Sorry this took so long to post. The site and I have been having problems.
Apparently it does not like Windows XP.
Thanks to everyone who replied to my question. There were a few new voices in the crowd this time and thank you. If there are a lot of grammatical mistakes in this chapter I'm sorry. It's been an incredibly hard week and I am brain-dead and tired. I almost pulled my hair out trying to get schoolwork done and work on this at the same time. If you find any mistakes let me know and I will fix it.
The Choices We Make
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Chapter 12 Meetings in the Dark
There is only one difference between a madman and me. The madman thinks he is sane. I know I am mad. - Salvador Dali
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Trying to follow someone in the thick blackness of the forest was almost impossible. Aragorn was grateful that his friend, although dimmed, still gave off the faint luminescent glow. For the first time since they arrived here he was also ironically glad that his friend was sick and fairly slow for an elf right now. Otherwise Aragorn knew he would never be able to keep up with him. As it was the ranger still found it pretty hard and he just barely saw the faint outline of the elf. Caution to the wind Aragorn called out for the elf to stop or at least slow down. He was glad that no one was around right now to see him clumsily running through the dark with his hands outstretched to try and keep from running into the trees that happened out of nowhere. 'You know what you are Aragorn?' he asked himself. 'You are a good runner.' Argh, after all of the running around this cursed place he was going to be several times lighter than when he entered.
******
Legolas wasn't even consciously aware of where he was trying to run. It was enough to at least feel like he was doing something. Slowly Aragorn's distressed calls from behind him became clearer and he understood them once more. The ranger was calling for him to stop or he was going to tie him to a tree when he finally caught him. Where in all of Arda was he heading anyway? Legolas couldn't even remember why he was running in the first place. 'To try and find light at night you loon,' the rational part of his mind answered sarcastically. Light, yes, he wanted to see the stars. But that would be impossible until they got out of here, which he desperately wanted to do. As his nerves calmed once more he realized this course of action was only tiring him out. Legolas, regaining some composure, stopped dead in his tracks and turned to tell Aragorn that it was all right.
*****
Aragorn was becoming frustrated and tired. 'That's it,' he thought, 'I have had enough!' He was slowly gaining on the elf and he put on a last burst of speed in hopes that he could grab a hold of his cloak. Just a little more. He could almost touch him. So surprised was he when Legolas suddenly stopped right in front of him that he couldn't possibly come to a halt.
Legolas turned around just in time to realize his mistake and tried stepping out of the way, but the ranger was practically right on top of him when he turned.
Both friends let out a surprised yelp and then Aragorn ran full speed into Legolas. Aragorn's momentum carried them foreword for a little ways before they hit the ground together with a grunt.
Aragorn in the split second he hit Legolas and they started to fall realized he was going to crush the lighter elf and tried to roll to the side as he landed. In that short time that single thought was about all he accomplished before he landed almost completely on top of his friend. About the time he landed he heard a loud crack form somewhere and sincerely prayed to Illuvatar that it wasn't one of his friend's, or his for that matter, bones that just snapped.
*****
Legolas could tell by the way he felt that he had landed on the bottom. Hot pain flared in his injured shoulder and down his entire left side. Everything dimmed and went silent and he couldn't stop the groan that escaped his lips.
*****
As soon as they came to a halt Aragon tried to gently lift himself up off of Legolas. When he did three things happen almost instantly. Legolas groaned beneath him, he saw something quivering in the tree right above them, and he heard a string of quite colorful curses to the right. Aragorn couldn't see what had hit the tree or who had thrown it, but he had a pretty good idea on the who part. He scanned the darkness around him and found nothing. Legolas stirred below him and he looked down into a slightly annoyed elven face.
"Aragorn what the..."
Before Legolas could finish Aragorn cut the elf off by raising his finger to his lips and then pointed up the tree. Legolas fell silent and looked up at the sword stuck in the tree. He silently nodded his head and then Aragorn rose helping the disgruntled elf up. Legolas rose with as much dignity as he could muster and had to stifle another groan as he stood up and shot the ranger a rather impolite look. Aragorn shrugged in reply with a look of his own that said 'if you hadn't been running in the first place I wouldn't have nailed you.'
Legolas stealthy drew his bow and an arrow while Aragorn unsheathed his sword.
He couldn't see very far in the darkness, so he closed his eyes and listened.
The creature was probably weaponless and was trying to keep silent. 'That couldn't last for very long,' he mused. Orcs never could stay quiet for too long. He could feel that the fell thing was somewhere close. All he needed to do was listen for it. He could probably even shoot the thing down once he heard where it was hiding. After all it threw its weapon, so it must not have a bow and since it wasn't attacking the thing mustn't have another weapon.
Legolas tensed the notched arrow and brought the bow up to the ready with out bothering to open his eyes.
Come on...
All it had to do was move and...
He heard it.
A snap as something shifted in the gloom. The clumsy creature had given itself away. He pulled the string back all the way and an almost ominous grin crossed his face as he aimed for the location of the sound.
Legolas was just about to fire and end the miserable thing's life when he hesitated.
WHAT WAS HE DOING?
Orc or not, enemies or not, was he really going to shoot down a defenseless and weaponless creature?
The frightening answer he realized was - yes. And he was sure he would have enjoyed it!
Legolas' eyes snapped open and he slowly lowered his bow. Sweet Eru what had he almost done? No elf would shoot down a weaponless enemy. He looked over at Aragorn wondering if the human had noticed. From the look of puzzlement and uncertainty in the ranger's eyes he had. Why had Aragorn not stopped him or said anything? He already knew the answer to that one, though. His friend wanted to see if he would shoot or not. He heard the orc take off into the darkness. Right now he didn't really care and he let the orc go.
