Chapter Four
Legolas opened his eyes and saw two figures swirling before his eyes. Which one was his friend? He wished they would stop moving about so that he could try and tell them apart. He squeezed his eyes shut several times to try forcing the images into one Estel. Estel helped Legolas to sit up, trying not to cause the elf more pain.
"I need your help, mellon nin. You must try to stand. I cannot see any other way." Estel was near panic, yet he tried to make his voice sound comforting and confident.
"Leave me, Estel, I cannot do this." he gasped as his head fell forward onto the ranger's shoulder. His breathing was shallow and fast and Estel could feel his body shaking and trembling.
"Aye, you can, and you must. You are strong. Help me now."
The elf did not move, though Estel knew that his friend was still awake.
"Do not tell me you are too tired? Are you going to let a few overgrown mutts defeat you?" Estel knew he was goading his friend, using unfair tactics, but he was desperate. With his last remaining strength, Legolas picked up his head, glared at his friend, and then struggled to rise. Estel's hands immediately went under his friend's arms, and he pulled him to his feet.
"I do not think that was a very good idea, human," Legolas whispered. His head swam and black spots danced before his eyes, and he swayed on his feet. Estel was off-balanced by his twisted ankle, and both almost fell over as Legolas weight shifted and he leaned heavily against the ranger. Estel stuck out one arm, grabbing at a tree for added support, as his other arm circled around the slim waist of his friend.
"Take a step with me.that's right, good.shift your weight, do not put too much weight on your foot, that's good.another step." Estel repeated over and over as they made their way back down the path. Legolas was barely aware that they were moving, his focus was on trying to stay conscious.
His own energy was failing fast, but from somewhere inside, Estel drew more. Legolas needed him. The elf had lost too much blood, and was going into shock. It was hours back to Rivendell at the rate in which they were traveling, and he was unsure if they would even make it. Yet he had to try, for he knew that Legolas would do the same for him.
The elf's head bobbed against his chest, his body riding to the edge of consciousness before sailing back. He made small noises of pain each time his left leg touched the ground, and Estel kept trying to bear more and more of his weight.
The rain had begun to fall heavier once again, and as it cleaned their faces and clothes of mud and blood, Estel could see even more small scratches appear on his friend. He had one long gash that went from his left eye across his cheek to his jaw. His hands were covered in small scratches and bites, and he could see blood in many places on his clothing where tears indicated even more scratches.
His own face and body burned with the scrapes he had received from his slide down the bank, and his shoulder throbbed mercilessly. But still he kept going, he knew his friends very survival may depend on his strength alone.
They had traveled a league, maybe more, when Estel stumbled over a root that was hidden among leaves in the path. He lost his balance, his weight shifted, and both the ranger and the elf fell hard to the ground. Momentarily dazed, Estel shook his head and detangled his arm from Legolas' waist.
Turning to his friend, he rolled him over onto his back to find that Legolas had lost consciousness, whether from the fall or whether he was already out before that, Estel did not know. Right now, he was too tired and his body hurt too much to continue on the same way. Estel sat up and bent his knees to rest his arms on them. His head hung down, and he ran his hands through his hair in a gesture of frustration. A piercing howl rent the air, and he jerked his head up. Frantic, he leapt to his feet, grabbed Legolas under the arms, and began dragging him down the path.
More howls came, and he sped up, glancing over his shoulder every few seconds as he backed down the path. Several times he lost his footing and landed on his backside, yet he would rise again and continue on. His shoulder was on fire and his fingers were numb. He had lost almost all the feeling in them, yet sheer will kept them wrapped beneath Legolas' arm. In his state of panic and alarm, it sounded as though the wolves were very close by, though in actuality, they were quite far away.
Another agonizing league went by, and the howls of the wolves seemed to drift further away. Estel finally dropped to the ground, shaking with fatigue and relief. Both he and Legolas were so wet and mud covered that the color or their hair and clothing was no longer discernable. Sighing in frustration, Estel pulled Legolas into his arms and scooted them both to the side of the path so that he could rest against a tree.
"Mellon, I am sorry, I do not think I can go on," Estel murmured to the unconscious figure in his arms, his hands reaching up to brush mud from a too pale face. A small tear leaked from his eye and slowly dripped down his cheek, leaving a clear path through the muddy dirt on his face.
He looked up at grey clouds; rain dripping down through the verdant green leaves above him, and a shiver went up his spine. He hugged his friend's body close, his arms wrapped tightly around him, and he began to rock and hum quietly. He lost all track of time as he sat, dazed, trying to figure out what he was going to do.
They had been out now for at least five hours, and Estel fervently hoped that his father would begin to worry enough to send his brothers to look for them. On any other occasion such action by the elf lord would infuriate him, but he found himself praying that his father had taken this action anyway.
