Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I'm glad you like my story :)
Disclaimer: Tolkein owns it all.
*****
The first week of travel was surprisingly uneventful. The two friends rode hard and made good time. Their pace was slowing however as their horses grew tired.
The sun crept below the horizon on the seventh day and as dusk set in, Aragorn called a stop for the night. Legolas dismounted with less grace than was usual due to the sling Aragorn had insisted he wear. The Elf had protested, but been proved wrong when the wound on his shoulder had started to bleed again.
Earlier in the day Aragorn had caught a pair of rabbits for the evening meal. The Ranger carefully observed his friend as they began to prepare the food. His trained healers eyes could tell something was bothering Legolas. The Elf was uncomfortable or in pain. At first Aragorn had put this down to the reopening of his wound but now he suspected it was something more.
"What's wrong, my friend?" The Ranger questioned softly.
"Nothing" came the tense reply.
"Legolas. I know that's not true. I've been watching you. Please. I may be able to help."
"I'm not a child Estel. I do not need to be kept under constant supervision" Legolas stood abruptly and walked to retrieve something from the pack on his horse. The Elf was getting annoyed; partly because Aragorn was fussing over him and partly because he knew the human was right. He wasn't feeling well.
The rise in Legolas' temper only served to worry Aragorn more. Legolas was generally very easy going. He only got annoyed when something was really bothering him. In all the years Aragorn had know Legolas, he could remember arguing with him very few times, and all those occasions had been him trying to get the stubborn elf to let someone look at his wounds.
"Legolas, please. I care about you. Let me help." Aragorn pleaded.
Legolas signed in defeat. He could tell Aragorn was very worried and, on balance, his pride seemed less important that his friend's distress. He returned to sit with the Ranger.
"My chest feels ...tight" he admitted reluctantly "My breath comes shorter than usual."
Aragorn nodded. "Before we left my Father showed me how to ease some of the symptoms of the toxin. Come here."
Aragorn gestured the elf over and indicated for him to sit in front of him. Reaching his hands round, the Ranger began to rub gentle circles on Legolas' chest.
"Hopefully this should loosen the muscles as they start to paralyze. Legolas, if you feel like this again, you must tell me or it will only get worse."
Legolas nodded, but Aragorn was unsure if he was agreeing to tell him, or if he was agreeing it would get worse. He decided not to push the matter. Aragorn knew it must have cost the proud Elf a lot to admit he felt unwell, and he suspect his friend had only done it for his benefit. Legolas shivered.
"You're cold!" Aragorn said, shocked. He hadn't expected Legolas to begin to feel the elements so quickly. The Elf however didn't respond, and Aragorn was surprised to see that Legolas had fallen asleep in his arms.
Carefully lying the sleeping Elf on the floor, Aragorn sent a prayer to the Valar to watch over his friend.
*****
Aragorn was concerned. The focus of his concern was dismounting a horse across the clearing where they had stopped for the night. Despite his words last night, Aragorn was convinced the stubborn wood elf was still hiding his pain. He knew only too well that, unless pushed Legoals would never reveal...well he called it weakness, the rest of Middle Earth called it injury. Aragorn loved Legolas like a brother and if he was any less stubborn he wouldn't be Legolas any more. But still, it made healing him an uphill struggle.
Sighing, the Ranger remembered back to an incident a few years ago where Legolas had managed to hide a broken ankle from him for over a day. True Aragorn had been unconscious for most of that time be even so... Not, Aragorn reluctantly admitted to himself, that he could talk. Legolas often told him he was the stubbornest human he had ever met. On the other hand, he was one of the only humans his friend had ever met.
Mentally shaking himself out of his musings, Aragorn looked up to see Legolas' blue eyes watching him.
"Head in the clouds Estel?" the Elf teased. "Not a very good attitude for a ranger to take."
Aragorn merely glared at him. What could he say? It wasn't a very good attitude for a ranger to take. Quickly deciding to change the subject he said "Well, I believe I shall go hunting tonight."
"But you went yesterday" Legolas quickly objected.
"Yes, and you insisted those rabbits I caught were a fluke. I need to prove you wrong."
"If you say so. I'll just wait here then, shall I? And make a stew if, for any reason you should come back empty handed."
For the second time in as many minutes Aragorn glared at his elven friend. He couldn't help smiling though , when Legolas grinned at him to show he had only been joking. He picked up his bow and arrows and set of to hunt some food.
In truth, Aragorn was glad that Legolas was in a better mood this evening, even if he was the reason for the Elf's jokes. ever since their journey had begun, Legolas seemed somewhat... melancholy. The reason for this Aragorn was finding hard to pinpoint. Of course, the chance of dying must be weighing on Legolas' mind, but Aragorn thought there was more to it than this. He suspected it was the way in which the poison would take his body; gradually taking everything that made Legolas an elf.
