Mellon nin

Aragorn felt as though he had been staring at Legolas for an eternity before his eyes flickered open.

"Welcome back." He said by way of greeting.

Legolas began to turn over and stopped as the pain from the whip lashes resurged. He grunted and made a face when Aragorn took his arm and helped him to sit up. Breathing shallowly through pursed lips he steadied himself then took a long look at their surroundings.

"Where did all the dwarves go?"

"That I do not know." Aragorn replied, "But I think I have a way to get us out of here."

Elrohir went to his knees, gasping for breath. He had run all the way from the main house.

Elrond and Glorfindel hurried over to him as he gasped out. "They…are…dy…ing…ada."

Elrond grasped him by the shoulder, "Breathe ion nin, breathe."

"They just started bleeding ada, we could not stop it. There was too much blood." He said when he had got his breathing under control.

Elrond looked up at Glorfindel, his face thunderous. Then they both looked back at the wood, they both knew that they had no choice, the thing must be killed.

"That is impossible Aragorn." Legolas said in disbelief, his face marred by a frown.

"Then why are we in the middle of the forest and not in that cave?" Aragorn argued, he was on his feet gesticulating. "I tell you mellon nin, everything simply was not, for just one moment and on the steps, I actually felt myself push against something powerful, and just for a moment it gave way."

"How, tell me how did you make it yield to you!" Legolas demanded, his sea blue eyes flashing.

Aragorn put his hand to his head. "I just wanted to get out, in my mind I saw us free. It could be that whatever holds us cannot contend with our will if it is strong enough."

Legolas stared at his friend.

"You said it yourself mellon nin, you feel different, you are tired, hungry, without hope. It is feeding off your strength, your will. It attacks you first because your fea is much stronger than mine."

Legolas bowed his head for a moment then looked up and said, "Then that means you must escape before it finishes with me, while you are still strong."

Aragorn shook his head, "No that means that we must escape while you are still strong."

Legolas said nothing, but he looked away from his friend's eyes. "They will soon be hunting us again. We cannot defend ourselves with a knife and a dagger."

"I'm glad you mentioned that, there is something I wish to try." Aragorn said with a gleam in his eye.

Elrond finished wrapping the last of Legolas' wounds with a soft white bandage. The bleeding he had managed to stop.

"There is nothing more I can do for them here." He said to the room in general.

He turned to face his sons and Glorfindel who stood at the ornate window that looked out over the fields.

"The creature has possession of their essence; it is slowly draining them of life. It is obvious that when we attacked it, it attacked them."

"Then what shall we do father? We cannot abandon them to this thing." Elladan said getting to his feet in distress.

"No, we must kill it. And it must be done swiftly and without hesitation, give it no option but to commit all its energy defending itself against our attack."

"But how, even with the four of us wielding blades, it would take at least…" began Elrohir.

"Not with blades ion nin." said Elrond and he looked down at his finger where Vilya one of the three rings of power quietly lay.

"Concentrate elf!" Aragorn hissed.

Legolas opened his eyes and briefly glared at his friend before ignoring him again. They had taken shelter inside the same small cave they had run into before. They could clearly hear the sounds of many creatures searching for them outside.

"I don't understand why they just don't come in; they must know we are in here." Legolas said with his eyes closed.

Aragorn gave an exasperated sigh. "It is a game elf, all games have rules, thus while we hide they search for us. Now concentrate!"

To humour his friend Legolas took a deep breath and cleared his mind. He did not think of his hunger or the pain he felt or the yawning well of depression that beckoned him ever closer. Instead he let his mind drift back to his home, Mirkwood. He saw himself fighting orcs, spiders and wargs. He let himself feel the power of his bow as he stretched it taunt, loosing arrow after arrow. He felt himself running through the trees, felt the power of his stride, the pride he felt in his speed the freedom as he leapt from branch to branch.

"You did it!" Aragorn's excited voice cut through his thoughts and he opened his eyes.

Legolas could not believe it. In his hands he held his bow, incredulous he reached up behind him and felt the tops of his ivory handled knives stuck securely at the side of his full quiver. He turned to Aragorn not at all surprised to see him dressed as a ranger with his sword across his lap.

"I like the change." Aragorn said grinning at him.

Legolas quickly looked down at himself. Instead of his usual, forest green, he was dressed entirely in black, from boots to undershirt. His hair was unbound except for a thin black circlet decorated with a single blue gem at the front, sitting regally on his forehead. He shrugged a sheepish look on his face.

"Ready?" Aragorn asked, standing up and gripping the pommel of his sword.

Legolas nodded. Together they went outside.

The plant creature was hunched over Aragorn and Legolas like a miser over hoarded wealth.

Elrond flanked by Elrohir, Elladan and Glorfindel stood facing the monster. Slowly he stretched forth his right hand and Vilya the ring of air began to glow. Glorfindel placed one hand upon Elrond's shoulder and a radiant light burst forth from him and spread to encompass his friend. Elladan and Elrohir joined hands and like Glorfindel placed a hand upon their father's shoulder. Twin lights shone from them and Elrond felt the great circle of power they had created flood through him.

It was time.

Notes

Ion nin…. My son

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Deana…. hope you enjoyed

Barbara kennedy……. Your Pod plant made me laugh.

Lindahoy land ….. I tried that but the space just vanishes when I post and I didn't want a marked division of scenes.

Morn flower…. A little in the next one, haven't written any more yet.

Someone reading……. I didn't mean to do all that, but I'm glad you like. (Big grin)

Sielge…….. Did you like?

Hanyou- demoness…… Evil trees rule!!

Lili……… Hey there! Thanks a mil!