Part four
A brewing Storm
Present...
A heavy rain began to fall, drenching everyone. It fell into Elrohir's eyes, with a pelting pain of needles. His dark strands of hair fell sopping into his eyes. Flipping them off his face with sharp twist of his head, the twin stared at the orcs who were circling the ranger, his brother, who lay on the ground, glaring defiantly back at them. Elrohir tugged at his bonds and snapped at the orcs, "you filthy carrion rats!" They just laughed at the struggling raven-haired being, pointing and jeering.
One of them kicked a foot out, catching Aragorn in the ribs. The ranger hissed. His old bruises had awoke and were threatening to give him real trouble. The pain he felt was hardly unbearable. Aragorn wanted to keep the focus on him and off his brother, who had suffered a broken limb already and the elf could suffer far worse because of his race if the human did not take the pain. Aragorn was not going to let them harm his brother. He knew how much pain the twin had to be in and was not about to let some miserable orcs proliferate it. Another heavy shod boot hit him just below his neck, on his collarbone.
Aragorn felt something creak in the bone and a pain like one he had never felt before spread like a spilled liquid up his neck and sired a throbbing headache that pounded at his senses.
Elrohir held back screams. The Son of Elrond wanted to scream loud enough to wake the dead, but that would serve no purpose here. His lips pressed into a thin white line of horror and sorrow as he watched the orc taunt and beat up his little brother. The elf could feel his own breath accelerating at the hisses his sharp elven ears picked up that were escaping the mortal's lips with each kick or punch. Elrohir was practically panting with emotional pain and great torment. His broken leg seemed but a tiny thing compared to all he was being forced to watch and hear.
He could feel the young ranger's pain. It was the greatness of the bond they shared as brothers. Aragorn's pain was Elrohir's pain and Elrohir's pain was Aragorn's. Elrohir felt all the horror the ranger was feeling, only it was all in his heart. His heart was aching and Elrohir could hear Aragorn's screams in his mind, ones unspoken and ones said.
Suddenly, an orc picked up Aragorn by the collar of his shirt and placed him at Elrohir's feet. The elf winced as he saw the blood mingled with rain running down his brother's lean face. The Son of Elrond felt hot tears burning in his eyes and h could not stop them from sliding down his cheeks to mix with the water that fell from the sky, as though all the world mourned for the situation they were placed in. Elrohir shut his eyes tight, unwilling to let Aragorn see the tears. The man stared up at the elf's white face. "...Elrohir...don't," plead the ranger of the elf. "Stop, you're hurting me worse than anything they could ever do."
Elrohir shook his head and he felt a sob welling up in his chest. "I can't little gwador, I can't."
Aragorn looked up at the being and smiled slightly, "see? I'm alright..." the ranger grinned a grin reddened by blood flowing into his mouth from a swollen lip that bled fiercely, or maybe from some other more potent reason."... Be strong El...don't let them get to you." The ranger's voice was choked with pain and Elrohir could tell that he was lying to him, it was more than obvious.
Elrohir drew a deep breath and opened his eyes. He saw the ranger's bright ones looking up into his. They were pain filled, but alive. Elrohir knew what the human was doing. "Aragorn, I know what you are doing. As your older brother, I order you to stop."
Elrohir was immensely proud of younger brother though, for he had not cried but once, and that was when the ranger had witnessed the orc slap and threaten him.
Lightning lit up the sky and cast light on the brothers for a moment, followed by a clap of thunder. Elrohir saw bruises forming on Aragorn's face and he winced. The orc unexpectedly came up and grasped Elrohir's head by his wet hair, twisting it back. Elrohir fought as much as possible, which was very little do to his fetters and condition. Aragorn cried out in dismay, "what are you doing! Get your paws off my-" his voice cut off as an orc pelted a heavy kick to his abdomen. The ranger grunted and curled into himself.
Elrohir tried feebly to jerk his head out of the beast's grasp. The orc twisted his hair viciously then banged his head violently back against the trunk of the tree he was tethered to. Stars danced before Elrohir's vision and his head vibrated inside, the air throbbed in his ears. The orc sneered at the helpless elf and said, "did you like are little show? The human is getting to be a bore. He is so less resilient than you elves." The orc laughed and Aragorn listened on. What were they going to do to the twin, with his broken bone?
