The Choices We Make
Disclaimer: I do not own (although I wish) the song "A Elbereth Gilthoniel"; it is Master Tolkien's wonderful creation.
Note: Elvish translation to English surrounded by // //.
*****
Chapter 10 A Candle in the Dark
***
"What would men be without women? Scarce, sir, mighty scarce."
-Mark Twain
*****
The trees seemed to close in around Aragorn and it made him feel uneasy. 'They are just trees,' he told himself over and over. Moving would now become difficult with such little light. They would now be forced to rely heavily on Legolas's eyes and ears to get them anywhere. Aragorn unconsciously looked up and, although he knew he would not be able to see the stars, he was still disappointed by that fact. All he was able to see was the dark, solid canopy, which did not help his mood any. This forest really did fit this awful place perfectly. It was cursed, just as the land it occupied. 'No,' he thought mournfully, 'I really am not looking forward to spending another night here.'
Aragorn was startled out of his dark thoughts when he felt Legolas grip onto his right arm. He turned around to ask what was the matter, but after taking in the elf's pale, strained features he could already guess. Fear gripped at his heart when Legolas called out to Elbereth and he briefly wondered if he had the strength to make it through another night like last night. When he stepped in closer and caught his friend as he sunk straight down the ranger decided that he had to, for his friend's sake. Aragorn guided their descent into a sitting position on the forest floor. He held the elf up while calling his name. Legolas gave no response that he even heard the ranger's words. His eyes were tightly closed and his breath came out in short gasps, but his body was tensed as if in pain.
*****
The trees bent and swayed oddly and the ground felt like it was tilting in rhythm with the trees, as if they were both apart of a strange and fiendish ceremonial dance. The whole effect was rather sickening to watch and he closed his eyes to block the diabolical sashay out. Legolas could tell he had collapsed under the strain and could actually feel and hear Aragorn as he spoke. The numbing cold and weight were too much combined to push back and he hadn't the strength to even open his eyes let alone respond to his friend's concerned calls. He was pretty sure he didn't want to open his eyes anyway, because then he would be able to see the sinister trees again as they twisted in around him to make sure he would not escape. The cold grew to such intensity that it felt like it was freezing him to the core and it hurt immensely. The frigid air around him burned his lungs when he tried to inhale it making him fight for each breath.
****
Aragorn was feeling quite helpless again. It was the same feeling one experienced when they were a child and lost in the woods. When you would call and call for help and you thought no one would ever hear or find you. Aragorn, right now, did not even have anyone to call out to, for his father or brothers wouldn't be able to hear him this time. He alone was here to help his friend, which was struggling for breath again and shivering vehemently. This attack was like the second one they endured where the ranger had feared his friend would suffocate. Aragorn took hold of one of the elf's icy hands and kept talking to him. He prayed that maybe somehow his friend was still aware of his presence and he would now that he was not alone and find comfort in that. Aragorn also prayed to the Valar to give them both the strength to endure this once again.
Legolas had described feeling like something had helped him the last couple of times. 'Whatever or whoever you are, please help him again,' the ranger thought with despair.
*****
Legolas was freezing. He was sure that with every breath he took his lungs would be totally encased in ice and it would turn out to be his last one. It felt like the light of his very being was beginning to freeze over and go out, leaving him trapped in the darkness. The weak grip he had left on reality was beginning to fade as his consciousness became restless and struggled to flee. Aragorn's voice was growing distant, threatening to leave him behind and Legolas became terrified that his friend would abandon him. 'No, come back!' he tried to scream. He desperately fought to keep his mind from retreating. He could still barely feel the grip the ranger had on his hand and he clutched onto it like a lifeline as if that act could keep him grounded. Legolas was beyond the point where he could tell if he was breathing or not, all he knew was that the prospect of being trapped in the empty darkness filled him with terror.
****
Legolas's lips were beginning to turn blue again, which stood out starkly in the ghostly pale complexion. He seemed to be losing to whatever he was battling against. The tension was leaving his body and the shivering was becoming less severe. As Legolas's body gradually began to relax Aragorn cradled him once more. Without realizing it he began to rock back and forth. The lithe form in his arms went totally slack and Aragorn's breath caught in his throat.
