Hey guys, sorry about the formatting last chapter. . . I don't even know
WHY FF.net did that to me. . . hope this isn't as confusing for ya. . .
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Mithfalas had to fight to stay where he was as his little brother pulled out his knives and fought against the man's sword. If he helped his brother, the man would know to look to the trees, which would give away Strider and Nifren. Who knew how many men the traitor had hidden himself? He had just let his brother jump into a trap.
The sword knocked one of the prince's blades from his hand, leaving him on the defensive. Mithfalas was restraining himself. Aragorn was ready to jump to his friend's aid, and probably would have had it not been for Nifren restraining him.
Legolas lost his breath as he was knocked to the ground. "Where is he?" The man hissed.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Legolas panicked at being straddled and squirmed subconsciously.
"You do. Tell me where he is." The man smiled evilly at the prince, pinning him to the ground. "I can take away the one thing you cherish. Go ahead, Elf, lie to me again. I'll do it."
Legolas shuddered to think of what the man had in mind, but he would not give his friend's position away.
"Tell me where the ranger is."
"Never!" The fear in his voice betrayed his stoic expression.
"You brought this upon yourself, then." The man grabbed the archer's hands, pinning them above his head.
Aragorn tried to rush forward as he saw the traitor raise a dagger, but Nifren held him back.
"Let me help him!"
"No!" Nifren hissed.
The dagger drove downward, straight through the prince's palms. To his own shame, Legolas screamed in agony. The pain was almost unbearable, which surprised Legolas, remembering everything he had been through before.
He felt bones shatter. His hands were. . .
"Useless," the man whispered in the elf's ear, reading his thoughts. "Even with your healing abilities, I doubt you'll ever be able to use a bow again. Shame, isn't it?"
Legolas was crying, but he had stopped struggling. Any movement would only cause more injury to his hands.
Aragorn had looked away before he saw what happened, but the scream did not let him deny that it surely had taken place. He looked into Nifren's eyes, pleading with him. "Let me go to him."
"Not yet. Strider, if we go now, he will only kill Legolas. I understand that ye want to help him, but ye would only be condemning him."
Aragorn turned back so that he could see his friend. Legolas was staring right at him, tears running unchecked down the elf's face. They locked eyes for only an instant before guilt consumed the man. He broke the eye contact, leaving Legolas to his pain.
"Tell me where he is, and I'll end your torment." He pushed his knee into Legolas' side. The elf gasped before he heard a faint cracking noise.
"I will never betray him," He spat out.
"As you wish. I will leave you with your agony." To the prince's surprise, the man stood and walked away. Part of the prince relaxed, dark memories fading again as he was un-straddled.
Aragorn started forward again as soon as the traitor disappeared into the trees. This time, however, it was Legolas' voice that stopped him.
"Baw," he said, speaking in elvish so that the traitor would think he was only speaking to himself. "Stay put, Estel. He is hiding in the edge of the clearing. He is waiting for you. Stay where you are."
"What did he say?" Nifren asked.
Aragorn did not answer. He was watching with amazement as the prince slowly lifted his hands. "What's he doing?"
The prince grimaced in pain, but kept moving his hands steadily upward. The blade pulled from the soft earth easily enough, freeing his hands at least that much. Pausing, catching his breath, Legolas looked at his own blade. He had been ruined by his own weapon.
'You are some warrior,' he told himself sarcastically. 'Ada would be really proud.'
Placing the hilt of the dagger between his knees, he gently pulled his hand upward. Tears sprang into eyes as the metal slid through his hand. He gasped when the air reached it.
Ignoring the burning pain of his free hand, he set his attention on the hand still trapped. He pulled it off the same way, using his knees, and could barely suppress his screams when the air touched that wound too.
It was all Aragorn could do to stay hidden in the trees as Legolas tried to re-sheath his knife. It took him several tries, his frustration growing at the uselessness of his hands. Finally, he managed it, then using his legs to push himself to his feet. It was then that Aragorn saw how much of the prince's blood had stained the earth.
Legolas looked at his hands, his mind reeling at the thought of never using them again. 'Stop. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Legolas. You have a mission to finish.'
Aragorn turned to look at Mithfalas, but the other elf had disappeared. "Nifren, can we go to him?"
"Not yet."
Legolas took a deep breath, composing himself. "Do you see? He is not here! He is gone!"
The forest was silent. Legolas turned his eyes to Aragorn and nodded, then fell to the ground.
"Legolas!" Aragorn jumped from the tree, not caring how he landed. What mattered was getting to his friend.
"He's all right!" Nifren yelled from behind him. "He jus' fainted from shock!"
Aragorn did not hear him; he was rolling the prince onto his back, instinctively checking for vitals. Everything was fine; even his heart rate was normal.
