Feed

Power, he revelled in it. It flowed through his veins, pumping like blood into his limbs as he ran through the forest, unfettered and free. Like a very Lord he felt as he loped, at times on two legs at times on all fours, unafraid and unstoppable. He sensed the night's creatures scurrying away from his nearness, deathly afraid of this strange, new creature. He stopped and scented the air for his hunger burned unabated within him. It was time to feed. He considered and rejected many. Some were too small, some distasteful, some entirely unpalatable. But then he caught a scent that was familiar. Deer, said the memory of the man, all warm and cosy and sleeping. He growled in delighted anticipation.

With one powerful swipe he brought down the buck, breaking its neck with that single blow. He tore into the carcass with one sharp claw. The hot steamy scent of blood hit him in a wave of almost erotic fulfilment as the entrails spilled out in a greasy entangled heap. He lowered his face into the warm cavity, lips pulled back from pointed fangs. His first mouthful was ecstasy. He shivered with pleasure and gorged himself.

Legolas ran silently toward the sound, heedless of danger. A half formed plan fluttered in his mind. It took him some time to find the ranger, for in the form of the Gaurhoth he was swift, swifter than any other creature that walked the face of Arda. He came to a stop some distance away, watching with a heavy heart as Aragorn ripped into the carcass of the hapless deer. He raised his bow, sighting along the shaft carefully, blocking all thought from his mind. There was no margin for error. He must do it right the first time, for he would have no other chance.

Aragorn paused in his feast as though sensing him nearby.

Legolas let fly the arrow.

It hit him high in the shoulder. Aragorn gave a startled yelp and reared back in pain and surprise.

Legolas licked his lips in nervous anticipation as the beast stared at him. Aragorn's face was stained with blood as were his paws and chest. His face was sharper than Legolas remembered and dangerous fangs showed beneath his lips. But he was still mostly human in form. His body hair was thicker and coarser than normal, but he was not covered in fur as he should have been. His eyes, though more luminescent did not glow red as they should have.

"Know me ranger," Legolas said in the distance between them.

Aragorn blinked slowly as though released from a trance. He growled and reached for the shaft of the arrow that was sticking out of his shoulder with his teeth. He pulled and it came free. He spat it angrily to the ground. Then he looked up at the elf.

Legolas took a step back. Aragorn took one step forward.

"Very good Aragorn," Legolas murmured.

He stepped back again. Aragorn lowered his head and growled menacingly.

"Yes, that's right Aragorn," Legolas said stepping back again.

Aragorn gathered his limbs beneath him tense and ready to spring. In a flash Legolas spun and began to run. He ran with his heart in his hands, legs pumping furiously. He weaved through the trees deliberately taking a winding path that would impede the Gaurhoth's progress. Behind him he could hear the beast crashing through the undergrowth, closing the distance between with each stride. Legolas leaned forward and with a fresh burst of speed ran straight toward a great old birch. Behind, Aragorn quickened his pace. He would be on him in three strides, two strides, one…

Legolas made a mighty leap, swinging himself up into the safety of the tree. He felt the swoosh of air go past his legs as Aragorn's swipe missed him by a hair's breath. He climbed quickly, breathless and shaking, as below, the Gaurhoth growled in frustration. Legolas looked down. Snarling and growling Aragorn sprang at him, but fell far short. Again he lunged and again he missed his target. He began to pace in tight circles at the base of the tree, stopping now and then to eye his prey.

Legolas mentally measured the distance between the branch on which he stood and the nearest tree. Without pause he ran lightly along the branch, leapt into the air and neatly somersaulted to the neighbouring birch. He looked back to see Aragorn gazing at him in astonishment and then anger. The wolf beast growled and loped closer.

Legolas led the way through the forest and Aragorn followed. At times, when the werebeast tired of the game, Legolas would spur him on with well placed shots. Not intended to kill, the arrows did no more than draw blood. But they infuriated the beast. Aragorn would snarl and lunge at the elf as he sailed by overhead. Legolas knew that should he falter, or make the tiniest mistake the Gaurhoth would be on him in seconds. He would have no chance at all, no to speak, nor beg, not even to draw a final breath.

This seeming romp through the forest was no game. Legolas did indeed have a destination in mind. The only factor that played against them was time. He wanted to be beyond the border of the forest when the sun rose. The speed at which the Gaurhoth moved worked in his favour, for together they were moving through the forest briskly, racing east, away from the Drúedain and toward the edge of the Stonewain valley.

As the hours passed Legolas found himself slowing down. His head had begun to throb again and more than twice he had almost missed his intended target. His vision was blurred. When he gingerly reached up and examined the tender wound at the back of his head, he found no blood and thus was heartened.

o

He was standing, face pressed against a slender tree arms wrapped as far as they could reach around the trunk. Below Aragon slammed his bulk repeatedly against the young birch. The tree shook with every blow. As Legolas' cheek smacked against the rough bark for the fiftieth time, he groaned. His head felt as though it would split open at any minute and tumble from his tired body. He dared not open his eyes for wave after wave of dizziness assaulted his senses. And all because he had finally made a mistake. It had happened so quickly that even now he could not believe it. He had fallen.

ooo

Less than an hour ago, while taking a short respite from his exertions, Legolas' tired mind finally analysed what had been in front of his eyes for some time. The subdued grey light of predawn was filtering into the forest between the trunks of the trees. He was at last getting near to the forest's edge. Mayhap it was the relief or perhaps tiredness that caused him to misjudge the distance. But the second his feet left his perch he knew he would not make it. He was too low and as a result would miss the neighbouring branch completely. But not the tree. If he were lucky he would then have a few seconds, if that much, to scramble to safety.

