Author' Note: Thank you so much for all of your lovely reviews. I had
halfway expected everybody to have given up on me. So in return I have
actually updated within a reasonable amount of time! Yea! And to those
who loved the action, I must say I did too, hehe. And as always, I'm poor,
not Tolkien, and have way too much time on my hands. And now continue!
Chapter 25
Legolas continued to pull at the older elf's wrists. His chest started to heave from lack of oxygen and his vision blurred.
'Why did you do it? Why did I do it?' The questions were the only thing running through his mind.
Finally, an idea came to Legolas.
Twisting his hands into a new position, Legolas began to dig his thumbs into the soft flesh on the underside of Edrahil's wrists, a pressure point. Thankfully, Legolas felt the iron grips loosening. Not a lot, but just enough.
Using what was left of his quickly waning strength, Legolas pulled once more while he continued to press with his thumbs.
Air rushed into his crushed throat.
Legolas took a gasping breath before continuing to pull Edrahil's arms apart. But his efforts were quickly wasted as Edrahil stopped resisting and instead jerked his own arms away, standing in one fluid motion.
Legolas rolled onto his side and choked on his newfound breathing. He had never realized how sweet simple air could prove to be.
As he tried to catch his breath, Legolas peered at Edrahil, wondering if the older elf would do anything else. But Edrahil simply stood, staring down at Legolas.
"You continue to confuse me," he said in a soft voice, his brows drawn together.
Legolas pulled himself into a sitting position.
"There is nothing odd about my motives," Legolas replied in a grating voice. He coughed, trying to clear his throat.
"I truly did not intend to kill you," Edrahil continued as if Legolas had not said anything. "I wanted all elves to live peacefully, far away from the destruction of man."
"Then why not pass over into the Havens?" Legolas asked.
Edrahil brows furrowed some more, as if that was a question Legolas should feel stupid for asking. "Why should we be the ones to run and hide? This is our world, not theirs."
Edrahil sighed and stepped a little to the side, bending down to retrieve his sword. "Like I said, I had no wish to kill you or even harm you. However I see that you are lost with no way of returning. Trust me, you will be better off in the Halls of Mandos, away from all the suffering and pain. You can rest easy knowing that I remain here to clean up the mess the Vala made."
Legolas easily recognized Edrahil's intent and scrambled to get back to his feet, but in a blinding move Edrahil knocked Legolas back down. Legolas sprawled out onto his back, and for a second he looked only straight upwards. His instinct to immediately get back on his feet was quieted as he noticed something. The stars were shining brightly overhead, the clear night causing no obstruction to their silent vigilance. A small sense of calm came over Legolas, and he felt his muscles relaxing. Maybe Edrahil was right, maybe it would be better away from all this, a place where only the stars could bring him comfort now.
Edrahil advanced on Legolas, his sword held high. He saw the elf laid out, his eyes fixed on something above. His arms were stretched out to the sides, as if he was a divine sacrifice willing to meet his destiny. "I will not let it hurt for that long," Edrahil whispered almost to himself.
Legolas' thoughts filtered back to the same things he had been thinking when the mob had surrounded him, ready to end his life. Funny, there were so many people eager to take his life. Yet that would only be justice after all, he had taken many lives himself, sometimes through battle and sometimes through an inability to protect an innocent.
'A warrior does not give up!'
'I never wished to be a warrior. I just want to go to the stars.'
'Gimli will not like this.'
'His life will be easier not having to worry about me.'
Legolas took a deep breath. He could sense Edrahil not too far from him, but he kept his eyes straight up on the stars, hoping that he could fly among them soon.
But a small cry snapped Legolas out of his revelry.
Distracted, Legolas raised his head and looked to see what had happened.
Edrahil was standing right over him, just as he had suspected, but the sword he had held in his hand was now drooping to the side and his attention was not focused towards Legolas. He had turned halfway, looking behind his shoulder, and Legolas could see something protruding from Edrahil's back.
It was impossible, but it almost looked like the hilt of a sword.
Legolas wondered at this and looked further past Edrahil. There had to have been some sort of mistake or something.
'Aragorn? Gimli?'
Had his friends come to his rescue?
But Legolas saw neither Aragorn or Gimli.
Instead the now familiar face of the father Legolas had been trying to protect earlier was there. And it was his hands on the hilt of the sword, he had been the one to attack Edrahil.
'Foolish human!'
But the angry thought that swept through Legolas was not due to the father stopping his death, but at the fact that the father had just put himself in immediate danger.
Even as Legolas registered all of this, Edrahil was turning some more. The sword in his back was hardly a deterrent at all as he jerked it out of the father's grasp and turned to grab onto his neck, much as he had done to Legolas.
The father's eyes went wide in shock, he had thought Edrahil would go down after such a devastating blow. But apparently it had only served to anger him.
Edrahil threw the man away and down to the ground as if he were no more than a rag doll. And then he dropped his own sword and reached around to rip the blade out of his back. Flipping it into a better grip, Edrahil moved towards the human scrambling awkwardly on the ground.
