Ok, I'm back after the Internet was taken down for about a week coz we're redecorating! =( Stupid wooden flooring... anyway, I've returned, so I hope you enjoy this chapter! Now, review replies!
Crystal Cold Tears; Thanks a bunch! Oh no, this story is miles away from being over!!! I have too many plot twists up my sleeve for that... he he he... =)
Sirithiliel; You know, you must be one of the scariest reviewers I've ever had!!! =S Nobody else has tried to kill me before! LOL, don't worry! Thanks!
Gwyn; I have a very lax conscience... ^_^ Evanescence are just wicked, aren't they?! Love 'em... thanks for the review!
Kelly L. K; Thanks!
Alida-Fruit; I have a few trademark things for them: Aragorn- decapitating stuff, Legolas- shooting stuff, Frodo- stroking Ring, Sam- cute showings of affection, Pippin- doing/saying stupid stuff, Merry- being brave at certain points, Gandalf- grumpy old man stuff (You know the type, like "Young 'uns today!") Boromir- getting shot (LOL!) and Gimli- burping... don't ask... Great! I'm glad you liked that line; I wanted to get a little bit of humour in there! Thanks for the review!
elfmage; Oops, sorry! ^.^' Ok, don't be jealous, you're a great writer!!! Evanescence = Incredible! Yup, great inspiration for fics they are... thanks a lot!
Darcy Took; You'd better hurry up!!! =( I'm getting fed up waiting! LOL, don't worry, thanks for the review!
Connor; Oh really, you're just saying that!!! You mean it?! ^.^' Ooh, I've gone red!!! Thank you oh so very very much!!!
Estel Elven Enchantress; Ah Jo, thank you... ^_~ Personally, I rather like holes too, and if Legsy Boy has any smart ass comments about that then I'd better start writing an alternate ending to 'Fighting Darkness'...
LEGOLAS: Me?! Say anything?! No, no way...
Good. =D He he he... Oh, poor you, I hate it when that happens!!! E-mail me later and we'll try and fix it... "...one little baby-step at a time..." Sorry, Shrek is on...
Antigone Q; Thanks!
So, I hope you enjoy this next chapter... just one thing... I've recently had a brainstorm for this story and now its starting to look like it'll be perhaps maybe 20 chapters or more long... you lot don't mind, do you? ^_~
.:Chapter 7:.
Aragorn rode through the gates with as much haste as he dared. The city's people were beginning to awaken now, and gaped in curiosity and slight dread at their King upon the white steed, Gimli in front of him. The men and women knew of Ellessar's two friends, and the rumours that had been circulating among the market stalls that morning seemed to be confirmed at the sight; that a terrible event had occurred that night concerning the King, the Elf and the Dwarf.
As he pulled Arod to a halt outside of the palace, a young healer ran down the steps.
"My King!" he shouted, nearly tripping down the white marble staircase. "The Queen would require your assistance immediately. If you wish, we'll take Master Gimli to the Houses of Healing whilst you help her." As he spoke more of the healers filed out of the rooms and came to help. They took Gimli from his arms.
Aragorn watched as his unconscious friend was taken in. "Now," he thought. "I have to find Arwen and Legolas..."
~*~*~*~
Arwen ran her hand over her friend's forehead. Legolas was still burning, and though thankfully he was still alive, he was obviously still in quite a lot of pain. As she tended him, she suddenly felt that she was not alone; that something was watching her.
Turning, she smiled slightly to see her love standing in the doorway, his face grim, yet relieved. Aragorn walked into the room and sat beside her.
"How is he?" he asked, concern lacing his voice. Arwen thought for a moment; should she say about the emergency earlier? It could decide whether Legolas lived or died. Finally she worked out how she wished to tell her husband.
"He seems to be holding up now, but earlier..." She trailed off, looking down and away from Aragorn, concentrating on an interesting patch of embroidery close to Legolas' hand. "He stopped breathing earlier Aragorn." She looked up again, and her eyes were filled with tears. "I was so scared!"
Aragorn wrapped his arms around her. "It's ok," he soothed. "Gimli told me what poison they used on him, I know an antidote."
Arwen sniffed. "Do it now. I'll make sure that Gimli is alright." She began to rise, but Aragorn stopped her.
"No," he said, looking deep into her eyes. "I'm going to need your help."
~*~*~*~
Aragorn had asked Arwen to stay with the Prince for a little while longer. Running down to the Healer's Rooms, he chanced in meeting the young man from earlier on.