*****
Legolas almost wished he would just die so he could be left in peace, but he was an elf and they had respect for all life, so in effect he was just too stubborn to give up completely. Out of that stubbornness a light began to grow. He had almost thought she, whoever she was, would not come to his aid this time. Once again heat began to trickle back into his body. As his hope began to rise once again so did the power of the liquid like flame rising inside him. Together they began to sear through the numbing cold bringing warmth back to his soul. He found he could feel his lungs once more and he could draw breath. Legolas was hopeful that they could beat this once again, but he noticed that the one coming to his aid was not as strong as it was before. Why not? Were they abandoning him too? As Legolas's began to doubt, the darkness inside him grew in strength. The cold began to push back against the warmth and light once more. Legolas simple didn't have the strength to fight it off anymore and the blasted light wasn't helping as much as it had earlier. It was giving up on him just as his friend had. They were abandoning him to his fate.
Legolas was staring into a cold, black void again. Why must he keep returning here? Was this his destiny? To be left completely alone and shut off from any light forever. Legolas couldn't bare the thought of that and he wished to be released from this place in any means necessary. The thought of 'why not just get it over with?' entered his mind for the second time that day and as his doubts grew so did the darkness. It began to overwhelm the light and stamp it out. Legolas didn't know why, but he found a strange sort of satisfaction in all of it. As soon as this thought came to mind he heard triumphant laughter echo through his being and blackness so heavy fell on him that it slammed his consciousness down into oblivion.
*****
Aragorn fearfully and shakily reached down for a pulse and sighed with relieve when he found one. The ranger wondered if his friend had beaten it for now and hoped this particularly frightening episode was over. Aragorn tried calling his name once more with no response. He wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing. His friend could use any rest he could get, but if his mind was troubled as it had been earlier it wouldn't be of much use. 'Urr, to be left in the dark,' he thought bitterly. In Aragorn's desperate and panicked state the only thing that came to his mind that might bring comfort to his friend and maybe some strength was a song. One he remembered his mother singing to him when he had awoke from a bad dream. He had always found comfort in listening to her gentle voice or that of his foster father's steady one whenever they sung. For some reason his mind latched onto this song now and, not knowing what else to do, he continued with his rocking and began to sing.
"A Elbereth Gilthoniel,
silivren penna míriel o menel aglar elenath! Na-chaered palan-díriel o galadhremmin ennorath,
Fanuilos, le linnathon
nef aear, sí nef aearon!"*
*****
"Nice doggie," said Grimnosh's second, Nakash, as he inched closer to the growling warg.
At the comment about being called a "doggie" the warg barred his teeth and growled even louder, which made Nakash stop his forward progress altogether.
"Gets up on that beast right now or you won't have to worry about it killing you, because I will!"
Nakash looked at the huge snarling beast one more time and then looked over at his huge snarling leader and tried to judge which would be the worst of the two. Seeing Grimnosh's large form sitting atop another of the wargs towering over him with a fierce look on his face Nakash decided that at least the warg would only maim him and he stepped closer. The warg tensed and Nakash reflexively stopped again.
Grimnosh could see this was getting them nowhere. They were wasting time and he was growing agitated. If the two kept this up he was either going to cut Nakash's head off or the warg's, whichever one happened to be closer. He looked over at the leering human sitting atop the warg he guessed to be the leader. This human was already annoying him and he had only known him for a few minutes.
"Tell it to stand down, human, or I'll cleave off yous head in its place. It's because of yous we's now have to go back for them anyway," the orc growled out.
Jeridan's eyes widened in surprise to the threat. Looking at the formidable orc beside him he knew the creature would make good on it too if he didn't do something.
"Caron let him up!"
The said warg just looked at Jeridan with a look in its eyes that said; 'you've got to be kidding me.'
When the warg made no move to let the orc up, a deep menacing growl came from under Jeridan. The troublesome warg stopped its growling and eased its posture.
"Well, what are yous waitin' for? Get up there!"
Nakash nervously scrambled up onto the huge beast and sat on its back. He had never ridden a warg before and he was not looking forward to doing it now. He didn't even know how to steer the wretched thing.
Grimnosh looked on with satisfaction. He might not like the human, but he was growing accustom to Radoc. As the leader of his own clan he had to respect how easily the warg leader was able to put one of his own into place. Grimnosh looked around at his dozen or so mounted kin and one human to see if everyone was ready to go.
"Alright, head out!"
Radoc let out a loud howl that was echoed by the other wargs and then he sprung off into a swift run. The rest of the pack followed him taking their riders with them.
Nakash found out then that when Radoc leaped away the others followed and he didn't have to guide the thing after all. Which he was relieved about, because his hands were too busy clutching onto the beast in terror to have to give it a direction.
*****
Empty. Everything was empty and cold. There never was such a thing as light. For how could there be? Blackness was all there ever was and all that could be.
