*looks up at clock* Well, that wasn't too long between updates, now was it? *Legolas nods in agreement* Have you see Mithfalas anywhere?
Legolas: Uh--no...*shifty eyes* why do you ask?
ForceOfHobbit: He's been missing for quite some time...
Legolas: Well, you know how he is, coming and going all the time...
ForceOfHobbit: Riiiiiiiiight...
Anywho, this giant plot-bunny jumped into my lap this morning, and won't seem to leave. So big stuff on the horizon, folks.
To my beloved readers:
Ancalimawen: Yes, I will leave you ther! where did you find Legolas' white knives? luckily for you, I will quickly upload another chapter:)
Beguile: You would never blow up elves would you? That's blasphemy! Anyway, I have to have some line of defense. How 'bout a peace treaty? You don't blow up my elves, and I'll supplement you with more chapters!
Starlit Hope: Thanks, I liked writing that chapter!
Marauderluver4-ever: Pippin needs to learn to use that brain of his a bit more often. Yay! I'm inspiring! Be sure to tell me when you have your story up!
Barbara Kennedy: We can all be devious little...well, you get the idea:) Awww, but what does Pippin do best? Gets himself into trouble! That's right!
grumpy: Thanks, that's one of the best compliments I've ever been given. I always try to keep them in character, even if it turns out to be AU.
Saxaphonebaby: A bit eager, are we? Hope you like this chapter!
Teari: Shuttup Strumpet!
elfmage: Thanks a lot! We've been going over imagery and sensory details in my advanced composition/ Novel class at school:)
********
Problems Along The Way
Chapter13
Safe In My Arms (You're Only Sleeping)
********
Legolas had been walking for quite some time. In fact, his injured leg was beginning to seize up, and he didn't think he could take much more. He leaned his back up against a tree for support, taking solace in the shiny, dark green leaves that made up the canopy above.
Suddenly, he was grabbed from behind. He tried to turn, but found he couldn't, as the grip was quite strong. He struggled and thrashed, upsetting his ribs and giving him a wild headache. He turned his head to face his attacker, and felt like a complete fool.
Thick vines were wrapped securely about his shoulders. He sighed, and calmed himself, as the vines further secured themselves around him. //I should have known that *they* would not abandon me...// dark thoughts of betrayal and anger towards the Fellowship flooded his mind. //At least the trees still care...// He shook his head to clear it. //What am I thinking? They did not abandon me, the quest is far more important// He chalked it up to fatigue, and took deep, calming breaths as he was lifted into the trees.
The vines carried him slowly, but they began to speed up. The ground beneath him began to blur and he lost sight of Bill the Pony's hoofprints below. He went faster and faster, being passed along with the gentlest touch by the vines. Wind whipped through his hair and chilled his skin. He felt as though he was flying.
For hours he was carried on like this, and when the stars began to fade, and the sky was a deep blue, they began to slow down. The foliage in the trees was growing steadily less dense, and Legolas decided that they were coming to a place where vines did not grow. Indeed, as he was set in one of the uppermost branches of this particular tree, the vines retreated back the way they came.
He peaked his head up through the branches. He couldn't hear the waterfall anymore, and far in the distance, he saw a small break-line in the trees. //That must be where the river cuts through. I've been carried at least a day-and-a-half's march!//
"Hennaid evyr, mellonîn!" he shouted back to the trees, "I will never forget your kindness!"
He looked up at the sky and estimated that it was at least a few hours until sunrise. He was weary, began climbing down to one of the thicker, sturdier branches which he could take some rest on. It was difficult with his injured leg, and he took it slowly. He reached his good leg down onto a lower branch, and placed it firmly on the bark before he lowered his bad leg down after it. He then did something in the tree that he had never once done in all of his adult life.
He fell.
There had been moss growing on the tree limb, and he could not retain balance on his bad leg. He plummeted down, watching foot by foot of air sail past him as he neared the ground. He clenched his eyes shut in anticipation. //At least the leaves will cushion my fall...//
He covered twenty feet when he hit it. It happened sooner than he had expected, and it caught him completely off guard. No soft cushion was there to ease the pain, he did not hit the ground. He landed face-first on a large, firm branch, not ten feet from the ground.
Any air that he ever breathed was knocked out of him. All mending that his ribs had done was undone and cracked anew, and healing puncture wounds were ripped open and began to spill fresh blood. Legolas had never known such pain. Everything around him, his senses, his feelings, all were consumed in blinding white light, just before the black void of unconsciousness consumed him.
