Disclaimer: Tolkien owns all the characters and places.
A couple of views prompted me to look back at he first 5 chapters and I would like to apologize for all the grammatical and spelling errors I made. Hopefully, they're not too bad. Also, a slight change in format, with elven translations now at the end. Do people prefer this, or should I translate as I go?
*********
Aragorn moodily prodded the wound on his leg. Although it still pained his, a combination of healing herbs and Numenor blood had lead to a rapid recovery. He thanked the Valar that he had been strong enough to carry Legolas up to the room in the inn where they now lay.
On the way to the human settlement, Aragorn had been unable to prevent Legolas falling into unconsciousness. The Ranger had had to carry the stricken Elf into the inn and up the stairs, all the time ignoring the way his leg threatened to give out. That had been several hours earlier and now Legolas still lay, eyes closed, as still as death on the bed where Aragorn had put him. The Elf hadn't moved or stirred since they arrived and Aragorn found himself watching the gentle rise and fall of his friend's chest to reassure him that Legolas still lived.
Dusk was rapidly approaching and the sky darkened. Legolas' natural glow shone through the room, casting eerie shadows on the wall.
Just as Aragorn was beginning to seriously wonder if his friend would ever wake, he Elf stirred and his eyes fluttered open.
"Estel?" he whispered softly.
"I am here mellon nin. Take it easy."
Legolas blinked slowly and struggled to pull himself into a sitting position.
"Lay still Legolas" Aragorn instructed gently.
"Nay Estel. I fell surprisingly well actually. Better than I have felt for a few days now."
Aragorn smirked "It's probably all the sleep you've been getting."
"That may be it." Legolas agreed good-naturedly.
Aragorn looked closely at his friend. "Can you breathe easily Legolas?" he asked.
Legolas considered this for a minute. "My chest does feel tight but it is not too bad. Perhaps I am growing accustomed to it."
Again Aragorn smirked. Wordlessly he sat behind the now upright Elf and began rubbing soft circles across his ribs. Legolas felt the muscles surrounding his lungs loosen.
"Hannon le, Estel."
Aragorn nodded.
"How is your leg?" Legolas queried.
"Healing. No infection, thank the Valar."
Legolas looked at him, disbelief shining in his eyes.
"Legolas. I promise, I'm fine."
The Elf, still not sure whether to believe him or not, looked vaguely around the room.
"Estel?"he said suddenly. "How did we get here?"
Aragorn grinned. "What can you remember?"
Legolas frowned in thought. "I can remember everything going black, and then your voice calling me to wake. Then we got on your horse... that's all."
"You lost consciousness again after that. By then we actually weren't that far from the town. I stopped at the first inn we came across, rented a room and carried you up here. I checked over all your injuries but you refused to wake. The break to your wrist is a clean one and should mend well if you keep it immobile for a few days."
'Probably more than a few days.'Aragorn thought to himself. 'I am not yet sure how far your elven healing has been effected by the poison.'
Legolas wasn't listening. He had become distracted by one of the first things Aragorn had said. "You carried me up here?" he cried. "That was very stupid Estel. You could have reopened your wound."
"Well I couldn't very well leave you on my horse now could I?"
Legolas scowled. "Even so..."
The two sat in silence for a while before Legolas said "I'm hungry. Can we get something to eat?"
"Dinner should be being served about now. Can you get downstairs?"
"Of course!" Legolas scoffed. "I feel fine. The question is, can you get downstairs?"
"Yes, I can." Aragorn said triumphantly. "I have this."
He reached down and retrieved a wooden walking stick from the floor.
"Where did you get that?"Legolas asked astonished. "And why do you need it? I thought you said your leg was healing."
"The land lady gave it to me. She's very... well you'll meet her soon enough. I would have refused but she said I wouldn't be allowed to stay here unless I looked after myself." he paused thoughtfully "And you."
"I don't need looking after." Legolas exclaimed.
"No, I know you don't. Look you'll understand when you meet her. Come on"
With that Aragorn carefully helped Legolas to his feet. The Elf waved off his assistance and crossed to the door. Aragorn followed, leaning his weight on the walking stick, although he did seem capable of supporting himself.
*****
"Ah, you're up then." An enormous women with flame red hair addressed Legolas. "You still look a bit peaky though. And you've hurt your arm, poor dear. Are elves naturally that pale? I haven't met many. It doesn't look healthy though. And what are you doing"she boomed, now addressing Aragorn. "Walking around on an injured leg! You men just don't know how to look after yourselves. Come on now, both of you sit down in the warm." She ushered then over to a table by the fire. "Now. What can I get you. You'll be wanting something hot, I'll bet. Travellers usually do. Make yourselves at home and I'll see what I can do."
For a moment he friends stood there, slightly stunned by the torrent of words, before taking their seats.
"That was Enid, the land lady." Aragorn murmured as they made themselves comfortable.
"Estel." Legolas whispered excitedly. "Her hair was red. How did she do that?"
Aragorn chuckled. Elves did not have red hair and Legolas had not met enough humans to come across the condition before.
"I suspect she was born like that Legolas. It's a hair colour known as ginger among humans."
