Disclaimer: This story was written for enjoyment only. I do not own any of Tolkien's characters.
Author's Note: Thank you to my reviewers! Your kind words are greatly appreciated. This next segment was much easier to write than the previoius one. I hope you enjoy it. :)
The intruding presence focused its complete attention toward the shrubbery that covered the Human. Moments earlier the growth had stirred eliciting its interest, but it was the odor of blood that permeated the air around it that spurred the lone creature onward. The predator's back arched as it surveyed what prey might possibly be ahead of him and slunk further forward. The sole wolf was mere feet away from Aragorn's prone body, while he watched and waited with curiosity as the pile of foliage before him rustled once again, and the animal weighed the advisability of whether to act or flee.
The virile wolf had been the alpha male of his pack until a few weeks prior when a challenge was brought forth by the beta male of his contingent. The confrontation between the two had been a critical one with the beta claiming victory in the fight. The elder wolf had been a cruel ruler of his pack and was unwelcome to remain with the group once the contest for authority had been decided. It was either be killed or banished, with the creature choosing the latter. He found his ability at hunting alone had been greatly diminished from his previous success as the leader of a large pack. Now an appealing prospect lay ahead of him and his hunger urged him forward. He perceived that whatever it was that lay before him was not the usual ungulate that his kind feasted upon, but working alone he would take advantage of what there was to be offered. The prey had made little recent movement, causing the beast to perceive its victim was either young, old, or ready to die making this venture all the more enticing. Whatever the game, it would most likely prove insubstantial, but offer little resistance, and he could feed on it until brighter prospects made themselves more readily available.
The coarse haired wolf moved closer to the foliage as his back arched all the more, and he pounced through the air coming down head first with full force upon the pile. His paws were now upon his prey beneath the brush and the animal was surprised to find that his quarry was much larger than he had suspected, but it offered little resistance coaxing the animal onward as it emitted a low growl of frustration using its paws then claws to rifle through the pile of leaves below him. If he was surprised to inevitably find it was a human within his grasp, he did not let on as the injured Man below him offered but a feeble protest of defense, encouraging the predator onward as his claws now came in contact with the man's clothing instead of the swathe of fronds that previously covered him. The animal triumphantly bared his sharp teeth while it emitted a deep snarl of satisfaction making ready for the kill, but his efforts were interrupted by a loud shout that rang out through the air surrounding him momentarily halting the animal's previous fervor as he turned to find out what it was that caused this grievous disturbance.
As Legolas rushed onto the scene, he discovered that the surge of awareness that had swept over him moments earlier had not been unfounded, and he continued his charge forward as his voice rose to echo throughout the landscape around him. His outcry had startled the wolf from his prior actions. The sole beast had discovered Aragorn beneath the shroud that covered the ranger, and he had ravaged through it making ready to claim his prey. With both bow and arrow in hand, Legolas readied to stop the animal in its tracks before it could do further harm to his companion. The gray wolf was scant inches away from mauling the Man beneath its haunches, its teeth bared, and readying for the kill, and the elf had but mere seconds to react and put a stop to its intent. The beast turned from the elf to the man and then back to the elf once more trying to calculate its decision of whether to remain with what assuredly would provide it a meal or to address this newest threat that came toward him.
It was during this cessation in the animal's activity, that the elf himself was compelled toward making a choice of his own, though only one answer lent itself, for as the archer trained his sight on the predator threatening his friend, he found himself unable to dispatch his arrow from his bow to provide the deathblow to the creature before him. Instead he was shaken to find his hands were trembling, and that his usually disciplined concentration was in a quandary, filled with uncertainty over his ability to offer competent challenge to what had arisen. The wolf's sharp teeth were but mere inches away from Aragorn's throat, and he found himself paralyzed with fear to advance his shot lest his aim should prove errant once more.
Time seemed to stand still as he wrestled with this indecision, until finally with a frustrated cry he let the weapon drop from his hands, and instead , rushed heedlessly forward, while drawing his daggers from their sheaths. His charge stirred a reaction from the creature atop of Aragorn, and the animal responded in kind to this new threat being presented to him. Reluctantly letting go of his assured meal, he lunged forward to greet this current menace head on, baring his teeth in a low throaty growl of attack.
