Aragorn had dropped his sword when Legolas had pulled him to the ground, and wondered if whomever was in the doorway would see him going for it. Unfortunately a sword was no use when the enemy had bows, and a broken sword was even less.
Aragorn glanced quickly across at Legolas. Even in the darkness, he could see the elf was tensed, ready to leap to his feet when chance allowed. Aragorn shifted himself, imperceptibly to the figures in the doorway, putting him in a better position to rise and fight. He was lying on his front, but he raised himself just slightly onto his knees and hands. He would be kneeling in less than a second of moving and standing immediately after.
One of them came closer, but the other kept his arrow aimed at them. The figure came to Aragorn first, whether by chance or purpose, and Aragorn was ready for him. The man came round behind Aragorn, drawing a short dagger, and Aragorn pushed himself up quickly. His sudden shift in position put him behind the man and a grab round the legs sent the man crashing to the ground.
He heard the sound of an arrow being let fly, then heard it strike wood. He wasted no time in grabbing his sword, bringing it round, still sheathed, into the man's head. The blow sent him into the realms of unconsciousness.
Aragorn hurried to his feet, searching out Legolas as he did so. Legolas was at the doorway, dealing with the second man. Aragorn relaxed momentarily, seeing he was safe, then Legolas twisted slightly, and something on his side gleamed darkly in the moonlight. The arrow must have grazed his side.
The man dealt Legolas a savage blow to the head and the elf crumpled. Aragorn was charging towards him, when someone else took out the attacker for him. He fell dead, an arrow piercing his back.
Whether whoever had shot him was aiming for him or Legolas didn't matter for the moment. Aragorn's first concern was seeing that Legolas was alright. He knelt by his side, keeping against the wall so he wouldn't present a clear target, he checked breathing. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding when he saw the chest rise and fall. But Legolas' eyes were closed.
Aragorn seized the man's bow, ready to face whoever was still out there, but never even placed an arrow on the string. He raised his head to view the point of an arrow only inches from his face. No man could have crept up on him unheard and, sure enough, the moonlight revealed the pointed tips of ears.
"I'm am a friend," he said swiftly in elvish.
The elf looked at his fallen prince, then back at Aragorn, without ever altering his aim.
"You are Aragorn?" he asked in his own language.
"Yes." Aragorn thought that for once luck might be on his side. The king of Mirkwood must have received his letter and sent help after his son.
The elf stared at him for a moment, his face in shadow so Aragorn couldn't make out his expression. He had a feeling though that it wasn't good. At last the elf lowered his bow, though he made no move to help Aragorn up.
Aragorn stood, ignoring the pain in his back and side. The night's exertions hadn't been kind to his injuries, and he had a feeling this brief struggle might have reopened a couple of cuts. The elf gave a short whistle, clearly a signal, and another two appeared beside him.
"I will take care of his highness," the first elf said, "bind this human."
"What?" Aragorn had barely enough time to begin to protest when firm hands wrapped around his arms. The grasp on his already painful left arm stopped any thought of struggling. Besides, he had no wish to hurt elves.
"You will be taken to King Thranduil to answer form your crimes."
"What crimes?" Aragorn's arms were now securely tied behind him, and his left arm and back were protesting savagely to this treatment. He was now certain he was bleeding again.
"Kidnapping a prince of Mirkwood, attempting to capture other elves for slavery."
"I've done nothing to Legolas but try and help him." The elf's answer to that was a blow across Aragorn's cheek that almost made him fall backwards.
"Do not speak of the prince with such disrespect." He was shoved roughly past Legolas' still form and out into the night. He could see now that there were more elves about. A sharp, frightened cry caused Aragorn to turn to the place where Emerin and Lenna had remained hidden.
Emerin was moving forward into the moonlight, the tip of a sword pressed to his back. Lenna was struggling in the arms of an elf.
"Lenna!" Aragorn gasped.
"Agorn! Agorn!" Lenna called as she was brought closer.
"Don't hurt her!" Aragorn said, "She's but a child."
"Unlike humans, we do not hurt innocents." Lenna didn't seem to understand what was going on, and struggled fiercely and uselessly.
