CHAPTER FOUR
"Spill my blood crimson"
When Aldalossë reached camp that was in a cave behind a waterfall, he laid Ancú gently to rest on the floor. Turning the horse loose in the cave, he pulled the younger Elf's hood away from his pale face. Then, standing, the elder Elf went to the waterfall and put his hand beneath the falling stream, catching the water. He went back than and splashed Anc's face with it. He woke weakly. He was still paralyzed and sluggish in speech.
When he saw Aldalossë looking down on him he tried to move and discovered it to be impossible. With a strangled cry he looked about. Where was he? He was not at home. The elder Elf smiled and said, "I expect you are thirsty? That drug has those effects." He took his water canteen and popped it open, putting it to Anc's lips. The younger Elf turned his head away.
"Its.....poison," he gasped. He was really thirsty, but he was not stupid. Rash would be a good description at times, he thought gloomily, or on edge.
The elder Elf shrugged and drew a long drink from the canteen. Ancú watched him uncertainly. When the water was offered again Ancú accepted and felt his headache wear off as the cool, refreshing liquid slid down his throat. Suddenly he went into a coughing fit. He was too drugged to swallow much at a time. Aldalossë quickly rolled Ancú onto his stomach to allow the water to flow from the Elf's mouth so he would not drown. The young Noldo coughed and spluttered. Aldalossë frowned, "don't drink so much so fast. You are drugged enough to slow your muscles in your neck and the reason you are so weak is the drug slows your heart, which slows your blood." He rolled Ancú onto his back again and he saw how big the hazel eyes were. The younger Elf had been frightened a bit. Aldalossë didn't think much of it and he offered the water again. Ancú drank slowly and little by little. The elder Elf was patient.
When finally Ancú was finished some five minutes later Aldalossë said somberly, "we are going to have to take that dart out. It shouldn't really hurt more than it did going in, for it has no barbs in it and is as slick as a needle."
Ancú thought to himself, a really big needle! Aldalossë carefully took and put a hand around the shaft of the arrow. He gave it a swift tug and it was free. Ancú had hardly felt a thing. Blood seeped out extremely slowly from his arm and he hardly noticed that. With a frown he asked, "who was that traitor that wished to kill me?" His voice turned to a snarl at the end of his inquiry.
Aldalossë frowned and said, "that was Gilloth, he isn't a traitor my friend and brother. He is a good Elf, I can assure you he is better than you."
Ancú wrinkled his nose with detest and anger. He fumed, "he is NOT a good Elf and I am NOT your friend!" Better than him? A back stabbing murderer? It made his blood boil white-hot and he wanted to clout this other Elf's face so badly he could hardly think.
Aldalossë shrugged and said quietly, "he is what he is and Morceleb isn't evil either. Do you think non of us want peace? Nothing could be farther from the truth. We want it so badly it sears our hearts, but a mistake was made the last time that will not be made this time. You can help us or you can thwart us, that is your choice."
Ancú growled, "but perhaps the mistake was made for a reason. You leave my lord's sons alone! You can't kill them Aldalossë!" The younger Elf tried to struggle wildly to get at the elder Elf's jugular.
Aldalossë just smiled and said, "you are too young to understand. But you shall before the end." The elder Elf then brought another stone on a silver chain out of his pocket and he held it for Ancú to see. "I need to know some things and you can tell me willingly, or I make you wear this."
Ancú frowned and felt anger rising in him again. He tried to move again and found it hopeless still. "I will tell....you...nothing," he growled angrily. He found that he was short of breath and it scared him. He knew it was because he was fighting the drug and if he would give into it, he would be in better shape. However it was not his nature to surrender and he was not about to.
Aldalossë shook his head. "I really don't want to put this on you. It takes and brings out facts and memories in your mind, fears, things of importance......."