Instinct overwhelmed Legolas.
Raising up from the ground, Legolas paused in his forward rush only to absently pick up Edrahil's discarded sword. He saw Edrahil's unprotected back, and then saw Edrahil raise his arms to bring the bloodied blade down upon the father.
Legolas only had a second to react, and there was no time for second- guessing himself.
An iron blade sank once more into Edrahil's back.
But this time, it found a much more vulnerable spot.
The father had driven it into Edrahil's mid-back and it had not been straight. But Legolas knew better and went right between the shoulder blades, pushing it through in one easy thrust.
Edrahil faltered.
He turned his head again, but this time he could not bring his body to turn with it.
Dark eyes met blue ones, and the two locked gazes silently for a few moments.
"You finally did something," Edrahil said, "that I can understand."
Legolas felt something tear at him on the inside. "I did not want to."
"I know," Edrahil replied in a softer voice, his throat choking as a small line of blood trickled from his mouth. "You were never a true warrior like me. You chose the life of a hero."
Legolas' mouth opened slightly, but before he could say anything the older elf closed his eyes and slumped forward. Legolas caught onto his falling form and gently lowered him to the ground. He laid him on his side, not wanting to upset the wound in his back any more.
But his cares were for naught as Edrahil's body went unnaturally still and Legolas knew he had stopped breathing. Yet one last glance at Edrahil's face revealed a smoothed expression, all the bitterness and worries erased completely from him.
Legolas stood slowly.
"May you finally find your peace," Legolas whispered in elvish. He touched his right hand to his chest and bowed his head briefly before extending the hand and then lowering it.
"He was right," Legolas heard a voice say.
Legolas looked up and saw the father now standing opposite from him.
"You are a hero."
Legolas only looked at the human. "Come," he said finally, "we need to awaken Lord Aragorn and let him know of what just happened."
"I am indebted to you," the man replied as Legolas turned away. "It may not seem much to you, but I will do all I can to find some way to make up for the damage I have caused you."
Legolas glanced over his shoulder and locked eyes with the father. For just an instant, the man felt a flicker of fear as he glimpsed something he could never fathom, some sort of otherworldly wisdom and sorrow. But the next instant his fears were erased as Legolas let a small smile pull at his lips.
"I am sure you will find a way to repay me twice over."
And then Legolas turned back away and started off down the street towards the Houses of Kings to find Aragorn.
And the man followed behind the elf, a creature he had always somewhat feared, but now was confused by. He would never be able to understand how somebody could hold such compassion for somebody else that had tried everything in his power to destroy him.
Chapter 25
Legolas continued to pull at the older elf's wrists. His chest started to heave from lack of oxygen and his vision blurred.
'Why did you do it? Why did I do it?' The questions were the only thing running through his mind.
Finally, an idea came to Legolas.
Twisting his hands into a new position, Legolas began to dig his thumbs into the soft flesh on the underside of Edrahil's wrists, a pressure point. Thankfully, Legolas felt the iron grips loosening. Not a lot, but just enough.
Using what was left of his quickly waning strength, Legolas pulled once more while he continued to press with his thumbs.
Air rushed into his crushed throat.
Legolas took a gasping breath before continuing to pull Edrahil's arms apart. But his efforts were quickly wasted as Edrahil stopped resisting and instead jerked his own arms away, standing in one fluid motion.
Legolas rolled onto his side and choked on his newfound breathing. He had never realized how sweet simple air could prove to be.
As he tried to catch his breath, Legolas peered at Edrahil, wondering if the older elf would do anything else. But Edrahil simply stood, staring down at Legolas.
"You continue to confuse me," he said in a soft voice, his brows drawn together.
Legolas pulled himself into a sitting position.
"There is nothing odd about my motives," Legolas replied in a grating voice. He coughed, trying to clear his throat.
"I truly did not intend to kill you," Edrahil continued as if Legolas had not said anything. "I wanted all elves to live peacefully, far away from the destruction of man."
"Then why not pass over into the Havens?" Legolas asked.
Edrahil brows furrowed some more, as if that was a question Legolas should feel stupid for asking. "Why should we be the ones to run and hide? This is our world, not theirs."
Edrahil sighed and stepped a little to the side, bending down to retrieve his sword. "Like I said, I had no wish to kill you or even harm you. However I see that you are lost with no way of returning. Trust me, you will be better off in the Halls of Mandos, away from all the suffering and pain. You can rest easy knowing that I remain here to clean up the mess the Vala made."
Legolas easily recognized Edrahil's intent and scrambled to get back to his feet, but in a blinding move Edrahil knocked Legolas back down. Legolas sprawled out onto his back, and for a second he looked only straight upwards. His instinct to immediately get back on his feet was quieted as he noticed something. The stars were shining brightly overhead, the clear night causing no obstruction to their silent vigilance. A small sense of calm came over Legolas, and he felt his muscles relaxing. Maybe Edrahil was right, maybe it would be better away from all this, a place where only the stars could bring him comfort now.