"Lenna, be still," Aragorn warned her. She did still her struggles slightly. "I won't let them hurt you, Lenna." He wasn't entirely sure how he was supposed to stop them if they tried, but he doubted they would try.
Lenna was bound securely but kindly. The elves were less generous with Emerin. They set off quickly, walking from the slave market at a pace Lenna couldn't keep up with and so was carried. Legolas was also carried, held gently in the arms of the elf who had ordered Aragorn bound.
Within a few minutes they were at the town wall. The gate stood unguarded, for which Aragorn was immensely grateful. The group must have cleared the way when they entered. He hadn't thought through the escape plan as far as getting past the gate.
As it was they were outside quickly, and the elf who held Legolas whistled. Elven horses came trotting up in answer to the call. Aragorn found himself seated ahead of one of the elves, and saw that the others were treated the same way. Legolas' head fell back against the chest of the one who rode behind him. Aragorn was beginning to worry for him. It must have been a severe blow for him to remain unconscious for so long, and there was still no sign of him stirring. Any injuries he might have had could well have been aggravated by moving him, and unless the elf was incredibly fast, the arrow wound was still untreated.
He somehow doubted that his advice would be well received by the elves.
***
Legolas felt hands on his hand, and felt the pain. Barely conscious, he was fighting against them, fearing he had been recaptured.
"You are safe," a voice said softly in elvish.
"Aragorn?" he asked, opening his eyes, blinking in the bright sunlight. He was surprised to find that the face that greeted his gaze wasn't human.
"Nay, my lord," he said. It was one of his father's soldiers, Tamil, he thought his name was. "You are safe now."
Recent memories sifted through his foggy mind. "Where is Aragorn?" he asked.
"He is here," Tamil replied, "We have him securely bound and guarded for the journey back to Mirkwood. Your father can see to his trial and execution on our return."
"Execution?" Legolas' mind must be fussier than he'd thought. He couldn't see why Aragorn would be executed. "He saved my life," Legolas said, "He came to help rescue me from slavery instead of just escaping himself. He risked his life for mine when many others would have left me there."
"We thought," Tamil said, "that he was the one who captured you. The other human came to Mirkwood with a letter from him and your father sent us after you. We were attacked by slavers at the point where you were supposed to be. We assumed Aragorn had set a trap, intending to gain several elven slaves."
Legolas shook his head, immediately regretting it as it swum in pain. "Aragorn was captured by the same slavers I was. He has done nothing but try to help me. Have him released at once."
Tamil went to do as he was ordered, and a few moments later Aragorn was at his side. The human knelt beside him and helped him into a sitting position.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, your highness." From the expression on Aragorn's face, Legolas guessed he thought he meant helping him sit up.
"I meant thank you for everything. Thank you for saving my life."
"Again, you're welcome."
"You may act as though it's nothing, Aragorn, but you risked your life for me when I have shown you no kindness. Why?"
"For the same reason you wanted to help Lenna and Emerin escape," Aragorn said, "Kindness." At the mere mention of her name, Lenna appeared. Tamil was standing behind her, watching her fling her arms around Legolas with severe disapproval.
"Lenna, don't like nelfs," she said, "Nelfs nasty."
"You like one elf," Aragorn said, clearly struggling not to laugh.
"Leggy's nice. Leggy hoom like us."
"Hoom?" Legolas enquired, raising his eyebrows at Aragorn, who was on the verge of hysterics.
"I think you've just been made an honorary human," Aragorn said, adding a hasty "your highness" when he saw the look on Tamil's face.
"Leggy's not high," Lenna said, "he's lying down."
That started Legolas laughing, which aggravated the wound where the arrow had struck him during the fight at the slave market. He reached a hand to his side, moving sharply, which just made his head throb more painfully than before.
"You try explaining titles to her," he muttered, closing his eyes again, "my head hurts too much to cope."
"No, I'll save that pleasure for you when we reach your home."
Legolas groaned, "Hopefully I'll be dead before then."
"Why you want to die?" Lenna asked, sounding very concerned. Legolas did something he knew he'd never be allowed to do in his own home, and pulled Lenna into his arms, hugging her closely and laughing into her hair. He couldn't understand how anyone could have been so cruel as to try and hurt this sweet, innocent child.
