~*~Chapter 7~*~
Upon seeing the wound, Aragorn knew there was not much he could do. His pack was still with his friends and if he pulled the arrow out without being able to seal the wound, she would bleed to death.
Aragorn sighed sadly, - Oh Legolas… - he knew exactly who did it. Halbarad did not carry a bow and even if he did he could not shoot so accurately. Though he was surprised Legolas missed, he was glad he did.
He stuffed his hands in the pockets of his cloak, thinking and paused. He pulled out a small leather bag and grinned. He had forgotten he always kept it there. He ran over to where her small pile of jewels were and picked up a stone bowl. He ran out to the mouth of the cave and filled the bowl with snow, then brought it over and set it in the fire.
He moved over to the dragon and ran his gaze over the wound. He sighed, slightly in relief, slightly in dismay. The arrow did not look like it pierced anything vital but it was deep and obviously keeping her from bleeding to death… this would not be the easiest wound he had healed but he was determined to try.
Not being able to do anything else at the moment he settled for trying to calm her tense muscles and started on a massage he had learned from his ada. The gentle but firm movements startled her but she relaxed after a moment. // dad //
After a while, Aragorn went over and prepared the athelas in the bowl of now steaming water. Then lifted it and brought it over to her. She relaxed immediately at the soothing smell of the plant and laid her head on the ground.
Aragorn looked up at her, "This is going to hurt."
The dragon simply snorted slightly.
Aragorn position his hand so it was *just* above the arrow but not touching it. The without warning and one swift but careful movement, he grabbed the arrow and pulled it out.
The dragon screeched, she did it so loudly that Aragorn was forced to drop the arrow and cover his ears. When she quieted, Aragorn moved up to her again and laid his hand carefully on her side. Then tore a strip from his cloak and soaked it with the water he had prepared, then pressed it to the wound, she screeched again, but this time it sounded more like a whimper and it was barely audible. He moved his hand from the cloth and nodded. Hopefully the weed would do what it should and help speed the healing process. He sighed and laid his hands carefully on the wound in an attempt to help. He smiled slightly as the dragon relaxed at his touch, despite the fact that he was pressing his hand to her wound. He sighed as he remembered something Glorfindel had said, 'the hands of the king are the hands of a healer,' he sighed, he still did not want to be king and he intended to try to stay away from that. At least he was a fairly good healer.
He moved away from the wound and picked up Legolas's arrow. Then moved to the dragon's head.
"I have thought of a name that might suit you."
She opened her eyes and cocked her head slightly.
Her eyes now fixed on his he shrugged, - If you like it, Elenoharthad. –
The dragon blinked, - It's Elvish… what does it mean? –
He smiled, - It means 'Star of hope'. –
She cocked her head again, - Why would you call me that? –
- You gave me hope when I found myself here instead of dead. The fact that you did not hurt me gave me the hope that there is good outside of the good of the elves, rangers and hobbits. -
She stared into his eyes for a while, - I like it. –
He grinned, - I intend to teach you some elvish, if you would like to learn it. –
She seemed to think for a moment, - I *would* like to learn it. –
- Ah good, - he glanced at her wound, - we have plenty of time, would you like to start now? -
- I would like that. -
~*~*~*~*~*~
Legolas ran on, they were almost at the base of the mountains. The trail brought them there easily and though they were tired, they had made incredible time and did not want to stop. It had been a week since their last encounter with the dragon and they both figured she was dead.
"How long… do you think… it will be until… we get there?" Halbarad panted. Legolas may not be having any real trouble but the man was.
Legolas glanced back at him, "It should not be too long before we reach the mountains… are you sure you do not want to rest?"
Halbarad shook his head, not wanting to waste his breath.
Legolas shrugged and continued on. Suddenly an odd feeling washed over him and he froze, Halbarad nearly running into him.
"Why… did we stop?" He panted.
"That dragon is *not* dead," the elf muttered, "it is coming."
Halbarad blanched, "But… if it's not dead, it'll be angry…" He stopped there, letting the elf figure out the rest.
Legolas nodded.
They both visibly paled when they saw the dragon emerge from her cave and fly towards them. When Legolas reached for another arrow, the dragon roared as loudly as it could, causing the elf to drop his bow and the arrow he had pulled out.
Aragorn winced and buried his face into the dragon's back. He did not want to risk letting go of the scales. The dragon landed carefully so as not to knock him off.
Legolas and Halbarad gulped and backed up slowly. Then froze when they heard a laugh.
Legolas glanced at the dragon and found it eyeing him, there was no way its laugh could sound like that anyway.