As Aragorn let his mind wander, his Ranger's eyes swept over the landscape. He caught sight of movement in the undergrowth, quickly drew his bow and shot. The human went to retrieve his catch; a rabbit. 'We had rabbit last night' he thought. 'Ah well, I like rabbit.' Collecting his prey and arrow, the Ranger headed back to their small campsite.
What met his eyes when he returned made his blood run cold. Legolas was on the floor, probed up on one elbow, apparently unable to breath.
For a second Aragorn could only stared at his friend in shock, before his brain kicked in and he sprinted across the clearing to Legolas' side. Kneeling by his friends shoulder he carefully helped the Elf sit up. Then, leaning his back against a nearby tree, he drew Legoals up between his legs, so the his back was pressed against the mans chest. Aragorn began rubbing circles on Legolas' ribs, pressing down firmly whenever he tried to breath out.
"Relax my friend. Be calm." Aragorn whispered soothingly. "Estel" the Elf gasped.
"You need to relax Legolas. Calm your breathing. Try and breath with me... Feel my breathing and follow it."
For a long time Aragorns actions had no effect on his friend. Then, just as the Ranger was beginning to panic, Legolas' breathing seemed to calm. Relieved, Aragorn continued to rub circles on the Elf's chest until he could breath normally again.
For the second time in two days, Legolas found himself in the arms of his friend. Suddenly, a terrible weariness overcame him. His limbs felt like lead and, unable to gather the energy to move, he lent back onto the man's chest.
"What happened Estel? he questioned quietly.
"The poison is worsening. We will quicken our pace tomorrow" Although he didn't say it out loud, Aragorn was very worried at the speed with which Legolas' was falling victim to the effects of the poison. He had expected it would be much longer before his friend got this bad.
"Ai, I hate this. I feel so weak." Legolas mumbled, drawing Aragorn out of his reflections.
The Ranger chuckled slightly. Trust Legolas to view this as weakness.
"You're not weak my friend, You're ill. A deadly toxin runs in your veins. You can hardly be blamed for displaying some of its symptoms."
The man absentmindedly fiddled with the ends of Legolas' hair, As a very small child, Aragorn had been fascinated by Legolas' hair. It was so different from all the other elves he met. Legolas had indulged the child, allowing Aragorn the play with his hair, and tie it in knots. Now, the simple gesture served to remind both friends of the brotherly love, friendship and trust they had built up over the years.
Aragorn glanced down at the now sleeping Elf. Once again he sent a prayer to the Valar that they would reach the Golden Wood in time.
TBC
Hmm. I wasn't really happy with this chapter, but let me know what you think. More action in the next chapter.
Disclaimer: Tolkein owns it all.
*****
The first week of travel was surprisingly uneventful. The two friends rode hard and made good time. Their pace was slowing however as their horses grew tired.
The sun crept below the horizon on the seventh day and as dusk set in, Aragorn called a stop for the night. Legolas dismounted with less grace than was usual due to the sling Aragorn had insisted he wear. The Elf had protested, but been proved wrong when the wound on his shoulder had started to bleed again.
Earlier in the day Aragorn had caught a pair of rabbits for the evening meal. The Ranger carefully observed his friend as they began to prepare the food. His trained healers eyes could tell something was bothering Legolas. The Elf was uncomfortable or in pain. At first Aragorn had put this down to the reopening of his wound but now he suspected it was something more.
"What's wrong, my friend?" The Ranger questioned softly.
"Nothing" came the tense reply.
"Legolas. I know that's not true. I've been watching you. Please. I may be able to help."
"I'm not a child Estel. I do not need to be kept under constant supervision" Legolas stood abruptly and walked to retrieve something from the pack on his horse. The Elf was getting annoyed; partly because Aragorn was fussing over him and partly because he knew the human was right. He wasn't feeling well.
The rise in Legolas' temper only served to worry Aragorn more. Legolas was generally very easy going. He only got annoyed when something was really bothering him. In all the years Aragorn had know Legolas, he could remember arguing with him very few times, and all those occasions had been him trying to get the stubborn elf to let someone look at his wounds.
"Legolas, please. I care about you. Let me help." Aragorn pleaded.
Legolas signed in defeat. He could tell Aragorn was very worried and, on balance, his pride seemed less important that his friend's distress. He returned to sit with the Ranger.
"My chest feels ...tight" he admitted reluctantly "My breath comes shorter than usual."
Aragorn nodded. "Before we left my Father showed me how to ease some of the symptoms of the toxin. Come here."
Aragorn gestured the elf over and indicated for him to sit in front of him. Reaching his hands round, the Ranger began to rub gentle circles on Legolas' chest.
"Hopefully this should loosen the muscles as they start to paralyze. Legolas, if you feel like this again, you must tell me or it will only get worse."
Legolas nodded, but Aragorn was unsure if he was agreeing to tell him, or if he was agreeing it would get worse. He decided not to push the matter. Aragorn knew it must have cost the proud Elf a lot to admit he felt unwell, and he suspect his friend had only done it for his benefit. Legolas shivered.
