Hey all! Thanks AGAIN for all the fabulous reviews! And now: Responses!
Kawaii Elf Girl: *blink* ooooh my goodness. Heh, let's not be killing off Thranduil, eh? Sound good? *grin* ;)
ImaginaryWhisper: LOL! Well, don't feel bad. You're supposed to think he's dead, after all. *grin* I guess it worked, huh? YAY! Well, that's- special. :P
Erestor: Hm, great point about the random questions! I love reading them, so keep them going, if possible. :D It's great to see what my readers are thinking as far as the "later on" material goes. The Random Questions thing does that quite adequately! Just so long as you know, most of the time I won't answer them. ;) And you're not the ONLY one who likes Thranduil. For the record- I DO TOO! I think most people think I don't, though I don't think you're among them, Erestor ;) But anyway, I make Legolas half-insane and you all KNOW I like him. ;)
Julia: Well, as I was just telling Erestor, Julia, I LIKE Thranduil. I know it looks otherwise at this juncture, and it probably looks like I'm making him a loon and an idiot either out of spite or poor observation of my plot. Well, I'm sure it looks that way, even to me sometimes, but I can assure you there is REASON behind this, eventually ;) And as far as ruling Mirkwood goes, he hasn't ALWAYS been like this, clearly, it's only just come up. So it's safe to say that Mirkwood wouldn't go to pot stock and ruin for the three days Thranduil isn't entirely sane. Anyway, hope that answers your wonderings, and if it doesn't, the fic will eventually.
Laswen: Yeah, Harain was the Traitor, for turning against his king.
Bill the Pony: Eh…*nudges 'dead' Bill* hm. That's too bad. ;)
Lady of the Forest: *hides behind Grimi to escape Jenny and her 'random elves'* Now, now, Jenny, be reasonable! I WARNED you about the angst! I rated it PG-13, didn't I? :D LOL!
Chrisalin: Ah, another "Thranduil ees stupid" person, huh? ;) Yeah, well, I must say, it's hard to see ANY sane sort of motive behind him…yet. :D AS BAD AS CASSIA AND SIO? I ask you! ;) Yeah, well, I'll admit I'm bad, as far as angst goes. But I'd like to submit- NO ONE is a s BAD as CASSIA and SIO! *still getting over that post on Traitor just recently* ;) I'm so glad you're enjoying it, Chrisalin!
Maranwe: Hm, great idea! Is it close? Eeeh, well this chapter will begin to tell. *grin* LOL! Well, I can tell you that Sarah and Hannah are CLOSER to ending Darkest Night, and they've been up late nights plotting it together, but I'm not sure as to a time at which they can actually start posting. HOPEFULLY it won't take the CENTURIES it took me. :P LOL! I promise not to take this long over the next story, though! Keep the guesses coming, Maranwe, they're really neat to read!
Lina: Edren: You know, that girl is not all right in the head. Me: You're telling ME! Now I don't have a sandwich. *shouts towards the woods of Mirkwood* HOW'S IT GOING, EOMER? HAVING FUN? Eomer: Oh, you're SOO funny. *grumbles* LINA SKYE GET OVER HERE AND BRING BACK MY HORSE! Me: *leans over to Edren* I don't think that's going to cut it. Edren: I don't either. Thranduil: Bengwiil does wonders, you watch, she'll have a change of heart for SURE! I'll bet Legolas on it! Edren and Me: *annoyed stare at Thranduil* Lina: HAHAH! You'll never CATCH ME, Eomer! WEEE HA! Edren: Ha. Me: Pay up, Thranduil. Thranduil: But- which one gets the bet? Me: Why, I do. Edren: ooooh no, we've all seen what you do to Legolas. Me: Best yet, let's leave Legolas to his OWN demise and not using him as a betting chip anymore? Edren: Sounds great. Lina: HAHA! Eomer: LINA!!!
*ahem*
*tries to regain her dignity*
So. Anyway.