Aldalossë looked at Ancú and said, "how many guards are typically around and what are they armed with?" The younger Elf turned away and refused to speak. "Please just tell me," begged the other immortal. He really did not want to hurt this Elf that he had no cause to smite other than he got caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Finally, he sighed and unwound the chain, the stone, clear and bright dangled from it. Aldalossë set a hand beneath Anc's head and slipped the chain over it so the stone hung about his neck, settling on his chest. It was a stone that these Elves had made long ago in secret. It was filled with a strange power that whoever wore it, would relive their worst fears over and over and be alone in darkness. It is odd that Elves should make such a stone, for they hate evil. Yet, these Elves knew that their own kind could not so easily be broken and forced to betray their lords. However they did not want to physically hurt them, but frighten them and cause pain that was all in their minds but seemed real.
Aldalossë had kept to orders and put the captive Elf into as little pain as possible, but why did he feel like such a rat? He had come for one purpose and one purpose only: to capture the twin stars of Imladris and kill them to make a statement. But he began to wonder if what they were doing was even right. The feud should have ended long ago.
He looked down at Ancú, who was turning a lighter shade of pale. Gripping the captive Elf's shoulders, he gave Ancú a shake and said, "just tell me!" He watched as the Elf he was gripping closed his eyes and refused to look at the immortal above him.
()()()()()()()()
Aragorn sat on the chair lone in the Hall of Fire. He had been unable to sleep and so he went to sit and think. What had he done to his brothers? In the darkness he sat in thought. He wanted to go and explain to his brothers that he really did love them. But then they would not leave and he would have to see them die, for he knew they would not let him die while they drew breath. But he was not sure which was worse, letting them watch him die, or watching them die? He leaned towards watching them die because they were meant to live forever.
As he sat there he recalled times of happiness. Times when they had camped out under the stars and he had fallen asleep to the sound of them softly singing. He could hear them now, singing soft songs of nature and of other Elves that had come before.
Now he may never hear them laugh. Who would have his back out when he went rangering? Legolas could not be with him all the time, though he was sure the prince would follow him into Mount Doom if Aragorn lead him there.
Unexpectedly, the human sat up, hardly noticing he had been nearly asleep in the large chair. He had heard something and the man was sure it was not just a nightly noise. He went over to the balcony and looked over the edge. There was enough moonlight to let him see down below where eerie shadows were cast. He saw a horse grazing in the grass near the stable. As he peered closer, narrowing his eyes to silvery slits, he saw it still had its saddle and bridle. As he pondered this a voice behind him said, "shouldn't you be in bed young one?"
Aragorn spun around to meet he sharp gaze of Glorfindel's big blue eyes. The Gondolin Elf frowned and then he went to stand by the ranger. His azure eyes searched the ground below for movement. Ancú should be on his way back by now. Although the Elf was still quite young for being immortal and might have seen it fit to go riding some more under that stars. He hoped not. When he got a hold of that reckless plea for a Firstborn he would most certainly choke him with his bare hands.
Aragorn noticed Glorfindel's unrest and asked, "Lord Glorfindel, what is ailing you?" He looked at the Elf-lord's face with a glance of peaking concern.
The Gondolin Elf just sighed and tapped his fingers on the rail before saying. "That bothersome Ancú hasn't returned yet Estel ." The Balrog- Slayer had a tone of genuine worry for the younger Elf that had gone out with him. He frowned and then turned and looked at Aragorn, "You already know of the danger I expect?" Ancú had been in his charge after all; he was responsible.
"I do," responded the ranger quietly and he shifted his gaze to the ground below. Glorfindel found it odd that the ranger knew, but he was not going to ask how. Although later he may inquire as to how and why.
"I ran into no Dark Elves on my ride. I found plenty of good Elves, however I think they are close. I have a feeling....." The blonde Elf wrinkled his nose and sighed lightly. "It would be no surprise to me if Ancú managed to single-handedly bring them all down upon himself." The Balrog-Slayer laughed wryly and said with a snort, "he does have a knack for getting under peoples' skin or into trouble."
Aragorn chuckled dryly. That was certainly true. Elladan and Elrohir were the same way. Aragorn was convinced that half of the injuries they had sustained from their little run in with the Corsairs would be nonexistent if they had not been such maddening prisoners. A thought occurred to him unbidden, what if the enemy Elves found Ancú to be totally obnoxious (and not that he could blame them) and they killed him? Or worse, what would happen if by some odd twist of fate his brothers were captured? What injuries would they garner? Aragorn looked back up at Glorfindel, "he also has a remarkable talent for getting himself back out of trouble again."