Legolas grinned gleefully. "It's so bright. And very beautiful." he informed the Ranger.
Aragorn could not help smiling along with his friend. Although Legolas was many centuries older than him, he was still young amongst the First Born. Usually, Legolas seemed aged beyond his years, as he had spent most of his life fighting the spreading darkness in Middle Earth. But it was at times like this that Aragorn was reminded of how truly young Legolas was. His innocent fascination to the point of naivety with things he had never encountered before never failed to surprise and amuse his friend. It had been the same when Legolas had discovered Aragorn could grow hair on his face.
"Here you go. Eat it all up now. You look like you need it. I don't want anything left when I come back. As you've hurt your arm I've cut it all up for you look. So you shouldn't have any problems." Here Aragorn smirked and Legolas scowled at him. "Now, anything else? Oh! I forgot the drinks. Silly me. Still, I'm sure you can manage without for a minute. Hold on, I'll get them now."
Enid had reappeared and place two plates of food before the weary travellers.
Legolas watched her go. Enid was, without doubt, the most talkative person the Elf had ever come across. She seemed to be able to hold a conversation with no input from anyone else. Legolas wondered if it was a skill all human women had. Turning to his meal, he began to vaguely prod the contents on the plate.
"Estel" He hissed. "What is it?"
Aragorn, who had also been inspecting the meal, shrugged helplessly.
"I don't know mellon nin. There are a few familiar shapes but it all seems so gray. I've never seem gray food before."
"Come on the, what's the matter with you. Eat up. You're both so skinny and need feeding up. You wont leave this room until it's all gone." With this, Enid vanished again, leaving behind two foaming mugs of ale.
"Well, I'm sure it can't do us any harm." Aragorn said, bravely talking a bite.
"What does it taste like?" Legolas asked.
Aragorn chewed thoughtfully.
"Gray"
"Oh"
Legolas began to eat. The cut he had received from the warg on his unbroken arm was fortunately not too bad, so he was able to eat with relative ease. The meal, he discovered, did indeed taste gray.
"Jolly good." Enid boomed, reappearing as they finished. "Now, I suggest you get some sleep. You both look exhausted. I bet you haven't slept a full night for weeks. Off you go then, good night."
Legolas and Aragorn compiled, too stunned at being ordered to bed like children to argue. Wearily, they made their way back upstairs.
*****
Mellon nin-My friend.
Hannon le-Thank you.
*****
OK, hands up everyone who though I was going to have Legolas and Aragorn beaten to a bloody pulp by the men in his town lol. Any way hoped you enjoyed it. Please review with suggestions, comments etc.
A couple of views prompted me to look back at he first 5 chapters and I would like to apologize for all the grammatical and spelling errors I made. Hopefully, they're not too bad. Also, a slight change in format, with elven translations now at the end. Do people prefer this, or should I translate as I go?
*********
Aragorn moodily prodded the wound on his leg. Although it still pained his, a combination of healing herbs and Numenor blood had lead to a rapid recovery. He thanked the Valar that he had been strong enough to carry Legolas up to the room in the inn where they now lay.
On the way to the human settlement, Aragorn had been unable to prevent Legolas falling into unconsciousness. The Ranger had had to carry the stricken Elf into the inn and up the stairs, all the time ignoring the way his leg threatened to give out. That had been several hours earlier and now Legolas still lay, eyes closed, as still as death on the bed where Aragorn had put him. The Elf hadn't moved or stirred since they arrived and Aragorn found himself watching the gentle rise and fall of his friend's chest to reassure him that Legolas still lived.
Dusk was rapidly approaching and the sky darkened. Legolas' natural glow shone through the room, casting eerie shadows on the wall.
Just as Aragorn was beginning to seriously wonder if his friend would ever wake, he Elf stirred and his eyes fluttered open.
"Estel?" he whispered softly.
"I am here mellon nin. Take it easy."
Legolas blinked slowly and struggled to pull himself into a sitting position.
"Lay still Legolas" Aragorn instructed gently.
"Nay Estel. I fell surprisingly well actually. Better than I have felt for a few days now."
Aragorn smirked "It's probably all the sleep you've been getting."
"That may be it." Legolas agreed good-naturedly.
Aragorn looked closely at his friend. "Can you breathe easily Legolas?" he asked.
Legolas considered this for a minute. "My chest does feel tight but it is not too bad. Perhaps I am growing accustomed to it."
Again Aragorn smirked. Wordlessly he sat behind the now upright Elf and began rubbing soft circles across his ribs. Legolas felt the muscles surrounding his lungs loosen.
"Hannon le, Estel."
Aragorn nodded.
"How is your leg?" Legolas queried.
"Healing. No infection, thank the Valar."
Legolas looked at him, disbelief shining in his eyes.
"Legolas. I promise, I'm fine."
The Elf, still not sure whether to believe him or not, looked vaguely around the room.
"Estel?"he said suddenly. "How did we get here?"
Aragorn grinned. "What can you remember?"
Legolas frowned in thought. "I can remember everything going black, and then your voice calling me to wake. Then we got on your horse... that's all."
