Hello everybody! :D Well, here you go, your chapter. Sorry it's so late, but- yeah. Never mind, I'll just skip the "I've been SO BUSY" excuse and move on. ;)
ImaginaryWhisper: LOL! Monty Pithon, eh? *imagines Aragorn as 'Comrade' saying: "I'm feeling much better!" in heavy British accent* yikes, that was frightening. ;)
Bill the Pony: I don't think I've ever heard someone call Aragorn "the dead dude" before… :P
Elfling: Excellent observation, seeing Bengwiil that way. Yeah, it's rather like a drug in Mirkwood, isn't it? Kind of strange, if you think about it. I can just say the phrase written all over packs of Lambas bread and sticks of Elvish gum- SAY 'NO' TO BENGWIIL! ;)
Lillian: You crack me up! :D What a goof-ball you must be in real life! ;)
Lime: Ditto for Lillian. :P
SilvanLegolas: Let's not be freaking out our roommates. ;) LOL! I'm glad you're so happy! I'm sure you'll be sharing that sentiment with Legolas. *grin*
NaughtNat: Yeah, you're right. Generally I refer to Aragorn's eyes as "misty blue" or "deep blue" and Legolas' are "silver" or "silver gray". *grin* aren't eye-colors so FUN? ;)
Erestor: LOL! Wouldn't you know it? I can't answer that either. :P But keep them coming! Yeah, it's so hard to write "nutsoid Thranduil" making him look- well, nutsoid, and yet avoid making it look like I don't know what I'M doing. Just that Thranduil doesn't know what HE'S doing. ;) Anyway, I like Thranduil, and just between you, me- and yeah, anyone else who is reading this piece of response, Thranduil WILL have a sane moment in this series. At least ONE. *grin* kay, that's it for spoilers! :D
Lina: *watches Lina run off, Éomer close in pursuit* … *grin* I'm feeling…very happy. *grins over at Estel* Isn't it beautiful? *grin disappears* Hey, get back in bed! What if Legolas sees you? You're supposedly DEAD right now, recall? *Estel mutters and goes back to 'death' bed* Anyway, so glad to see you're eh- enjoying? -the fic, Lina. Have fun helping Éomer find the horse you've gone and lost somewhere. ;)
Szhismine: You forgot to mention the ending part, you know. The part where I mention that he's still alive? Did you miss that? He's alive, just so's you know. Oh, and he's awake. And he's not dead. :P *decides she's had quite ENOUGH fun beating those two sentences into the ground* kay, that's it. :D
Dragon of the Rose: *studies purple pony in an 'iffy' manner* eh…did I miss something, or this My Little Pony rerun? :P LOL!
Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELVEN ICE ANGEL!!! *hugs Bree*
Okay, onto the fic! *grin* Enjoy all! *tears off to Traitor to right the highly tardy review she's got due to Cassia and Siobhan*
*****
Chapter 10
Estel
Legolas was awake.
Aragorn was alive.
For a minute, Legolas thought he was going to completely fall apart. Die, perhaps. But instead, he threw his arms around Aragorn, and felt tears he didn't know were there erupt. Tears of joy.
"Aragorn! Oh, Aragorn! Aragorn, Estel, mellon nin! You're alive! You're alive…alive…at last…you're back." Legolas felt dizzy. He was sure he was going to pass out, but he held Aragorn close to him, and cried into the human's shoulder instead.
He felt a tender hand touch the back of his head as Aragorn adjusted his weight beneath the prince. "Sh…" Aragorn soothed. "Yes…I'm back…I'm back, Legolas…"
Legolas could hear tears in his friend's voice as well which only drove his own tears harder. He couldn't steady his breath. He could only let go, and lean against his friend. His friend. Estel. Who was back. It was almost too much for him.
Finally, he forced himself to sit back. Aragorn was very pale, and his limbs shook from lack of use. But he was alive. And he was shining with familiar hope.
"Oh, Aragorn!" Legolas erupted again, this time realizing how much he had to say. His mind overflowed, and he didn't know where to start. So he blurted: "I've been despairing! You said not to, but I did! I couldn't help it, I missed you so- but I despaired, I almost died of a broken heart! I did! And you said that was the last thing you wanted, and I did it anyway! I am so sorry! I am, I am sorry…"
To Legolas' immeasurable surprise, his friend was grinning, and his eyes were twinkling quite visibly.
"What?" Legolas demanded, taken aback.
"You're apologizing again, Legolas," he answered in would-be seriousness, still smiling.
"Aragorn-" Legolas' eyes darted from Aragorn's left eye to his right, dancing back and forth between the two, burning the image of his smiling face into memory. "Could you…could…"
"What is it?" Aragorn shook his head, watching Legolas with a concerned look.
It seemed so silly, but at once, Legolas realized that really didn't matter. "My joy would be complete…if I could but hear you laugh?" These last words were a question and a request.