There could never be any light at the end of the tunnel, because surely the darkness was stronger by far. Light and warmth were both just a dream. Something the mind imagined, but could never be real.
Yet, out in the darkness a dim light flickered into being. A single candle amidst the thick blank curtain.
Curious.
He moved closer out of curiosity.
The small flame was illuminating something.
Closer.
It was a woman.
She was facing away from him and familiar long, dark, honey colored hair cascaded down her back. A long light green silk dress just touched the floor and it rippled around bare feet as she moved. She was so familiar. So... comforting.
He moved closer and the image became clearer. Grass... her bare feet were standing on grass.
No... she was dancing on the grass and the steps were light and graceful. They were no mortal's steps, but an elf's. It was confirmed when the side off her head wheeled around and he briefly saw a delicately pointed ear.
The sun began to shine out of nowhere and her hair caught and held the golden rays of the sun. The reflection brightened the scene around the elf maid. She was dancing with an elfling. She picked the small child up and swung him around threw the air. The golden-hair child laughed as his hair shone brightly in the sunlight. He could see the elf maid's front now as she turned. Warm, dark eyes twinkled up at the child as she smiled brightly. She laughed and brought the child down into a motherly embrace. Silvery laughter as clear as the sound of water trickling over stones floated out into the darkness, lessening it.
Laughter. Yes, that was she. Lalaith. Laughter. A nickname for Laurrina - a mother...his mother. The child was her little lorindol. So called by her for his hair. He remembered she used to sing to him when he was frightened. She was singing now. It was a song he should know. Yes, he definitely knew that song. It was so familiar. Something about the stars and hope. A song about Elbereth. Yes, that was it, Elbereth, he knew that name.
Memories of her comforting voice singing to Elbereth filled the void with a dim glow. The light was dim, but as the song went on the light began to brighten. It brought warmth and comfort with it. His mother looked straight at him and smiled. Her smile was so radiant warmth began to spread throughout his being. As he looked into his mother's warm eyes they began to change. The change was subtle. The eyes were still dark and warm, but they were no longer as familiar. Deep brown pools formed in them and they took on a hint of sadness. They no longer shined with an elven light, but they shone with a different kind of intensity.
He could still hear the song going on, but it was coming from somewhere else now. The voice was no longer a lilting elven one. It had turned into a more ruff, but still gentle, and deeper one. This voice was familiar as well. It was still singing about Elbereth. As he listened the song grew louder and he was sure he knew this voice. Elbereth and the stars came to mind. Elbereth. Hope. Estel. Yes, that was the name associated with the voice. Estel. A friend, yes, he was sure it was a friend. Where was Estel? Looking around the only thing in the darkness was the mother and child. His mother, but yet, not his mother. She turned toward him once more with those eyes that were familiar and strange at the same time. The memory melted away all except for the dark eyes. As the image melted away the darkness went with it. The space was filled with a golden light and a soft voice drifted out of the center. One simple word said with empathy.
"Awake."
*****
When Aragorn finished the song he continued to sing, more to comfort himself this time than for the benefit of the prone form he was rocking. Just as he was starting the next song a howl sliced through the words and was echoed by at least a dozen others. The shrill sounds sent a shiver down the ranger's spin. The howls were coming from what he guessed to be the west. A sense of foreboding fell over Aragorn as he remembered that that was the direction the elusive group of orcs had went the night before. He was certain that the wargs being over in that same direction wasn't a coincidence and he wasn't sure if he even wanted to know how they managed to meet up.
Aragorn looked worriedly down at the elf and noticed with another sense of foreboding that his friend wasn't glowing as brightly as he usually did. Aragorn also noticed that he was singing the same song over and over again. He hadn't even really been paying attention to what he was singing, he just sang. Since he had already started the same song over again he decided to finish it. What else was there to do? It was true he could carry his friend out of here as he had threatened to do earlier. Even with his advanced skills in tracking and traveling he wasn't sure if he would want to go stumbling around in the dark. He had confidence he could eventually make it out of the forest, but that could take quite a bit of time. The stars probably hadn't reached their brightest and even that would probably end up not providing much light in the end. He would be traveling blindly through the dark trees relying on his memory and estimations about which direction he was really moving. Now more than ever he wanted one of the twins with him or for Legolas to arise. After all the complaining he did about them being over protective and all of their bickering, especially when it came to Elladan or Elrohir, he wished for their presence. Aragorn realized he was being rather childish again, but right now he didn't care.
