A Sun Will Rise
By: Emmithar
Rating: PG-13, just to be safe
Summary: When a fire traps Aragorn and Legolas in a cave, the two must struggle to find a way to survive, but after days pass Legolas grows more and more agitated, and Aragorn must find out why, and what he can do to help. Even as the days pass by, they must remember that tomorrow brings another day
Disclaimer: All noticeable characters/creatures/places/things belong to Tolkien, anything else is mine unless otherwise noted. I think that pretty much covers it.
Other stories in this series:
Family is Home
A Simple Hunting Trip
The White Wolves of Azscverbae
When the Leaves Fell Last Winter (Though out of order, this story is an important story. The reason it is out of order is that I had to do it for an English assignment)
And
A Sun Will Rise
Also, be sure to check out more stories written by my fellow author Carrie, and me. You can find our first story Feaear: Spirit of the Sea under the pen name of Carrie-n-Emmithar. Though it seems that FF is not bringing it up when you type it in the find section, you can type in Carrie or Emmithar and it will come up.
Author notes:
Thanks to all the reviews on the last story!
Okay, so the last story was a bit longer than I wanted it to be, it was supposed to end at chapter 12, go figure, but I had either the option of changing the last part of the previous story, or changing the story line for my three next stories.
Posting for this story will be a bit slower than normal, since I'm still working on it, but it is nearly done, and when I do finish I may pick up the pace, depends on how far I get into the next story.
Also, thanks to Cassia and Sio for letting me borrow their town of Strayton, your stories are the best!!!
Chapter 1: A Damaging Fall
The air was fresh, and the sun bright, two signs the group was glad to see. At first all one could see was a small white wolf, the same white wolf that had been following them days ago now lead the group. The past few days had been tiring, though it did not seem to physically effect the Elves. However, it was quite apparent that the human that traveled with them was not as resilient as the Elves.
"Estel, keep up will you? Rivendell is just over an hour away," Elrohir called over his shoulder.
The only response he got was an irate grin. Legolas stopped walking, turning to glance at the human. "Don't make me come back there," he warned.
"You don't have to. Just wait there, I'll catch up to with you sometime."
Elladan laughed. "I think it is best that we stop for a while, I do not wish to drag you to father."
"Who needs rest? I'm fine, I've just been awake for the last three nights, piece of cake."
Legolas nodded, "As a matter of fact it is. My kin has been known to stay awake for a week without tiring."
"That may be your kin Legolas, but you may have forgotten, I am not of your kin."
"Such a shame too, you would give wonders to the new fashion statement of Elves," Legolas muttered, glancing at the ranger's torn and dirtied tunic.
"You fair not much better, my friend."
"Come on," Elrohir called out, ceasing his stride, "It would be nice to get home before supper."
"We are resting at the moment," Elladan said, glaring at him.
"Who is? Estel? He said he was fine, now let's go. And don't you dare say that you need rest, it won't work. I've fallen for that one too many times now."
Legolas laughed at the last statement. "I suppose it is best to continue. Rivendell is not much further, and I do believe I'm all adventured out for the time being"
Aragorn nodded in agreement. "I can agree to that."
"You can't yet, brother," Elladan called out to him. "Just think of what father will say, you running away and all."
Aragorn groaned, shaking his head with a sigh. "Don't remind me."
The banter would have continued if it were not for Elrohir calling out to them. Quickly they caught up with the other Elf, seeing that their route had a sudden change. They had reached a ravine, too wide to leap safely. A bridge crossed it at some point, but the travelers were so far off course, they knew naught were it was. An old log lie over the large opening, fallen from where is stood towering over the other trees. It seemed sturdy enough to sustain their weight, and crossing it would prove no problem for the Elves, but for Aragorn, it was a different story.
"We could try and find the bridge, it may add another day or two to our travels, but it is a price I am willing to pay to see everyone home safely," Elladan said quietly. He was eager to return home, but unwilling to put his young human brother in danger.
"We can cross," Aragorn argued, "I can do it."
Elladan had been expecting such a contention out of him. "No, Estel. We cannot risk you getting hurt. If you slip, -" his eyes slid down the rocky walls to the river below, letting the waters finish his statement.
"But I can, I am able. You know my balance is fine. I wish to get home sooner rather than later."
Elrohir nodded, "As do I, but Elladan speaks the truth. You are weary, Estel, and things happen when people are in such a state."
"I can do it Elrohir, Elladan. You needn't protect me. I know what I'm doing," Aragorn stated, looking toward his brothers.
