DISCLAIMER: I do not own Lord of the Rings, or any of the characters within Lord of the Rings. They are all the work of the amazing J.R.R. Tolkien!!!! (Heh, and we can't forget Peter Jackson and Newline Cinemas...) I'm not earning anything from this, except maybe amusement. Please read and review. Onward to the story then....
After discovering that the Elf was indeed quite helpless, Gimli took a moment to merely mock Legolas before aiding in removing the putrid corpse of the slain Uruk-hai. He had simply nudged it with the blade of his axe for a time, whilst Legolas had become increasingly irritated with the situation, particularly when he began to lose feeling in both legs. He had then tried to struggle himself free on his own, only succeeding in displacing the Uruk's helmet. Gimli finally rolled the dead weight from off the Elf with a chuckle. Legolas rose to his feet stiffly yet hastily. The Dwarf went about picking up his two throwing axes, hooking them securely beneath his belt once they were dislodged from the dead creatures. Legolas wiped his knives across his leggings, the black blood smearing from the blades to the cloth leaving the metal with a semi-clean sheen. Legolas winced as he did so. A cringe spread across Gimli's face for he had seen the source of the Elf's discomfort. Half of an arrow still protruded from his shoulder.
"How did you go about getting that?" Asked Gimli in his gravelly voice, pointing towards Legolas' shoulder. The Elf frowned, looking at the broken shaft.
"I..." Legolas pondered whether or not he should explain the manner of Frodo's departure or not, but decided that it was important the entire Fellowship knew the Ringbearer had truly departed their company. "I acquired it whilst I guided Frodo to the boats. He has left us, as has his good friend Samwise."
"So they are gone, then," said the Dwarf solemnly. He then shook his head. "Foolish Elf...you could not have had so little time that you could not remove a single arrow?"
"The Uruk-hai are prowling these woods everywhere, of course I had no time to stop." Gimli shook his head again, approaching Legolas to examine the wound more closely. He cocked his head to one side. "What are you doing?" The Dwarf clasped a hand firmly around the base of the arrow, sending a wave of pain through the Elf's shoulder, and, before Legolas could properly react, yanked the arrow out. Legolas cried out at the sudden pain for he had not expected the Dwarf to make such a bold move.
"Raugo naug..." Legolas cursed under his breath, clutching his shoulder gingerly. Blood seeped through his fingers and trickled slowly down his arm, sliding quickly off the leather arm guard to the ground. Legolas glared sternly at the Dwarf.
"No need to glower at me like that, it needed to come out, better sooner than later, I say. And you'd best get that bound, laddie." Gimli nodded towards Legolas' now crimson shoulder.
"Yes, I know," was the angrily voiced reply. His whole shoulder felt as though it were ablaze and all he wanted to do for the moment was sit. Not only that, but his side felt absolutely horrible. Although elves healed extraordinarily fast in comparison to mortals, they still needed a considerable amount of time, at least for broken bones. And it had only been that very morn that it had been broken. His thigh was healing nicely, as was the cut he had received on his right shoulder from the Uruk-hai blades. Legolas fingered his rib tenderly, confirming that the blow had done only minimal damage, aside from absorbing the remainder of his strength. He pushed the rib cautiously into place with a slight cringe. With that, he ripped a small strip from the sleeve of his silken shirt and wrapped it tightly around the arrow wound.
"Is that enough?" Asked the Dwarf, incredulously as Legolas wiped his hands on his leggings.
"When time will permit, I may do more," he replied with a nod. Legolas struggled to get to his feet and was at last forced to accept the aid of Gimli's outstretched hand, though it was hardly helpful because of the Dwarf's diminutive stature. "Where are the others?" Asked the Elf curiously, brushing debris from his apparel.
"The Hobbits have gone off after the Ringbearer and Aragorn, Boromir and myself after them," Gimli stated matter-of-factly.
"Indeed," said Legolas, unknowingly rubbing the bound wound. "Their searching for the Ringbearer will be a fruitless effort...But I see you have fared well, at least." Gimli grunted.
"It's only a pity that my fray ended so shortly after beginning. This was the first I've come across an engagement, and you're lucky I did, too. The hides of Uruks are not so thick as you lead me to believe, lad, not so thick that they cannot be felled by a good blow from my axe."
"I am sure..." answered the Elf sarcastically. "Now, in which direction do you propose we go?"
"I know not..." began Gimli but what he wished to say went unsaid for the loud blasting of a horn sounded from afar. "Boromir!" Exclaimed the Dwarf.
