^_^ Hello again everyone! Just so you know, the ending to this is all neatly planned out and everything, so if I don't update this for a while, shout at me, because I don't have any excuses like writer's block!
Callie3; Hmm, what is happening to Legolas? Well I know but I'm not telling you yet! All I'll say is that Legolas, and everyone else for that matter, will have quite a bit more to go through before the end of all this! =)
Estel; Yes, miracles do happen, but unfortunately not at the moment for Aragorn and the gang! I admit, I had to get a big fight scene in there somewhere! And who better to be involved that our own dear Ranger Boy?
ARAGORN: Excuse me, but I think you'll find that I am King...
No, Aragorn; Vanity is not becoming of you...
randomramblings; Ah well, you see this is why I write cliffies; people come back to read more... ^_^ Perfect crowd-pulling technique...
Enelya Took; Thanks! *starts crying* Please write more!!! Now I know how my readers feel when I get completely stuck with something... I'm counting on you!
The joyous pumpkin; LOL! I take it that Legolas' little line has shocked you then... ^_^ Here's an update just for you!
Gwyn; ^_^ Thanks for reviewing Gwyn!
Sirithiliel; Fun?! Fun?! ^_^ Lol, you are the first reviewer I've had who says this is fun!!! Of course, I think this is fun, but not normally the readers! Thanks for reviewing!
Deana; It took me 7 days to write this chapter since the last... you're not dead and buried I hope! ^_^ Can't wait to see the sequel to 'Tears'!!! Ok, I've updated, will you start writing it soon?!
Fritz Will Get You; Lol! Thanks for reviewing!
Alariel; *blushes brightly* -^.^- Ooh, thank you! I'm assuming you're older than me? ^_^ Yes, I am only 14 years old! Some people on here don't believe me at all, but it's true! Yeah, the quotes were born after eating way too many m&ms and Pringles... I'm torn between becoming an author and a stand-up comedian... ^_^ Thanks very much for your compliments; they've really brightened up my day!
Mellaithwen-AngelMaiden; *gasps* Everyone you know?! Are you saying that I was hit with the stupid stick Amy?!?! ^_^ Lol, I know you're not! Thanks!
Anarya; *laughs evilly* Mwuhahahahaha!!! You think the ending will be that easy?! We're talking about one of my stories here; obligatory plot twists ahead... that's all I'm saying! You want angst? Ok...
Sparrow Greenleaf; ^_^ Thanks Sparrow!
Kyliah; Thanks very much! ^_^
elfmage; Lol! So, there was an intention in mentioning Faramir then... I see... tell you about everything? Ok then! Us Elves have to stick together... see, my friend is totally confusing me. She can be so spiteful! One minute she'll be talking to me normally and we'll be having a nice normal conversation (usually about LOTR) and then I'll say something else in the conversation, and she gets on my back about it and starts telling me to "shut up" or that I'm "so f****** annoying" or that I'm "stupid". It really gets me down. I don't think she realises just how much she hurts me... oh well, who cares about my problems?! Nobody else seems to! Thanks for reviewing! ^_^
So, on with the chapter! Wow, number 15... never thought I'd get here...
.:Chapter 15:.
Legolas suppressed a groan as his stomach churned painfully again. "I can't do this. What if we have to fight? I can't risk this returning in the middle of it all!" he said, a desperate tone in his voice, almost as if he had lost hope.
Gimli shook his head. He didn't understand the sudden change in the Elf's behaviour. "And you wanted to come by yourself..." he thought to himself. "But the sooner you get to Aragorn, the sooner we can find out what is wrong!" cried the Dwarf. He couldn't believe his friend was giving up. Surely this wasn't the proud and strong Elf he had known for the last three years...
The look on Legolas' face showed him struggling with his thoughts; a difficult decision. Gimli waited with baited breath.
"You go on ahead." said the immortal finally. Gimli's jaw dropped.
"No! I-"
"Please..." interrupted Legolas, his eyes full of pleading. Gimli fell silent. "I promise I'll catch up with you." finished the Elf.
There was a brief silence between them before it was broken by the deeper tones of the Dwarf.
"You'd better."
With that, he walked down the tunnel, his stout form disappearing into the darkness.
Legolas sighed and shut his eyes. He felt so useless, wanting to help Aragorn but knowing that he could put his own life, and those of his friends, in danger if these strange symptoms didn't stop.
He pulled off the stopper of his medicine with a pale shaking hand and drank some. There were only a few drops left. Hopefully they would be able to help him until they found Aragorn again...
~*~*~*~
Faramir walked hastily down the steps and turned a corner. Pulling on his cloak, he did not notice the young boy until he had almost walked straight into him. The young Steward stopped abruptly.
