So sorry for the long delay. I have been running nonstop since school started back. Work, classes, sorority stuff... I start at seven in the morning and don't stop until after midnight. I finally grabbed a few minutes to type this out.
Thanks for all the kind and wonderful reviews. I hope this chapter is just as good.
Disclaimer: These guys are not mine. *sniff sniff*
The Silent Prince
Chapter 22: The Journey Back
~I feel terriable.~
That was the first thought to pass through Legolas's mind as he once again became aware. His face was so hot it felt like the sun was shinning directly on it, but the rest of his body felt as if it had been dunked into an ice cold lake. He didn't know weather to sweat or to shiver.
He lay there for a moment, trying to understand what was happening to him, when the feeling of something cold and wet being placed on his forehead startled him. Opening his eyes, he found that the sun was nearly gone, and that Ylana was leaning over him.
"Did I wake you?" she asked softly when she noticed that his eyes were open. "I'm sorry, but your fever's getting worse."
~Fever...~ Legolas had never felt like this before. Elves couldn't get sick. Oh, he had fevers before, but never like this. Then again, he'd never had one while he was hurt this badly. ~How do humans stand it?~
The fire was still going. Legolas could hear it crackling nearby. He wanted to turn his head to look and see where the two humans were, but he felt too weak.
This caused frustration to well up in the Elven prince. ~I don't even have enough strength to turn my head!~
The coolness moved from his forehead to his cheek, and he closed his eyes in relief. He couldn't believe how much better a cold cloth could make him feel. Now, if he could just do something about the rest of his body...
With that thought in mind, he reached out to where he had placed his cloak and pulled it over him. He began to warm up immediately.
This did not go unnoticed by Ylana. She had promised Aragorn that she would look after him, and she would stick to it. "Are you cold? I can have Boromir move you closer to the fire if you wish."
Still keeping his eyes closed, Legolas smiled and shook his head. He was comfortable now, and *so* tired...
In minute, he had fallen back asleep.
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All was silent in the camp, which was slightly unnerving to Boromir. Both Aragorn and Legolas were asleep, and Ylana was busy attending to the prince. The sounds were the cracking of the flames and the hooting of a nearby owl.
The Man stirred the embers of the fire with a stick. ~I'm not used to this silence. But I am glad that Aragorn is finally getting some rest. He looked terrible. Ylana needs some sleep as well. She took watch last night. But in order to do that, I'll have to watch Legolas. And I'm not sure that's a chore I want to take on.~
He let out a heavy sigh. ~Damn honor code...~
Lying his stick down, he climbed to his feet and walked over to where the two Elves were. "How is he?" he inquired softly.
Ylana turned to him, her silver eyes dancing in the firelight. "Better," she answered. "His fever is still high. His immune system is too busy trying to heal all of his wounds to worry about his fever. But he'll be fine."
"Good." He paused. "Listen. Why don't you go on and get some rest? I'll watch him."
"Boromir, you don't---"
"I mean it," he said firmly. Women in Minas Tirith were never this stubborn! "You were awake all last night. I'll be fine. If it looks like he's getting worse, I'll wake you immediately. And that's a promise."
Ylana frowned, but couldn't argue. Hadn't she said the same thing to Aragorn just hours earlier? "You're right. I am tired." As she stood, she fixed the human with a stern gaze. "You swear to wake me the second anything happens?"
He placed a hand over his heart. "I swear," he said solemnly.
She regarded him for another moment or so before nodding. "I will hold you to your word, Boromir of Gondor. And I thank you." She offered him a regal bow, placing her hand over her heart before extending it out to him. Then she turned and walked to a place across the fire from Aragorn, where she lay down.,
With a sigh, Boromir sat down by Legolas, sparing the prince a quick glance. ~He looks so young,~ the human thought, reaching for his pipe. ~Sometimes I forget that he's nearly three thousand-years-old, not twenty.~
He filled the bowl with tabac and lit it as he stared up into the sky. ~Look at the stars. They're so beautiful. It's hard to imagine that the world is in such grave danger when you're looking at something so peaceful, so perfect.~
~What am I doing here? I'm so small, so insignificant. What can I do against such wide-spread evil? I'm not as brave as the hobbits, who had never crossed the boarders of their homeland prior to setting out on this journey. I'm not as wise as Gandalf, who seems to know everything that's going on. I'm not as fearless as Gimli, who was not even fazed by a group of angry Elves. I'm not as dedicated as Aragorn, who will do anything to save the people of Middle-Eart. And I'm not as loyal as the Elves, who have vowed to follow their friend to whatever end.~
~So why am I, Boromir of Gondor, walking to Mordor to destroy the One Ring, a weapon that I could use to help restore the glory of Gondor?~
No answer was forthcoming, and for Boromir, staring up into the sky as he smoked, the stars suddenly didn't seem to shine as bright.
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For the first time in days, Aragorn actually *slept*. No nightmares plagued him, no fears or burning questions kept him tossing and turning. It was a deep, dreamless rest.
When he awoke the next morning, he felt as refreshed as if he'd been sleeping on his bed in Rivendell.
The Sun was already over the horizon, shinning down on the weary travelers. Boromir was trying not to burn his fingers on the skillet as he cooked their morning meal. Ylana was kneeling by Legolas---who was awake---helping him to drink what Aragorn guessed was herbal tea.
