Disclaimer: This story was written for enjoyment only. I do not own any of Tolkien's characters
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Author's Note: A big thank you once again to all my readers and reviewers! I hope you continue to enjoy this next chapter! :)
Relesen Chapter 14
Elrond's gaze continued to move about the room around him. Though his arrival into it had been marked with chaos, he did not believe that his busy eyes had imagined Legolas' presence within its walls earlier. Now as his scrutinizing gaze made one final sweep through the space surrounding him, he began to wonder if perhaps his beleaguered brain had been playing tricks upon him after all.
Another low moan from bed beside him interrupted his thoughts, pulling him away from this speculation. Turning once again in its direction, he moved back to fill the space he had occupied only moments before beside his son. Elladan and Elrohir turned worried eyes toward their father. Placing a comforting hand against his youngest's brow, the elf lord issued several soothing words forth in an attempt to quiet the Man. The two younger elves listened intently as their father's voice worked toward calming their increasingly agitated brother.
As Aragorn's motions stilled and he lay once again silent upon the bed, Elladan spoke up. "He has awakened, Father, so why is he still plagued with such unrest?"
Elrond turned insightful eyes toward his eldest. "Yes, Elladan, he has awakened, and though troublesome was the deep sleep Estel fell into, it also provided him with the comfort of protection."
"Protection? " The elder twin queried perplexedly.
"Yes." The elf lord answered again before continuing on. "For while he was within its grasp, it kept him from experiencing the full extent of his injuries. Now that his mind has begun to reawaken, so the rest of his body will follow suit as well."
"Can't you give him something to relieve his present pain, Father?" Elrohir countered immediately.
Elrond's eyes instantly filled with regret as they turned back toward his Human son. "Though it may seem cruel, taking such a course of action now might only prove detrimental to your brother's recovery."
"How?" Elladan immediately interjected unable to hold back the indignation rising in his voice.
"By luring your brother back toward his previous somnolent state." The elf lord answered. "He could easily relapse into an unnatural slumber, and slip away from us again. I hesitate to initiate such a risk, even if what awaits him might prove to be disturbing."
"So though he has returned to us, this is but one in a long line of hurdles that he must overcome on his road to recovery." Elrohir concluded dejectedly.
Elladan spoke up once again as if his heart was breaking. "I cannot bear to think of Estel in such distress . . . not with all that he's been through . . . not with all he's had to overcome thus far!" Wildly the raven-haired elf's gaze began to search the room about him precipitating both his father and brother to question his strange behavior.
"What is it, brother?" Elrohir asked putting his concern into words only to be interrupted by Elladan's immediate rebuttal.
"Where is he?" The elder twin demanded. "Does he continue to hide from the hurts he has inflicted?" The elf continued forcefully as startled realization began to dawn within his two companions' eyes.
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Unsteadily Legolas advanced through the passageway before him, leaning heavily against its stone structure for support. He had no clue as to what destination he now headed toward only acknowledging the need to put distance between himself and the haunting scene previously before him. Breathing heavily and fighting off increasing fatigue, he continued on in his trek until finally reaching an impasse in the form of an enclosed balcony. Halting his forward progression, the elf swiped a shaky hand across his presently sweat dampened brow, while using his other arm to try and gain support for himself against the adjacent parapet. The inconsequential action brought pain with it, and he clamped his mouth shut to try and stifle an involuntary groan.
Wild-eyed the Silvan elf glared around at his impromptu surroundings immediately realizing its location was known to him. Though an infrequent visitor here, he had occupied this site before. The terrace he now stood upon lay at the far reaches of the elven fortress, removed a great distance from its occupied living quarters. It had been a setting of both solitude and great mischief for the prince. The latter, if he remembered correctly, had been in the form of an inadvisable challenge surfacing from a rare bout with idleness and taking place many decades earlier before Aragorn's arrival within the elven realm. The troubled elf let his thoughts scatter as he began to seek comfort in his surroundings' familiarity.
