Well, so little time, guys, I'm sorry but I had to go to the Dentist today, and OYE! Talk about character torture… :P Anyway, I won't be able to respond to many of you, but I'll do my best. :D
First, new FAQ: WHAT IN THE HECK WAS THE ELVISH LEGOLAS and ARAGORN WERE SAYING?!
Answer: Ah. You'll find out, don't worry. And yes- it's SUPPOSED to be mysterious- I'm not expecting you to understand Sindarin…especially MY rough-translation of Sindarin. ;)
Gwyn: WOW! Super-typer, eh? Aw! Yes, I'm so proud. ;)
Hiro-Tire: Well, don't give up on Thranduil yet, he's going to come around…I'm sure. ;) And yes, it's true, it sure appears to stick to Pre-FOTR very dangerously. It's kind of on the edge between Canon and AU, isn't it? *grin* LOL! I LOVE Miracle Max! That's one of my all-time favorite movies. :)
LegolasLover2003: I think most of your questions are answered in the new FAQ. There are a few that you're just assumed to know, since I've used them often in my fics. "Maer fuin" is, you are right, translated, it is "Fair Night" or "Goodnight" in our terms. And "Ea na gwiil" is translated "Be at peace" or in our terms, something along the lines of "Calm down, it's okay". The rest- well, you'll find out. :D
ImaginaryWhisper: *blink* wow. Gosh, thanks for telling me that, Whisper! I'm so glad you appreciated it that much- wow. Golly, girl, you're making me feel really IMPORTANT. ;) Thanks so much! :)
Stacee Phelps: Hullo, Stacee! :D LOL! You're welcome! Denada! Ea le govonnen! ;) I'm so glad you're glad! You're not alone in that either. *points at Legolas and all the many Nefredal readers* see? ;)
SilvanLegolas: *nudges at 'dead' SilvanLegolas blankly* umn…hello? Shoot, someone's gone and killed SilvanLegolas… Edren: That- would be your fault. Me: What? MY fault- Edren: You can't just KILL Aragorn, bring him back, and NOT expect your readers to die, you know? Me:…point. SilvanLegolas? Heloooo? *sighs* ah well. ;) LOL!
Leggylover: Bad Ada? Well…you're assuming that he knows Estel was 'dead'. *grins and says no more*
Erestor: Yes, you're rambling. Please, don't stop! ;) I love your ramblings- seeing some insight into my readers' thoughts on the story is always fascinating! :D Action-Adventure and Angst? *sheepish grin* yup. ;)
Elfling: Yeah, unfortunately, the '3' was not my idea. Ff.net went through giving numbers to names when there were multiple ones. Like for instance- my sisters are now Sarah_K1 and Siri2. *sigh* Aaah well. *envious* at least you're name was one-of-a-kind! ;) But it's okay, 3 is my favorite number anyway. :D
Lady of the Forest: *hugs Jenny* Aw, I'm so glad you're happy! *grin* ;)
Well, here we go, all. Chapter 11! (s'rry if it's a bit longish)
*****
Chapter 11
Death, Life, Mystery
Morning. It was morning. The sun shone clearly through the window in the once-dark room. Legolas slowly sat up, and squinted into the suns new rays. His eyes were soon relieved as a great, storm-cloud stepped over the warm light.
Legolas sighed, and looked around the room. What had woken him? Yawning, he sat up, and looked over at Aragorn. The human's eyes were closed, but he didn't appear to be asleep. Legolas pulled himself onto the bed, and sat down beside his friend.
Aragorn's eyes opened slowly, and he smiled faintly when he saw Legolas. "Suilad," he greeted, yawning. The yawn made Legolas yawn as well, which garnered a laugh from his companion. "Did you sleep well?" he asked stretching his arms.
"I did. You?"
"Slept like the dead." Aragorn responded, grinning.
Legolas rolled his eyes at the pun. "It's not really a joking matter for me…"
"I know, Legolas. But…well, I wanted to see you roll your eyes." And Legolas shook his head in wonder at the human's choice of comedy as he laughed to himself.
