Disclaimer:Tolkein owns it all.
Thanks for all the reviews. I really appreciate them. Sorry this took so long to post.
*****
Legolas opened his eyes and blinked a few times in an effort to get them to focus. It was dark. Ignoring the pounding in his head, the Elf forced him self upright.
"You're up!" Aragorn's voice came, surprised.
"So are you" the Elf replied. "Have you slept at all?"
Aragorn shook his head "Someone had to keep watch."
"Ai Estel. Get some sleep. I will keep watch now."
"No. You're not well and you're clearly exhausted. Go back to sleep."Aragorn instructed gently.
"You are injured, my friend. And you didn't sleep last night. I am not tired anyway." Aragon was about to continuing arguing when he realized how tired he was. The Ranger hadn't slept the night before and the battle had worn him out. Looking at Legolas again he saw that the Elf did really look better so, reluctantly he nodded and lay down to get some sleep. Legolas smile as his friends eyes drifted shut almost immediately. He shifted closer to his friend and began to softly sing an elvish lullaby that he had sung to Aragorn when he was very young. Determinedly forcing down his own weariness, Legolas sat back and watched the stars.
*****
Aragorn woke to the smell of wood burning, He looked blearily at the sun and, after some deliberation, decided it was about noon. Shaking his head to dislodge the last of his weariness, Aragorn's eyes searched for his elven friend. Legolas was stoking the fire, completely oblivious to the fact that the Man had now awoken. Aragorn took the opportunity to observe his friend unobtrusively.
Legolas had not changed out for his tunic from the night before, the blood stains on his arms were both visible. When Aragorn looked closely, he saw that there was more blood there than he remembered from last night. The Ranger wondered if Legolas' shoulder had started to bleed again. This suspicion was reinforced by the fact that Legolas had put his arm back in the sling, even though he hated it.
'Ai, he has lost so much blood' Aragorn though 'Even elves have their limits and I fear my friend is rapidly approaching his.' Apart from the blood, Legolas looked much paler than the last time Aragorn had seen him, and his hand shook slightly as he tended the fire. All in all, Legolas looked utterly exhausted.
Aragorn pulled himself into a sitting position.
"Good morning." Legolas called out when he saw his friend was awake.
"It's more like afternoon! Why did you let me sleep so long? And why have you started a fire?" It was the middle of the day, after all.
"You needed the sleep Aragorn. And I have started a fire because we will need to rest here for a day. You are in no condition to travel." Legolas told him.
"Legolas, we cannot afford to loose a day. I am fine, we must move on!"
"Really?" The Elf asked, amused. "Come here Estel."
Aragorn stared. There was no way his leg would carry him across to where Legolas was sitting, and they both knew it. Not to be defeated however, Aragorn got to his feet, only to fall straight back down. Shaking his head at his friends stubbornness, Legolas moved to help the Man up, and they both moved across to the fire.
"OK fine." Aragorn said, annoyed. "But we really cannot afford to stop."
"One day will make no difference, and I would never forgive myself if something else happened to you"
This comment reminded Aragorn of their conversation the night before and he said softly "What happened to me last night wasn't your fault mellon nin." (My friend)
Legolas looked away. "Yes it was. I should have been able to help you. I should have been there for you."
"Legolas, you have always been there for me. More than any other person in my life. But you cannot always protect me. Some things I have to do for myself."
"Aye, I know " Legolas said sadly. Then he smiled slightly. "But whatever you have to face, I will always watch your back."
Aragorn grinned "Good, because I have two brothers and there's no way I can watch them both at the same time."
Legolas smiled.
"I have an idea." Aragorn said. "There is a human settlement an hours ride from here. We could go there and spend the night in an inn. That way we can both get some sleep."
Legolas considered this briefly, before nodding.
"Aye, it would be a good idea."
Aragorn stared at his friend.
"Legolas, why haven't you gotten changed? Your tunic is covered in blood." Aragorn asked curiously. Usually the Elf was very clean.
"You should eat something before we leave mellon nin." Legolas replied, handing the Ranger some lembas bread.
"Don't' try and change the subject Legolas. Why haven't you got changed?"
"I...I can't"Legolas said, almost whispering. "My arm feels numb. I can hardly move it."
Aragorn was shocked, and very worried. His Father hadn't said anything about this. He though about it before saying "The poison alone shouldn't do this. Perhaps it's because you've lost so much blood. I guess you will regain the feeling in your arm when your body replaces the blood you have lost."
Legolas nodded. "I think you're right. I can already move my fingers again." Legolas decided not to mention how badly it hurt him to do so. He didn't want to worry his friend further.
*****
The two friend quickly cleared their camp site and started riding for the day. They rode along in silence, both alert for any trouble that they could come across.
"I think we're nearly there Legolas." Aragorn told his friend. He was worried when the Elf didn't reply. "Legolas?"