***
Author's note: More sweet Lenna moments. Bet you never guessed elves would be coming to the rescue. If you did, have ten points. They're completely worthless, but you can have them if you really want.
Aragorn glanced quickly across at Legolas. Even in the darkness, he could see the elf was tensed, ready to leap to his feet when chance allowed. Aragorn shifted himself, imperceptibly to the figures in the doorway, putting him in a better position to rise and fight. He was lying on his front, but he raised himself just slightly onto his knees and hands. He would be kneeling in less than a second of moving and standing immediately after.
One of them came closer, but the other kept his arrow aimed at them. The figure came to Aragorn first, whether by chance or purpose, and Aragorn was ready for him. The man came round behind Aragorn, drawing a short dagger, and Aragorn pushed himself up quickly. His sudden shift in position put him behind the man and a grab round the legs sent the man crashing to the ground.
He heard the sound of an arrow being let fly, then heard it strike wood. He wasted no time in grabbing his sword, bringing it round, still sheathed, into the man's head. The blow sent him into the realms of unconsciousness.
Aragorn hurried to his feet, searching out Legolas as he did so. Legolas was at the doorway, dealing with the second man. Aragorn relaxed momentarily, seeing he was safe, then Legolas twisted slightly, and something on his side gleamed darkly in the moonlight. The arrow must have grazed his side.
The man dealt Legolas a savage blow to the head and the elf crumpled. Aragorn was charging towards him, when someone else took out the attacker for him. He fell dead, an arrow piercing his back.
Whether whoever had shot him was aiming for him or Legolas didn't matter for the moment. Aragorn's first concern was seeing that Legolas was alright. He knelt by his side, keeping against the wall so he wouldn't present a clear target, he checked breathing. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding when he saw the chest rise and fall. But Legolas' eyes were closed.
Aragorn seized the man's bow, ready to face whoever was still out there, but never even placed an arrow on the string. He raised his head to view the point of an arrow only inches from his face. No man could have crept up on him unheard and, sure enough, the moonlight revealed the pointed tips of ears.
"I'm am a friend," he said swiftly in elvish.
The elf looked at his fallen prince, then back at Aragorn, without ever altering his aim.
"You are Aragorn?" he asked in his own language.
"Yes." Aragorn thought that for once luck might be on his side. The king of Mirkwood must have received his letter and sent help after his son.
The elf stared at him for a moment, his face in shadow so Aragorn couldn't make out his expression. He had a feeling though that it wasn't good. At last the elf lowered his bow, though he made no move to help Aragorn up.
Aragorn stood, ignoring the pain in his back and side. The night's exertions hadn't been kind to his injuries, and he had a feeling this brief struggle might have reopened a couple of cuts. The elf gave a short whistle, clearly a signal, and another two appeared beside him.
"I will take care of his highness," the first elf said, "bind this human."
"What?" Aragorn had barely enough time to begin to protest when firm hands wrapped around his arms. The grasp on his already painful left arm stopped any thought of struggling. Besides, he had no wish to hurt elves.
"You will be taken to King Thranduil to answer form your crimes."
"What crimes?" Aragorn's arms were now securely tied behind him, and his left arm and back were protesting savagely to this treatment. He was now certain he was bleeding again.
"Kidnapping a prince of Mirkwood, attempting to capture other elves for slavery."
"I've done nothing to Legolas but try and help him." The elf's answer to that was a blow across Aragorn's cheek that almost made him fall backwards.
"Do not speak of the prince with such disrespect." He was shoved roughly past Legolas' still form and out into the night. He could see now that there were more elves about. A sharp, frightened cry caused Aragorn to turn to the place where Emerin and Lenna had remained hidden.
Emerin was moving forward into the moonlight, the tip of a sword pressed to his back. Lenna was struggling in the arms of an elf.
"Lenna!" Aragorn gasped.
"Agorn! Agorn!" Lenna called as she was brought closer.
"Don't hurt her!" Aragorn said, "She's but a child."
"Unlike humans, we do not hurt innocents." Lenna didn't seem to understand what was going on, and struggled fiercely and uselessly.
"Lenna, be still," Aragorn warned her. She did still her struggles slightly. "I won't let them hurt you, Lenna." He wasn't entirely sure how he was supposed to stop them if they tried, but he doubted they would try.
