A/N: well, I have allot of forgiveness to ask for. I apologize for the
ridiculous and most unacceptable delay it took to finally have this next
chapter up. There is really no angst, torture, or action in this chapter -
basically just pointless fluff. It's on the short side, I am displeased and
ashamed to say. But alas, the Muse will give me nothing more when it comes
tot his chapter. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy it. With great hope, I will
get up another chapter before this week is over. PLEASE read and review! I
have also updated *Brothers in Heart* and *Ties of Friendship*.
Chapter 7
As relentless as they had been before, the Uruks were even more so now in their pace. The condition of Legolas and Boromir especially only drove Ugluk on to be quicker. There was no food and no water save for what the Fellowship already had with them. And what they had was running out fast. Aragorn was still sore, much to his own annoyance, yet he worried for Boromir and Legolas. The Steward's son had seemed to being recovering from his wound before, but now appeared to be relapsing. The ranger guessed he was poisoned with something and the athelas was starting to wear off. Boromir needed a warm bed and proper care from proper healers. This pace was only contributing to his downward fall in health. The Elf prince was no better. His wounds had been bound but they were driving him too hard. Legolas was vulnerable now, and Aragorn feared another significant episode could send the Elf into darkness for good.
As if Aragorn did not already have enough on his mind, his dear friend the Ring bearer was added onto his list of worries. Frodo was in a constant anxiety as they drew closer and closer to Isengard. The Ring grew heavier still and Aragorn knew that Saruman was working evils in the little Hobbit's mind as they traveled deeper into his accursed web. Things were looking more bleak with each passing day as they drew nearer to Isengard, nearer to Saruman, and nearer to failing Middle Earth in the worse way possible. Once the Ring fell into enemy hands, it would be over. All would be lost. Aragorn couldn't let that happen.
On this particular eve, Ugluk had finally allowed rest after another 3 days without any. The other Uruks had refused to go further without any. Otherwise, there would have been no stop, for surely Ugluk would not have given rest to the Fellowship. The Hobbits were let off the backs of the Uruks, and they hurried over to the rest of the company. Boromir, who sat down as a weary mortal of old age, gathered Merry and Pippin about him. Frodo lay still and troubled, trying to get to sleep. Sam lay next to him and tried to be a silent comfort to his master, who had the look of tears in his big, blue eyes. Gimli plopped down exhausted and tried to catch his breath. Aragorn eyed Ugluk and the Uruks warily as he came up behind Boromir and Legolas, who were sitting beside each other, and lay a hand on each of their shoulders.
" There has been no more cruelty to speak," he said to them in a low tone, before sitting beside them.
" I'm sure more will come soon enough," Boromir replied grimly, throwing another piece of bark into the small fire they had conjured. Merry and Pippin were asleep at his feet, and he would ruffle their hair or pull their cloak tighter around their little bodies without a conscious thought. Gimli already snored on the other side of the fire. Legolas was quiet, staring into the flame with his eyes glowing in the light. He was slouched over, unlike his usual straight Elven posture. Aragorn eyed his best friend for a moment, before laying his hand upon the Elf's lower back. Legolas inhaled sharply and straightened, earning a look from Boromir.
" Perhaps I should re-bandage your back," Aragorn offered, his hand still upon the prince.
" Leave it," said Legolas with a breath. " What about your own? "
The ranger shrugged. " I'll scar as Men do, but I've suffered worse. " Boromir scoffed with a genuine grin at that. Needless to say, he had his own share of scars strewn about his body. He wondered if he beat Aragorn, or if Isildur's heir had suffered more grief than he would care to. " It is you who got the most of that whipping, mellonin," Aragorn added to Legolas. " But Elves don't scar," Legolas smirked, and Aragorn smacked him playfully upside the head, making the Elf flinch.
Boromir sunk down from the log onto the ground, careful not to wake Merry and Pippin beside him. He grunted as his body settled on the cold ground. He was more tired than usual due to his previous loss of blood. The wound was slowly healing, but Boromir was fragile, for lack of a more dignified word. It was yet a dull ache in his breast.
" We should get some sleep while we may," he said unto Aragorn and Legolas. Both the ranger and the Elf read Boromir with no effort. There was a glint of worry in both their eyes. Boromir wrapped his cloak around himself as the fire began to die down into the ashes. He let his russet eyes close without another word to his companions and began to drift off without any attempt to make sense of the noises.
Yet Boromir was surprised in the next moment when he felt someone settle next to him. He looked to find Aragorn lying beside him, with Legolas beside the ranger. The Elf had fallen asleep strikingly fast, with his fair head on Aragorn's soft shoulder. He was not on his tender back, but rather curled up on his side with Aragorn's arm cradling him. The two Men had theirs uncomfortably propped up on the log with their bodies laid out straight in front of them. The fire had already been extinguished.