In his mind's eye he found himself once again in the company of the twins. Their dare from that long ago day had been born out of their shared boredom. With nothing better to do the mischievous threesome roamed the halls of the realm looking for trouble. Happening upon this remote locale, the sight of a rare walnut tree amongst all the other forestation offered up a challenge that the reckless trio could not resist. It had been decided that the first elf without benefit of touching the surrounding ground below them to bring back its shelled fruit would be declared the winner. Legolas recalled the daredevil feats each of them willing undertook to beat out the others, but it had been Elladan, much to the elf's younger twin's and his own chagrin, who eventually won out, though not before adding several scrapes and bruises to his lithe form. Burdensome thoughts were momentarily pushed further aside as his fatigued eyes began scanning the area surrounding him to search out the nut bearing growth, but he came up empty as the encompassing vista around him was now cloaked by overgrown oaks. Spurred on by this fleeting memory of a happier times, the fair-haired elf moved closer toward the parapet beside him drawing himself up upon its length to aid him in his search. 'Surely the tree still stood amongst their numbers.' He reasoned until the folly of his actions returned to him as he suddenly began to sway and felt his efforts to maintain his balance quickly flee from him. He acted toward righting himself only to end up collapsing in a heap upon the cool stone ledge beneath him as he waited for the uneasiness that had overtaken him to pass.
"Such a foolhardy action!". Legolas verbally reprimand himself as the buzzing that was now beginning to fill his head only increased instead of dissipating, compelling the elf to place his head down even lower between his now bent knees in an effort to regain some composure. "You cannot reclaim the past!" He railed on. "It is lost to you! Gone! Dead!"
With these last chilling words, Legolas' head snapped up. A storm of emotion now rioted in his deep blue eyes. 'Dead . . . Gone . . . as was Aragorn!' His heart broke with this admission. He had fled from his chamber only minutes prior . . . before the duration of his friend's short life drew to its inevitable close. 'Lord Elrond was right! He was a coward!' He had been too overwrought to remain with the room's walls and bear witness to his companion's final departure . . . ' "Oh, Estel!" Legolas sobbed while allowing his head to sink back down into his awaiting hands. The slickness of moisture coated his face at the contact as a hollow emptiness welled up inside of him preventing any further tears to be shed. "Aragorn!" He wailed again lifting his head back up away from his hands.
Unbeknownst to Legolas, a sluice of blood now marked his features, originating from the right sleeve of the tunic he wore, soiling its cuff and the hand below it in its drenching release. The elf remained incognizant to this blood loss being weighted down by his mourning. The buzzing within his head increased tenfold as a blank stare of grief now adorned his features. He continued staring out over the patio before him as the beating of his heart hammered even faster within his chest, while the second of his two memories now played out upon his tormented mind. For the irony of it did not leave him that it was on this very spot some seven years earlier that he and Aragorn had finally cemented their bond of friendship.
It was during the preceding weeks of this time that Aragorn had fought hard to return the archer back to the safety of Rivendell. The two had been taken captive, beaten, and tortured by a band of marauding orcs. It had been Legolas, who had suffered the worse from their reprehensible treatment, and he would have finally succumbed at their hands had it not been for Aragorn. Against the elf's better judgment, the Man had shunned his words to leave the archer behind, instead transporting him through densely covered thickets while fighting off their ensuing attackers. Legolas remembered little from the days that had followed being racked by both fever and pain from his injuries. Aragorn had nursed him through the worst of it, though delirium had acted toward submerging many of these memories beneath the enveloping haze that had surrounded him. Had it not been for the Human, he would have surely perished. Though still miserably weakened, his faculties finally returned to him during the last days of their flight as they reached the outskirts of Imaldris. The Silvan elf bore eyewitness to the calm and calculated conduct of his companion, no longer a child, but a true and gifted warrior with the makings to become a great leader. This knowledge both pleased and unsettled the elf.
