Hi!
One more chapter before I´m off until Monday! I swear I wanted to bring them home at the end of this one, but it was not to be - poor guys, they have to hang on a bit longer...
Review responses (Thank you!!!)
Deana: Here it is - and real soon, too!
Ertia: Thanks - and more right now ;-)
NightShadow131: Thank you! You´ll find out about the song - and it´s not good, I´m afraid (goes and hides under desk)
Now, enjoy and review, please!
Happy Easter to all of you!
Alinah
Rating: PG 13
Disclaimer: Not mine
The curse of friendship
Legolas stared at his hands as he walked, utterly convinced that his feet would not lead him astray even though he left them completely unattended. He could see the blood pulsing beneath the light skin. He could feel the sweet night air travel into his lungs with each breath he took. And the song still urged him on, making his heart race in anticipation of what he would find at the end of the trail he followed.
The voices were more distinctive now, each singing in a slightly different pace and tone, but he was convinced that they all belonged to one mind. There were hundreds, maybe even more, and their blending diversity made him slightly dizzy even as it heightened his senses. The was a flowing quality to their tune, a rushing that was so urgent that it made his heart ache in the attempt to keep up.
Suddenly, the clean scent of water made him lift his head. Before him, a lake lay sparkling in the starlight. The glittering spots that travelled across its surface with every ripple were almost too bright to bear and he squinted his eyes, trying not close them all the way. There was a whole rainbow caught in every single drop of water. A universe of light and color . He stepped closer and the song changed yet again. It´s humming transformed into words, swaying at first. The sounds were overlapping, tumbling over each other in their haste to reach him, and he raised his hands, silently pleading them to slow down.
They did so, enough at least for the words to untangle and resolve into a clear Sindarin chant that reached for his heart. "Telo ven, telo ven..." //Come to us, come to us...// The joined voice was sweet to behold in its beckoning, but now that it had revealed itself there was also something else beneath it, a harsh want that broke through the trance Legolas had been lured into. Deep inside resistance began to grow, hesitantly at first, while he was walking closer to the lake´s surface that started to swirl and heave in the windless night.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Aragorn had grabbed his sword and left everything else behind, including the horses. He was surprised that Legolas´ steed obeyed and suspected that the elf himself must have ordered it to remain, because it would never have listened to the human in its clear agitation. The ranger knew that no matter how much he wished for a horse´s speed now, he would never be able to read the elf´s tracks from horseback. It was hard enough with his nose almost on the ground, yet he seemed to sense more than actually see where his friend had walked.
With no time to doubt his instincts, he hastened on as fast as he could, hoping that whatever had caused Legolas to abandon him had not yet killed the elf. His eyes glued to the grass before him, noting even the slightest bent leaf, he wondered whether their miraculous escape from the wargs had used up whatever grace the Valar had been willing to grant. His despair was only slightly lifted by the clear light of the stars above him that seemed to shine more brightly than ever before, enabling him to follow the scattered trace his friend had left. He could only pray that this small favour would be enough.
He had covered a good amount of ground already when a sickly smell assaulted his nose. Aragorn slowed for a moment, looking up for the first time since he had left their camp. To his surprise, he could see water in the distance. He could not remember there being a lake, but then again, it seemed to be small and was well beside the usual route he took through this area. Squinting slightly, he thought he saw a shape hovering close to the shore. Without even allowing his head to catch of with his feet, he began to run.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Legolas fought to free himself of the grip that pulled him closer to the water. The song that had seemed so sweet and soothing had turned into a deafening scream that assaulted his senses instead of caressing them. His confusion grew when he smelled sweet clean water one second and rotten flesh the other, the glittering surface before him wavering between night-blue and the deathly white of rancid milk.
He had regained enough control to realize that he was being deceived by whatever creature lived here and tried to concentrate on the glimpses he got of the sickly pool that he guessed was the reality of what he saw. To his horror, the brief moments of clarity showed him a ghastly array of bones drifting lazily in the unnatural current. He could see a skull floating past, its empty sockets imploring him to fight, and its sight finally gave him the strength to firmly plant his feet into the ground, not moving another step.
Unfortunately, he was close already - too close. He could feel the water greedily lapping at his feet and as his vision cleared, shoving away the pretence of beauty that had veiled his senses, he could see a shape moving beneath the surface. He took a shuddering breath, desperately trying to convince his body to turn and run, but it would not obey him.