Glorfindel smiled and said warmly, "he and the twins both." He then glowered and said, "go to bed Estel. It is going to be dawn soon and your brothers would kill me if they knew that I let you stay up to see the sun rise."
Aragorn was about to argue, but thought better of it. "Good night Glorfindel," he uttered with a yawn that he wished he could censor.
As Aragorn walked down the hall to his room a thought struck him: Ancú should have been back by now, because if he and Glorfindel split up and Glorfindel entered back from the South East, then the Gondolin Elf's ride would be longer than Anc's by a long shot. Something had to have befallen the younger Elf and h needed help. Glorfindel was obviously not going to go and Aragorn knew why. He had to stay here with Lord Elrond so they could take council together and figure out the best way to protect Rivendell.
Aragorn had never been really close to Ancú. As a matter of fact he found him to be totally disagreeable and in dire need of an attitude adjustment. But if the Elf needed help he was not going to sit back and let him suffer. Maybe, if he found these Dark Elves, he could convince them to leave. Or perhaps he could thwart their plans.
Half way down the hall he stopped and looked into the room he stood by. In there slept Elladan. He watched as his brother's chest rose and fell in peaceful slumber. The twin's dark hair fell across his face, loose from its braid. His eyes were closed and Aragorn grimaced. That was one of the reasons that the Noldo had reoccurring nightmares. He could not longer blend the night with his dreams as Elves do with their eyes open. Aragorn noticed that his brother had kicked his quilt off and carefully went into the room. Picking up the quilt, he drew it up to his brother's neck and whispered, "I don't hate you. But you must understand that it is too dangerous for you to linger here."
He passed by Elrohir's room and stopped in to look at his other brother. Elrohir was fast asleep as well. His dark hair was pulled back in a set of simple braids and his steel gray eyes were open, but unfocused. Aragorn whispered, "good bye Elrohir."
Then the human made his way down the dark hall to his own room where he threw open the closet. Pulling out his pack, he rummaged through it, making sure all the herbs and things he usually brought were there. Then he got out his sword and belt. Putting his belt about his tin middle and tightening it, the ranger prepared himself to leave. He was going to find Ancú and bring him back, but not before he found a way to stop these Dark Elves plan to destroy his family.
Grabbing his cloak he whipped it about his shoulders and drew the hood up around his lean face. Slinging his pack over his shoulder, he prepared to leave, but he felt he could not do this alone. He wanted Legolas to accompany him and he knew all he needed to do was rouse the Mirkwood prince, the fact was, he didn't want Legolas to get hurt. The blonde Elf had taken grievous injuries in their last little venture and he did not need them to be irritated again.
He walked past Legolas's room and was glad when he saw the prince was asleep.
As the man walked around the corner he heard voices. One was unmistakably Elrond's. "None of them seemed hungry today. That is normal for Elladan, he doesn't eat much anymore, not since he went blind."
The second voice was Glorfindel's, "these Dark Elves perplex me. They are all like good Elves. You could have one in your midst and never know it until it was too late. They are not rash and are not totally evil, though their purpose is." Aragorn heard the golden-haired lord sigh. "But Ancú sill has yet to return. I fear for him, if he is out their wounded and dying or even dead-"
"We would know it. Our people have not all come in yet and they would discover him," said Elrond quietly. "I will not send Elves out to look for him, it may provoke the enemy upon us, and we don't know how many there is yet."
"The rangers would go and they may be able to do it too," said Glorfindel in a pleading voice. Aragorn felt a block forming in his throat. Glorfindel was genuinely worried about Ancú, he knew something was wrong.
"How would I be able to send word out to them? And they are descended from Eros, my brother. If they are not careful they will find themselves dead. One has already been killed," argued Elrond defensively. He did not wish for their to be anymore deaths. He also knew that if the rangers went out Estel would go out and if Estel went out Elladan and Elrohir would go out. They would walk right into their deaths. The horrible thing was that they would do it willingly. "If Ancú has to die, then though it is a sad and grievous loss we can do nothing and that is how it must be."
