his face.
"Now this, I find, is very amusing." The Elf told him with a laugh.
Legolas stayed low in the water and pushed his hair out of his face to see her again. It was then, for the first time and not the last, he found himself thinking the Elf before him very beautiful.
"Legolas-" He began to introduce himself but she suddenly recognized him.
"Prince of Mirkwood!" She exclaimed. "Oh! I-I am so sorry!" She didn't know what to do first, he could tell. She started to turn, then she looked back, then she turned again but then turned back.
"No, really, this is all my fault." Legolas laughed as he stood in the water. He caught her eyes flicker over him then she looked away with a slight smile. "I am very sorry."
"Oh, well..I..uh..apology accepted." She settled.
Legolas smiled. "Now may I ask your name?"
She looked at him, water from her hair still dripping down her face, trailing down her forehead and by her eyes. She smiled as well and Legolas did not notice himself tilt his head slightly in fascination. "Ni'Syla."
~~ End Dream ~~
* * *
"Sit down!"
Syla looked at the..deformed Uruk-Hai that was standing before her. She remained standing as the group around her continued to pant in exhaustion. She had been carried the majority of the time even after she had awoken with a large headache.
"Are you deaf?" He advanced on her and she fought the urge to step back.
"Biefir, knock it off! She wants to stand, let her stand!"
Syla hated the fact that she was relieved because of the..thing..that she had first come in contact with that evening. Biefir grunted and moved away to plop down with his kind. Syla watched from her place, hands bound in the front but other than that no restraint.
"You are waiting for someone.."
She shuddered slightly when the voice spoke from beside her. She did not look in that direction and she did not reply. He merely laughed and said, "He will not find you. I would advise you to get used to looking at us for I think you will have to for some time."
Syla sighed as he moved away as well. After a time the group became more at ease, some were more rested now, others had just a bit to drink. Unnoticed, she made sure of it, she sat down. They were loud, no doubt there…but they were also oblivious. She had no thought in her mind that she had to run. But, where was she going to run to?
Subconsiously her ears perked slightly. She didn't notice it until a steady thundering was what she was listening to. Riders! Not many, but there were riders. The group around her were too distant to notice. In her silence she listened and tracked the noise through the forest. They were coming from the west, a hand full maybe. She could hear the noise of..Royal Chain? Could it be her luck that Thrundir and Hindirn, Sons of Thranduil, were returning on this early morning? Sun not even out yet? Oh, it would be a gift from the Valar to have them there.
As she listened, only with the fate of her blood, she was certain it was the messenger chain that their steads wore when they were on a task from their father, she knew that sound. Legolas's horse had worn it before. They were nearing quickly though, she didn't have much time to make it back to the roads.
Slowly her eyes slid to the group as the fires set shadows over her. She had to run..
* * *
Legolas turned his head slightly and opened his eyes to find Aragorn sleeping in a comfortable looking chair. He turned his head to the other side to find Gimli there. He frowned a little and suddenly Aragornw as standing over him.
"Legolas?" he whispered, not wanting to wake the Dwarf.
"Aragorn." Legolas replied hoarsely. Aragorn smiled and got a glass of water and giving it to his friend. Legolas winced as he sat up.
"Easy my friend." Aragorn told him in Elven.
Legolas drank a bit then gave the glass back. Slowly his eyes drifted to the windows. Dawn was just barely lighting the skies.
"Do you remember everything?" Aragorn questioned quietly.
Legolas thought a moment then nodded. Aragorn tensed when his eyes suddenly got very wide and his face paled. "Where is Syla?" He asked quickly.
"What?"
"Syla. Where is she?" Legolas asked, he looked almost panicked and Gimli stirred in his sleep.
"I have not seen her Legolas." Aragorn told him honestly. "Do you want her brought here?"
"Did she come back?" Legolas asked.
"Legolas, you are speaking too quickly, what are you talking about?" Aragorn told him firmly though he knew deep in him why Legolas was panicking.
"I-I told her I would go back." Legolas said, mostly to himself, as he threw the blankets off and attempted to get up.
"No, you cannot get up yet." Aragorn told him forcing him to stay down.
"I have to g-" The Elf told him. The Prince could not, however, ignore the pain that flared from his side. It almost made him dizzy and he stopped struggling to get up as he tried to regain his barings.
"Legolas, I think you are delusional."
"No! I left her. I left her in the forest to make it back. I told her I would come back for her. Do you not understand?!" Legolas exclaimed. Gimli woke now with a grumble.
Aragorn straightened slightly. He understood now. But..Syla had not come back. If she had she would have come to the Home to make sure Legolas was well. He knew she would have, and Legolas knew that too. The King shook his head slightly.
"Aragorn?" Legolas questioned.
Gimli frowned, unsure of what was going on and for that he said nothing, though he was pleased beyong belief to see his friend awake.
"She did.." Aragorn looked out the window in shock. He knew this! He had known this! He should have done something first, he had known she was with him. "She did not come back Legolas."
Legolas's exhausted mind went blank. The poison had taken it's toll and he was still weak. Just he small struggle with Aragorn had drained him. At the moment though, he did not think of that. All he could think of were the words he just heard.
He looked to the skies again, it was almost dawn. She had been gone all night…
Suddenly dawn grew dark to the Elf and it's skies tinted with the rage of the night before. He silently watched the darkest dawn he'd ever seen.
- - -
Well? Did I tell you it was not that good? Yes I did! Next one should be better. Please review! Thank you guys so much and you are all so loyal! I really hope I didn't make anyone mad with the wait or anything, I am terribly sorry about that.
Thank you all for being so great and being so constant with the reading and reviewing!
D.Night
