(Here's Chapter 3 for you. Hope you like it.)
~ Flashback ~
"On your feet." Said Aragorn solemnly. "We must arrive at Lothlorien before night fall."
"We must hurry if we are to make it before night fall, Aragorn. I feel the sun has already began to take its fall below the horizon." Said Legolas looking towards the sun.
"Indeed." Replied Aragorn. He saw Frodo away from the group. "Frodo! Come my friend." Frodo looked at Aragorn, then to the rest of the company. All were waiting for him. Wanting solitude to be alone to grieve but knowing he would not receive it he reluctantly walked back to the company.
They made their way off the boulders and into a field. The sun was setting very rapidly. Legolas, who ran behind the group to protect the rear, quickly ran to the front to Aragorn.
"The sun is only minutes away from setting. It will be dark in less than an hour and Lothlorien at least 2 hours away."
"Yes, Legolas. I believe you are right. We've run out of time." Said Aragorn, worriedly looking to the rapidly setting sun.
Just as Legolas had said, within an hour darkness fell upon the company. They were now in a small wooded area between Moria and Lothlorien. Fields surrounded the patch of trees. Within moments they were surrounded by orcs. The company fought off the orcs but being greatly outnumbered they were overtaken. Their hands were bound behind their backs. The one they had assumed to be the orc in command, who was later identified as Goroth by another orc, interrogated them. Questioning them about the One Ring. But none of the company ever spoke a word, though Frodo was waiting for Legolas to single him out as the ring bearer, but was surprised when the elf never spoke and only glared at the orcs in disgust.
"Very well. If you will not talk, we will make you talk." Said Goroth, harshly grabbing Frodo by his collar and pushing him up against a tree. "Have some fun with him, boys." Orcs with whips began to lash Frodo. He let out a cry of pain as the whips fell on his back. He heard the rest of the company shouting as he felt another whip cut into his back. Then another, and another. He closed his eyes tightly as pain filled his back and tears streamed down his face. Another whip hitting his back.
Without warning, Frodo felt pressure against his back. He could still hear the crack of the whips, but he could no longer feel them. He thought his back had gone numb. But thought otherwise when golden blond hair fell into his face. He looked up and saw the most unexpected thing he had ever seen. Legolas was pushed up against him, the whips falling onto his back. Frodo only heard short, soft grunts of pain that were barely audible escape the elf with every lash. Orcs tried to pull Legolas away from Frodo, but he pushed them off and pressed himself more stubbornly against Frodo.
"Enough!" yelled Goroth. "If the elf wants to take all the beatings, let him." He said as he pulled Frodo away and threw him on the ground next to the rest of the company. He was pulled up by another orc who held him in place, similar to the rest of the company who were also being held by orcs. Pain filled his back. "Teach this pretty elf boy a lesson!" Frodo heard Goroth say.
The orcs immediately pounced on Legolas, cutting into his fair skin with the whips. Some used clubs to beat him. Legolas fell to the ground in pain, but only let soft grunts escape his lips. He would not satisfy the orcs by crying out in pain. The rest of the company could only watch.
More than an hour had passed. Legolas had lost consciousness, though the orcs still continued to beat him. The hobbits were crying, even Frodo. Aragorn had turned away, no longer being able to watch his friend being beaten. Boromir still continued to watch, tears filled his eyes but did not fall. Even Gimli had a small tear in his eye. He didn't like the elf much, but he still didn't like to see him in such a state. He even thought that maybe the elf was growing on him.
As an orc brought down a whip on Legolas, an arrow struck him in the head. The orc fell to the ground dead. The rest of the orcs turned their attention away from the unconscious elf and onto the dead orc. A moment of silence fell upon them before a rain of arrows fell from the trees. Each arrow finding a mark in the flesh of an orc. Some just barely missing Legolas. After the last orc fell dead, another and more eerie silence fell upon them.
From out of the trees came elves. Aragorn smiled as he recognized one elf.
"Haldir!" he exclaimed. The elf with long blond hair, similar to Legolas', smiled and bowed slightly to Aragorn.
Elves untied the company. Other elves attended to Legolas.
"Lord Haldir!" one of the elves next to Legolas cried. Haldir turned to him.
"How bad is he, Hertho?" he asked the dark hair elf as he knelt next to Legolas.
"Quite bad, my Lord." Answered Hertho. "The little hobbit there has also been whipped. But he is not as bad." He said pointing to Frodo. Haldir looked at Frodo who sat staring at Legolas.
"We must get them back to Lothlorien. They need medicine." Hertho nodded his head and called to other elves to help him.
"Come." He told them. "We will put him on my horse." The elves lifted Legolas up and put him on a small gray horse. Hertho climbed up on the horse's back behind Legolas and held the elf in his arms.
"Come." Said Haldir to the rest of the company, "We must get to Lothlorien."
