Disclaimer:
I do not own any of Tolkien's characters.
Rating:
R.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Shock. Failure. Anger. Fear. Neither emotion was able to dominate the other as they swirled inside of Aragorn's mind like a whirlwind of disorder. He blinked, once, twice, unable to comprehend even as he sat atop the horse, staring down at the form of Legolas, bleeding and bruised, eyes closed.All is well, Aragorn…
Legolas' lies echoed in his mind, reconfirming that undeniable sense of failure.
Elrohir was to the first to move, leaping smoothly from his horse's back and darting toward Legolas. Elladan did not even try to stop him this time.
"LEGOLAS!" the younger twin cried, dropping to his knees. He touched his hands to the archer's forehead, sliding his fingers over the pale lips to test for breath.
Elladan instantly came to his senses and dismounted, rushing to his brother's side he leaned over Legolas, ere glancing wildly around the forest for any sign of the attacker.
Aragorn, however, did not move.
He could not bring himself to believe or accept as he stared at Legolas…stared as if his gaze would erase all the wrong that marred the elf.
"Aragorn!" Elladan called, trying to get the attention of his human brother.
Elrohir smoothed the blond tresses of Legolas' hair away from the wound to his neck. It still bled and the blood was dark in the moonlight.
"Elbereth…Elladan..." Elrohir whispered without thinking, memories of his mother flashing in the back of his mind. Tears stung his eyes, though he dare not shed them.
Suddenly, Legolas' eyelashes fluttered and hazy blue eyes stared up at Elrohir, initial fear sparking within their depths. Immediately Elladan knelt by his twin, touching a hand lightly to Legolas' exposed shoulder. A whimper of pain caught in the prince's throat, and he shook his head weakly, finding it was all he could force his body to do. He was barely able to discern the conversation between the twins as it was as if he were hearing the voices from deep underwater.
"We need to get him back to Rivendell." Elladan announced, eyes examining Legolas carefully.
"Or Mirkwood…" Elrohir mumbled, instantly removing his cloak from his shoulders.
Mirkwood…
That he heard.
Mirkwood...my father…baw!
A whimper drew their attention to Legolas' lips where he barely formed the word "no". The twins ignored this, caring more for their friend's health than his pride at this moment.
"Rivendell is closer, and father should be informed of what has happened. These borders must be searched…Estel, help me with Legolas." Elladan called, handing Elrohir his own cloak as he removed it.
Aragorn did nothing, apart from stare….
All is well, Aragorn.
"Aragorn!" Elladan hissed, trying not to disturb Legolas further by raising his voice.
Blinking, the ranger came out of his stupor and stared down at his brother.
"Help me." The elder twin ground out between his teeth, eyes wide to emphasise the urgency he would not voice.
Aragorn dismounted slowly, carefully and immediately went to aid his brothers. Kneeling beside Legolas his senses began to return to him and he pushed aside his emotions, they would do naught but interfere at this moment. Aragorn leaned close, inspecting the wound to Legolas' neck. The wound would heal, though it would need to be cleaned. Eyes roamed over the scratches and bruises, both would fade with time.
A hand touched Legolas' left shoulder and the elf flinched slightly, eyes trailing toward the new source of attention.
Aragorn.
The ranger did not meet Legolas' gaze, though he could feel those eyes bore into him. He dared not look.
"We have to sit him up." Aragorn ordered, looking to Elladan instead.
"Of course." Elladan nodded and slid a hand beneath the prone elf's back.
Aragorn did the same, but this movement caused a cry of pain to tear from Legolas' throat and the elf arched slightly. Immediately Aragorn pulled his hand back, having felt the broken shaft of an arrow brush his fingertips as he touched the elf's wounded side.
"Elladan, grip Legolas' arm and roll him toward you."
The elder elf did not question his human brother and instantly did what he was told, murmuring an apology to his friend as Legolas hissed in pain. Aragorn stared with fierce eyes at the arrow that had imbedded itself into the archer's ribs. The arrow appeared to be preventing the bleeding fairly, though crimson still leaked from the wound. Deciding it better to leave the arrow imbedded until his friend was in Elrond's care, he lifted his eyes to Elladan, who was carefully watching Legolas like a protective parent.
"He will need to ride the horse."
"Is he…can he?" Elladan did not even want to voice his thoughts as to why he might have thought Legolas incapable of riding and instead asked the simple question.
Aragorn's eyes swept over the elf's body and he noticed Legolas was still clad from the waist down, save his split tunic.
"Aye," Aragorn replied, "he can. Elrohir!"
The twin instantly came to his side, pale eyes wide and expectant.
"You are a swift rider, ride ahead to Rivendell and alert father as to what has happened."