"Lad," he called. "Could you come here for a moment?"
The boy turned, pointing to himself before realising that, yes, the request actually was directed to him. He walked across the room, bowing slightly as he reached his king.
"Can you find for me a Lithiwíg leaf, some burgupil sap, and a handful of athelas please?" asked Aragorn.
"Of course my lord," replied the healer. As he turned, he stopped, and met again the gaze of his king. "Just so you know my lord," he told him, "Master Gimli is doing fine and should be awake within a few hours."
Aragorn thanked him, then wondered at something. "What is your name lad?" he asked.
The boy looked a little confused. "My name?" he repeated. This was strange; normally the royals didn't wish to hear about their servants and subjects; Lord Denethor hadn't. But then again, he shrugged, this was King Ellessar... he was different.
"I am called Conyc." he said, before dashing away.
Conyc, thought Aragorn... strange name, but there's no time to think of that now. He made his way to the table on which lay some basic equipment for making up antidotes. Now, he just had to remember...
~*~*~*~
The slightly orangey mixture bubbled slightly in the bottle. Aragorn took a small knife from his pocket as he sat down beside his friend.
"Legolas?" he whispered to his friend. Obediently the Elf's glazed, unfocused eyes opened and sluggishly looked up at him. Aragorn sighed. "I'm afraid this will hurt badly," he told his friend.
Arwen came over with a small wooden bit. These were often used on patients if they were going to be in a lot of pain. The idea was to bite down as hard as possible to stop them from screaming. She hated them, but she thought that perhaps it was necessary this time. "Open your mouth and bite down on this if it hurts," she told her friend.
Aragorn took Legolas' sleeve up and inspected the wound quickly. He disliked what he saw. The long scratch was beginning to scab over, but the blood covering it was black, and yellowy pus seeped from the edges. Dark black lines were slowly coiling their way in different directions from the wound, an indication of the dark poison being carried by his bloodstream just underneath his pale skin.
Holding the knife strongly in his hand, Aragorn placed it directly above the scab. He breathed out slowly before cutting in.
Arwen gasped as Legolas suddenly squeezed her hand in a vice-like grip. She watched as he squeezed his eyes tight and bit down fiercely on the wood. She stroked his hair and whispered in Elvish.
Aragorn watched as the black liquid started dripping from the wound. He held a small phial to the cut and caught it as it slowly dribbled down his best friend's arm.
It felt like hours before dark poison and sticky infectious pus stopped coming and instead normal bright red blood began. As it showed itself, both the royals of the White City breathed a sigh of relief. Aragorn dripped some of his medicine into the cut, before slowly pouring some down Legolas' throat.
As the Elf fell unconscious once again, and not only thanks to the mixture, Aragorn pulled the wooden bit from between his teeth. Only now did he realise just how much he'd hurt his friend during those few minutes; Legolas had almost bitten straight through the bit...
~*~*~*~
Gimli woke to the strong smell of flowers in the room. He found himself propped up on pillows in a large bed, the bright sunlight shining through the windows and falling in a beam upon the quilt. He could still feel the large gash that ran down his leg, but wondered why there as not as much pain as before. Looking down, he found his answer, counting around forty stitches in his skin.
He was alive! Gimli felt a large smug grin spread over his face. He was living, breathing, seeing, hearing, smelling, and even feeling, even though he wasn't to keen on that at the moment. Then his heart turned to darker things...
Like Legolas.
Was the Elf alright? Gimli looked around to see if anyone was about. No, he was alone. By Aulë that Elf had better be alright...
~*~*~*~
The Orcs were about a mile from Minas Tirith. It would only be a matter of time...
Well, I hope you liked that. Perhaps it was a bit slow and plodding, but next chapter... oh boy!!! I think this chapter was a bit short, but never mind. I've not been able to write fanfic for a week people! C'mon, gimme a break, I need to get back into 'the flow'... LOL!
I'm about to be honest with you (ignores shocked gasp from audience; yeah, ha ha, very funny!) I've got 3 endings lined up for this, and I think I know what I'd like now. The question is, what would you like to see? Tell me any good plot bunnies that you don't wanna use, then I'll consider them, for example; you'd like to see such-and-such happen to whomever-it-may-concern. It's not that I've got writers block, its just I wanna include some things that everyone will enjoy. If they don't get used in this fic, I might use them in another. I'll put credit to you!!! Just one request; NO SLASHY IDEAS. Just good, clean, fun angst... ^_~ Please R&R!
~*~ Star-Stallion ~*~