Elrohir nodded. "You have grown, my brother, but I do not wish to lose you yet."
"You won't. Come, I've done this many of times before," he protested, but when no answer came he started forward. "Fine then, I will go, you can find the bridge if you wish to)."
Elladan caught him by the arm. "Let us go first, make sure it is safe. If any of us are to fall I rather have it be Elrohir, -"
"Well thanks, I don't know if I can trust you again," Elrohir muttered, cutting him off.
Elladan glared at his younger twin. "-Or me," he finished.
Aragorn muttered under his breath. He knew that was not the only reason, his brothers would never treat him like an adult, not until he was a thousand years of age, and he knew that he would never reach that age.
But before either of them could cross, Nieninque jumped onto the log lightly and ran across without faltering, eager to explore the other side. His tail hung out behind him, waving widely. Legolas laughed heartily.
"It seems as if he knows the way."
Elladan shook his head with a smile, but made his way onto and across the log, Elrohir following shortly after. Once across they nodded at the two other companions, who were still waiting on the other side. Aragorn made a sweeping bow, holding his arms out. "After the Prince," he said in a mocking tone.
Legolas raised an eyebrow at the gesture, "Wouldn't the heir of Isildur like to go first?"
"Oh no, not before the Prince of Mirkwood."
"Would you two stop that? We are waiting over here."
"You go ahead," Legolas told him, "That way if you fall I can catch you."
Aragorn snickered, but made his way onto the log. He had crossed over logs many of times, and this time was no different, except for the fact that if he fell, there would be no ground to catch him until after a long fall. The log was wide enough to move across easily, and since no rain had fallen for some time, the log was dry, providing adequate traction.
But when he had reached the middle, something happened that he did not expect. With a sudden groan the ground lurched beneath his feet. Earthquakes were not uncommon to the residents of Rivendell, or for any town as a matter of fact, but one so large and sudden was hardly known to them.
Aragorn struggled to keep his balance, praying that the shaking would stop. But then he heard something that turned his blood to ice. With a cracking groan, the log began to roll as the ground shifted beneath it. Barely aware that the twins were calling his name Aragorn could see the one end of the log roll completely off the side.
With a quick step, he jumped toward the other side, reaching out in hopes that he would be able to grab onto something to hold him up. But his hands only found air as he began to fall; the shouts of his brothers and friend echoing in his ears as the roar of the river quickly grew louder.
*~*~*~
For a moment, the shock that his brother had fallen didn't register as Elladan held onto a nearby tree, praying for the shaking to cease. With in moments the ground stopped lurching, settling back into an unsettled quietness. This silence, however, was broken when Elladan came to his senses, racing over to the edge, crying out Estel's name.
Legolas was on the other side, moving quickly. The cliff was not as steep as it was on the twins' side, and he was able to find a path down.
Legolas looked up as a patch of boulders rolled down the other side. "Elladan, Elrohir, no.! You'll fall, You need to find another way down."
"I don't see him anywhere," Elrohir whispered into Elladan's ear. The elder twin nodded, worry filling his eyes. There was no trace of Estel, only the broken log that slowly was washed downstream.
"I can get down," Legolas said, catching himself on a branch as the gravel slid beneath him.
"Legolas, take care!" Elrohir told him. "We do not need anyone else injured."
"If only I hadn't let him cross ," Elladan said quietly.
"This isn't your, -""
Elrohir never finished, as the ground lurched under them once again. Too near the edge Elladan felt himself start to fall over, only to have a pair of strong hands grab onto him, hauling him back up. Legolas tightened his grip on the small branch as the shaking increased, sending a shower of rocks plummeting his way. A sharp pain coursed through his leg as a rock bit into his flesh.
Once again the shaking ceased almost as soon as it started. Legolas still held onto the branch tightly, as his leg throbbed in pain. He could feel blood running down his shin as he tried to right himself. A call from above alerted him to the twins' presence.
"Legolas, stay there, we're coming down," Elrohir called out to him.
"No! The cliff is too steep, you need to find another way down. I'll look for him."
Elladan shook his head. "Not with that wound you aren't," he stated, eyeing the bright blood.
"Just watch me," Legolas muttered, releasing his hold on the branch. He made his way down carefully, his ears picking up the faint sounds of the twins moving upstream, where the ravine was not as steep. With a final leap he made it to the ground, hissing as pain shot through his leg. He pushed the pain aside as he made his way over the broken log, hoping to find some clues.
TBC. . .