Edrahil advanced on Legolas, his sword held high. He saw the elf laid out, his eyes fixed on something above. His arms were stretched out to the sides, as if he was a divine sacrifice willing to meet his destiny. "I will not let it hurt for that long," Edrahil whispered almost to himself.
Legolas' thoughts filtered back to the same things he had been thinking when the mob had surrounded him, ready to end his life. Funny, there were so many people eager to take his life. Yet that would only be justice after all, he had taken many lives himself, sometimes through battle and sometimes through an inability to protect an innocent.
'A warrior does not give up!'
'I never wished to be a warrior. I just want to go to the stars.'
'Gimli will not like this.'
'His life will be easier not having to worry about me.'
Legolas took a deep breath. He could sense Edrahil not too far from him, but he kept his eyes straight up on the stars, hoping that he could fly among them soon.
But a small cry snapped Legolas out of his revelry.
Distracted, Legolas raised his head and looked to see what had happened.
Edrahil was standing right over him, just as he had suspected, but the sword he had held in his hand was now drooping to the side and his attention was not focused towards Legolas. He had turned halfway, looking behind his shoulder, and Legolas could see something protruding from Edrahil's back.
It was impossible, but it almost looked like the hilt of a sword.
Legolas wondered at this and looked further past Edrahil. There had to have been some sort of mistake or something.
'Aragorn? Gimli?'
Had his friends come to his rescue?
But Legolas saw neither Aragorn or Gimli.
Instead the now familiar face of the father Legolas had been trying to protect earlier was there. And it was his hands on the hilt of the sword, he had been the one to attack Edrahil.
'Foolish human!'
But the angry thought that swept through Legolas was not due to the father stopping his death, but at the fact that the father had just put himself in immediate danger.
Even as Legolas registered all of this, Edrahil was turning some more. The sword in his back was hardly a deterrent at all as he jerked it out of the father's grasp and turned to grab onto his neck, much as he had done to Legolas.
The father's eyes went wide in shock, he had thought Edrahil would go down after such a devastating blow. But apparently it had only served to anger him.
Edrahil threw the man away and down to the ground as if he were no more than a rag doll. And then he dropped his own sword and reached around to rip the blade out of his back. Flipping it into a better grip, Edrahil moved towards the human scrambling awkwardly on the ground.
Instinct overwhelmed Legolas.
Raising up from the ground, Legolas paused in his forward rush only to absently pick up Edrahil's discarded sword. He saw Edrahil's unprotected back, and then saw Edrahil raise his arms to bring the bloodied blade down upon the father.
Legolas only had a second to react, and there was no time for second- guessing himself.
An iron blade sank once more into Edrahil's back.
But this time, it found a much more vulnerable spot.
The father had driven it into Edrahil's mid-back and it had not been straight. But Legolas knew better and went right between the shoulder blades, pushing it through in one easy thrust.
Edrahil faltered.
He turned his head again, but this time he could not bring his body to turn with it.
Dark eyes met blue ones, and the two locked gazes silently for a few moments.
"You finally did something," Edrahil said, "that I can understand."
Legolas felt something tear at him on the inside. "I did not want to."
"I know," Edrahil replied in a softer voice, his throat choking as a small line of blood trickled from his mouth. "You were never a true warrior like me. You chose the life of a hero."
Legolas' mouth opened slightly, but before he could say anything the older elf closed his eyes and slumped forward. Legolas caught onto his falling form and gently lowered him to the ground. He laid him on his side, not wanting to upset the wound in his back any more.
But his cares were for naught as Edrahil's body went unnaturally still and Legolas knew he had stopped breathing. Yet one last glance at Edrahil's face revealed a smoothed expression, all the bitterness and worries erased completely from him.
Legolas stood slowly.
"May you finally find your peace," Legolas whispered in elvish. He touched his right hand to his chest and bowed his head briefly before extending the hand and then lowering it.
"He was right," Legolas heard a voice say.
Legolas looked up and saw the father now standing opposite from him.
"You are a hero."
Legolas only looked at the human. "Come," he said finally, "we need to awaken Lord Aragorn and let him know of what just happened."
"I am indebted to you," the man replied as Legolas turned away. "It may not seem much to you, but I will do all I can to find some way to make up for the damage I have caused you."
Legolas glanced over his shoulder and locked eyes with the father. For just an instant, the man felt a flicker of fear as he glimpsed something he could never fathom, some sort of otherworldly wisdom and sorrow. But the next instant his fears were erased as Legolas let a small smile pull at his lips.
"I am sure you will find a way to repay me twice over."
And then Legolas turned back away and started off down the street towards the Houses of Kings to find Aragorn.
And the man followed behind the elf, a creature he had always somewhat feared, but now was confused by. He would never be able to understand how somebody could hold such compassion for somebody else that had tried everything in his power to destroy him.