CAUTION: MAY NEED A FEW TISSUES HERE. NOT AS MANY AS CHAPTER BEFORE BUT STILL NEEDS THEM.
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Legolas rubbed his eyes tiredly before carefully pulling off his tunic and dropping it on the floor. Stripping out of his clothes, he slid into the hot water of his bath and groaned slightly. The hot water soothed his worries and calmed his turbulent mind. It had been four days since Elrond broke the news about Aragorn and the human hadn't woken. Legolas and the twins had done everything they could think of to pull Aragorn from his coma with no success. The dragons offered advice and any aid they could give to help. Nothing seemed to work. Gandalf would make random comments about the stubbornness of humans when he couldn't reach Aragorn. Legolas had just reached the end of his proverbial rope in the department of patience.
Washing quickly, he climbed out of the tub and dried off before pulling on a fresh pair of clothes. Sitting in front of the crackling fire, he brushed out his long hair and swiftly braided in his warrior braids. After tying on this soft leather boots, he walked to the healing wing and to Aragorn's room. Swinging the door open, he slid to a stop upon seeing Elrond sitting by his son's side.
"Lord Elrond! I am sorry…I did not mean to interrupt your time with Estel," he said and bowed to the elf lord.
Legolas was finding it difficult to recognize the lord around the castle. He had accepted a change of clothes from the Rangers and was dressed in a pair of dark gray leggings, a light gray tunic, and a dark brown jerkin. For someone who constantly saw the elf lord in the finest of clothing, Legolas was finding it difficult to think of him as the powerful elf lord.
"It is quite all right Legolas. I was just about to go and speak with Sauros," he said and stood from his chair.
Legolas stood quietly by as Elrond said some final words to Aragorn. As he walked past the younger elf, Elrond placed his hand on Legolas' shoulder and lightly squeezed.
"Estel is fortunate to have a good friend as you Legolas. He is strong but he will need your help when he wakens. He will need all our help."
"You mean if he awakens. Do you not Lord Elrond?" Legolas asked sharply and instantly regretted it. "I apologize. My harsh words were uncalled for."
"No need Legolas. Estel will wake when he is ready. My son just likes to keep everyone on their toes and waiting."
Elrond left as Legolas took a seat in the chair that seemed to have become a permanent fixture in the room. He gently took Aragorn's hand in his own and looked at the two hands. One was tanned from constant exposure to the sun while the other was pale and flawless. Carefully flipping over the human's hand, he looked over Aragorn's palm and found the small scar he looked for. For some reason he was drawn to this scar and its cause. It was oddly shaped and in a place he would not have expected.
"If only I knew what you have gone through, mellonamin. Five years and no letter or any other type of message; and now you are in another place that I can not reach you or help you."
He sighed again and stopped walking to look around him. He had walked in one direction for a time, hoping to reach somewhere or find someone. It seemed that he was alone in this vacuum. Turning slowly, a searing pain suddenly shot through him and sent him to his knees as his arms wrapped around his stomach. Drawing in a ragged breath, the pain suddenly left as quickly as it came to leave him panting.
"So the human feels pain still."
Aragorn looked sharply to his left at the figure that was not there before when he looked. The man was dressed in dark blue leggings and a light blue tunic that rested on broad shoulders. He was barefoot as he calmly walked to Aragorn who forced himself to his feet. The man struck a cord of familiarity with Aragorn but he couldn't place the face or extract a name from his memory.
"Who are you? What do you want?" he asked almost angrily.
The other man sighed deeply, almost sadly and in pain. He walked forward and gently framed Aragorn's face with his hands to look closer at the Ranger. Aragorn looked into the older man's gray eyes and knew deep inside that he should know this man.
"You have grown into such a man, Aragorn. You have exceeded everything your mother and I hoped for," he said softly.
Aragorn could only stare for a few moments before the man's words came crashing down around him. His eyes widened in shock as he reeled backwards away from the man. What he said could not be true…could it? He looked closer and suddenly saw the resemblances. They both had the dark brown hair and gray/silver eyes. Both had the powerful, broad shoulders and sharp jaw line. Aragorn had to sit down before he fell down.