Glorfindel sighed and passed a weary hand over his brow. This was not fair and yet it was wise. "I don't agree with you Elrond and I think the very fact that you are not sending anyone out and putting a stop to it is going o be your or your sons' downfall. You fear your past, but sometimes you have to relive it to be free of it." Glorfindel's voice quavered and he snorted with aggravation.
"Glorfindel, when have you relived your past in any form?" asked the Lord of Rivendell with a raised bow.
"I was nearly put to death in Shishma Elrond, I was nearly burned to death," he added quietly. There was a lull in the conversation and it seemed to last hours.
As much as he would have liked to stay and listen to his father and Glorfindel's conversation, the human knew he had no time. Tugging at the straps to his pack, the man knew that he had to find another balcony to escape from. If he used the stairs, chances were that he would be caught by some other Elf. If he used the balcony in his room then he would most likely fall to his death, for it was too high with no trees nearby.
The only option left that made any sense was the balcony in Legolas's room. However, he would have to be careful not to wake the prince, or else Legolas would follow or Aragorn knew he would not be able to go.
Carefully backtracking down the hall, he tiptoed into the blonde Elf's room. Legolas still slept soundly. However, Aragorn snorted and had to clap a hand over his mouth to ward off giggles when he heard a small snort escape the prince's lips. As much as the immortal argued that he never snored, he did and the human thought it to be hilarious.
Aragorn sighed when he realized he had no way to get down. Setting his pack on the floor, he grumbled to himself for being so foolish. How could he figure out everything else and neglect a piece of rope. Actually, the thought to himself, a bed sheet or two would have to work, for he could not get to any rope at the moment.
Quickly crossing the hall to his own room, the man stripped his bed of its sheets and twisted them into a vine like 'rope'. Then he took and tied them together. He prayed that he would put the knot tight enough. Nonetheless, he feared that it would be too weak.
Wrapping the 'rope' into a odd, twisted bundle, the young mortal crossed the hall again and went quickly to Legolas's balcony. Unwinding the 'rope' he tied one end around the rail and braced his foot against the balcony edge to help him pull the knot tightly. Once he was satisfied that it was not going to snap and send him down to kiss the earth below he shouldered his pack and stepped up onto the balcony. As he looked down, he nearly lost his balance. For he was really far up and not as skillful on his feet as an Elf. For Legolas, who had escaped from his own balcony numerous times, this would be a snap. However, he was not Legolas and he would have to do it o the best of his ability.
First he cast down the 'rope' until it stopped, just to make sure it was long enough. It was, and with length to spare. That may or may not be a good thing. Then he decided to use it to his advantage and thread it through the balcony rail posts to help create a pulley. He could ease himself down and have no trouble-unless of course the line broke. In that case he would learn how to fly or kiss the ground.
As he eased himself to the ground, his hands were sweating. He was nervous for more than one reason, first of all it would be a long fall, secondly, he feared that Legolas would wake. As he was about a third of the way down, he looked up at the stars for a moment. That was enough. The 'rope' slid out of his hands a little quicker than was to his comfort and he hardly had time to grasp hold of it.
Drawing a deep breath, he let it out slowly with relief. Suddenly he looked up at the knot that held him and the 'rope' to the balcony. With horror, he realized it was coming loose. He was going to fall! Desperately he tried to lower himself down quickly, but it was not working.
He saw the knot go loose and just as it went loose he closed his eyes to wait for the fall that he knew would cost him a few whole bones. Suddenly he felt the 'rope' go taut and he was feet above the ground. Cautiously opening his eyes, he looked up to see what the 'rope' had caught on and discovered a fully cloaked and fully armed and ready blonde Elf staring down at him with a grin. "Bed sheets?" asked Legolas with a smile.
Aragorn just frowned, "you think of something better that I could get." He knew his tone sounded harsh but he had just nearly fell fifteen feet after all.
Legolas just laughed, "hmmmm.........how about a rope?"
Aragorn could not help but grin then he said with a laugh, "you tend to defeat the whole purpose of sneaking away with that mouth of yours. Hush, will you?"