In the days that had followed their return to the elven kingdom, both Man and Elf had kept their distance. Legolas used this time to reclaim his strength taking many long walks as it returned to him. He knew not of how the Human filled this time until the day they had met up once again. Their meeting had been upon this very balcony on which he now stood. Walking to this farthest reach, the fair-haired elf found himself upon the remote terrace overlooking the grounds of Imaldris. Believing himself to be alone, he stood and spent his time staring out over the bower before him gaining fortitude from its calming presence. Achieving his fill of both the beauty and solitude surrounding him, he turned to leave. It was then that he noticed the attendance of another at the far corner of the outdoor patio. It was Aragorn. The Man's arrival could not have succeeded his own for he would have surely noted his added presence. No, it was he, who had intruded upon this much favored retreat of Aragorn's. Looking up to meet the greeting countenance of his fellow companion, Legolas noted the Man's outward appearance toward his intrusion did not seem totally unwelcome. Acknowledging the elf's presence with a brief nod, Aragorn made no attempt to speak. Feeling the intruder, Legolas felt it necessary to find the words to excuse his disruption.
"Had I known, I would not have encroached upon your solitude." He spoke out.
A wry sparkle glinted in the Human's eyes at the elf's words, though he did not allude to it with his answer. "Though isolated, I lay no prior claim to this seclusion. It is yours to enjoy as well as mine for as long as you wish."
"Thank you." The elf countered somewhat stiffly before finishing with. "Though I believe you may misrepresent the importance of this location to yourself, and are just trying to be accommodating toward my sudden intrusion into your privacy."
The Man laughed in earnest now totally discomforting the elf. "Oh, if it were only mine to claim! No, I willingly share it with all, yourself included. Do not stand on formality, Legolas, a grievous fault of which you are so inclined toward."
"Formality?" The elf exclaimed, his voice raising a few decibels with his appall. "I can assure you I do not stand upon such pretense!"
"Hogwash!" Aragorn countered immediately, a wicked grin filling his countenance. "Elladan and Elrohir have both assured me that somewhere buried beneath that stiff exterior of yours is a kindred spirit, though I have yet to witness any evidence of its bearing."
A dangerous light flickered in Legolas' azure eyes as he allowed himself to be bated even further by the human's softly spoken words. "Stiff?" He interjected when his indignation cooled sufficiently to allow him further speech.
"Yes, and have I mentioned yet the inordinate amount of time you spend in front of a looking glass?..."
A flush of red crept up Legolas's neck to color his face. Had not the human only days previously saved his own life, he might have charged forth across the distance separating them and exacted his own brand of revenge for the slanderous accusations just uttered against him. But finding his much sought after reserve at calm quickly depleting within himself, he hastily turned to go. It was then that he heard the ensuing ring of laughter that met his departure. Unable to quell the rising tide of anger within himself, he turned to confront the Man before him and he noted the previous wry grin had been replaced by a genuine smile.
Noticing the elf's increased fury, Aragorn held up his hands to ward him off. "Peace, Legolas! I see though your body is healing, your temperament is still bruised. Please, my friend, do not assault me, for my words were only made in jest. I must admit that the wrath I see presently burning within your eyes, is even more frightening than the prospect of reencountering that horde of orcs we just faced off with."
Aragorn noted with his words that Legolas' previous resolve began to dissipate and the Silvan elf answered. "How can you joke about such a thing?"
"How can I not?" The man retorted in all sincerity. "For to not do so would allow its gravity to overwhelm me."
The elf raised a questioning eyebrow to the Man's response before replying. "Still I would not find amusement with such devastation."
"Never!" Aragorn answered. "Never would I make light about the death and destruction the forces of evil are wreaking upon our lands, but I cannot not allow its heaviness to bear down upon me during my every waking moment for to do so would be ruinous. We must seek out the pleasure and the laughter in this life, even from the very smallest of things whenever and wherever we can find them, nin mellon."
Legolas' gaze shifted back toward Aragorn's. The man's final words hitting him hard. Aragorn had called him 'my friend.' Were they friends? The elf wondered. Surely the two had been through much together during the horrendous preceding weeks, but were they now friends? Brothers in arms? Companions? A part of him like to think so, but still another part of him held back. Could an Elf and a Human truly be friends? He pondered.
