A/N: I'm hanging my head in shame, really I am. I am so deeply apologetic
that I've taken so long. I'm afraid I have been unbelievably busy. I'm
directing a play that is being performed in three weeks, acting in another
one shortly after that, and starting work on another one for early next
year. Glutton for punishment?? Me??
* * *
Chapter 13
Aragorn rushed onto the healer's telain, his heavy footfall having been heard from afar.
"Legolas!" he exclaimed anxiously. "I had hoped the message I received was untrue. What have you done?" Legolas raised his head to look at his companion and winced as the healer touched a tender area.
"The Challenge was issued. I could not yield."
"You could not yield? What madness overcame you, my friend? Did you not realise the folly of your actions? Had you been injured, or even worse, killed, in this fight, what would have become of the Company? Did you not stop to think?"
Aragorn paused as he watched the pain crease the elf's delicate features. For the first time since he rushed in, he took in the various wounds and injuries the healers were tending to. The usually flawless skin on his back and sides was superficially, but no doubt painfully, streaked with blood from the glancing slashes inflicted by his opponent's knives, and his right ankle was swelling rapidly where he had fallen on it. Worst of all, his left thigh, now bared under the healer's tending hands, was split open where a thrust had penetrated deeply. Aragorn watched as Legolas writhed under the healer's touch as she bathed and bound it, and proceeded to place her hands over it, murmuring quietly.
"It is fine, Aragorn. It will be healed completely before we set off from Lórien."
"The wounds should heal rapidly now, your Highness. I suggest you remain here until tomorrow, by which time you should feel fit enough to walk," the healer explained. Legolas nodded his understanding as she nodded in satisfaction and left him alone with the ranger. Aragorn approached the injured elf.
"So how did you get yourself into this predicament?" he asked. Legolas turned to him, wincing in pain as he jarred his injuries.
"I have already explained. The marchwarden issued the Challenge of Camthalion, and I accepted."
"What have you done to anger him so?" Aragorn asked, astounded that Haldir had done such a thing.
"Ask me not, for it is a puzzle to me," replied a confused Legolas.
"Did you not ask him?" Aragorn interjected in astonishment. "Surely you do not enter into conflicts without knowing the cause?"
"He gave me no time to ask questions. I recognised the look in his eyes, and you do not argue details with an elf in that state." Aragorn sighed in frustration as he shook his head.
"I take it the Challenge was suspended, for I have heard no news of the death of Haldir." Legolas nodded.
"Larien halted it against his will."
"I might have guessed. That elf has too much fearlessness in her. Especially when it comes to her mate," he stated shortly. A choking sound from Legolas made him turn, and he watched as the elf's normally pale skin bleached further, his eyes staring out at the ranger. "Legolas, are you all right? You look unwell. Shall I call the healer?" he asked in concern as he made to rise. Legolas' hand snaked out and gripped his arm forcefully.
"No, I must speak with you alone," he spoke hoarsely. Aragorn sat down once again clumsily and waited while Legolas cleared his throat and swallowed several times. Finally, he raised his eyes to meet Aragorn's. Aragorn recoiled from the emotion he saw within the elf's deep blue eyes.
"I am afraid I have made a very grave error," he finally confessed. Aragorn's brow creased as he attempted to understand the folly Legolas could have committed in order to make him feel so wretched. "Are Haldir and Larien not siblings?" Aragorn laughed out loud despite the look on Legolas' face.
"Siblings? Legolas, do you jest? It would be the bane of Haldir's life were he Larien's brother by blood! Larien was adopted by his parents when her own were killed in an orc raid. They were brought up together and she regards Rúmil and Orophin as her brothers, but for Haldir, she has a different love," he returned with a wink.
Aragorn sobered up rapidly as he saw the look on Legolas' face. "What have you done?" he asked heavily. Legolas dropped his head onto his chest. After what seemed like an eternity, he spoke once again.
"The Challenge of Camthalion was well issued." Aragorn maintained his silence, knowing more was yet to come. "Aragorn, the sooner we leave Lothlórien, the better it would be for all involved."
"We can only leave when the Lord and Lady decide is best. What is it you have to escape from?" There was a silence as suddenly, realisation crossed Aragorn's face. "No, Legolas, do not tell me you have feelings for Larien?" Legolas' forlorn and hesitant nod was all the response he needed.
* * *
"I do not understand why you refuse to let me call the healers at least," Larien sighed yet again as she bathed Haldir's wounds gently. "I could call Tarí. I'm sure she'd understand your reluctance to be taken to the healer's telain." Haldir shook his head again.
"Tarí will be spending her time with Orophin. She would not appreciate you calling her to tend to me. Anyway, you are doing well."
"Rubbish," Larien answered briskly. "You just do not want to be seen at the healer's with wounds inflicted by a Mirkwood prince." Haldir pursed his lips, biting back a hurried denial, knowing Larien would not be taken in by it.