The injured Man upon the ground had been stirred enough by the animal's assault upon him that he turned his head toward the fury that now arose to his side, and watched through fever glazed eyes as the two combatants converged upon each other, the wolf utilizing both teeth and claws while the elf opposing him swept hard and wide with the weapons within his hands, making contact with fur and flesh as he hewed and slashed. The tumult continued before the ranger until it finally reached a stop upon the ground a short distance away, finding the elf beneath the feral creature. Neither elf nor wolf moved as the minutes ticked by furthering the confusion of the disabled Human. His stifled, "Legolas?" broke into the stillness now surrounding them and brought the elf out of the battle weary stupor he had slipped into. The archer bucked wildly, tossing the dead animal from atop of him as he reacted to this beckoning call.
Panting heavily, he hastily tried to make it back upon his feet, but could not find the strength, only managing to crawl forward toward the prostrate form of his friend. Though heaving for breath, relief flooded through him as he made his way toward the Man. "Aragorn!" He answered in choked response. "Aragorn?"
The ranger stared back bewilderedly at the immortal creature that now slumped over him. His figure startling him in his fever induced delirium, for the Sylvan elf that gazed back at him little resembled the First Born creature that he had come to know so well. Legolas face was smudged with dirt and blood, some from his most recent combat, and other, the black blood of the orcs, from his earlier confrontation. His countenance was scored with scratches and abrasions, and his clothing was not only soiled with the same blood, but it was ripped and torn as well. The ranger tried to focus his fever weary gaze on one particularly nasty gash upon the elf's right forearm that bled freely before moving them back toward his face. Legolas' usually meticulously groomed hair was in great disarray both tangled and knotted and no longer adorned with the two braids he so proudly wore. "Legolas?" The ranger called out again, though his unfocused stare looked past the concerned elf.
"Aragorn, it is I." Legolas answered with hope, relieved that his friend had finally found his way back from the cloud of unawareness that had previously engulfed him. "Welcome back, nin mellon." He greeted, reaching out to soothe the ranger.
The elf could not have more bewildered as the ranger pulled away from the hand moving toward him as he muddled on in confusion with the following words. "Foolhardy...actions..." before finishing frantically as he hissed. "Elladan!"
The elf was puzzled by Aragorn's behavior, hesitant to extend a hand in comfort again lest he should further irritate the afflicted Human before him, so he used words instead to try and calm his friend. "Hush, nin mellon! All is well! The beast will persecute you no more. He is dead." And with these words, the elf began a precursory check to ascertain if the foul predator had harmed his friend any further. He issued a sigh of relief that Aragorn's injuries seemed none the worse from his recent encounter with peril, but the Man's clear agitation worried him as his confusion with the present endured. "Foolhardy!" He mumbled again as his head moved from side to side as if arguing with some unseen assailant. "Sorry!" He gasped before a grimace of pain crossed over his features. "My arm...." He began. "... is broken! I shouldn't have..." His words stopping as he struggled for breath. "Sorry..." He bit out again before his head lolled to the side.
Legolas' hand immediately reached forward in fright as he examined the man more closely. He found Aragorn was still conscious, though his alertness did not border on the present, and his remaining strength was ebbing dangerously thin. The elf allowed his hand to settle upon the Man's brow, convinced now that its presence was not so adverse, and he soothed his friend's hair back away from his fevered face, while he gently resettled him once again upon his back doing his best to make him comfortable. He rechecked his previous injuries while considering the words the Man had muttered only seconds before, their message suddenly taking on a new found significance as he realized where the ranger's thoughts now lay.
