This 'un took a bit longer than I expected it to. I had to think of something to spice this chapter up. Mostly it's just a sort of talking chapter with not a lot of stuff happening, but don't worry something will happen. Next chapter'll have some action. I printed out the last few chapters and tread them over on paper, and I have to say I'm proud of you guys for sticking with me because I have terrible errors that I didn't catch. So, to spare you this, I now have an editor. A very good one at that. Kris, my editor, deserves your heart felt thanks for straightening up these shabby chapters and making them look their best for you.
See first chapter for disclaimer, summery, and all that other fun stuff.
Chapter four
Between Friends
Cols mouth opened and shut a few times without saying anything. On the last attempt he made a small whimpering noise and started to back up. Aragorn beat him to the door and shut it quickly. He camped a hand over Col's mouth to muffle his delayed cries of panic.
"Be quiet. Be still. We will not harm you. Do you understand?" Aragorn's voice was low and calming.
Col was trembling in fear but he nodded frantically. The boy whimpered faintly. "Did your brother come with you?" Aragorn said, the ranger would have a harder time with Dal if he had to force the older boy into silence.
Col shook his head "No, he told me to stay with you, so you wouldn't be disturbed." Aragorn nodded indistinctly.
Legolas pushed aside the blanket and stood, sighing quietly, he did not want this boy to be afraid of him.
Col hid behind Aragorn, he could feel the boy shaking. He motioned for Legolas to move back a few paces, Legolas obliged by walking over to stand next to the shaded window on the opposite side of the room.
Aragorn looked down at the boy, because of Col's height, he did not have to look far down, for he was only a bit shorter than Aragorn. "Col, look at me." The boy glanced at Aragorn with big scared eyes. "We are not going to hurt you, his name is Legolas and I am Strider." Col looked down at the ground, whether in fear or thought Aragorn did not know. He lifted the boy's chin so that they were looking eye to eye "Elves are not evil and have done you no harm."
Col nodded the truth of The rangers words. Elves had never done any direct damage, but it was always blamed on them when the crops failed or the rains did not come. There were stories of elves taking children and of their wickedness, he had been told the stories when he was a child, go to bed or the elves will come, or, if you don't clean up this mess an elf will get you. It was a frightening myth come true for Legolas to be here in front of him.
The boy looked at the elf standing on the other side of the room with hands folded behind his back and eyes staring calmly at the wall behind Aragorn, he did not look as if he meant to do him any harm. Col was young enough to not have a deep set opinion as serious as the matter concerning elves, but a childhood full of horrifying tales of what elves could do to you did not wear off in an instant. He wanted to believe Aragorn, and so far Legolas had not tried to cause him injury.
Aragorn saw that the boy was thinking deeply, so he quietly beckoned to Legolas. The elf silently strode to Aragorn's side. When Col looked up he twitched convulsively to find that Legolas was so close. But he swallowed the fear that rose in him like a strong wind and held out a trembling hand. "I am called Colin, C-Col if you like." Legolas smiled his relief, he gladly took Col's hand and shook it "I am called Legolas. I hope to have the pleasure of calling you friend?" Col gave a shaky smile. "I-It would be my pleasure." He let go of Legolas's hand and tried to stop shaking.
Aragorn turned to Col "Now w-"
He was interrupted by a loud yawn from Legolas. The elf looked apologetically at Aragorn. "I am sorry mellon-nin, I did not mean to disrupt you." The ranger smiled, "no worry, neither of us have got much sleep." Aragorn gestured to the bed. "Sleep, I will join you as soon as soon as I talk with Col and get our supplies."
Legolas nodded and started to spread his cloak out on the floor but Aragorn stopped him short , "I told you that you were to have the bed, you deserve more than I do." When Legolas started to protest Aragorn shushed him by pushing him backwards onto the bed. Legolas, even as tired as he was, gracefully avoided the push with a swift maneuver that left Strider's hand to press on the space that Legolas had occupied seconds before.
"If I know you, and I do, you'll be up watching me and won't sleep." Legolas seated himself on the bed and crossed his arms.
Aragorn laughed "And I know you, my friend, better than you know yourself, and you would do the exact same as me if I let you." He sighed "How about I get it tomorrow, will you be satisfied then?" Legolas glared at Aragorn trying not to smile. "Also," Estel added, "Col here will make sure that I sleep, he's here to watch over us anyway."
"Now, I am satisfied." Legolas grinned. He pulled back the covers on the bed so that he could climb in. Legolas, still wearing only his pants and the bandages around his ribs, settled into the small bed and pulled the covers up to his chest. He draped one arm over his waist and the other by his side, in moments his eyes glazed over and he stared through Aragorn, no longer seeing him or anything of that world.