He was left to think about this for only a moment because suddenly Aragorn appeared on top of the dragon's head.
The man grinned and waved at him, "Hello Legolas!"
The elf just stood there, dumbstruck, staring.
"I think you owe her an apology for that attempt at killing her," he mock glared at him.
Legolas just blinked, "Sorry?"
Aragorn smirked and slid down the dragon's forehead onto its nose then jumped to the ground.
He walked over to them, "Come, we should go."
"Go where?" Halbarad asked, finally finding his voice.
Aragorn shrugged, "Where ever she wants to go," he motioned to the dragon.
The other two nodded and before they could protest the dragon wrapped her long tail around them and put them on her back, then did the same with Aragorn.
Aragorn moved up to the crown-like thing that swept back from the dragons head and lay down on his stomach, motioning for the others to copy.
Once they were all settled, Aragorn made a low, yet light, clicking sound at the dragon who copied this before taking off.
Aragorn shrugged when the others gave him a questioning glance, indicating that he'd explain later.
Legolas glanced in the direction they were heading and jumped slightly, "Where are we going?"
Aragorn glanced at him and smiled, "Well, to Rivendell of course!"
Legolas blinked, then grinned, he could only imagine the looks on the Noldor elves faces as the dragon landed in front of Rivendell.
Halbarad snickered slightly, "How Lord Elrond ever put up with you two, I'll never know."
Aragorn smirked, "Actually, we were only in Imladris once together, every other time Legolas was with the twins… come to think of it though, that was probably worse…"
Legolas smirked, "You should have seen some of the pranks we pulled together…"
Aragorn shook his head, "Somehow I doubt I'd want to see them."
Legolas raised an eyebrow, "And why is that? I thought you were always looking for good ideas."
"Oh yes, but, I think I'd probably be on the receiving end of those pranks."
Legolas pretended to think about that, "Yeah, you're probably right…"
Aragorn shook his head, an amused grin on his face.
After half an hour of silence, everyone just enjoying the view and a few clicks between Aragorn and the dragon, they had passed over the Misty Mountains and were heading towards the forests before Rivendell.
Aragorn perked up at the closeness of his home and glanced down at the trees. He didn't know what it was about the trees of Rivendell but they seemed to comfort him. He smiled. Then froze suddenly as he noticed the flash of dark hair in the middle of a small clearing.
He carefully climbed up onto the crown and crawled forward despite Legolas and Halbarad's warnings. He made a light click and pointed over towards a clearing.
"There are two elves down there… I want to see if I can get a better look."
The dragon snorted and flew down lower.
Aragorn glanced behind him, "Legolas! Do you think you could tell me if you recognize them?"
"Sure…" Legolas glanced down and grinned, "I'm not sure if you want to know…"
"It's my brothers isn't it?" Aragorn asked with a smirk.
"Aye."
Aragorn shook his head and pointed to a clearing, "Can you land there?"
The dragon clicked and moved towards it. Once she had landed, Legolas and Halbarad jumped off and waited for the twins, knowing they would have seen the dragon and want to check it out.
After Aragorn slid off, Elenoharthad sent him a mischievous look.
Aragorn raised an eyebrow, - What? –
She gave him an innocent look, - Well, from what you've told me about them, they are complete pranksters. –
He narrowed his eyes, - Aye, what are you getting at? –
- Well… I thought we could try something… -
Aragorn smirked, - I like the sound of that. –
A/N
Deana- Aye… poor dragon… gotta feel sorry 4 her eh? ^_^ Well… I guess it's safe 2 say she didn't die… I guess… and no. Obviously Aragorn doesn't get mad… doesn't mean he wont drive Legolas mad! Lol. ^_^
SilverKnight7- ^_^ Thanx 4 the review… and… okay… no… she wont die… *whistles and looks around innocently*
leggylover03- DOOM ON U AND YUR WANT 4 ESTEL TORTURE!!!! Sry 'bout that… had 2 get it out of my system… ^_^ I'll try 2 update soon!
grumpy- Lol, gotta love those Hershey Bars… they do make ya' kinda hyper-active tho… and hey! I never said I'd kill her! Lol… keep reading! ^_^
mascara freak- Okay… the dragon doesn't die… or does she?! Muahahahahaha!!!!!!!!! Sorry… Aaaaaaanywho… Keep reading!
Sheesh! I got the same question from every1! Yur not gonna kill the dragon r u?! Lol… no… she hasn't died obviously… yet… *laughs insanely*
R/R!!!!!!!!! Gotta run! ^_^