The ranger's recollection came from some fifteen years earlier when the elf had been visiting at Imaldris. Legolas had been on sojourn from Mirkwood to the elven realm for nearly a month's time enjoying the season with his friends. Both Elladan and Elrohir had made frequent jaunts with the fair-haired elf out into the surrounding woodlands partaking in both hunts and sometimes just outings away from the activities a buzz back home. It was during one such interval that the twins' eight year old foster brother had pleaded to accompany them, and though the Sylvan elf had not been keen about this added addition, he went along with the brothers' decision when they relented and allowed the boy to join them.
During this time away, they had been besieged by a pack of ravenous wolves while out hunting. Little rain had fallen that year, causing a drought in the surrounding area, impinging on the availability of game to be had both by hunters and predators. The contingent of elves and boy had sought what little was necessary to bring back to their home to be salted or smoked for use later on. Unfortunately the pack of wolves they had encountered had been foraging for similar quarry, and when they eventually met up, hunger drove the usually practical predators to act irrationally.
The hunting party had paired off earlier to increase their chances at bagging some game. Legolas had gone off with Elrohir, while Elladan stayed with his younger brother, utilizing their time together to instruct Aragorn in the finer points of using his bow while keeping a close eye on his safety. The young boy cherished this time together with his older elven brothers seeking their approval while striving to prove proficient in his efforts to equal their standards.
It was during one such time alone with Elladan that the two took a break to laze in the shade of a grove of trees from the afternoon sun. Suddenly the horses, which had accompanied them on their trek began to startle and grow restless. Immediately Elladan fixed his attentions on the landscape surrounding them surmising the circumstance unfolding about them. Their steeds grew increasingly jumpy pulling against the tethers that secured them to a nearby tree. "Estel," Elladan spoke out, trying to keep his voice level so as not to worry the young boy. "See to the horses."
Aragorn nodded, immediately complying with his older brother's wishes as Elladan moved forward allowing his eyes to scan the countryside around them. A formless line of movement dotted the approaching vista as the elf tried to narrow his line of vision to get a clearer perspective of what it was that was advancing upon them. But while Elladan stood entranced by this activity, Estel found himself overwhelmed by his responsibility to calm the horses as first one and then the other reared up upon him. His helpless cry of fright alerted his brother to his difficulty as the first horse broke free from its restraint, dashing forward to make escape from the disturbance looming upon the horizon. Elladan abandoned his stance as he rushed forward to aid the child, pulling Estel free from harm's way before he was trampled by the now frantic animal, but in doing so the elf left himself vulnerable to the spooked steed's charge and was knocked backwards being slammed hard into the terrain below him, and the brutal contact rendered him senseless.
The child immediately rushed toward his brother's side, crying out his name, "Elladan! Elladan!" before pulling him toward safety.
Elladan lay as quiet as death, his body limp and lifeless. Tears sprang forth from the young boy's eyes as he dropped down upon his knees doing his best to gather his brother's inert body toward him resting the elf's head upon his lap. Trickles of blood flowed from both Elladan's lips and nose and down the side of his face from a gash now present along his left temple.
"Elladan?" The child began in a choked sob.
What happened next was a blur to the child. The second horse snorted and brayed with agitation pulling against his restraining tie as a group of feral animals approached in the distance. The collection moved in an unusually straight line as they narrowed the stretch between them, and Aragorn fastened an untrained eye upon the danger closing in upon them. His grip tightened upon his brother's unconscious form as the realization that these wild animals were a pack of predatory wolves dawned upon the Human.
"Elladan!" He shook his brother once again, futilely trying to rouse him. "Elladan!" He shouted as fear took hold of his small body. "We must leave now!" He continued. "They're wolves approaching! Wolves!" He continued trying to awaken his unresponsive brother, but it was too late.
The pack of wolves had reached their location. Fanning out from their line of travel to encircle the quarry in front of them, their eyes passed back and forth over the scene in front of them, assessing the prey within their sights and ascertaining which kill would prove the most advantageous. The horse still with them kicked and snorted, doing its best to break away from the confines that still held it, and the wolves turned their attentions toward the least active of their game. Slowly they moved in further, their decision now made. Though the ungulate before them would prove most fulfilling, the two smaller creatures within their sights appeared to be the easier kill, and the pack let up a resounding howl as if in agreement. Encroaching further upon the two creatures laying upon the ground, the alpha pair snarled, flashing their teeth in warning.