A noise down the path brought him to his senses, and he tensed and looked up the trail. Something or someone was coming. Estel slid out from behind Legolas and pulled himself up using branches of the tree. He swayed slightly, suddenly lightheaded, and stood over his friend, ready to defend him if necessary. Feet planted apart, shoulders squared; he listened intently, closing his eyes to focus. He slowly and silently drew his sword.
Estel smiled and opened his eyes when he realized he had heard the sound of one or more elves heading down the path. He hobbled forward several steps to meet them, and was relieved when he saw the faces of his brothers. They spotted him at the same instant and they hurried along when they realized the condition their little brother was in.
Legolas was not yet in sight, and the twins both wondered what had happened to him. When Estel met them on the path, he said nothing. He simply grabbed Elladan's sleeve and pulled him toward Legolas.
"Estel, what has happened?" Elladan noticed the limp, and under the mud that covered his brother, he could see where blood had stained his clothing. Elrohir followed and within a few seconds they had reached the prince.
Estel did not answer, he simply dropped to the ground by Legolas' side, pulling his brother down with him.
"Wolves, brother. He killed many, but their numbers were too great for him to take on alone." he breathed in deeply, then whispered, "I could not help him."
"We must get you both home to father, Estel," the older twin replied, taking in the prince's condition, though now Estel seemed to not be listening. Elladan watched as his youngest brother reached out to brush a strand of muddy blond hair from Legolas' face, and then lean over to rest his head on the prince's chest.
Though they carried some medical supplies with them, neither he nor his brother had the healing skills necessary to treat Legolas. He needed the care of their father.
"Estel." Elrohir shook his brother slightly to try and get his attention, "can you stand, can you walk? Here, little brother, I will help you." Elrohir gently helped Estel to his feet as Elladan picked up the unconscious Legolas. Estel broke his brothers grasp and reached for his friend, but Elrohir firmly took both of his younger brothers hands in his own and when he had his attention said, "Let Elladan help him, you have gotten him this far, you are injured also, we will help you both." His soothing words washed over the young ranger and Estel allowed his brother to help him home.
Estel kept glancing over his shoulder to look back at Elladan as he carried Legolas. He could see the worry in his brother's eyes. As they walked along, Estel told his brothers what had happened, or at least as much as he knew. Legolas would have to fill in the missing pieces when he woke up.
Legolas opened his eyes and saw two figures swirling before his eyes. Which one was his friend? He wished they would stop moving about so that he could try and tell them apart. He squeezed his eyes shut several times to try forcing the images into one Estel. Estel helped Legolas to sit up, trying not to cause the elf more pain.
"I need your help, mellon nin. You must try to stand. I cannot see any other way." Estel was near panic, yet he tried to make his voice sound comforting and confident.
"Leave me, Estel, I cannot do this." he gasped as his head fell forward onto the ranger's shoulder. His breathing was shallow and fast and Estel could feel his body shaking and trembling.
"Aye, you can, and you must. You are strong. Help me now."
The elf did not move, though Estel knew that his friend was still awake.
"Do not tell me you are too tired? Are you going to let a few overgrown mutts defeat you?" Estel knew he was goading his friend, using unfair tactics, but he was desperate. With his last remaining strength, Legolas picked up his head, glared at his friend, and then struggled to rise. Estel's hands immediately went under his friend's arms, and he pulled him to his feet.
"I do not think that was a very good idea, human," Legolas whispered. His head swam and black spots danced before his eyes, and he swayed on his feet. Estel was off-balanced by his twisted ankle, and both almost fell over as Legolas weight shifted and he leaned heavily against the ranger. Estel stuck out one arm, grabbing at a tree for added support, as his other arm circled around the slim waist of his friend.
"Take a step with me.that's right, good.shift your weight, do not put too much weight on your foot, that's good.another step." Estel repeated over and over as they made their way back down the path. Legolas was barely aware that they were moving, his focus was on trying to stay conscious.
His own energy was failing fast, but from somewhere inside, Estel drew more. Legolas needed him. The elf had lost too much blood, and was going into shock. It was hours back to Rivendell at the rate in which they were traveling, and he was unsure if they would even make it. Yet he had to try, for he knew that Legolas would do the same for him.
The elf's head bobbed against his chest, his body riding to the edge of consciousness before sailing back. He made small noises of pain each time his left leg touched the ground, and Estel kept trying to bear more and more of his weight.
The rain had begun to fall heavier once again, and as it cleaned their faces and clothes of mud and blood, Estel could see even more small scratches appear on his friend. He had one long gash that went from his left eye across his cheek to his jaw. His hands were covered in small scratches and bites, and he could see blood in many places on his clothing where tears indicated even more scratches.
