A/N) Right, this chapter deals with some 'elf' magic and I hope it seems all right for you.
Dreamingfifi: Thank you for your kind reviews. To answer your questions: the horse of Aragorn has not disappeared. The horses are back down at their camp waiting for their master to return. Elrond took one of the horses, and the other three (the twins and Aragorn's) are still there. The spirit can only kill elves one at a time as he needs to concentrate a lot of energy to do this. So if he had gone to kill one of the other elves protecting Legolas, then the others would've been able to stop him. He is not yet strong enough to kill many elves at the same time. That's why, in chapter 2 that he had to chase the other elf as he had time to escape. I hope this answers your questions.
Leggylover03: Yes, in this chapter everyone is worried about Estel. Nobody, at the beginning can decipher what has been done to him. Naturally, Elrond is worried and, well, he fears that he cannot save his son. So there will be lots of Estel pain and Elrond angst, though I have tried to write a story without getting Estel hurt. I just can't seem to write one. Thanks for your review!
Stumpy: Glad that you like the chapters and I hope this one is just as good!
Well, enough of my rambles and onto the story.
Phantom of Mirkwood
Chapter Four: Into the Mind
Legolas turned his unconscious friend onto his back and studied the human's features. The man's face was calm, but it was also red and flaming hot when the elf touched the human's forehead. "He's burning up! We have to get him to the healers!"
Quickly Legolas lifted Aragorn into his arms and began to walk up the slope. He turned back and called: "Bring the bodies of the others."
Once reaching the entrance to the cave, Legolas walked out into the sunlight, the warmth hitting him. Suddenly there was a shout and the prince saw to his relief Elladan and Elrohir running down the path. Elladan's face was shocked with worry.
"Estel!" Elladan looked at his human brother, concern littering his face. "What happened? Tell me."
Quickly Legolas told the twins about the spirit and then following Aragorn to this cave, and seeing the small elf child fall into the open; hearing the scream and nearly being devoured by the spirit, only to be saved by Aragorn.
"We were looking for Estel," Elladan said, "after you went past us. We thought he might've gone to the top; you must've been inside the cave when Elrohir and I past. We weren't looking for tracks."
As fast as they could the elves made their way down the cliff till they came to the remaining horses. There were three left. One had been Lord Elrond's; the others belonged to the twins and Aragorn. Legolas quickly mounted Aragorn's horse, and sat the human in front of him.
The four remaining guards of Legolas's company climbed onto Elladan and Elrohir's horses carefully balancing themselves upon the beast of burden. The dead bodies of the elves were to be brought back later. Legolas sped off in front closely followed by the twins, heading towards his father's realm.
*****
Oronar floated through the sky, cursing. If it hadn't been for that blasted human then the prince would've been his. But the human would be out of action for a while. None of the elves would be able to free him from the enchantment that Oronar had used.
When the human had advanced on him, Oronar had grabbed the human's head transferring some of his own power into the human. The power would wreak havoc within the man's system, destroying every cell in his body, slowly, so that he suffered a most painful death.
And this should give Oronar time to attack the prince.
*****
Elrond held his hand over the human's head and muttered something in elvish. He sighed. The elvish spell was meant to wake him, but Aragorn hadn't responded. The human had not moved since Legolas had picked him up in the cave. And all the elves who knew of Aragorn feared for his life; for he was a dear friend of their prince and they didn't wish for Legolas to go and kill himself in a fight with the spirit.
"He is not responding to my calls." Elrond said, "Either he is in a deep sleep, or....I don't know what. Whatever that spirit did to Estel then it is immune to elvish spells and medicine. The only thing that I can suggest is wait by his bedside and hope for the best."
Legolas stood before his friend watching. Aragorn looked so peaceful, as if he was dead, but it was not so; for his chest fell under the sheets of the bed. The elf held his friends hand, praying silently asking for his friend to be spared.
*****
Everything was dark.