"Come, Gimli." Legolas, though his legs felt unsteady, dashed in the direction wherefrom the sound had come. The Dwarf grunted his agreement and tore off at the Elf's heels, tho' he lost much speed for his own legs were considerably shorter. Gimli thought it strange that he was able to keep up as well as he was, being only a length behind. He may hide it, but he is hurt... speculated the Dwarf silently.
The horn had been a faint sound in the distance, but entirely recognizable. Trees passed by in a flourish of brown and green. Legolas was only barely aware of his friend's loud footsteps trailing behind rearmost him. His main focus was to seek out Boromir. The man's fight must have been desperate indeed for him to call for aid, Legolas knew. The Son of the Steward was a dignified man, it was evident in his very demeanor.
"Slow your pace!" Shouted Gimli, his breath somewhat uneven. The request was not only because the pace set was difficult for the Dwarf to cope with, but because of the increasing number of times Gimli had spied the Elf's hand rise to his side.
"Master Dwarf, we have not the time," said Legolas, turning his head only slightly to reveal a furrowed brow. Gimli frowned but continued onward nonetheless. So keen were the Elf's ears that he could hear the barely audible crackle of leaves beneath the foes that lie forrader. Then he heard a more discouraging sound...the clashing of metal. A rise in the land was blocking Legolas' view of the source of the fray. Hieing onward he bounded to the top of the rise, narrowly missing the carcasses of two Uruks. Below lay the decapitated form of a particularly large Uruk-hai, likely the very leader of them all, and very near him lay the form of another, leaned up again a tree. Aragorn knelt near this man, for it was no foe, but a man. It appeared that Aragorn had not been dealt more than minor cuts and bruises from whatever bout he had faced moments ago.
"Boromir?" Whispered Legolas, taking a single step forward, his eyebrows creasing in grief. He watched with sadness and even mild curiosity, for it was not oft that an immortal beared witness to death, as Aragorn kissed the man's forehead. Gimli's loud footsteps came to a halt directly behind Legolas as he gravely realized what had bechanced.
"They will watch for him from the White Tower...but he will never return," murmured Aragorn solemnly, resting back upon his heels. Gimli walked to the Ranger, placing a comforting hand atop his shoulder, Legolas soon followed in his stead. Many moments of silence passed, the three companions gazing at the fallen one. At least he is at peace...Legolas thought, observing the look of peacefulness that graced Boromir's reposed features. But Legolas' own expression was one that was slightly puzzled. He had not been forced to comprehend such a thing as death, save in the case of Gandalf, for in the longevity of his own life, he scarcely faced such tragedy. Death was a thing he would never truly understand...even if his soul were to depart his physical form, it was not the same as mortality. Nevertheless, the ever existent sense of loss that accompanies demise still plagued him. A man was gone, never to rejoin those of the living.
This train of thought was broken by a sudden pat Legolas received to the small of his back from Gimli; an attempt to offer solace.
"We will send him down the Anduin. A begrimed grave deep in the ground is not fitting of him," said Aragorn lamentably as he got to his feet. Legolas and Gimli nodded. "And what has become of the Ringbearer?" Asked Aragorn quietly, wiping a few tears with the back of his sleeve.
"He has left us. Legolas guided him safely to the boats, and he departed...with Sam. And he wishes us not to follow."
"So follow we must not, Master Dwarf...for he is beyond our aid. But what of Merry and Pippin?" Questioned Legolas in a hushed tone, for gloom clung tightly to all.
"Boromir has said that the Uruk-hai have taken them captive," Aragorn said mirthlessly. With that, for nothing more was to be said, the three set about constructing a makeshift stretcher with use of their cloaks. Placing the lifeless body atop it, they trekked slowly back to the boats, all in utter silence. Carefully, Legolas and Aragorn lowered Boromir into the boat, lying him across the bottom with his own cloak draped beneath him. The arrows that had taken his life were removed and the cloth he wore was cleaned as best was possible. His arms they crossed across his chest, placing his sword betwixt his overlapping hands, as well as the horn of Gondor. All his possessions were lain securely about him, as were the various armaments of the foes he had slain. And so, when all was done that could be, the boat was gently guided to the current of the Anduin, and thereby flowed to the falls of Rauros.
"Be at peace, son of Gondor," said Aragorn. Gimli nodded and bowed his head in quiet agreement, removing his helmet in respect. Legolas placed a hand upon his heart a moment and sang softly his own barely audible lament, for this was wont of many elves. To sing.
"Cela Gondorion. Aglarebui le dagnirant
a aglareb le na gurthesse. Nenath peda
firith le coi. Raena tenn' lanthiro Rauros...
Raena le dór...raena vilya a ae...a ilye im.
Anor na le roch nor menelath.
Namárië, Mellon nin."