This caused the Ranger to smile. ~Everything's back to normal...~
Turning, Ylana caught a glimpse of Aragorn and smiled. "Good morning, Estel! How was your night?"
"Wonderful," he said emphatically as he crossed the camp to sit by her. "I feel quite rested. Perhaps the best sleep I've had since Rivendell."
"Good." She stood and dusted herself off. "Now, I'm going to help Boromir before he burns himself or our food."
Aragorn laughed as she left, then turned to his best friend. Legolas's eyes weren't as glassy, and color was beginning to return to his cheeks. "And how was *your* night?"
Legolas lifted his hand and made a so-so gesture.
The Ranger reached out and placed a hand on the Elf's forehead. "Seems like your fever has gone down."
Legolas nodded and turned to look at Ylana, kneeling by Boromir.
Aragorn followed his line of sight and smiled. "Ylana's a good nurse, isn't she?"
Legolas nodded hard enough to nearly send his head flying. She had been by his side when he had fallen asleep, and was still there when he awoke.
Ylana wanted to tell the others that it had actually been Boromir who had stayed with Legolas for most of the night, but the human had vehemently said no. He didn't think that Aragorn or Legolas would be too happy to know that it had been he instead of their precious Ylana that had watched over the Elf, and he wasn't about to start any more arguments.
She had given him a smile dazzling enough to make him blush and rewarded him with a kiss on the cheek. That alone had made everything worth it.
"Can you walk now?" Aragorn asked, concern on his face as his eyes swept over his friend. Elves had incredible healing powers, but Legolas had so many injuries that it would take much longer for him to completely heal. Especially since they did not have a fully-trained Healer with them.
Legolas nodded, pulled off his cloak and held out his hands, raising an eyebrow at his human companion.
Aragorn climbed to his feet, grabbed Legolas's outstretched hands, and pulled his friend to a standing position. Legolas wobbled for a bit, clinging tight to Aragorn. Once he regained his balance, he took a few steps forward, turned, and walked back to the human's side. He gave the Ranger a wide grin and a nod. He was going to be just fine.
Aragorn's grin was just as wide. Looking at Legolas, who was relatively healthy, made his eyes sting with unshed tears. "It's so good to have you back," he said softly.
The human had always taken the Elf's presence for granted. Legolas had been there all of this life. Sure the prince lived in Mirkwood, but Aragorn had known that, if he needed him, Legolas would be there.
Yes, there had been times when Legolas had been badly injured. Times when those around him weren't sure if he would be able to pull through. But he always had. A young Aragorn had begun to believe that his friend was invincible. It had come as a devastating blow when he became old enough to realize that wasn't true.
Saruman taking Legolas from them had shown Aragorn how much he depended on the Elf. How much his life revolved around the prince. And it had been scary. Scary to realize how bleak his life would be without Legolas in it.
Legolas was looking at him questioningly. Aragorn gave him a smile, hoping it didn't look pained. He opened his mouth, ready to spill some meaningless reassurances, but was interrupted by Ylana calling them to breakfast.
The Ranger hoped his sigh of relief wasn't too loud as he looped his arm through Legolas's. "Come," he said in a cheerful voice. "Let's get this day started."
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"Oh, wow. This is good. You cook well, Boromir."
The human warrior puffed his chest out as Aragorn's words of praise. ~Well, there's at least one contribution I can make while the hobbits are not around.~
Legolas sat back with a satisfied smile, his hand resting on his slender stomach. ~That was the beast meal I've had in a long time...~
It wasn't that he hadn't been fed while held captive. He just hadn't had much energy of appetite. Now that he was back among friends, safe, he realized just how hungry he was. Even Elves couldn't survive very long without food.
Ylana just groaned and laid back. "I don't think I can move. Perhaps if we were to sleep for another hour or so..."
Boromir laughed. "I should take you all home with me, just to prove that *someone* enjoys my cooking. Faramir says that everything I make tastes like old leather. *He* should be the one to talk! I don't think he even knows what a skillet is."
"Well, I think it was a feast," Aragorn said, getting to his feet. "Now that we've been fed, I think it's time to pack up and head out. Even if that means we have to roll Ylana all the way to Terin."
"Don't worry about me," the female Elf said from where she lay on the ground, looking quite contented. "I'll get up in a minute. It's just... This is nice. No worry about Legolas being safe, no hoping against hope that we will get there on time, no only getting to stop for five minutes at a time. It's peaceful, and I want to savor it for a moment. But, please. Feel free to pack everything away. I'll gladly supervise."
As the two Men laughed and moved off to pack and erase all signs of their existence, Legolas took the time to study his female counterpart. The was she had spoken... He hadn't even thought of their journey to find him. How hard it must have been on them. Especially, if what Ylana had said was correct, on Aragorn. Though he felt bad for making his friend worry, Legolas was also warmed by it.
He only hoped that the journey back would be better. For all of them.
"So how long is it going to take us to get there, Your Highness?" Aragorn asked, leaning over Ylana as he shouldered a pack.
She closed her eyes and, even though she was lying down, tilted her head to one side. Aragorn had long ago come to realize that sign meant that she was thinking. "Five, six days at the most. Luckily, all we have to do is walk strait. We won't even have to worry about the Dark Spot. We'll miss it completely."
Boromir was impressed. "You've studied your maps well, Ylana."
She gave a little shrug. "I had a good teacher."