Legolas opened his mouth to say something, but nothing would come out so he shut it. Why wasn't Aragorn saying anything? He needed him to say something, to curse him, or at least hit him. Something.
Legolas's breath caught in his throat when it dawned on him. Was his friend afraid of him? How could that be?
'And why not?' he answered himself. First he kept losing his temper and taking it out on Aragorn, then he had lead him farther into this accursed place, so far even that Legolas wasn't sure where in all of Arda they were, and now he almost shot down a defenseless foe. How could Aragorn or anyone ever trust him again? Where had his self control gone?
***
Aragorn had noticed what the elf was about to do.
'He would never,' the ranger assured himself.
He waited as the elf listened out into the darkness with upraised bow. He saw Legolas fully pull the string on the ready bow and thought about intervening.
'He won't.'
The thing that shocked Aragorn and made him uncertain was the look that crossed the elf's face when it appeared he was about to fire. The look seemed truly malevolent. He had never, in his entire thirty years, seen that sort of malicious expression cross any of the usually fair elven faces he knew. What was going on here? What was it about this place that effected his friend so?
Aragorn released the breath he was holding when Legolas lowered his bow and a look of uncertainty replaced the maliciousness in the fair features. The shadow had passed. With no knowledge of what was going on Aragorn didn't know what to do to help his friend and it irritated him to no end.
Legolas looked at him with almost pleading eyes and he knew not what to do. Was he expected to know what was happening? Usually it was the other way around. Aragorn was used to traveling with elves and he had many times looked to them for explanations. Their greater wisdom was born of countless centuries of life and experiences. It was usually the same thing with Legolas. He realized now how depended he was on his usually stoical friend's knowledge and how lost that look of uncertainty made him feel. Another disturbing question entered his mind. Would a point be reached in the future when Legolas would strike out at him? And what would he do if his friend did? Certainly he would mean him no harm, but what if he reacted and hurt his friend anyway. That would be unfair considering his friend was obviously not well and definitely in more ways than just one.
Aragorn realized he had been standing there to long looking dumbstruck when Legolas turned away from him. 'By the Valar what have we gotten ourselves into this time?' Whatever it was he was still adamant about the both of them getting back to Imladris alive. First, they needed to get out of here and he meant to do that. He remembered telling Legolas earlier that what ever they ran into to block their passage they would just have to deal with it when it came and deal with it he will.
****
Legolas had never been so honestly afraid in his entire life. Being driven insane, slowly dying, or both, he didn't know which, and trapped by something one couldn't even see was bad enough and to turn against a friend was even worse. The worst thing about it all, though, was that all of it was sucking away who he really was and his actions were against everything he had ever been taught. He was starting to not even to act like an elf anymore and it frightened him to no end. He was heartsick, tired, frightened, and the empty feeling he felt earlier returned. For the first time in a very, very long time he wanted his mother or his father there to tell him it would be all right. What would Aragorn or his friends think if they knew he wanted his parents?
His mother's very presence had always been so comforting and peaceful. A knot formed in his stomach at the realization that she was gone. His father on the other hand was stern and sometimes to hot headed, yes, but that strictness was needed. The Sindarin elf forged a kingdom in an uninhabited forest and before the shadow in the south came, Mirkwood had been known as Greenwood the Great. Now even though their kingdom was confined to the north they still manage to hold the darkness at bay and prosper. One of the only beings besides Master Elrond and Glorfindel that still called and that he allowed to call him elfling. 'The same one who was going to ring your neck if you returned home or to Rivendell hurt again,' he thought with a smile. The thought of being locked in his room or worse the dungeons for the next century didn't appeal to him. Well at least if he could think lightly about being locked in the dungeons there was still a little of what Aragorn would call his annoying elfish humor left. At least he could be insane and still be amused anyway. That thought prompted a silent chuckle from the elf.
****
Aragorn saw the elf's shoulders shake slightly and grew concerned. He wasn't sure if Legolas was crying or laughing and thought neither one could be a good sign. He came up behind his friend and laid a hand on the lithe shoulder. He was boggled when Legolas turned around to face him and he had amusement shining in his eyes.
"You are giving me that 'have you gone mad' Elrond look again, mellonamin," Legolas laughed out loud before Aragorn could say anything.
Aragorn saw that Legolas' eyes were clear and shone brightly in the dark. He had no idea of what had just changed his friend's mood so suddenly, nor did he care.
"At least I haven't developed the 'stop arguing it's no use' or the 'if you don't stop coming back here like this I am going to lock you in your room' looks."
"I am sure it is only a matter of time Estel before you will have them mastered," the elf laughed again.
"You know, my friend, you do not have to worry about going insane because I am convinced elves have no wits to begin with."
"Elves have no wits, huh? Humans are better? How do explain theirs and your annoying to always manage to..."
Legolas trailed off as something caught his attention. A troll, orcs, and wargs had already attacked them. What could there possibly be left to fight? He held up his hand to stay off Aragorn's question and listened. He heard the orcs clearly this time and he faintly heard the sounds of the wargs. If the orcs were moving fast enough to keep up wit the wargs there was only one explanation. Legolas sighed and look at his companion with exhausted eyes.
"Warg riders are approaching,' he said simply.
"How far?"
"Does it matter? We will not out run them."
Aragorn wanted yell that of course it did, but bit back the response. They couldn't afford for Legolas to quit and give up hope now. There was another option although he hated suggesting it. But right now they were both exhausting and reaching the limit of what they could fight or deal with.
"No, but perhaps we can hide from them in hopes that they will pass us by."
"Somehow I seriously doubt it my friend. I can tell we are being watched. We have been since the first step we took into this hopeless place."
'Now what in Middle Earth is going on?' Aragorn thought impatiently. The elf's eyes had taken on a slightly glassy and far away look. Legolas' speech was dull and matter of fact.