His own face and body burned with the scrapes he had received from his slide down the bank, and his shoulder throbbed mercilessly. But still he kept going, he knew his friends very survival may depend on his strength alone.
They had traveled a league, maybe more, when Estel stumbled over a root that was hidden among leaves in the path. He lost his balance, his weight shifted, and both the ranger and the elf fell hard to the ground. Momentarily dazed, Estel shook his head and detangled his arm from Legolas' waist.
Turning to his friend, he rolled him over onto his back to find that Legolas had lost consciousness, whether from the fall or whether he was already out before that, Estel did not know. Right now, he was too tired and his body hurt too much to continue on the same way. Estel sat up and bent his knees to rest his arms on them. His head hung down, and he ran his hands through his hair in a gesture of frustration. A piercing howl rent the air, and he jerked his head up. Frantic, he leapt to his feet, grabbed Legolas under the arms, and began dragging him down the path.
More howls came, and he sped up, glancing over his shoulder every few seconds as he backed down the path. Several times he lost his footing and landed on his backside, yet he would rise again and continue on. His shoulder was on fire and his fingers were numb. He had lost almost all the feeling in them, yet sheer will kept them wrapped beneath Legolas' arm. In his state of panic and alarm, it sounded as though the wolves were very close by, though in actuality, they were quite far away.
Another agonizing league went by, and the howls of the wolves seemed to drift further away. Estel finally dropped to the ground, shaking with fatigue and relief. Both he and Legolas were so wet and mud covered that the color or their hair and clothing was no longer discernable. Sighing in frustration, Estel pulled Legolas into his arms and scooted them both to the side of the path so that he could rest against a tree.
"Mellon, I am sorry, I do not think I can go on," Estel murmured to the unconscious figure in his arms, his hands reaching up to brush mud from a too pale face. A small tear leaked from his eye and slowly dripped down his cheek, leaving a clear path through the muddy dirt on his face.
He looked up at grey clouds; rain dripping down through the verdant green leaves above him, and a shiver went up his spine. He hugged his friend's body close, his arms wrapped tightly around him, and he began to rock and hum quietly. He lost all track of time as he sat, dazed, trying to figure out what he was going to do.
They had been out now for at least five hours, and Estel fervently hoped that his father would begin to worry enough to send his brothers to look for them. On any other occasion such action by the elf lord would infuriate him, but he found himself praying that his father had taken this action anyway.
A noise down the path brought him to his senses, and he tensed and looked up the trail. Something or someone was coming. Estel slid out from behind Legolas and pulled himself up using branches of the tree. He swayed slightly, suddenly lightheaded, and stood over his friend, ready to defend him if necessary. Feet planted apart, shoulders squared; he listened intently, closing his eyes to focus. He slowly and silently drew his sword.
Estel smiled and opened his eyes when he realized he had heard the sound of one or more elves heading down the path. He hobbled forward several steps to meet them, and was relieved when he saw the faces of his brothers. They spotted him at the same instant and they hurried along when they realized the condition their little brother was in.
Legolas was not yet in sight, and the twins both wondered what had happened to him. When Estel met them on the path, he said nothing. He simply grabbed Elladan's sleeve and pulled him toward Legolas.
"Estel, what has happened?" Elladan noticed the limp, and under the mud that covered his brother, he could see where blood had stained his clothing. Elrohir followed and within a few seconds they had reached the prince.
Estel did not answer, he simply dropped to the ground by Legolas' side, pulling his brother down with him.
"Wolves, brother. He killed many, but their numbers were too great for him to take on alone." he breathed in deeply, then whispered, "I could not help him."
"We must get you both home to father, Estel," the older twin replied, taking in the prince's condition, though now Estel seemed to not be listening. Elladan watched as his youngest brother reached out to brush a strand of muddy blond hair from Legolas' face, and then lean over to rest his head on the prince's chest.
Though they carried some medical supplies with them, neither he nor his brother had the healing skills necessary to treat Legolas. He needed the care of their father.
"Estel." Elrohir shook his brother slightly to try and get his attention, "can you stand, can you walk? Here, little brother, I will help you." Elrohir gently helped Estel to his feet as Elladan picked up the unconscious Legolas. Estel broke his brothers grasp and reached for his friend, but Elrohir firmly took both of his younger brothers hands in his own and when he had his attention said, "Let Elladan help him, you have gotten him this far, you are injured also, we will help you both." His soothing words washed over the young ranger and Estel allowed his brother to help him home.
Estel kept glancing over his shoulder to look back at Elladan as he carried Legolas. He could see the worry in his brother's eyes. As they walked along, Estel told his brothers what had happened, or at least as much as he knew. Legolas would have to fill in the missing pieces when he woke up.