"You could have gone to Lothlorien to learn," Aragorn said in a completely innocent tone of voice.
The female Elf opened her eyes and shot a look at Aragorn. "I never would have done much studying in Lothlorien, now would I? Glorfindel could be strict at times, but I learned much from him."
"As you say," Aragorn said, nodding and turning. But his gray eyes were still sparkling.
Legolas and Boromir exchanged confused looks, both mystified. The male Elf knew that something important had passed between the two, but had no idea what it could have been.
"Well, I think that it is time to go," Ylana said, climbing to her feet. "We've gotten started later than normal, so we're going to have to make use of what daylight we have left if we plan to reach Terin within a week." he strapped on her quiver, slung her bow over her shoulder and walked off into the woods, not waiting for the others.
The Ranger chuckled as he offered a hand to Legolas. "We'd best hurry and catch up," he said, pulling the Elf to his feet. "Else she'll leave us behind just out of spite."
Legolas lifted an eyebrow at his friend as he pushed his knives into his belt. ~What was that all about?~
Aragorn had known Legolas long enough to ready his facial expressions, and understood his friend's unspoken question. "I was just teasing her. It's not my place to say about what. *She* knew what I was speaking of. That's all that matters."
Legolas nodded and gave no more thought to the matter. It was between Aragorn and Ylana, and it was going to stay that way.
Seconds later, they had caught up to Ylana and Boromir, chatting away. The four Companions were together and on their way once again.
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By noon, they could no longer see the tower, much to Legolas's relief. He already felt much better, surrounded by friends and nature. ~I'm glad that it will be a few days before we reach Terin,~ he thought, then shuddered. ~I don't think I'm going to sleep indoors ever again.~
Boromir picked a small clearing to stop for midday meal, and they began to set things up. The two Elves set out to fix their food while the two Men prepared the fire.
Aragorn had to grin as he watched his two childhood friends. Even though one of them couldn't talk, they were still able to argue, using facial expressions and wild gestures. When Ylana threw her hands up in defeat and shook her head, he had to laugh. ~Those two act more like a married couple than just friends!~
He only hoped that Ylana wasn't too angry at his earlier barb. He'd only been teasing, and he thought that she knew. But he could never tell. Women were tricky...
Boromir dropped a load of firewood on the ground by Aragorn's feet. "I'm just glad that we can relax a little," he said, looking back towards the tower. "Apparently, Saruman is finished with us."
Aragorn shook his head. "Far from it, I fear. I think he's simply toying with us. He needs us for something. We just don't know what."
"I wish we did," Boromir growled. "I hate not knowing."
"Me too, my friend," Aragorn agreed quietly. "Me, too."
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Legolas watched, amused, as Ylana stalked over to their packs. They'd been arguing over who was to do the actual cooking. Ylana had tried to coax Legolas into doing it, but he had declined, using his hands and face to say that he didn't know how long to leave it over the fire. She had insisted, he had protested further. He had finally become animated, waving his arms about and making faces. Finally, realizing that she wasn't going to get anywhere with her stubborn male counterpart, she threw her arms up and stalked away.
Legolas was touched. He knew that she was trying to make him feel useful, and he appreciated it. But he knew his strengths, and cooking was not one of them.
He looked over to Aragorn, who was helping Boromir pile up wood. He really wished the Ranger would learn to push the hair of of his eyes. Sometimes, Legolas just wanted to walk over and brush---
A slight sound from behind drew the male Elf's attention from the Man. ~Nothing's there. But I know I heard something. And I can sense something, too. Something...*evil*.~
His first instinct was to call out to Ylana, to see if she too sensed it. Then, at the last minute, he remembered that he couldn't. Silent cursing, he reached for his bow and arrow. This drew even more curses when he realized that they weren't there. So his hands dropped to the hilts of his blades, which were stuck in his belt, and swiftly drew them. ~Looks as though Saruman just gave us a head start...~
Aragorn, glancing up from his work, noticed that Legolas's attention was diverted, and that he had his blades drawn.
Not a good sign.
Aragorn placed one hand on Boromir's shoulder, then placed a finger on his lips to warn him into silence. Glancing over to Ylana, he saw that, instead of reaching for the food packs, the female Elf's hand was slowly reaching for an arrow. ~So she senses it, too. Whatever it is.~
Drawing Anduril, the Ranger walked noiselessly to Legolas's side. His eyes swept the surrounding woods before uttering one word. "Where?"
Legolas used one of his blades to gesture to the area directly in front of them.
Aragorn nodded. "Ylana, pick a tree," he said softly.
No answer.
He turned and, when he didn't see her, frowned. Before he could get worried, however, Legolas tapped him on the shoulder and pointed up. Squinting, Aragorn could just make out the glint of metal as Ylana readied her arrow.
A ghost of a smile touched his lips. ~Why do I ever bother? She's been around battles for a lot longer than I have.~ "Boromir, stay out of sight. I'll find a tree myself."
Legolas glanced at him sharply from the corner of his eye, and Aragorn allowed his smile to widen. ~Don't worry, mellon-nin. (1) I'm not about to leave you out of the fight.~ "Legolas, I want you to stay close, but out of sight. You'll be the last line of defense, holding them off until the rest of us can get to you. Think you can do it?"
A fire sprang to life in the Elf's eyes, and the grin gave Aragorn was positively wicked. He saluted the human with one of his blades, then, with a flash of green and yellow, he was gone.