"Legolas! Snap out of it!" Aragorn roughly shook the elf's shoulders.
Legolas' reaction was far different than what Aragorn had been hoping for.
"I think I need to sit down."
Legolas numbly dropped the bow he was holding and sunk slowly to the ground on legs that no longer had the strength to stand. Aragorn sank down next to the elf and tried shaking him again. He seemed to be in a daze. Aragorn could hear the riders coming now and he looked up in the direction he heard them. He still could not see them. No matter, though, they would obviously be here soon. He looked up to the trees thinking. No, there would be no time to get the stunned elf up the in time and he definitely wouldn't get very far running with Legolas no matter how light elves were. He looked back down at his friend who honestly looked like he would fall over any time and Aragorn understood. Whatever was trying to slow Legolas down before was doing it again now and it was definitely working. What to do? The only thing he knew was that he had to keep them away from his unaware friend. He thought about taking the elf's bow, but decided against it. He would have to be right on top of something to be able to see it well enough to shoot it and by then the bow wouldn't be of much use anyway. He would have to make do as is. He reached down and pulled the cowl of the elf's cloak up to cover his rather bright hair. Hopefully it would keep him from being seen as easily in the dark.
Aragorn drew his sword, dropped his pack to the ground, and ran in the direction of the, by now, loud noises of wargs and hopefully far enough away from Legolas. He stopped and hid behind one of the trees large enough to shield his whole body, drew the hunting knife he had in his boot, and waited. He took a deep breath to try and calm his pounding heart. He would only get one chance at this so he better not miss. The element of surprise would only work on one, two if he was lucky, and he had no idea how he was going to fight the others, however many that may be. Right now it was easier not to think of how many that would turn out to be. With his luck all of Mordor was probably marching through this forest. Orc were never pleasant to fight and wargs were even worse, but warg riders were the worst. The riders carried weapons, which only added to the large, heavy, bodies of the wargs. Not to mention that they had their own sharp teeth and claws. He heard the riders break threw the brush right before him and took a deep breath. 'So much for getting back to Rivendell unscathed this time,' he thought dryly.
****
Legolas was looking at everything as if in a dream. He was aware he was sitting on the ground and that his close friend was running off to face warg riders alone just to protect him. He knew he needed to get up. His mind was screaming for him to do so! But every part of him felt so weak right now. He barely had the strength to sit up let alone fight. Estel is going to go get mauled and killed for you' his mind taunted. 'No,' he screamed back. He might resign to the fate that he was undoubtedly doomed, but he would not allow the ranger to suffer the same thing. It is already too late.
"No!" he yelled out loud.
Anger drove Legolas to his feet. Blinding anger like he had felt earlier, but this time it was toward the wargs and the orcs who rode them. He had the overwhelming need to kill them all. Before Legolas even realized it he was running toward the sounds of surprised orcs with his bow in hand.
****
As the warg riders reached his hiding spot Aragorn allowed half of them to run by then he jumped out of behind his tree. Instead of attacking the obviously surprised rider Aragorn hunched low and hacked at the running wargs feet. The warg howled in pain, tripped, and went tumbling taking its cursing rider with it. Aragorn then threw the knife at the next rider hitting the orc in the chest. The riders that had already past had no idea what was happening behind them and wheeled the wargs around to go back while the riders in the back split in half and ran in separate directions to keep out of whatever commotion was taking place in front of them. Aragorn looked around briefly and grimly noticed there was at least a dozen warg riders. His surprise attack from the middle had work and momentarily split the group up. They would not take long to regroup and realize what had happened. Aragorn didn't fool himself. He knew fully well that this was a fight he could never win. None the less it was a fight he could hardly retreat from now if he wanted to.
Aragorn ran for the stupefied pair that had went sprawling. When the warg went tumbling the unfortunate orc on its back was crushed by the weight when the warg rolled over it and did not rise. Aragorn reached the warg as it was staggering up to its feet and plunged his sword in the creature's thick neck. The warg let out a gurgled yelp and collapsed back to the ground. Aragorn pulled his sword out in time to deflect a hit as another rider rode past. Luckily the warg did not bite at him, but the force of the impact made him stumble backward and his arm stung and went numb up to the shoulder. The ranger's sword went flying as he slid in the dying wargs pooling blood and fell on his backside. The warg he had killed the rider off of with the knife snarled and ran toward him. Aragorn glanced to the side and his heart missed a beat. He was never going to be able to get to his sword before the warg ripped him to pieces.
*****
"Where by Morgoth do yous think your goin'! Get back here!" yelled Grimnosh as he tried to rally his split orcs.
Grimnosh had been at the front when they were attacked. He knew what the human was trying to do by attacking in the middle and he rode back to get everyone back together. The riders in the back grouped around their leader. The ones in the middle were fighting now paying no attention to his calls and the one that had been up front followed him back to the others.
"Yous over there," he said pointing to four riders in the back, "makes a circle around this area and make sure they don't escape."
Grimnosh growled as he heard those four dolts in the middle fighting. Blast them! May they all be killed before he got there! He looked around at the remaining three orcs and one human rider.
"Everyone else come. And remember what I said or I'll have all of your heads!"
As the four orc riders rode off Jeridan lingered behind.
"You could have warned us witch!"
He heard cruel laughter in his ear and a shudder ran down his spin. A breathy voice answered his question out of nowhere.
"Yes, but where would be the fun in that."
He looked around and found no sign of Nadina. 'Urgh, if only she had a neck to throttle.'