So caught up was he in thought that Aragorn almost jumped when he felt Legolas move in his arms. Legolas's head moved from side to side and then his eyes slowly opened. Aragorn noticed that they were partially clouded and unclear. Legolas looked around at the trees in confusion before his gaze settled on the ranger. Aragorn was relieved beyond belief when recognition bloomed in his friend's eyes as he looked up at him.
"Sut lle anta tyava?"
//How do you feel?//
Legolas honestly wasn't sure how he felt. Awake he guessed, but other than that he didn't know. The image of his mother still floated through his mind and he was saddened. Why had he dreamt about her? He figured it might have been because he was thinking about her shortly before nightfall. 'Nightfall,' he shuddered. He remembered he was dreading it. Obviously had had another attack. 'To wake up on the ground again with Estel cradling me again,' he mentally sighed. Estel. That name brought a song to mind. Elbereth Gilthoniel, that was it. Yes, he remembered calling out to her and then Estel had sung the song in his dream.
"Legolas?" he heard the ranger ask with concern in his voice.
Legolas opened his eyes to see worried gray ones looking at him. 'Strange,' he thought.
"It is alright, Estel, I did not realize I closed my eyes while I was thinking."
Aragorn wasn't exactly comforted by that answer. For a race that sleeps with their eyes open it wasn't exactly normal for an elf to just drift off like that. Only when exhaustion set in did that occur.
"You never answered my question, mellonamin. How do you fare?"
Tired, was the first thing that came to Legolas's mind. Strange, was the second. Strange? Legolas couldn't describe the feeling to himself, let alone try to tell Aragorn how he felt. Something just felt different inside him.
"Honestly, mellonamin, I am a little tired and...nevermind," the elf answered as he tried to sit up.
When he tried to raise up Legolas couldn't remember ever feeling so many things at once. The air was still heavy and his tired body protested to the strain of getting up. His head spun wildly and he was sure it was going to roll right off his shoulders. His stomach decided to protest against both actions and he very nearly became sick. The body part with the loudest complaint, though, was his shoulder. Which was re bruising from landing on it earlier and not happy about being used to push up with. His vision also decided to join in on the fun and it began to tunnel.
****
A little tired? 'That was a huge understatement,' the ranger thought dryly. Legolas began to rise and Aragorn tried to assist him into a sitting position. Aragorn didn't think anything of it until Legolas's still peaked complexion lost a few more shades and his head lolled to the side. It appeared the elf was going to pass back out, so Aragorn laid him flat on the ground.
"Easy, my friend, easy."
Legolas appeared to recover and his eyes focused once again on the ranger.
"Are you well now?"
Legolas took a steadying breath and answered his concerned friend with a slight nod, which caused a brief pain to flare behind his eyes.
"I think that might have been a little too quick," Legolas said with a wry smile.
"I think you may be right. Would you care to try it more slowly now?" Aragorn asked jovially.
Legolas nodded his reply and attempted to rise again with Aragorn's help, but with a little more care this time.
Everything part of him didn't, thankfully, scream out in protest this time as he sat up.
What did scream out, though, was an excited orc voice as it spotted the two sitting on the ground. Grimnosh had farther to travel to reach the two sense they had started to head back to the south, but they had strayed in closer to the mountains as well during the night before where Grimnosh's band of misfits had taken refuge during the day. The lone orc yell turned into many as more orcs heard the excited yell of their kinsman.
Aragorn turned and drew his sword preparing for another encounter with these annoyingly foul creatures.
Legolas still on the ground tried to drag his tired body to his feet, but it had finally had enough of this exhausting treatment and refused to obey.
Aragorn saw his friend collapse back to the ground and stepped him front of him as the orcs charged. If they were to die here, he thought, he would at least die defending his fallen friend.
*****
TBC...
******
If this chapter seems like it was cut off a little abruptly - it's because it was. Sorry, gang. I am leaving for spring break today and didn't have time to make it longer. I will work on the next chapter at home over the break, though! I think that this chapter lacked a bit of action. I think it is time to speed things up for a bit in the next one!
*****
Tithen Min - Of course I do!! From the amount of reviews for the last chapter I think you the only one who appreciated it. Thanks for sticking with it. And thanks once again for the complement. Don't be! I'm sure you're a fine writer. And ya never know, do you? I bet you could tell me what I'm thinking now.;)
Dujoran - Special thanks and a big hug for adding me to your favorite authors list. You made my day! I appreciate it!!!! Don't feel intimidated to write reviews, though. I love them and reviews of any kind are always welcome. ;) Thanks again.