He tried to prepare for whatever would attack him, half expecting a tentacle to shoot out and grab him, but none the like happened. Instead, he could feel the screech die in his ears, the grip on his body lessen. The paralysis loosened, allowing him to step away from the offending pool, and he did so, attempting not to breathe in too deeply. A movement at the edge of his vision caught his attention and he turned, seeing Aragorn sprint across the grass towards him, sword in hand.
The sight of his friend rushing to his aid further reassured him and he felt a wave of relief wash over him. He could feel himself relax even more, feel his mental guard being lowered. It was in exactly this moment that he realized his mistake, understood the weakness that had lead him into this trap in the first place, but it was too late.
The song was there again, not sneaking into his relieved mind as it had before but crushing through his defences with a force that robbed him of his senses, and he toppled over backwards, falling into the pool and disappearing under its milky surface.
"No!" Aragorn could hear his own scream echo over the nightly landscape, his feelings reeling. He had seen Legolas hesitate and even turn at the water´s edge, facing him, but then the elf´s eyes had suddenly widened before they had rolled up into his head and he fell into the deathly water. The ranger willed his legs to go faster, throwing aside the sword as he ran. His weapon was of no use here.
He reached to lake mere moments after the elf had vanished from sight but he found its surface completely still and completely opaque, not a ripple to be found. The stench oozed up into his nostrils, making him gag, but he did not hesitate one more moment. The place where Legolas had stood had firmly implanted itself into his mind and he entered the water from the same spot, stepping in carefully.
He had been utterly unable to judge the water´s depth and was taken slightly aback when he only sank in to just below the shoulders. His feet slipped across smooth, stick-like objects that threatened to make him stumble, but he caught his balance. The liquid around him felt less fluid than water should have been and clung to him, hampering his movements. There was a faint sound rising from the depth, strangely familiar, but he firmly pushed it way and dug his arms under the surface, groping for his friend.
A slight current began to develop, pulling at him almost gently at first, but quickly gathering strength. He was not yet in any danger of being sucked with it, but he was sure that an unconscious body would swiftly be pulled to the middle of the lake. He hastened his steps, willing himself not to trip when his foot came down on a fairly round object and slipped off, making him stumble. The wave he caused splashed into his face, the sensation making bile rise in his throat.
The movement had also sent his hands a bit deeper in the murky waters, and finally he made contact with something soft. His heart hammered wildly in his chest as he tightened his grip and pulled the limp form to the surface, stepping backwards as he did. He struggled to lift Legolas´ head to his shoulder to keep him out of the water. There was no sound coming from the still elf, no movement. No breath?
The current picked up momentum and the ranger had to forcefully lean his weight against it to make the clinging liquid part and let him though. Gurgling swirls formed in front of him and curled around Legolas´s legs, clearly intend on pulling him back under. Aragorn could feel the resistance as he dragged the still body along and growled angrily, his chest beginning to heave with the effort.
He ignored everything around him but the limp form in his arms and his feet that were carefully probing the treacherous ground. For a breathless moment the water seemed to grow almost solid behind him, blocking his path, while Legolas body was all but pulled from his grasp by a sudden yank that had nothing to do with the flow of water, but the ranger would not budge. He threw himself backwards and fell against dry ground when the lake finally gave way.
Aragorn scrambled up on all fours, forcing the elf´s body out of the water after him with a faint sucking sound, almost as if the lake had clung to him to the last second. The man crawled away from the offending pool with his burden, desperate to put some distance between them and the lingering danger he still felt emanate from the water.
Only then did he dare to gingerly lay Legolas on his back to have a closer look at him. To his immense surprise, the elf´s eyes shot open before he had even begun to do anything to aid him and he drew a shuddering breath that was not in the least hampered by the water Aragorn had expected to clot his airways. Instead, an almost violent shiver gripped the slender body, making his teeth chatter.
On his way out of the water, Aragorn had run his mind through all the ways he knew to help drowned people, and this turn of events left him momentarily stunned, but he quickly came back to his senses and drew the elf to him. Legolas struggled against his grip, fighting to bring out the words that burned in his muddled mind. "Gwann" //Away//, he choked, "gwann hi!" //away now!//
His voice was clear for all its wavering and Aragorn knew that he would have to use considerable force to keep his friend down, which would surely agitate him further. Groaning with effort, he pulled the elf to his feet instead and supported him, more carrying then leading him when Legolas´s legs refused to obey his command. The ranger felt his own strength wane, weary as he still was from the battle, and realized that he would not be able to go on much longer.
