Ok, this IS the last chapter!!!!! And it is a grand total of FIFTEEN pages!!!! I did not know I could dish out chapters like that?! Well here it is! And then, a preview of my next story. Enjoy! Please NO FLAMES! R&R!!!!!
LOL Newmoon!!!! That was a hilarious joke!!!! Yes, well more reunions considering they split up kind of again. J And yes!! LEGGY YOUR BACK!!!!! *coughs* Anyway, hope you like this. J
But I did not yet have the chapter written leggylover03? That would be a little difficult to update the very second. J I like smilies, if you can not tell. Hehe. But, here is your chapter. Enjoy!
Yikes! Ymmas Sirron! A little violent aren't we. Hehe. No, I liked that review. It was funny. Here is you chapter, I am sorry your favorite story has to come to an end, but it did sometime. J
Hi Mellaithwen_ElvenMaiden . Nice to hear from you again. J Thanks! And yes, GO LEGGY! SAVE HIM! *Jumps like a hyper rabbit* I know what happens! *Evil grin*
Anyway, ya! So, here it is! Enjoy!!!!
Chapter 14
You stand on the edge,
You follow the call,
No turning back you are risking it all,
He whispers your name in a moment of truth,
The rocks fall around you the ground starts to move.
You step out on faith,
It's all that you know,
You jump into darkness and hold onto hope!
-Mark Shultz
Racing towards the inferno, Legolas leapt through the open stall window.
The twins raced round the corner, just as the elf prince leapt through the window.
"No! Legolas!"
But it was too late, Legolas was already shouting through the sounds of burning wood and acrid air.
"Estel?" he called through the flames, tears coming into his eyes from the smoke.
He ran through as a choke came to him, then a deep sob.
"Estel?!" he jumped a burning piece of wood, coughing as putrid smoke filled his lungs.
He looked through the darkness and smoke, his eyes seeking any sight of his human friend. He knew how vulnerable that Estel was to this type of smoke and flames. He had to get him out. He knew that he too was in danger, even if his elven senses were help, he still had to get out as soon as possible.
His elven eyes came to see a hunched figure on the floor, coughing and choking on the thick smoke. Flames were drawing near and they had not much time.
He ran forward, kneeling down beside his friend.
Strider looked up at his when the coughing fit has ceased, but he could not focus his eyes. And even if he could, he could not see the elf, he could only feel his presence.
"Legolas, is that you?" he asked though his pants for breath.
"Aye mellon nin. Come on, let's get you out."
He tried to help his friend up, but became worried when the human collapsed, his eyes began to drift.
"NO!" The prince shouted heaving the man onto his own back, he stood to his feet, eyes searching for a way out of the burning heap of wood.
"Estel, listen. I need you to stay awake."
The whisper was barely heard, but the elf heard it and he smiled at the human's stubborn nature.
"Why?"
Feeling his friend relax, he shook his body, trying to wake him.
"Estel! You can not sleep! Sing to me."
The human's eyes opened slightly and he chuckled. "I have a horrible voice, you know that, I-it could…never…-"
"Please." the prince pleaded softly, trying to find his way through the wood and rubble.
" I sit beside the fire and think, of all that I have seen." his words faltered, and his breath labored but he continued.
"Of meadow-flowers and butterflies, in the summers that have been."
Leaping over a piece of wood, Legolas noticed something that made him stop and look in surprise.
'Eru be praised.'
He noticed that Aragorn was not singing any longer.
"Strider?"
A jolt and then a snort. "Sorry, Legolas, I am just so tired. The warmth feels nice, but a little too warm."
Talking softly as he worked on the rope that held the trap door shut he talked to the man.
"Where did you hear that song?" the rope snapped and he pulled the wooden panel up.
"A halfling, he came to Imladris about ten years ago."
"Oh, tell me about him?" Legolas coaxed, trying to get the young man to stay awake.
"H-he was about to where my waist is now. Cheerful, he…..knew lots of…songs."
Frowning, the elf prince looked down into the dark blackness. He knew that they both could be going to there deaths. But, it was better than staying here, that would result in death. He knew it!
"Listen Estel."