Elrohir was having difficulty drawing breath and swallowing with his head twisted back in the position it was. He swallowed hard, not out of fear, but out of the need for air. Inside he was afraid, but he also was angry with these monster bullies. The orc put his face near the twin's and said, "we will need him later." The orc planted a mocking kiss on Elrohir's pale cheek and the elf spat in return at the orc, who had no time to duck.
Swearing under his breath, the creature released his grip on the raven cluster of hair he held. Elrohir put his face slowly level again. A deadly fire kindled in his steel colored eyes. The orc gripped his chin and dug his nails harshly into the pale flesh. Elrohir resisted the urge to wince, though it called out to him strongly. The evil being said in a menacing voice, "I ought to make you pay for that little elf." Elrohir did not have to wait long to wonder what this statement meant.
The orc pulled out his knife and placed the serrated edge perilously close to Elrohir's jugular. Elrohir did not turn away, but kept his gaze jaded and just as menacing. Aragorn tried to rise, but felt a boot on his back, holding him against the ground and sticky mud mixed with blood, his blood.
Thunder rumbled and the wind picked up, shaking the branches. The orc looked up from the captive elf and snarled to his comrades, "take this human away. Put 'em with Sunshine." He turned his evil gaze back on Elrohir. "I'll deal with you myself."
The ranger moaned as he was lifted from the ground, to be carried in the same manner as Legolas had. He thrashed in the goblin's grasp, "put me down! Let me go! Elrohir!" the mortal screamed. He kicked and the orc grunted as its prisoner's kick found a mark on his ribs. Aragorn screamed again, "Nooooo! El!"
The orc winced as the human's fists beat at its hideous face. Elrohir watched as they took the ranger away to Eru knew where. He jerked roughly away from the knife that was held against his neck, "Estel! Estel!" he called back. The orc clamped a stinky, black , hand over the elf's mouth and put his fingers threateningly on the elf's nose as well. Elrohir snapped his head around, trying to free him of his captor's roughly suffocating hold.
Aragorn looked back wide eyed and yelled, "Don't hurt him! Elrohir! Oh Valar, no!"
Elrohir, even as he thrashed in the orc's oppressive grip, shot the ranger a look that clearly said he wanted the man to hold his peace. Some times silence was better, to let the orcs think as they want. Aragorn saw the look and knew what his brother wanted, and it wounded him deeply, because his brother, like he did most things, was taking the pain in silence, but because of the look the elf bore, the ranger knew the pain was great. Aragorn thought it looked as though his brother was going to scream any minute. The ranger hoped Elrohir would not, for he did not wish to hear the breaking scream of another elf, especially his brother.
The orc holding the human had had enough of his screaming and contesting and threw the man to the ground. Aragorn got up to run to the aid of his brother, but the pummel of a scimitar smashed against his skull and he went dazed. Elrohir watched in consternation as his brother was rendered unconscious with a second blow before him. He twisted his head in his captor's grasp and managed to free his mouth and nose.
"What have you done to him! Oh Elbereth! Oh Eru!" the elf called to the air over another rumble of thunder, breaking his own rule of silence that he had always been so adamant to the ranger about. His cry was short lived and an orc smashed his fist into the elf's defenseless stomach. Elrohir flinched and put his head back against the tree with a choking sigh. The orc grabbed Elrohir's broken leg and began to twist it cruelly. Elrohir gritted his teeth and set his will to hold in the cries that tugged at the back of throat.
Legolas lay on the ground, his eyes were shut against the world that surrounded him. His hands and feet were still roughly bound with hemp, now soaked from the rain that chaffed his wrists. The chaffing was the least of his troubles. His body shuddered as it attempted to recover the prior events of that morning.
A clap of thunder caused the very air to vibrate in the elf's sensitive ears. Legolas curled into himself as a wave of nausea struck with shocking force and almost made the elf retch. Legolas wanted to weep. He had heard cry after cry from Aragorn and Elrohir, he did not know if he could take it anymore.