Grimly hanging on to consciousness beside his friend, Legolas clung to the ranger and fought the dangerous feeling of relief that threatened to overwhelm him once more. He could still sense the dreadful song hovering all about him, only waiting for him to show weakness, and when he felt Aragorn slowing, clearly intending to stop, his fear grew to a point of taking over control. By sheer force of will the elf ploughed on, ignoring the surprised grunt his renewed strength forced from the ranger.
"Gwann hi" //Away now//, Legolas repeated under his breath, unable to find words to further explain his fear, but Aragorn pulled himself up beside him and pushed himself on, allowing the elf´s anxiety to dictate their actions for the moment.
Exhaustion made Aragorn´s vision waver and blur. Legolas´ desperate fear pulsed through him with every swaying step they took and he carried on for his friend´s sake, not knowing how far they would get in that manner.
Legolas felt strangely torn by Aragorn´s unwavering assistance. What usually served to warm his heart and had often saved his life suddenly presented a lethal danger. He had by now realized that he had made himself a target of this evil by the joy and relief he had felt, having lived through impossible odds at his friend´s side.
And now, rushing away from danger yet again, he felt familiar feelings resurface, feelings of trust and reassurance that he had grown accustomed to in the ranger´s presence. Yet those very feelings let the song return to his mind, it´s tune weaving itself into his brain unbidden, taking away his control. He fought it desperately, sensing Aragorn´s grip tighten protectively when his strength faded yet again, rendering him unable to move.
The ranger almost stumbled when Legolas´ legs sagged away from him again, and he quickly shifted his balance to keep them both from falling. "Dartho, mellon-nin, dartho" //Hang on, my friend, hang on//, he panted, "algost, im dartho na chen, algost..."//Don´t be afraid, I´ll stay with you, don´t be afraid...// The elf struggled at these words, no doubt to regain his bearings and carry on, but Aragorn thought the time had come to rest. He could see how their flight was wearing his friend down, and as far as he could tell there was nothing chasing them. He felt badly for Legolas, understanding that the experience he had just suffered through had shocked him, but this fear would not abate by running until they both collapsed from exhaustion.
Legolas´ panic rose at the gentle words, and no matter how he tried to ignore them, they struck a chord in his heart and the song grew more intense. "Baw, ego!" //No, be gone!// He let go of Aragorn to clamp his hands over his ears in an effort to block out the sound if not of the song then at least of his friend´s comfort and he felt himself fall to his knees, only barely caught from crashing down by the rangers hands on his shoulders. He tried to shrug him off and curled in on himself, wishing away anything that would give him joy and thus increase his weakness.
Memories were coming back to him now, the white void clinging to him in an attempt to dissolve all that he was, take away his body and soul in an act far worse than any brutal killing. The thought of being lured back to this fate, walking to it on his own two feet, terrified him more than anything had ever before. The fact that Estel seemed unaffected by the beckoning call was his only solace.
Aragorn was taken by surprise at Legolas sudden outburst and barely caught him as he fell. He watched in shock when the elf flinched from him and curled up on the ground, his hands clamped over his ears as if to block out some terrible noise only he could hear. Helplessness surged through him and all he could think of doing was to sit by his friend and stroke his back to soothe him. Legolas would not even allow him to offer this small gesture, however, trying to twist away as soon as he felt the touch, and the ranger withdrew his hand in disbelief.
Legolas could keenly sense Aragorn´s confusion, but there was nothing he could do about it. The closer his friend stayed to him, the more he tried to help, the worse the madness in him grew and pulled at his soul, driving him back to the placed his loathed. In the part of his mind that had stayed clear of the fear, the part that guided him in times of danger and death, a plan had formed and he knew that this was he only chance.
May the Valar forgive him.
"Estel?" The weak question brought Aragorn out of his exhausted stupor in a flash. He carefully bent over his friend, mindful not to touch him. "Aye, im nev..."//Yes, I am here...// He did not get any further. Lashing out with a speed that was impossible to duck, the elf struck his friend hard at the temple. Aragorn felt all the strength that had been left in him drain away and he slumped forward, darkness taking him before he hit the ground.
