The man reached for his sword hilt, but the other man pressed the knife
harder against his throat, not quite drawing blood.
"I could slit your throat before you even half-draw your sword," the new man said. Legolas glanced around for anything that might be even vaguely useful as a weapon, but found nothing. Then to his amazement the newcomer stepped backwards, sheathing the knife.
"You need to learn not to fall asleep on watch, Halbarad," the newcomer said.
"You need to learn to loosen your grip," the man, Halbarad, said, rubbing his neck. "What are you doing here?"
"Your brother asked if I could make sure you didn't fall in a ditch or get into trouble with goblins again."
"In other words he wants the pleasure of killing me himself."
"Probably. What did you do to him this time?" The newcomer seated himself on the ground and Legolas realised he was witnessing a meeting of old friends.
"Embarrassed him in front of Firiel."
"Your brother aims too high, half the men in Eriador are courting her."
"Except those who are besotted by elf maidens," Halbarad said with a grin on his face.
"I'm not besotted!"
Halbarad's expression took on a dreamy look and his voice became mocking, "She is as fair as Luthien who walked Middle Earth in ages past. Her voice is sweeter than a nightingale's.'"
"Are you saying she isn't?"
"I wouldn't dare. If you didn't kill me her brothers would."
Legolas watched this conversation with undisguised curiosity. He could understand why a human would consider an elf fair, but didn't understand why humans would have such contact with elves.
The newcomer looked over at Legolas, and Legolas saw that he wasn't alone in his curiosity. "I see you've been putting the supplies you stole from me to good use."
"I prefer to think that I borrowed them."
"So you plan on giving me back the bandages and ointments after you've used them?"
"Perhaps stole is the better word." The newcomer smiled, then looked carefully at Legolas. It was too dark to read his expression clearly, but his eyes gleamed in a way that made the elf feel slightly nervous.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your new friend?"
"He wouldn't tell me his name. There's something inscribed on his bow, but I. . ."
"Couldn't be bothered to learn to speak elvish?"
"I'm just not very good at learning languages."
"Especially when you don't even go to the lessons."
"Well, if you want to show off your skills in elvish, his bow's in the tree." The newcomer gave Halbarad a puzzled look.
"I'm not going to ask," he muttered. He walked to the tree, then after only a moment's hesitation climbed up almost as skilfully as an elf. Not quite, but almost. Legolas watched in silent curiosity. Who were these two strange humans?
The man climbed down as easily as he'd climbed up, clutching Legolas' weapons. He looked at the inscription on the bow, then stared at Legolas in amazement. Legolas had no doubt the man had understood, and knew exactly who his prisoner was.
"Start a fire," he ordered, "I'll need some light." Wordlessly Halbarad laid some wood on the ashes of the previous day's fire. While he was busy, the other man took off a pack which was on his back and began searching in it.
Meanwhile Legolas had pulled himself into a sitting position, and was testing his leg to see if he would be able to stand. It still wouldn't bare his weight, he realised, but he might be able to get into a standing position using his left leg and his arms. Not that he would be able to fight very well even if he stood.
By now a slight blaze was going, and the man took from his pack a writing case. Placing it on the ground by the small fire, he took out parchment and ink and began to write. Legolas couldn't read it from where he was, but recognised quickly that it was being written in the gentle, curving strokes of elvish.
"Who are you?" Legolas demanded.
"My name is Aragorn, your highness," the man replied without looking up from his writing.
"Highness?" asked Halbarad in amazement.
"Yes," Aragorn said, still writing.
"What are you writing?" Legolas asked.
"A letter to your father."
"And how do you intend to deliver it?" Legolas was rather worried about what the letter might say. The thought of a ransom demand flickered across his mind. His father would certainly pay, but he didn't want that to happen if he could avoid it.
"Halbarad will take it."
"I will?"
"Yes, you will." Legolas wondered who this man was, that he could give orders and simply expect them to be carried out. He remembered a comment Halbarad had made, about taking the ointment from his lord's stores. Aragorn had said Halbarad had taken some supplies from him.
Legolas would have laughed if the situation hadn't been so drastic. If this man was lord of anybody then humans certainly had strange ideas about the rank. Aragorn finished his letter, and heated some sealing wax above the fire. He took a ring from a pocket to seal the letter, then looked towards Legolas.
"I don't suppose you have something that I could send as identification?" he asked. Legolas glared.
"I suppose I could send your bow." Legolas bristled with anger at that suggestion. He didn't want these foul humans touching his bow! "Then give me something else."
Aragorn knelt in front of Legolas. He reached out to take the broach which fastened his cloak, but Legolas' hands snapped up to grab his wrists. Legolas suspected that even a human child would be able to break his grip right now, but the man didn't even try.
"I'm not going to hurt you, I just need something your father will recognise."
"Why? So you can demand ransom for my release?"
He laughed. "That's why you're so against this? It doesn't occur to you that we might be trying to help?"
"Why would a human help an elf?"