Heavy feet clomped on the ground as an orc approached, Legolas reluctantly opened his eyes. He did not want to see more pain but yet he felt compelled to look. The orc was carrying someone, a limp body. Legolas's heart sank, and he felt even more ill. His sharp elven eyes saw that it was the ranger whom they carried. Aragorn's head lolled off in unconsciousness, jolting with every step of the evil being which was carrying him. Legolas winced when he saw the blood on the man's face and the swelling. The elf prince was glad he had not been there to witness the event that had apparently been horrible to behold.
The orc stopped by Legolas and stared down for a moment before dropping his charge.
Aragorn hit the ground with a slight splash as his body landed halfway in a puddle that had formed. Legolas shut his eyes again. He could feel his face contorting with emotional pain that was burning in his heart. The orc looked at the elf and snarled, or was it a smile? Legolas did not know and did not wish to. The orc gave the elf a sound kick, causing Legolas to his as pain spurted up his back from the abuse his former wounds were receiving. With a snort, the evil being stalked away, and Legolas watched as he disappeared into the sheets of rain. With a shudder, the elf wriggled closer to his friend.
Aragorn's face shone deathly pale as a flash of purple lightening lit up the sky with a radiant display. Legolas felt hot tears welling in the back of his throat. They stung his eyes and seemed to sear him unmercifully.
Legolas watched the rain pouring down onto the limp human. 'Even the sky mourns today,' he thought. The elf winced from the exertion it required to get onto his knees. His body protested the movement with trembles. Thunder rumbled again and Legolas watched as the leaves shivered.
He knew he had to cover Aragorn. Men could die from this kind of weather, the ranger was more than subject to getting pneumonia. Legolas had nothing to cover the man with, save his own shadow of protection. The elf prince's cloak had been ripped to shreds and he had no other. Aragorn's was sopping. Legolas would have to use his own body to cover his dearest friend.
He wriggled awkwardly closer. Bending over the human, he tried to protect the ranger from the falling rain that was fast becoming cold, like sleet. It bit the elf's exposed back and the welts, but he brushed the pain aside.
Legolas could feel a heat radiating from the ranger's body, a warmth that was far hotter than the regular body temperature should be. Aragorn had a fever.
Legolas put a hand on the ranger's hot brow and confirmed the answer that the ranger was already becoming ill. The elf prince sighed in almost a sob. He was so very tired of being here, suffocated by all his old fears and doubts that haunted him. All of this seemed unreal, like the nightmare that follows some bad experience, but it was real and he could not wake up. There was no new dawn to look forward to, or was there? Legolas recalled when the human had been sick before, the situation they had been in then had been no less dire, but perhaps more pleasant in nature.
Past...
Legolas's face began to go white as he heard the footsteps getting closer. "Hurry Strider, please!" The prince's voice sounded so urgent it was tearing at the ranger's heart. He twisted the needle in the lock furiously. Another loud bang rang through the chamber as another security door opened and shut again. Legolas looked alarmed. "We are never going to make it! There are too many doors to pass through."
Aragorn suddenly heard a click. "I've nearly got it! Now be quiet! You're not helping." Legolas snorted softly. The elf prince was getting a panicking feeling in his stomach, like a bunch of butterflies were lose in his abdomen.
Aragorn felt like he was going to be sick. The poison was working through his system. Legolas grinned as he heard the lock click for the final time. Aragorn turned to the elf with a sick-like grin and said with relief, "we got it."
"You are a marvel my friend," said Legolas in wonder, maybe there was a hope to hold onto. Aragorn, not even bothering to remove the needle, flung the door open. It banged back against the stone of the cell wall and sent a shivering clatter down the hall of the prison. Legolas winced, the noise made his sensitive ears ring. Aragorn stumbled out of the cell. His head was reeling and he felt off balance. Sweat was pooling on his brow. Turning back, he saw the elf shaking his head, trying to put an end to the seemingly painful ringing that was sounding in his ears. Aragorn reached over and grabbed the prince roughly by the arm and began to tug the blonde being after himself. Legolas stumbled blindly behind the ill ranger.
