"Legolas. Legolas awake."
The unfamiliar voice caused Legolas to jerk awake. He looked around warily to find Aragorn kneeling near the rekindled fire. It took Legolas a moment to realize what was going on. After the elf's tale last night Aragorn claimed first watch. Glancing around Legolas recognized the graying light of dawn. He rose to his feet angrily to glare at the man.
"I do not need your kindness! I could have taken my own watch!" Legolas spat.
The human raised his hands in irritated defeat. "Can't I do anything right for you? I used my judgment as a healer, you needed rest and the toxin was still in your veins. You did not sleep well as it was."
"Keep your opinions to yourself human!"
"Fine!" Aragorn growled sitting back down by the fire. He tended to the small breakfast pointedly ignoring the furious elf.
"I-
That was as far as Legolas got before he whipped around drawing his bow. Aragorn rose hurriedly drawing his sword. Legolas cocked his head studying the brush intently for a minute before snapping off a shot. There was a yelp then a growl.
"Wargs, at least two more." Legolas replied fitting another arrow. He turned slightly tracking movement on his right.
"Well at least they didn't bring orcs with them."
Legolas couldn't help the small smile that threatened to surface. "That is supposed to be a good thing is it?"
Legolas let his arrow fly at the second warg just as the third broke cover. Aragorn stepped to the side as it lunged, his sword slicing into the creatures shoulder. The beast yelped, whirling again only to impale itself on the ranger's sword. Aragorn snorted with disgust, wiping his blade clean with a piece of cloth. He turned to find Legolas leaning casually on his bow.
Aragorn rolled his eyes as he sheathed the blade. "I am glad to know I have you for backup."
"You seemed to be doing just fine on your own." Legolas replied sniffing the air. "Is something burning?"
Aragorn's eyes widened as he rushed over to the fire. He yelped as he tried pulling the hot skillet from the fire. In a last resort Aragorn dumped the contents of his water skin over the fire.
Legolas looked disdainfully at the charred and watered food. "Well I guess there goes breakfast."
Aragorn chuckled reaching into his knapsack withdrawing an apple. "Not quite, here you go."
"So gracious."
~*~*~*~
The pair ate on the run following the tracks Aragorn had pointed out. With the new light of the day they were covering ground at a much faster rate. "It has only been about fourteen hours," stated Aragorn. "What are your friends chances? Are they still alive?"
Legolas nodded grimly. "Spiders tend to keep their prey alive for a couple of days."
"Then there is still hope."
They traveled for another hour before Aragorn stopped suddenly almost causing Legolas to crash into him. Aragorn smirked looking over his shoulder at the elf. "You know for an elf you're awful clumsy."
Legolas' jaw clenched for a moment before a saccharine sweet smile appeared. "Just remember human I'm your backup."
Aragorn grinned. The prince was good at trading jibes. "Just remember elf if I die, you are going to have to deal with my brothers."
"Nothing new there." Legolas replied. "Now was there a purpose for your sudden stop or are you out of breath?"
"The track is becoming more and more worn. There are signs of recent travel here and here." Aragorn pointed to the trampled brush. "I believe we are getting close."
Legolas nodded bringing his bow forward. "I have felt nothing yet."
"Let me know when you do."
They traveled more cautiously, pausing various times to check their surroundings. Aragorn stopped feeling Legolas grip his shoulder warningly. "We are getting close."
Aragorn nodded. He led them through dense ivy covering stopping to find a large dark cavern slashed into the side of a small rocky hill. "I think we've found the entrance."
Legolas' nose wrinkled in aversion. "It smells like orcs."
Aragorn frowned tracing several marks along the ground. "I don't think orcs occupy it anymore. These are spider tracks here."
The unfamiliar voice caused Legolas to jerk awake. He looked around warily to find Aragorn kneeling near the rekindled fire. It took Legolas a moment to realize what was going on. After the elf's tale last night Aragorn claimed first watch. Glancing around Legolas recognized the graying light of dawn. He rose to his feet angrily to glare at the man.
"I do not need your kindness! I could have taken my own watch!" Legolas spat.
The human raised his hands in irritated defeat. "Can't I do anything right for you? I used my judgment as a healer, you needed rest and the toxin was still in your veins. You did not sleep well as it was."
"Keep your opinions to yourself human!"
"Fine!" Aragorn growled sitting back down by the fire. He tended to the small breakfast pointedly ignoring the furious elf.
"I-
That was as far as Legolas got before he whipped around drawing his bow. Aragorn rose hurriedly drawing his sword. Legolas cocked his head studying the brush intently for a minute before snapping off a shot. There was a yelp then a growl.
"Wargs, at least two more." Legolas replied fitting another arrow. He turned slightly tracking movement on his right.
"Well at least they didn't bring orcs with them."
Legolas couldn't help the small smile that threatened to surface. "That is supposed to be a good thing is it?"
Legolas let his arrow fly at the second warg just as the third broke cover. Aragorn stepped to the side as it lunged, his sword slicing into the creatures shoulder. The beast yelped, whirling again only to impale itself on the ranger's sword. Aragorn snorted with disgust, wiping his blade clean with a piece of cloth. He turned to find Legolas leaning casually on his bow.
Aragorn rolled his eyes as he sheathed the blade. "I am glad to know I have you for backup."
"You seemed to be doing just fine on your own." Legolas replied sniffing the air. "Is something burning?"
Aragorn's eyes widened as he rushed over to the fire. He yelped as he tried pulling the hot skillet from the fire. In a last resort Aragorn dumped the contents of his water skin over the fire.
Legolas looked disdainfully at the charred and watered food. "Well I guess there goes breakfast."
Aragorn chuckled reaching into his knapsack withdrawing an apple. "Not quite, here you go."
"So gracious."
~*~*~*~
The pair ate on the run following the tracks Aragorn had pointed out. With the new light of the day they were covering ground at a much faster rate. "It has only been about fourteen hours," stated Aragorn. "What are your friends chances? Are they still alive?"
Legolas nodded grimly. "Spiders tend to keep their prey alive for a couple of days."
"Then there is still hope."
They traveled for another hour before Aragorn stopped suddenly almost causing Legolas to crash into him. Aragorn smirked looking over his shoulder at the elf. "You know for an elf you're awful clumsy."
Legolas' jaw clenched for a moment before a saccharine sweet smile appeared. "Just remember human I'm your backup."
Aragorn grinned. The prince was good at trading jibes. "Just remember elf if I die, you are going to have to deal with my brothers."
"Nothing new there." Legolas replied. "Now was there a purpose for your sudden stop or are you out of breath?"
"The track is becoming more and more worn. There are signs of recent travel here and here." Aragorn pointed to the trampled brush. "I believe we are getting close."
Legolas nodded bringing his bow forward. "I have felt nothing yet."
"Let me know when you do."
They traveled more cautiously, pausing various times to check their surroundings. Aragorn stopped feeling Legolas grip his shoulder warningly. "We are getting close."
Aragorn nodded. He led them through dense ivy covering stopping to find a large dark cavern slashed into the side of a small rocky hill. "I think we've found the entrance."
Legolas' nose wrinkled in aversion. "It smells like orcs."
Aragorn frowned tracing several marks along the ground. "I don't think orcs occupy it anymore. These are spider tracks here."