On the Edge
The easterlings thought Legolas, were very thorough. They combed the area no less than five times. It was growing dark when the heavily robed warriors started back. Legolas waited until the last two warriors passed by him, then he slithered down the tree to land in the high grass unseen. He did not have a thought out plan. His only intention was to get close to them. He needed to know if Aragorn and Calad lived still.
They had pitched tents in a tight cluster out in the open field. Guards were posted along the perimeter. Legolas observed them for a long time, but he saw no sign of Aragorn or Calad; neither blood nor bodies nor weapons. So they had not been killed. But where were they? The slaves he had seen before were huddled together in the middle of the camp. They were not among them. His keen eyes surveyed the camp more closely. A fire blazed big and bright at the left edge of the camp. Legolas saw and smelled the roasting of animal flesh. Very soon the warriors would eat and then they would sleep.
There was a small tent with two guards posted at the entrance. As he watched a man, clearly the leader by his poise and manner entered it. He stayed a long time. Legolas kept his eyes glued to the spot. Without warning the chieftain came out. He ordered food be carried in. Legolas watched as one of the guards fetched a steaming bowl from the large cauldron hung over the fire and entered the tent. The chieftain left when the guard resumed his place. Legolas smiled. Aragorn and Calad would be in there, he would stake his life on it.
It was not in the nature of the elf Legolas to be patient or still, but this night his usually restless wandering heart was replaced by one of stillness and intent. The watches of the night passed and the guards changed shift. This was done three times. On the fourth Legolas got his chance. The guard closest to him yawned and then headed to the field to relieve himself in the grass when he was replaced by another. Legolas followed, stalking through the swaying stalks like a great cat in sight of its prey. He leapt on the man and brought him down, cutting his throat before he could utter a sound. He knelt on him holding his head down so that no spray of blood would soil the robes he wore.
Legolas quickly donned the heavy clothes, carefully winding the turban around his head and veiling his face as was their custom. His heart beat loudly in his ears as he walked slowly back to the camp. However no one accosted him and he moved through the camp with ease. He went to the large pot, dipped out a bowl of stew, sat on the ground and ate with his fingers as he had seen the other men do. The man to his right passed him a chunk of hard bread which he dipped in his bowl.
He ate slowly studying the mannerisms of the men as they ate cleaned their bowls and drifted to various spots on the grassy ground to sleep. He rose finally and emptied his bowl, cleaned it with stalks of grass and placed it with the growing pile. He walked across to the sleeping mounds of men, careful to walk slow and unaffected. He briefly wondered if each man had a specific place to sleep but he need not have feared.
"Come B'harat, there is room here." Said one of them rolling over to make space for him.
Legolas gave a muffled grunt and cast himself on the ground. Soon the soft snores of the men sighed in his ear.
In the hours between the deadfall of night and the dawn a stillness came over the camp. All activities had ceased. The fire burned low. The guards squatted in their watches, the slaves slept. Even the two guards at the tent were still. They sat on the ground bodies at rest. Legolas rolled over into the shadows of the night. He gained his feet and slipping around three tents came to rest at the back of the one he desired to enter. The fabric hissed as he cut across the base of the structure. He stopped holding his breath, but there was no out cry.
He rolled under the edge and into utter darkness within the tent. All he heard was the sound of breathing. He froze suddenly overcome with doubt. What if he were wrong? This could be the tent of anyone. He had no light and no means of making any. He stayed hunched over balancing on the balls of his feet pondering his next move. He almost jumped out of his skin when a warm hand clamped around his ankle.
"Who are you?" came a harsh whisper.
Legolas felt relief flood through him. "It is I Aragorn. Are you unhurt? Where is my brother?" he whispered. He felt around blindly with his hand and grasped a handful of tussled hair. Aragorn yelped.
"Sorry." Legolas whispered contritely releasing Aragorn's head.
"Take my hand I will guide you." Aragorn's voice said. Legolas felt the hand leave his ankle and settle on his arm. Soon he was sitting next to Aragorn. The ranger took his hands and guided them to another's face. Legolas felt the smooth cool skin beneath his fingers. He shut his eyes in relief as his fingers found and ran along the length of a tiny braid. His fingers fluttered over the slightly open mouth. He felt gentle puffs of air waft against them.
"He is hurt badly; they let me tend to him. I used all the herb I had. He should sleep till morning."
"We must get out of here Aragorn. We must be far away ere they wake."
"How mellon nin?" We have no horses, Calad cannot walk. We will be captured again all of us."
"Did they get Calad's horse?"
"I do not think so. I did not see an elven horse."
"Vryn and Sule will come when called once they are free. We merely need to get far enough to do so."
Legolas felt Aragorn's hand on his again. Soon he could feel the coldness of steel beneath his fingertips. Aragorn was chained by the ankle to a metal stake driven into the ground. Legolas sighed in frustration.
"I asked them to leave your brother unbound, but they refused. I think they fear him greatly, hurt as he is. They have never seen an elf before I think." Aragorn paused, "we cannot escape this."
"Who holds the key?"
"Their chieftain. It is around his neck on a chain of metal."
Both friends stiffened as they heard the scrape of a boot out side. They heard the guard yawn and shuffle around. Soon though he settled down. Legolas and Aragorn both released a shaky breath.
"This chieftain is he the one who was in here this night before you were given food?"
"Yes." Aragorn's reply was clipped.
Legolas frowned. "What is it my friend?"