Legolas smiled even wider and it made the human slightly angry, though he did not know why. Perhaps it was the Elf was gloating right above him. He knew it was foolish but he would rather the blonde prince just drop his 'rope'. "Where are you going?" asked Legolas with a tone of dead seriousness. He knitted his brows and Aragorn sighed. Now there would be no leaving without the Elf.
"Legolas just let me down," pleaded the ranger. He was not going to let his dearest friend come with him. Not this time.
Legolas looked confused and hurt. "Not until you tell me where you are going without me," he said. Aragorn blew air upwards, letting his bangs leap about his forehead.
"I have go and rescue Ancú," said Aragorn. He then looked at the Elf that was frowning and said firmly, "you aren't coming." He said this a whole lot more conviction than he really felt. Seeing Legolas left behind and out of danger was about as common as seeing a Balrog calmly sitting and taking tea with Glorfindel, it didn't happen!
"Estel, you can't go," argued the blonde immortal with a plea in his voice.
"Legolas, what if it was your family? Don't you tell me you would not do the same," voiced the man with a sigh. How could he expect Legolas to understand? That was just it, he couldn't.
Legolas scowled and began to retie the 'rope' to the rail, jerking the ranger with it as he tightened the knot. "I do not deny that I would. But I would rather you wouldn't, for he is waiting for you, Heir of Isildur." Legolas looked up from the knot that he was working on tying and his blue eyes caught in the moonlight. They seemed to glow with a determination that the man would not face this challenge alone. Aragorn sighed when he saw Legolas swing over the rail, holding onto it only with his hands and his feet dangling beneath him.
"Legolas no! You swing yourself right back up there!" cried the man as loud as he dared. "Your ribs aren't well enough!" Legolas refused to listen and let himself drop. He hit the ground softly, absorbing the blow with bent knees, like a cat leaping from a tree. The immortal looked up at Aragorn and crossed his arms defiantly. He was going not going back and that scrawny man could not make him.
Aragorn sighed and lowered himself down the rest of the way. Once he got down he suddenly said in an angry tone, "Oh Elbereth!"
Legolas looked at him with a raised brow and then asked, "what is wrong?"
Aragorn sighed, rolled his eyes and pointed up at the sheet that still dangled from the balcony railing. Legolas snickered. "We, most likely I, will never hear the end of it," stated the human tersely. Untying it from his middle he said, "there it will hang until Elrohir, Glorfindel or Ada find it." Legolas knew what the ranger meant. He still thought it was funny in an odd way that the man found highly annoying. To think they had used bed sheets to help them in a daring escape off a balcony.
Aragorn eased the pack on his shoulders and then said, "well lets go. Who knows what trouble he managed to find for himself."
Legolas sighed heavily and said, "if he is anything like Roth he will have found more than he can handle."
()()()()()()()()()()()
Dawn was peaking over the sky sending orange rays of light all over the earth. Legolas smiled as he felt it warm his face and glance off the dewdrops on the leaves and grass. Aragorn frowned as he looked at the ground. They had lost the hoof prints of the horses an hour ago and still had not found them. They had found the spot near the river where Glorfindel and Ancú must have parted company. There became two paths to follow. It had not taken them long to conclude which one was Anc's from the one that was Glorfindel's. Glorfindel had entered up from the South East in Imladris, so they concluded that he must have taken that direction and Ancú had gone North West.
But when they neared the River Bruinin the trail became unclear, for there was rocks that allowed not racks to follow. They supposed their best guess would be to follow the river and hope he had done so for a time. All the same they would keep a look out for signs that he had crossed it or stepped off the bank and into the brush.
Legolas's keen eyes keep roving the trees. He was uneasy. He felt like they were being watched, though he could not explain it and it troubled him. Perhaps it was only the birds, but he sensed it was more. It felt a like a malice that was waiting for the right moment to strike. He looked at the ranger to see if he felt it too, but the human showed no signs of knowing the danger that was growing about them.
Finally as they followed to a more shallow part of the river Legolas could bear it no more. He asked in low voice, but with his eyes on the trees about them, "do you not sense it? A growing danger like a dread upon your heart?"