Upon returning to Haldir's telain, Larien had found that the wound on his face was the least of his worries. Legolas was not unskilled with the elven knives and Haldir had accumulated various other wounds, not as visible as the one on his face. On his left side, his tunic had been torn and the knives had cut a deep wound along his ribs; his right calf was developing a dark bruise where Legolas had caught a glancing blow with his foot; and his right shoulder was immobile with pain. It had been wrenched around when he managed to pierce Legolas' leg with his knife and Larien had been worried the shoulder was dislocated, but the little she knew relieved her it was simply injured.
"I cannot guarantee your face will not scar," Larien stated, hoping to appeal to Haldir's vanity, but still the marchwarden remained steadfast. He bit his lip as Larien attempted to bathe the wound in his side, swallowing down the cry of pain. Not only did he think it unbecoming of the marchwarden of Lothlórien, he did not want Larien to call the healers either.
Larien noted the disguised looks of pain flitting across Haldir's face as her vision of a bloodied, dead Haldir imprinted itself in her mind once again. She was unsure whether she should tell Haldir of her vision. She had hoped he would be warned by it and stay away from trouble, but she knew the truth was he would not care as long as his home was in danger. Her only other option, as she saw it, was to change the future by avoiding her assignment as marchwarden at Haldir's death.
"Haldir," she started hesitantly. "Are the warden leaders going to be reassigned this year as usual?"
"Of course. Too many leaders have died this past year, leaving several patrols undermanned."
"Surely, with the presence of the Fellowship it would be better postponed."
"Certainly not. The Dark Lord rises again in Mordor, and orc raids are becoming more common now than they have ever been. It is now that we need to be fully alert and prepared for whatever may arise."
"So the annual warden trials are to be held as usual?"
"Nothing should change. Instead we should be increasingly on our guard." Larien pondered this as she bound the various wounds, knowing he spoke the truth. "You should be pleased, Larien, for I believe this year you cannot be ignored for a leadership position."
Larien's heart dropped as Haldir confirmed her worst fears. If she was promoted to a position of leader, her vision was being further confirmed. "Surely not, Haldir. I am not strong enough, nor am I experienced enough."
Haldir turned to stare at her questioningly. "This is not the Larien I have fought against for so long. The same elf maiden who insisted she was as good as any male, if not better." Larien shrugged.
"Things do change, Haldir, even if it were better that they should not."
"Nevertheless, I have seen from your past performance on the Northern fences, that you are worthy of such a position, as have others. You cannot fail to do well in this year's trials."
** Circumstances change** Larien thought to herself. ** You will have to watch me fail every task this year. I cannot risk being promoted.**
* * *
I know it's a bit on the short side, but I'm hoping to add to it shortly. Thanks to all my reviewers for supporting me, (and bugging me mercilessly. You know who you are!) I will definitely finish this story at some point- I won't let you down, so keep those reviews coming!
* * *
Chapter 13
Aragorn rushed onto the healer's telain, his heavy footfall having been heard from afar.
"Legolas!" he exclaimed anxiously. "I had hoped the message I received was untrue. What have you done?" Legolas raised his head to look at his companion and winced as the healer touched a tender area.
"The Challenge was issued. I could not yield."
"You could not yield? What madness overcame you, my friend? Did you not realise the folly of your actions? Had you been injured, or even worse, killed, in this fight, what would have become of the Company? Did you not stop to think?"
Aragorn paused as he watched the pain crease the elf's delicate features. For the first time since he rushed in, he took in the various wounds and injuries the healers were tending to. The usually flawless skin on his back and sides was superficially, but no doubt painfully, streaked with blood from the glancing slashes inflicted by his opponent's knives, and his right ankle was swelling rapidly where he had fallen on it. Worst of all, his left thigh, now bared under the healer's tending hands, was split open where a thrust had penetrated deeply. Aragorn watched as Legolas writhed under the healer's touch as she bathed and bound it, and proceeded to place her hands over it, murmuring quietly.
"It is fine, Aragorn. It will be healed completely before we set off from Lórien."
"The wounds should heal rapidly now, your Highness. I suggest you remain here until tomorrow, by which time you should feel fit enough to walk," the healer explained. Legolas nodded his understanding as she nodded in satisfaction and left him alone with the ranger. Aragorn approached the injured elf.
"So how did you get yourself into this predicament?" he asked. Legolas turned to him, wincing in pain as he jarred his injuries.
"I have already explained. The marchwarden issued the Challenge of Camthalion, and I accepted."
"What have you done to anger him so?" Aragorn asked, astounded that Haldir had done such a thing.
"Ask me not, for it is a puzzle to me," replied a confused Legolas.
"Did you not ask him?" Aragorn interjected in astonishment. "Surely you do not enter into conflicts without knowing the cause?"
"He gave me no time to ask questions. I recognised the look in his eyes, and you do not argue details with an elf in that state." Aragorn sighed in frustration as he shook his head.
"I take it the Challenge was suspended, for I have heard no news of the death of Haldir." Legolas nodded.
"Larien halted it against his will."
"I might have guessed. That elf has too much fearlessness in her. Especially when it comes to her mate," he stated shortly. A choking sound from Legolas made him turn, and he watched as the elf's normally pale skin bleached further, his eyes staring out at the ranger. "Legolas, are you all right? You look unwell. Shall I call the healer?" he asked in concern as he made to rise. Legolas' hand snaked out and gripped his arm forcefully.