"You're cold!" Aragorn said, shocked. He hadn't expected Legolas to begin to feel the elements so quickly. The Elf however didn't respond, and Aragorn was surprised to see that Legolas had fallen asleep in his arms.
Carefully lying the sleeping Elf on the floor, Aragorn sent a prayer to the Valar to watch over his friend.
*****
Aragorn was concerned. The focus of his concern was dismounting a horse across the clearing where they had stopped for the night. Despite his words last night, Aragorn was convinced the stubborn wood elf was still hiding his pain. He knew only too well that, unless pushed Legoals would never reveal...well he called it weakness, the rest of Middle Earth called it injury. Aragorn loved Legolas like a brother and if he was any less stubborn he wouldn't be Legolas any more. But still, it made healing him an uphill struggle.
Sighing, the Ranger remembered back to an incident a few years ago where Legolas had managed to hide a broken ankle from him for over a day. True Aragorn had been unconscious for most of that time be even so... Not, Aragorn reluctantly admitted to himself, that he could talk. Legolas often told him he was the stubbornest human he had ever met. On the other hand, he was one of the only humans his friend had ever met.
Mentally shaking himself out of his musings, Aragorn looked up to see Legolas' blue eyes watching him.
"Head in the clouds Estel?" the Elf teased. "Not a very good attitude for a ranger to take."
Aragorn merely glared at him. What could he say? It wasn't a very good attitude for a ranger to take. Quickly deciding to change the subject he said "Well, I believe I shall go hunting tonight."
"But you went yesterday" Legolas quickly objected.
"Yes, and you insisted those rabbits I caught were a fluke. I need to prove you wrong."
"If you say so. I'll just wait here then, shall I? And make a stew if, for any reason you should come back empty handed."
For the second time in as many minutes Aragorn glared at his elven friend. He couldn't help smiling though , when Legolas grinned at him to show he had only been joking. He picked up his bow and arrows and set of to hunt some food.
In truth, Aragorn was glad that Legolas was in a better mood this evening, even if he was the reason for the Elf's jokes. ever since their journey had begun, Legolas seemed somewhat... melancholy. The reason for this Aragorn was finding hard to pinpoint. Of course, the chance of dying must be weighing on Legolas' mind, but Aragorn thought there was more to it than this. He suspected it was the way in which the poison would take his body; gradually taking everything that made Legolas an elf.
As Aragorn let his mind wander, his Ranger's eyes swept over the landscape. He caught sight of movement in the undergrowth, quickly drew his bow and shot. The human went to retrieve his catch; a rabbit. 'We had rabbit last night' he thought. 'Ah well, I like rabbit.' Collecting his prey and arrow, the Ranger headed back to their small campsite.
What met his eyes when he returned made his blood run cold. Legolas was on the floor, probed up on one elbow, apparently unable to breath.
For a second Aragorn could only stared at his friend in shock, before his brain kicked in and he sprinted across the clearing to Legolas' side. Kneeling by his friends shoulder he carefully helped the Elf sit up. Then, leaning his back against a nearby tree, he drew Legoals up between his legs, so the his back was pressed against the mans chest. Aragorn began rubbing circles on Legolas' ribs, pressing down firmly whenever he tried to breath out.
"Relax my friend. Be calm." Aragorn whispered soothingly. "Estel" the Elf gasped.
"You need to relax Legolas. Calm your breathing. Try and breath with me... Feel my breathing and follow it."
For a long time Aragorns actions had no effect on his friend. Then, just as the Ranger was beginning to panic, Legolas' breathing seemed to calm. Relieved, Aragorn continued to rub circles on the Elf's chest until he could breath normally again.
For the second time in two days, Legolas found himself in the arms of his friend. Suddenly, a terrible weariness overcame him. His limbs felt like lead and, unable to gather the energy to move, he lent back onto the man's chest.
"What happened Estel? he questioned quietly.
"The poison is worsening. We will quicken our pace tomorrow" Although he didn't say it out loud, Aragorn was very worried at the speed with which Legolas' was falling victim to the effects of the poison. He had expected it would be much longer before his friend got this bad.
"Ai, I hate this. I feel so weak." Legolas mumbled, drawing Aragorn out of his reflections.
The Ranger chuckled slightly. Trust Legolas to view this as weakness.
"You're not weak my friend, You're ill. A deadly toxin runs in your veins. You can hardly be blamed for displaying some of its symptoms."
The man absentmindedly fiddled with the ends of Legolas' hair, As a very small child, Aragorn had been fascinated by Legolas' hair. It was so different from all the other elves he met. Legolas had indulged the child, allowing Aragorn the play with his hair, and tie it in knots. Now, the simple gesture served to remind both friends of the brotherly love, friendship and trust they had built up over the years.
Aragorn glanced down at the now sleeping Elf. Once again he sent a prayer to the Valar that they would reach the Golden Wood in time.
TBC
Hmm. I wasn't really happy with this chapter, but let me know what you think. More action in the next chapter.