When the boat had drifted too far for the eye to see, the three companions turned towards each other, knowing not which way their path lie. The Ringbearer was gone, and with him had gone his fellow traveler. Merry and Pippin were gone as well, and Boromir no longer amongst the living. The weight of the impending threat had vanished, for a vast majority of the Uruk-hai had turned back to where they came, having captured what they came for, but a new and heavier burden had been wrought in their place. A life had been lost and two kindred spirits had been swept away. Knowing not where to turn, the three companions headed back to the former camp. Throughout this walk Legolas sprinted here and there amongst the trees, disappearing for a time and returning again to Aragorn and Gimli with a fuller quiver of arrows, though it was considerably emptier than once it had been. The arrows within it clattered about as he stepped for many arrows had been lost and there was empty space there still. Once at the camp a scarce few supplies were gathered; only what was truly needed.
"Where do we go? Do we return from whence we came...or do we follow our friends?" Asked Gimli.
"I will not abandon Merry and Pippin," stated Legolas unwaveringly, whilst he absently rested a hand upon his own throbbing shoulder.
"Then it is decided, if all choose to follow. We will seek to rescue our friends. We will not forsake them when we have strength still in us," said Aragorn, turning away from the camp. Little did he know that a certain Elf's strength was waning by the moment. Nevertheless, Legolas was spry to follow in the Ranger's footsteps after drawing a deep breath. Espying the Elf's hand moving then and again to his injuries, Gimli was quick to react. Stepping forth with his stout legs, he caught up with Aragorn who he pulled to his lower level of height.
"I believe that all of us do not, in fact, have strength still in us," he whispered into the Ranger's ear, barely audibly. With an understanding nod, Aragorn spun on his heel and confirmed that Legolas' pace was, indeed, noticeably slower than was habitual, though he tried hard to mask it. Now, for the first time, Aragorn spied the crude bandage that Legolas had so hastily bound about the place where the Uruk's arrow had spited him. Shaking his head in disapproval, he walked straight up to the unsuspecting Elf and unceremoniously seized him by a pointed ear. Legolas gave a cry of surprise. Using this element of surprise to his aid, Aragorn forced Legolas into a prostrated position on the ground. Legolas gasped, but his expression soon became more heated.
"What are you doing?!" Demanded the Mirkwood Prince from his somewhat sprawled, and very unprincelike, position on the grass.
"And you thought not to tell me," accused the Ranger. Legolas hearkened not, instead instantly sat up, but Aragorn firmly grasped his shoulders, mindful of the wound that was clearly visible.
"It is merely a scratch," Legolas retorted, again trying to stand unsuccessfully and uncharacteristically attempting to squirm away from Aragorn's taut grip. But alas, for Legolas' sake, tho' it would do him much good to be tended to no matter what amount of refusal he spoke, the Ranger was too powerful. Strong though he was, Aragorn did have the size advantage, for Legolas' form was long and slender where Aragorn was more heftily built and thus overcame him.
"Were it a scratch, my friend, it would have gone unnoticed," said Aragorn, in a good natured, though slightly graveled tone. This situation is becoming all too familiar...if he would only admit to needing at least a moment's rest, I would be contented, thought Aragorn with a sigh. He is too stubborn for his own good. Little did he know he was not the only one thinking such. Knowing full well that if the Elf was not held still he would surely scamper up a tree and reject further treatment, Aragorn turned to the Dwarf standing near him. "Gimli, I am in need of your assistance." And thus the duty of restraining Legolas was then handed over to Gimli, who took it upon himself to perform the obligation to its fullest while Aragorn rummaged for his healing supplies.
"But what of Merry and Pippin? Surely you do not wish to let their trail grow cold only to needlessly tend to an injury that needs no tending?" Offered the Elf, sincerely worried for his Halfing friends.
"I fear that no matter how you or I exert ourselves to reach them, their trail will grow cold regardless. In any case, we know not their condition, whilst I know yours. It would be more of a burden to shoulder an unconscious Elf aftermost he collapsed from blood loss then to tend to him at present," replied Aragorn sensibly, but all and all sympathetic for his Elf confident. It had never been by free will that the Prince of Mirkwood accepted treatment willingly. If that day were ever to come, Aragorn knew he would certainly be consumed with worry for Legolas' well being, seeing as it would take a fatal blow for the given to occur. And even then, the Ranger had his doubts.
At last Legolas let his form go slack, for the incessant movement had caused a great deal of pain to his side, which had become unbound, and Gimli no longer had to trouble himself with wrestling to keep him still, though the Dwarf still kept a watchful eye pressed on the Elf. Brushing away the glower he received from Legolas' direction, he proceeded to unbind the crudely wrapped wound and draw back the suede jerkin, as had been done that morn, to examine the injury.