Thanks for the feedback, Lina. :P
Tinlaure: LOL!! Well, tell Stacee there are worse things in life than our favorite ranger being…I can't THINK of any right now, but I'm sure there is one. ;) Thanks for the review! I was literally laughing out loud. *grin*
Witchmaster: Either the thing that killed Aragorn can keep him alive, or the thing that can keep him alive has ALWAYS kept him alive and never killed him to begin with. *grin* Glad you're enjoying it!
Okay, everyone, I think you'll like this chapter. At least, well I hope you do. ;)
Cry havoc! And let slip the dogs of- angst I guess. :P
*****
Chapter 9
Come Back
Legolas slid the sliver key back into it's hiding space in the wall, and then glanced at Edren. "Here we go."
Edren nodded, and Legolas pushed the door open.
It was silence. The air was heavy with the lack of noise. It was stuffy and dark.
"Ea diinen," Legolas whispered to his friend, and the other nodded again.
//be silent,//
The two crept around the dark room, and began to silently look through the scattered things on the floor, all the while, keeping an eye out for Thranduil.
"Legolas, here!" Edren whispered from the other side of the room.
Legolas went quickly to his friend's side and looked where the elf pointed. There, on the wall by the bed was a small latch. Legolas pulled on it, and immediately, a small compartment opened in the wall. It seemed too easy…but Legolas reached for the stack of papers that lay in the compartment.
He blew the dust off the first page and gasped. "What?!" Edren pushed urgently.
"Neneth…" Legolas chocked. Edren leaned over to see a beautiful elven queen staring up at him from a dust-blotted parchment. Her eyes were clear and familiar, as well as the slight curve of her lips. Beneath the picture was an inscription, but Legolas didn't need to read the name to know the figure as his mother.
He went quickly for the next page. On this one was an even more familiar face. His eyes were drawn black-and-white and yet you knew they were blue. His hair was long and wavy and carried 'gold' as a clear description even without being painted in color. Legolas must've been fairly young when the drawing had been done of him. Perhaps as a special gift to Thrnduil during yé n.
He turned to the next one and sat back hard on his heels. "Not again…" He stared down at the dark eyes and amused tilt of the head…all of it so familiar. "Minaeg," he murmured, and his fingers brushed the Bengwiil leaf at the base of the page.
"Is it Mornaeg's?" Edren asked quietly.
Legolas shook his head. "There is a leaf at the foot of this one…there was only a shadow of one on Mornaeg's. This leaf is ancient though…" His finger flew around the corners which had curled in on themselves, and the center of the little scrap of nature was a deep black-brown. It was old and long-since dead…there was no way this leaf would help them.
*click*
Legolas jumped. There was something under the bed! Quickly, he shoved the papers back into the compartment, and shut the door. He felt Edren's hands grip his shoulders, and pull him away from the bed, and against the opposite wall.
*creeeeeack* protested a hinge.
"What do we do?" Legolas asked quickly over his shoulder. "It is father, surely…"
"It's all right," Edren promised. "Just stand still."
Slowly, a hand appeared from the underneath of the bed, and then a second hand. Finally, a blonde-headed elf pulled himself out. Thranduil.
The king looked around as if in a daze as he continued to pull himself from under the bed. His eyes landed on the small latch, and he crawled over to the compartment. Had he not seen the elves in front of him? Legolas assumed not, for the king appeared to be out of his wit still.
Thranduil pulled the latch, and the papers fell out in front of him. Sitting back on his heals, he started to rifle through them. When his eyes landed on the drawing of the queen, he stopped, and began to laugh. "There, Meltha. I'm glad you're here…I have missed you love…I don't know…you're wrinkled."
Legolas' heart stopped.
"You're wrinkled, Meltha…your corner is wrinkled…" Thranduil stood jerkily up, and shook the paper as if it would cure it of the huge crease in the corner. He dropped the page on the floor, and turned.