*****
Aragorn desperately rolled toward his sword knowing he wasn't going to make it. He was surprised when he reached it and wrapped his hand around its hilt. He looked up to see the warg falling and about to crush him, so he furiously continued his rolling. He cleared the warg just in time and it landed on the ground beside him. One glance at the thing told him what had happened. Aragorn stood up with a smile on his face when he saw that an elven arrow was protruding where the warg's eye used to be. Aragorn switched his sword to the other hand since the arm he had parried the orcs weapon with was still numb. He saw a dark rider coming toward him and turned to meet its charge. He raised his sword ready for the attack, but when the rider got close he stopped just shy of the ranger and Aragorn hesitated. The rider took him totally by surprise and he couldn't strike at him.
"No, it can not be," he breathed.
In the brief pause Aragorn stopped another rider came upon him. He looked up in time to see the largest orc he had ever seen, but had no time even to raise his sword. The orc roughly grabbed the ranger by his cloak and lifted his considerable weight into the air.
Aragorn's air was cut off abruptly as his cloak tightened about his neck and he felt his feet leave the ground. He was hauled into the air and carried alone beside of the running warg. Aragorn saw what was coming and sword forgotten about he tried to grab for the orc that had a hold of him.
"Oh, no..." he rasped out.
It was no use, though, the orc had an iron grip on him and he was dangling too far away from it. Carried by the considerable momentum of the warg, the ranger was released by the orc in mid air right into the path of a tree. The next thing he knew everything went black and stars exploded in his vision. 'Strange, I don't feel...' Aragorn never had a chance to finish his thought before his consciousness slipped away.
*****
After Legolas shot the warg an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction washed over him. He admitted he enjoyed killing it and why not? It was a miserable creature anyway as was the orcs that rode them. After shooting the warg Legolas then turned to the rider that had knocked Aragorn to the ground and fired on it. He hit the orc in the shoulder and it flew of the warg to go skidding into the brush. The warg never seemed to notice that it no longer had a rider and continued its charge. Legolas waited until the warg was practically right on top of him and then rolled out of the way. He rose and notched an arrow before the warg finished turning around and fired as the warg turned to face him fully. The arrow caught the warg in the snout and it howled in pain. Legolas with lightening speed fired another arrow into the wargs open mouth dropping it to the ground. He then glanced around to see how Aragorn was fairing and turned just in time to see the ranger smack into the tree. He heard the collision from here and winced involuntarily at the sound. Aragorn slid limply to the ground and Legolas looked at the warg rider with fury in his eyes. From the sound of it that collision could have been hard enough to kill the ranger. Legolas' eyes narrowed as he drew another arrow and brought it up toward the orc. Before he was able to release it he heard a throaty female voice in his ear.
"Ah, ah, ah, I wouldn't do that my pretty."
Legolas was so startled he almost dropped his bow. He briefly wondered if he was hearing voices now before a white mist filled his vision. It was followed by a huge blast on numbing coldness that ripped through his body. It was so cold it caused intense pain everywhere and his lungs were so frozen that he couldn't even scream. All he managed was a half way choked sob before his consciousness swirled away with last of his breath. How had it come to this? A last thought crossed his mind before he blacked out. 'At least Aragorn will not have to make the trip to the Hall of Mandos alone...'
********
TBC...
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Well there is chapter 12. Hope everybody enjoyed it! I have a feeling this story is going to get a bit dark. I hope that doesn't drive anyone away from it. I will remember to keep the humor in though to counteract it.
Author's note: In case you're wondering Mandos is a Vala also known as Namo, the judge. The Halls of Mandos or Houses of the Dead are where the spirits of the elves, after being killed, go to on Aman to await the end of days.
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Karri - Thanks for the opinion! And for the complements! Glorfindel may just have a chance to show off a little. I know I probably had everyone scratching their heads and thinking - now wasn't there a place named Rivendell in this story somewhere? Sorry, I got kind of caught up in writing about Legolas and Aragorn. But I'm sure no one minded that part. ;)
Sprout - Thank you too for giving me your opinion. Elladan and Elrohir are fun aren't they? They are fun to write about and provide a little humor to the story. Which I think it needs from time to time. I don't know what others think, but I believe the story is getting a little dark, don't you? But then again LOTR is altogether dark as well. But everything turned out alright in the end, as it should be. ;)
Tithen Min - Well you can be demented with the rest of us. That's probably why you seem cute. I'm definitely odd as well. It's fun though isn't it!? I'm sorry I didn't have time to review the last couple of chapters of your story. And I noticed I was so tired I left the d out of Thranduil, duh. I hope you didn't take my opinion as bad criticism. It was meant to be constructive criticism. ;) Remember you can't please everyone all of the time. And here's a little inspirational one for you - The harder you fall, the higher you bounce. - UNKNOWN :)
goblz - You lost it!!! *Gasps and falls out of chair* That's o.k.;) I'm glad you like Elladan and Elrohir also. I hope I answered your question in the email. At least, I hope you got the email. Thanks for coming back to the story! And I hope you keep reviewing (hint, hint).
Kayleigh-talitha - I am very glad you found the story too!! And - thank you, thank you, thank you for adding me to you favorite author's list. Are you kidding its never too late! I hope you enjoyed the rest of the chapters as much as the first eight. Come back anytime! And please keep reviewing! ;)
Maree - Thank for joining the story and reviewing!! I love reviews and I hope you keep writing them. They make chapters get posted faster! ;) And I'm grateful that you pick me to read when you get on the computer! Thank you!
Me - A huge thanks and a bid huge for adding me to your favorites lists!! It makes my day when people do! Thank you! And never feel intimidated to review. I love them and, despite what I do to the characters in the story, I'm really quite nice in my responses.
Stephanie-Lou - Thanks for responding! I think I got the point and I love them too. Although with what I do to them it may not seem like it. ;) You are welcome to keep reviewing, I always appreciated finding out what people think.