"This is my fault," he groaned, more to himself than anything. "Stupid elf."
Legolas' eyes shifted into focus at that point, meeting the concerned gaze of Aragorn. "Why is it always you I see instead of my she-elf in bathing wear?"
"You have to stop doing this to me, Legolas!"
"Me stop doing this to you? Have you noticed who's always the injured one in these situations? Like now?" He held up one of his hands, which were still bleeding, for emphasis.
"We have to fix those."
Legolas shook his head. "Not now. He'll back, trust me. We need another plan of attack. Where's my brother?" He added as an afterthought.
"I'm not sure," Nifren answered. "He jus' disappeared after our traitor left."
"Strider, you're in danger now. I recognize him and he knows it!"
Aragorn blinked. "What? Who is he?"
"It's Mar!"
"What? We killed him!"
"That's what I said."
"Who's Mar?" Nifren interjected.
Strider shook his head. "That's a story for another day. Help me get Legolas to his feet."
"No," Legolas said, pulling his arm out of the humans' way. "I can do it."
Nifren looked to Aragorn, but the man just nodded. He watched Legolas struggle, but make it to his feet.
"It would have been easier if you had let us help."
Legolas only shot a glance at Aragorn before he sighed. The human seemed to have read his mind.
"Don't think about them, Legolas. You'll be fine in no time."
"Do not lie to me, human."
And there it was, Legolas was getting irritable, though Aragorn couldn't blame him. He watched flickers of grimaces cross the elf's face, but if he had not been looking for them, he would not have seen them. Legolas was a lot stronger than Aragorn ever gave him credit for.
"I've told everyone to relocate to our inn," Mithfalas said, walking through the trees and making both humans jump. Legolas could not look at his brother. "That way, should he come, he won't be leaving."
"Good, we can figure out what we're going to do from there," Nifren answered.
Mithfalas put a hand on Legolas' shoulder, pulling him away from the two humans. Aragorn noticed this and kept walking with Nifren.
"Legolas, look at me."
The prince obeyed.
"You'll be able to use them again. I promise you that."
"I'm fine, Fal. Let's just go." Legolas started to pull away from his brother's grasp, expecting to be left alone. Thranduil never pushed him about these things.
The other elf pulled Legolas back. "No, Legolas, you're not fine. Did you even tell Strider about your side?"
"What about it? Nothing is wrong."
Mithfalas pulled his brother into a warm but firm embrace. Legolas winced. With each small gasp he let escape, Mithfalas lessened his hold.
"Do you yet see my point, Prince?"
Legolas nodded, tears springing into his eyes. "Fal. . .?"
"Yes?"
"I'm going to pass out now."
"What? Legolas!" The elf fell limp in his brother's arms. "Strider!" He yelled, gently lowering Legolas to the forest floor. "Strider, help me!"
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Reviewers:
Lady Aqawondel: I didn't mean to take my time, lol. My internet was down for six weeks! Sheesh!
Das Blume: My internet was down too. For six weeks. Grrrrr. Lol, hope yours is doing better! And yes, a tone of work, the book that I ACTUALLY am working on, internet probs. . . ::rolls eyes:: Life. Can't live with it, can't live without it.
Grumpy: Thank you. And don't worry, he'll meet Arwen next story :-D
Arayelle Lynn: HAHAH! That's why I am never worried about death threats! Oh, and look, another cliffie!
Coolio02: Hm, this cliff hanger is bad too, huh? I'm such a horrible, cruel author. And I enjoy it!
Wildfire2: Hm, yeah, Leggy's just kind of. . . sad right now. So's Aragorn, actually. Is the elf banged up enough for you? Don't worry, I need Fal for a few more stories.
Jazi: I am reading your new story, I just haven't reviewed yet! I got so far behind b/c of the internet being down. ::Sigh.:: Lol, looks like our two favorite elves have been causing you strife! I'm glad to have Fal back, though. I missed him. My internet was down for 6 weeks. It was awful! I beta for a lot of people too and I couldn't get any of their stuff back to them. Haha, sure, I'll babysit for ya. I think I owe you that at least!
Angel with no wings: Yeah, I know, FF.net got all weird on my with the formatting and I hope this one is better! Sorry about that. This doesn't count as a cliffie, does it?
F h c: Hm. Yes, Mar is back! He's an evil little bogey. He was actually supposed to make his appearance in the next story, but then things just worked out here, so I need to change a few characters around in the next one. . .
Silvertoekee: I know, it was weird not have them together. I was writing, and suddenly one or the other would pop up and I'd have to send him back. They don't seem to like it much either.
Deana: Lol, are you happy or what? Thanks for the great review!!!