An air swirled round him, and Aragorn shivered. He stepped forward, drawing his sword. It did not feel right. Then out from the darkness came a light, heading towards him. He strained his eyes and to his horror found Orcs running towards, bearing their own weapons. Even in this dream-like-state, Aragorn felt that he was out in the wild, about to fight for his life.
The Orcs converged on him, yelling, stabbing their swords at him. He blocked, but as he let his guard down, Aragorn felt a sword bear into his chest. Agony spread through him and he fell to the ground. The Orcs circled him, lashing out at his body, making cuts and bruises all over him.
*****
Legolas could only watch as his friends body convulsed, violently. His hands were brought up, like in a defense position and he moved them as if he was defending himself from an unseen enemy. Legolas grasped at his friends hands and called urgently.
"Lord Elrond! Someone help him!"
Elrond gripped the human's hands, trying to steady him, but the human ripped his hands away from the elf and thrashed out. Then Aragorn stopped struggling and his mouth opened in a scream. Elrond tried desperately to figure out what was going on, but he could not.
"He's trapped in his mind." Elrond said, "I see the damage now. Part of him has been cursed by the spirit. He's fighting in his mind while something tears his cells away. It is destroying his body and he's suffering in his mind."
"Will he die?" Legolas asked.
"Yes, if he cannot fight it." Elrond replied. Inside his soul was clenched tightly and he feared for Estel. The human could not be lost!
"Can't we help him?" Legolas asked.
"There may be a way," Elrond pondered, "but it would require a lot of skill."
"We must try it." Legolas said.
"To save Estel, we must enter his mind, and try and save him from the peril he faces in his mind. Then we will be able to heal his body, but to enter a human's mind could destroy their memory permanently. But, you will not rest till we have tried this." Elrond said.
"How do we enter his mind?"
"A strong potion that when an ancient elvish poem is muttered over it will help the drinker connect to that persons mind." Elrond said.
"I'll do it." Legolas said, "I'll take the potion and enter his mind."
"It is a dangerous thing to do. You would see some memories, some good some bad and you have to prepare yourself for this if you are willing to do this." Elrond said.
"I am. When can we do this?"
"Two days. The potion takes awhile to brew. Let us hope that Aragorn holds on till then." Elrond said. "Stay by his side. If anything happens notify me, and I will come."
Legolas nodded and turned back to his friend. Elrond left the room.
*****
During the two days Legolas stayed by his friend keeping a watch. Aragorn had stopped thrashing and turning and had lain still; not moving except the rise and fall of his chest. Elladan and Elrohir also sat with him, but none of them spoke, fearing that they would miss any progress Aragorn made, and though they sat their, hoping, their hope began to fade; for Estel.
At last Elrond re-entered the room, bearing a smoking goblet of a purple liquid. "Are you still sure you wish to go through with this, Legolas?"
"Yes, I am." he replied, and he took the goblet.
"Take two sips, swallow, then take five and say: 'Estel'." Elrond said, "You should begin to feel dizzy and blackness will overcome you. You will become aware of a strange feeling; do not open your eyes; for you will break the connection. You will know when you have entered Aragorn's mind as your consciousness will return. Then you may open your eyes. Understand?"
"Yes Lord, I do." Legolas said. He gripped the cup in his hand and closing his eyes; he took two small sips, swallowed, and then took five, swallowed and said: "Estel". Dizziness gripped the edge of his consciousness and he felt himself falling through darkness. He was teetering on the edge of darkness, then he hit hard on the floor. He lay there unsure of where he was. Then he opened his eyes and he found himself in the memories of his friend.
Carefully standing, Legolas looked around; he could see many images of his friend, Aragorn, as a young child, running round Rivendell and causing trouble with the aid of Elladan and Elrohir; meeting Arwen; hunting with the twins and many others. Legolas walked forward. Suddenly he stumbled falling to the floor.