Kirsten - Thanks for your opinion!! I will definitely keep all of the responses in mind. And as I said I love to hear what people think, so please keep reviewing!! ;)
Thanks to everyone who replied to my question. There were a few new voices in the crowd this time and thank you. If there are a lot of grammatical mistakes in this chapter I'm sorry. It's been an incredibly hard week and I am brain-dead and tired. I almost pulled my hair out trying to get schoolwork done and work on this at the same time. If you find any mistakes let me know and I will fix it.
The Choices We Make
*******
Chapter 12 Meetings in the Dark
There is only one difference between a madman and me. The madman thinks he is sane. I know I am mad. - Salvador Dali
*********
Trying to follow someone in the thick blackness of the forest was almost impossible. Aragorn was grateful that his friend, although dimmed, still gave off the faint luminescent glow. For the first time since they arrived here he was also ironically glad that his friend was sick and fairly slow for an elf right now. Otherwise Aragorn knew he would never be able to keep up with him. As it was the ranger still found it pretty hard and he just barely saw the faint outline of the elf. Caution to the wind Aragorn called out for the elf to stop or at least slow down. He was glad that no one was around right now to see him clumsily running through the dark with his hands outstretched to try and keep from running into the trees that happened out of nowhere. 'You know what you are Aragorn?' he asked himself. 'You are a good runner.' Argh, after all of the running around this cursed place he was going to be several times lighter than when he entered.
******
Legolas wasn't even consciously aware of where he was trying to run. It was enough to at least feel like he was doing something. Slowly Aragorn's distressed calls from behind him became clearer and he understood them once more. The ranger was calling for him to stop or he was going to tie him to a tree when he finally caught him. Where in all of Arda was he heading anyway? Legolas couldn't even remember why he was running in the first place. 'To try and find light at night you loon,' the rational part of his mind answered sarcastically. Light, yes, he wanted to see the stars. But that would be impossible until they got out of here, which he desperately wanted to do. As his nerves calmed once more he realized this course of action was only tiring him out. Legolas, regaining some composure, stopped dead in his tracks and turned to tell Aragorn that it was all right.
*****
Aragorn was becoming frustrated and tired. 'That's it,' he thought, 'I have had enough!' He was slowly gaining on the elf and he put on a last burst of speed in hopes that he could grab a hold of his cloak. Just a little more. He could almost touch him. So surprised was he when Legolas suddenly stopped right in front of him that he couldn't possibly come to a halt.
Legolas turned around just in time to realize his mistake and tried stepping out of the way, but the ranger was practically right on top of him when he turned.
Both friends let out a surprised yelp and then Aragorn ran full speed into Legolas. Aragorn's momentum carried them foreword for a little ways before they hit the ground together with a grunt.
Aragorn in the split second he hit Legolas and they started to fall realized he was going to crush the lighter elf and tried to roll to the side as he landed. In that short time that single thought was about all he accomplished before he landed almost completely on top of his friend. About the time he landed he heard a loud crack form somewhere and sincerely prayed to Illuvatar that it wasn't one of his friend's, or his for that matter, bones that just snapped.
*****
Legolas could tell by the way he felt that he had landed on the bottom. Hot pain flared in his injured shoulder and down his entire left side. Everything dimmed and went silent and he couldn't stop the groan that escaped his lips.
*****
As soon as they came to a halt Aragon tried to gently lift himself up off of Legolas. When he did three things happen almost instantly. Legolas groaned beneath him, he saw something quivering in the tree right above them, and he heard a string of quite colorful curses to the right. Aragorn couldn't see what had hit the tree or who had thrown it, but he had a pretty good idea on the who part. He scanned the darkness around him and found nothing. Legolas stirred below him and he looked down into a slightly annoyed elven face.
"Aragorn what the..."
Before Legolas could finish Aragorn cut the elf off by raising his finger to his lips and then pointed up the tree. Legolas fell silent and looked up at the sword stuck in the tree. He silently nodded his head and then Aragorn rose helping the disgruntled elf up. Legolas rose with as much dignity as he could muster and had to stifle another groan as he stood up and shot the ranger a rather impolite look. Aragorn shrugged in reply with a look of his own that said 'if you hadn't been running in the first place I wouldn't have nailed you.'
Legolas stealthy drew his bow and an arrow while Aragorn unsheathed his sword.
He couldn't see very far in the darkness, so he closed his eyes and listened.
The creature was probably weaponless and was trying to keep silent. 'That couldn't last for very long,' he mused. Orcs never could stay quiet for too long. He could feel that the fell thing was somewhere close. All he needed to do was listen for it. He could probably even shoot the thing down once he heard where it was hiding. After all it threw its weapon, so it must not have a bow and since it wasn't attacking the thing mustn't have another weapon.
Legolas tensed the notched arrow and brought the bow up to the ready with out bothering to open his eyes.
Come on...
All it had to do was move and...
He heard it.
A snap as something shifted in the gloom. The clumsy creature had given itself away. He pulled the string back all the way and an almost ominous grin crossed his face as he aimed for the location of the sound.
Legolas was just about to fire and end the miserable thing's life when he hesitated.
WHAT WAS HE DOING?
Orc or not, enemies or not, was he really going to shoot down a defenseless and weaponless creature?
The frightening answer he realized was - yes. And he was sure he would have enjoyed it!
Legolas' eyes snapped open and he slowly lowered his bow. Sweet Eru what had he almost done? No elf would shoot down a weaponless enemy. He looked over at Aragorn wondering if the human had noticed. From the look of puzzlement and uncertainty in the ranger's eyes he had. Why had Aragorn not stopped him or said anything? He already knew the answer to that one, though. His friend wanted to see if he would shoot or not. He heard the orc take off into the darkness. Right now he didn't really care and he let the orc go.
Legolas opened his mouth to say something, but nothing would come out so he shut it. Why wasn't Aragorn saying anything? He needed him to say something, to curse him, or at least hit him. Something.