"Very well, you win," he conceded. Looking slowly around the room, his eyes fell on Áryto. The elf still sat, eyes closed, beside the window. "He will sleep through *anything*!" Legolas laughed. "He even slept through your-"
Memory hit the elf like an arrow in the heart. "…your dream." He closed his eyes, waiting for Aragorn to ask- to say anything of it…
"You mean- your dream?"
His eyes snapped open, and he looked over at the young Ranger. "My dream?"
"Yes. You awoke last night, beside me, saying: 'Ea le firn san!' I thought you were having a bad dream of when I had died. I told you I was fine, and said to go back to sleep. Don't you remember?
Ea le firn san!
//you were dead!//
Yes, Legolas *had* been saying that…but didn't Aragorn- "But…did you not dream last night?"
Aragorn thought a moment, looking at the ceiling for memory. Finally, he shook his head. "I don't remember. I don't think so. Why?"
"I-" Legolas shook his head. He didn't want him to know anyway. Just let it go away, Legolas, let it go now. "I guess it was part of my own dream, forgive me."
Aragorn nodded slowly in a way that betrayed his disbelief. Legolas sighed. He'd forgotten what it was like to have someone who knew him *this* well around. It made it impossible to lie! But it was a relief to know that Aragorn hadn't been changed in the least through this near-death experience.
"But, anyway." Legolas smiled, looking over at Áryto again. "He slept through my dream last night, and as you know, I was making a lot of noise."
"You were indeed *yelling* as I recall," Aragorn nodded, glancing at Áryto as well.
"And yet he did not awake-" Legolas froze, taking in Áryto's appearance again. He was sitting by the window, eyes close, and face peace- eyes closed… "Áryto!" Legolas sprung off the bed, and ran to the Healer, pressing his fingers to the cold neck for a pulse. He shook his head slowly in fear. "He is dead."
"What?" Aragorn crawled towards the end of the bed, a look of utter confusion on his face. "How?"
Legolas began to inspect the cold body. He looked over the neck, the chest, and the head. "I don't understand…he *looks* fine!"
"Perhaps he walked his own way to Mandos?" Aragorn's voice was low and saddened.
Legolas shook his head. "He was a content elf…he would not have given up with despair…I *know* he would not. And yet- his face looks peaceful. He went painlessly…perhaps you are right, Aragorn. Though, I should like to believe otherwise."
"Shall I get Tirnniel?"
"Would you?" Legolas looked over his shoulder at Aragorn. "I would appreciate that, he will want to know…and I should like to look over Áryto a little more."
Aragorn nodded, and swung his legs over the bed.
"Goodness, no!" Legolas said all at once, spinning around, and sprinting back to Aragorn. "Stay in bed, you are not well!"
"Indeed, I am."
Legolas shook his head with a faint smile. "No, you're not."
"Indeed, I am," Aragorn repeated, and placed a hand on Legolas' shoulder. "It is the Bengwiil…it is artificial strength, and it's not right or natural…but it *is* strength. I shall get Tirniel."
Legolas nodded slowly. "Very well." And watched sadly as Aragorn sprinted out of the room. He *had* to get the man back to normal as soon as possible. They would journey towards Rivendel as soon as possible.
Turning around again, he let his fingers slide around Áryto's face, feeling his clammy forehead and damp cheeks. He then searched the neck for a sign of a dart or something. But he found none. As he inspected the body, he had the strangest feeling that he wasn't alone in the room. He kept looking up for the presence he thought he'd felt. But every time, he found himself alone as ever.
He kept reaching for Áryto's chest or neck, trying to find a heartbeat or pulse. But he couldn't feel it, and he was forced to keep searching for a sign of murder.
Legolas was checking the Healer's knee, where he thought he'd seen a pressure sore or something, when he felt that eerie feeling again. Someone was in the room. He looked around, trying to find the source of the feeling.
As he turned his head back to Áryto, he was caught in a deep, hazel gaze.
"Áryto?"