"What?"
"Do as he says, Elrohir." Elladan said sternly, carefully helping Legolas to sit up.
Alert father…no…
"No..." Legolas murmured weakly, head lolling against Elladan's shoulder.
Elrohir stared at the archer, frowning as he struggled to comply with what was asked of him.
"Elrohir, go. Si!" Elladan snapped the last word.
Raising his eyes the youngest twin handed the cloaks to Elladan and swiftly strode over to his horse. Mounting the young steed he spared one last glance at the trio below him, ere he wheeled the horse around, urging it into a fierce canter back the way they had come.
Aragorn and Elladan immediately turned their attention back toward Legolas, who seemed to have shrunk away from the outside world. His eyes were open, though unblinking and dazed.
"Come, he shall ride with you Elladan." Aragorn declared, rising to retrieve the two remaining horses.
Immediately the dark-haired elf lifted his eyes and blinked, "What?"
"He shall ride with you, hurry, we must not linger here."
Elladan frowned, meeting Aragorn's eyes for a moment. Why did he not wish to ride with Legolas? Meeting Elladan's confused stare, the human was pokerfaced as he bent to help with the wounded elf. Not wishing to debate such a matter at this present moment with his human brother, Elladan nodded quietly, draping the cloak carefully around Legolas, all the while mindful of his wounds, he complied.
Aragorn paced outside of Legolas' chamber. Up and down, up and down, just as he had done in Elrond's study after the elven prince had left Rivendell…left to suffer some foul fate. Running both hands through his hair, the ranger gripped the back of his skull and continued to pace, his footsteps echoing in the hallways until finally he forced his body to comply with his mind. He walked away from the chamber, out into the gardens of Rivendell.
All is well, Aragorn.
He snickered bitterly. Leaning against the same tree that he had stood near when Legolas had practiced his archery. The ranger stared up at the starry night, awaiting the dawn....darkness had shrouded too much of the world.
"Aragorn?"
The man turned his head, not at all surprised when Elladan stepped up beside him. "Are you well?"
Another snicker, "Am I well?" the man echoed, "Does it honestly matter?"
Elladan sighed, his eyes drifting shut.
"I did not come here to indulge with you upon self-pity."
"What?" Aragorn blinked, shocked by the words.
"Or blame." Elladan added, turning his pale eyes toward Aragorn, "Do you not feel guilty?"
"Of course, do you?"
"Aye, though I cannot allow myself to shoulder blame."
"I wish I shared your indifference." Aragorn murmured.
Now it was Elladan who grew angry and his eyes flashed dangerously.
"Do not assume to tell me what pr who it is that I care for, Estel. Though in truth I feel as guilty as you for Legolas' fate, I cannot allow Elrohir to also feel that way. Alas, if I were to be gripped by guilt, what would that make me to him? Naught but a hypocrite. I have him to think about also."
And it had always been that way, ever since their mother had left. Aragorn sighed, regretting his words and turned his eyes toward the eldest twin, a sadness and apology in their depths.
"Elladan, I-"
"It need not be said." The elf smiled slightly, but it vanished soon after, "Estel, why did you not ride with Legolas?"
Because it was my fault…
The response was immediate inside of his own mind, though he said nothing of it.
Aragorn shook his head, "I did not think."
The elf did not look convinced, and strangely resembled a disbelieving Elrond with the slight arch of his eyebrow.
"Have you spoken with father?" the man added, changing the subject matter.
"Nay, last I was aware, he was still with Legolas."
"And Elrohir?"
"He was helping Glorfindel fetch herbs for father."
Aragorn dropped his eyes with a nod and a silence descended between the two for a moment. Elladan sighed as he lifted his eyes to the fading stars. How had fate taken such a foul turn? And so suddenly that none could grasp the reality of what had happened…what was happening.
"What do you think was meant by that foul display?" the elf asked, breaking the silence.
Aragorn frowned slightly, turning his gaze upon Elladan, "Display?"
"The horse. Legolas' horse."
A sickening chill crept up the ranger's spine and Aragorn shook his head.
"I cannot say. I do not see any justice in the slaughter of an innocent creature."
"Nor I, though it was meant to be found, meant to be seen."
"Meant to be heeded." Aragorn added with a snort of disgust, "I do not even wish to consider the reasons behind such a message."
"Be that as it may," Elladan murmured, "perhaps Legolas will be able to erase our doubts."
Aragorn shot the twin a fierce glance, "Elladan, do you honestly believe that Legolas will talk of what happened when the grief of the experience happened only mere hours ago?"
"I do not see that he has a choice anymore." Replied the elf, his eyes just as determined as he stared back at his brother.