Noting Legolas' hesitancy, Aragorn suddenly reached behind himself to withdraw something from the far corner of the balcony kept concealed by its shadows. As the Man's hand extended forward toward him, he held the elf's bow within it.
Confusion marked Legolas' countenance as he began to take from the Man what he now offered to him. Aragorn spoke up. "When we were making our escape from the orc encampment, I had only time enough to recover one bow and quiver along with my sword. The bow was yours." The Human acknowledged. "I meant no deceit through my actions, but necessity dictated that I should use it."
Noting Legolas' continued bewilderment, Aragorn went on to explain. "You made it clear a long time ago that none besides yourself was to touch it let alone use it. I am sorry, Legolas."
Legolas shook his head in disbelief at Aragorn's need for explanation or apology as he answered. "But you saved my life, Aragorn?..."
"Aye." The Man replied gravely.
"Then how could you expect me to be disgruntled by your use of my bow?" The perplexed elf questioned.
"Because it is special to you. There are none that surpass it either in beauty or craftsmanship."
"Still . . . " Legolas began only to find his words cut short by the emotions suffusing him as the remembrance of Aragorn's last few words filtered through his now cluttered brain only to be amended. 'There are none that surpass him . . . ' An odd rush of warmth filled the elf's soul during that moment as he finally took in the sight of the Human before him and all that he stood for. Aragorn was truly the best of Men.
Placing the bow's weight back into his companion's hand, Aragorn responded. "I am giving it back to you. You caught me unsuspectingly today. I've spent the better part of this past week here in this seclusion working upon it and fashioning new arrows, so that it would be worthy of being returned to you. I am honored to place it back within your hands, Legolas, now that you are well once more. Someday if both time and the fates permit us, I hope to fight by your side again." The Man's own last words were marked with emotion.
Legolas remained speechless, but it was his next gesture that acted toward sealing the long awaited friendship between Man and Elf. Taking his free hand, he placed it over Aragorn's upon the bow in agreement and appreciation for all that had taken place.
Now still perched upon the parapet, a crushing sadness consumed the elf. His friend was now most likely dead, and the bond of friendship between them no more. Pain knifed through his soul only to be replaced moments later by an all-encompassing numbness that spread throughout him in deathless claim. The droning abuzz within his brain was now incessant as he raised his head in despair, while he prepared to gather his legs from under him in a desperate attempt to stand. An uneasy wooziness crept in to accompany the preceding numbness as the elf's shaky efforts failed with his struggle. A noise entering in upon the balcony halted his progress as his blood slick hand slipped out from under him precariously upsetting his attempt to maintain his balance. Turning dazed eyes to note who now approached, the elf's heart was suddenly in his throat. For there before him stood Aragorn or at least a hazy apparition of his dearly departed friend.
"Sweet Elbereth!" The Silvan elf breathed, as he felt himself begin to slip.
Another voice followed immediately calling out in warning. "Legolas! Keep still! Do not move!"
Author's Note: Well I hope that wasn't too confusing. All will be explained in the following chapters. If it will help any, please note this story is not labeled as a tragedy. :) Yes, the story is drawing to a conclusion, though I'm still not sure how many chapters it will take to achieve that accomplishment. I am going to try to keep to my previous schedule of posting one chapter a week until it does, and will post sooner if both time and creativity allow me. I had a hard time with this most recent chapter. I think extended time away from a story makes it more difficult when you return to it. This is not how I envisioned the chapter as taking place when I left for vacation, but I've kept those notes to use for later on. Thank you all for your kind words especially concerning my trip. It was very relaxing and fulfilling. I caught up on some much needed rest that writing fan fiction usually impinges upon. :)
I'm not sure if there were walnut trees on Middle-earth. I searched the Enclyclopedia of Arda for some mention of either fruit or nut bearing trees in Tolkien's works, but came up empty on both accounts. Forgive me for this discrepancy, though I'm sure there are many more glaring ones throughout the text of my story both in grammar and content. :) From what I could gather from both weather and the locale of Rivendell, it's possible that such a tree could survive upon its grounds. Until next time! Sue aka-Quickbeam. :)