"Hmmm." the soft question made him smiled sadly as another horrible coughing fit took over the young man.
"I need you to hang on. We are going for a little drop, I promise that I will do all in my power to keep you from harm. But I need you to hang on as best you can!"
"I will try."
Letting his breath out slowly, the Prince grabbed hold of the rope beneath and let out a sigh.
"We jump on three."
Above him a support pole cracked and sparks fell.
"One."
Another crack, and snap, he could hear the wind rushing as the timber fell.
"THREE!"
He dove down the dark hole, wind rushing past him.
Above the slat snapped shut and a rush of embers followed the two down the hole in the oblivion.
~_~
A moan came from beyond, and Legolas realized, with an odd fascination, that it was himself moaning.
He let his body stretch out slowly, he felt cold earth beneath him and bits of cold grass wet with dew.
He smiled lightly as his fists clenched the grass, his ripped and torn cloak fluttered in the breeze.
Rays of sunlight sparkled around him and played about his body.
'I must be dead.' he thought for a moment before opening his eyes, or rather one eye because he found that the other would not open.
Groaning he lifted himself up, his vision was red in his one eye.
He wiped it clean and brought it away to see blood, he wiped his hand clean on the outcrop of grass, leaning against the rock, he smiled.
The warmth the sun provided was rather nice. It was still cold, but he did not care, his body seemed to absorb the heat.
'Estel would love th-'
He stopped, his eye flying open, he began to search for his friend.
"Estel?" Legolas called, trying to stand.
He hissed and hugged his arm close to himself, on inspecting it he found a long jagged cut that ran from his shoulder to his elbow. Blood flowed freely and little grains of dirt from the ground were encompassed around it.
"Estel?!" he called again, his eyes filling with horror as he searched and for his friend.
A scuffle a few yards away caught his attention, the bushes rustled and voices called angrily to each other.
"Drop him Donolea!"
A low snicker and another rustle as well as a cry of pain.
"Aragorn?" the elf prince whispered, crouching into a low position he began to creep towards the commotion.
"But you see, master elf. You may have won the battle, but the war is mine to claim. I have your precious little brother and the prince is as good as dead. I found no remains of him and I doubt that Strider here would go without him unless otherwise."
Growling, Legolas pulled out another knife hidden in his elven boot, slowly raising himself up he stood and waited for the red haired being.
"Please! Let him go!"
Legolas could see the back of Donolea in the foliage, shouting angrily, he thrust the blade forward.
A scream and thud came through the air then another thud, and a gasp of breath.
"Estel!" the twin's voice came from beyond as they rushed forward to pull Donolea's dying body from that of their brother's.
Jumping through the vines, Legolas did it for them. Taking the other away from Aragorn, his last breaths coming out shallow and pain filled.
"Namarie Donolea. May Mandos take pity on you for the crimes you have committed."
Gasping for air, Donolea nodded softly closing his eyes. "Aye to that Hir Legolas. I am sorry."
Without another word, the being's last breath fell from his pale lips and his spirit fled to the halls of Mandos, where he hopefully would be judged rightly for his horrible crimes.
Elladan and Elrohir looked up from their brother for a moment to see the elf prince.
"Is he-"
Legolas nodded softly. "He has departed."
The twins turned back to Aragorn who thankfully was, other than a gash to his side, oddly unscathed.
Elladan did notice that Estel's arm was not in it's natural place and he knew well what was wrong. He winced inwardly.
"Estel?"
The young man opened his eyes, but just sighed when all they met was more blackness.
Elrohir smiled, just to see that his brother was awake and alright was enough for him, even if he could not see him.
Elladan, who had known of this before stared at Estel with fear.
"I know what you are thinking Elladan." Aragorn nodded mellifluously, trying to hold back the pain from his voice and fear from his heart. " I can not see you." he confirmed, closing his eyes to stave off the pain.
"Did he do this?" he stared at Donolea's lifeless form, which Legolas had discarded a few moments ago to check on Estel.
"No." Legolas said, trying hard to remember. "Another elf did. Cildan if I remember his name correctly."