"Father?" he chocked out as Arathorn knelt before him.
"Aye, my boy," he confirmed softly.
"But how-why are you here? Where is here?"
"You are at the cross roads my son and you must decide."
"Decide what?"
"Which path you chose to take. Life or death? But first, think of the consequences."
"What consequences?" Aragorn questioned softly.
"What you would be leaving behind. You were hurt very badly and for a while your heart stopped beating. Your family worked very hard to bring you back. Your friend Legolas pleads with you now to return," he said and brushed a hand over Aragorn's eyes.
The white had disappeared and Aragorn suddenly found himself in a room with a fire burning strongly in the hearth. Arathorn stood quietly by his son as Aragorn quickly scanned the room before stopping at the two figures. He slowly walked towards the small table and gasped sharply upon seeing himself on the table. The blanket covering his body came up to mid-chest but he still saw the think bandages wrapped around his chest. His pale face was turned towards the direction of the fire as if to gain warmth from the flames. A soft sob pulled his attention to the figure that sat by his body keeping a vigil.
"Oh, Legolas," he murmured and knelt next to his friend.
"He can not hear you Aragorn. You are on a different plane of being that he," Arathorn said softly.
Aragorn looked sadly at his elven friend before slowly reaching up. His hand gently brushed over Legolas' cheek with a slight tingling sensation on his part.
Legolas jumped out of his seat as something cold brushed against his cheek. Scanning the room for anyone, he knew it was pointless; he hadn't heard a single sound of someone entering the room. The cold touch sent a shiver up the elf's spine that was unfamiliar with the concept of cold. Amazingly to himself, he almost sensed someone else in the room while his eyes saw no one. He stood in front of the table and looked around the room again.
"If you are here to take him then you can not have him. It is not yet his time to depart this world," Legolas snarled to the silence. "Do you hear me? You will not take him!"
Aragorn stepped back in shock at Legolas' fierce protectiveness. Arathorn walked up to him and gently touched his shoulder. They were once again in the white plain and now two doors were on opposite sides of him.
"Your friend would fight any evil to protect you. He would sacrifice his own life for you if it was called upon him to do so," Arathorn commented and clasped his hands behind him.
"I would do the same for him. He is more that my friend, he is a brother just as Elladan and Elrohir."
Arathorn nodded silently before looking up at Aragorn. "Which do you choose, my son?"
"I choose life. My physical pain would be nothing compared to their emotional pain if I were to leave," Aragorn said firmly as Arathorn nodded.
He walked up to Aragorn and gently grasped his shoulders.
"I am extremely proud of you Aragorn as is your mother. More than you could ever know. Elrond was correct in calling you Estel."
"Will I ever see you again?"
Arathorn smiled and placed his hand over Aragorn's heart. "I am always here whenever you may need me. If you ever hear a voice in your head that is telling you to be careful, then it is probably me."
Aragorn reached forward and tightly hugged his father. He breathed in deeply to memorize the smell that was his father. It was a mixture of fresh rain, pine-scent, and leather; it was comforting.
"Remember Aragorn: Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. Do not ever lose hope," Arathorn said before releasing his son. "It is the door to your right."
Aragorn watched as his father slowly faded from sight until he was alone. Unbeknownst to him, a tear slowly trickled down his cheek and hung precariously at his jaw line before falling into space.
He approached the door to his right and rested his hand on the ornate handle before turning it.
Lina watched curiously as a tear trickled down from Estel's closed eye. She had been asked to watch him while Legolas went to a council with all the adults saying a council was no place for a little girl such as herself. The elf did instruct her to fetch him if anything changed. Did a tear counts as a change? She sat for a moment thinking about it until he moaned. Lina leapt off the stool and ran for the door; that definitely was a change.
For a new seven year old, she ran pretty quickly down the hall. Her ponytail bobbed around her as she ran down the halls and around corners. Finally reaching the main hall, she jumped up and down to hopefully catch a sight of one of the four elves. Growing irritated at being passed off as a little naive girl, she stomped her foot and took a deep breath.
"Excuse me!" she yelled and was pleased to see that everyone stopped their conversation. "Where is an elfie?"