Legolas was vaguely aware that someone was calling his name, but it seemed to be coming from a long way off. He shook his head trying to clear his blurred vision and regretted it immediately as everything tilted out of balance. Legolas struggled to open his mouth to tell Aragorn he was fine, but couldn't get the words out before his world went black.
"LEGOLAS!" Aragorn was too far away to catch his friend as he fell from his horse, landing with a sickening thump.
Aragorn dismounted from his horse and, forcing his leg to carry him, hurried to his friends side. He removed Legolas bow and quiver from his back and gently turned his friend over.
There was blood running down Legolas' face, coming from a deep cut in his temple. Aragorn tore off the edge of his cloak and pressed it down onto the cut. After a while the bleeding began to slow and Aragorn removed his hand. Calling his horse over, the Ranger removed his healing supplies from his pack. He pulled out some bandages and wrapped one around Legolas' head.
"Legolas...Legolas?" Aragorn called softly "Wake up mellon nin. Open your eyes."
Legolas stirred and his eyes fluttered open. He seemed dazed and his pupils were dilated at different sizes. This meant he probably had a concussion.
"What happened?" he whispered, so softly that Aragorn had to strain to here it.
"You collapsed and fell off your horse. Are you hurt anywhere?"
Legolas shut his eyes briefly before replying "My arm."
"This one?" Aragorn questioned, lightly touching the arm with the poisoned wound. Legolas nodded.
Aragorn was worried at how readily Legolas admitted he was hurt. Usually the Elf was too proud it admit injury but right now seemed too disorientated to deny it. The Ranger decided not to say anything.
Gently taking the Elfs arm, Aragorn began to inspect it. He was dismayed to find that the wrist was broken. The Ranger quickly weighed up his options. If Legolas had a concussion, he couldn't be put to sleep while Aragorn set the bone, or he might never wake up again. On the other had, Aragorn had set bones for his friend when he was awake before. It was nothing the Elf couldn't handle. Without a word he grasped his hands above and below the break and, with a skilled movement, twisted the bone back into place.
Legolas gasped. He turned pain-filled eyes onto Aragorn's face.
"I'm sorry my friend." Aragorn said as he bandaged the arm, "I had no choice."
Legolas nodded in understanding and whispered "Hannon le" (Thank you)
Aragorn gently lifted Legolas onto his horse, to a worrying lack of complaints. He mounted behind the Elf and rode off towards the human settlement.
TBC
If you liked it, hated it or have any suggestions, please review.
Thanks for all the reviews. I really appreciate them. Sorry this took so long to post.
*****
Legolas opened his eyes and blinked a few times in an effort to get them to focus. It was dark. Ignoring the pounding in his head, the Elf forced him self upright.
"You're up!" Aragorn's voice came, surprised.
"So are you" the Elf replied. "Have you slept at all?"
Aragorn shook his head "Someone had to keep watch."
"Ai Estel. Get some sleep. I will keep watch now."
"No. You're not well and you're clearly exhausted. Go back to sleep."Aragorn instructed gently.
"You are injured, my friend. And you didn't sleep last night. I am not tired anyway." Aragon was about to continuing arguing when he realized how tired he was. The Ranger hadn't slept the night before and the battle had worn him out. Looking at Legolas again he saw that the Elf did really look better so, reluctantly he nodded and lay down to get some sleep. Legolas smile as his friends eyes drifted shut almost immediately. He shifted closer to his friend and began to softly sing an elvish lullaby that he had sung to Aragorn when he was very young. Determinedly forcing down his own weariness, Legolas sat back and watched the stars.
*****
Aragorn woke to the smell of wood burning, He looked blearily at the sun and, after some deliberation, decided it was about noon. Shaking his head to dislodge the last of his weariness, Aragorn's eyes searched for his elven friend. Legolas was stoking the fire, completely oblivious to the fact that the Man had now awoken. Aragorn took the opportunity to observe his friend unobtrusively.
Legolas had not changed out for his tunic from the night before, the blood stains on his arms were both visible. When Aragorn looked closely, he saw that there was more blood there than he remembered from last night. The Ranger wondered if Legolas' shoulder had started to bleed again. This suspicion was reinforced by the fact that Legolas had put his arm back in the sling, even though he hated it.
'Ai, he has lost so much blood' Aragorn though 'Even elves have their limits and I fear my friend is rapidly approaching his.' Apart from the blood, Legolas looked much paler than the last time Aragorn had seen him, and his hand shook slightly as he tended the fire. All in all, Legolas looked utterly exhausted.
Aragorn pulled himself into a sitting position.
"Good morning." Legolas called out when he saw his friend was awake.
"It's more like afternoon! Why did you let me sleep so long? And why have you started a fire?" It was the middle of the day, after all.
"You needed the sleep Aragorn. And I have started a fire because we will need to rest here for a day. You are in no condition to travel." Legolas told him.