Both held each other's gazes for a while and after a tense moment, Elladan's eyes softened with both sadness and understanding, though they never lost their spark of resolve.
"This has to end, Estel."
Aragorn stood silently by the large window, leaning against the stone frame as he gazed out at the pale dawn sky. The world was still…was peaceful.
For how long?
In the back of his mind, questions stirred and lingered. One thought dancing across his conscience.
Justice.
The word left a bitter taste in his mouth even as he whispered it quietly to himself. Lowering his eyes from the peaceful portrait of the sunrise, he turned his head and blinked in shock when he found a pair of blue eyes staring back at him from across the room.
The elf lay upon the large bed, blond tresses still matted with blood near the wound to his neck. A dark bruise and scar marred his face and numerous scratches covered his body, or what could be seen of it beneath the sheet, pulled to his chest. Rolled onto his side, back to the door, it appeared as though he did not wish for company. Even so, with his eyes half-lidded, he stared across at Aragorn with a haunting sadness. The man found that words died upon his lips and he had to lick them nervously ere he spoke again.
"Legolas..." Was all that came out.
The elf dropped his eyes and a pained sigh escaped his pale, dry lips. A silence descended, at which the ranger gazed quietly at the elf. He knew not what to say…what could he possibly say?
"Legolas." Aragorn took a careful step toward his friend and waited for a reaction before drawing nearer.
The elf did not meet Aragorn's eyes and instead frowned slightly, as he fought with his inner conflicts. The ranger crouched down and attempted to swallow the knot in his throat. It was almost unnatural to see the elf this way, and it did not ease the hurt to know that Legolas had sought no help with his burden.
"Mankoi agor le al-treneri enni, Legolas?" Aragorn's voice was but a gruff whisper, misery lilting his tone.
Slowly the elf's eyes lifted to meet the man's and Legolas shook his head.
"Treneri le man, Aragorn?" the reply was barely a whisper, "How?"
"Legolas, I would have helped you…I would have-"
"What would you have done?!" the elf interjected with a fierce glare, "You could not have done anything! Why could you have left me in peace, Aragorn!?" The elf seethed.
Gripping the covers, he drew them away fiercely from his body and swung his legs over the bed, regretting the hasty movement the instant his head started to pound.
Aragorn rose to his feet, momentarily surprised by the aggressiveness, but then, it was to be expected. Still clad from the waist down, Legolas blinked fiercely to clear his vision, he could still feel the fatigue from the venom and briefly remembered Elrond speaking to him of it…though he had barely been able to discern the elf lord's words.
"Sedho, Legolas." Aragorn half commanded, half pleaded with his friend as the elf attempted to stand.
Legolas glared fiercely at the man ere forcing his body to comply to his demands as he rose to his full height, muttering angrily.
"Law."
"Legolas, farn, havo!" Aragorn growled, staring up at his friend.
"Law." The elf repeated, about to move away but found that Aragorn rose swiftly to his feet, blocking the elf's route to escape.
"Havo dad, Legolas!" Aragorn ordered, his voice resonating loudly in the chamber.
For a moment, both friends locked eyes, engaged in a battle that neither were willing to submit to. Legolas searched Aragorn's face with large, blue eyes.
Silence filled the room. Neither moved, eyes locked, gazes fixed. Aragorn's breath stirred Legolas' hair and the archer's eyes continued to search those of the ranger until finally the resolve seemed to dwindle within their depths. Finally the elf lowered his gaze.
"Saes, Legolas." Aragorn murmured, also shifting his stare.
Complying, the elf sank down onto the mattress and buried his head into his hands, fingers pressed firmly to his skull as he shook his head. Aragorn sighed and crouched down, desperately trying to search for his friend's eyes.
"Pent an enni, Legolas."
"You spoke true words to me, Aragorn." Legolas murmured, lowering his hands from his head, "I should have been on my guard."
"What do you mean?" the ranger pressed, tilting his head slightly.
"Perhaps Elven hearts are too swift to pity." The blond continued, his eyes searching the cold floor below.
"Pity?" Aragorn repeated.
Legolas lifted his eyes slowly, meeting Aragorn's gaze, the sadness still lingered there, intense, painful…amidst that haunting glimpse of some other emotions…distant flickers of fear.
"Would you pity me, Aragorn?" Legolas asked, his voice soft, "If I told you that my own pity brought me to the mercy of a man, whose face I had never seen…ere this night."
The ranger, head tilted to one side, studied the eyes of his friend and parted his lips to speak, though no words escaped. He merely drew a breath, shaking his head slightly as if to tell his friend he did not know what to say. Legolas dropped his eyes once more.