Several of the Rangers smiled slightly as the said 'elfies' pushed towards the front of the crowd.
"Yes, little one?" Elladan asked her as she suddenly realized that everyone was watching her.
"Uh…it is uh…I think Mister Estel Sir is waking up. He is moaning and crying," she said quickly in a rush.
For elves suddenly rushed past her running towards the healing wing. Elrond led the way through the halls before coming to a stop outside the room. He pushed the door open the remainder of the way and slowly stepped into the room. The others crowded in behind him as Legolas moved to stand next to the table. True to Lina's words he was moaning softly and his head was lolling side to side. Legolas leaned over the human and gently touched his forehead as Aragorn's eyes fluttered slightly.
"Aragorn…it is time to awaken," he said softly as the others crowded around.
"Stop leaning over me, you prissy elf."
Legolas jerked back in shock and looked down at the human. Aragorn carefully opened an eye and focused on the startled elves as a slight grin graced his lips.
"No need to look so startled," he joked weakly and started to cough.
Elrond helped Aragorn to roll over slightly as he coughed hoarsely and wheezed. Elladan brought over a cup of water and helped Aragorn drink the water. Nodding his thanks to his brother, Aragorn was eased back and closed his eyes to get his bearings.
"How do you feel, my son?" Elrond asked softly as he motioned for the others to back away a bit.
"Ada?" Aragorn questioned softly, confused at seeing his father here.
"Aye, it is I. How do you feel?"
"Like I died and came back."
"You did."
"I know that I did. My father told me so, Arathorn told me," Aragorn murmured softly, not catching Elrond's worried expression.
"How many fingers am I holding up Estel?" Elrond questioned and held up three fingers an at arm's length from Estel.
"Uh…three. I am not delusional ada, just tired," Aragorn said after looking at Elrond's fingers.
"We will talk about it later, Estel. Just rest and regain your strength," Elrond soothed and gently covered Estel's eyes with his hand.
Once he was asleep, Elrond pulled down the sheet and started to un-wrap Aragorn's chest. Elrohir lifted Aragorn's upper body and help Elrond with the bandages. Gently pulling off the bandages covering the sword wound, the elf lord carefully inspected the healing wound.
"The wound is healing well as is the others. I will leave it un-bandaged to allow the wound to breathe for a bit. Will you remain with him Legolas?" Elrond asked as he glanced to the flaxen haired archer.
"Of course, Lord Elrond."
Elladan and Elrohir promised to come by later and bring food from the kitchen. He moved the chair to the other side of Aragorn to be closer to the fire. Spotting a small pile of wood by the hearth, he dug through the pile until he found a suitable piece to carve. His boot knife became a useful tool for carving.
It was several hours later until Aragorn woke again. Blinking to clear his vision, he slowly turned his head to look at Legolas who was intently focused on his task.
"What are you so intent on elf?" he asked hoarsely, pleased to see the elf jump.
"Valar, Estel! You have already scared me halfway to Mandos, no need to finish the job," he said and set aside his temporary hobby.
"Who will if I do not? Someone has to keep you on your toes," he replied and rolled over slightly to start the process of sitting up.
"What are you doing?"
"I think it is called trying to sit up unless something has changed while I have been unconscious," Aragorn ground out as he carefully pushed himself up.
"Well I can see that stubborn human, but why?" Legolas asked and helped his friend to sit up.
"Because I do not wish to remain on this table any longer. I am gong to sit in that chair there and no one can stop me," he said and waited for the pain and dizziness to pass.
"Well then at least let me help you," the elf said and gently wrapped his arm around the human's waist.
Legolas carefully helped the human slide off the table and walk the few steps to the chair in front of the hearth. Seeing how Aragorn was dressed only in a pair of loose leggings, Legolas left Aragorn grasping the edge of the mantel. Grabbing the blanket from the table, he wrapped it around the human's shoulders and eased him into the comfortable chair. Pulling over a short stool, Legolas motioned for Aragorn to put his feet on it and keep them warm by the fire.
"Stop hovering Legolas; you are making me anxious," Aragorn muttered and relaxed in the chair.
"I do not hover, human."
"Then what do you call it?"