Lenna was bound securely but kindly. The elves were less generous with Emerin. They set off quickly, walking from the slave market at a pace Lenna couldn't keep up with and so was carried. Legolas was also carried, held gently in the arms of the elf who had ordered Aragorn bound.
Within a few minutes they were at the town wall. The gate stood unguarded, for which Aragorn was immensely grateful. The group must have cleared the way when they entered. He hadn't thought through the escape plan as far as getting past the gate.
As it was they were outside quickly, and the elf who held Legolas whistled. Elven horses came trotting up in answer to the call. Aragorn found himself seated ahead of one of the elves, and saw that the others were treated the same way. Legolas' head fell back against the chest of the one who rode behind him. Aragorn was beginning to worry for him. It must have been a severe blow for him to remain unconscious for so long, and there was still no sign of him stirring. Any injuries he might have had could well have been aggravated by moving him, and unless the elf was incredibly fast, the arrow wound was still untreated.
He somehow doubted that his advice would be well received by the elves.
***
Legolas felt hands on his hand, and felt the pain. Barely conscious, he was fighting against them, fearing he had been recaptured.
"You are safe," a voice said softly in elvish.
"Aragorn?" he asked, opening his eyes, blinking in the bright sunlight. He was surprised to find that the face that greeted his gaze wasn't human.
"Nay, my lord," he said. It was one of his father's soldiers, Tamil, he thought his name was. "You are safe now."
Recent memories sifted through his foggy mind. "Where is Aragorn?" he asked.
"He is here," Tamil replied, "We have him securely bound and guarded for the journey back to Mirkwood. Your father can see to his trial and execution on our return."
"Execution?" Legolas' mind must be fussier than he'd thought. He couldn't see why Aragorn would be executed. "He saved my life," Legolas said, "He came to help rescue me from slavery instead of just escaping himself. He risked his life for mine when many others would have left me there."
"We thought," Tamil said, "that he was the one who captured you. The other human came to Mirkwood with a letter from him and your father sent us after you. We were attacked by slavers at the point where you were supposed to be. We assumed Aragorn had set a trap, intending to gain several elven slaves."
Legolas shook his head, immediately regretting it as it swum in pain. "Aragorn was captured by the same slavers I was. He has done nothing but try to help me. Have him released at once."
Tamil went to do as he was ordered, and a few moments later Aragorn was at his side. The human knelt beside him and helped him into a sitting position.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, your highness." From the expression on Aragorn's face, Legolas guessed he thought he meant helping him sit up.
"I meant thank you for everything. Thank you for saving my life."
"Again, you're welcome."
"You may act as though it's nothing, Aragorn, but you risked your life for me when I have shown you no kindness. Why?"
"For the same reason you wanted to help Lenna and Emerin escape," Aragorn said, "Kindness." At the mere mention of her name, Lenna appeared. Tamil was standing behind her, watching her fling her arms around Legolas with severe disapproval.
"Lenna, don't like nelfs," she said, "Nelfs nasty."
"You like one elf," Aragorn said, clearly struggling not to laugh.
"Leggy's nice. Leggy hoom like us."
"Hoom?" Legolas enquired, raising his eyebrows at Aragorn, who was on the verge of hysterics.
"I think you've just been made an honorary human," Aragorn said, adding a hasty "your highness" when he saw the look on Tamil's face.
"Leggy's not high," Lenna said, "he's lying down."
That started Legolas laughing, which aggravated the wound where the arrow had struck him during the fight at the slave market. He reached a hand to his side, moving sharply, which just made his head throb more painfully than before.
"You try explaining titles to her," he muttered, closing his eyes again, "my head hurts too much to cope."
"No, I'll save that pleasure for you when we reach your home."
Legolas groaned, "Hopefully I'll be dead before then."
"Why you want to die?" Lenna asked, sounding very concerned. Legolas did something he knew he'd never be allowed to do in his own home, and pulled Lenna into his arms, hugging her closely and laughing into her hair. He couldn't understand how anyone could have been so cruel as to try and hurt this sweet, innocent child.
***
Author's note: More sweet Lenna moments. Bet you never guessed elves would be coming to the rescue. If you did, have ten points. They're completely worthless, but you can have them if you really want.