The eyes blinked.
"Áryto, you're alive!" Legolas stood up, and looked the elf straight in the eye. "I thought- I thought you were dead!" He smiled with amazed relief. "I'm so…Áryto?"
The elf continued to stare past his shoulder, his eyes shifting over the room around them. "Wh-where…"
"Don't worry, I've sent Aragorn to fetch Tirniel." Legolas responded calmly, inadvertently answering the question Áryto had really been asking.
"Tirniel…?" His voice shook. "Tir- no! Don't let him come!"
"Áryto, ea na gwiil, mellon nin!" Legolas hushed gently, pressing a hand to his forehead. He was sweating all over. It didn't make sense…an elf? With a mortal fever? But at any rate, he was sick somehow.
"No! No, no…" Áryto was shaking his head fitfully, and looking blearily from Legolas to the room beyond him, and then to the door. "No, no…not- not Ti- Tirni…iel…iel…" He shook his head again and again, and blinked as though trying to get dust out of his eye.
"Áryto, stop." Legolas said firmly, trying to hold the other's gaze for a few moments straight. "What is wrong? Why do you not wish to see Tirniel?"
"H-he…he…h-h-he…" Áryto swallowed hard past his fear, and Legolas waited patiently for him to finish his sentence. "…he…w-will…w-willl be angry!" He shouted at once, as if suddenly remembering a thought with indigence.
"Angry?" Legolas shook his head. "Are you referring to last night?" he inquired gently, remembering when Áryto had looked worried and even a bit frightened when Tirniel had left abruptly, leaving the younger Healer to watch Aragorn that night.
Áryto nodded vigorously, finally focusing on Legolas' face with relief. "Y-you know what is wrong with h-him? It's t-the this- th-the only way…"
Legolas shook his head. "He isn't angry, Áryto. He's just- he's confused by Aragorn's return, that is all. I was as well, almost frightened.
Áryto's face contorted with pain and disappointment. "No! It is not that, highness…n-not Aragorn, the-the…"
"Then who is it?"
Áryto's eyes unfocussed. "Who? Who is…who is dead…who…" his voice trailed, and he seemed to see these same words of Tirniel's scrawling across his eyesight. "Yes…"
Legolas felt cold fear grip him as he watched the Healer in a panic. He looked completely mad! "Áryto! Áryto!" He shook the other's shoulder, trying to catch his eye again. "Áryto! Lasto beth nin!" But the Healer moved limply with the shaking, and refused to come out of his thoughts.
"Legolas!" The prince looked up quickly to see Aragorn come breathlessly in with Tirniel in-toe. The human stopped dead in his tracks. "Why are Áryto's eyes-" but before he could say 'open', Tirniel rushed forward.
"Áryto! Oh, no, Valar, Áryto!" He fell to his knees by the elf, and shook him. "Áryto…"
The elf's eyes flickered, and he fixed Tirniel with a blank stare. "He is fading!" he exclaimed, anguish in every syllable.
Legolas could tell by the way that Aragorn's eyebrows shot up that the human had informed Tirniel of Áryto's *death*. But it appeared to come as no surprise to Tirniel to find that his companion was indeed *almost* dead rather than already dead. This perplexed Legolas greatly, but he didn't have time to think it over, for Tirniel rose to his feet.
"I shall take him, I know what to do." And hastily, he pulled the Healer out of his chair, and swung him over the shoulder. Before Legolas or Aragorn could really react, he had dashed out of the room, Áryto swinging limply from his right shoulder.
"I-" Aragorn circled the bed to Legolas' side. "I thought Áryto was dead!"
Legolas shook his head. "As did I…" he sighed. "I suppose Tirniel knows what he's doing- I…oh, it all confuses me, nothing makes sense anymore." He laughed. "And I always had thought you'd remain the *only* thing I'd never understand."
Aragorn returned the laugh, and sat back on his bed. Legolas grinned and sat down next to him, flopping down on his back the next instant, and closing his eyes with a contented sigh. "I can never, never express how wonderful it is to have you back, Aragorn," he murmured at length.
