Waiting
Legolas leaned down as far as he could. One arm and both legs were wrapped around a sturdy branch as he hung precariously from the tree.
"Jump Aragorn I cannot reach."
Aragorn leapt but missed his outstretched hand. Legolas let go of the branch and hung by his legs only. Aragorn grinned at him for a moment because his long hair hung down like a curtain.
"Jump ranger before I leave you behind."
Aragorn leapt again and Legolas caught him by the forearms. Aragorn swung his legs seeking purchase on the branch overhead. Legolas grunted as Aragorn scrambled up and over him. Together they climber higher, not resting until they could no longer see the ground.
Aragorn sat with his back against the tree trunk while Legolas straddled a limb slightly above him.
"We will be safe enough for this night" he said.
Aragorn nodded and for a while neither of them spoke. Evening was nigh and the pale sunlight filtered through the leaves. It dappled their faces in shadow. The evening wind was blowing cool and light. Legolas relaxed and gave a small sigh. He stretched to ease the tension in his shoulders.
They were west of where he wanted to be for the Druedain had cleverly herded them closer to the middle of the forest. Yestermorn several warriors had shown themselves to them, but had not attacked. They simply stood there barring the way they meant to take. Legolas had not engaged them for doing so would have meant leaving Aragorn vulnerable. So they had simply turned and walked away. Though he did not want to, Legolas accepted that they were outmatched.
"How long to hunter's moon?" Aragorn asked softly.
"Two days hence." Legolas replied.
Aragorn looked up at him. Legolas looked weary. His beautiful face was hollowed and smudged with sweat and dirt. His long hair hung in sorry tangles about his shoulders. His tunic was torn and filthy, his leggings not much better. Even the long fingers of his hands were bruised and bloody. Aragorn had seen nothing more beautiful for a long time.
"Thank you for staying," he said.
Legolas gave a sad smile.
000
Days earlier…
The attack though not unexpected still came as a surprise to them. Legolas suddenly skidded to a stop as a wall of spears, shields and painted bodies surrounded them. He let Erin drop to the ground as he reached for and released two arrows at the warriors in front him. His arrows thudded into swiftly wielded shields. Aragorn meanwhile had lowered Muin to the ground and readied his bow.
Legolas held his aim steady while Erin scrambled to the recumbent form of his brother and covered him protectively. Aragorn faced left Legolas right. There was deadly silence on the path.
"We will not give up the boy." Aragorn said forcefully to the impassive faces around them. "You have done great evil to these young ones and their people. Let us pass."
There was no immediate response from the warriors, then one, more ornately coloured than the rest pushed slightly forward. He spoke harshly in a strange fluting tone and spread his arms wide. The response from the wall of warriors was deafening. They thumped their spears upon the ground and banged it against their shields. They began a low musical chanting, gently drumming their spears on the ground.
Legolas risked a glance at Aragorn who returned it with a puzzled stare. In the night's sky, the hunter's moon was rising.
000
Aragorn could not sleep that night, but he watched over Legolas while he did. For several days now, he had felt truly alive only at night. He raised his hands and looked at them in the pale star light. He could almost feel the blood rushing through his veins. His scalp tingled and his skin pulsed. He felt strong and alive… He turned his face up to the sky. Hunter's moon, already three quarters round had risen high. In two nights it would be full round and shine the brightest that it ever did.
000
Days earlier…
Muin's screams caused chills to ripple along Legolas' spine. The youth twisted and writhed on the ground, clawing at the earth like a demented thing. Aragorn had tried to calm him but he wrenched away from his touch, his body arching as though in pain.
The warriors had fallen silent at Muin's first cries for which Legolas was thankful. Their chanting had been disturbing to him. Aragorn was still kneeling over Muin while Legolas held Erin who was sobbing as though his heart was broken. Long had they put aside their weapons since it was clear that the Druedain warriors did not wish to kill them, but keep them there.
The moon hung full and low in the sky, shedding its pale golden glow over the forest. The path on which they were was awash with this light and thus it was that Aragorn, the closest to Muin, saw clearly, a thing that made him leap up and step back. He spun around and spoke harshly to Legolas and Erin.
"Back, both of you back!"
"What has happened?" cried Legolas
But Aragorn only drew his sword and stepped back quickly to their side.
Muin suddenly stood.
Then Legolas saw what Aragorn had. For a moment he was paralysed.