Aragorn's smile now stretched from ear to ear. ~Legolas will fight, and fight well. Now, I need to find myself a tree!~
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Goblins were much shorter in stature then their Orc and Uruk-hai cousins, and nowhere near as sentient. They had their own sense of communication, but it was crude. The only way they could be brought under control was by fear, and it took a lot to scare a goblin. Especially a pack of them.
The creatures were notorious for leaving their underground homes and raiding human settlements. They would kill most of the humans, and take the rest---usually women and children---back with them, along with whatever items had attracted their attention.
From what Aragorn could tell, that's where the band of goblins that were headed in their direction had just come from. Apparently, a group of humans had been moving from one settlement to another when the goblins---from Orthanc, by the white hand that was stamped on them---had attacked. The Ranger had to wonder if it was just luck that their camp had been in the goblins' path, or if a scout had found them out.
He shook his head, readying his arrow as the crashings and chitterings got closer. It didn't really matter. They had to be stopped. That's all there was to it.
If he looked down and to his left, he could just make out Boromir crouched in the bushes, sword in one hand, shield in the other. Of the two Elves, there was no sign. Not that Aragorn expected there to be. But he knew that they were close. Close and ready.
The goblins weren't even close enough for Aragorn to see when Ylana let her first arrow fly. The Ranger wasn't even worried about her hitting her mark, and couldn't hold back a satisfied grin when a loud squeal told him that she had indeed hit something.
Arrow after arrow shot from the trees to Aragorn's right. It was hard to tell if she was hitting anything with all the cries and noises the goblins were making, but he had the utmost confidence in her. He knew that she wouldn't take a shot unless he was sure she could make it.
He drew back his own arrow as the noises became louder, closer. The Ranger couldn't be sure until he actually saw the group, but it sounded like it was a fairly big one. ~Must've been a big group of humans. They usually don't travel in big groups, because they fight amongst themselves so much.~
~But I don't care. I just want to get them out of the way so we can get to Terin and Legolas to a Healer.~
A goblin came crashing through the threes then, stumbling into Aragorn's sight. He lined up his shot and let the arrow fly. He was rewarded a few seconds later when the goblin hit the ground, an arrow in its back.
More and more of the disgusting creatures poured into the area below the Ranger, quickly filling it. Aragorn and Ylana continued to rain arrows down, and Boromir had jumped up from his hiding place to begin tearing them apart. They were holding their own, but Aragorn feared that it might be dark before they had gotten rid of all the goblins.
The Legolas joined the fight.
He fought like a demon. That was the only way Aragorn could think of to descirbe him. He spun so fast he was no more than a blur, his blades out at his sides. The goblins tried to swarm him, but they all fell back, cut down. Sometimes it seems as though the male Elf would be cut down himself, but he always managed to dodge and take out the would-be assassin. Aragorn was so enthralled by the way his friend moved that he almost forgot to shoot down the creatures smart enough not to rush the powerful Elf. He had never seen Legolas move like that!
On the ground, Legolas felt more alive than he had in a long time. Goblins fell away from him, more from the dangerous light in his eyes than from his whirling blades. He moved in ways that seemed impossible, often scoring hits that never should have connected. But none of that registered in his mind. He was free. All the fear, desperation and anger he'd felt while trapped in that tower came pouring out as he took on goblin after goblin, not letting a single cut land on him. He was alive and free, the greatest feeling in the world. He never wanted it to end...
One particular goblin, either very brave or stupid---if it was possible for goblins to feel either emotion---charged the Elf. Legolas ducked the creature's wild swing, then laughed to himself as he removed the goblin's head.
The other three were hardly paying attention to the remaining goblins, only firing a shot or taking a swing if the creatures came too close. Their attention was riveted on the male Elf.
Aragorn was perhaps the least shocked of the group. ~He's had this building within him for days.~ Still, he was surprised by his friend's ferocity.
Duck, turn, thrust. Legolas didn't even consciously think about his movements. He just let his body move as it had been trained to. Parry, spin, hit. He wasn't even breaking a sweat.
Soon, it was over. Goblin bodies lay all over the place, most of them piled up at Legolas's feet. Ylana and Aragorn leapt to the ground to join Boromir, who was staring at Legolas warily, sword still drawn.
The male Elf stood in the middle of a pile of dead goblins. The fire still burned brightly in his blue eyes, and a smile was still on his lips. His blades, hanging at his sides, dripped with goblin blood.
"Let's get back to camp," Ylana said quietly, slinging her bow over her shoulder. "We'll throw something together, then head out."
Laughing, Legolas flipped one of his knives, caught it by the handle, and shoved them both into his belt before turning and walking back towards the clearing.
Aragorn began to follow him, but was stopped by Boromir's hand landing on his arm. "Aragorn?" the warrior said softly. "I have never seen Legolas act in such a way. Is he all right?"
The Ranger offered a comforting smile. "He's fine, Boromir. I think he was worried that we would leave him out of the fight, thinking that he would be useless because he couldn't speak. But we did let him fight. When he got out there, he was able to release all of his emotions. I just didn't realize that he would act quite like that."
"So you don't think Saruman messed with his mind?"
"No, Boromir. I think he's just fine. "Aragorn sheathed his sword and walked back towards camp. "Come! Let's eat. I'm ready to get back on the Road and reach Terin."