"No, I must speak with you alone," he spoke hoarsely. Aragorn sat down once again clumsily and waited while Legolas cleared his throat and swallowed several times. Finally, he raised his eyes to meet Aragorn's. Aragorn recoiled from the emotion he saw within the elf's deep blue eyes.
"I am afraid I have made a very grave error," he finally confessed. Aragorn's brow creased as he attempted to understand the folly Legolas could have committed in order to make him feel so wretched. "Are Haldir and Larien not siblings?" Aragorn laughed out loud despite the look on Legolas' face.
"Siblings? Legolas, do you jest? It would be the bane of Haldir's life were he Larien's brother by blood! Larien was adopted by his parents when her own were killed in an orc raid. They were brought up together and she regards Rúmil and Orophin as her brothers, but for Haldir, she has a different love," he returned with a wink.
Aragorn sobered up rapidly as he saw the look on Legolas' face. "What have you done?" he asked heavily. Legolas dropped his head onto his chest. After what seemed like an eternity, he spoke once again.
"The Challenge of Camthalion was well issued." Aragorn maintained his silence, knowing more was yet to come. "Aragorn, the sooner we leave Lothlórien, the better it would be for all involved."
"We can only leave when the Lord and Lady decide is best. What is it you have to escape from?" There was a silence as suddenly, realisation crossed Aragorn's face. "No, Legolas, do not tell me you have feelings for Larien?" Legolas' forlorn and hesitant nod was all the response he needed.
* * *
"I do not understand why you refuse to let me call the healers at least," Larien sighed yet again as she bathed Haldir's wounds gently. "I could call Tarí. I'm sure she'd understand your reluctance to be taken to the healer's telain." Haldir shook his head again.
"Tarí will be spending her time with Orophin. She would not appreciate you calling her to tend to me. Anyway, you are doing well."
"Rubbish," Larien answered briskly. "You just do not want to be seen at the healer's with wounds inflicted by a Mirkwood prince." Haldir pursed his lips, biting back a hurried denial, knowing Larien would not be taken in by it.
Upon returning to Haldir's telain, Larien had found that the wound on his face was the least of his worries. Legolas was not unskilled with the elven knives and Haldir had accumulated various other wounds, not as visible as the one on his face. On his left side, his tunic had been torn and the knives had cut a deep wound along his ribs; his right calf was developing a dark bruise where Legolas had caught a glancing blow with his foot; and his right shoulder was immobile with pain. It had been wrenched around when he managed to pierce Legolas' leg with his knife and Larien had been worried the shoulder was dislocated, but the little she knew relieved her it was simply injured.
"I cannot guarantee your face will not scar," Larien stated, hoping to appeal to Haldir's vanity, but still the marchwarden remained steadfast. He bit his lip as Larien attempted to bathe the wound in his side, swallowing down the cry of pain. Not only did he think it unbecoming of the marchwarden of Lothlórien, he did not want Larien to call the healers either.
Larien noted the disguised looks of pain flitting across Haldir's face as her vision of a bloodied, dead Haldir imprinted itself in her mind once again. She was unsure whether she should tell Haldir of her vision. She had hoped he would be warned by it and stay away from trouble, but she knew the truth was he would not care as long as his home was in danger. Her only other option, as she saw it, was to change the future by avoiding her assignment as marchwarden at Haldir's death.
"Haldir," she started hesitantly. "Are the warden leaders going to be reassigned this year as usual?"
"Of course. Too many leaders have died this past year, leaving several patrols undermanned."
"Surely, with the presence of the Fellowship it would be better postponed."
"Certainly not. The Dark Lord rises again in Mordor, and orc raids are becoming more common now than they have ever been. It is now that we need to be fully alert and prepared for whatever may arise."
"So the annual warden trials are to be held as usual?"
"Nothing should change. Instead we should be increasingly on our guard." Larien pondered this as she bound the various wounds, knowing he spoke the truth. "You should be pleased, Larien, for I believe this year you cannot be ignored for a leadership position."
Larien's heart dropped as Haldir confirmed her worst fears. If she was promoted to a position of leader, her vision was being further confirmed. "Surely not, Haldir. I am not strong enough, nor am I experienced enough."
Haldir turned to stare at her questioningly. "This is not the Larien I have fought against for so long. The same elf maiden who insisted she was as good as any male, if not better." Larien shrugged.
"Things do change, Haldir, even if it were better that they should not."
"Nevertheless, I have seen from your past performance on the Northern fences, that you are worthy of such a position, as have others. You cannot fail to do well in this year's trials."
** Circumstances change** Larien thought to herself. ** You will have to watch me fail every task this year. I cannot risk being promoted.**
* * *
I know it's a bit on the short side, but I'm hoping to add to it shortly. Thanks to all my reviewers for supporting me, (and bugging me mercilessly. You know who you are!) I will definitely finish this story at some point- I won't let you down, so keep those reviews coming!