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Disclaimer: No, I don't own LOTR and all its characters. I only own this plot and Mornar...
A/N: All the reviews were so nice and sweet... Thank you! To tell you the truth, I don't know where I'm going with this. Hopefully, I manage to finish and luckily, I have an idea in mind but I need to think about it.
Now, a special thanks to:
danceingfae: Thank you for the review! I appreciate it a lot. I expect to see Whirlwind updated soon... :) Hmm... Let's see if they find Legolas and Estel in time... Mwhahahahahahahahahahahaha--ahem...
Dragon: Wow. All those compliments really shocked me (in a good way, mind you)... Thank you! I hope you enjoy the rest of the chapters and manage to read this one. :)
Legolas Lu: It's so nice to see a new face--or should I say, a new penname reviewing my story! I'm glad you liked it... Yes, luckily, Glorfindel dropped by. It was kind of difficult writing the part with Elrond and the King... I'm used to writing Legolas and Estel bickering and fighting... :)
Heh... R&R!
-Chapter Six-
Pride and Wounds
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Glorfindel skid to a halt, staring into the dark depths of the wood. He heard Lord Elrond and King Thranduil's footfalls silence and their ragged breathing echoed into his ears.
"Glorfindel?" Lord Elrond inquired, his usual calming voice shaking. The Elf lord drew a deep breath and said quietly, "I know Estel is in the woods."
"I told him never to enter it," Elrond said disbelieving. "He would never--"
"I told him the legend," Glorfindel said furious with himself. "I thought he would have enough sense not to enter the forest!"
"What about my son?" the King said furiously. "I demand to know where my son is."
"He must be with Estel," Elrond said quickly. "We must enter and--"
"Unarmed?" inquired the King. "I think not!"
"Yes, indeed, King Thranduil is right," Glorfindel said nodding his head. Elrond's uneasy breathing subsided and he nodded soundlessly.
"Quickly!" the King said.
* * *
"Where are we going?" Legolas asked, turning his head wildly around, searching for a glint of red.
"I don't know," Estel said. "Oh, it is hopeless! We can never find our way out--we will die and never see our families and..." He trailed off and tears began to trickle down his cheeks.
The faint glow of the Silmaril did not reveal the glistening tears of dismay on Estel's cheeks but his sniffles were heard.
"It's not hopeless," Legolas murmured quietly. He turned around, searching wildly for a light, any light.
Estel wiped his tears away furiously as Legolas searched for an opening.
"There!" Legolas pointed at a distant, tiny speck of light. He began to walk quickly toward the light, as it grew larger with each step. Estel followed and they broke into a run, running to the light.
They nearly reached the light, their fingertips nearly touching it when it faded.
"Where is it?" Legolas said his eyes widening. Estel was too stunned to speak. His hopes were high when he spotted the light but now, they seemed to disappear.
"Perhaps we were seeing things," Estel finally suggested.
"No." The Elf looked around cautiously but there was no sound except for Estel's ragged breathing and the sound of a twig breaking.
"Did you do that?" Estel asked suddenly.
"Do what?" the Elf asked looking around.
"Step on that twig," Estel said. "Didn't you?"
"No, did you?" Legolas asked furrowing his brow. "I thought you--AH!" Estel jumped back alarmed at his cry and alarmed at the new shadow that joined them. He immediately recognized its red blood eyes, its tantalizing stare.
Legolas cried with pain as its claws began to sink into his arm, its eyes staring into his own. He felt darkness and cold wash over him and began to feel weak...
Estel stood helplessly, staring at Legolas's limp figure. He looked around wildly and grabbed a fallen branch. With a roar, he ran toward the creature and began to hit it with the branch and stabbing it.
Its screech pierced the air and his ears began throbbing painfully. "GO AWAY!" Estel gave the creature another stab with the branch and with a hiss, it slid away into the darkness, its red eyes disappearing.
"Legolas!" cried Estel, kneeling down next to the limp figure. The Silmaril lay on the ground, glowing brightly, illuminating the blood on Legolas's arm, and the deep marks of the creature's claws.
"Oh dear Eru," Estel whispered, dropping the branch at his side. "Speak to me! You fool, SPEAK TO ME!" He gave Legolas a push but his eyes were closed, his lips were pale.
Estel ripped his sleeve with difficulty and began to wrap it around Legolas's bleeding arm.
The Elf's blood splattered the ground and stained the cloth. Estel fumbled through the folds of his cloak, his hands wrapping around his water bottle.
He poured the water onto the wrapped wound and Legolas's pale lips. He twitched slightly but his eyes were still closed.
Estel stared at his feet. A few days ago, he found himself loathing Legolas deeply and now he found himself sitting in a dark forest worried about his enemy.
Now, Legolas is not a horrible person. In fact, I suppose you count him as your friend.
The little voice in his mind echoed in his ears once again.
No, he's nearly dying. I'm not his friend.
Yes, indeed, he's not. Estel heard the edge of sarcasm and stared down at Legolas who was still lying on the ground, eyes closed.
"Wake up, Elf," he whispered no emotion in his voice. He poked Legolas. "Wake up. You can't die. If you do, I will be the new champion of archery and you will become a dead Elf..." He poked Legolas harder until he found himself jabbing Legolas's side violently.
"Aye!"
Legolas's voice filled the air and Estel eagerly watched his eyes open. "Finally!" he said. "I was beginning to think you were dead." This time, his voice was filled with joy and the same smirk was on his face.
"You cannot kill me that easily," Legolas said smirking in return. He winced as he moved his injured arm.
"I see you wrapped it and treated it as best as you could," the Elf noted lightly. "Does this mean we're friends?"
"Of course not!" Estel said. "But would you think I would let another being die?"
"Well, you will if we don't find a way out of these woods," Legolas said urgently. "We have no time for jesting." He suddenly sounded older and more dignified as he said these words.
Estel nodded wordlessly and looked around. "We must watch our step," he added. "That creature seems content with killing us."
* * *
A loud cry of pain, distant, was heard. Elrond and the King walked quickly underneath the treetops at the cry, worry etched in their faces.
Glorfindel followed quickly, guilt filling his heart. He began to regret the day he told young Estel the legend.
A/N: Bad, yes? No? Tell me in your review! Some parts might be a little OC but I tried as hard as I could...
R&R and tell me all the mistakes I made and maybe even a compliment or two? ;) Hehe.