Oscar da Grouch: Email me! It keeps sending your emails back, so I don't know how else to get a hold of ya!
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Mithfalas had to fight to stay where he was as his little brother pulled out his knives and fought against the man's sword. If he helped his brother, the man would know to look to the trees, which would give away Strider and Nifren. Who knew how many men the traitor had hidden himself? He had just let his brother jump into a trap.
The sword knocked one of the prince's blades from his hand, leaving him on the defensive. Mithfalas was restraining himself. Aragorn was ready to jump to his friend's aid, and probably would have had it not been for Nifren restraining him.
Legolas lost his breath as he was knocked to the ground. "Where is he?" The man hissed.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Legolas panicked at being straddled and squirmed subconsciously.
"You do. Tell me where he is." The man smiled evilly at the prince, pinning him to the ground. "I can take away the one thing you cherish. Go ahead, Elf, lie to me again. I'll do it."
Legolas shuddered to think of what the man had in mind, but he would not give his friend's position away.
"Tell me where the ranger is."
"Never!" The fear in his voice betrayed his stoic expression.
"You brought this upon yourself, then." The man grabbed the archer's hands, pinning them above his head.
Aragorn tried to rush forward as he saw the traitor raise a dagger, but Nifren held him back.
"Let me help him!"
"No!" Nifren hissed.
The dagger drove downward, straight through the prince's palms. To his own shame, Legolas screamed in agony. The pain was almost unbearable, which surprised Legolas, remembering everything he had been through before.
He felt bones shatter. His hands were. . .
"Useless," the man whispered in the elf's ear, reading his thoughts. "Even with your healing abilities, I doubt you'll ever be able to use a bow again. Shame, isn't it?"
Legolas was crying, but he had stopped struggling. Any movement would only cause more injury to his hands.
Aragorn had looked away before he saw what happened, but the scream did not let him deny that it surely had taken place. He looked into Nifren's eyes, pleading with him. "Let me go to him."
"Not yet. Strider, if we go now, he will only kill Legolas. I understand that ye want to help him, but ye would only be condemning him."
Aragorn turned back so that he could see his friend. Legolas was staring right at him, tears running unchecked down the elf's face. They locked eyes for only an instant before guilt consumed the man. He broke the eye contact, leaving Legolas to his pain.
"Tell me where he is, and I'll end your torment." He pushed his knee into Legolas' side. The elf gasped before he heard a faint cracking noise.
"I will never betray him," He spat out.
"As you wish. I will leave you with your agony." To the prince's surprise, the man stood and walked away. Part of the prince relaxed, dark memories fading again as he was un-straddled.
Aragorn started forward again as soon as the traitor disappeared into the trees. This time, however, it was Legolas' voice that stopped him.
"Baw," he said, speaking in elvish so that the traitor would think he was only speaking to himself. "Stay put, Estel. He is hiding in the edge of the clearing. He is waiting for you. Stay where you are."
"What did he say?" Nifren asked.
Aragorn did not answer. He was watching with amazement as the prince slowly lifted his hands. "What's he doing?"
The prince grimaced in pain, but kept moving his hands steadily upward. The blade pulled from the soft earth easily enough, freeing his hands at least that much. Pausing, catching his breath, Legolas looked at his own blade. He had been ruined by his own weapon.
'You are some warrior,' he told himself sarcastically. 'Ada would be really proud.'
Placing the hilt of the dagger between his knees, he gently pulled his hand upward. Tears sprang into eyes as the metal slid through his hand. He gasped when the air reached it.
Ignoring the burning pain of his free hand, he set his attention on the hand still trapped. He pulled it off the same way, using his knees, and could barely suppress his screams when the air touched that wound too.
It was all Aragorn could do to stay hidden in the trees as Legolas tried to re-sheath his knife. It took him several tries, his frustration growing at the uselessness of his hands. Finally, he managed it, then using his legs to push himself to his feet. It was then that Aragorn saw how much of the prince's blood had stained the earth.
Legolas looked at his hands, his mind reeling at the thought of never using them again. 'Stop. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Legolas. You have a mission to finish.'
Aragorn turned to look at Mithfalas, but the other elf had disappeared. "Nifren, can we go to him?"
"Not yet."
Legolas took a deep breath, composing himself. "Do you see? He is not here! He is gone!"
The forest was silent. Legolas turned his eyes to Aragorn and nodded, then fell to the ground.
"Legolas!" Aragorn jumped from the tree, not caring how he landed. What mattered was getting to his friend.
"He's all right!" Nifren yelled from behind him. "He jus' fainted from shock!"
Aragorn did not hear him; he was rolling the prince onto his back, instinctively checking for vitals. Everything was fine; even his heart rate was normal.
"This is my fault," he groaned, more to himself than anything. "Stupid elf."