Orcs shadows cast upon the walls of the dungeon. Shivers washed over the human and he tugged Legolas in front of him. "Legolas run!" Legolas looked back at his friend, who was shaking with the pain washing over him in drenching waves of horror. He gave the man a determined glance that plainly defied the request of the mortal. Aragorn waved at the elf to continue. Legolas utterly refused. He grabbed the ranger's and began to drag him along.
Aragorn's knees felt like they were going to buckle. Legolas looked at his friend and he knew that the human was about to drop. A contorted look crossed his fair featured face and he said in a urging, yet pleading voice, "Aragorn, come on! Please! Come, run!" The human looked tiredly at the immortal that had the strength of the elder. Legolas was weak himself, but if Aragorn were to die, he would die with him.
The orcs were getting closer and the elf could hear them just around the corner. Desperately, he caught the human as he swayed from pain and scooped him up, supporting the head and putting an arm beneath the man's knees. Aragorn moaned, "no Legolas, you go. You must get away." Legolas blocked out the groans of his afflicted friend and continued on down the passage.
Even though he was stronger than many mortal men were, he was far weaker than he normally would be and the burden of the human weighed him down sorely. The chain fetters around his ankles and arms did not help him much either. Legolas did not really consider the man a burden, he would gladly suffer for his friend. The orcs cries and snorts could be heard now. Legolas tried to pick up his pace.
His knees shivered and he stumbled. Aragorn nearly slid from his grasp, but the elf held his own and kept on moving at a wavering trot. His footsteps were light and left no echo in the passage they were running in.
The orcs rounded the corner and the prince froze. His blue eyes went wide and he felt weaker than water. However, the orcs appeared not to notice him.
The fair being's keen elven eyes saw tow men with the goblins. They were large and burly. Huge and hideous bows were on their backs and they had the strangest garb he had ever seen. It was red and black. Clothes covered their face. He could even make out the dark lining of their eyes that made them look sinister and yet bright. A fell light flamed behind those eyes and Legolas did not want to fall into their hands.
The prince's blonde hair swished as he twisted his head around, scrutinizing the narrow hall for a way of escape or a way to hide. A dark doorway offered hope, but he was scared of what could be beyond the door. The elf knew he had to take his chances. "We aren't caught yet," he whispered to the ranger who was staring around looking for a way to hide as well.
Legolas stumbled on a little further and ducked into the small doorway. As he put his feet down, he suddenly realized seconds too late there was nothing under them but air. They were falling into the dark depths of the hidden room. Legolas braced himself for the fall they were about to take, but he was not sure how far below it was.
Suddenly, his feet struck something soft that gave way beneath him. He fell onto his knees, spilling the ranger into the material. Legolas's sense of smell told him it was straw, for it had a stale yet sweet aroma that was almost welcoming in this orc pit. He stood up in the straw and looked up wards, but saw nothing, it was pitch dark up there.
With a sigh, he sank down beside his friend. Aragorn, however, was still alert, he did not trust this place. There was a strange odor in the air that was horribly foul and smelled almost of wet dog but worse. Legolas was resting his head in the straw, grateful for the change from hard stone. "Relax Aragorn, we can rest here and then go on, fear not."
Aragorn snorted and said in a harsh whisper, "do you not smell that stench?"
"You mean the staleness of the straw?" questioned the immortal with an odd tone to his voice, he did not understand the question. How could he with his face buried in the straw blocking out all other smells from him? Aragorn wrinkled his nose.
"No, it is much worse than that. It smells of dog," answered the human sourly. Legolas brought his pounding head back up to smell the air.
The smell overwhelmed his nostrils now and he snorted and coughed. Aragorn raised his brows, but Legolas could not see that in the dark. "Do you smell it now? It is horrible!" added the man with a look of intense disgust crossing his care worn face. He could feel the venom in his veins begin to pulse through quicker, as if the sickening odor gave it new potency.
Legolas suddenly felt the color drain further from his face. "Strider?" he hissed with trepidation.
The mortal looked in the direction of his friend's raspy voice. "Hmmm?"
"You know how you said it smelled of dog?" asked the elf with a new sense of dread filling his voice as well as his heart.