Aragorn's smile faded into quiet understanding. "Legolas…I was wondering…when do you plan to tell me about everything that happened since I- well, since I nearly died…that night so many nights ago?"
Legolas' eyes opened slowly, but he did not look at Aragorn, and instead focused on the bleached-stone ceiling. At length, he sighed. "Aragorn, I don't know if I can bare to relate everything I've done wrong while you were gone. All the tears- the despair…nearly giving up so many times…"
"I want to know, Legolas…I want to share whatever it was with you. It's the only way you shall ever get rid of it. I- feel I *have* to know. And if you tell me everything…*everything*…I will tell you all I can about while- while I was gone."
Legolas slowly nodded. He knew this would come eventually, but every time he had thought of it, he'd push away, giving some excuse for why he could forget about it. He didn't look forward to it…but, Aragorn was right. He *had* to tell his friend.
And anyway…he trusted Aragorn more than anyone.
"The night you went away, I- I started to sing the moment my tears settled a bit," he began quickly, hoping that he could speed through the entire thing as if it didn't hurt him to think about it. But it didn't take long for his tone to slow. At times, he felt tears creeping back into his voice.
"…Edren tried to comfort me that day…even began to sing Lennathon, which- which just-" he shook his head for the right word. "Tore my heart to hear," he said at last. "But I told him- I said I was fading…I said-" his voice began to fill with hesitance once more. "I said- I didn't want to keep living…" he shook his head, and kept going…
As the story continued, Legolas didn't see any of Aragorn's reaction, but stayed staring straight at the ceiling. Had he been watching, he may have been a bit nervous. Every once and awhile, Aragorn would act really strangely.
"…I began to sing the song again…Kuin im, kuiv, na naeg im." He quoted from the song, and shook his head. Had he been watching Aragorn, he would have seen the human's eyes switch with a snap to Legolas' face, and crease his forehead. But Legolas, of course, was inspecting the cracks in the ceiling instead.
The harder parts came when explaining everything he'd heard about Tirniel and the other Healers, as well as Átniir and everything involving Thranduil. But Legolas did his best, and tried to make it understandable. This, of course, was virtually impossible, because he barely understood it himself. But he made his way through it, and simply hoped that Aragorn understood.
In much less time than he'd expected, Legolas realized his tale was drawing to a close.
"…I said I'd give anything…I said I'd give everything, even my life, if you could come back. If you could live once more. I promised my everything for you if only Ilúvatar would spare you…then I felt you touch my hand. I felt your life flow through me. I opened my eyes…and I saw you…and I thought I was dead myself, really. When I realized at last that you, Estel, my dearest friend were alive once more…I almost died, I think." Legolas shook his head, and took a long, deep sigh, as though he'd been saying the whole story in one breath.
At last, he looked over at Aragorn. The human was staring closely at the bed's covers, and nodding.
"So…" Legolas sighed again, sitting up at last, and turning to look Aragorn in the eye, and as he did, Aragorn looked up at him.
"So…?" the human repeated, vaguely.
"Aragorn, it is your turn. I told my story," and Leoglas added with an incredulous look, "and it wasn't easy to recount. It's your turn."
Aragorn sighed this time, and swung his legs onto the bed, and sat cross-legged, rubbing his eyes slowly with the tips of his fingers, as though trying to relieve a headache. "It's so hard- to put in words."
Legolas nodded. "I know."
Aragorn looked up at him, and began to nod as well. "But it's different than yours- it's…it's so strange." He took another breath, and sat straight. "All right, let us start with this. I knew I wasn't dead the moment everything went dark. I don't think I was entirely *awake* I couldn't hear you anymore, I couldn't see *anything*. But when I faded, I felt a sudden rush of surprise. I wasn't dead! I was almost- thrilled, actually. But when I realized that it meant you were living thinking I *was* dead, I felt frightened. What would happen to you? But I tried not to think about it.