Boromir couldn't agree more.
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(1) Mellon-nin------------my friend.
Thanks for all the kind and wonderful reviews. I hope this chapter is just as good.
Disclaimer: These guys are not mine. *sniff sniff*
The Silent Prince
Chapter 22: The Journey Back
~I feel terriable.~
That was the first thought to pass through Legolas's mind as he once again became aware. His face was so hot it felt like the sun was shinning directly on it, but the rest of his body felt as if it had been dunked into an ice cold lake. He didn't know weather to sweat or to shiver.
He lay there for a moment, trying to understand what was happening to him, when the feeling of something cold and wet being placed on his forehead startled him. Opening his eyes, he found that the sun was nearly gone, and that Ylana was leaning over him.
"Did I wake you?" she asked softly when she noticed that his eyes were open. "I'm sorry, but your fever's getting worse."
~Fever...~ Legolas had never felt like this before. Elves couldn't get sick. Oh, he had fevers before, but never like this. Then again, he'd never had one while he was hurt this badly. ~How do humans stand it?~
The fire was still going. Legolas could hear it crackling nearby. He wanted to turn his head to look and see where the two humans were, but he felt too weak.
This caused frustration to well up in the Elven prince. ~I don't even have enough strength to turn my head!~
The coolness moved from his forehead to his cheek, and he closed his eyes in relief. He couldn't believe how much better a cold cloth could make him feel. Now, if he could just do something about the rest of his body...
With that thought in mind, he reached out to where he had placed his cloak and pulled it over him. He began to warm up immediately.
This did not go unnoticed by Ylana. She had promised Aragorn that she would look after him, and she would stick to it. "Are you cold? I can have Boromir move you closer to the fire if you wish."
Still keeping his eyes closed, Legolas smiled and shook his head. He was comfortable now, and *so* tired...
In minute, he had fallen back asleep.
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All was silent in the camp, which was slightly unnerving to Boromir. Both Aragorn and Legolas were asleep, and Ylana was busy attending to the prince. The sounds were the cracking of the flames and the hooting of a nearby owl.
The Man stirred the embers of the fire with a stick. ~I'm not used to this silence. But I am glad that Aragorn is finally getting some rest. He looked terrible. Ylana needs some sleep as well. She took watch last night. But in order to do that, I'll have to watch Legolas. And I'm not sure that's a chore I want to take on.~
He let out a heavy sigh. ~Damn honor code...~
Lying his stick down, he climbed to his feet and walked over to where the two Elves were. "How is he?" he inquired softly.
Ylana turned to him, her silver eyes dancing in the firelight. "Better," she answered. "His fever is still high. His immune system is too busy trying to heal all of his wounds to worry about his fever. But he'll be fine."
"Good." He paused. "Listen. Why don't you go on and get some rest? I'll watch him."
"Boromir, you don't---"
"I mean it," he said firmly. Women in Minas Tirith were never this stubborn! "You were awake all last night. I'll be fine. If it looks like he's getting worse, I'll wake you immediately. And that's a promise."
Ylana frowned, but couldn't argue. Hadn't she said the same thing to Aragorn just hours earlier? "You're right. I am tired." As she stood, she fixed the human with a stern gaze. "You swear to wake me the second anything happens?"
He placed a hand over his heart. "I swear," he said solemnly.
She regarded him for another moment or so before nodding. "I will hold you to your word, Boromir of Gondor. And I thank you." She offered him a regal bow, placing her hand over her heart before extending it out to him. Then she turned and walked to a place across the fire from Aragorn, where she lay down.,
With a sigh, Boromir sat down by Legolas, sparing the prince a quick glance. ~He looks so young,~ the human thought, reaching for his pipe. ~Sometimes I forget that he's nearly three thousand-years-old, not twenty.~
He filled the bowl with tabac and lit it as he stared up into the sky. ~Look at the stars. They're so beautiful. It's hard to imagine that the world is in such grave danger when you're looking at something so peaceful, so perfect.~
~What am I doing here? I'm so small, so insignificant. What can I do against such wide-spread evil? I'm not as brave as the hobbits, who had never crossed the boarders of their homeland prior to setting out on this journey. I'm not as wise as Gandalf, who seems to know everything that's going on. I'm not as fearless as Gimli, who was not even fazed by a group of angry Elves. I'm not as dedicated as Aragorn, who will do anything to save the people of Middle-Eart. And I'm not as loyal as the Elves, who have vowed to follow their friend to whatever end.~
~So why am I, Boromir of Gondor, walking to Mordor to destroy the One Ring, a weapon that I could use to help restore the glory of Gondor?~
No answer was forthcoming, and for Boromir, staring up into the sky as he smoked, the stars suddenly didn't seem to shine as bright.
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For the first time in days, Aragorn actually *slept*. No nightmares plagued him, no fears or burning questions kept him tossing and turning. It was a deep, dreamless rest.
When he awoke the next morning, he felt as refreshed as if he'd been sleeping on his bed in Rivendell.
The Sun was already over the horizon, shinning down on the weary travelers. Boromir was trying not to burn his fingers on the skillet as he cooked their morning meal. Ylana was kneeling by Legolas---who was awake---helping him to drink what Aragorn guessed was herbal tea.
This caused the Ranger to smile. ~Everything's back to normal...~
Turning, Ylana caught a glimpse of Aragorn and smiled. "Good morning, Estel! How was your night?"