TBC
One more chapter before I´m off until Monday! I swear I wanted to bring them home at the end of this one, but it was not to be - poor guys, they have to hang on a bit longer...
Review responses (Thank you!!!)
Deana: Here it is - and real soon, too!
Ertia: Thanks - and more right now ;-)
NightShadow131: Thank you! You´ll find out about the song - and it´s not good, I´m afraid (goes and hides under desk)
Now, enjoy and review, please!
Happy Easter to all of you!
Alinah
Rating: PG 13
Disclaimer: Not mine
The curse of friendship
Legolas stared at his hands as he walked, utterly convinced that his feet would not lead him astray even though he left them completely unattended. He could see the blood pulsing beneath the light skin. He could feel the sweet night air travel into his lungs with each breath he took. And the song still urged him on, making his heart race in anticipation of what he would find at the end of the trail he followed.
The voices were more distinctive now, each singing in a slightly different pace and tone, but he was convinced that they all belonged to one mind. There were hundreds, maybe even more, and their blending diversity made him slightly dizzy even as it heightened his senses. The was a flowing quality to their tune, a rushing that was so urgent that it made his heart ache in the attempt to keep up.
Suddenly, the clean scent of water made him lift his head. Before him, a lake lay sparkling in the starlight. The glittering spots that travelled across its surface with every ripple were almost too bright to bear and he squinted his eyes, trying not close them all the way. There was a whole rainbow caught in every single drop of water. A universe of light and color . He stepped closer and the song changed yet again. It´s humming transformed into words, swaying at first. The sounds were overlapping, tumbling over each other in their haste to reach him, and he raised his hands, silently pleading them to slow down.
They did so, enough at least for the words to untangle and resolve into a clear Sindarin chant that reached for his heart. "Telo ven, telo ven..." //Come to us, come to us...// The joined voice was sweet to behold in its beckoning, but now that it had revealed itself there was also something else beneath it, a harsh want that broke through the trance Legolas had been lured into. Deep inside resistance began to grow, hesitantly at first, while he was walking closer to the lake´s surface that started to swirl and heave in the windless night.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Aragorn had grabbed his sword and left everything else behind, including the horses. He was surprised that Legolas´ steed obeyed and suspected that the elf himself must have ordered it to remain, because it would never have listened to the human in its clear agitation. The ranger knew that no matter how much he wished for a horse´s speed now, he would never be able to read the elf´s tracks from horseback. It was hard enough with his nose almost on the ground, yet he seemed to sense more than actually see where his friend had walked.
With no time to doubt his instincts, he hastened on as fast as he could, hoping that whatever had caused Legolas to abandon him had not yet killed the elf. His eyes glued to the grass before him, noting even the slightest bent leaf, he wondered whether their miraculous escape from the wargs had used up whatever grace the Valar had been willing to grant. His despair was only slightly lifted by the clear light of the stars above him that seemed to shine more brightly than ever before, enabling him to follow the scattered trace his friend had left. He could only pray that this small favour would be enough.
He had covered a good amount of ground already when a sickly smell assaulted his nose. Aragorn slowed for a moment, looking up for the first time since he had left their camp. To his surprise, he could see water in the distance. He could not remember there being a lake, but then again, it seemed to be small and was well beside the usual route he took through this area. Squinting slightly, he thought he saw a shape hovering close to the shore. Without even allowing his head to catch of with his feet, he began to run.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Legolas fought to free himself of the grip that pulled him closer to the water. The song that had seemed so sweet and soothing had turned into a deafening scream that assaulted his senses instead of caressing them. His confusion grew when he smelled sweet clean water one second and rotten flesh the other, the glittering surface before him wavering between night-blue and the deathly white of rancid milk.
He had regained enough control to realize that he was being deceived by whatever creature lived here and tried to concentrate on the glimpses he got of the sickly pool that he guessed was the reality of what he saw. To his horror, the brief moments of clarity showed him a ghastly array of bones drifting lazily in the unnatural current. He could see a skull floating past, its empty sockets imploring him to fight, and its sight finally gave him the strength to firmly plant his feet into the ground, not moving another step.
Unfortunately, he was close already - too close. He could feel the water greedily lapping at his feet and as his vision cleared, shoving away the pretence of beauty that had veiled his senses, he could see a shape moving beneath the surface. He took a shuddering breath, desperately trying to convince his body to turn and run, but it would not obey him.