"Elladan!" Aragorn cried out once again, before ascertaining finally that this time his brother was unable to come to his aid, and drawing his hand forth, he reached toward the sword his brother still carried, drawing it out of its scabbard before swinging it wildly in front of him while standing upright before his brother's prostrate form. He cried out at the wolves in front of him, shouting at them in warning. "Do not come any closer!" His voice rising in crescendo as he repeated once again. "DO NOT COME ANY CLOSER!"
The advancing pack halted their forward motion, and a few of the lower-ranking members even backed away from this strange display of activity. The leader of the group evaluated the situation before him once again, deciding not to back down as he let out a low growl and bared his teeth once more in an effort to encourage his group forward, then the alpha male lunged toward the young boy.
Aragorn's heart stilled in his chest as he did the only thing he could think of and used the sword within his possession to ward off the attack. He delivered a glancing blow to the feral creature, but it only served to stun the predator momentarily as it regained its footing before advancing once again, growling to its companions to join in with this onslaught. This moment of reprieve that Aragorn had gained with his actions had been enough, because galloping toward the scene was his brother, Elrohir, and Legolas.
Quickly the two elves upon horseback readied their bows as their speedy pace hastened their arrival toward the melee before them, and both archers let loose a hail of arrows toward the encroaching pack. Elrohir anxiously called out to his younger brother. "Estel! Gain cover! Quickly!"
The child shunned these words of aid, loathe to leave Elladan unprotected, and he remained beside him, guarding over him as he watched the arrows launched forth by the two elves fell many of the feral creatures, who had moments before surrounded them. It was only when a threatening growl sounded in his ears once more, that the boy realized the pack leader had not chosen to relinquish his pursuit in favor of the escape that many of his fellow survivors had decided upon with their rescuers' arrival. The gray animal arched his back as he readied to make one final charge at the two prone figures in front of him.
Somewhere around him, the child heard a shout of warning go up to get down, but he ignored it once more, bearing the sword in his hand instead, and his eyes locked with those of the beast that bore down upon him. As the wolf sprung up to overwhelm his prey, the boy moved the sword he held forward taking a short step back as the wolf landed on top of him bringing him down roughly toward the ground below. The added weight from the animal's descent knocked the breath from the young Human's lungs, halting any further progress on his part, and he felt something snap in his arm as he made contact with the rough terrain, losing the sword in the process as a blinding pain gathered through him causing the child to cry out in release.
"Estel?" A voice beckoned anxiously.
The burden of the wolf was still upon the boy, and he waited for the wild animal to continue its assault, waited for the gnashing of its teeth and the tearing of its claws to join the pain already coursing through his body, but no further discomfort arrived as the animal was slowly drug away from his thin frame, and the child finally acknowledged that Elladan's sword was deeply impaled within the dead creature's chest.
Legolas stared down upon him, his eyes filled with shocked disbelief as he surmised the child beneath the wolf was relatively unharmed, and the elf's body shook in fervent response.
"Estel!" A concerned voice called out to him again, and the boy realized that it was indeed his brother, Elrohir. "Estel!" He grounded out as he dropped down beside his small brother, and gathered him into his arms, his utter relief apparent as he incredulously replied. "You are safe...safe!"
The boy tried to stifle a cry of pain as his brother's grip upon him tightened causing the elf to draw back and look over the child once more. "What is it little one?" He asked
"My arm...it's my arm. I think it's broken." Aragorn's voice trembled with both pain and exertion.
Elrohir gently reached forward to examine it more closely, and the boy pulled back both in pain and fright. "No, Elrohir! I'll be fine! It's Elladan! See to him! He's the one, who is grievously injured!"
The raven haired elf hesitated, but only momentarily, as he moved toward his twin, whom Legolas was now beside and began to evaluate his condition.