"Wonderful," he said emphatically as he crossed the camp to sit by her. "I feel quite rested. Perhaps the best sleep I've had since Rivendell."
"Good." She stood and dusted herself off. "Now, I'm going to help Boromir before he burns himself or our food."
Aragorn laughed as she left, then turned to his best friend. Legolas's eyes weren't as glassy, and color was beginning to return to his cheeks. "And how was *your* night?"
Legolas lifted his hand and made a so-so gesture.
The Ranger reached out and placed a hand on the Elf's forehead. "Seems like your fever has gone down."
Legolas nodded and turned to look at Ylana, kneeling by Boromir.
Aragorn followed his line of sight and smiled. "Ylana's a good nurse, isn't she?"
Legolas nodded hard enough to nearly send his head flying. She had been by his side when he had fallen asleep, and was still there when he awoke.
Ylana wanted to tell the others that it had actually been Boromir who had stayed with Legolas for most of the night, but the human had vehemently said no. He didn't think that Aragorn or Legolas would be too happy to know that it had been he instead of their precious Ylana that had watched over the Elf, and he wasn't about to start any more arguments.
She had given him a smile dazzling enough to make him blush and rewarded him with a kiss on the cheek. That alone had made everything worth it.
"Can you walk now?" Aragorn asked, concern on his face as his eyes swept over his friend. Elves had incredible healing powers, but Legolas had so many injuries that it would take much longer for him to completely heal. Especially since they did not have a fully-trained Healer with them.
Legolas nodded, pulled off his cloak and held out his hands, raising an eyebrow at his human companion.
Aragorn climbed to his feet, grabbed Legolas's outstretched hands, and pulled his friend to a standing position. Legolas wobbled for a bit, clinging tight to Aragorn. Once he regained his balance, he took a few steps forward, turned, and walked back to the human's side. He gave the Ranger a wide grin and a nod. He was going to be just fine.
Aragorn's grin was just as wide. Looking at Legolas, who was relatively healthy, made his eyes sting with unshed tears. "It's so good to have you back," he said softly.
The human had always taken the Elf's presence for granted. Legolas had been there all of this life. Sure the prince lived in Mirkwood, but Aragorn had known that, if he needed him, Legolas would be there.
Yes, there had been times when Legolas had been badly injured. Times when those around him weren't sure if he would be able to pull through. But he always had. A young Aragorn had begun to believe that his friend was invincible. It had come as a devastating blow when he became old enough to realize that wasn't true.
Saruman taking Legolas from them had shown Aragorn how much he depended on the Elf. How much his life revolved around the prince. And it had been scary. Scary to realize how bleak his life would be without Legolas in it.
Legolas was looking at him questioningly. Aragorn gave him a smile, hoping it didn't look pained. He opened his mouth, ready to spill some meaningless reassurances, but was interrupted by Ylana calling them to breakfast.
The Ranger hoped his sigh of relief wasn't too loud as he looped his arm through Legolas's. "Come," he said in a cheerful voice. "Let's get this day started."
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"Oh, wow. This is good. You cook well, Boromir."
The human warrior puffed his chest out as Aragorn's words of praise. ~Well, there's at least one contribution I can make while the hobbits are not around.~
Legolas sat back with a satisfied smile, his hand resting on his slender stomach. ~That was the beast meal I've had in a long time...~
It wasn't that he hadn't been fed while held captive. He just hadn't had much energy of appetite. Now that he was back among friends, safe, he realized just how hungry he was. Even Elves couldn't survive very long without food.
Ylana just groaned and laid back. "I don't think I can move. Perhaps if we were to sleep for another hour or so..."
Boromir laughed. "I should take you all home with me, just to prove that *someone* enjoys my cooking. Faramir says that everything I make tastes like old leather. *He* should be the one to talk! I don't think he even knows what a skillet is."
"Well, I think it was a feast," Aragorn said, getting to his feet. "Now that we've been fed, I think it's time to pack up and head out. Even if that means we have to roll Ylana all the way to Terin."
"Don't worry about me," the female Elf said from where she lay on the ground, looking quite contented. "I'll get up in a minute. It's just... This is nice. No worry about Legolas being safe, no hoping against hope that we will get there on time, no only getting to stop for five minutes at a time. It's peaceful, and I want to savor it for a moment. But, please. Feel free to pack everything away. I'll gladly supervise."
As the two Men laughed and moved off to pack and erase all signs of their existence, Legolas took the time to study his female counterpart. The was she had spoken... He hadn't even thought of their journey to find him. How hard it must have been on them. Especially, if what Ylana had said was correct, on Aragorn. Though he felt bad for making his friend worry, Legolas was also warmed by it.
He only hoped that the journey back would be better. For all of them.
"So how long is it going to take us to get there, Your Highness?" Aragorn asked, leaning over Ylana as he shouldered a pack.
She closed her eyes and, even though she was lying down, tilted her head to one side. Aragorn had long ago come to realize that sign meant that she was thinking. "Five, six days at the most. Luckily, all we have to do is walk strait. We won't even have to worry about the Dark Spot. We'll miss it completely."
Boromir was impressed. "You've studied your maps well, Ylana."
She gave a little shrug. "I had a good teacher."
"You could have gone to Lothlorien to learn," Aragorn said in a completely innocent tone of voice.
