Thanks for the reviews everyone! I hope you like it! Oh, jast as a note the rating may go up to "R" at Chapter 25 just to be safe because of upcoming violence descriptions and other events.
Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings. It all belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien and the movie producers. I only own Amaris.
Number 23: Found
Amaris was awoken when she felt herself being thrown to the ground. She kept her eyes closed but tried to focus on the sounds around her. She heard something scurrying closer to her. "Amaris!" a voice exclaimed in a whisper. "Amaris, please wake up!" She slowly opened her eyes only to be looking into the worried eyes of Pippin.
"Where are we Pippin?" she whispered her voice harsh and dry. Pippin looked around and at Merry who shook his head saying he didn't know.
"We don't know Amaris. They stopped and threw us on the ground just outside a forest," he said quickly in a hushed voice but her ears were able to pick it up. She nodded understanding that they were just outside Fangorn Forest.
"Don't worry it will be alright Pippin," she paused when she felt light headed again. "If anything should happen, run into the forest and if I am not awake leave me behind I will be alright." Pippin shook his head.
"No, Amaris, you need to stay awake," he said as he gently shook her shoulder. But Amaris didn't listen and she slipped once again into blackness.
Amaris felt someone gently shaking her shoulder. "Milady?" the deep voice asked. She opened her eyes and the man looked over his shoulder. "She is alive!" he shouted and another man who seemed to be the leader of the group appeared behind the man in front of her. He glanced at her quickly.
"Hanon, take her with you when we stop at mid-day you can dress her wounds," he paused and looked at her. "What is your name milady?" Amaris looked at the man and sighed. Her head spun and her leg hurt like mad.
"Amaris." Was all she managed before blackness overcame her once more because of blood loss and the blow to her head.
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Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli had been running and tracking the Uruks for three days and the sun was rising on the fourth day. Aragorn and Gimli were tired but continued on strong to save their friends. Legolas, however, was no where near tired. He was too overcome with worry and wondering if she was well. They had found the clip to one of their cloaks along they way and knew that they may be alive but his hope was fading.
Legolas ran behind Aragorn but paused briefly as the sun peaked over the horizon. "A red sun rises. Blood has been spilt this night," he whispered and his heart began to beat even harder. They came upon a ridge and in the distance he spotted riders. "Riders approach, we should take cover." Aragorn nodded and they dove behind several boulders but once they saw that they were Riders of Rohan, Aragorn stepped out and called to them.
"Riders of Rohan! What news from the mark?" The riders quickly turned and surrounded the three tired travelers.
"What business does a man, an elf, and a dwarf have in the Riddermark?" asked the leader. "Speak quickly."
"Give me your name horse master and shall give you mine," Gimli said as he looked up at the man on his horse. The man handed his spear and quickly dismounted his horse and walked over to Gimli.
"I would soon as cut your head off, dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground," he sneered. As quick as lightning Legolas drew a bow and aimed it at the rider.
"You would die before your stroke fell!" Legolas exclaimed only to have every spear pointed at him. Aragorn lowered Legolas' arm and spoke for the group.
"I am Aragorn son of Arathorn, this is Gimli son of Gloin, and Legolas of the Woodlen Realm. We are friends of Rohan and of Theoden, your king" The rider looked at Aragorn and removed his helmet revealing himself as Eomer nephew to the king.
"The king no longer recognizes friend from foe, not even his own kin," he said looking over the three as the spears were lifted. "The white wizard is cunning and everywhere his spies slip past our nets," Eomer said with his gaze locked on Legolas whose face remained neutral.
"We are not spies. We track a party of Ura kai that have taken three of our friends captive," Aragorn said and Eomer looked at him surprised.
"The Uruks are destroyed we slaughtered them during the night," Eomer said.
"Did you see two hobbits and a she-elf with them?" Gimli asked quickly.
"The hobbits would be small, only children to your eyes, and you would know the look of a she-elf," Aragorn said as he studied Eomer.
"We did not see any hobbits, but we found a badly injured she-elf," he paused and turned to his left. "Hanon!" A rider came forth with Amaris unconscious laying against his chest. Legolas' eyes went wide and he ran to the horses' side.
"Please, lower her to me," he said calmly. The rider looked towards Eomer who nodded. The rider lowered Amaris into Legolas' arms and Legolas quickly took her and laid her down on the soft grass by the boulder they were hiding by moments before. They all watched the elf move quickly as he began to dress her wounds.
"Thank you, for finding her," Aragorn said turning to Eomer. Eomer nodded and turned again.
"Hasufel, Arod!" he called and two beautiful horses come forth. He handed the reins to Aragorn and Gimli. "May these horses bring you better fortune then their former masters. Look for your friends but do not trust to hope. It has forsaken these lands." He mounted his horse and looked at the riders. "We ride north!" With that the riders vanished over the land. Aragorn and Gimli led the horses to Legolas as he finished cleaning and dressing the wound on her leg and moving his attention to the wound on her head.
"Legolas, how does she fare?" asked Aragorn as he kneeled next to him.
"The wound on her leg was on the verge of infection. The ointment you instructed me with should clear the infection, however, she seems to be unconscious from the wound to her head," he said as his eyes never left her form as he cleaned the cut on her forehead that was on a bump.
"We should give her some water," Aragorn said after Legolas finished bandaging her head. They gently lifted her head and poured water from their flask into her mouth. When the cool water hit her lips she began to cough and her eyes slowly opened. Her eyes were cloudy but she saw three forms looking over her. Amaris blinked several times before her vision became clear and the sight she saw brought a smile to her face.
"Is this a dream?" she asked her voice rough from lack of use and dryness.
"If this is a dream, meleth nîn, then it is the best dream I've ever had," Legolas said as he brushed hair from her face. Aragorn smiled at Legolas and looked at Gimli who was smiling as well. She looked around and saw she was no where near the forest.
"Where are we?" she asked looking between the three of them.
"The Riders of Rohan found you as they slaughtered the Uruks last night. We came across them this morning and they gave you to us," Aragorn said with a small smile that faltered when he looked towards the smoke filling the distance. Amaris slowly sat up but became lightheaded. She closed her eyes and she felt Legolas' arms around her helping her sit up.
"We must go look for Merry and Pippin," she paused as she opened her eyes. "I do not know what happened exactly last night but I do not believe that they were injured." She looked to Legolas whose eyes bore into hers and he could see all of the worry he felt melt away. "Could you help me stand, Legolas? We must ride as soon as possible." He nodded and Aragorn helped him get Amaris on her feet.
"Amaris shall ride with you Legolas. Gimli ride with me," Aragorn said as he helped lead Amaris to Arod. Legolas climbed on Arod and Aragorn handed Amaris up to Legolas. He positioned her in front of him and wrapped one arm around her waist securely.
"Do not worry, meleth nîn, I will not let you fall," he whispered in her ear as Aragorn pulled Gimli onto his horse. She smiled and laid her head on his chest as they began to ride. "I was lost without you. Please do not leave me again."
"I will try, meleth nîn, as long as you do not leave me." Amaris heard him smile and his hand on her waist gently rubbed her side.
"I will try." Legolas kissed the top of her head and urged Arod faster to catch up with Aragorn and Gimli.