Aragorn picked up Frodo, who was still staring at Legolas.
"You should not walk, Frodo. It may aggravate your wounds." He told the hobbit. Frodo allowed himself to be carried by Aragorn as they started towards Lothlorien.
~ End Flashback ~
Frodo let a single tear roll down his face, hoping that no one would notice. But Neithas did notice.
"I am sorry, Frodo. Did I hurt you?" asked Neithas. Frodo snapped out of his trance stare at Legolas and quickly wiped away the tear.
"No. I was just thinking. That's all." Said Frodo quietly.
"Are you grieving over the wizard? Gandalf?" Frodo thought for a moment. He had almost forgotten about losing Gandalf. He wished he had forgotten.
"Yes. Mostly."
"And Legolas, too, I take it?" Frodo only nodded at Neithas' question. Silence fell between the two for a while. Neithas finished bandaging Frodo's back.
"There you are, Frodo. It may hurt for a while and you will probably have scars. But you will be all right. Your wounds will heal." Neithas smiled at Frodo. Frodo weakly returned the smile. He looked down at his hand, where the ring lied. He pulled the chain up over his head and stared at the ring for a moment as it dangled around his neck.
"Can I get you anything, Frodo?" asked Neithas.
"My friends. I would like to see my friends." Said Frodo quietly.
"Of course. I shall get them for you. You just stay here and don't get up. You don't want to reopen those wounds." Neithas left Frodo sitting in the Healing House. Within moments, he had brought back the rest of the company. Immediately, Sam, Merry, and Pippin ran to Frodo.
"Mr. Frodo! Are you all right?" cried Sam as he reached Frodo and grabbed his hand.
"Yes, Sam. I'm fine. By back is a little sore, but other than that, I'm fine." Said Frodo, smiling at the other hobbits.
"We met Lady Galadriel, Frodo." Said Pippin.
"Really? What was she like?"
"She was the most beautiful and fair thing I've ever laid eyes on." Said Gimli as he walked dreamy eyed passed the hobbits. The hobbits stared at him for a moment and then laughed amongst themselves.
"It is good to see you well, Frodo." Said Boromir.
Aragorn smiled at Frodo before turning his attention to the still unconscious elf on the bed. Hertho had just turned Legolas over to work on the lashes on his chest. The rest of the company also turned their attention to him. Frodo noticed that scars also covered his chest. The rest of the company saw them, too. Aragorn walked closer to him and stared at the open slashes that covered his chest. Hertho looked up at Aragorn.
"Will he be all right?" Aragorn asked the elf.
"I do not know. He is lucky there are no broken bones. But he has lost much blood and he is growing ill with fever from the poison in the whips."
"Poison in the whips? What about Mr. Frodo? He was beat with the whips, too." Asked Sam, giving a concerned look at Frodo.
"Each orc whip contains a small amount of poison. Frodo only received a little poison, and the herbal drink I gave him took care of what he did receive. Legolas, however, received many more blows than Frodo, and so he has much more poison in his system. I do not know if the amount he received is fatal or not. We gave a little of the herbal drink I gave Frodo to Legolas, but it is hard to administer an oral medication to an unconscious patient."
"How long before he is able to travel again?"
"It will be at least a week before he is healed enough. Maybe more. Granted he survives."
"Aragorn, do we continue without him, or do we wait?" asked Merry.
"We wait. He is our friend and we cannot leave him." Aragorn sat on the bed next to Legolas as Hertho finished bandaging his chest.
Aragorn remained sitting with Legolas as the others left to sleep. Legolas' eyes were closed, which didn't sit right with Aragorn because Legolas always slept with his eyes open. But even though that sight disturbed him, the slow rise and fall of the elf's chest comforted him. Hertho came frequently to check on Legolas and try to give him more of the herbal drink to stop the poison from going too far. Aragorn helped by keeping a cold towel on the elf's sweat sparkled head.
Two days went by, with no sign of life from Legolas except the rise and fall of his chest, although his fever broke only the night before. Aragorn seldom left his side. He wanted his friend to wake up. He couldn't bear to see him like this. He remembered Legolas to always be in good spirits, strong, and always there to give him a comforting word. He had met the elf when he was a child and grew up under the elf's watchful gaze. He had learned to use a bow and arrow from Legolas. Aragorn knew that he would not be able to bear losing his close friend. He traced the scars on Legolas' chest and looked at circular scars on his sides. He had seen them before, but never had the courage to ask the elf how he got them. He did not want to pry into hard memories, but was still curious about them. The hobbits, Boromir, and even Gimli were also curious. Aragorn could see it in their faces, although Pippin was the only one to actually ask about them.
"You cannot leave me, mellon nin. The fellowship needs you." Whispered Aragorn.
(I know, it's kind of a bad place to end this chapter. But another chapter or two will be up tomorrow for you.)