"He makes my skin crawl. He came and sat and watched me clean and bind Calad's wound. He asked me all manner of questions about, elves. He sounded as though he was discussing the qualities of a good breeding horse he wished to buy."
Aragorn's disgusted tone was not lost on Legolas. He felt a familiar churning in his gut. No. He could not feel sorry for himself now.
"Legolas?" Aragorn reached up and his fingers brushed the elf's face. Legolas shied away from the touch like a startled foal. His breathing was suddenly loud and shaky.
"I am sorry mellon nin." Aragorn said at once wishing he could see his friends face.
"It is not your fault Aragorn. I should have better control. You are my friend. I trust you."
"Legolas…" Aragorn began.
"I will get the key." With that Legolas was suddenly gone.
"Be safe." Aragorn whispered to the darkness.
Legolas took deep gulps of air as the familiar horror swamped him. He felt dirty hands on his body, he smelled a fetid stench. He trembled, curling in on himself trying to regain control. Tears squeezed past his closed lids.
"No," he panted." I am safe, I am safe."
Precious minutes passed before he was able to move: precious minutes in which he cursed himself over and over. "I am no warrior, I am nothing."
00000
In the time that passed dawn had come and the camp was stirring. Legolas tasted the bitterness of failure in his mouth. He had not set his brothers free. He had done nothing but give Aragorn false hope. He could not chance to remain among the easterlings, for they would discover him before long. He did not know their routines or customs. He was just about to slip away when a voice called out to him.
"B'harat! What are you doing hiding there? You know it is our turn to guard the northens. Come, come none of your tempers now."
Legolas had no choice but to walk forward and the man fell into step beside him. He chattered gaily about his wife and children.
Legolas was surprised when they stopped at the tent he had not too shortly vacated. The guards who had been there all evening and night stood up and stretched. The taller of the two said.
"Took your time D'nai. We are hungry. You were supposed to relieve us two hours ago. I hope there is still food left."
"Well, we are here now, no harm done. I was looking for B'harat." Said D'nai jerking a thumb at Legolas.
"Hmpfh," grunted the other guard. "A plague on mutes and their kin." He spat at Legolas' feet eying D'nai angrily. Legolas lowered his eyes.
"Now, now." D'nai said taking no offence. "You know my sister's husband is dead. B'harat is now the man of the house, he must work. Lord Ahnad has accepted him in spite of his imperfection. He works hard"
The two guards mumbled but hunger made them leave without further argument.
"Do not pay them any mind B'harat." Said the ebullient D'nai. "I do not mind your silence. You work hard and you obey orders. You did well in that village. How many did you kill five, six?"
Legolas nodded but D'nai continued without a breath.
"Lord Ahnad pays well, when we return home I will get you a fat whore. She will give you the night of your life for little coin."
Legolas shuddered.
"Ah,aaah. Excited eh?" He slapped Legolas on the shoulder.
Suddenly he grew quiet and stood at attention. Legolas followed suit.
The chieftain approached. He was a tall man with a narrow waist and broad shoulders. He was robed in hues of red. He opened the flaps of the tent and entered without a word to either of them. Legolas resisted the urge to turn around. He had seen the key around the man's neck. The urge to rip it off had been almost too much to control. He heard the man speaking to Aragorn and Aragorn's soft replies. He heard a soft moan and chains shifting. It was almost more than he could bear. How dare he touch his brother?
After what seemed a life time to Legolas the man emerged and closed the flaps. He spoke, "I want them fed properly. Force them to eat if you have to. Get bandages and fresh water for the healer. I shall return."
D'nai waited until the man had moved far away before he spit. "Feed them! Ha. Northens are dung. I will not soil my hands." Nevertheless he moved to comply with the chieftain's orders. Legolas grabbed his arm and then pointed to his own chest.
"Ah you are a good boy B'harat…" D'nai began. But Legolas moved away before he finished. He raised the flap and went into the dark tent. He saw Aragorn stiffen but made him no sign. He took the bowl that was full of stale food and walked past a still talking D'nai to the cooking fire. He emptied the bowl cleaned it, leaving it on the pile. He took a clean one and dipped it into the pot. He broke a chunk of bread from one of the loaves on the side and returned to the tent.
"I will get water and bandages while you feed them." D'nai said.
Legolas nodded and bent to open the tent flaps. D'nai caught his arm. Legolas looked up at the man. The man was staring at him, a suspicious look on his face. Legolas' mind raced. What was it? What had he noticed? Had his head covering slipped? Legolas struggled to remember the colour of the eyes of the man he had killed. Had the man's eyes been blue? As he stared back at D'nai Legolas wondered if he could kill him without alerting the whole camp.
"Be careful B'harat." D'nai said suddenly." I heard that they bite."
Legolas gave a weak chuckle and he ducked inside the tent.
To
Lotr faith. You continued support gives me impetus to continue.
Shanna. Si entiendo pero no la hablo muy bien. Muchas gracias por tus palabras exquisitas.
Gozilla Was this soon enough? LOL
Kelsey. You are quite right, as you know, about Galadriel and Elrond, but I think Elrond would be perkier if he had the gift of telapathy. To me Legolas will be forever 25. The elvish I borrowed from two different sites with the same name Council of Elrond. They are pretty up to date. Thanks for your words.
Coolio you rock.
Kitsune Kida. I really appreciate what you said. You have my heart forever.
Mornflower beautiful name and hannon le.
Deanna I hope this one is enjoyable to you.
Jopru here is some more to chew over. Thanks.
Silvertoekee your comments always make me grin, very widely. Thank a mil.
Sielge. Here it is.