Discaimer: All things related to Tolkien's works belong to him.
A Twist of Fate
Chapter X – Battles
Legolas whimpered slightly in his sleep and flinched. A grimace crossed his face as he wandered closer to reality and his body began taking inventory of its injuries. He lifted his head off the ground and blinked, fully awake at last. He felt stiff and sore but the sleep had done him some good.
Cautiously, he attempted to rise and this time he was rewarded for his labors as his legs supported him at last. Holding on to the trunks of trees for support, he staggered to where the ranger as still out cold. A surge of guilt and worry rushed through him as he wondered why the ranger was not already awake.
He took held Aragorn firmly by the pits of his arms and painstakingly started to pull him out from under the tree branch. The branch shifted slightly and he tensed, fearful that his friend would be crushed beneath it, but thankfully it kept quite still after a moment. He was unable to stifle a small moan as his injured body made known to him just what it thought of such activities as rescuing dead weight, trapped friends.
When at last the ranger was free, Legolas flung himself onto the ground, gently easing the ranger onto his lap. There was a long cut running from Aragorn's temple to his chin which had stopped bleeding. Other then that, he seemed to be relatively unharmed.
Legolas let out a breath he did not know he was holding. He sat there for a while, caked in mud and filth and blood, his shoulder wound spreading its numbing pain through his entire left side. A few tears of pain and relief leaked out from the corners of his eyes as he closed them tightly, trying to deal with the pain.
He knew he was losing the battle with the poison.
~*
He kept slipping into the world of dreams as he walked with the ranger slung over his shoulder. Aragorn was still unconscious much to his dismay and that worried him to no end. He had to get them both to safety and that thought drove him forward. His lungs expanded and contracted unevenly with each step as he pushed himself doggedly on.
Legolas…
Ignore it, he told himself firmly. But the voice continued to whisper incessantly.
Legolas…
Hearken to me…
Follow my call…
Come away from this pain…
Come…
Come…
It cooed in his ear. It caressed his dirty face seductively, the soft hands cool on his fevered brow. He quickened his pace. You shall not have me! He said aloud to himself.
He had broken into a run, his damp hair flying behind him. He had to move closer to home and further from death. He ran on though his legs wobbled dangerously and at times he fell onto one knee. He lifted himself and ran on until his breath came in short pants and his vision was a white fog. He ran on until at last he pitched forward, releasing his hold on his friend and falling to his side.
The poison had won at last.
~*
Aragorn's fingers twitched and his brow furrowed. He winced as he lifted his aching head. He closed his eyes tightly and bracing himself for the pain, lifted his head again. To his horror, the first thing he caught sight of was a tangle of dirty blonde hair he was lying on. Soft mutters and moans came from the body under him. The pressure of Aragorn's weight upon his broken ribs and bruised chest was terrible even in the elf's unconscious state.
Aragorn quickly heaved himself off the elf. With care, he turned his friend onto his back. Legolas eyes were shuttered. His head lolled limply against his chest and his fists were clenched around the fabric of his sleeve just above his arrow wound. The other arm tightly held his ribs.
"I am sorry my friend. Sorry I was not able to help you…"
Aragorn murmured to the unresponsive elf remorsefully.
TBC…
Well, here's the second last chapter. Please review if you want the final one.
The first chapter of [ These Burdens We Carry] a story that takes place before this one is already up…
MANY MANY THANKS to all reviewers and others reading this!! Thanx to you guys, I have over a hundred reviews!!! :o)