Legolas's breath caught in his throat when it dawned on him. Was his friend afraid of him? How could that be?
'And why not?' he answered himself. First he kept losing his temper and taking it out on Aragorn, then he had lead him farther into this accursed place, so far even that Legolas wasn't sure where in all of Arda they were, and now he almost shot down a defenseless foe. How could Aragorn or anyone ever trust him again? Where had his self control gone?
***
Aragorn had noticed what the elf was about to do.
'He would never,' the ranger assured himself.
He waited as the elf listened out into the darkness with upraised bow. He saw Legolas fully pull the string on the ready bow and thought about intervening.
'He won't.'
The thing that shocked Aragorn and made him uncertain was the look that crossed the elf's face when it appeared he was about to fire. The look seemed truly malevolent. He had never, in his entire thirty years, seen that sort of malicious expression cross any of the usually fair elven faces he knew. What was going on here? What was it about this place that effected his friend so?
Aragorn released the breath he was holding when Legolas lowered his bow and a look of uncertainty replaced the maliciousness in the fair features. The shadow had passed. With no knowledge of what was going on Aragorn didn't know what to do to help his friend and it irritated him to no end.
Legolas looked at him with almost pleading eyes and he knew not what to do. Was he expected to know what was happening? Usually it was the other way around. Aragorn was used to traveling with elves and he had many times looked to them for explanations. Their greater wisdom was born of countless centuries of life and experiences. It was usually the same thing with Legolas. He realized now how depended he was on his usually stoical friend's knowledge and how lost that look of uncertainty made him feel. Another disturbing question entered his mind. Would a point be reached in the future when Legolas would strike out at him? And what would he do if his friend did? Certainly he would mean him no harm, but what if he reacted and hurt his friend anyway. That would be unfair considering his friend was obviously not well and definitely in more ways than just one.
Aragorn realized he had been standing there to long looking dumbstruck when Legolas turned away from him. 'By the Valar what have we gotten ourselves into this time?' Whatever it was he was still adamant about the both of them getting back to Imladris alive. First, they needed to get out of here and he meant to do that. He remembered telling Legolas earlier that what ever they ran into to block their passage they would just have to deal with it when it came and deal with it he will.
****
Legolas had never been so honestly afraid in his entire life. Being driven insane, slowly dying, or both, he didn't know which, and trapped by something one couldn't even see was bad enough and to turn against a friend was even worse. The worst thing about it all, though, was that all of it was sucking away who he really was and his actions were against everything he had ever been taught. He was starting to not even to act like an elf anymore and it frightened him to no end. He was heartsick, tired, frightened, and the empty feeling he felt earlier returned. For the first time in a very, very long time he wanted his mother or his father there to tell him it would be all right. What would Aragorn or his friends think if they knew he wanted his parents?
His mother's very presence had always been so comforting and peaceful. A knot formed in his stomach at the realization that she was gone. His father on the other hand was stern and sometimes to hot headed, yes, but that strictness was needed. The Sindarin elf forged a kingdom in an uninhabited forest and before the shadow in the south came, Mirkwood had been known as Greenwood the Great. Now even though their kingdom was confined to the north they still manage to hold the darkness at bay and prosper. One of the only beings besides Master Elrond and Glorfindel that still called and that he allowed to call him elfling. 'The same one who was going to ring your neck if you returned home or to Rivendell hurt again,' he thought with a smile. The thought of being locked in his room or worse the dungeons for the next century didn't appeal to him. Well at least if he could think lightly about being locked in the dungeons there was still a little of what Aragorn would call his annoying elfish humor left. At least he could be insane and still be amused anyway. That thought prompted a silent chuckle from the elf.
****
Aragorn saw the elf's shoulders shake slightly and grew concerned. He wasn't sure if Legolas was crying or laughing and thought neither one could be a good sign. He came up behind his friend and laid a hand on the lithe shoulder. He was boggled when Legolas turned around to face him and he had amusement shining in his eyes.
"You are giving me that 'have you gone mad' Elrond look again, mellonamin," Legolas laughed out loud before Aragorn could say anything.
Aragorn saw that Legolas' eyes were clear and shone brightly in the dark. He had no idea of what had just changed his friend's mood so suddenly, nor did he care.
"At least I haven't developed the 'stop arguing it's no use' or the 'if you don't stop coming back here like this I am going to lock you in your room' looks."
"I am sure it is only a matter of time Estel before you will have them mastered," the elf laughed again.
"You know, my friend, you do not have to worry about going insane because I am convinced elves have no wits to begin with."
"Elves have no wits, huh? Humans are better? How do explain theirs and your annoying to always manage to..."
Legolas trailed off as something caught his attention. A troll, orcs, and wargs had already attacked them. What could there possibly be left to fight? He held up his hand to stay off Aragorn's question and listened. He heard the orcs clearly this time and he faintly heard the sounds of the wargs. If the orcs were moving fast enough to keep up wit the wargs there was only one explanation. Legolas sighed and look at his companion with exhausted eyes.
"Warg riders are approaching,' he said simply.
"How far?"
"Does it matter? We will not out run them."
Aragorn wanted yell that of course it did, but bit back the response. They couldn't afford for Legolas to quit and give up hope now. There was another option although he hated suggesting it. But right now they were both exhausting and reaching the limit of what they could fight or deal with.
"No, but perhaps we can hide from them in hopes that they will pass us by."
"Somehow I seriously doubt it my friend. I can tell we are being watched. We have been since the first step we took into this hopeless place."
'Now what in Middle Earth is going on?' Aragorn thought impatiently. The elf's eyes had taken on a slightly glassy and far away look. Legolas' speech was dull and matter of fact.