"There was really no time. I couldn't feel it passing, if there was. The strange thing was, I kept hearing a soft melody. One I *knew* I had heard…" Aragorn squeezed his eyes shut, accessing his memory, and began to hum a faint tune.
Legolas nodded, joining in with the words. "The Road goes ever one and on," he sang.
Aragorn's eyes snapped open. "That was it! Of course, hearing it- wherever I was…in my mind, the way back of it…I couldn't recognize the words, but I knew that the song was mine, as well as the singer, and I felt comforted in my thoughts.
"But then…then the song stopped, and it did not return. It was instead replaced by a different sound. The sound of hurt and pain. The sound of- of tears and hearts breaking. Of lost loved ones, of broken friendships. Of sorrow and despair. Of death. And as the song continued, I felt what there was of my life slipping away. I felt dark. I-" Aragorn bit his lip, not willing to meet Legolas' gaze. "I think that was your song, Legolas. I think that was…'kuin im, kuiv, na-'" He shook his head, and looking up, he saw Legolas close his eyes in pain, and shake his head. Aragorn decided to move on.
"Then it went away. I think that I could hear sounds- I felt them at least, I felt essence, but could not hear words. The memories are so vague, but sometimes, when I sleep, I can see them again. I can remember every vague feeling. It makes me wonder if every memory of that life in limbo was meant to be left in the world of dreams.
"But this I do remember. That all at once…just as the song had gone, so I could not feel you, I felt suddenly so- so lost. I felt that someone I loved very much had abandoned me. I wallowed unfeelingly in my thoughts or lack of thoughts. I just- was. That's about all I knew. I was. And I hated it.
"Then I felt you near me. I felt that you were back, but you were passing me by. I wanted to call your name, but I knew I couldn't. I wanted you, I even tried to call out. But I couldn't make my body work. I felt you come nearer, I could almost hear you calling my name. I was *sure* you'd returned.
"Then someone was reaching for me, but it was someone I didn't know. They think I'm dead I thought, and I was so scared I almost fell away into death once more. But I'm not dead! my mind kept frantically reminding me. Not yet, they must wait!"
Legolas was silent. He began to slowly remember these same words in his head that day he'd seen Aragorn's door open. So somehow…Aragorn's feelings had reached him? How was that possible?
"I felt myself begging for you to come and rescue me. I knew I needed you, and yet, I could feel you getting further away," Aragorn continued shakily. "I felt things- settle a bit, after a dark moment of panic, I realized I was still all right. I could still feel you. Don't be confused, I wanted to say, I'm right here."
Legolas bit back the erg to say, 'you *did* say that'. It wasn't yet the time to explain to Aragorn the voices he'd heard while despairing for the human. Aragorn had to finish his side first.
"I could feel your confusion. I wanted to- answer…your questions," Aragorn murmured, closing his eyes and trying hard to concentrate. "You know who I am," he whispered as though in a trance. "You know I'm alive. But you- you didn't know where…" he said slowly. "You didn't know where I was anymore. I tried to tell you…I'm here…right here. And I tried to reach you-" Aragorn cut off abruptly, as if just remembering a key point of some dream. "There was a- a struggle…there were tears…a farewell…"
His eyelids tightened, and he rubbed his lips together pensively. "In sikil…"
Legolas froze.
"In s-sikil…lib ta…sikil…eal lin-" Aragorn broke off with a heavy sigh, as though he'd been holding his breath, and panting slightly, he opened his eyes again. "I can't remember it. It's so hazy- I don't know if I really felt it, or if it was just a dream. Just a bit of my imagination…" He paused. "Legolas, are you all right?"
Legolas was still staring fixedly at Aragorn, daring him to remember any further. But now it was clear memory of it all was a distant memory. "Ea mae im." he dismissed quickly. "What else do you remember?"