"I am sorry 'Dan. I did not mean to, I got in a fight and he got really mad. He threw some powder in my eyes and that made my eyes this way." he apologized, his boyish fears taking hold, making him think that Elladan was angry.
"No gwador nin. It is not you. Just relax. Everything is alright." tears streamed from both the twins eyes, they had thought that, once again, there little brother had died in the fire along with Legolas, to see him here, alive was more than a miracle.
"Eru has been watching out for you." Elrohir hugged Estel tightly, forgetting about his gash and arm. The boy cried out in pain and tried to scoot away.
"Both you and Legolas need tending. And I know just the half-elf to do it." the smirk on the older twin's face was not unnoticeable and Aragorn shivered.
"Father is going to kill us for sure." the murmur made Legolas smiled and he wiped the blood that had flown from the wound to his head.
"Thank the Valar that we found the horses." Elrohir smiled.
"Yes, I think we will need them." Elladan said softly looking to Aragorn's dislocated arm. "Does your arm hurt Estel?"
The human shook his head, a little to quickly for the twin's or Legolas's liking.
"Well, it may not now. But I assure you it will, and if we do not fix it now it will never heal properly."
A look of pure fright came over the young human and closed his unseeing eyes.
"Fine. Just do it quickly!"
All three elves were amazed at the level of maturity in that decision, and they would have liked to reward him by making everything less painful. But, that was something they could not do.
"Elrohir, Legolas. You hold him down. I will put it back in place." both nodded and moved to put their hands on his arms.
"Ready?" Elladan's voice held a tinge of sorrow in it's depths and all could tell that he did not want to do what he had to.
After the two had nodded, he took one last look at his human brother. "I am sorry Estel." he whispered softly, but the teen heard it and he smiled. "This will hurt."
The young man nodded softly and breathed in slowly.
Without another word between them, Elladan pulled Aragorn's muscular arm and maneuvered it so it popped with an audible crack back into place.
A scream of pure agony tore throughout the forest and nothing moved, nothing breathed save the three elves working.
Estel's back arched instinctively to try and escape the torture, but he could not.
The screams stopped and the air went quiet, freezing and blowing against them.
"Is he alright?" Legolas asked, letting go after his brother was done.
Elrohir checked him, he rubbed the boy's head and smiled sadly.
Aragorn's breathing hitched and he opened his eyes slowly, he stayed the way he was, not getting up but not sleeping.
"Estel, we need to get going. I would rather be in Thranduil's halls before dark."
The young man did not speak, he only nodded and moaned softly as Elrohir gently picked him up. The twin ripped a piece of his cloak and wrapped a sling round his brother's collar bone to hold the healing limb close to his chest.
"Legolas, you may ride with me." Elladan said as two chocolate brown horses came forward.
"I can hold Estel." he informed, slowly moving towards were Elrohir was setting his younger brother atop the tall elven beast.
"No Legolas. You are not well and you need rest, come. Estel will be fine, Elrohir will no bad befall him."
Taking the prince by the hand, Elladan helped him mount and then got on behind him.
Legolas growled to himself in annoyance, but did not protest as Elladan urged his horse forward with a sweet elvish word.
Behind, he could here Elrohir's horse following at a trot.
"Is Aragorn going to be alright?" Legolas whispered, not letting the name get any louder than a faltering whisper.
Elladan started a moment. "How do you know of his lineage?"
Smiling, the prince rested against his friend. "Your father informed me when I was having nightmares."
"Oh, that's right. I think he told me, but I was rather busy at the moment." the elf smiled and chuckled. "I was watching Ada drug Estel, he was far to sleepy to notice what we were talking about anyway."
Legolas smiled and let his eyes unfocused as sleep claimed him.
Things would be back to normal, once they arrived home, Lord Elrond would fix Estel's sight and he would tell Lingwen how much he loved her. His smile brightened at the picture of his love.
Her hair flowing in the breeze and her beautiful smile lighting the quiet and dark palace, her very presence made one all the happier, especially him.
"Sleep Legolas. We will reach the palace by dawn at the latest."
With a simple nod, the blonde elf gave into the darkness and let himself drift into a deep, and much needed, sleep.
