Stonewain
Legolas struggled to wake. After several attempts he managed to squint up at the bright blue sky overhead. He tried to move but was pinioned beneath a heavy body. Very rapidly he remembered where he was and why. With tremendous effort he sat up holding onto the naked human that was draped across him.
"Aragorn," he whispered in relief.
ooo
A natural shelf had formed high up along one of the ridges of the White Mountains. It was shielded in part by two angular boulders that had fallen from higher still and settled there many years ago.
It was to this precarious shelter that Legolas had made his way with his precious burden. They were protected from the worst winds and rain and hidden from the eyes of any who should casually seek them.
Here Aragorn lay, more man than beast, dead to the world. His long hair framed his tired face and gently spilled onto his shoulders and belly. His body had lost the bulk of the Gaurhoth form and Legolas now saw how gaunt the ranger had become. His body was stained with blood, soil and grass. Even his face was smeared with it. Though it did not serve any practical purpose, Legolas cleaned him as best he could, using the cold drops of rain that fell throughout the morning and a ragged piece of his clothing.
He kept watch at the mouth of their shallow den, should the Drúedain leave their forest home to seek them out. Though he had less than half of his quiver full, he could and would make a dreadful tally of their number. So far he had seen only an eagle soaring high overhead…
He slept deeply as he must for he had gone well beyond the point at which waking dreams sufficed. His body was in need of sustenance and care and his mind was in need of solace. The rain fell almost all morning, bringing a quiet hush to the valley. It gave a sense of protection to the wood elf as he kept his lonely vigil. Many times Aragorn had fidgeted in sleep. Each time Legolas had hoped that he would awaken. As he groaned again, Legolas turned to watch him silently, willing him to open his eyes… and then he did.
His eyes, usually grey in colour, seem to shine bright silver. He blinked slowly, not seeming to see Legolas sitting there so still. Aragorn's hand crept up to his shoulder as though remembering the wound he had received. Then abruptly he sat up, a wild and frightened look in his eyes.
Legolas did not move for he did not know how Aragorn would react. But Aragorn reached out with a shaking hand and took hold of a tangle of his hair that hung in splendid disarray over his shoulders. He brought it close to his face in disbelief and then, looked into the eyes of his elven brother.
"I thought I had killed you," he said in a voice that bespoke his grief.
There was such little space in the alcove that all Legolas had to do was lean forward. They held each other in wordless relief, each wanting to speak, but not knowing what to say.
Finally Aragorn pulled back and really looked at Legolas. From head to toe he examined him noting every bruise and mar. He turned his arms about so that he could better see his injury. The long cut on his arm was not yet healing. Aragorn saw that his pupils were too large and there was a raw scrape along his face. A vein pulsed rapidly in his throat signalling that all was not well.
Legolas bore the examination patiently, even bending forward so that Aragorn could probe the wound at the back of his head. Aragorn finished with a sigh and placed a hand against Legolas' cheek. Legolas leaned into the touch and closed his eyes. They both knew that the examination was superfluous. There was nothing to be done about the bruises and cuts. They had no medicine, no bandages or clean water to use. But it was nice to pretend.
Aragorn drew Legolas forward until their foreheads were touching.
"I am sorry I hurt you," Aragorn said.
Legolas sighed, "You did not hurt me Aragorn. It is this thing inside you."
He caught up a lock of Aragorn's hair that fell to his waist and held it up between them.
"It is part of me." Aragorn replied in anguish.
"It need not be," countered the elf.
"You say that after what you have seen with your own eyes."
They were face to face arguing in a space too small to contain such emotion.
"That is why I believe it need not overcome you."
"I cannot… stop it. It possesses me entirely."
"T'is not true, some of you remains."
Aragorn shook his head flatly denying Legolas' words.
"I have seen it, with my own eyes." Legolas said forcefully taking hold of Aragorn's shoulders.
Aragorn pulled away, angry at Legolas for giving him any hope.