" You're cold. Don't think I have missed the shudders," Aragorn murmured to Boromir. " The Hobbits and I will keep you warm." Merry and Pippin had their small heads in Boromir's lap, both curled next to his body. Boromir gave him a look of surrender, before adding a smile. Aragorn returned it, and they both abandoned obstinacy and gave in to sleep.
Chapter 7
As relentless as they had been before, the Uruks were even more so now in their pace. The condition of Legolas and Boromir especially only drove Ugluk on to be quicker. There was no food and no water save for what the Fellowship already had with them. And what they had was running out fast. Aragorn was still sore, much to his own annoyance, yet he worried for Boromir and Legolas. The Steward's son had seemed to being recovering from his wound before, but now appeared to be relapsing. The ranger guessed he was poisoned with something and the athelas was starting to wear off. Boromir needed a warm bed and proper care from proper healers. This pace was only contributing to his downward fall in health. The Elf prince was no better. His wounds had been bound but they were driving him too hard. Legolas was vulnerable now, and Aragorn feared another significant episode could send the Elf into darkness for good.
As if Aragorn did not already have enough on his mind, his dear friend the Ring bearer was added onto his list of worries. Frodo was in a constant anxiety as they drew closer and closer to Isengard. The Ring grew heavier still and Aragorn knew that Saruman was working evils in the little Hobbit's mind as they traveled deeper into his accursed web. Things were looking more bleak with each passing day as they drew nearer to Isengard, nearer to Saruman, and nearer to failing Middle Earth in the worse way possible. Once the Ring fell into enemy hands, it would be over. All would be lost. Aragorn couldn't let that happen.
On this particular eve, Ugluk had finally allowed rest after another 3 days without any. The other Uruks had refused to go further without any. Otherwise, there would have been no stop, for surely Ugluk would not have given rest to the Fellowship. The Hobbits were let off the backs of the Uruks, and they hurried over to the rest of the company. Boromir, who sat down as a weary mortal of old age, gathered Merry and Pippin about him. Frodo lay still and troubled, trying to get to sleep. Sam lay next to him and tried to be a silent comfort to his master, who had the look of tears in his big, blue eyes. Gimli plopped down exhausted and tried to catch his breath. Aragorn eyed Ugluk and the Uruks warily as he came up behind Boromir and Legolas, who were sitting beside each other, and lay a hand on each of their shoulders.
" There has been no more cruelty to speak," he said to them in a low tone, before sitting beside them.
" I'm sure more will come soon enough," Boromir replied grimly, throwing another piece of bark into the small fire they had conjured. Merry and Pippin were asleep at his feet, and he would ruffle their hair or pull their cloak tighter around their little bodies without a conscious thought. Gimli already snored on the other side of the fire. Legolas was quiet, staring into the flame with his eyes glowing in the light. He was slouched over, unlike his usual straight Elven posture. Aragorn eyed his best friend for a moment, before laying his hand upon the Elf's lower back. Legolas inhaled sharply and straightened, earning a look from Boromir.
" Perhaps I should re-bandage your back," Aragorn offered, his hand still upon the prince.
" Leave it," said Legolas with a breath. " What about your own? "
The ranger shrugged. " I'll scar as Men do, but I've suffered worse. " Boromir scoffed with a genuine grin at that. Needless to say, he had his own share of scars strewn about his body. He wondered if he beat Aragorn, or if Isildur's heir had suffered more grief than he would care to. " It is you who got the most of that whipping, mellonin," Aragorn added to Legolas. " But Elves don't scar," Legolas smirked, and Aragorn smacked him playfully upside the head, making the Elf flinch.
Boromir sunk down from the log onto the ground, careful not to wake Merry and Pippin beside him. He grunted as his body settled on the cold ground. He was more tired than usual due to his previous loss of blood. The wound was slowly healing, but Boromir was fragile, for lack of a more dignified word. It was yet a dull ache in his breast.
" We should get some sleep while we may," he said unto Aragorn and Legolas. Both the ranger and the Elf read Boromir with no effort. There was a glint of worry in both their eyes. Boromir wrapped his cloak around himself as the fire began to die down into the ashes. He let his russet eyes close without another word to his companions and began to drift off without any attempt to make sense of the noises.
Yet Boromir was surprised in the next moment when he felt someone settle next to him. He looked to find Aragorn lying beside him, with Legolas beside the ranger. The Elf had fallen asleep strikingly fast, with his fair head on Aragorn's soft shoulder. He was not on his tender back, but rather curled up on his side with Aragorn's arm cradling him. The two Men had theirs uncomfortably propped up on the log with their bodies laid out straight in front of them. The fire had already been extinguished.
" You're cold. Don't think I have missed the shudders," Aragorn murmured to Boromir. " The Hobbits and I will keep you warm." Merry and Pippin had their small heads in Boromir's lap, both curled next to his body. Boromir gave him a look of surrender, before adding a smile. Aragorn returned it, and they both abandoned obstinacy and gave in to sleep.