Aragorn who had been watching him closely suddenly saw his opportunity to catch this annoying pest, with its sharp sticks and great speed. He jumped into the air as the elf sailed past and swiped at him with one taloned paw.

Aragorn claws hit Legolas' boot with such force, that it was cleanly ripped off his left foot. He was also thrown clear of the tree. He landed hard on the forest floor, hitting his head and twisting his arm, but he was up and moving in a flash, climbing the first tree at hand.

Aragorn, thinking he had caught the elf at last, tore into the boot with eager fangs, expecting the taste of hot flesh to fill his mouth. Instead his jaws encountered nothing but soft leather. He howled in frustration.

ooo

The thumping stopped, though several seconds passed before Legolas realized it. Daring to open his eyes, he looked down to see Aragorn whimpering and growling softly to himself. He was sitting on his haunches head bent low. Even from his position high in the evergreen, Legolas could tell that Aragorn was tiring. Turning to look ahead he saw that day was mere minutes from being born. The moon had already made its way across the sky and was ready to sink below the edge of the horizon. It was time to move on. Stooping briefly, he removed his remaining boot to eliminate error, and tucked it away. Bouncing lightly on the limb he was standing on to attract Aragorn's attention he then ran along its length, executed a perfect midair flip and landed safely in the next tree.

Aragorn had not moved. His head was turned away from the elf, looking back into the still depths of the forest. He seemed to be listening to something that only he could hear.

Legolas tried to recapture his attention, but Aragorn shook off the arrow as though it were no more than an irritating fly.

When he stood and slowly began making his way back into the forest, Legolas knew he had lost. Hastily he slid to the ground and called to Aragorn. The werebeast did not seem to hear him. Legolas closed his eyes and concentrated, straining to hear that which called to Aragorn so powerfully. At the very edge his senses, like the muted roar of a great river, the voice of the Druedain called.

In anguish Legolas watched him move away. Aragorn stumbled often and moved as though he were in pain. Legolas knew that as soon as the change was over he would have no strength at all. No strength to cover the distance to the forest border, no strength to fight off the Druedain.

"There must be someway to break their hold," he said to himself. Someway to bring Aragorn back to the chase whilst he had the speed and power.

Legolas shifted uneasily from one foot to the next, chewing at his bottom lip as he examined and discarded numerous possibilities. Then, as though a veil had been lifted from his mind, he knew what he had to do.

The sharp edge of the elven blade parted the tender flesh of his inner arm like so much parchment. Blood welled out of the wound to run down his arm into his upturned palm. In this, his own red blood he soaked the fletching of an arrow thoroughly.

Aragorn was now some fifteen lengths away.

Legolas knelt and carefully sighted along the shaft. He released the arrow with a sharp twang and a soft hiss of pain.

It sang a deadly song as it flew through the air, going directly for its mark.

The arrow tore a deep furrow along Aragorn's right shoulder and then smashed into the base of a tree. It quivered with the force of the impact.

Aragorn screamed a most inhuman scream and clamped a paw to his bleeding shoulder. He seized the offending arrow in anger, crushing it between his powerful jaws. The taste of fresh, sweet, elven blood filled his mouth. It drove him wild. It filled him with need…the desire to devour and destroy. Yet somewhere deep within, it also brought memories of gold hair and green leaves and infectious laughter. However, the beast won out.

Legolas began to run even before Aragorn had completely turned around. The hate that rolled off the beast was a palpable thing. He was running, not only for his life but Aragorn's as well. He put all doubt, fear and tiredness aside and ran as he had never run before. His entire being was focused on breaching the forest border. It seemed like only a few seconds had passed when he began to feel the earth vibrating beneath his feet every time Aragorn's paws hit the ground. Aragorn was too close. Legolas let his boot fall to the ground; it was beaded with drops of his blood. He could see weak daylight beyond the trees; he needed just a few moments more.

Aragorn paused briefly to sniff at the object which had fallen from his prey. The scent drove him on. He must have this creature, he must!

Legolas burst out of the forest into sunlight. He was breathless. The first rays of the sun were gently bringing to life the green of the valley of Stonewain. Behind him, indeed almost on top of him was the werewolf.

Even as the early light of day began to work its magic upon the Gaurhoth, it slammed into the still fleeing Legolas with a roar of triumph. Such force did the beast put forth that they tumbled, a tangled mass of limbs, hair and claws and disappeared into the high grasses of the green vale of Stonewain.

To:

Tanya…. Thanks for reviewing, lots more of the Druedain to come.

Ainu Laire. He ain't feelin' that bad.

Lindahoyland……. Hope this one was good reading for you.

Mornflower…… Errrrrr, okay.

xJustAGirlx……… Howdy

Shanna…. Muchisimas Gracias

Grumpy.. You know wolfsbane is not a bad idea. Do you know where it grows?

Maethril Aranel…….Thanks a lot, your review was very good for my flagging fingers.

Quickbeam1…….. Ah yes the blood….hmmm what can I say? Thanks for your beautiful review.