"Saes mellon nin," Legolas began, but Aragorn grabbed his wrists and squeezed them painfully.
Legolas gasped.
"See this," Aragorn said menacingly. "Even now I could break you like a twig, I am the beast."
Legolas put aside the pain.
"Then do it," he said evenly, looking calmly into Aragorn's silver eyes.
Aragorn was aghast at the suggestion. He dropped the elf's hands as though they burned him and turned away.
"And this is what I see," Legolas said to him softly. "You are still the man I know and call friend and brother." He tried to smooth away the thick locks that shielded Aragorn's face, but the ranger shied away from his touch.
Legolas caught his face between his hands and forced Aragorn to look at him. Aragorn's eyes were bright with unshed tears.
"This is what I see," he repeated quietly.
ooo
The two sat huddled together watching out at the falling rain. They talked of many things but uppermost had been the people of the Druadan. Neither elf nor man understood the motives or passions of these warriors. Aragorn admitted to being tricked into believing Legolas dead. Legolas revealed the gift of his weapons, returned, he was sure so that Aragorn would be slain. Both felt however, that the Druedain would not cross their own border to pursue them.
After a time they fell silent and Legolas slipped into a deep sleep. When he realized this Aragorn adjusted them both so that Legolas reclined against him, head tucked under his chin. The elf's skin was flushed and Aragorn knew that he had a mild fever. The wound on his head was clotted with matted hair and dirt and overlaid with dried blood. Aragorn could tell it was a deep cut and that it had bled profusely. All the hair at the back of Legolas' head was stained red.
"Ai mellon nin, what a pair we make." Aragorn said to the sleeping elf.
Even in sleep Legolas groaned a little as Aragorn examined the wound. It was tender and swollen. Though it was not fatal of itself, given time and lack of proper care it would kill the elf as surely as any weapon.
ooo
Aragorn gazed out onto the lush green valley. The grasses were thick and ripe with seed. From where he sat he could clearly see insects scurrying about among the narrow leaves. The day was almost half gone and so was the rain. It had left everything looking clean and refreshed. Aragorn could smell the water as it dripped down leaves, soaked into the earth and trickled off the mountain.
He was not affected by daylight as he had been before the change. In fact he felt superbly healthy. His hearing was so sharp that the buzzing of insect wings came to him from a mile below. He could see so well that each individual leaf on the trees at the edge of the forest was clear to him. He smiled a little to himself wondering if this was how the world appeared to Legolas. If so, he thought, it was truly a marvellous thing to be an elf.
ooo
With a startled jerk, Legolas awoke to find himself alone in the shallow den. Panicked at the thought that Aragorn had returned to the forest he crawled the short distance to the opening, seeking the ranger's figure in the valley below.
"Hungry?" the voice came from his left.
He turned to see Aragorn seated on the lip of the shelf, a small pile of berries, nuts and seeds at his side.
"I thought you might want these when you woke up." Aragorn said with a grin.
Legolas carefully negotiated the narrow path on all fours. He did not feel at all well. He did not trust himself to stand. Soon though he was munching on tasty nuts and chewing on succulent berries.
Eating made him feel a bit better.
Aragorn watched him eat, noting the way berry juice ran down his very dirty fingers when they burst too soon. He noted the way he cracked each nut with his teeth before popping them into his mouth. With each mouthful Legolas took, Aragorn's hunger grew. But, he had no taste for berries or nuts. To distract himself he asked,
"What happened to your boots?"
In between mouthfuls Legolas said, "I seem to have misplaced them somewhere."
Aragorn gave a wry grin, "I see," he said.
ooo
The rain began to pour around mid afternoon. In joyous abandon Legolas stripped off his tattered clothing and let the rain beat upon his naked skin. The rain water sluiced away the dirt that had encrusted him from head to foot. It rinsed the blood from his hair, neck and back. He cupped his hands and drank his fill of it.