"Legolas, we cannot afford to loose a day. I am fine, we must move on!"
"Really?" The Elf asked, amused. "Come here Estel."
Aragorn stared. There was no way his leg would carry him across to where Legolas was sitting, and they both knew it. Not to be defeated however, Aragorn got to his feet, only to fall straight back down. Shaking his head at his friends stubbornness, Legolas moved to help the Man up, and they both moved across to the fire.
"OK fine." Aragorn said, annoyed. "But we really cannot afford to stop."
"One day will make no difference, and I would never forgive myself if something else happened to you"
This comment reminded Aragorn of their conversation the night before and he said softly "What happened to me last night wasn't your fault mellon nin." (My friend)
Legolas looked away. "Yes it was. I should have been able to help you. I should have been there for you."
"Legolas, you have always been there for me. More than any other person in my life. But you cannot always protect me. Some things I have to do for myself."
"Aye, I know " Legolas said sadly. Then he smiled slightly. "But whatever you have to face, I will always watch your back."
Aragorn grinned "Good, because I have two brothers and there's no way I can watch them both at the same time."
Legolas smiled.
"I have an idea." Aragorn said. "There is a human settlement an hours ride from here. We could go there and spend the night in an inn. That way we can both get some sleep."
Legolas considered this briefly, before nodding.
"Aye, it would be a good idea."
Aragorn stared at his friend.
"Legolas, why haven't you gotten changed? Your tunic is covered in blood." Aragorn asked curiously. Usually the Elf was very clean.
"You should eat something before we leave mellon nin." Legolas replied, handing the Ranger some lembas bread.
"Don't' try and change the subject Legolas. Why haven't you got changed?"
"I...I can't"Legolas said, almost whispering. "My arm feels numb. I can hardly move it."
Aragorn was shocked, and very worried. His Father hadn't said anything about this. He though about it before saying "The poison alone shouldn't do this. Perhaps it's because you've lost so much blood. I guess you will regain the feeling in your arm when your body replaces the blood you have lost."
Legolas nodded. "I think you're right. I can already move my fingers again." Legolas decided not to mention how badly it hurt him to do so. He didn't want to worry his friend further.
*****
The two friend quickly cleared their camp site and started riding for the day. They rode along in silence, both alert for any trouble that they could come across.
"I think we're nearly there Legolas." Aragorn told his friend. He was worried when the Elf didn't reply. "Legolas?"
Legolas was vaguely aware that someone was calling his name, but it seemed to be coming from a long way off. He shook his head trying to clear his blurred vision and regretted it immediately as everything tilted out of balance. Legolas struggled to open his mouth to tell Aragorn he was fine, but couldn't get the words out before his world went black.
"LEGOLAS!" Aragorn was too far away to catch his friend as he fell from his horse, landing with a sickening thump.
Aragorn dismounted from his horse and, forcing his leg to carry him, hurried to his friends side. He removed Legolas bow and quiver from his back and gently turned his friend over.
There was blood running down Legolas' face, coming from a deep cut in his temple. Aragorn tore off the edge of his cloak and pressed it down onto the cut. After a while the bleeding began to slow and Aragorn removed his hand. Calling his horse over, the Ranger removed his healing supplies from his pack. He pulled out some bandages and wrapped one around Legolas' head.
"Legolas...Legolas?" Aragorn called softly "Wake up mellon nin. Open your eyes."
Legolas stirred and his eyes fluttered open. He seemed dazed and his pupils were dilated at different sizes. This meant he probably had a concussion.
"What happened?" he whispered, so softly that Aragorn had to strain to here it.
"You collapsed and fell off your horse. Are you hurt anywhere?"
Legolas shut his eyes briefly before replying "My arm."
"This one?" Aragorn questioned, lightly touching the arm with the poisoned wound. Legolas nodded.
Aragorn was worried at how readily Legolas admitted he was hurt. Usually the Elf was too proud it admit injury but right now seemed too disorientated to deny it. The Ranger decided not to say anything.
Gently taking the Elfs arm, Aragorn began to inspect it. He was dismayed to find that the wrist was broken. The Ranger quickly weighed up his options. If Legolas had a concussion, he couldn't be put to sleep while Aragorn set the bone, or he might never wake up again. On the other had, Aragorn had set bones for his friend when he was awake before. It was nothing the Elf couldn't handle. Without a word he grasped his hands above and below the break and, with a skilled movement, twisted the bone back into place.
Legolas gasped. He turned pain-filled eyes onto Aragorn's face.
"I'm sorry my friend." Aragorn said as he bandaged the arm, "I had no choice."
Legolas nodded in understanding and whispered "Hannon le" (Thank you)
Aragorn gently lifted Legolas onto his horse, to a worrying lack of complaints. He mounted behind the Elf and rode off towards the human settlement.
TBC
If you liked it, hated it or have any suggestions, please review.