The female Elf opened her eyes and shot a look at Aragorn. "I never would have done much studying in Lothlorien, now would I? Glorfindel could be strict at times, but I learned much from him."
"As you say," Aragorn said, nodding and turning. But his gray eyes were still sparkling.
Legolas and Boromir exchanged confused looks, both mystified. The male Elf knew that something important had passed between the two, but had no idea what it could have been.
"Well, I think that it is time to go," Ylana said, climbing to her feet. "We've gotten started later than normal, so we're going to have to make use of what daylight we have left if we plan to reach Terin within a week." he strapped on her quiver, slung her bow over her shoulder and walked off into the woods, not waiting for the others.
The Ranger chuckled as he offered a hand to Legolas. "We'd best hurry and catch up," he said, pulling the Elf to his feet. "Else she'll leave us behind just out of spite."
Legolas lifted an eyebrow at his friend as he pushed his knives into his belt. ~What was that all about?~
Aragorn had known Legolas long enough to ready his facial expressions, and understood his friend's unspoken question. "I was just teasing her. It's not my place to say about what. *She* knew what I was speaking of. That's all that matters."
Legolas nodded and gave no more thought to the matter. It was between Aragorn and Ylana, and it was going to stay that way.
Seconds later, they had caught up to Ylana and Boromir, chatting away. The four Companions were together and on their way once again.
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By noon, they could no longer see the tower, much to Legolas's relief. He already felt much better, surrounded by friends and nature. ~I'm glad that it will be a few days before we reach Terin,~ he thought, then shuddered. ~I don't think I'm going to sleep indoors ever again.~
Boromir picked a small clearing to stop for midday meal, and they began to set things up. The two Elves set out to fix their food while the two Men prepared the fire.
Aragorn had to grin as he watched his two childhood friends. Even though one of them couldn't talk, they were still able to argue, using facial expressions and wild gestures. When Ylana threw her hands up in defeat and shook her head, he had to laugh. ~Those two act more like a married couple than just friends!~
He only hoped that Ylana wasn't too angry at his earlier barb. He'd only been teasing, and he thought that she knew. But he could never tell. Women were tricky...
Boromir dropped a load of firewood on the ground by Aragorn's feet. "I'm just glad that we can relax a little," he said, looking back towards the tower. "Apparently, Saruman is finished with us."
Aragorn shook his head. "Far from it, I fear. I think he's simply toying with us. He needs us for something. We just don't know what."
"I wish we did," Boromir growled. "I hate not knowing."
"Me too, my friend," Aragorn agreed quietly. "Me, too."
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Legolas watched, amused, as Ylana stalked over to their packs. They'd been arguing over who was to do the actual cooking. Ylana had tried to coax Legolas into doing it, but he had declined, using his hands and face to say that he didn't know how long to leave it over the fire. She had insisted, he had protested further. He had finally become animated, waving his arms about and making faces. Finally, realizing that she wasn't going to get anywhere with her stubborn male counterpart, she threw her arms up and stalked away.
Legolas was touched. He knew that she was trying to make him feel useful, and he appreciated it. But he knew his strengths, and cooking was not one of them.
He looked over to Aragorn, who was helping Boromir pile up wood. He really wished the Ranger would learn to push the hair of of his eyes. Sometimes, Legolas just wanted to walk over and brush---
A slight sound from behind drew the male Elf's attention from the Man. ~Nothing's there. But I know I heard something. And I can sense something, too. Something...*evil*.~
His first instinct was to call out to Ylana, to see if she too sensed it. Then, at the last minute, he remembered that he couldn't. Silent cursing, he reached for his bow and arrow. This drew even more curses when he realized that they weren't there. So his hands dropped to the hilts of his blades, which were stuck in his belt, and swiftly drew them. ~Looks as though Saruman just gave us a head start...~
Aragorn, glancing up from his work, noticed that Legolas's attention was diverted, and that he had his blades drawn.
Not a good sign.
Aragorn placed one hand on Boromir's shoulder, then placed a finger on his lips to warn him into silence. Glancing over to Ylana, he saw that, instead of reaching for the food packs, the female Elf's hand was slowly reaching for an arrow. ~So she senses it, too. Whatever it is.~
Drawing Anduril, the Ranger walked noiselessly to Legolas's side. His eyes swept the surrounding woods before uttering one word. "Where?"
Legolas used one of his blades to gesture to the area directly in front of them.
Aragorn nodded. "Ylana, pick a tree," he said softly.
No answer.
He turned and, when he didn't see her, frowned. Before he could get worried, however, Legolas tapped him on the shoulder and pointed up. Squinting, Aragorn could just make out the glint of metal as Ylana readied her arrow.
A ghost of a smile touched his lips. ~Why do I ever bother? She's been around battles for a lot longer than I have.~ "Boromir, stay out of sight. I'll find a tree myself."
Legolas glanced at him sharply from the corner of his eye, and Aragorn allowed his smile to widen. ~Don't worry, mellon-nin. (1) I'm not about to leave you out of the fight.~ "Legolas, I want you to stay close, but out of sight. You'll be the last line of defense, holding them off until the rest of us can get to you. Think you can do it?"
A fire sprang to life in the Elf's eyes, and the grin gave Aragorn was positively wicked. He saluted the human with one of his blades, then, with a flash of green and yellow, he was gone.