Aragorn, who at the first drops sought shelter, watched him from the mouth of the den. His eyes, that seemed to shine brighter as the day wore on, followed every movement of Legolas' hands as he rubbed his body clean. He tracked the movement of the water as it ran in pink tinged rivulets down the elf's back, buttocks, sides and legs. He watched him comb his fingers through his wet hair, pulling free bits of leaves as bark. He watched him as he turned his face up to the sky and just let the rain beat down on him.
Aragorn could smell his special scent as though Legolas were sitting right beside him. He licked his lips as he though he could taste his soft flesh.
oo
Aragorn moved over to make room for the sopping wet elf, who had finally decided to come out of the rain. He was shivering, though he did his best to conceal it from Aragorn. Annoyed, Aragorn snatched the elf's soaking wet clothes from his hands, wrung it out and used it to rub the elf as dry as he could get.
"You would risk your very life for a bath?" he growled as he squeezed out the excess water from elf's long hair.
"I f-feel m-much b-better," Legolas replied.
"Obviously," Aragorn snorted.
Legolas decided he would let the ranger have the last word. He sat meekly hugging his knees to his chestand let Aragorn rub him down.
ooo
Outside the rain continued unabated and the wind picked up. Aragorn sat at the mouth of their little den watching the rain fall. He felt restless and longed to leave the mountain for the valley below. He wanted to prowl among the trees, to feel the long blades of grass slip past his skin as he stalked through them. But he knew that he would not, not yet. Not with Legolas ill. He would stay with him as long as he possible. Until he felt he could control himself no longer.
Legolas shivered frequently even though the den was not very cold. When Aragorn touched him he felt the heat of fever on his skin. They looked at each other for a moment then Aragorn enfolded Legolas in his arms. A deep sorrow engulfed him.
"Forgive me mellon nin," he said. "We shall die out here unmarked and forgotten."
This time Legolas had no words of comfort to offer.
ooo
As evening came Aragorn was almost beside himself with hunger. He squirmed restlessly trying not to think about how enticing Legolas smelled. The elf lay supine, head upon Aragorn's lap. His skin was hot and his head throbbed continuously. In his fever induced haze he seemed unaware of their situation. He idly played with a lock of Aragorn's hair twining it around his fingers. As Aragorn's stomach rumbled yet again he asked.
"Are you hungry Aragorn?"
"Yes," replied Aragorn tightly.
"Then eat, there is some food left."
"I do not hunger for nuts and berries Legolas."
Legolas frowned and tried to understand.
"Then what do you hunger for?" he asked.
Aragorn swallowed hard and stared out at the valley. He did not answer.
ooo
With shaking fingers Aragorn folded Legolas' damp clothes, knelt and placed them under his head. He folded the elf's arms on his chest and placed his weapons near him. It was time to go. He leaned down and kissed his hot cheeks and lips. Legolas eyes were closed and he appeared to be asleep.
"Namarrie mellon nin, I hope to see you again, one day." Aragorn said, smoothing Legolas' golden hair in place.
He rose swiftly and left the den. His feet took him quickly down the slope, off the mountain and into valley below. He cared not where or how he walked as he wandered aimlessly in the gathering dark. Tears slowly trickled down his lean cheeks unchecked, as he gave way to sorrow. He finally stopped on the bank of a small stream that meandered through the vale. There he slept.
ooooooooo
Namarrie mellon nin……..Goodbye my friend
Saes…….please
To;
Lindahoyland…. I solemnly promise no more deer eating.
Mornflower… I make it up as I go ( is your errrrrm brother okay?)
Anonymous…. Hope this was soon enough.
Ainu Laire… Glad you like it.
Tanya… To kill him while he was human would have been murder of an innocent life so it sort of a paradox they have made themselves.
X JustAGirlx….. Thank you
Am …. You are very kind. Thanks
Shanna…… espero que te disfrutas del capitulo 7 y gracias por el review simpatico.
Grumpy….. Ai! I need that darned wolfsbane!
Maethril Aranel……. Thanks for taking the time.
Quickbeam…. Legolas sandwich, hmmmmmm.