Hey everyone! Here it is: the chapter where we FINALLY find out about the orcs. WOO HOO! ;)
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The next few days passed swiftly, and Legolas continued to improve, finally convincing Elrond to let him out of bed. That very day, they were informed of some surprising—but welcome—news.
"A group of orcs was found slain just outside of the Valley," Elrond told them, as they sat at breakfast.
Everyone looked up.
"Do we know how many?" Legolas asked.
Elrond nodded, as he ate. "About half a dozen."
Aragorn sighed with relief, looking at Legolas. "Sounds about right. Now we know how many you slew."
Legolas nodded. "And now we know why they never attacked."
Aragorn nodded back, and they ate for a few minutes in relieved silence.
"Well," Elrohir suddenly said. "I guess we must cancel our orc-hunting trip, if they're already dead."
Elrond shot a stern glare at him, and the others chuckled.
"I'd like to go for a walk," Legolas said, as he drained his cup of tea. "A walk, not an orc hunt," he told Elrond, before the older elf could say anything.
"Be careful," Elrond admonished him. "You are not yet fully healed. I would rather you didn't."
"We'll go with him," Elladan said.
Elrond shook his head. "No, you two have responsibilities that need to be taken care of first. Estel will accompany him."
The twins shot Aragorn jealous looks, to which the human responded with a grin.
"Come," Aragorn said to the elf. "Let us go before my brothers kill me."
Legolas chuckled, and the two of them quickly left.
"Are you sure that you would not rather ride?" the human asked, as they passed the stables.
Legolas shook his head. "I laid in bed for too long, my body wants the exercise."
At the mention of what had befallen the elf, Aragorn lowered his head.
Legolas saw his action, and stepped closer to him, taking his arm. "Stop it, Estel. What happened is past, and I am well again."
Aragorn looked at him and nodded, reluctantly.
"I know that it is difficult," Legolas said, gently. "But you must do it, for my sanity's sake as well as your own."
Aragorn smiled at him then. "You? Sane? That is open to debate."
Legolas smiled back. "Yes, but only by the insane party, which is you."
Aragorn gave him a mock-angry look. "Why you pointy-eared…"
Legolas laughed, suddenly breaking into a run. It caused an increase of the pain that his wound still caused him, but it was worth it to get his human friend's mind off the narrowly-avoided tragedy.
Aragorn was surprised to see the elf run off, and quickly pursued him; to make him stop running for his health's sake, rather than playing his friend's game.
Legolas heard Aragorn following him, and continued to run. He came to a halt a lot sooner than he expected, shocked to realize his limitations.
When Aragorn reached him, he took note of the fast pace in which his friend breathed. "Are you all right?"
Legolas nodded his head. Ordinarily, a short run like that would not have stolen his breath so easily.
Aragorn watched him worriedly, noticing how Legolas leaned slightly to the right, the side of his body that contained the injury. "Are you sure? Mayhap we should head back."
"I'm fine," Legolas told him, straightening and walking off again.
Scowling inwardly, Aragorn followed him.
"I wonder who slew those orcs," Legolas said; before his friend could try again to force him back to the house.
Aragorn shook his head, frowning. "We should have asked."
"No matter," said Legolas. "As long as they are dead."
Aragorn nodded.
They walked on in silence for a while, Legolas enjoying the scenery that he'd missed while bedridden.
Their walk took them towards a lake, and they both sat beside it after quenching their thirst.
"We live in a wondrous place, Estel," Legolas whispered.
Aragorn turned to look at the elf, finding him lying on his back in the grass, tiredly looking up at nature. He lay down beside him, looking up at the bright blue sky as a few soft, thin clouds passed by. The treetops rustled gently in the warm breeze, and the singing birds almost lulled them both to sleep.
Until the sweet sounds abruptly stopped.
Legolas and Aragorn both sat up, quickly looking around.
"So, he is a friend of the elves!" they suddenly heard.
To their shock, the group of orcs who'd caused all their problems suddenly came running out of the woods.
Legolas and Aragorn were taken totally by surprise, sitting on the ground with their weapons sheathed. Before Legolas could even fire an arrow—since he had to stand before being able to wield his long bow—the orcs were upon them.
Aragorn leaped in front of Legolas, who was naturally slower to stand thanks to his injury. He slashed his sword towards one of the orc's necks, but the orc ducked, leaping aside.
Legolas pulled out his knives, for the orcs were too close now for his bow to be of any use. He stabbed one of the orcs quickly and another took his place. Neither Legolas nor Aragorn noticed that the orc leader—the one who'd threatened Imladris—waited nearby, watching the fight.
Pulling his knife free from his second kill, Legolas had no time to react when a fist suddenly smashed into his face. He didn't even feel his knives knocked from his grasp as a huge hand wrapped itself around his neck.
The orc leader snarled at him before kicking hard at his leg, making Legolas stumble backwards into the river.
Legolas' heart started to race from more than just adrenaline when the orc forced him into the water, punching him in the stomach to make him lose his balance.
Legolas gasped loudly when the orc's fist made contact with his still-healing stab wound and the orc laughed, holding the elf's head under the water in an attempt to drown him.
Legolas couldn't fight his rising panic. The orc still held him by the throat, and Legolas fought to free himself, desperate to bring his head back above the water.
The hold around his throat suddenly loosened, and Legolas automatically inhaled, getting a lungful of water. He pushed the orc's hands away and tried to quickly get himself out of the river, but something heavy suddenly landed on top of him, pinning him under.
"Legolas!" Aragorn shouted, climbing into the water and quickly moving the orc's now-dead body.
A flailing hand suddenly shot out of the water and Aragorn grabbed it, pulling his friend up.
"Are you all right?" Aragorn exclaimed.
The elf gave no answer, but neither did he choke on inhaled water. Seeing that Legolas was unconscious, Aragorn quickly dragged him onto the grass and laid him on his stomach. His hands shook as he quickly slapped the elf's back, desperately trying to get the water out of his lungs.
On the third try, it worked.
Legolas regained consciousness abruptly, coughing hard as the water choked him, impairing his breathing.
Aragorn ran a hand over his face in relief, closing his eyes for a minute. This was the second time within a week that his best friend had nearly lost his life…