He tried to prepare for whatever would attack him, half expecting a tentacle to shoot out and grab him, but none the like happened. Instead, he could feel the screech die in his ears, the grip on his body lessen. The paralysis loosened, allowing him to step away from the offending pool, and he did so, attempting not to breathe in too deeply. A movement at the edge of his vision caught his attention and he turned, seeing Aragorn sprint across the grass towards him, sword in hand.
The sight of his friend rushing to his aid further reassured him and he felt a wave of relief wash over him. He could feel himself relax even more, feel his mental guard being lowered. It was in exactly this moment that he realized his mistake, understood the weakness that had lead him into this trap in the first place, but it was too late.
The song was there again, not sneaking into his relieved mind as it had before but crushing through his defences with a force that robbed him of his senses, and he toppled over backwards, falling into the pool and disappearing under its milky surface.
"No!" Aragorn could hear his own scream echo over the nightly landscape, his feelings reeling. He had seen Legolas hesitate and even turn at the water´s edge, facing him, but then the elf´s eyes had suddenly widened before they had rolled up into his head and he fell into the deathly water. The ranger willed his legs to go faster, throwing aside the sword as he ran. His weapon was of no use here.
He reached to lake mere moments after the elf had vanished from sight but he found its surface completely still and completely opaque, not a ripple to be found. The stench oozed up into his nostrils, making him gag, but he did not hesitate one more moment. The place where Legolas had stood had firmly implanted itself into his mind and he entered the water from the same spot, stepping in carefully.
He had been utterly unable to judge the water´s depth and was taken slightly aback when he only sank in to just below the shoulders. His feet slipped across smooth, stick-like objects that threatened to make him stumble, but he caught his balance. The liquid around him felt less fluid than water should have been and clung to him, hampering his movements. There was a faint sound rising from the depth, strangely familiar, but he firmly pushed it way and dug his arms under the surface, groping for his friend.
A slight current began to develop, pulling at him almost gently at first, but quickly gathering strength. He was not yet in any danger of being sucked with it, but he was sure that an unconscious body would swiftly be pulled to the middle of the lake. He hastened his steps, willing himself not to trip when his foot came down on a fairly round object and slipped off, making him stumble. The wave he caused splashed into his face, the sensation making bile rise in his throat.
The movement had also sent his hands a bit deeper in the murky waters, and finally he made contact with something soft. His heart hammered wildly in his chest as he tightened his grip and pulled the limp form to the surface, stepping backwards as he did. He struggled to lift Legolas´ head to his shoulder to keep him out of the water. There was no sound coming from the still elf, no movement. No breath?
The current picked up momentum and the ranger had to forcefully lean his weight against it to make the clinging liquid part and let him though. Gurgling swirls formed in front of him and curled around Legolas´s legs, clearly intend on pulling him back under. Aragorn could feel the resistance as he dragged the still body along and growled angrily, his chest beginning to heave with the effort.
He ignored everything around him but the limp form in his arms and his feet that were carefully probing the treacherous ground. For a breathless moment the water seemed to grow almost solid behind him, blocking his path, while Legolas body was all but pulled from his grasp by a sudden yank that had nothing to do with the flow of water, but the ranger would not budge. He threw himself backwards and fell against dry ground when the lake finally gave way.
Aragorn scrambled up on all fours, forcing the elf´s body out of the water after him with a faint sucking sound, almost as if the lake had clung to him to the last second. The man crawled away from the offending pool with his burden, desperate to put some distance between them and the lingering danger he still felt emanate from the water.
Only then did he dare to gingerly lay Legolas on his back to have a closer look at him. To his immense surprise, the elf´s eyes shot open before he had even begun to do anything to aid him and he drew a shuddering breath that was not in the least hampered by the water Aragorn had expected to clot his airways. Instead, an almost violent shiver gripped the slender body, making his teeth chatter.
On his way out of the water, Aragorn had run his mind through all the ways he knew to help drowned people, and this turn of events left him momentarily stunned, but he quickly came back to his senses and drew the elf to him. Legolas struggled against his grip, fighting to bring out the words that burned in his muddled mind. "Gwann" //Away//, he choked, "gwann hi!" //away now!//
His voice was clear for all its wavering and Aragorn knew that he would have to use considerable force to keep his friend down, which would surely agitate him further. Groaning with effort, he pulled the elf to his feet instead and supported him, more carrying then leading him when Legolas´s legs refused to obey his command. The ranger felt his own strength wane, weary as he still was from the battle, and realized that he would not be able to go on much longer.