Legolas' eyes shifted into focus at that point, meeting the concerned gaze of Aragorn. "Why is it always you I see instead of my she-elf in bathing wear?"
"You have to stop doing this to me, Legolas!"
"Me stop doing this to you? Have you noticed who's always the injured one in these situations? Like now?" He held up one of his hands, which were still bleeding, for emphasis.
"We have to fix those."
Legolas shook his head. "Not now. He'll back, trust me. We need another plan of attack. Where's my brother?" He added as an afterthought.
"I'm not sure," Nifren answered. "He jus' disappeared after our traitor left."
"Strider, you're in danger now. I recognize him and he knows it!"
Aragorn blinked. "What? Who is he?"
"It's Mar!"
"What? We killed him!"
"That's what I said."
"Who's Mar?" Nifren interjected.
Strider shook his head. "That's a story for another day. Help me get Legolas to his feet."
"No," Legolas said, pulling his arm out of the humans' way. "I can do it."
Nifren looked to Aragorn, but the man just nodded. He watched Legolas struggle, but make it to his feet.
"It would have been easier if you had let us help."
Legolas only shot a glance at Aragorn before he sighed. The human seemed to have read his mind.
"Don't think about them, Legolas. You'll be fine in no time."
"Do not lie to me, human."
And there it was, Legolas was getting irritable, though Aragorn couldn't blame him. He watched flickers of grimaces cross the elf's face, but if he had not been looking for them, he would not have seen them. Legolas was a lot stronger than Aragorn ever gave him credit for.
"I've told everyone to relocate to our inn," Mithfalas said, walking through the trees and making both humans jump. Legolas could not look at his brother. "That way, should he come, he won't be leaving."
"Good, we can figure out what we're going to do from there," Nifren answered.
Mithfalas put a hand on Legolas' shoulder, pulling him away from the two humans. Aragorn noticed this and kept walking with Nifren.
"Legolas, look at me."
The prince obeyed.
"You'll be able to use them again. I promise you that."
"I'm fine, Fal. Let's just go." Legolas started to pull away from his brother's grasp, expecting to be left alone. Thranduil never pushed him about these things.
The other elf pulled Legolas back. "No, Legolas, you're not fine. Did you even tell Strider about your side?"
"What about it? Nothing is wrong."
Mithfalas pulled his brother into a warm but firm embrace. Legolas winced. With each small gasp he let escape, Mithfalas lessened his hold.
"Do you yet see my point, Prince?"
Legolas nodded, tears springing into his eyes. "Fal. . .?"
"Yes?"
"I'm going to pass out now."
"What? Legolas!" The elf fell limp in his brother's arms. "Strider!" He yelled, gently lowering Legolas to the forest floor. "Strider, help me!"
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Reviewers:
Lady Aqawondel: I didn't mean to take my time, lol. My internet was down for six weeks! Sheesh!
Das Blume: My internet was down too. For six weeks. Grrrrr. Lol, hope yours is doing better! And yes, a tone of work, the book that I ACTUALLY am working on, internet probs. . . ::rolls eyes:: Life. Can't live with it, can't live without it.
Grumpy: Thank you. And don't worry, he'll meet Arwen next story :-D
Arayelle Lynn: HAHAH! That's why I am never worried about death threats! Oh, and look, another cliffie!
Coolio02: Hm, this cliff hanger is bad too, huh? I'm such a horrible, cruel author. And I enjoy it!
Wildfire2: Hm, yeah, Leggy's just kind of. . . sad right now. So's Aragorn, actually. Is the elf banged up enough for you? Don't worry, I need Fal for a few more stories.
Jazi: I am reading your new story, I just haven't reviewed yet! I got so far behind b/c of the internet being down. ::Sigh.:: Lol, looks like our two favorite elves have been causing you strife! I'm glad to have Fal back, though. I missed him. My internet was down for 6 weeks. It was awful! I beta for a lot of people too and I couldn't get any of their stuff back to them. Haha, sure, I'll babysit for ya. I think I owe you that at least!
Angel with no wings: Yeah, I know, FF.net got all weird on my with the formatting and I hope this one is better! Sorry about that. This doesn't count as a cliffie, does it?
F h c: Hm. Yes, Mar is back! He's an evil little bogey. He was actually supposed to make his appearance in the next story, but then things just worked out here, so I need to change a few characters around in the next one. . .
Silvertoekee: I know, it was weird not have them together. I was writing, and suddenly one or the other would pop up and I'd have to send him back. They don't seem to like it much either.
Deana: Lol, are you happy or what? Thanks for the great review!!!
Oscar da Grouch: Email me! It keeps sending your emails back, so I don't know how else to get a hold of ya!