"Yes."
Legolas swallowed hard. "We are in the den of at least one warg my friend." Legolas's voice nearly choked as he told the man the bad news.
Aragorn's jaw dropped. "Did I near you correctly? We are in a warg den?" Legolas absent-mindedly picked a piece of straw out of his hair with his slender fingers.
"Yes," the elf said dejectedly.
Aragorn sighed heavily and lay back in the straw. Legolas shot the man a stern look in the dark. "Are we not going to dry get out of this filth hole? Certainly you do not intend to wait and be dinner for one of those monsters!"
Aragorn sat up and looked at his friend with a tired frown. "And you know a way out?"
Legolas frowned as well. "No. But I am not going to sit here and wait to be the main course for on of those beasts!" Aragorn rolled his eyes and sighed.
"We can't even see, I think we should take some rest, the odor is not strong, perhaps they have not been here for awhile," suggested the ranger optimistically. Legolas blew air upward through his mouth with a snort.
"Perhaps elves have wings!" he retorted, "We cannot just sit here for them like a brace of sitting ducks!" The elf was getting frustrated. With a sweep of his thin hand, he brushed a lock of tangled blonde hair from his face. He was not liking this situation at all. They could not see and the wargs had exceedingly well eyesight in the dark.
Aragorn moaned. "Legolas, I am tired and weak with sickness as well as you are. You can go and look. I do not think they have been here for some time and am going to take advantage of this nice bed to sleep." He flopped down into the straw. Legolas picked up a clump of straw and tossed it in the ranger's direction. He heard a snort and splutter as the human brushed it out of his hair and face. The fair being smiled to himself.
A tassel of the dry material landed with great accuracy into the prince's hair and fell into his eyes. He shot an angry glare in the direction of the soft laugher coming from the man. Reaching above his head, he picked out the pieces he could feel.
The laughter continued and the elf kicked out at the human. Aragorn yelped as the foot connected with the calf of his leg. Rubbing the stricken place ruefully, he shot a glare of his own at the elf. Legolas knew what the human's expression was and grinned wryly. Suddenly he heard the human cough and his face twisted into a look of vehement alert. "Aragorn?' he whispered quietly, dreading the response he might hear.
"Legolas...it hurts even more." The elf went to his friend fumbling blindly through the straw that gave way beneath his touch. He felt the human before him and stopped. Putting a hand to his friend's face, the elf was disturbed to find a mounting fever. They had no water, this could be fatal.
"Aragorn you are burning away!" proclaimed the prince disdainfully. The ranger grinned slightly. That was Legolas, stating what he already knew like he was a child. Compared to the thousands of years old prince, the young man was rather a child, being only nineteen.
"Legolas-" his voice was cut short as another harsher one shouted over head in the passage.
"The cursed elf and man are gone! Garn! You should have watched them better maggot!" snarled an over seeing orc to a lesser one.
Legolas held his breath, for orcs could here nearly as keen as he could and had noses of bloodhounds. "You try to watch an elf! They are so sneaky! Going here and there with out so much as a sound!" snapped the other goblin in return. His smart remark had found a sensitive spot in the other and a yelp followed shortly after.
A voice that sounded just as cruel, but deeper, the voice of a Haradrim man of the south, snarled at all the creatures, "if you value your hides you will find that elf and give him to me! I don't care what you do to the man, but hand the elf over! Do you understand!" There was some yelps and shuffles in the darkness above. Legolas guessed that the orcs were fighting over who was supposed to go and find the 'bloody elf'. He drew a slow deep breath, his body shook. The chase was on now and was not likely to slow down until he was in their clutches once more. The fair being could feel the man he held close to his chest trembling from pain or fear, the elf was not sure which, perhaps both.
The heavy steps began to lead away and down the passage overhead. Legolas sighed with relief. He could feel the ranger draw a deep, but painful breath. All seemed well, but in places like this, the places of darkness, often lies were weaved and nothing good was ever as it seemed. Indeed, the elf was beginning to wonder if the water had had some effect on the potion that tormented Aragorn for the worse.