And so Aragorn did. Possibly at the request, Legolas didn't care why. At once, it struck a cord of memory. There was a way it rang- not crystal like an elf's. It was strong and sincere…like hope and joy at once. Tears came streaming afresh down Legolas' cheeks, as he realized; I remember it now. And a sob escaped his throat.
"Sh…" Aragorn smiled, pulling Legolas to him again, and letting the elf burry his face in the Ranger's coat.
"I missed you so…" Legolas gasped. "You have no idea…"
"Istón, mellon nin…I missed you too. I feared for you." Aragorn's throat constricted, and he said no more, but the reunited friends stayed in each other's arms for a long time before letting go.
Legolas ran a tired hand over his eyes, trying in vain to wipe the tears away. His eyes danced over the elves who stood clueless around the bed with various expressions on their faces.
Daurrè and Áryto looked a bit frightened, and Tirniel was nothing short of terrified. Edren, on the other hand, looked as though he could walk through any sorrow with a smile. His eyes seemed to reflect the shadowed moonlight outside the window, and his face shone with relief and satisfaction.
Legolas smiled back. "Hannon le, mellon nin. I could not have done this without you."
Edren made a half-nod and knelt down by the bed. "How are you, Aragorn?"
Legolas' heart gave a leap. "Of course, you've been barely alive for almost five days now! How are you? How do you feel?"
Aragorn moved his arms loosely, feeling about his neck and chest. "I think I'm all right…" he shrugged. "a little dizzy…"
"The real test will be getting you on your feet." Edren pointed out smilingly.
"Oh. Well, all right…" Aragorn started to swing his legs over the side of the bed.
"No!" Edren, Legolas and Áryto shouted at the same time. Aragorn froze.
"You need rest," Áryto persuaded quietly, moving Aragorn back onto the bed. "You've been nearly dead for almost *five days* my friend, as Legolas has said.." and the Healer smiled. "Not many go through that."
"Legolas has," Aragorn interjected, returning the look.
Legolas tried to glare, but he couldn't, so Aragorn gladly lay back on his pillows. Legolas pulled the folded blanket away from the end of the bed, and lay it over the human, pulling the folds up to his forearms. "Sleep."
"Yes, father," Aragorn mumbled, rolling over.
"Legolas, I must go to Thernäd," Edren whispered.
"Tell her-" Legolas glanced Aragorn's way again before looking back to Edren. "The news for me?"
Edren nodded. "Of course." And with that, the friend slipped out of the dark room with a heart as light as air, and a handful of leaves to throw away somewhere.
"I must retire as well. To meet Át- well, I said I'd- I hope you don't mind if I tell a few of this good news?"
Legolas laughed. "Yes, Daurrè, best not keep Átniir waiting, feel free to tell."
Daurrè blinked with surprise, and then turned to go quickly. Legolas only smiled, and looked up at Tirniel. "What shall we do for Aragorn tonight? There must be something…"
"He was right." Tirniel shook his head, looking Aragorn up and down. "He was right."
Legolas sighed. Aragorn was back and *still* the Healer intended to act strange? "Tirniel," he insisted.
"No- no…" The Healer shook his head and began to back away. "No- he couldn't have- who has died?! Who has died? Who…" He continued to shake his head and back away, until his back hit the doorway. "No, they were- they were dead! They were dead!" And he ran from the dark room.
"Áryto…" Legolas spoke softly.
The Healer shook his head. "I don't know…" When he turned to look at the prince again, his eyes were full of worry. "He has been acting quite strangely…I don't know what…" He shook his head again, dismissing it deter idly. "But it's no use now. You should get some rest, your highness."
Legolas shook his head. "Aragorn-"
"Worry not, I shall keep a watchful eye on him this night."
Legolas nodded, and walked over to Aragorn's bed, where he lay propped up on pillows, still staring at the doorway where Tirniel had run out.
"Aragorn, you should get your sleep," Legolas chided, pushing the human down into the mass of pillows. "Rest."
"What was he talking about, Legolas? What's wrong with Tirniel…"
"Sh…don't think on it tonight, my friend. I shall tell you all tomorrow."
Aragorn nodded, and closed his eyes. Legolas quietly pulled a folded blanket from the end of the bed, and spread it over the floor.
"Legolas…" The prince made no response to Áryto's reprimanding tone, and lay down on the blanket. The Healer sighed with the air of a mother whose child is being willfully disobedient.
"I'll sleep," Legolas promised, smiling unconvincingly.
The Healer finally smiled, and sat down in an armchair in the corner. "Mear fuin…" His voice trailed off, and his eyes became unfocussed. But not entirely. They still moved rapidly this way and that, proof that he was still alert.
Satisfied that Aragorn would be safe through the night, Legolas lay down. But he couldn't rest. Aragorn was alive. He was breathing not a foot away from the elf…how could he sleep now? How could he ever believe what he'd seen himself? *How* could Aragorn be back?