"I swear on the name of Earendil I mean you no harm." In the shock of hearing a human intone the name of a figure from elven legend, Legolas released his grip. Before he realised what was happening, Aragorn had unfastened the broach. He handed it to Halbarad along with the letter.
"At first light you will leave for Mirkwood, and deliver these to King Thranduil. If his soldiers don't want to let you enter, tell them it concerns Thrandulion."
"Thrandulawhat?"
"Thrandulion. Just tell them." The exasperated tone of voice was strangely familiar. And if it weren't for the ears, Legolas could have sworn the facial expression the man wore was familiar as well. For half a moment he could almost have been looking at Lord Elrond.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Aragorn asked, noticing the look Legolas was giving him.
Legolas decided to go for the truthful approach. "Your expression was very similar to one Lord Elrond has sometimes."
There was a strange snort from Halbarad. When Legolas looked towards him, he had both hands clamped over his mouth and looked as though he was about to explode.
"If you dare laugh," Aragorn said in a calm voice that was also very like Elrond's, "I will personally hand you over to your brother."
Halbarad managed to maintain his composure long enough to remove his hands from his mouth. "Perhaps you should practice the 'if you even think about getting out of that bed I will tie you down' look for the next time you push Elladan off a cliff."
"How many times must I tell you, it was Elrohir." Legolas wasn't sure how to react to this. Not only did these humans know the sons of Elrond, but they spoke of them as if they knew them well.
"Then why does Elladan still blame you?" Halbarad asked.
"Because apparently I'm the better liar."
"What?" Legolas couldn't have put it better himself.
"Apparently both Elrohir and I were equally convincing at saying that the other had done it. That meant that it must have been me because I'm better at lying when I do something wrong." That set Halbarad off laughing so much that he was rolling on the floor until he couldn't breathe.
Legolas probably would have been laughing too, if he weren't too confused. And he didn't think his ribs would much like that treatment. But he didn't think it anywhere near as funny as Halbarad seemed to.
By the time Halbarad had recovered it was growing lighter. The man packed up his things, tucking the letter and broach securely beneath his cloak. Aragorn embraced him.
"Remember, say that it concerns Thrandulion."
Halbarad nodded and then disappeared into the trees. Legolas sat staring at his new companion, curiosity burning inside him. Who was this man? And what was in that letter he'd written?
***
Author's note: Grrr! No cliffhanger! I'll have to give you an especially evil one next chapter.
Sorry to all those people who thought the man was Aragorn, but I did bring Aragorn into the story. You shouldn't assume anything when I'm writing.
"I could slit your throat before you even half-draw your sword," the new man said. Legolas glanced around for anything that might be even vaguely useful as a weapon, but found nothing. Then to his amazement the newcomer stepped backwards, sheathing the knife.
"You need to learn not to fall asleep on watch, Halbarad," the newcomer said.
"You need to learn to loosen your grip," the man, Halbarad, said, rubbing his neck. "What are you doing here?"
"Your brother asked if I could make sure you didn't fall in a ditch or get into trouble with goblins again."
"In other words he wants the pleasure of killing me himself."
"Probably. What did you do to him this time?" The newcomer seated himself on the ground and Legolas realised he was witnessing a meeting of old friends.
"Embarrassed him in front of Firiel."
"Your brother aims too high, half the men in Eriador are courting her."
"Except those who are besotted by elf maidens," Halbarad said with a grin on his face.
"I'm not besotted!"
Halbarad's expression took on a dreamy look and his voice became mocking, "She is as fair as Luthien who walked Middle Earth in ages past. Her voice is sweeter than a nightingale's.'"
"Are you saying she isn't?"
"I wouldn't dare. If you didn't kill me her brothers would."
Legolas watched this conversation with undisguised curiosity. He could understand why a human would consider an elf fair, but didn't understand why humans would have such contact with elves.
The newcomer looked over at Legolas, and Legolas saw that he wasn't alone in his curiosity. "I see you've been putting the supplies you stole from me to good use."
"I prefer to think that I borrowed them."
"So you plan on giving me back the bandages and ointments after you've used them?"
"Perhaps stole is the better word." The newcomer smiled, then looked carefully at Legolas. It was too dark to read his expression clearly, but his eyes gleamed in a way that made the elf feel slightly nervous.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your new friend?"
"He wouldn't tell me his name. There's something inscribed on his bow, but I. . ."
"Couldn't be bothered to learn to speak elvish?"
"I'm just not very good at learning languages."
"Especially when you don't even go to the lessons."
"Well, if you want to show off your skills in elvish, his bow's in the tree." The newcomer gave Halbarad a puzzled look.
"I'm not going to ask," he muttered. He walked to the tree, then after only a moment's hesitation climbed up almost as skilfully as an elf. Not quite, but almost. Legolas watched in silent curiosity. Who were these two strange humans?
The man climbed down as easily as he'd climbed up, clutching Legolas' weapons. He looked at the inscription on the bow, then stared at Legolas in amazement. Legolas had no doubt the man had understood, and knew exactly who his prisoner was.