Aragorn looked at his friend, "What do the trees tell you?" He felt stupid asking this question, but to Legolas's mind it was a perfectly valid question to ask. Still, it made the man feel like a complete fool to ask it.
Legolas furrowed his brow and said, "they speak of no danger, just of peace and sunlight warming their night chilled boughs." He sighed, "but I feel it."
Aragorn looked at his friend and then wrinkled his nose before saying, "Legolas, perhaps you are imagining it."
Legolas's eyes went large, "no. I know it is real, but it escapes my vision and the vigilance of the trees and birds. It is like they are made blind to it, or they do not see it as a threat." Legolas said all this under his breath as he searched the trees again with narrowed eyes. He knew what he felt, and yet he didn't.
Aragorn immediately thought of the Dark Elves and what Glorfindel had said about them. "You could have one in your midst and never know it until it was too late." If they were avoiding the eyes of Legolas, who was raised and still dwelled in a forest, then they had to be Elven. If not one of the Firstborn they were some strange and evil beast with the aid of the Necromancer behind it. It sent a shiver down his back and he suddenly looked at Legolas, "Do you think it is them?" he asked in a soft voice.
Legolas looked at Aragorn and his eyes said what Aragorn had dreaded: that even Legolas was totally uneasy here and it was something that he had little advantage over. "It can't be Dark Elves, for the trees would sense it," stated Legolas with a perplexed expression.
Aragorn nodded languidly and then said, "unless they are not wholly evil at heart. I heard Glorfindel talking, he says that they are fallen but not wholly evil, just mislead and hard to recognize from good Elves."
Legolas gave a snort and said with a wry smile, "well that makes this so much easier!" But then the prince said in a whisper, "that makes them more dangerous, they could be with you and you would never know it."
Aragorn laughed and said, "that is almost exactly how Glorfindel put it."
Legolas frowned at him and put a finger to his lips for silence. "I am going to go and take a quick look. Stay here in the open where I can see you and warn you of an attack." Aragorn opened his mouth to protest but the look on Legolas's face when the prince narrowed his eyes and raised a single fair brow was enough to silence him.
The prince took his bow off his back and notched an arrow but did not pull the string taut. He gave the trees one last scan before he delved into the brush and was lost to the human's sight.
In the woods, Legolas used all of his senses, mostly his sight and hearing. If it was Dark Elves, Avari, then he had little advantage over them. A bird flew out of the tree above the prince and caused Legolas to jerk his head up in surprise. He inwardly scolded himself for being so on edge. Maybe what he had felt was all in his head. He saw nothing after all, and the trees spoke of no peril hidden in the shadows of their limbs. Turning to leave, he noticed something he had not before, hoof prints in the mud of the forest and pressed into the damp leaves.
The Elf crouched down to study them and found they led into the forest. He put his fingers in them and then he stood up. The blonde immortal knew he had to tell Aragorn. He had picked up the trail.
Standing up, the fair-haired Firstborn leaped out of the thicket of brush like a young deer and was heading to the man when he stopped as he saw the white faced ranger holding up a sword that had been nearly buried in the silt of the river's bed. It was an Elven sword and upon looking closer they saw a long bow etched into the leather, though it was fading from use. It was Anc's, for the long bow was his name sake. No other Elf carried such a design on his sword.
Legolas whispered to himself, "his sword." He was about to call out to the ranger when he felt something slam into him. It knocked him off balance and he nearly tripped over a stone. Spinning around with notched bow he found himself facing another Elf which took its sword and placed on the prince's neck threateningly. Legolas glared and the other Elf smiled. "A wood Elf."
Then he looked at Aragorn and said, "and a ranger, descendent of Eros." The Elf's voice became a growl as he snarled the last word as though it left a bitter taste in his mouth. Aragorn looked over and saw the Avari holding his sword to Legolas's throat and gave a cry.
Legolas looked over at Aragorn and as the ranger stepped forward with drawn sword to aid his friend, the Wood Elf mouthed, "no." Aragorn stopped in mid step and he let Anc's blade fall to the ground. It clattered against the rocks, causing both of the Elves with their sensitive hearing to wince at the sharp noise.