"If I told you that I trusted a stranger, drawn to his pain with sympathy…" the elf paused for a moment and frowned, eyes dark "…only to be poisoned and violated by the victim of my commiseration and used as an object of his own hate…still never knowing his face. Knowing only his touch, breath and loathing…"
Aragorn, had he not reached out and pressed his hand to the wall, would have fallen to the floor in his state of shock. His eyes were wide with horror, face awash with both grief and anger. When the elf lifted his eyes, Legolas blinked slowly as if waking from some state of trance.
"Why did I not tell you?" the archer murmured, "How could I?"
"Legolas-"
Immediately the elf rose to his feet, swiftly causing Aragorn to stumble slightly as he attempted to rise also. Legolas stepped past the man and slowly moved over to the large window, anger churning inside of him. Twice now…and it was real…
The man stared blankly at the floor, grief washing over him…the words he had said to Legolas.
Though the root is easy enough to question, how you managed to twist your head around and bite yourself on the neck is most fascinating…You are embracing this pain as though you enjoy it…you foolishly placed a powerful and dangerous herb into your own water pouch?
And Legolas' own words, echoing desperately in response.
…Nay…Daro ha! Law…law…That is not what happened...!
Indeed, it really was not…The ranger shook his head, Valar no…let it be some cruel jest…
Aragorn was choked for words…the confession, the truth…it was unimaginable and in his state of denial and pained acceptance, he sank down to the floor, tilting his head against the mattress as he stared at Legolas' back, wishing he could take back all words that he had carelessly uttered.
Elbereth…I should have known…I should have known the moment I saw him.
"I le gelir si, Aragorn?"
Even as the elf spoke the words, Aragorn did not prepare himself for the hurt and the grief they struck within his heart.
"Aranna enni." He whispered brokenly, barely able to form the words.
Legolas closed his eyes painfully, hating the anguish that quelled his rage.
"Avo pedo sen… ú si…Saes." The elf whispered.
Legolas stared forlornly out of the window, the hatred of the man's touch lingering on his flesh. Though that was not what concerned him now. Legolas frowned, trying to understand as his mind raced, searching for reason…for stability…
Grief denied him this.
He had only heard of such vile acts having such effects upon Elves. Never had he even considered falling prey to such a thing…perhaps in his arrogance he had fallen.
He had grown too credulous to the ways of the world and now tangled in a game of grief and anger one word came to his mind and with it, a horrific memory that caused his heart to clench painfully.
JUSTICE.
Slowly his eyes opened as he felt a hand touch his shoulder, gentle, though it caused him to flinch. He did not turn to meet Aragorn's eyes, he did not wish to see the pity swimming in them…he did not wish to impair his grief further.
Do not look upon me thus!
"Leithian enni." Legolas announced, directing the order to Aragorn, though the words were truly meant for the wrath of his tormentor.
There was a momentary hesitation before Aragorn dropped his hand. He was torn, not knowing what to say or do, yet desperate to speak and act.
"Legolas…"
Please...
"Avo, lín peth thel tithen…" the elf whispered, dropping a barrier between himself and Aragorn.
Staring at his friend, Aragorn battled with his own demons. Unable to remain standing there, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room. Legolas' eyes snapped shut at the sound of the door slamming loudly, with enough aggression to quake the room.
In that moment the elf drew a breath and opening his eyes, he stared out at the world.
He knew what he had to do…
Reaching across his fingers gripped the hilt of his blade, resting on the nearby table, having been retrieved along with the rest of his weapons. As he dropped his eyes to the blade he tensed his jaw and forced aside the grief.
Lifting his eyes to stare at the forest, the face of his attacker flickered in his mind's eye, taunting, contorted with anger and hatred....A bitter loathing that had fuelled the man's vile actions.
JUSTICE
Glancing across the room to where he would no doubt discover fresh attire, Legolas' eyes burned with a new flame. Indeed it was true that the strange mortal hated elves with a fierce, violent passion…
And now…I shall find out why…
Sindarin Elvish Translations
Elrohir, go. Si! – Elrohir, go. Now!
Mankoi agor le al-treneri enni, Legolas – Why did you not tell me, Legolas?
Treneri le man, Aragorn? – Tell you what, Aragorn?
Sedho, Legolas – be still, Legolas
Law – No.
Legolas, farn, havo – Legolas, enough, sit.
Havo dad, Legolas! – Sit down, Legolas!
Pent an enni, Legolas – Speak to me, Legolas
I le gelir si, Aragorn? – Are you happy now, Aragorn?
Aranna enni – Forgive me.
Avo pedo sen… ú si…Saes – Don't say this…not now…please.
Leithian enni… - Release me
Avo, lín peth thel tithen – Don't, your words mean little