~ Flashback ~
"On your feet." Said Aragorn solemnly. "We must arrive at Lothlorien before night fall."
"We must hurry if we are to make it before night fall, Aragorn. I feel the sun has already began to take its fall below the horizon." Said Legolas looking towards the sun.
"Indeed." Replied Aragorn. He saw Frodo away from the group. "Frodo! Come my friend." Frodo looked at Aragorn, then to the rest of the company. All were waiting for him. Wanting solitude to be alone to grieve but knowing he would not receive it he reluctantly walked back to the company.
They made their way off the boulders and into a field. The sun was setting very rapidly. Legolas, who ran behind the group to protect the rear, quickly ran to the front to Aragorn.
"The sun is only minutes away from setting. It will be dark in less than an hour and Lothlorien at least 2 hours away."
"Yes, Legolas. I believe you are right. We've run out of time." Said Aragorn, worriedly looking to the rapidly setting sun.
Just as Legolas had said, within an hour darkness fell upon the company. They were now in a small wooded area between Moria and Lothlorien. Fields surrounded the patch of trees. Within moments they were surrounded by orcs. The company fought off the orcs but being greatly outnumbered they were overtaken. Their hands were bound behind their backs. The one they had assumed to be the orc in command, who was later identified as Goroth by another orc, interrogated them. Questioning them about the One Ring. But none of the company ever spoke a word, though Frodo was waiting for Legolas to single him out as the ring bearer, but was surprised when the elf never spoke and only glared at the orcs in disgust.
"Very well. If you will not talk, we will make you talk." Said Goroth, harshly grabbing Frodo by his collar and pushing him up against a tree. "Have some fun with him, boys." Orcs with whips began to lash Frodo. He let out a cry of pain as the whips fell on his back. He heard the rest of the company shouting as he felt another whip cut into his back. Then another, and another. He closed his eyes tightly as pain filled his back and tears streamed down his face. Another whip hitting his back.
Without warning, Frodo felt pressure against his back. He could still hear the crack of the whips, but he could no longer feel them. He thought his back had gone numb. But thought otherwise when golden blond hair fell into his face. He looked up and saw the most unexpected thing he had ever seen. Legolas was pushed up against him, the whips falling onto his back. Frodo only heard short, soft grunts of pain that were barely audible escape the elf with every lash. Orcs tried to pull Legolas away from Frodo, but he pushed them off and pressed himself more stubbornly against Frodo.
"Enough!" yelled Goroth. "If the elf wants to take all the beatings, let him." He said as he pulled Frodo away and threw him on the ground next to the rest of the company. He was pulled up by another orc who held him in place, similar to the rest of the company who were also being held by orcs. Pain filled his back. "Teach this pretty elf boy a lesson!" Frodo heard Goroth say.
The orcs immediately pounced on Legolas, cutting into his fair skin with the whips. Some used clubs to beat him. Legolas fell to the ground in pain, but only let soft grunts escape his lips. He would not satisfy the orcs by crying out in pain. The rest of the company could only watch.
More than an hour had passed. Legolas had lost consciousness, though the orcs still continued to beat him. The hobbits were crying, even Frodo. Aragorn had turned away, no longer being able to watch his friend being beaten. Boromir still continued to watch, tears filled his eyes but did not fall. Even Gimli had a small tear in his eye. He didn't like the elf much, but he still didn't like to see him in such a state. He even thought that maybe the elf was growing on him.
As an orc brought down a whip on Legolas, an arrow struck him in the head. The orc fell to the ground dead. The rest of the orcs turned their attention away from the unconscious elf and onto the dead orc. A moment of silence fell upon them before a rain of arrows fell from the trees. Each arrow finding a mark in the flesh of an orc. Some just barely missing Legolas. After the last orc fell dead, another and more eerie silence fell upon them.
From out of the trees came elves. Aragorn smiled as he recognized one elf.
"Haldir!" he exclaimed. The elf with long blond hair, similar to Legolas', smiled and bowed slightly to Aragorn.
Elves untied the company. Other elves attended to Legolas.
"Lord Haldir!" one of the elves next to Legolas cried. Haldir turned to him.
"How bad is he, Hertho?" he asked the dark hair elf as he knelt next to Legolas.
"Quite bad, my Lord." Answered Hertho. "The little hobbit there has also been whipped. But he is not as bad." He said pointing to Frodo. Haldir looked at Frodo who sat staring at Legolas.
"We must get them back to Lothlorien. They need medicine." Hertho nodded his head and called to other elves to help him.
"Come." He told them. "We will put him on my horse." The elves lifted Legolas up and put him on a small gray horse. Hertho climbed up on the horse's back behind Legolas and held the elf in his arms.
"Come." Said Haldir to the rest of the company, "We must get to Lothlorien."