But Erin, little Erin, saw only that his brother was better. He slipped out from beneath Legolas' slack fingers and ran to Muin, arms wide in joy. Aragorn reached for him too late and his fingers just brushed the child's shoulders.
Then Erin was in his brother's arms. Muin caught him up and lifted him into the air.
Erin laughed.
For one eternal moment they stayed like that, a joyous picture of brothers reunited.
Then Muin, totally overcome plunged his elongated claws into Erin's back and roared. It seemed to Legolas and Aragorn that Erin trembled a little before Muin ripped him in two.
Legolas' breath came in gasps as Muin, roaring in pain, changed before their very eyes into a fell beast long thought to be vanished from the world.
"Run," whispered Aragorn.
They fled.
It was only long after that Legolas recalled that the warriors had disappeared.
000
"You must," Aragorn insisted calmly.
"No!" Legolas shouted stepping back, his face contorted with emotion.
"Legolas…" Aragorn began.
"I cannot," Legolas declared heatedly cutting Aragorn off in mid sentence. He did not want to hear the words. He folded his arms and turned away.
After a moment Aragorn gently turned him around. He traced the contours of Legolas' face with roughened fingers, pushed his hair back and placed his hands upon his shoulders. He looked at him with calm grey eyes and said,
"You know that I will change with the coming of the moon. You know that by whatever magicks they possess, they will have me in thrall as soon that happens. Then I will slay you and all others who cross my path. And that I could not bear. So, you must."
Aragorn once again took the dagger and pressed it into Legolas' unwilling hands.
"By your hands, not theirs," he said.
He removed the cloak and put it to one side, then he knelt and bared his neck.
"Strike true"
000
Days earlier…
"The trees … make for the trees!" Aragorn screamed. Legolas swerved left heading for the nearest one. He leapt caught onto a limb and swung himself up. Aragorn was but a few steps behind. But the beast was faster. Turning, Legolas saw that Aragorn would not make it. He steadied himself and sighted three arrows at the thing's head. He could not miss. Aragorn leaped, grabbed at the lowest branch and then the beast was on him. Legolas fired.
The beast howled, but the arrows had struck true. It stumbled and then fell taking Aragorn with it.
Legolas almost fell to the ground in his haste to get to the ranger.
"Aragorn!" he shouted.
He pushed the heavily furred body off the fallen man. Aragorn though was only winded. He sat up as Legolas shook him.
"The beast," he gasped in alarm.
"It is dead." Legolas said nodding at the carcass. "Come let us be gone from here."
Then he noticed the blood.
"You are wounded." Legolas said frowning.
Aragorn peeled back his shirt from the bleeding wound. Three vicious looking claw marks were grooved along his shoulder.
Aghast, Aragorn stared up at Legolas.
000
Aragorn came awake to the feel of a cool cloth wiping his brow. He tried to sit up, then realised he was bound. Opening his eyes, he saw Legolas tending to him.
"You are stubborn elf," he croaked.
"I am," Legolas agreed.
There was silence for a moment.
"Where are we?" Aragorn asked.
"A small cave, west of where we stopped."
"These vines will not hold me when it happens." Aragorn said.
"If it happens," countered Legolas.
With a quick flick of his dagger he cut the binds at Aragorn's ankles and wrists. Aragorn sat up rubbing his head. There was a tender swelling at his temple. Legolas smiled at the movement.
"You are stubborn elf," growled Aragorn.
"I am," agreed the elf smiling.
000
Days earlier…
Aragorn burned with a fever that was hot as the rays of a summer sun. It had taken hold of him as they tried to make their way through the forest. He shivered and groaned as Legolas fumbled with the ties of jerkin. To him the elf's touch was like coldest ice. When the cold waters of the icy river hit his naked skin, he screamed as though he were on fire.
"Law! Law! he screamed, thrashing in agony.
But Legolas only held him tighter and immersed him in the waters of the river.
"Saes daro saes!" Aragorn wailed flailing weakly.
"Sidh Aragorn," whispered Legolas kissing the top of Aragorn's head. "Dinnen, dinnen, it will pass!"
Aragorn began to sob, wretched tears that made him splutter and cough when he swallowed water that splashed into his mouth.
How long Legolas stood in the river waters he could not say, but after a time Aragorn lay quiet in his arms.
000
"Unnnuh."
A stream of warm vomit splashed onto the hard packed earth, as Aragorn's stomach heaved yet again.