"Worrying about the health of a close friend," Legolas replied and sat across from Aragorn.
"You would fight away death for me. Death can not take me away when it is not my time. Is that not what you said? It is not yet my time?" he asked and looked away from the fire to his friend.
Legolas looked shocked at Aragorn as he weakly smiled. How did he know? He was still unconscious when the elf spoke those words.
"I was here, I heard you. That brush of cold air at your cheek was me. I had to decide whether I wanted to live or die," Aragorn said softly as Legolas stared at him.
"I am glad that you decided to live and stay with us," Legolas said softly.
"So am I. Who else will keep Elladan and Elrohir out of trouble?" Aragorn replied just as the door opened.
Two dark heads popped into the room and looked to the two figures sitting by the fire. Both smiled brightly upon seeing their little brother sitting up.
"Estel!" they both cried and he rolled his eyes.
Even for twins they acted too alike for him at times.
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*pumps fists in air* YES! GO ME! I can not believe it! 71 reviews *runs around room screaming* Oh my god! You love me! You really love me! *slaps self* Okay, I am better now. Thank you, everyone so much. I love every single one of you from the deepest part of my heart. Every single review I get just blasts me into space and I smile for the rest of the day like a fool. Eh gads I love all of you! Huggles for everyone!
Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.—Dale Carnegie
Dha-Gal- *huggle* YES! It is the infamous cliffie again! Heehee. Poppy loved the pancake and he thanks you very much for it. I think he still has the leftovers in his sleeping area in my closet. I hope it does not mildews *mutters to self*. The dip you talked to on the net is a dip and a moron. It might have been that he was thinking that you were older and he could hook up with you and then was mad when he found out he had the hots for a 14 year old. That is the only thing I could think of.
Frodo16424- *huggle* The dragons will return in the sequel so have no fear. I love the name Aurora; I just might name my daughter that…whenever I have children. That is a long time ahead in the future. Well not exactly long…I am babbling again am I not? I will shut up now.
Roz- *huggle* It is fine, I like disjointed reviews. It makes me wonder what kind of people review my stories. J/K. YEAH! Funny that you mention The Mummy, I watched The Mummy Returns a few nights ago. Are you hiding in my room? *check under bed which is kind of stupid because I own a loft bed*. I hope you liked this story as much as the others.
Snow-Glory-*huggle* I know, I just love all the angst in stories. So…refreshing. Yes, I plan on having a romance for Sauros. *starts to daydream about Aragorn, Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas taking care of a baby dragon before shaking head* Oh bad thought of them babysitting a baby dragon…but then again. Eh, I will toy with that idea later.
Grumpy- *huggle* I thought it would be a good idea to fly in Elrond. I hope you liked this story as much as the others.
Yoshi-fan2003- *huggle* You are very welcomed; my family is from Frankfurt but we already talked about this through emails.
Astievia- *huggle* Just think how many trees were chopped down for all the tissues that were used during that last chapter *shakes head*. Poor, poor trees.
Star-Stallion- *huggle before tackles Star-Stallion to keep her from killing Jasper with a sword* No, my lady! No, my lady! Let him go! Enough blood has been spilt on his account (please tell me that you recognize that line). Heehee.
Elvendancer- *huggle* Yes, late at night. I am an extreme night owl. I love the night time and would do everything at night if I could. But no one else likes the night time like I do. Curious thing.
tHe InSaNe OnE- *huggle* I will have you know it took me a while to connect the 'menfil anyone?' Once I did, I laughed for a good ten minutes before I could calm down. I can just see Estel running around the room screaming "GET IT OFF ME! GET IT OFF ME!" Heehee, oh I am so bad.
Carrie, aka Spawn of Sauron- *huggle* You just now found my story? I am so shocked! Not really, but it is okay. I understand how it can be passed over here and there. Well thank you so much for the compliments. Did you catch Aragorn? I hope you did, but you have to lend him to me once in a while. Deal? Deal.
Lauren- *huggle* I understand totally about being a night owl. I think it would be so cool to be a vampire. I am like addicted to Anne Rice and her Vampire Chronicles. Lestat is so yummy. Anyway *blushing slightly* I am going to have so much fun with Sauros and Aurora.