Interlude

Aragorn was sitting with his back to the tent's entrance. As Legolas came in he swivelled around and glared up at him. He saw Aragorn's eyes narrow as he took in the bowl of stew and bread. Legolas knelt on the ground.

"I told your leader I do not want your food." Aragorn growled. He placed a protective hand on Calad's chest. Legolas could not help but grin, a grin Aragorn could not see.

"Taste very good to me human, are you sure?" he asked quietly.

Aragorn's eyes widened. "Legolas." He said in disbelief. "I thought you had gone, that they had caught you."

"Not yet." Said Legolas grinning widely now. He had seen Calad crack one eye open cautiously. He put down the bowl and bread and eased his brother upright. Calad looked so pale. Legolas hugged him gently.

"Muindor nin." He breathed. The bandages covered a large area of Calad's right side and chest.

"How bad is it?"

"He was stabbed in the side with a curved blade. It went in deep." Said Aragorn.

Calad looked at Legolas from head to toe.

"It is a new look for you, but I can get used to it."

Legolas and Aragorn smiled at the elf's attempt at humour.

"Come eat, the other guard will be back soon." Legolas urged.

Aragorn tore off half the bread and also ate half the stew. Legolas fed Calad little bits of bread and meat slowly. Calad did not feel like eating but knew he must if was to heal at all.

"I thought you did not want the food human?" Legolas teased as Aragorn licked his fingers clean.

"I thought it was drugged." Aragorn confessed with a half smile shrugging. "I was ravenous."

Just at that moment Legolas put his finger to his lips.

"D'nai is returning. I am supposed to be a mute and his nephew."

D'nai entered the tent and glared at the two captives. He saw Legolas holding Calad and his eyes bulged.

"Don't touch them you fool, they carry disease." He shrieked. He attempted to pull Legolas away without getting too close to the elf. Aragorn supported Calad as Legolas allowed himself to be moved. D'nai put the pail of water on the ground and threw the bandages at Aragorn.

"Come B'harat, let us go out into the clean air."

Legolas shook his head, he pointed at the remaining food, then at the elf. D'nai hesitated, Lord Ahnad had said to make sure they ate. If he stoped his nephew from finishing he might be displeased. He peered suspiciously at the elf in the human man's arms. The creature looked harmless. It looked as though it might die.

"Alright B'harat feed it. I will be outside watching."

True to his word D'nai sat outside the entrance watching them closely. For his brother's sake Calad forced himself to eat some more stew. Aragorn meanwhile removed the soiled bandages and began to clean the wound. Legolas drew in a deep breath. The wound was red, raw, ragged and weeping. Calad had to be in great pain. He watched as Aragorn washed it carefully as Calad flinched setting his jaw so as not to cry out. He caught Aragorn's eyes asking silently how he could help.

"I need asea-aranion weed for healing and willow leaves for the pain." Aragorn spoke for the elf's ears only.

Giving a barely perceptible nod Legolas rose to his feet, his time was up.

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The chieftain returned and examined both captives. The edhel seemed a little better and the human healer was more at ease.

"How does he fare?" he asked Aragorn.

"Better, but he is in great pain and cannot be moved."

"I have no intention of moving." The man was smiling but it was hidden under layers of cloth. Yet Aragorn heard something he did not like in his voice. It was disturbing, talking only to a pair of eyes.

"What more do you need?" he asked with studied kindness.

"More clean water, he needs to drink much liquid."

The man nodded and knelt beside Calad. The elf's eyes were closed and his pale hair lay about him in disarray. He fingered the fine braids that ran behind Calad's ears and onto his chest.

"Undo these healer. I will send you water."

With a final touch of Calad's face, the man stood swiftly and left.

"Which one of you fed the captives." He asked. He stared first at Legolas who quickly looked away and then at D'nai.

"It was my nephew B'harat my lord. He did not mean any harm. He…"

The man held up his hand and D'nai fell silent.

"Well done B'harat." Legolas looked up in surprise to see rich brown eyes appraising him. The man turned to D'nai. "This is your sister's son?"

"Yes my lord."

"He is mute?"

"Yes my lord."

"It is said that those who cannot speak are gifted with other qualities. It is clear he can calm wild creatures. I will remember this service to me."

Without another word the man strode away. For once D'nai was speechless. He stared at B'harat as though he had sprouted another head.

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When they were relieved that evening Legolas had a hard time getting rid of D'nai. He chattered on about what this could mean for them. The 'this' he referred to was a mystery to Legolas. Thankfully D'nai finally had to leave to do his business behind a convenient tree and Legolas slipped away.

The weeds Aragorn needed grew abundantly in the forest and soon he had enough picked to last many weeks. He secured them in his tunic which he still wore under the many folds of his stolen robes. He also moved and buried the body of the slain easterling. It would not do for him to be found by chance. Sweat was dripping into his eyes by the time he was finished. The heat of the day and the heaviness of the cloth made him feel dizzy when he stood up. He wearily unwound the veil from his face and breathed fresh air. He wished for a long cool swim for there was a small swift moving stream nearby. But he knew he could not indulge in such luxury. Not one of the easterling warriors had shown the slightest inclination to bathe. Legolas wrinkled his nose in distaste. Humans!