Karri - I hope you had a nice break and that you forgave me for not posting when I was supposed to. I look forward to reading your reviews when you get back! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own (although I wish) the song "A Elbereth Gilthoniel"; it is Master Tolkien's wonderful creation.
Note: Elvish translation to English surrounded by // //.
*****
Chapter 10 A Candle in the Dark
***
"What would men be without women? Scarce, sir, mighty scarce."
-Mark Twain
*****
The trees seemed to close in around Aragorn and it made him feel uneasy. 'They are just trees,' he told himself over and over. Moving would now become difficult with such little light. They would now be forced to rely heavily on Legolas's eyes and ears to get them anywhere. Aragorn unconsciously looked up and, although he knew he would not be able to see the stars, he was still disappointed by that fact. All he was able to see was the dark, solid canopy, which did not help his mood any. This forest really did fit this awful place perfectly. It was cursed, just as the land it occupied. 'No,' he thought mournfully, 'I really am not looking forward to spending another night here.'
Aragorn was startled out of his dark thoughts when he felt Legolas grip onto his right arm. He turned around to ask what was the matter, but after taking in the elf's pale, strained features he could already guess. Fear gripped at his heart when Legolas called out to Elbereth and he briefly wondered if he had the strength to make it through another night like last night. When he stepped in closer and caught his friend as he sunk straight down the ranger decided that he had to, for his friend's sake. Aragorn guided their descent into a sitting position on the forest floor. He held the elf up while calling his name. Legolas gave no response that he even heard the ranger's words. His eyes were tightly closed and his breath came out in short gasps, but his body was tensed as if in pain.
*****
The trees bent and swayed oddly and the ground felt like it was tilting in rhythm with the trees, as if they were both apart of a strange and fiendish ceremonial dance. The whole effect was rather sickening to watch and he closed his eyes to block the diabolical sashay out. Legolas could tell he had collapsed under the strain and could actually feel and hear Aragorn as he spoke. The numbing cold and weight were too much combined to push back and he hadn't the strength to even open his eyes let alone respond to his friend's concerned calls. He was pretty sure he didn't want to open his eyes anyway, because then he would be able to see the sinister trees again as they twisted in around him to make sure he would not escape. The cold grew to such intensity that it felt like it was freezing him to the core and it hurt immensely. The frigid air around him burned his lungs when he tried to inhale it making him fight for each breath.
****
Aragorn was feeling quite helpless again. It was the same feeling one experienced when they were a child and lost in the woods. When you would call and call for help and you thought no one would ever hear or find you. Aragorn, right now, did not even have anyone to call out to, for his father or brothers wouldn't be able to hear him this time. He alone was here to help his friend, which was struggling for breath again and shivering vehemently. This attack was like the second one they endured where the ranger had feared his friend would suffocate. Aragorn took hold of one of the elf's icy hands and kept talking to him. He prayed that maybe somehow his friend was still aware of his presence and he would now that he was not alone and find comfort in that. Aragorn also prayed to the Valar to give them both the strength to endure this once again.
Legolas had described feeling like something had helped him the last couple of times. 'Whatever or whoever you are, please help him again,' the ranger thought with despair.
*****
Legolas was freezing. He was sure that with every breath he took his lungs would be totally encased in ice and it would turn out to be his last one. It felt like the light of his very being was beginning to freeze over and go out, leaving him trapped in the darkness. The weak grip he had left on reality was beginning to fade as his consciousness became restless and struggled to flee. Aragorn's voice was growing distant, threatening to leave him behind and Legolas became terrified that his friend would abandon him. 'No, come back!' he tried to scream. He desperately fought to keep his mind from retreating. He could still barely feel the grip the ranger had on his hand and he clutched onto it like a lifeline as if that act could keep him grounded. Legolas was beyond the point where he could tell if he was breathing or not, all he knew was that the prospect of being trapped in the empty darkness filled him with terror.
****
Legolas's lips were beginning to turn blue again, which stood out starkly in the ghostly pale complexion. He seemed to be losing to whatever he was battling against. The tension was leaving his body and the shivering was becoming less severe. As Legolas's body gradually began to relax Aragorn cradled him once more. Without realizing it he began to rock back and forth. The lithe form in his arms went totally slack and Aragorn's breath caught in his throat.