"Don't you want a pillow?"
Legolas rolled over, and found Aragorn staring down from the bed at him.
"Well, actually…I'm used to having nigh on thirty pillows."
"Oh thirty you say? Well, I just may have that amount…actually, I may have that many for you and I. And Áryto. Are you elves suspicious of a pillow-shortage?"
Legolas couldn't help grinning. "No, but if ever there was one, we shall be able to stock Middle Earth and gain a good name for the elves of Mirkwood."
Aragorn laughed quietly. He was so weak…Legolas tried to smile again, but he couldn't help feeling the mood dampened. What if Aragorn never regained his strength? What if Elrond could not heal him? What if he died again…Legolas would surely die if Aragorn left him for good.
You are moving with the wind again, Legolas. It's blowing you to worry, and you're letting it. Legolas sighed at the sound of the voice, knowing it could only be reason speaking to him, but he couldn't really help his worry…
"Don't look so sad, Legolas. I am well…really." Aragorn smiled.
Legolas returned the look. "Well I'm not. I thought you were going to give me a pillow."
"And that I was, but I've grown far too attached to them all. Maer fuin." And with that, his face disappeared, and a small rumble of sinking pillows reached Legolas' sensitive ears.
"Oh, well that *is* kind of you," he grumbled good-naturedly, rolling over on his side again.
*whump*
Legolas sat bolt upright, the offending pillow in hand. "Strider!"
Aragorn was laughing. "I've been *waiting* to do that to you, I hope you know."
Legolas shook his head and chuckled. "Grudges die hard, don't they?"
At that, Aragorn smiled faintly. "So do we."
Legolas paused, then put his pillow on the floor and lay down. The faint crumple of bedding and mattress showed that Aragorn did the same. For awhile there was silence. Silence that lasted so long, Legolas considered drifting off, figuring Aragorn to be asleep.
But then, "I'm back, Legolas. I'm alive."
"Istón," Legolas responded sighing in final relief.
And then the silence continued unrippled, and when Legolas sat up to check on Aragorn, the human was fast asleep, his arm draped over his closed eyes. "Maer fuin, Estel."
And Legolas looked into a blank wall of sleep, and ran away into a dream happier and gentler than any he'd had for five, long days.
**********
Dark. It was still dark. Legolas sat up slowly. Something had awoken him. What? What was it? He looked around the dark room, and found Áryto still sitting, half asleep in the chair by the window.
He stood up, and looked down at Aragorn, who still lay in the bed. At first, he appeared to be peacefully resting, but then- he jolted to one side as if in a spasm, and groaned.
"Aragorn?" Legolas whispered gently, sitting down next to the human.
"Legolas…" the other responded, his voice low, and distant.
"Aragorn, I am here."
"Legolas…Legolas, I hear you…I hear you."
"That is good, my friend. Now rest-"
"No! Don't say- don't speak such things! No, I am here! I- here, Legolas- ple- las- please no!"
"Aragorn!" Legolas shook his friend who was *clearly* not awake, trying hard to bring him out of this dream.
"Legolas…please, don't! I am here! I am still here!"
"Aragorn, ea na gwiil!"
"Legolas! Legolas- I beg you!" The human thrashed around the bed, trying to reach for something unseen, and nearly rolled off the bed. Legolas quickly caught him, and pulled him further onto the mattress.
"Legolas- don't! Don't, Legolas! Eal lin layaa kuil!"
Legolas' heart stopped. He couldn't speak. His body froze with fear, and for a long moment, he just stared at the sleeping Ranger. What- he *couldn't* know! It was impossible! His mind whirled.
But finally, he spoke. "Aragorn…are you awake?"
The human tossed to the side. "Lib ta...in sikil...please, Legolas…please don't."
Legolas still couldn't move. How? How could he know? "Aragorn…you- you couldn't-"
"In sikil! Eal lin layaa kuil! Legolas, please! I'm coming, I'm coming!"
"Aragorn, no! No, stop, you can't- you didn't hear! You didn't! Ea le firn san! Firn!" Legolas' voice rose in fear. "Ea le firn san!"
Aragorn lay still for a long moment. But then, his eyes fluttered open, and he slowly focused on Legolas' panicked face. "Legolas…"
"Ea le firn…" Legolas repeated achingly.
"Maem, Legolas," Aragorn soothed with surprise. "I am well. Worry not…rest….rest…" Aragorn's eyes slowly shut again, and he was still and quiet.
Legolas was still shaking. rest… the command tempted him greatly, and so he slowly lowered himself onto the floor again, and let his weary body and tired emotions run from him. Slowly, the terrifying words spoken began to feel like a trifle problem. And the more he thought about it, the more that tiny problem became a distant memory. And that memory, a dream.
And soon, his dreams claimed him once more, and he was freely carried to peace.
For now.