Aragorn's smile now stretched from ear to ear. ~Legolas will fight, and fight well. Now, I need to find myself a tree!~
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Goblins were much shorter in stature then their Orc and Uruk-hai cousins, and nowhere near as sentient. They had their own sense of communication, but it was crude. The only way they could be brought under control was by fear, and it took a lot to scare a goblin. Especially a pack of them.
The creatures were notorious for leaving their underground homes and raiding human settlements. They would kill most of the humans, and take the rest---usually women and children---back with them, along with whatever items had attracted their attention.
From what Aragorn could tell, that's where the band of goblins that were headed in their direction had just come from. Apparently, a group of humans had been moving from one settlement to another when the goblins---from Orthanc, by the white hand that was stamped on them---had attacked. The Ranger had to wonder if it was just luck that their camp had been in the goblins' path, or if a scout had found them out.
He shook his head, readying his arrow as the crashings and chitterings got closer. It didn't really matter. They had to be stopped. That's all there was to it.
If he looked down and to his left, he could just make out Boromir crouched in the bushes, sword in one hand, shield in the other. Of the two Elves, there was no sign. Not that Aragorn expected there to be. But he knew that they were close. Close and ready.
The goblins weren't even close enough for Aragorn to see when Ylana let her first arrow fly. The Ranger wasn't even worried about her hitting her mark, and couldn't hold back a satisfied grin when a loud squeal told him that she had indeed hit something.
Arrow after arrow shot from the trees to Aragorn's right. It was hard to tell if she was hitting anything with all the cries and noises the goblins were making, but he had the utmost confidence in her. He knew that she wouldn't take a shot unless he was sure she could make it.
He drew back his own arrow as the noises became louder, closer. The Ranger couldn't be sure until he actually saw the group, but it sounded like it was a fairly big one. ~Must've been a big group of humans. They usually don't travel in big groups, because they fight amongst themselves so much.~
~But I don't care. I just want to get them out of the way so we can get to Terin and Legolas to a Healer.~
A goblin came crashing through the threes then, stumbling into Aragorn's sight. He lined up his shot and let the arrow fly. He was rewarded a few seconds later when the goblin hit the ground, an arrow in its back.
More and more of the disgusting creatures poured into the area below the Ranger, quickly filling it. Aragorn and Ylana continued to rain arrows down, and Boromir had jumped up from his hiding place to begin tearing them apart. They were holding their own, but Aragorn feared that it might be dark before they had gotten rid of all the goblins.
The Legolas joined the fight.
He fought like a demon. That was the only way Aragorn could think of to descirbe him. He spun so fast he was no more than a blur, his blades out at his sides. The goblins tried to swarm him, but they all fell back, cut down. Sometimes it seems as though the male Elf would be cut down himself, but he always managed to dodge and take out the would-be assassin. Aragorn was so enthralled by the way his friend moved that he almost forgot to shoot down the creatures smart enough not to rush the powerful Elf. He had never seen Legolas move like that!
On the ground, Legolas felt more alive than he had in a long time. Goblins fell away from him, more from the dangerous light in his eyes than from his whirling blades. He moved in ways that seemed impossible, often scoring hits that never should have connected. But none of that registered in his mind. He was free. All the fear, desperation and anger he'd felt while trapped in that tower came pouring out as he took on goblin after goblin, not letting a single cut land on him. He was alive and free, the greatest feeling in the world. He never wanted it to end...
One particular goblin, either very brave or stupid---if it was possible for goblins to feel either emotion---charged the Elf. Legolas ducked the creature's wild swing, then laughed to himself as he removed the goblin's head.
The other three were hardly paying attention to the remaining goblins, only firing a shot or taking a swing if the creatures came too close. Their attention was riveted on the male Elf.
Aragorn was perhaps the least shocked of the group. ~He's had this building within him for days.~ Still, he was surprised by his friend's ferocity.
Duck, turn, thrust. Legolas didn't even consciously think about his movements. He just let his body move as it had been trained to. Parry, spin, hit. He wasn't even breaking a sweat.
Soon, it was over. Goblin bodies lay all over the place, most of them piled up at Legolas's feet. Ylana and Aragorn leapt to the ground to join Boromir, who was staring at Legolas warily, sword still drawn.
The male Elf stood in the middle of a pile of dead goblins. The fire still burned brightly in his blue eyes, and a smile was still on his lips. His blades, hanging at his sides, dripped with goblin blood.
"Let's get back to camp," Ylana said quietly, slinging her bow over her shoulder. "We'll throw something together, then head out."
Laughing, Legolas flipped one of his knives, caught it by the handle, and shoved them both into his belt before turning and walking back towards the clearing.
Aragorn began to follow him, but was stopped by Boromir's hand landing on his arm. "Aragorn?" the warrior said softly. "I have never seen Legolas act in such a way. Is he all right?"
The Ranger offered a comforting smile. "He's fine, Boromir. I think he was worried that we would leave him out of the fight, thinking that he would be useless because he couldn't speak. But we did let him fight. When he got out there, he was able to release all of his emotions. I just didn't realize that he would act quite like that."
"So you don't think Saruman messed with his mind?"
"No, Boromir. I think he's just fine. "Aragorn sheathed his sword and walked back towards camp. "Come! Let's eat. I'm ready to get back on the Road and reach Terin."
Boromir couldn't agree more.
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(1) Mellon-nin------------my friend.