The Elf threatening Legolas growled, "drop the bow or a will spill your blood Prince Legolas." Legolas was surprised that they knew his name, however he was not ready to drop his bow. The Elf sighed and gave the blade a slight press to show he was serious.
Legolas suddenly kicked out and caught the other Elf in the stomach, making him stumble backwards. His blade missed the blonde Elf's throat by centimeters and Legolas whipped out his twin knives. The Elf glared at him and swung his sword at Legolas, who parried the blow, putting both of his blades together as they flashed like one weapon. A sharp clang echoed through the air and Aragorn watched as his friend battled with this Elf that was older and more experienced in fighting. Whatever attack Legolas made, the other Elf could defeat or dodge.
He swung out at the prince with his sword, driving the younger Elf back a few paces. Legolas's feet bordered the water. Not matter how tempted he was to look back, he kept his eyes fixed on the attacker at hand. The Avari Elf whipped his sword straight for the prince's head and Legolas ducked the blow and twisted around the other Elf, putting his back to the trees.
The Dark Elf frowned, "I don't want to kill you, just drop your weapon and you will be unscathed, I promise this."
Legolas growled back, "I don't trust the assurances of back stabbers."
"Please," uttered the other Elf. "You are not the one I am after." He parried a swiping blow from Legolas' identical lancets.
Legolas said, "you seek my friend's life and you will get it over my dead body."
The other Elf snorted and said, "or your stilled one." Legolas furrowed his brows in confusion and lifted his twofold blades to ward off a blow meant for his head.
He could hear Aragorn yelling for him just to drop his weapons and surrender. Legolas looked at the ranger for a moment and then suddenly found his feet swept out from under him. He landed hard on the rocks and he felt a blaze of white pain sweep through his head and back. His freshly healed ribs screamed. The Dark Elf took and kicked the white handled knives across the stones and out of the prince's reach. Whipping his bow off his back he notched a thin arrow that Legolas had not seen any of its kind before. This was different then the one they had taken from the injured Elf Morcuivië. He closed his eyes and laid his head back against the rock that had created a minor cut on his scalp and waited for the shaft to pierce him.
He felt an odd sting in his arm and looked over to see it bleeding and he thin projectile sticking out of his upper arm. He noticed however, that he could not move his fingers and his arm at all. With a sickening feeling he realized that the immobility was spreading through out his body. He looked at the Elf that was above him and said, "no!.......you stay away from him!" But he was weakening and his speech was slurring.
The Dark Elf left him there and went over to Aragorn. The ranger had been rooted to the ground, unable to move as he watched his best friend get shot. Just as the Avari Elf neared him, he ran over to Legolas, pelting over the stones that were in his path.
He crouched by the blonde immortal and asked, "Legolas?" The Elf's eyes went to the ranger and held his gray ones. Aragorn wanted to cry as he read one plan message in them: I tried.
The Avari Elf came up and gripped he back of Aragorn's tunic and cloak all in one handful. He yanked the man backwards and slammed him back against the rough and jagged rocks harshly. Aragorn felt a sheet of blinding pain run up his spine and flash before his eyes in a blaze of white that faded as quickly as it came. Legolas willed himself to be able to speak, to scream, "nooooooo! You can't! You leave him alone you filthy Avari traitor!"
The Dark Elf went to Legolas and uttered, "you would do well to remain silent as the grave. Prince Legolas, you are in over your head, so after this drug wears off I would strongly suggest you going home to your father."
Legolas growled back weakly, "and tell him I let my best friend die? Never! You may slay me first. If you wish for me to not trouble you anymore draw your sword and spill my blood crimson upon the rocks, but don't expect me to just get up and walk away later."
The Avari Elf sighed and said, "I could, but what would that prove? I am no murderer Legolas, just a warrior. You can come after us, but I am warning you not to. I do not wish to kill you and we will be moving swiftly." He looked at the prince's still hands and said, "the drug has taken full affect, you will not be able to walk until a hour or two pass."