*****
Legolas almost wished he would just die so he could be left in peace, but he was an elf and they had respect for all life, so in effect he was just too stubborn to give up completely. Out of that stubbornness a light began to grow. He had almost thought she, whoever she was, would not come to his aid this time. Once again heat began to trickle back into his body. As his hope began to rise once again so did the power of the liquid like flame rising inside him. Together they began to sear through the numbing cold bringing warmth back to his soul. He found he could feel his lungs once more and he could draw breath. Legolas was hopeful that they could beat this once again, but he noticed that the one coming to his aid was not as strong as it was before. Why not? Were they abandoning him too? As Legolas's began to doubt, the darkness inside him grew in strength. The cold began to push back against the warmth and light once more. Legolas simple didn't have the strength to fight it off anymore and the blasted light wasn't helping as much as it had earlier. It was giving up on him just as his friend had. They were abandoning him to his fate.
Legolas was staring into a cold, black void again. Why must he keep returning here? Was this his destiny? To be left completely alone and shut off from any light forever. Legolas couldn't bare the thought of that and he wished to be released from this place in any means necessary. The thought of 'why not just get it over with?' entered his mind for the second time that day and as his doubts grew so did the darkness. It began to overwhelm the light and stamp it out. Legolas didn't know why, but he found a strange sort of satisfaction in all of it. As soon as this thought came to mind he heard triumphant laughter echo through his being and blackness so heavy fell on him that it slammed his consciousness down into oblivion.
*****
Aragorn fearfully and shakily reached down for a pulse and sighed with relieve when he found one. The ranger wondered if his friend had beaten it for now and hoped this particularly frightening episode was over. Aragorn tried calling his name once more with no response. He wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing. His friend could use any rest he could get, but if his mind was troubled as it had been earlier it wouldn't be of much use. 'Urr, to be left in the dark,' he thought bitterly. In Aragorn's desperate and panicked state the only thing that came to his mind that might bring comfort to his friend and maybe some strength was a song. One he remembered his mother singing to him when he had awoke from a bad dream. He had always found comfort in listening to her gentle voice or that of his foster father's steady one whenever they sung. For some reason his mind latched onto this song now and, not knowing what else to do, he continued with his rocking and began to sing.
"A Elbereth Gilthoniel,
silivren penna míriel o menel aglar elenath! Na-chaered palan-díriel o galadhremmin ennorath,
Fanuilos, le linnathon
nef aear, sí nef aearon!"*
*****
"Nice doggie," said Grimnosh's second, Nakash, as he inched closer to the growling warg.
At the comment about being called a "doggie" the warg barred his teeth and growled even louder, which made Nakash stop his forward progress altogether.
"Gets up on that beast right now or you won't have to worry about it killing you, because I will!"
Nakash looked at the huge snarling beast one more time and then looked over at his huge snarling leader and tried to judge which would be the worst of the two. Seeing Grimnosh's large form sitting atop another of the wargs towering over him with a fierce look on his face Nakash decided that at least the warg would only maim him and he stepped closer. The warg tensed and Nakash reflexively stopped again.
Grimnosh could see this was getting them nowhere. They were wasting time and he was growing agitated. If the two kept this up he was either going to cut Nakash's head off or the warg's, whichever one happened to be closer. He looked over at the leering human sitting atop the warg he guessed to be the leader. This human was already annoying him and he had only known him for a few minutes.
"Tell it to stand down, human, or I'll cleave off yous head in its place. It's because of yous we's now have to go back for them anyway," the orc growled out.
Jeridan's eyes widened in surprise to the threat. Looking at the formidable orc beside him he knew the creature would make good on it too if he didn't do something.
"Caron let him up!"
The said warg just looked at Jeridan with a look in its eyes that said; 'you've got to be kidding me.'
When the warg made no move to let the orc up, a deep menacing growl came from under Jeridan. The troublesome warg stopped its growling and eased its posture.
"Well, what are yous waitin' for? Get up there!"
Nakash nervously scrambled up onto the huge beast and sat on its back. He had never ridden a warg before and he was not looking forward to doing it now. He didn't even know how to steer the wretched thing.
Grimnosh looked on with satisfaction. He might not like the human, but he was growing accustom to Radoc. As the leader of his own clan he had to respect how easily the warg leader was able to put one of his own into place. Grimnosh looked around at his dozen or so mounted kin and one human to see if everyone was ready to go.
"Alright, head out!"
Radoc let out a loud howl that was echoed by the other wargs and then he sprung off into a swift run. The rest of the pack followed him taking their riders with them.
Nakash found out then that when Radoc leaped away the others followed and he didn't have to guide the thing after all. Which he was relieved about, because his hands were too busy clutching onto the beast in terror to have to give it a direction.
*****
Empty. Everything was empty and cold. There never was such a thing as light. For how could there be? Blackness was all there ever was and all that could be.