//I am well.//
"It- this thing…the struggle…it was all f-forgiven," Aragorn said distantly, looking a bit annoyed at his confusingly incomplete tale. "But I could grasp one thing, and that one thing I remember clearly. I am your friend. I will always be your friend. That's all I needed to know, and so I felt myself begin to drift. I was fading. But I couldn't just leave, not without saying goodbye. So I reached out for a familiar place. Somewhere I understood. Somewhere you could always find me. And I left you. I knew I had gone, and drifted…somewhere else familiar. Somewhere where you were not, but I could still feel you. It must have been a place you loved and knew well."
My balcony, Legolas thought, though he continued to watch Aragorn.
"At one time, I was sure you'd returned, I could feel you there. I wanted to reach out and touch you, but all I could try to convey was, It's not too late to save me. It's your second chance. And then I felt you drift away again.
"Things became dimmer and dimmer. I knew that I was still fading. Then, for now explainable reason, I felt lifted. I was flooded with green light, the brightest light, and yet- the murkiest shadow hung in it." Aragorn paused, searching Legolas' face for any sign of confusion. Surprisingly, he found none.
That was the Bengwill, Legolas thought positively, and a shudder took him unaware.
"The Bengwiil," Aragorn echoed his friends thoughts, nodding. "Then the light was gone, and I kept slipping. Farther and farther away. At once, the light returned, but this time it frightened me. I didn't- I couldn't stand it. I hated it, though I don't know why. It frightened me cold. But then it disappeared again, and I slipped away just a bit farther. Now it was so dark, I couldn't feel anything anymore. I didn't know what was happening outside of me, and I think I drifted away in a dream more distant than my half-dreamt reality.
"But just as things became so deep I knew I wasn't returning, I saw-" Aragorn smiled slightly, looking out the bright window, a tear glistening unshed in his deep blue eyes. "I saw Eärendil. I saw the crystal light of the star of hope. I saw our friendship, I saw my hurt and my memories, my tears and my joy…I saw you, Legolas, everything you are, shining in the light of Eärendil.
"That, Legolas…that was your sacrifice. I am sure of it. When you pleaded with Ilúvatar for my life. That was that shining light of hope, that is what saved me. I am more certain of that than any other thought or feeling I thought of felt while nearly dead.
"And then…I opened my eyes." Aragorn shrugged. "You know the rest of it."
Legolas was silent, which was the reaction Aragorn had expected. At long last, the elf's eyebrows rose a millimeter or so. "Oh," he said.
Aragorn couldn't help laughing, and Legolas had to admit, it was a humorous response considering the tale he was responding to. "Well, I don't know what else to say," the prince sighed, as Aragorn stopped laughing. "I think this is one of the strangest things we've been through, mellon nin."
"I think that is an understatement," Aragorn grinned a little lopsidedly. "But now we must turn from this matter, Legolas. There is much we've yet to figure out."
"Such as…?" Legolas prompted, unable to think of anything more important than figuring out his and Aragorn's emotions.
"Well, my life for one. You've saved it, but we have yet to figure out how I am going to keep it."
Legolas thought a moment, trying to grasp what Aragorn was getting at. "You're back," he said at last. "What else need we know?"
"I'm living on Bengwiil, Legolas." Aragorn's face creased in slight disgust. "I can't keep living that way. Eventually, Bengwiil will kill me again, and this time, I doubt there will be a return for me. I was very, very close to death this time. Another dose of that poison…" Aragorn shuddered inwardly. "I won't be able to live through that."
"Well-" Legolas shook his head. "We need to get to your father, we need to get you to Lord Elrond." He nodded, positive of his decision, and stood up off the bed.
"And what will Adda do?" Aragorn asked quietly, looking up at Legolas in patient questioning.
"What he did for me. He can- well, he'll call the poison out!"
"How? Will he cut a slit in my throat and bring it out of there? Like you?"
"How should *I* know, but he's the only one who can heal you, Aragorn, of that I am certain."
"Well, I suppose…I suppose there is wisdom in asking him what he thinks is best, but we have little time. Bengwiil's energy only lasts so long, and if-"
The conversation was broken by frantic pounding on the door. "Your highness! Prince Legolas!" a tear-chocked voice screamed. "Your highness, please! He-he's dead!"