Aragorn picked up Frodo, who was still staring at Legolas.
"You should not walk, Frodo. It may aggravate your wounds." He told the hobbit. Frodo allowed himself to be carried by Aragorn as they started towards Lothlorien.
~ End Flashback ~
Frodo let a single tear roll down his face, hoping that no one would notice. But Neithas did notice.
"I am sorry, Frodo. Did I hurt you?" asked Neithas. Frodo snapped out of his trance stare at Legolas and quickly wiped away the tear.
"No. I was just thinking. That's all." Said Frodo quietly.
"Are you grieving over the wizard? Gandalf?" Frodo thought for a moment. He had almost forgotten about losing Gandalf. He wished he had forgotten.
"Yes. Mostly."
"And Legolas, too, I take it?" Frodo only nodded at Neithas' question. Silence fell between the two for a while. Neithas finished bandaging Frodo's back.
"There you are, Frodo. It may hurt for a while and you will probably have scars. But you will be all right. Your wounds will heal." Neithas smiled at Frodo. Frodo weakly returned the smile. He looked down at his hand, where the ring lied. He pulled the chain up over his head and stared at the ring for a moment as it dangled around his neck.
"Can I get you anything, Frodo?" asked Neithas.
"My friends. I would like to see my friends." Said Frodo quietly.
"Of course. I shall get them for you. You just stay here and don't get up. You don't want to reopen those wounds." Neithas left Frodo sitting in the Healing House. Within moments, he had brought back the rest of the company. Immediately, Sam, Merry, and Pippin ran to Frodo.
"Mr. Frodo! Are you all right?" cried Sam as he reached Frodo and grabbed his hand.
"Yes, Sam. I'm fine. By back is a little sore, but other than that, I'm fine." Said Frodo, smiling at the other hobbits.
"We met Lady Galadriel, Frodo." Said Pippin.
"Really? What was she like?"
"She was the most beautiful and fair thing I've ever laid eyes on." Said Gimli as he walked dreamy eyed passed the hobbits. The hobbits stared at him for a moment and then laughed amongst themselves.
"It is good to see you well, Frodo." Said Boromir.
Aragorn smiled at Frodo before turning his attention to the still unconscious elf on the bed. Hertho had just turned Legolas over to work on the lashes on his chest. The rest of the company also turned their attention to him. Frodo noticed that scars also covered his chest. The rest of the company saw them, too. Aragorn walked closer to him and stared at the open slashes that covered his chest. Hertho looked up at Aragorn.
"Will he be all right?" Aragorn asked the elf.
"I do not know. He is lucky there are no broken bones. But he has lost much blood and he is growing ill with fever from the poison in the whips."
"Poison in the whips? What about Mr. Frodo? He was beat with the whips, too." Asked Sam, giving a concerned look at Frodo.
"Each orc whip contains a small amount of poison. Frodo only received a little poison, and the herbal drink I gave him took care of what he did receive. Legolas, however, received many more blows than Frodo, and so he has much more poison in his system. I do not know if the amount he received is fatal or not. We gave a little of the herbal drink I gave Frodo to Legolas, but it is hard to administer an oral medication to an unconscious patient."
"How long before he is able to travel again?"
"It will be at least a week before he is healed enough. Maybe more. Granted he survives."
"Aragorn, do we continue without him, or do we wait?" asked Merry.
"We wait. He is our friend and we cannot leave him." Aragorn sat on the bed next to Legolas as Hertho finished bandaging his chest.
Aragorn remained sitting with Legolas as the others left to sleep. Legolas' eyes were closed, which didn't sit right with Aragorn because Legolas always slept with his eyes open. But even though that sight disturbed him, the slow rise and fall of the elf's chest comforted him. Hertho came frequently to check on Legolas and try to give him more of the herbal drink to stop the poison from going too far. Aragorn helped by keeping a cold towel on the elf's sweat sparkled head.
Two days went by, with no sign of life from Legolas except the rise and fall of his chest, although his fever broke only the night before. Aragorn seldom left his side. He wanted his friend to wake up. He couldn't bear to see him like this. He remembered Legolas to always be in good spirits, strong, and always there to give him a comforting word. He had met the elf when he was a child and grew up under the elf's watchful gaze. He had learned to use a bow and arrow from Legolas. Aragorn knew that he would not be able to bear losing his close friend. He traced the scars on Legolas' chest and looked at circular scars on his sides. He had seen them before, but never had the courage to ask the elf how he got them. He did not want to pry into hard memories, but was still curious about them. The hobbits, Boromir, and even Gimli were also curious. Aragorn could see it in their faces, although Pippin was the only one to actually ask about them.
"You cannot leave me, mellon nin. The fellowship needs you." Whispered Aragorn.
(I know, it's kind of a bad place to end this chapter. But another chapter or two will be up tomorrow for you.)