There could never be any light at the end of the tunnel, because surely the darkness was stronger by far. Light and warmth were both just a dream. Something the mind imagined, but could never be real.
Yet, out in the darkness a dim light flickered into being. A single candle amidst the thick blank curtain.
Curious.
He moved closer out of curiosity.
The small flame was illuminating something.
Closer.
It was a woman.
She was facing away from him and familiar long, dark, honey colored hair cascaded down her back. A long light green silk dress just touched the floor and it rippled around bare feet as she moved. She was so familiar. So... comforting.
He moved closer and the image became clearer. Grass... her bare feet were standing on grass.
No... she was dancing on the grass and the steps were light and graceful. They were no mortal's steps, but an elf's. It was confirmed when the side off her head wheeled around and he briefly saw a delicately pointed ear.
The sun began to shine out of nowhere and her hair caught and held the golden rays of the sun. The reflection brightened the scene around the elf maid. She was dancing with an elfling. She picked the small child up and swung him around threw the air. The golden-hair child laughed as his hair shone brightly in the sunlight. He could see the elf maid's front now as she turned. Warm, dark eyes twinkled up at the child as she smiled brightly. She laughed and brought the child down into a motherly embrace. Silvery laughter as clear as the sound of water trickling over stones floated out into the darkness, lessening it.
Laughter. Yes, that was she. Lalaith. Laughter. A nickname for Laurrina - a mother...his mother. The child was her little lorindol. So called by her for his hair. He remembered she used to sing to him when he was frightened. She was singing now. It was a song he should know. Yes, he definitely knew that song. It was so familiar. Something about the stars and hope. A song about Elbereth. Yes, that was it, Elbereth, he knew that name.
Memories of her comforting voice singing to Elbereth filled the void with a dim glow. The light was dim, but as the song went on the light began to brighten. It brought warmth and comfort with it. His mother looked straight at him and smiled. Her smile was so radiant warmth began to spread throughout his being. As he looked into his mother's warm eyes they began to change. The change was subtle. The eyes were still dark and warm, but they were no longer as familiar. Deep brown pools formed in them and they took on a hint of sadness. They no longer shined with an elven light, but they shone with a different kind of intensity.
He could still hear the song going on, but it was coming from somewhere else now. The voice was no longer a lilting elven one. It had turned into a more ruff, but still gentle, and deeper one. This voice was familiar as well. It was still singing about Elbereth. As he listened the song grew louder and he was sure he knew this voice. Elbereth and the stars came to mind. Elbereth. Hope. Estel. Yes, that was the name associated with the voice. Estel. A friend, yes, he was sure it was a friend. Where was Estel? Looking around the only thing in the darkness was the mother and child. His mother, but yet, not his mother. She turned toward him once more with those eyes that were familiar and strange at the same time. The memory melted away all except for the dark eyes. As the image melted away the darkness went with it. The space was filled with a golden light and a soft voice drifted out of the center. One simple word said with empathy.
"Awake."
*****
When Aragorn finished the song he continued to sing, more to comfort himself this time than for the benefit of the prone form he was rocking. Just as he was starting the next song a howl sliced through the words and was echoed by at least a dozen others. The shrill sounds sent a shiver down the ranger's spin. The howls were coming from what he guessed to be the west. A sense of foreboding fell over Aragorn as he remembered that that was the direction the elusive group of orcs had went the night before. He was certain that the wargs being over in that same direction wasn't a coincidence and he wasn't sure if he even wanted to know how they managed to meet up.
Aragorn looked worriedly down at the elf and noticed with another sense of foreboding that his friend wasn't glowing as brightly as he usually did. Aragorn also noticed that he was singing the same song over and over again. He hadn't even really been paying attention to what he was singing, he just sang. Since he had already started the same song over again he decided to finish it. What else was there to do? It was true he could carry his friend out of here as he had threatened to do earlier. Even with his advanced skills in tracking and traveling he wasn't sure if he would want to go stumbling around in the dark. He had confidence he could eventually make it out of the forest, but that could take quite a bit of time. The stars probably hadn't reached their brightest and even that would probably end up not providing much light in the end. He would be traveling blindly through the dark trees relying on his memory and estimations about which direction he was really moving. Now more than ever he wanted one of the twins with him or for Legolas to arise. After all the complaining he did about them being over protective and all of their bickering, especially when it came to Elladan or Elrohir, he wished for their presence. Aragorn realized he was being rather childish again, but right now he didn't care.