He stared.
"Legolas…what are you doing here?" His voice was dangerously low.
"I- was…"
"Have you come for Bengwiil?"
"Yes!" Legolas said at once, realizing that for once, Thranduil might be put in a good mood. Sure enough, the king smiled.
"Good, good, I'll get it." He crawled a little ways under the bed, and came up with a burlap sack. "I brought a whole bunch up today!" Legolas nodded, pretending to be pleased. "Let us enjoy it, shall we?" Thranduil pulled out a piece of flint rock, and struck it against the side of his bed, holding the sack next to his bed as well.
A loud *crack* sounded, and the flint rock broke as the burlap sack caught fire. "We'll burn it all!" He cried joyously.
Legolas was lost in his disbelief for only a moment, and then he acted. Rushing forward, he stomped on the bag repeatedly, trying to avoid the flames directly.
"Legolas, you'll ruin the fire!" Thranduil hopped onto the bed, and grabbed a tankard.
"No, majesty- no!" Edren tried to call, but it was too late for the king to care.
When the rich wine hit the burlap sack, the entire thing went up in blazing flames. Edren rushed forward and pulled Legolas away as the prince started to choke on the smoke around him. "Legolas!" he vaguely heard someone call.
Blinded by smoke, and chocked on the hot air, he could only tell he was lying on the floor in pain. Where was the pain? He couldn't feel it out.
"Legolas, roll!"
What? Why? He couldn't move, how was he going to roll? Someone was jerking him around the floor. "Majesty, help me!"
Someone was laughing…someone was calling…someone…he could smell it. Bengwiil. It flooded the room.
Aragorn was dieing…someone help Aragorn! Don't let Estel die! Don't, please don't…not when you can stop it…don't…don't let him die…not him…not Aragorn…not my only Estel…not now…not yet…
"Legolas…Legolas, please say something! Legolas? Can you hear me?"
Someone was carrying him. Putting him down. Shaking him. "Legolas, talk to me!"
Light flooded into the prince's vision, and he could see Edren. "Don't let Aragorn die…" he felt his mouth force out. "Not my Estel…not my only friend…not Aragorn…"
"Legolas, are you all right? Oh, I'll hang your father for doing this to you! He's lost his head, for sure! Setting fire to a sack of Bengwiil right beneath you." Edren's eyes blazed. "Legolas, are you okay?"
"Fine…" he slurred quietly, finding his voice and seeing clearly at last. He found himself on the floor of the hall outside his father's room. Glancing at the door to the dark room, he saw smoke hissing underneath the door. "Father…will he be all right?"
Edren rolled his eyes. "He slipped beneath his bed again, and said he'd be just fine, thank you. I was too busy trying to get you out of there, I didn't have time to go after him-"
"He'll be fine," Legolas assured unexpectedly. "It's- a secret place. A s-safe place." He wrinkled his eyebrows in confusion. "Oh, well, now I don't know what *I'm* saying," he sighed at last.
Edren managed to not react, and simply shook his head. "It's a wonder we got that fire out, no thanks to him. I had to douse it with his wine-barrel. Luckily, it didn't catch fire, and it was heavy enough to kill the flames. It sure is smoky in there though."
Legolas forced himself to sit up. "What happened…"
"The sack caught fire, and I pulled you back from it. But your clothes had been set ablaze as well, so I tried to get you to roll over. You were stunned, so I rolled you around as best as I could. It finally killed the flames. I tried to get you up, but you were out." Edren shook his head gravely. "I was sure I'd lost you to Bengwiil. But you were still conscious, so I picked you up, and swung you over my shoulder."
"Thank you," Legolas smiled faintly. "I thought I was lost as well…mostly because I couldn't think at all. I was hearing voices I didn't understand. I lost myself to myself I knew…" he shook his head. "I can't put it in words."