Allowing the Rivendell elf to administer his superior healing knowledge, Legolas took a step aside to lend him some space while his eyes turned back in the direction of the young boy again. Thinking back to the scene they had rode up upon, he couldn't get past the turbulent feelings that the small child's actions had stirred within him. What the boy had done had been foolhardy. He had risked both his own life and that of his brother's taking posture against the wild predator. The elf was in awe that one so young could prove so brave, but it also troubled him deeply to think of the risk Aragorn had taken upon himself, and with that emotion still playing heavily upon him he spoke out rashly.
"Your actions were foolhardy, boy!" The Sylvan elf retorted, looking down at the discomposed figure before him. "You could have gotten yourself killed along with your brother!"
Aragorn's large eyes stared back at the immortal being towering over him as he tried to answer. His only response was a choked sob as his eyes filled with tears and clutching his injured arm closer toward his body, he took off away from the scene surrounding him.
Though busily administering to his brother, Legolas' harsh words had not gone unheeded by his fellow companion and Elrohir spoke out. "Your words were uncalled for, my friend!"
"But..." The elf began in defense before Elrohir interrupted him.
"The boy quite possibly saved his own life and that of my brother's, and the fact that they are both still drawing breath and will recover from their wounds, only urges me to offer thanks that the Valar was watching over them in their time of need."
Legolas stared back at his companion, but said no more as he moved off to collect the arrows they had spent during the attack.
Drawing Elladan into a more comfortable position before pulling his cloak up over his still unresponsive form, Elrohir moved off to find Aragorn. He did not have to look far, since both pain and exhaustion kept the boy fairly close by. "Estel" he breathed as he caught up to him, drawing the boy gently forward before carefully enfolding the youth within his arms so as not to cause him further discomfort. "Thank goodness, you're alright!"
"Elladan?" The child's choked sob of response was muffled as he buried his head against the fabric of his brother's tunic.
"Elladan will be just fine." His brother answered reassuringly. "If it wasn't for the fact that he has such a hard head, things might have proved otherwise."
Aragorn sobbed again as he began. "I'm sorry Elrohir, I didn't mean..."
"Hush, brother! All will be fine. There is no reason for regret. You did what you thought was best...what was necessary. You are brave, little one." And the elf hugged him closer momentarily forgetting the pain that such an embrace might cause the boy as he allowed his own relief to take hold. Drawing the youth back from him finally, the elf's eyes methodically moved toward his injured appendage. "I must see to your arm, Estel. I can't promise this won't hurt, but I'll be as gentle as I can with my healing."
Moving the boy toward a nearby tree, he sat him upon the ground, placing his back against its trunk to impede any further movement on the youth's part if he needed to reset the bone. Grimly he surmised it was a clean break but that the bone would still have to be realigned and a splint applied to hinder any unnecessary movement. Calling to his companion, he requested Legolas' assistance in finding some branches that would be suitable for this purpose, and some lengths of cloth to use in securing it in place.
As the other elf approached with what Elrohir required, the younger twin grasped his brother's arm within his own. His eyes looked down into those of the youth's, their depths reflecting the kindness and love that suffused his soul, and he smiled at his young brother trying to reassure him once more that all would be well. Then quickly, without warning, he performed the necessary procedure as the young boy's body stiffened in shock while his mind let go. Elrohir quickly moved forward to catch the weight of his young brother, easing his now still form gently down upon the ground beneath them while commenting softly. "Yes, Estel, let go of the pain. All will be well!"
Legolas stood but a short distance away, mesmerized by the love he witnessed before him, finding himself a little envious of the bond between both human and elven brother as he finally spoke up. "He has a brave heart."
"That he does, my friend..." The Rivendell elf agreed as he continued his ministrations. "... and one with the capacity to exhibit great love."
Legolas smiled down at the child now the man before him as he remembered how he tried to make amends for his behavior later on, promising to help the boy become more proficient with a bow once his arm had healed. The boy readily accepted, finding it easy to forgive his transgression. "Your brother was right, nin mellon." Legolas commented as he stroked the brow of his friend. "You do possess a great capacity to love and be loved by all who know you. You must not forget that and get well my friend, for too many hearts depend on you."