Aragorn smiled as he gazed kindly at Legolas before turning back to Col. He found the boy watching him closely. "Do you allus fight like that?" Aragorn resisted the urge to laugh. "Yes, it's odd that we do, but you wouldn't be laughing if you knew how hard it was to get him to do anything. Especially when either of us is injured." Aragorn's eyes sparkled. "I once put a little something in his canteen so that I would be spared the trouble. But when he woke up I paid for that one. I don't think that I'll ever do that again." Aragorn smiled at the memory.
Col also smiled and looked back at Aragorn, he felt the boy jump. The ranger glanced at the boy and found him staring intently at Legolas. "What's wrong with 'im?" Aragorn looked towards Legolas as well, he started looking for something unusual before he realized that Col was talking about his eyes. Aragorn nearly laughed out loud. Of course it would be a bit disturbing to someone who hasn't lived around elves their entire lives, but it was quite amusing.
"Elves sleep with their eyes open," Aragorn informed Col
"Oh…Why?" Aragorn opened his mouth to answer, but to his surprise he didn't know.
"I…don't know," he answered slowly, "I never bothered to ask Legolas."
Aragorn shook his head, and his smile vanished. His face became serious and he faced Col.
"We need to talk. No one must know about Legolas." Col looked confused "But they already know about 'im."
"No, that's not what I mean." Aragorn looked for a way to explain it to Col. "I mean that they mustn't know that he is our friend and not a captive. Do you understand?"
Col nodded heartily, "I understand. 'Ave faith in me, I won't let you down." Col and Aragorn clasped hands and traded smiles.
Aragorn made sure that Col was guarding the door before heading down the stairs to collect their new supplies. While he was down in the common area, he ordered a plate of meat, cheese and bread for Col, Legolas and himself. As an after thought he gave his flask to the keep to fill with water.
"Tha's a bit much for just you an' the boy," commented the keep as he wiped a tankard clean with a grimy rag that made Aragorn grimace slightly.
Aragorn forced a smile "He's a growin' boy and I've been out all night without an bite to eat, you're lucky we don't eat you out of house and home."
The keep's plump face split into a huge grin "aye, I got's a lad o'my own, the boy eats more'n I do."
The ranger made small talk until the meal was ready. By that time he was in good favor with the barkeep, or Atler as it was his given name. Aragorn had introduced himself as Strider to Atler, preferring this name seeing as he did not entirely trust the keep. After bidding Atler a good night, he took up his companions dinner and climbed the stairs to the room he shared with Legolas and now Col.
He rapped on the door once and then thrice in quick succession to let Col know that is was him. The boy uncertainly opened the door, upon seeing that it was Aragorn he smiled in relief. Aragorn slipped inside and shut the door, bolting it as well. He set the plate of food down on a small table next to the bed that Legolas lay in. He gestured to Col that he could eat.
Col smiled in gratitude and hungrily grabbed a piece of dried beef and sandwiched it between two thick slices of bread, he took a large bite, eating enthusiastically.
Aragorn grabbed a chair that was along the wall near the door. He turned it around so that he was able to lean forward against the back of it. The ranger moreover selected some of the victuals from the platter and began to munch on them. He lobbed the flask to Col, the boy took a few sips before handing it back. Aragorn and Col finished their dinner, leaving some for Legolas when he awoke. Aragorn spread the blankets they obtained in their new supplies on the ground at the foot of the bed. He lay down and made himself comfortable while instructing Col.
"Col, wake me in at dawn. If your brother stops by before either I or Legolas wakes keep him outside until we are ready to be seen."
Aragorn pillowed his head on his arms and started to drift off to sleep. He trusted Col enough to know that the boy would not betray them in the night.
Col watched the ranger fall asleep. He was wide away from all that had happened to day. To think that he, Col, would befriend an elf. He sat in the chair in the manner he had seen Aragorn. He let his mind wander and kept his eyes on the two companions.
It was in this way he dwelled for many hours, dutifully he watched over Legolas and Aragorn keeping sentry until he was to wake them. Col was expecting both of them to sleep soundly until he awoke them, seeing as they were so exhausted. But Col was not warned of elven sleeping patterns, so it was no surprise that Col nearly knocked his chair over when Legolas tapped him on the shoulder. Col had been staring at a part of the ceiling, lost in thought. He did not notice Legolas when he rose from the bed, and he certainly did not hear him.
"Good Heavens!" Col gasped out looking up at Legolas.
Legolas tried to hide a smile as he helped the boy from his seat on the ground. "Sorry, I did not mean to frighten you."