"Start a fire," he ordered, "I'll need some light." Wordlessly Halbarad laid some wood on the ashes of the previous day's fire. While he was busy, the other man took off a pack which was on his back and began searching in it.
Meanwhile Legolas had pulled himself into a sitting position, and was testing his leg to see if he would be able to stand. It still wouldn't bare his weight, he realised, but he might be able to get into a standing position using his left leg and his arms. Not that he would be able to fight very well even if he stood.
By now a slight blaze was going, and the man took from his pack a writing case. Placing it on the ground by the small fire, he took out parchment and ink and began to write. Legolas couldn't read it from where he was, but recognised quickly that it was being written in the gentle, curving strokes of elvish.
"Who are you?" Legolas demanded.
"My name is Aragorn, your highness," the man replied without looking up from his writing.
"Highness?" asked Halbarad in amazement.
"Yes," Aragorn said, still writing.
"What are you writing?" Legolas asked.
"A letter to your father."
"And how do you intend to deliver it?" Legolas was rather worried about what the letter might say. The thought of a ransom demand flickered across his mind. His father would certainly pay, but he didn't want that to happen if he could avoid it.
"Halbarad will take it."
"I will?"
"Yes, you will." Legolas wondered who this man was, that he could give orders and simply expect them to be carried out. He remembered a comment Halbarad had made, about taking the ointment from his lord's stores. Aragorn had said Halbarad had taken some supplies from him.
Legolas would have laughed if the situation hadn't been so drastic. If this man was lord of anybody then humans certainly had strange ideas about the rank. Aragorn finished his letter, and heated some sealing wax above the fire. He took a ring from a pocket to seal the letter, then looked towards Legolas.
"I don't suppose you have something that I could send as identification?" he asked. Legolas glared.
"I suppose I could send your bow." Legolas bristled with anger at that suggestion. He didn't want these foul humans touching his bow! "Then give me something else."
Aragorn knelt in front of Legolas. He reached out to take the broach which fastened his cloak, but Legolas' hands snapped up to grab his wrists. Legolas suspected that even a human child would be able to break his grip right now, but the man didn't even try.
"I'm not going to hurt you, I just need something your father will recognise."
"Why? So you can demand ransom for my release?"
He laughed. "That's why you're so against this? It doesn't occur to you that we might be trying to help?"
"Why would a human help an elf?"
"I swear on the name of Earendil I mean you no harm." In the shock of hearing a human intone the name of a figure from elven legend, Legolas released his grip. Before he realised what was happening, Aragorn had unfastened the broach. He handed it to Halbarad along with the letter.
"At first light you will leave for Mirkwood, and deliver these to King Thranduil. If his soldiers don't want to let you enter, tell them it concerns Thrandulion."
"Thrandulawhat?"
"Thrandulion. Just tell them." The exasperated tone of voice was strangely familiar. And if it weren't for the ears, Legolas could have sworn the facial expression the man wore was familiar as well. For half a moment he could almost have been looking at Lord Elrond.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Aragorn asked, noticing the look Legolas was giving him.
Legolas decided to go for the truthful approach. "Your expression was very similar to one Lord Elrond has sometimes."
There was a strange snort from Halbarad. When Legolas looked towards him, he had both hands clamped over his mouth and looked as though he was about to explode.
"If you dare laugh," Aragorn said in a calm voice that was also very like Elrond's, "I will personally hand you over to your brother."
Halbarad managed to maintain his composure long enough to remove his hands from his mouth. "Perhaps you should practice the 'if you even think about getting out of that bed I will tie you down' look for the next time you push Elladan off a cliff."
"How many times must I tell you, it was Elrohir." Legolas wasn't sure how to react to this. Not only did these humans know the sons of Elrond, but they spoke of them as if they knew them well.
"Then why does Elladan still blame you?" Halbarad asked.
"Because apparently I'm the better liar."
"What?" Legolas couldn't have put it better himself.
"Apparently both Elrohir and I were equally convincing at saying that the other had done it. That meant that it must have been me because I'm better at lying when I do something wrong." That set Halbarad off laughing so much that he was rolling on the floor until he couldn't breathe.
Legolas probably would have been laughing too, if he weren't too confused. And he didn't think his ribs would much like that treatment. But he didn't think it anywhere near as funny as Halbarad seemed to.
By the time Halbarad had recovered it was growing lighter. The man packed up his things, tucking the letter and broach securely beneath his cloak. Aragorn embraced him.
"Remember, say that it concerns Thrandulion."
Halbarad nodded and then disappeared into the trees. Legolas sat staring at his new companion, curiosity burning inside him. Who was this man? And what was in that letter he'd written?
***
Author's note: Grrr! No cliffhanger! I'll have to give you an especially evil one next chapter.
Sorry to all those people who thought the man was Aragorn, but I did bring Aragorn into the story. You shouldn't assume anything when I'm writing.