"That is well." Edren assured, and offered a hand to Legolas. His friend was about to take it gladly, but he paused. "The Bengwiil…have we failed, then?"
"No, my friend," Edren smiled. "When you tried to stomp out the flames, you ripped the bag from the top with your stomping. Part of the reason you passed out, I suppose, because there were soon leaves flying everywhere." Edren reached into his tunic, and Legolas flinched, knowing what would be there. His friend nodded understandingly, and withdrew his hand empty. "I have it," was all he said, and he reached his hand out to Legolas again.
This time Legolas grabbed it. "Thank you my friend-" He cut off with a hiss, and sank down to his knees again.
"What?" Edren sank down with him, and looked into his wincing face.
Legolas sat down, and reached towards his leg. Slowly, he pulled the burnt cloth of his leggings up to his knee to reveal a hideous burn on the side of his right leg.
"Legolas, we need to heal that. I shall get some Nanegro-"
"Edren. We must save Aragorn first." Legolas forced himself to stand again, and wincing, held onto Edren's shoulder. Supporting his weight the whole way, Edren led Legolas silently back down the hall.
There is little time, the voice in Legolas' head insisted. Little time.
**********
"We have it," again, it was all Edren said when the two reached the gloomy room. The other elves watched blankly as Edren eased Legolas onto the bed so he was sitting beside Aragorn. Then, he turned. "Did you get the boiled water, cloths and mug?"
Daurrè answered for the other Healer by nodding. "Edren, what-"
"There's no time, Aragorn is slipping. I can feel that, as can you." Daurrè nodded slowly. It was true, he could feel the weight of mortal death creeping over them. Perhaps that's what scared him so.
"Legolas…" Edren turned to the prince slowly. Now for the hard part. "You'll have to leave. We can't risk you getting hurt through this."
But the prince was already shaking his head. "No, Edren, I will never leave. You cannot make me." The words were so frank, so straight, they didn't even carry fear among them…Edren could only nod as he slowly asked Daurrè to close the door and bolt it.
Legolas moved into a sitting position, leaning his back against the headboard of the bed, and pulling Aragorn's head and shoulders into his lap. I'm coming. he almost whispered. I'm coming, Estel…
"Á ryto." Edren turned to the assistant Healer. "I need you to take the Bengwiil, and crush it." Edren reached into his tunic. Legolas shut his eyes tight, and held Aragorn close. He was scared to death inside, even though he'd managed to hide it thus far. He didn't want to see that hideous plant. He didn't want to smell it.
The sound of it crinkling and then breaking filled his ears as Áryto crushed the leaves and let them fall into the steaming basin of water. The smell filled the air to the brim. Stop it! Stop it! he wanted to cry, but bit it back.
The air felt unbreathable. As Legolas eased his eyes open, he almost saw that it had turned green. It smelled green. Not like the light, forest green, but a dark, murky, shadowed green. He shut his eyes again as Tirniel approached.
"Legolas." Edren was at his shoulder. "Tirniel is going to give Aragorn the Bengwiil."
Legolas shook inside and out uncontrollably. He only nodded. A light trickling sound echoed in his ears as he felt the Healer tip Aragorn's head back. They were pouring Bengwiil down his friend of friend's throat…
Oh Valar… Legolas thought quickly as sickness crept over his awareness. Make this right…bring Aragorn back…make this right…make it work…
"It's gone. He's finished it." Tirniel's voice was surprised, and the undertone of nervousness was too apparent for Legolas' comfort.
Everything was a blur. Legolas could tell his senses were dulling as the Bengwiil overpowered his mind.
"Legolas, I am falling."
Legolas' throat closed up almost completely. "No." Was all he could say, through his tear-chocked voice.
"I have to go, Legolas. I want to stay, but I- I can feel it…I am falling, and I- am so sorry…"
"No, don't leave me, Aragorn, please. Don't leave me."