"You lost consciousness again after that. By then we actually weren't that far from the town. I stopped at the first inn we came across, rented a room and carried you up here. I checked over all your injuries but you refused to wake. The break to your wrist is a clean one and should mend well if you keep it immobile for a few days."
'Probably more than a few days.'Aragorn thought to himself. 'I am not yet sure how far your elven healing has been effected by the poison.'
Legolas wasn't listening. He had become distracted by one of the first things Aragorn had said. "You carried me up here?" he cried. "That was very stupid Estel. You could have reopened your wound."
"Well I couldn't very well leave you on my horse now could I?"
Legolas scowled. "Even so..."
The two sat in silence for a while before Legolas said "I'm hungry. Can we get something to eat?"
"Dinner should be being served about now. Can you get downstairs?"
"Of course!" Legolas scoffed. "I feel fine. The question is, can you get downstairs?"
"Yes, I can." Aragorn said triumphantly. "I have this."
He reached down and retrieved a wooden walking stick from the floor.
"Where did you get that?"Legolas asked astonished. "And why do you need it? I thought you said your leg was healing."
"The land lady gave it to me. She's very... well you'll meet her soon enough. I would have refused but she said I wouldn't be allowed to stay here unless I looked after myself." he paused thoughtfully "And you."
"I don't need looking after." Legolas exclaimed.
"No, I know you don't. Look you'll understand when you meet her. Come on"
With that Aragorn carefully helped Legolas to his feet. The Elf waved off his assistance and crossed to the door. Aragorn followed, leaning his weight on the walking stick, although he did seem capable of supporting himself.
*****
"Ah, you're up then." An enormous women with flame red hair addressed Legolas. "You still look a bit peaky though. And you've hurt your arm, poor dear. Are elves naturally that pale? I haven't met many. It doesn't look healthy though. And what are you doing"she boomed, now addressing Aragorn. "Walking around on an injured leg! You men just don't know how to look after yourselves. Come on now, both of you sit down in the warm." She ushered then over to a table by the fire. "Now. What can I get you. You'll be wanting something hot, I'll bet. Travellers usually do. Make yourselves at home and I'll see what I can do."
For a moment he friends stood there, slightly stunned by the torrent of words, before taking their seats.
"That was Enid, the land lady." Aragorn murmured as they made themselves comfortable.
"Estel." Legolas whispered excitedly. "Her hair was red. How did she do that?"
Aragorn chuckled. Elves did not have red hair and Legolas had not met enough humans to come across the condition before.
"I suspect she was born like that Legolas. It's a hair colour known as ginger among humans."
Legolas grinned gleefully. "It's so bright. And very beautiful." he informed the Ranger.
Aragorn could not help smiling along with his friend. Although Legolas was many centuries older than him, he was still young amongst the First Born. Usually, Legolas seemed aged beyond his years, as he had spent most of his life fighting the spreading darkness in Middle Earth. But it was at times like this that Aragorn was reminded of how truly young Legolas was. His innocent fascination to the point of naivety with things he had never encountered before never failed to surprise and amuse his friend. It had been the same when Legolas had discovered Aragorn could grow hair on his face.
"Here you go. Eat it all up now. You look like you need it. I don't want anything left when I come back. As you've hurt your arm I've cut it all up for you look. So you shouldn't have any problems." Here Aragorn smirked and Legolas scowled at him. "Now, anything else? Oh! I forgot the drinks. Silly me. Still, I'm sure you can manage without for a minute. Hold on, I'll get them now."
Enid had reappeared and place two plates of food before the weary travellers.
Legolas watched her go. Enid was, without doubt, the most talkative person the Elf had ever come across. She seemed to be able to hold a conversation with no input from anyone else. Legolas wondered if it was a skill all human women had. Turning to his meal, he began to vaguely prod the contents on the plate.
"Estel" He hissed. "What is it?"
Aragorn, who had also been inspecting the meal, shrugged helplessly.
"I don't know mellon nin. There are a few familiar shapes but it all seems so gray. I've never seem gray food before."
"Come on the, what's the matter with you. Eat up. You're both so skinny and need feeding up. You wont leave this room until it's all gone." With this, Enid vanished again, leaving behind two foaming mugs of ale.
"Well, I'm sure it can't do us any harm." Aragorn said, bravely talking a bite.
"What does it taste like?" Legolas asked.
Aragorn chewed thoughtfully.
"Gray"
"Oh"
Legolas began to eat. The cut he had received from the warg on his unbroken arm was fortunately not too bad, so he was able to eat with relative ease. The meal, he discovered, did indeed taste gray.
"Jolly good." Enid boomed, reappearing as they finished. "Now, I suggest you get some sleep. You both look exhausted. I bet you haven't slept a full night for weeks. Off you go then, good night."
Legolas and Aragorn compiled, too stunned at being ordered to bed like children to argue. Wearily, they made their way back upstairs.
*****
Mellon nin-My friend.
Hannon le-Thank you.
*****
OK, hands up everyone who though I was going to have Legolas and Aragorn beaten to a bloody pulp by the men in his town lol. Any way hoped you enjoyed it. Please review with suggestions, comments etc.