"Legolas! Snap out of it!" Aragorn roughly shook the elf's shoulders.
Legolas' reaction was far different than what Aragorn had been hoping for.
"I think I need to sit down."
Legolas numbly dropped the bow he was holding and sunk slowly to the ground on legs that no longer had the strength to stand. Aragorn sank down next to the elf and tried shaking him again. He seemed to be in a daze. Aragorn could hear the riders coming now and he looked up in the direction he heard them. He still could not see them. No matter, though, they would obviously be here soon. He looked up to the trees thinking. No, there would be no time to get the stunned elf up the in time and he definitely wouldn't get very far running with Legolas no matter how light elves were. He looked back down at his friend who honestly looked like he would fall over any time and Aragorn understood. Whatever was trying to slow Legolas down before was doing it again now and it was definitely working. What to do? The only thing he knew was that he had to keep them away from his unaware friend. He thought about taking the elf's bow, but decided against it. He would have to be right on top of something to be able to see it well enough to shoot it and by then the bow wouldn't be of much use anyway. He would have to make do as is. He reached down and pulled the cowl of the elf's cloak up to cover his rather bright hair. Hopefully it would keep him from being seen as easily in the dark.
Aragorn drew his sword, dropped his pack to the ground, and ran in the direction of the, by now, loud noises of wargs and hopefully far enough away from Legolas. He stopped and hid behind one of the trees large enough to shield his whole body, drew the hunting knife he had in his boot, and waited. He took a deep breath to try and calm his pounding heart. He would only get one chance at this so he better not miss. The element of surprise would only work on one, two if he was lucky, and he had no idea how he was going to fight the others, however many that may be. Right now it was easier not to think of how many that would turn out to be. With his luck all of Mordor was probably marching through this forest. Orc were never pleasant to fight and wargs were even worse, but warg riders were the worst. The riders carried weapons, which only added to the large, heavy, bodies of the wargs. Not to mention that they had their own sharp teeth and claws. He heard the riders break threw the brush right before him and took a deep breath. 'So much for getting back to Rivendell unscathed this time,' he thought dryly.
****
Legolas was looking at everything as if in a dream. He was aware he was sitting on the ground and that his close friend was running off to face warg riders alone just to protect him. He knew he needed to get up. His mind was screaming for him to do so! But every part of him felt so weak right now. He barely had the strength to sit up let alone fight. Estel is going to go get mauled and killed for you' his mind taunted. 'No,' he screamed back. He might resign to the fate that he was undoubtedly doomed, but he would not allow the ranger to suffer the same thing. It is already too late.
"No!" he yelled out loud.
Anger drove Legolas to his feet. Blinding anger like he had felt earlier, but this time it was toward the wargs and the orcs who rode them. He had the overwhelming need to kill them all. Before Legolas even realized it he was running toward the sounds of surprised orcs with his bow in hand.
****
As the warg riders reached his hiding spot Aragorn allowed half of them to run by then he jumped out of behind his tree. Instead of attacking the obviously surprised rider Aragorn hunched low and hacked at the running wargs feet. The warg howled in pain, tripped, and went tumbling taking its cursing rider with it. Aragorn then threw the knife at the next rider hitting the orc in the chest. The riders that had already past had no idea what was happening behind them and wheeled the wargs around to go back while the riders in the back split in half and ran in separate directions to keep out of whatever commotion was taking place in front of them. Aragorn looked around briefly and grimly noticed there was at least a dozen warg riders. His surprise attack from the middle had work and momentarily split the group up. They would not take long to regroup and realize what had happened. Aragorn didn't fool himself. He knew fully well that this was a fight he could never win. None the less it was a fight he could hardly retreat from now if he wanted to.
Aragorn ran for the stupefied pair that had went sprawling. When the warg went tumbling the unfortunate orc on its back was crushed by the weight when the warg rolled over it and did not rise. Aragorn reached the warg as it was staggering up to its feet and plunged his sword in the creature's thick neck. The warg let out a gurgled yelp and collapsed back to the ground. Aragorn pulled his sword out in time to deflect a hit as another rider rode past. Luckily the warg did not bite at him, but the force of the impact made him stumble backward and his arm stung and went numb up to the shoulder. The ranger's sword went flying as he slid in the dying wargs pooling blood and fell on his backside. The warg he had killed the rider off of with the knife snarled and ran toward him. Aragorn glanced to the side and his heart missed a beat. He was never going to be able to get to his sword before the warg ripped him to pieces.
*****
"Where by Morgoth do yous think your goin'! Get back here!" yelled Grimnosh as he tried to rally his split orcs.
Grimnosh had been at the front when they were attacked. He knew what the human was trying to do by attacking in the middle and he rode back to get everyone back together. The riders in the back grouped around their leader. The ones in the middle were fighting now paying no attention to his calls and the one that had been up front followed him back to the others.
"Yous over there," he said pointing to four riders in the back, "makes a circle around this area and make sure they don't escape."
Grimnosh growled as he heard those four dolts in the middle fighting. Blast them! May they all be killed before he got there! He looked around at the remaining three orcs and one human rider.
"Everyone else come. And remember what I said or I'll have all of your heads!"
As the four orc riders rode off Jeridan lingered behind.
"You could have warned us witch!"
He heard cruel laughter in his ear and a shudder ran down his spin. A breathy voice answered his question out of nowhere.
"Yes, but where would be the fun in that."
He looked around and found no sign of Nadina. 'Urgh, if only she had a neck to throttle.'
