Ships in the Sky Chapter Two- Attacked

They burst through into a small clearing, there were five orcs clustered around something on the ground which was struggling to escape. Surprisingly the orcs were not using any weapons, kicking and punching at the figure.

Gimili hit the nearest one with this axe, neatly removing its head – he was never one to miss a fight. Aragorn followed stabbing another through the throat. This caught the attention of those remaining. Realising that they were unarmed and under attack they rushed to where they had discarded their weapons. They did not get far, one went down to Gimili's axe, another to Aragorn's sword and a third to an elven dagger in its skull.

'That makes forty four.'

Aragorn and Gimili turned towards the voice and nearly recoiled in horror at the sight that greeted them. Legolas his clothing torn and hanging from his lithe frame, his face and body streaked with blood and sweat, bruises already developing, his eyes nearly swollen shut with the bruises around them, his ashen hair cruelly hacked away , his left armed pinned to a tree by an orcs arrow just above the elbow. But still standing, still defiant.

He tried to smile, wincing at the pain.

'I was just getting the upper hand there until you two came along.'

He began to fall, Aragorn rushed forward and caught him before he could.

'Easy friend, not in front of the dwarf.'

Gimili was at his other side, he nodded to Aragorn, grasped the arrow and withdraw it in one movement. Legolas gasped his protest as his legs buckled and he was gentle sat down by his friends.

He glared at Gimili.

'You could have warned me.'

'What and give you a chance to think about it. It's out now.'

'And we need to get you to the houses of healing, some of those orc's arrow are poison. Can you walk?' asked Aragorn.

'I can.' struggling he tried to get to his feet.

'Let me at least bind that arm up to stop it bleeding.' Aragorn torn of a piece of cloth and swiftly bound it around the Elf's arm. They then helped him to his feet where he stood swaying.

'My bow, I must have my bow, the Lady Galadriel gave it me. I will not leave it in this foul place.'

They cast around the clearing and soon found the bow cast to one side undamaged. They also found the quiver and swords which they restored to him. These Legolas took holding them close, a barrier against his pain. Gimili had offered to carry them but was angrily rebutted. He made to protest but Aragorn shook his head, he understood now. They and pride was all that were keeping Legolas upright.

They set off out of the trees, slowly with many pauses as Legolas draw on hidden reserves to keep going. Each step seemed harder to take than the last.

They were perhaps half way back to Minas Tirith when he suddenly stopped.

'Aragorn,' he fell before they could catch him.

Aragorn gently rolled him over, he was still clutching his weapons.

'I can't see, I'm blind.'

'No, it's just the bruises, your eyes are fine, the bruises have swollen up. It will heal.'

There was no reply

'Gimili, quick, I've got to get him to Minas Tirith and get the swelling down before he sinks too deep.'

'What? I don't understand- he's not that badly hurt, just a bit beat up.'

'But he can't see. A blind Elf, there's no such thing, if they can't see the starlight they just stop living. He'll just stop wanting to live.'

'Oh, right. Well you'd best carry him. I'll run ahead and warn them. Gandalf will be able to help I'm sure.'

The diminutive dwarf set off with surprising speed towards the distant white towers.

'They really can sprint,' Aragorn said to himself. Then he shouted, 'Tell them to get athelas!' Gimli, now on the crest of the hill, waved his axe in acknowledgement. Aragorn gently lifted his Elvish friend and set off after the dwarf.

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