"I don't want to, my friend. I don't want to leave you. I don't." Aragorn clenched his eyes shut for a moment, swallowing hard. "Legolas?" He said finally. "Promise me this…this. Do not despair for me. I don't want you to die of a broken heart. You des- deserve better. Do not despair. Please."
"I shall try." Legolas whispered, feeling a salty tear slide down his face, and he grabbed both his friend's hands.
"But don't forget me, Legolas. Don't forget me. I am leaving, but estel remains. Hold onto hope, and do not forget me. Don't f- forget me…don't…Legolas…" Aragorn's eyes shut, and slid into unconsciousness.
"His pulse is fading…" Tirniel's eyes shut, and he shook his head. "He will not awake…"
"Hiro îth…ab 'wanath…"
Legolas' eyes snapped open when he heard his memories turn to reality. "What do you mean?" he demanded of Edren, realizing the elven words had been real and not a part of his thoughts.
"Legolas…" Edren shook his shoulder lightly. "I just told you…it is not working. He's fading away. He will not awake. I…am sorry."
Legolas looked wildly at the other elves in the room. Their faces made it plain. It had not worked. "Give him more," Legolas said slowly.
"Legolas-"
"No, Edren! Aragorn- he is alive! I will not sit back and allow him to die! Give him more, we must give his body a second chance!"
Legolas felt his own body shaking as Tirniel and Áryto complied. He didn't *want* to use Bengwiil, he wanted to run. He wanted to get away from it all. He wanted to be on that hunting trip in Mirkwood that had started out so wonderfully and ended in the rediscovery of Bengwiil. He wanted Aragorn back. Did that have to be so hard?
Tirniel approached slowly, holding a second mug full of Bengwiil-water. Legolas forced his eyes to stay open as he poured the horrid poison down the human's throat. Aragorn's body accepted it without the man's consent, and the Bengwiil had safely made its way into his system.
Tirniel's fingers moved to the human's throat, searching for the pulse. "It's quickening…" he whispered excitedly. Legolas pulled the Ranger closer to him, and lay hand over his shut eyes.
"His eyes are moving rapidly…" he added, the same anticipation in his own voice. "He is waking!" Legolas couldn't believe his own words!
Tirniel nodded, but stopped mid-motion. "It's going away…"
Legolas' heart stopped.
"…it's fading…no. It's gone."
"No…no! No, it- it's not gone! No, Aragorn, you can't be gone!" Legolas felt pent-up emotions push their way to the surface as he slid out from under the human. "No, Aragorn, no…" He lay down next to his friend, and wrapped his arms around the human's still shoulders frantically. Give him more. More Bengwiil. he thought desperately, but he knew it just wouldn't work. And his throat closed painfully over any words.
Closing his eyes tight, his mind whirled. He was tired. Tired of trying. Tired of fighting. Tired of moving with the wind, and wherever it blew, there his emotions would land. He was unstable inside and out, and he was sick of it. He was sick of disappointments. He jut wanted…to leave.
Ilúvatar… his heart cried out desperately. Anything…I shall give anything…and everything. The light of hope that Estel himself has planted in me…all the love of my father and kin…the light of my mother…all that grace has given me…everything. My own life. Let it pass to him. Spare his life, I beg. Spare his life.
Legolas lay his head brokenly on Aragorn's still chest. Sweet tears fell silent from his cheek to the human's tunic, staining the fabric with a pearly glisten. "Estel…" he whispered, and closed his eyes again.
Take me away. Let me go away. Take this wounded heart from me. Hurt me no longer. Just let me fall. Let me fall into the shadow where I shall not wake. Show your mercy…give me eternal sleep. I have no wish to live. Let me fall…fall…just fall…
His hand was warm. He began to feel hope flood him…he was falling. This is what eternal sleep was…he was glad it did not hurt…
"Legolas…"
Life rushed through his veins…Legolas opened his eyes. He was met by a deep, blue gaze. And a smile.
"Oh…Legolas."
"Estel?"