"Excuse me lad," he asked, trying to sound pleasant. The youngster looked up at him.
"Are you the Steward?" he asked desperately. Faramir was confused, but nodded slightly. Without warning, the boy burst into tears. Faramir was taken back. Kneeling down so that he was eye level with the child, he spoke softly.
"What's wrong? Why were you looking for me?"
The boy sniffed and wiped at his teary eyes. "I'm Conyc," he said. Suddenly Faramir understood. He remained silent however, and motioned for the boy to continue.
"I wanted to say sorry to the King," explained Conyc. "This is all my fault..."
Faramir frowned. He had heard a little of what had happened with this boy from Aragorn, but he thought it best to hear what the child knew and had done. "Tell me," he said.
Conyc cleared his throat.
"I didn't want to do it, honestly, but he made me; the Orc. He hurt me," he sobbed. "They made me take them to a room and then bring Queen Arwen to them." Fresh floods of tears ran down his face. "I'm sorry!"
Faramir looked deeply into the eyes of the child, and recognised himself in the fearful gaze. He had lost count of the number of times he had cried sorry to his own father when he was young. He shook his head mentally; it was not time to dwell on the past right now.
He ruffled Conyc's hair and tried to smile. "It is alright," he reassured the young Gondorian. "People make mistakes. Nobody blames you for all this."
Conyc smiled weakly. "Really?"
Faramir nodded. "I promise..."
~*~*~*~
Fighting with your hands tied together behind your back is not a good idea. Unfortunately Aragorn was learning this the hard way.
Another fierce punch caught him around the face and he fell to the floor. Cayred kicked him harshly in the ribs and he rolled onto his back. Opening his eyes to see the grinning face of his opponent, Aragorn swung his leg up forcefully and smashed his foot into his face.
Cayred cried out, staggering backwards, blood pouring from his nose. He hadn't expected Aragorn to fight back like this.
As the young King struggled to his feet, he caught sight of Arwen, his beautiful wife, out of the corner of his eye. She was screaming to him, and begging the Valar not to let him get hurt. He refused to let the love of his life become the trophy of the villain he battled now!
His thoughts were wrenched apart prematurely as a gloved fist connected with his face again...
~*~*~*~
"ARAGORN!" screamed the she-Elf again. Her love was sent flying close to the edge of the pinnacle from the force of the punch. Arwen struggled against the Orc's grip, but he was far too strong for her. Bruises began to form around her thin wrist as his large sweaty hand clamped it tightly.
The baby kicked, reminding its mother that it was still there. Arwen cried harder, the tears from her stinging red eyes splashing onto the dusty floor.
And then, something happened that would change the course of her life forever. It was something long hoped for, yet in this situation, it could be the worst possible thing.
A cramping sensation around her womb signalled the one thing that she and Aragorn had been delightedly awaiting for months. All of a sudden however, it seemed so wrong.
"No..." she thought, horrified. "Not tithen pen, not yet, not here, not now!!!"
~*~*~*~
Gimli suddenly found himself confronted with a difficult choice. He had run down the winding tunnels until now, the passageway split into three. The decision he made now could mean life or death for Aragorn.
Normally he would have looked at the tracks, but the fiend who had captured his friend was obviously intelligent; he or she had covered their tracks.
The Dwarf stood there for goodness knows how long, when all of a sudden, he heard a piercing high-pitched cry from down the middle passage. He recognised that voice.
"Arwen..."
Hefting his axe onto his shoulder, he ran as fast as he could up the middle tunnel...
~*~*~*~
The antidote gradually did its job and Legolas began to feel much better. His stomach still throbbed and seemed to pulse slightly under his skin, but it was bearable.
The Elf's eyes narrowed. Now all he had to do was find Gimli and help Aragorn.
Shifting his weapons harness on his shoulders, he walked forward, following his friend's tracks...
It was a little while later when Legolas realised that it was too dark to see the tracks any more. Now he would have to rely on what Aragorn had once called "that strange thing that all Elves seem to do". In other words, he meant Elvish intuition.
What Legolas did not realise was that, sharp and perceptive as his senses usually were, the poison had wreaked havoc on that intuition and it was now highly unreliable.
Turning a corner, the Elf found himself face to face with the same problem that Gimli had encountered earlier. Now, to choose the left, middle, or right hand tunnel...
Something inside of him told him to go right, and that was what he did. And so, Legolas Greenleaf followed his heart, which had severely tricked him, heading down a dark tunnel to face who knew what...
~*~*~*~
So... comments? Please R&R to tell me! ^_^ Oh, and to all those wonderful silent readers who either can't or won't review; I love you all!
...
Not in that way of course... ^_~