*****
Aragorn desperately rolled toward his sword knowing he wasn't going to make it. He was surprised when he reached it and wrapped his hand around its hilt. He looked up to see the warg falling and about to crush him, so he furiously continued his rolling. He cleared the warg just in time and it landed on the ground beside him. One glance at the thing told him what had happened. Aragorn stood up with a smile on his face when he saw that an elven arrow was protruding where the warg's eye used to be. Aragorn switched his sword to the other hand since the arm he had parried the orcs weapon with was still numb. He saw a dark rider coming toward him and turned to meet its charge. He raised his sword ready for the attack, but when the rider got close he stopped just shy of the ranger and Aragorn hesitated. The rider took him totally by surprise and he couldn't strike at him.
"No, it can not be," he breathed.
In the brief pause Aragorn stopped another rider came upon him. He looked up in time to see the largest orc he had ever seen, but had no time even to raise his sword. The orc roughly grabbed the ranger by his cloak and lifted his considerable weight into the air.
Aragorn's air was cut off abruptly as his cloak tightened about his neck and he felt his feet leave the ground. He was hauled into the air and carried alone beside of the running warg. Aragorn saw what was coming and sword forgotten about he tried to grab for the orc that had a hold of him.
"Oh, no..." he rasped out.
It was no use, though, the orc had an iron grip on him and he was dangling too far away from it. Carried by the considerable momentum of the warg, the ranger was released by the orc in mid air right into the path of a tree. The next thing he knew everything went black and stars exploded in his vision. 'Strange, I don't feel...' Aragorn never had a chance to finish his thought before his consciousness slipped away.
*****
After Legolas shot the warg an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction washed over him. He admitted he enjoyed killing it and why not? It was a miserable creature anyway as was the orcs that rode them. After shooting the warg Legolas then turned to the rider that had knocked Aragorn to the ground and fired on it. He hit the orc in the shoulder and it flew of the warg to go skidding into the brush. The warg never seemed to notice that it no longer had a rider and continued its charge. Legolas waited until the warg was practically right on top of him and then rolled out of the way. He rose and notched an arrow before the warg finished turning around and fired as the warg turned to face him fully. The arrow caught the warg in the snout and it howled in pain. Legolas with lightening speed fired another arrow into the wargs open mouth dropping it to the ground. He then glanced around to see how Aragorn was fairing and turned just in time to see the ranger smack into the tree. He heard the collision from here and winced involuntarily at the sound. Aragorn slid limply to the ground and Legolas looked at the warg rider with fury in his eyes. From the sound of it that collision could have been hard enough to kill the ranger. Legolas' eyes narrowed as he drew another arrow and brought it up toward the orc. Before he was able to release it he heard a throaty female voice in his ear.
"Ah, ah, ah, I wouldn't do that my pretty."
Legolas was so startled he almost dropped his bow. He briefly wondered if he was hearing voices now before a white mist filled his vision. It was followed by a huge blast on numbing coldness that ripped through his body. It was so cold it caused intense pain everywhere and his lungs were so frozen that he couldn't even scream. All he managed was a half way choked sob before his consciousness swirled away with last of his breath. How had it come to this? A last thought crossed his mind before he blacked out. 'At least Aragorn will not have to make the trip to the Hall of Mandos alone...'
********
TBC...
********
Well there is chapter 12. Hope everybody enjoyed it! I have a feeling this story is going to get a bit dark. I hope that doesn't drive anyone away from it. I will remember to keep the humor in though to counteract it.
Author's note: In case you're wondering Mandos is a Vala also known as Namo, the judge. The Halls of Mandos or Houses of the Dead are where the spirits of the elves, after being killed, go to on Aman to await the end of days.
******
Karri - Thanks for the opinion! And for the complements! Glorfindel may just have a chance to show off a little. I know I probably had everyone scratching their heads and thinking - now wasn't there a place named Rivendell in this story somewhere? Sorry, I got kind of caught up in writing about Legolas and Aragorn. But I'm sure no one minded that part. ;)
Sprout - Thank you too for giving me your opinion. Elladan and Elrohir are fun aren't they? They are fun to write about and provide a little humor to the story. Which I think it needs from time to time. I don't know what others think, but I believe the story is getting a little dark, don't you? But then again LOTR is altogether dark as well. But everything turned out alright in the end, as it should be. ;)
Tithen Min - Well you can be demented with the rest of us. That's probably why you seem cute. I'm definitely odd as well. It's fun though isn't it!? I'm sorry I didn't have time to review the last couple of chapters of your story. And I noticed I was so tired I left the d out of Thranduil, duh. I hope you didn't take my opinion as bad criticism. It was meant to be constructive criticism. ;) Remember you can't please everyone all of the time. And here's a little inspirational one for you - The harder you fall, the higher you bounce. - UNKNOWN :)
goblz - You lost it!!! *Gasps and falls out of chair* That's o.k.;) I'm glad you like Elladan and Elrohir also. I hope I answered your question in the email. At least, I hope you got the email. Thanks for coming back to the story! And I hope you keep reviewing (hint, hint).
Kayleigh-talitha - I am very glad you found the story too!! And - thank you, thank you, thank you for adding me to you favorite author's list. Are you kidding its never too late! I hope you enjoyed the rest of the chapters as much as the first eight. Come back anytime! And please keep reviewing! ;)
Maree - Thank for joining the story and reviewing!! I love reviews and I hope you keep writing them. They make chapters get posted faster! ;) And I'm grateful that you pick me to read when you get on the computer! Thank you!
Me - A huge thanks and a bid huge for adding me to your favorites lists!! It makes my day when people do! Thank you! And never feel intimidated to review. I love them and, despite what I do to the characters in the story, I'm really quite nice in my responses.
Stephanie-Lou - Thanks for responding! I think I got the point and I love them too. Although with what I do to them it may not seem like it. ;) You are welcome to keep reviewing, I always appreciated finding out what people think.
Kirsten - Thanks for your opinion!! I will definitely keep all of the responses in mind. And as I said I love to hear what people think, so please keep reviewing!! ;)