He was on all fours in the dirt for the third time that morning. Legolas held back his hair from his face and supported him at the hips for he was growing weak. Aragorn groaned as his stomach clenched again. Legolas felt his body begin to tremble.
000
Days earlier…
Legolas sat with his back against the willow tree that grew on the bank of the river. He had loosely covered Aragorn with his cloak and now the ranger was almost asleep, his head pillowed on the elf's lap. Aragorn's skin was still warm but he had stopped shivering. Legolas had crushed some of the willow leaves and given Aragorn its bitter juice. It sometimes helped with fever. He unconsciously began to rub Aragorn's back.
He was at a loss as to what he should do. That Aragorn was afflicted with the bite of the Gaurhoth was certain. Was there a remedy? Legolas was sure that Elrond half elven would know, but Imladris was weeks away. Though Gondor was close he did not know of any great healers there. The rangers however were closer, if he could get to them they would know of a healer and if not they could secure him a horse so that the journey to Imladris would be halved. Yet at the moment naught could be done, for Aragorn could not travel.
000
Legolas lifted Aragorn's head gently so that he could drink clean water. Most of it ran down his chest. Legolas sat him up and slipped behind him to support his weight. Aragorn was breathing loudly in the stillness of the cave and leaned heavily on Legolas. He felt as weak as a newborn colt. A deep melancholic misery had taken hold of him.
"Why did you not strike?" his voice was soft and low.
Legolas hesitated a moment before replying.
"I do not believe you will succumb to this."
Aragorn shook with a silent laugh.
"Your blood is strong Aragorn; even now it fights this evil."
"It is not strong enough I fear."
Legolas did not reply, instead he rest his cheek upon Aragorn's head.
'Do not let them have me." Aragorn said to him.
"I will not." Legolas promised.
000
Days earlier…
They came out of the night, silent as shadows, forming a circle around Aragorn and him. Legolas started and reflexively reached for one of his knives, but one of the warriors held up his hand palm outward in a sign of truce. He approached the elf slowly never breaking his gaze. He carried no spear but a short wooden tool was in his hand. His body was so heavily tattooed that hardly any of his skin showed. He stopped when he was no more than three feet away from Legolas.
Though he was seated Legolas kept his blade trained on the warrior. He seemed unperturbed by it. He pointed at Aragorn who lay sleeping peacefully.
"We for him have come," he spoke in halting Westron, in a lilting voice.
"He is not yours to have." Legolas replied.
The warrior bowed his head for one moment, as though in acknowledgement, then said.
"To us you must give him."
Legolas did not reply but pulled his other knife.
Still the small warrior was calm. Again he pointed at Aragorn.
"Gaurhoth." He said simply. Then he touched the totem of the wolf that he wore around his neck.
Legolas understood then that these people worshipped the werebeast. Aragorn had killed their deity thus he was to be the replacement.
"You will not take him." Legolas declared.
But the wily warrior only smiled. He bowed again and when he raised his head the wooden tube was at his lips. He blew forcefully before Legolas could react and a hail of small darts hit the elf in the throat.
By the time Legolas had awoken they had taken Aragorn and all their weapons. The only weapon he still possessed was his short dagger that he kept concealed in his boot. Dizzy and disoriented from the drugged darts, Legolas began his search. He took three days to find the lair. Two more days passed as he wandered underground in near despair trying to find Aragorn.
Aragorn had been imprisoned in the deepest darkest hole out of which it was impossible to climb. Naked, alone and half mad with thirst, hunger and fear, his piercing cries were all that finally led Legolas to him.
Theirs had been a nightmare escape.
To
Deana …….. Thanks and I hope you enjoyed this one.
Viggomaniac,……. thanks for reading and liking and also your review, both of them had me in stitches.
AM …….uh huh!
Mornflower…….. You made my day
Tanya…… Oh my! You are very generous with your review.
Lindahoyland….. Thanks for the info, but I love to take liberties with my ranger
Shanna……. Gracias mi amiga, espero que sientes bien pronto.
Angel…… But he does so it so well. ( smile)
Ainu Laire….. I hope I answered all your questions and more. (And Aragorn is exaggerating.) Really!
Grumpy…… More chair edging heading your way. Thank you for your review.
Elven words;
Dinnen, be quiet
Sidh Hush
Saes daro saes please stop please
Law! No ( also written as Baw) I prefer this one.