~_~
Elrohir pulled Aragorn from the saddle, the man was still asleep and obviously not going to wake up anytime soon.
Elladan smiled and helped the very much awake prince from his horse, the wound to his head had made Legolas a bit light-headed and everything around him seem to spin into an rainbow of colors.
"Easy now." the raven haired elf warned as he steadied his friend from falling and further more, much humiliation that might have followed had Legolas done so. "How is Estel?" he called to his twin, as he walked the prince towards the palace.
Elrohir smiled as he carried the teen. "Slept the whole way, don't worry though, he is fine, just as he was. Though his wound is still bleeding, it stopped. But when the horse trotted it began again."
Elladan could see the deep crimson stain spreading at Aragorn's side.
The scraping of the strong oak doors made all three elves look up, Legolas figured it would not have mattered much since they were just a brown, green, and gray blob in his eyes.
"ESTEL!" the fatherly voice of Elrond carried to his ears and he smiled gingerly.
Elrond ran down the steps and took Strider from Elrohir's arms, hugging the young one close to him, the blood from Aragorn's gash seeped onto his own green robes.
The twin's could see the tears flowing from their father's eyes, he looked up and thanked them both. The look in his eyes showed that emotion enough so he need not speak.
"Oh my boy. My little Estel, my child." he could feel the wet seeping through his robes, but he did not care, he turned and began to walk away, holding Estel.
"Bring the prince in, I would like to look at him before he visits with his father."
Legolas looked up at his name, the motion made his head reel and he felt sick, but he did not let the little contents in his stomach fall. He breathed in deeply.
"Yes father."
Supported by Elladan, Legolas went slowly forward, following what he hoped to be Lord Elrond.
~_~
The elf lord smiled as he wrapped the bandage around Legolas's head, the prince winced.
"Feeling better elfling?" he asked with a bit of sarcasm.
Legolas truly was feeling a lot better, he nodded smiling slightly. "Now can I go?"
"Yes, but please tell me you will take it easy young prince."
Legolas nodded again and smile sheepishly. "Have I ever done otherwise than your wise suggestions Hir Elrond?"
"I would not ask such questions when one is a friend of my son."
Jumping from the bed, Legolas strode to the door with a smile, but he suddenly thought of something.
"What about Estel?"
The elf lord smiled sadly and turned to see Legolas's bright eyes.
It was not good when he smiled like that, Legolas had found, especially when they were speaking of the accident prone human.
"As well as one would suppose, his sight is another matter I am not so fond to speak of. If it was just the other day he had been in this fight, it would be another thing. But, what I found stayed so long that it, possibly, permanently crippled him. His sight may never return."
"Aragorn is strong my lord. He will not let this affect his dreams."
Elrond smiled, a true heart-felt smile this time. "I know Legolas. Than you for your council, it has been most wise for one of your lifetime. Now, go and see your father, he does not yet know of your arrival."
The prince nodded, his blonde hair falling forward around the bandage, then he turned and ran out the door.
All his thoughts now on his father, and the love of his life. The one he had left alone for so long, the one that could fill his heart with joy at her very smile. Lingwen.
~THE END~
Stay tuned for the next story in the series:
A Heart Lost
And I will tell you a bit about that. But for now, I must say that I am happy for this last chapter. I hope you all like reading it as much as I like writing it.
And also, I will post the new story as soon as possible. Our computer is acting a bit-odd. So! I will do it when I can, if I do not come back and post for a few weeks, you all know why.
Now, for the summary of my next fic, this one sort of connects me and Linwen's series together:
A Heart Lost
Legolas's life is spiraling downward, after returns home from his exerting adventures, he wants nothing more than peace and to start a life with his love Lingwen. But when she finally realizes that he has returned, will she be able to face him with the truth? And will the prince begin to understand? And what of Aragorn's sight? How will he cope with the feeling of pity that everyone seems to give him?
Ok, so! That's it! Tell me what you think, and fear not for all you romance haters, it will not be to much of one. It has Aragorn's moments too. J Thanks and please R&R! You guys have been great, as always, hope to see your reviews for the next story. And NO FLAMES!!!!