So caught up was he in thought that Aragorn almost jumped when he felt Legolas move in his arms. Legolas's head moved from side to side and then his eyes slowly opened. Aragorn noticed that they were partially clouded and unclear. Legolas looked around at the trees in confusion before his gaze settled on the ranger. Aragorn was relieved beyond belief when recognition bloomed in his friend's eyes as he looked up at him.
"Sut lle anta tyava?"
//How do you feel?//
Legolas honestly wasn't sure how he felt. Awake he guessed, but other than that he didn't know. The image of his mother still floated through his mind and he was saddened. Why had he dreamt about her? He figured it might have been because he was thinking about her shortly before nightfall. 'Nightfall,' he shuddered. He remembered he was dreading it. Obviously had had another attack. 'To wake up on the ground again with Estel cradling me again,' he mentally sighed. Estel. That name brought a song to mind. Elbereth Gilthoniel, that was it. Yes, he remembered calling out to her and then Estel had sung the song in his dream.
"Legolas?" he heard the ranger ask with concern in his voice.
Legolas opened his eyes to see worried gray ones looking at him. 'Strange,' he thought.
"It is alright, Estel, I did not realize I closed my eyes while I was thinking."
Aragorn wasn't exactly comforted by that answer. For a race that sleeps with their eyes open it wasn't exactly normal for an elf to just drift off like that. Only when exhaustion set in did that occur.
"You never answered my question, mellonamin. How do you fare?"
Tired, was the first thing that came to Legolas's mind. Strange, was the second. Strange? Legolas couldn't describe the feeling to himself, let alone try to tell Aragorn how he felt. Something just felt different inside him.
"Honestly, mellonamin, I am a little tired and...nevermind," the elf answered as he tried to sit up.
When he tried to raise up Legolas couldn't remember ever feeling so many things at once. The air was still heavy and his tired body protested to the strain of getting up. His head spun wildly and he was sure it was going to roll right off his shoulders. His stomach decided to protest against both actions and he very nearly became sick. The body part with the loudest complaint, though, was his shoulder. Which was re bruising from landing on it earlier and not happy about being used to push up with. His vision also decided to join in on the fun and it began to tunnel.
****
A little tired? 'That was a huge understatement,' the ranger thought dryly. Legolas began to rise and Aragorn tried to assist him into a sitting position. Aragorn didn't think anything of it until Legolas's still peaked complexion lost a few more shades and his head lolled to the side. It appeared the elf was going to pass back out, so Aragorn laid him flat on the ground.
"Easy, my friend, easy."
Legolas appeared to recover and his eyes focused once again on the ranger.
"Are you well now?"
Legolas took a steadying breath and answered his concerned friend with a slight nod, which caused a brief pain to flare behind his eyes.
"I think that might have been a little too quick," Legolas said with a wry smile.
"I think you may be right. Would you care to try it more slowly now?" Aragorn asked jovially.
Legolas nodded his reply and attempted to rise again with Aragorn's help, but with a little more care this time.
Everything part of him didn't, thankfully, scream out in protest this time as he sat up.
What did scream out, though, was an excited orc voice as it spotted the two sitting on the ground. Grimnosh had farther to travel to reach the two sense they had started to head back to the south, but they had strayed in closer to the mountains as well during the night before where Grimnosh's band of misfits had taken refuge during the day. The lone orc yell turned into many as more orcs heard the excited yell of their kinsman.
Aragorn turned and drew his sword preparing for another encounter with these annoyingly foul creatures.
Legolas still on the ground tried to drag his tired body to his feet, but it had finally had enough of this exhausting treatment and refused to obey.
Aragorn saw his friend collapse back to the ground and stepped him front of him as the orcs charged. If they were to die here, he thought, he would at least die defending his fallen friend.
*****
TBC...
******
If this chapter seems like it was cut off a little abruptly - it's because it was. Sorry, gang. I am leaving for spring break today and didn't have time to make it longer. I will work on the next chapter at home over the break, though! I think that this chapter lacked a bit of action. I think it is time to speed things up for a bit in the next one!
*****
Tithen Min - Of course I do!! From the amount of reviews for the last chapter I think you the only one who appreciated it. Thanks for sticking with it. And thanks once again for the complement. Don't be! I'm sure you're a fine writer. And ya never know, do you? I bet you could tell me what I'm thinking now.;)
Dujoran - Special thanks and a big hug for adding me to your favorite authors list. You made my day! I appreciate it!!!! Don't feel intimidated to write reviews, though. I love them and reviews of any kind are always welcome. ;) Thanks again.
Karri - I hope you had a nice break and that you forgave me for not posting when I was supposed to. I look forward to reading your reviews when you get back! :)