"What are you doin' up. Strider said to wake you both up at dawn. It's only been about five hours." This shouldn't 'have been near enough time for you get rested."
Legolas smiled and rested his slender hand on the boys shoulder. "Did Strider say to wake us or him little one? I do not need as much sleep as you humans do. I am rested."
Col nodded trying to keep the amazement out of his eyes. He spun the chair around an offered the seat to Legolas, the elf declined and pressed Col down upon it. "You sit."
"Strider saved some dinner for you." Col gestured to the bedside table that the platter was set upon.
Legolas smiled and eagerly grabbed a piece of the dried meat. He chewed on it for awhile before it was soft enough to swallow. Legolas took another bite and turned to Col gnawing avidly. "How Strider lives off of this I will never begin to know." He smiled at Col and handed his a piece of the tough venison.
Col accepted the meat and ate in silence. Legolas could tell that the boy wanted question him. So, to spare him the embracement of having to ask, he leaned against the wall and inquired quietly, "So lad, what do you think of all of this?"
The lanky boy perked up at this and scooted forward in his chair. "Well, I think that this'll be my first adventure." He shyly glanced at Legolas and added "an' I'm pretty exited to have met an elf."
Legolas laughed quietly and patted Col's shoulder. "I am very exited to be called your friend."
Col blushed when Legolas said this, "honestly?" he inquired.
"Indeed lad, indeed."
Col and Legolas talked quietly until dawn was nearly upon them. Col rose quietly to awaken Aragorn but he stopped when Legolas placed a gentle hand on one shoulder. "Wait."
The boy looked confused, "But Strider tol' me to wake his at sunrise, won't he be angry if'n I don't?"
Legolas shook his head silently. "No, let him sleep. This will be good for him, and I'll take the blame, all right?" Cole nodded with a smile.
They settled back to watch the sun rise. Even though the blinds were down they could still see small rays of sunlight through the visor slits. Legolas and Col were dozing when they heard boots thumping up the stairs, a loud knocking sounded on the door. Legolas jumped to his feet and Aragorn sat up in his makeshift bed. His eyes were murky with sleep, but his senses were alerted.
"Open up Col, it's me, Dal. The keep said this was your room." The pounding on the door persisted. Legolas helped Aragorn to his feet. Col un-bolted the door and slipped out. He kept the door closed tightly behind his back. Both Aragorn and Legolas could here him talking.
"But I have to speak with him, it's urgent." Dal sounded as though he were about to open the door, but his brother pushed him back. "Uhhhh… his name is Strider, and you can't see him yet, he's only just woken up."
Dal pushed against his brother "Yes, all right, strider, but I need to talk with him now."
Dal shoved his brother out of the way and opened the door roughly. He stepped though the door to find Aragorn calmly drinking from his canteen. Legolas kneeled on the floor with his head down, tied to the foot of the bed by a rope that bound his hands.
"Ahhh… good, you're awake. I have great news. I told my father that you were on an assignment to bring the elf to your Lord and you had no place to stay, save for this inn, and guess what? He said that you could stay with our family."
Aragorn forced himself to smile. "That's great Dal. I guess we'll move now. You go ahead and make ready for us. We'll keep Col and he will be our guide to your home."
Dal nodded and marched out the door. Aragorn sighed in unison with Col and both looked toward Legolas. The elf's hair hid his face and his shoulders slumped "What will come of this?" he whispered quietly.
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Leggylover03: love the support thanks for reviewin' I'll try to get 'em out as fast as I can.
Jadelyn Rashwe: I'll certainly keep updating for you.
RainyDayz: 'Lo…did you think that I described the humiliation well? I really tried to it without being too mellow dramatic. Did it seem alright to you? Thanks for commentin' on that anyway I was wondering if I over did it. By the way, I read your story "Hostile Kingdoms" and I loved it. Please keep updating'.
Rose: sorry 'bout the cliffy. I didn't want it to be one, but I wanted some material for the next chapter. Hope you liked this'un.
Lauranna Starbreeze: Jezzum crow, you really liked it that much? Well if you could see me how I'd be blushing. Glad to have a fan like you. (doesn't mean I don't appreciate all you others.) I really want to be as accurate as I can…But I couldn't bring myself to say that Legolas wears shoes. It just doesn't sound good on him. Well, any hoo, thanks for your reviews, they really keep me going.
Eminemangelxb: Don't worry, I'll post as soon as I can.
Majorlakerfan22: I'm continuin' as fast as I can.
Heiwen: I really love friendship stories too. Maybe one day we can outnumber the slash stories with close comradeship fics. Hope it's to your liking. Oh, and thanks for reviewin'.