Grimly hanging on to consciousness beside his friend, Legolas clung to the ranger and fought the dangerous feeling of relief that threatened to overwhelm him once more. He could still sense the dreadful song hovering all about him, only waiting for him to show weakness, and when he felt Aragorn slowing, clearly intending to stop, his fear grew to a point of taking over control. By sheer force of will the elf ploughed on, ignoring the surprised grunt his renewed strength forced from the ranger.
"Gwann hi" //Away now//, Legolas repeated under his breath, unable to find words to further explain his fear, but Aragorn pulled himself up beside him and pushed himself on, allowing the elf´s anxiety to dictate their actions for the moment.
Exhaustion made Aragorn´s vision waver and blur. Legolas´ desperate fear pulsed through him with every swaying step they took and he carried on for his friend´s sake, not knowing how far they would get in that manner.
Legolas felt strangely torn by Aragorn´s unwavering assistance. What usually served to warm his heart and had often saved his life suddenly presented a lethal danger. He had by now realized that he had made himself a target of this evil by the joy and relief he had felt, having lived through impossible odds at his friend´s side.
And now, rushing away from danger yet again, he felt familiar feelings resurface, feelings of trust and reassurance that he had grown accustomed to in the ranger´s presence. Yet those very feelings let the song return to his mind, it´s tune weaving itself into his brain unbidden, taking away his control. He fought it desperately, sensing Aragorn´s grip tighten protectively when his strength faded yet again, rendering him unable to move.
The ranger almost stumbled when Legolas´ legs sagged away from him again, and he quickly shifted his balance to keep them both from falling. "Dartho, mellon-nin, dartho" //Hang on, my friend, hang on//, he panted, "algost, im dartho na chen, algost..."//Don´t be afraid, I´ll stay with you, don´t be afraid...// The elf struggled at these words, no doubt to regain his bearings and carry on, but Aragorn thought the time had come to rest. He could see how their flight was wearing his friend down, and as far as he could tell there was nothing chasing them. He felt badly for Legolas, understanding that the experience he had just suffered through had shocked him, but this fear would not abate by running until they both collapsed from exhaustion.
Legolas´ panic rose at the gentle words, and no matter how he tried to ignore them, they struck a chord in his heart and the song grew more intense. "Baw, ego!" //No, be gone!// He let go of Aragorn to clamp his hands over his ears in an effort to block out the sound if not of the song then at least of his friend´s comfort and he felt himself fall to his knees, only barely caught from crashing down by the rangers hands on his shoulders. He tried to shrug him off and curled in on himself, wishing away anything that would give him joy and thus increase his weakness.
Memories were coming back to him now, the white void clinging to him in an attempt to dissolve all that he was, take away his body and soul in an act far worse than any brutal killing. The thought of being lured back to this fate, walking to it on his own two feet, terrified him more than anything had ever before. The fact that Estel seemed unaffected by the beckoning call was his only solace.
Aragorn was taken by surprise at Legolas sudden outburst and barely caught him as he fell. He watched in shock when the elf flinched from him and curled up on the ground, his hands clamped over his ears as if to block out some terrible noise only he could hear. Helplessness surged through him and all he could think of doing was to sit by his friend and stroke his back to soothe him. Legolas would not even allow him to offer this small gesture, however, trying to twist away as soon as he felt the touch, and the ranger withdrew his hand in disbelief.
Legolas could keenly sense Aragorn´s confusion, but there was nothing he could do about it. The closer his friend stayed to him, the more he tried to help, the worse the madness in him grew and pulled at his soul, driving him back to the placed his loathed. In the part of his mind that had stayed clear of the fear, the part that guided him in times of danger and death, a plan had formed and he knew that this was he only chance.
May the Valar forgive him.
"Estel?" The weak question brought Aragorn out of his exhausted stupor in a flash. He carefully bent over his friend, mindful not to touch him. "Aye, im nev..."//Yes, I am here...// He did not get any further. Lashing out with a speed that was impossible to duck, the elf struck his friend hard at the temple. Aragorn felt all the strength that had been left in him drain away and he slumped forward, darkness taking him before he hit the ground.
TBC