The Ranger cringed outwardly and wondered just how Legolas had managed to move about without complaint, even insist on continuing onwards, upon seeing Legolas' shoulder. It appeared that the arrow had not been removed immediately and thereby moved astir while still burrowed into the shoulder. Because of the poor make of the Uruk-hai arrows, or rather, intentional poor make, splinters had lodged themselves about the skin nearest where the arrow had struck. Evidently, the bone had prevented the shaft from protruding out the other side. Aragorn's mind sadly flashed to the site of Boromir's lifeless body and he frowned at the thought of Legolas meeting such a cruel twist of fate. His companions death weighed heavy on his shoulders, and this burthen would not soon leave him. So now, he felt all the more compelled to insure the health of those around him was secure. With a shake of his head, he returned to his work. Taking up a cloth, he soaked it in cool water from his flask and, after careful removal of all splinters, washed away the dried blood and stopped all possible bleeding.
Hesitantly, he brought the needle to the Elf's fair skin, but knowing there was no other option, carried on. Legolas swiftly turned towards the place being stitched immediately after the needle touched his flesh. His bright orbs watched with intense curiosity, though his brow continued to furrow as the Ranger did what was necessary. Quite a few stitches later, Aragorn bit of the remainder of the thread and spread a balm, that stung rather dreadfully, across the stitched area. He went on to check Legolas' freshly bruised and already ailed side. Throwing a frown of slight annoyance in the Elf's direction, he received only a shrug in response.
Affirming that nothing was out of place, he re-wrapped Legolas' torso and abdomen and gave him a pat on the leg to signify that he was at last finished. Pulling his jerkin and undershirt snugly, yet gingerly, over his shoulder, Legolas stiffly got to his feet.
"Well, that was not so bad, now was it, eh, laddie?" Asked Gimli, giving a nudge to Aragorn's patient, as he could be called at this point.
"Yes. It was. And Aragorn?"
"Hmm?"
"You will make a fine mother."
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Translations:
"Flow away, Son of Gondor. Gloriously thou fought
and glorious thou art in death. (The)waters speak
thy ending...wander the waterfall of Rauros...
wander to thy land...wander the sky and the sea...and all in between.
The fading Sun is thy horse to ride to (the) heavens."
Farewell, my friend."
Raugo naug = Demon (of a) Dwarf
At long last another chapter!!! I really did try to update all week! Truly, I did! I had the flu! And then, the next time I sat down at the computer 'poof!!' the power goes out! But school ended today! So I'm free for the rest of the summer...with the exception of camp that I mentioned earlier. Well, I hope you liked it! I PROMISE I'll update faster this time around...
I realize this is becoming somewhat redundant...but THANK YOU for all the reviews, everyone! They're so encouraging.
Deana: Thanks a billion. I was only able to glance at your stories before I was shooed away from the computer by my sibling...but from what I got to read I can honestly say I thought they were BRILLIANT. Now that I don't have teachers hounding me for work, I can read them in their entirety. Yay.
eryn lasgalen elf: Lol. I suppose Frodo can get annoying after awhile. Thanks a bunch...your name is cool too! Greenwood the Great elf, right?
DJ: Wow! Chile? I had no idea I had readers in South America! Don't worry about your English, it's fine! Thank you sooo much. Say hi to everyone for me!
Orliey: Gimli saved the day! I hadn't had much of our favorite Dwarf in the previous chapters, with the exception of a few words here and there and thought he needed to show his worth somehow. Blushes... Thank you.
Kelsey: I'm glad I got Legolas right. Again, thanks so much for your kind words. Yup, Legolas is certainly needed with Aragorn...and Frodo does have Sam...although he may be a bit of a burden at times, he's a good companion. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
LadyKorana: Glad you corrected me! I wouldn't want to go about saying the wrong thing...ahem...again. It's an interesting change...I wonder why Peter Jackson did it?
Tears of Eternal Darkness: Will do, and as quickly as possible...well, I said that last time and it took me a week...I won't let that happen again!
randomramblings: Thank you!!
Gemini969: Again, thanks so much.
Bookworm, .303: Thanks a bunch, I'm so glad you're enjoying. Oh! I checked out your own story, East and West, as you know...and it's absolutely wonderful. I can't wait for you to update...and you left us with a cliffhanger too! Lol.
Boromir: Thanks!! I hope he'll be alright!
And on to the next chapter! Hopefully there won't be anymore power outages at my house! I need my computer. Till next time!
-Jamie (lintu...)
P.S. Did anyone notice my incorrect spelling of the word 'foul' in the last chapters? I thought it funny...I wrote 'fowl' meaning 'bird.' In any case, 'foul' was intended. I suppose that happens when you choose to write at four in the morning, ne?