Legolas' eyes gleamed fire and he writhed, or attempted to, against the drug. He looked out of the corner of his eyes and saw Aragorn standing up and stumbling towards he and the threatening Elf above him. "No Estel! No!" Legolas' cry turned into a strangled scream as he saw the Dark Elf whip around and bring his elbow sharply into the human's gut. Aragorn stumbled and fell to his left, landing on his arm.
He grunted as he felt a thrilling pain go up his arm. It started from his mid forearm and raced up to his shoulder. Next he felt a dull throbbing sensation. He knew what had happen. He had broken his arm against the sharp point on a rock. Sighing, he forced himself to rise to his knees. The man's hair hung in his face to hide his pain like a curtain. Legolas saw it though and he could only stare as the Dark Elf hurt his friend. It made a bitter anger scorch his heart. It was anger towards himself and the attacker. He would meet in a fight with this Elf before the end.
The Avari Elf took and pulled one of the arrows from hi pack and went to the human. He gripped it like a knife and then stabbed it into the man's flesh on his upper right arm. Old wounds, lacerations of torment were rekindled and the man groaned.
His pain coated, steel gray eyes went to meet the prince's filming blue-silver ones. In their azure color he saw understanding towards his own pain. Only Legolas and his brothers knew what wounds had injured his arm and only they could understand. It was a bond they all shared from the adventure that they had endured not but six months prior. It was their pain that had made them closer.
Legolas watched as his dearest friend submitted to the drug that held him immovable. It was like watching what he feared most coming to life and it made him frightened in a creepy, and haunting sense. Legolas felt the hairs raise on the back of his neck and his eyes went wide with worry and fear for Aragorn's life as he saw the man fall. It all seemed slower than life and it seemed to burn in his mind.
He heard a voice say, "Gilloth, come. We have much to do before tonight."
Legolas would not forget that name, Gilloth. He watched as this Elf gathered Aragorn in his arms and Legolas vowed he would come for his friend. As soon as his fingers were able to string a bow and his legs able to walk, if not but for short distance's at a time. He was going to save Aragorn.
TBC.................Not much angst this chapter (curses). But man is that human in for it in the next chapters, well maybe not five but who knows?! (readers cheer and say: "about time girls!") Oh-boy! Can't wait to write that! Er......we hate beating up the ranger. Hehehehe. Please review and tell us what you think. We are absolutely on the edge of our seats awaiting your response to our chapter! If we don't get enough reviews, no chapter, so you know what that means, REVIEW! Because since we haven't set a limit, you don't know when it is enough. Muahahaha! Thanks so much for the ones that you all sent for the last chapter! We felt so happy, not to mention we had no idea that this many were reading and a special thanks to those who have us on their favs or author alerts!
Review Responses
Linuvial Greenleaf Hey girl! Yeah, we know YOU are addicted to that kind of stuff! LOL Don't worry, its coming soon! So life is being a pain again? We totally get you! Thanks for the totally awesome review!
Springfairy Ranger angst lover? Cool! Well its working up to that point, we swear! Thanks for the review! It means a lot!
Kathleen LaCorneille First time reading as we post? Cool! We don't post in good timing, but oh well! Don't worry, in the end it will turn out all right! We hope... We always thought of Gil-Galad as more of an older brother, but oh well. So you read the Silmarillion? Cool! Elladan....he might......okay, he has to but .not this soon! Thank you for the deep review. It was wonderful!
Sielge Thanks for the review! Heres the new chapter! Thanks again!
Angie So far we feel like continuing. Glad you are reading the last one, because it is our personal fav out of them all. Thanks for the review! We really are glad you like it!
Grumpy Hey! Yes! Sympathy for the OC Elf! Yes, poor little guy! Don't fear, he shall not get beat up too badly at all. Estel, talking to his brothers? He might. Muahahahahaha! Thanks for the cool review and Ancú is grateful for the sympathy!
Luinthien Yes, the action will start soon! Muahahahaha! Thanks for the review! We love you!
Beling No! This was not true angst! Not yet! Awwww.....more loyal OC Elf sympathy! Thanks for the review and Ancú says thanks for caring about the Elf that gets abused unnoticed.
Please review again people! It makes us so happy it does! We love to hear from you and stuff! Please review!