He could feel the feverish heat radiating off the mortal and it troubled him. Sweat merged on his brow and chest. It felt cold and Legolas was afraid for his friend. He did not think his will would let him go on if the human died. That was why he had resolved to escape. Without the ranger who had inspired him, he would have surely died a long time ago or have gone empty inside.
Legolas's sharp ears suddenly picked p a moaning snort. It was like creaking metal or stone. A squawk, of that like an animal or some dark dwelling-creature, echoed through the dark cave-like room they were hidden away in. Legolas had a sinking feeling that they were no longer hidden. He looked down at the ranger, that lay in his arms, breathing heavily. "Lie still Aragorn, something approaches, I can hear it my friend." The human stirred and looked up at the elf with his glazed gray eyes. Legolas sensed his friend watching him and grinned foolishly back down. Suddenly, the sound of falling rock could be heard and rumbles.
Aragorn shivered against the prince. Legolas whispered to the trembling human, "shhhhh... "
The snort of some creatures grew closer by the second and that was when Legolas knew what this new hidden enemy was, it was a cave troll. The prince shuddered and he felt like he was going to faint. The hole had smelled of dog, but it was not wargs, it was cave trolls.
They were tossing rock back and forth to one another and laughing in deep, stony voices, if trolls of this breed can laugh. Legolas stiffened as he heard one come up along side he and Aragorn. The elf could feel its breath running down his neck, and sense the small, dark eyes watching him. If they moved, they would be dead. Perhaps if they held dead still, the huge creatures would pass them by, they were rather stupid.
A new sound bounced off the walls of the room. It was the sound of many feet. Orcs. They had returned. Legolas breathed with his stomach instead of his chest. He had learned long ago that you breathed much more quietly if you inhaled and exhaled in that fashion. Aragorn knew what his friend was doing and did the same.
He began to wonder if they were already caught. What if the cave trolls were waiting for a command? He guessed the were being used as 'hounds' by the orcs. A light went overhead. Legolas instinctively looked upwards.
From the light cast by the dim torch held by some orc, he could see that the way up was not all that far. As a matter of fact, if he were to leap onto the orcs shoulders swiftly enough, one more leap upwards would have them out of this filthy hole. The only things were, chains already hampered him and he would never release his grip on his friend. He would have to be dead first.
The cave troll looked up at the light and put a thick, ugly hand over his eyes. The light burned him and he could not see. Legolas suddenly realized the light made the creature blind.
The orcs would be there in moments. He had to do something fast. The decision was obvious, but yet no so. Legolas felt his heart beating faster as the moment of choice drew nearer. The elf could feel his friend's breath, slow and painful. He could feel the heat radiating off the feverish brow of his friend.
TBC... we may not be able to post for a time, as we are each helping our younger siblings with huge (in there humble opinions) stories they have to write for their classes. He-he and since they can't type and we can, they write it on paper, we type it out. -- It may take awhile, taking away spare time we use to write our fics, but we suppose it's worth it. Our (Celeb's) P.C. is wrecked as well, it will not let her save her chappies in separate files! Grrrrrrr...it gives her, 'access denied' and stuff like that!
Review responses
Deana Oh yah, REALLY BIG TROUBLE!
Strider's Girl Mean?...never! We have no clue what goes on in the evil head of ours! Nobody does!
Joee 1 Well, if you read the post before our response, then you already know where Legolas is, if not, its in there. About the prince not knowing which twin it was, he just got the snot beat out of him, he was more or less dazed. You know, like after you wake from a deep sleep? (only worse-a lot worse) LOL
Stacee Phelps What is this? stares dropped jawed at review hate mail? For us? eyes widen pleading innocence and why are we worthy of this mellon nin? g What is what ever you said in their? 'Red demon'? that is mean! You meany! Call me when you are finished reading this, please? Sez, Celeb!
Elrrina Amanya You're going to cry? Now why would we want that? You are writing another story! Great! We will R&R a.s.a.p.! We may be a little slow in update, but we will do our best to be prompt. Coming for the cat? He-he! shouts for cat to run We are sure he is around here...somewhere...hmmmmm..
Shadowed Flames Oh yah! Glorfindel and Elladan had better step on it! LOL