Looking round Legolas found the object which had caused him to stumble.
It was Aragorn.
His friend lay on his front; his clothes ripped and torn; blood pouring from cuts. Though this was just coming from the mind; Legolas felt that this was real life. He turned Aragorn onto his back and whispered into the man's ear. "Aragorn. Aragorn, wake up." Nothing and he tried again. "Estel, please wake. Estel, wake."
Estel slowly opened his eyes and he seemed fearful.
"Estel, come back. Don't let the shadow keep you here. Fight back."
"I can't." Estel murmured.
"Yes, you can." Legolas said, "Come on. Gather your strength. This is not life. You are trapped in your mind. Release yourself, please, come back to us."
Aragorn, with Legolas's help, stood to his feet; Legolas gave Aragorn his sword which he collected from a while off. Suddenly there was a pounding of feet; the Orcs were returning. Legolas pulled his knives from his belt and joined Aragorn in the defense. The Orcs converged on them.
They fought together, slowly driving the Orcs back. Each time an Orc attacked it always lunged at Aragorn, attempting to skewer him. None of them noticed the prince.
None of them can see me. I'm here as a fragment of Aragorn's imagination. They cannot see me; only Aragorn can. I am still in my own body, but I have taken shape in his mind. Legolas thought. With this advantage the prince had the element of surprise on all the Orcs that were surrounding them.
There were about fifty Orcs together, and by now they had circled Aragorn, but the human seemed to be keeping his own. Somehow the human knew that his friend was there; even though he wasn't really. The Orcs were picked of one by one, but then one shot an arrow at Aragorn that dug into his shoulder. He stumbled but kept on his feet. Another arrow hit him; this time in the thigh. Aragorn fell, and the Orcs dropped their weapons and began hitting the human.
This was exactly what had happened before. Aragorn, Legolas thought, failed here. That's why I found him where I did.
Legolas knew that since the Orcs could not see him; he had an advantage. Jumping into the fray of Orcs he fought. He lashed out at them, killing them all. The Orcs, now knew that some invisible force was at work and they tried to find and destroy the threat, but they could not. Orcs fell and vanished and soon only ten remained. Legolas threw one of his knives at an Orc and it hit in his head. The Orc fell and the elf retrieved his knife. He threw two at the same time; hitting two different Orcs. They too vanished.
One by one Legolas repeated this tactic until all the Orcs had been slaughtered. None had escaped; none now lived.
Legolas ran back to his friend and raised him.
"How can you be here?" the man asked.
Legolas did not bother to reply; instead he said: "Come, Estel, we must leave."
Even as he said this; an archway appeared. It sparkled bright in the darkness; this was the way out. Taking the human's hand, Legolas pulled Aragorn towards the arch way. They fell through it, and disappeared.
*****
Legolas woke into the bright morning light that shone through the windows in his father's palace. The twins and Elrond were silently waiting by and when they saw the prince awake; they all looked to Aragorn.
Then the human stirred and Elrond, before Aragorn could raise his head, said to him gently: "Rest, Estel. Heal and be better."
Legolas was helped to his feet by the twins.
"Thank you, Legolas, for saving Estel." Elladan said, "We didn't think he was going to make it. He was thrashing round, while you were out."
"In his mind, Aragorn thought he had been attacked, but he did not know he was trapped in his mind. He was near death. He lost the fight the first time; I found him bleeding to death. I brought him back and the Orcs came. We fought them off and well, we could escape. That's what happened." Legolas said, "How long will Aragorn be out?"
"A couple of hours at least." Elrond answered. "Right, now, Legolas, you should get some rest. We will watch over Estel for you and when he wakes will we alert you."
Legolas nodded and taking a bed in the next room, the elf prince slowly let himself sleep, and for the first time in days; he slept soundly too.
TBC....
I hope this chapter was okay. The next chapter should be up, hopefully, by Thursday or Friday, depending if I'm not busy.