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The man walked around the camp slowly. His men bowed to him out of respect and fear. The slaves were being fed and he watched as it was done. His men knew the rule, healthy slaves, healthy pay. His rich brown eyes flickered over the slaves. They would fetch a good price, especially the young boys. They had plenty years of service in them and they were young enough to be broken easily.

His eyes scanned the area around the camp. He watched two of his men D'nai and the mute boy go off into the brush. He turned and walked the perimeter of the camp. He had to make a decision. He could not keep the merchandise here for too long. Caravans would be waiting for them at the end of the trail in two days. He looked up at the sky and once again turned to scan the field of tall grass and trees. He smiled to himself, he made his decision.

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Legolas stayed out as long as he dared. He sat in the crotch of a tree revelling in the cool air and the song of the land around him. In a strange way he felt at peace. He joined his voice to the song around him. At this moment life was good.

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Thirty warriors herded the slaves forward. Legolas stood next to D'nai watching until they receded in the distance. They were standing guard at the Northern's tent. Only twelve warriors remained in the camp. D'nai shifted and spat on the ground.

"I do not know why the lord wastes time with these two. He should kill them and keep their skins."

Legolas of course said nothing, but could not help a grimace of anger.

"I wish I were going with them," said D'nai wistfully eyeing the vanishing column of warriors. "I long to see M'dai again. She is so beautiful." He lapsed into a dreamy silence for which Legolas was grateful.

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Legolas gave the bowl over to Aragorn.

"What is happening? I heard lots of movement." Questioned Aragorn softly.

"Most of the camp have moved on with the slaves."

"And the chieftain?"

"He stays."

"Warriors?"

"No more than a dozen."

Aragorn looked at the closed tent flap thoughtfully.

"Have you thought of a way to get the key?" asked Calad. He was feeling much better though the wound was raw still. The weed Legolas had found made the pain no worse than a mild throb.

"I have, but I need to know if what I have in mind is possible."

Legolas outlined his plan as they ate.

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The man stood at the edge of camp close to the forest. Behind him stood his most trusted captain.

"Could you have made a mistake Sh'ndai?" he asked calmly.

"No my lord." Replied the captain.

The man swivelled, eyes glittering in suppressed anger. "Then why has this creature not tried to rescue his friends. It has been three days."

"I do not know my lord." Replied the captain bowing respectfully.

Lord Ahnad turned his back on the captain, his eyes once again scanning the tall grasses and sparse trees. "Tell me what happened again."

With an inaudible sigh Sh'ndai told the tale for the fifth time. They had been fighting the fair-haired creature, it had moved with incredible speed and deadly accuracy. Three men fell. Oruni had stabbed it with a lucky thrust from behind. It had staggered, almost fell. Then arrows from nowhere, had taken down two men. The fair creature had struck again. Sh'ndai had parried the thrust and kicked it in the side, where it had been stabbed. It had staggered again. Then it fell. More arrows rained down on them. Sh'ndai had turned seen in the distance a figure. He had led ten warriors towards it. As they ran he had seen the dark haired figure firing at them, two of his men fell, then there was suddenly a flash of gold and a fair haired figure seemed to appear from nowhere, it turned and ran leaving behind the dark haired one to stand alone. When they reached the dark haired one, he fought just like the creature, but they overwhelmed him. Of the other there was no sign. They had searched for many hours.

The man nodded satisfied. "They are called edhel . They are magical creatures you know, immortal, flawless." He turned to face the captain again. Sh'ndai could see naked desire in his eyes.

"It will come." The man continued. "Our force has been quartered. Tonight is the perfect night for any attack."

"Yes my lord."

"Move the edhel and his healer to my tent."

"Yes my lord."

Lord Ahnad took the metal key from around his neck and gave it to Sh'ndai. "Clean them first."

"Yes my lord."

He watched as the captain walk purposefully back to the camp. Two immortal slaves he thought; he stretched a hand out toward the sighing fields and made a fist.

"Come to me edhel." He whispered. His eyes glittered with the promise of dreams yet unfulfilled.

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Legolas dipped his bowl into the pot. He pretended to fumble and let it fall. When he reached for it again he let drop the dried mixture that Aragorn had made. He stirred the contents quickly in the pot quickly. He took his bowl and went to sit in the shade to eat. With luck all of the warriors would be in a drugged sleep by nightfall.

Notes

Edhel elf

Muindor nin my brother

To:

Kitsune Kida. All the past things that I refer to are from Never Look Back. A million thanks for your review.

Silvertoekee No running just yet. Obrigado LOL

Shanna Mil gracias por tus palabras, como siempre cuando veo que escribes no puedo hablar.

Lotr faith It is very hard for him. Some things one cannot forget. But anyway onwards I go.