He laid there unconscious, slumped over the branch. Birds flew past, chittering about the odd sight below. Wind scraped across his broken body, and stole what heat was left in his bones. Drops of his blood made their way into the crevices of the tree bark and collected in a red puddle on the forest floor below. He lay there as the first signs of light crept into the sky, and they opened their arms to Legolas.
His slender finger-tips twitched as the wind teased past them. He opened his eyes wide, and the world flooded back to him in a great rush. He gasped and hugged the tree limb tightly, as if it would give out under him. He choked and coughed and spat up warm blood, and his head swam. He felt as though someone were grinding multiple blades into his torso, and the pain wouldn't stop.
He blinked hard several times, and his head pounded and threatened to burst. With all the strength he had in him, he pushed himself up off the tree branch. His eyelids were heavy and hung low over strained pale-blue eyes. He had never felt so weak in his life. He pushed himself up so that he was straddling the tree branch and supporting himself with his arms. They were shaking from the strain.
He attempted to swing his legs up on the branch, but found that his injured leg was not only bloody in the calf, but blood was dripping down off of his toes. The muscles were stiff and painful all the way up into his thigh, and he suspected it to have popped out of the socket.
Using his arms, he pushed himself on his rear back along the branch until he came to the trunk. He leaned back up against it and struggled to breath properly. He wanted nothing more than to go to sleep, but knew that it was not good for him at this point in time.
He let the wind flow by him, though it chilled him greatly, and he watched as the sun rose and the sky turned the pale color of his eyes. He let his eyes wander, and his mind drift through the trees that were his home. After a moment, he realized that he had been staring down at his chest, and when he actually took in what he was seeing, he was shocked.
His blood had seeped through the bandages on his chest, and his entire front was covered in ugly purple and green bruises. He placed his cold finger-tips up to his face, and it stung at the faintest touch. He cringed, but that hurt as well.
He sighed, and resigned to the fact that his face was just as bruised, swollen and bloody as the rest of his body. He leaned his head back against the tree and pulled his good leg up to his chest while the other one hung limply over the tree branch, as was the most comfortable position for it. Cool wind blew, and silent silver tears rolled down his swollen face.
********
Pippin was bent almost double as he searched the ground for the tracks that led back to the waterfall. He had lost the trail several times, but found it again. He had been walking for almost an hour, and each time he saw something he recognized, he started running until he lost the track.
The sky was light, and he thought that by now, someone in the Fellowship ought to have woken up. If they chose to come back for him, good. If they didn't, well then, he would help Legolas himself.
He bent down to inspect a particular rock that he thought he recognized. He got the creeping feeling that he was being watched. He stood up stick straight and whirled around. Out from the bushes stepped Aragorn.
"Come, Pippin, it's time to go back," he said with a tone of finality.
Pippin's jaw nearly hit the ground. "How did you find me?!" he asked in shock.
"I followed you out of camp."
"You knew I left?"
"I was awake when you did."
Pippin silently scolded himself for his error. He didn't give in none-the-less. "I can't go back," he said edging away from Aragorn.
"What has come over you? If we hurry back, Gandalf will not find out," he said looking back in the direction he came.
"No. I have to go find Legolas," he said with a step back.
Aragorn sighed and hung his head. //I should have known.// Pippin had Legolas' quiver slung over his shoulder, and had his bow in hand. He looked a bit awkward, holding the bow that matched his height.
"Pippin, we've been through this," he said with his head cocked to the side.
"I could see that Gandalf was only humoring me. I'm short, not blind," Pippin said with a frown. Aragorn opened his mouth to say something, but Pippin stopped him short. "What's that?!" he cried, pointing to the trees behind Aragorn.
Aragorn spun around, sword in hand, scanning the trees. In an instant he realized his error, and turned back to the empty spot that Pippin had just vacated. He made an irritated noise and ran off after Pippin.
********
The sky was light blue in color and it reflected off Boromir's sword as he polished it. It had only been about twenty minutes since Aragorn had gone off in search of Pippin, but Boromir was beginning to worry. What if something had happened to one or both of them? What if they had called for help and Boromir hadn't heard it?
The Man of Gondor was shaken from these thoughts by a hand on his shoulder. He stood and whirled around, sword in hand, and came face to face with Gandalf. He couldn't hide the shock and worry on his face when Gandalf looked him in the eye.
"Boromir?" Gandalf asked. Boromir was silent. "Where are Aragorn and Pippin?" Gimli stirred and lifted his head from his blanket nearby. Boromir's lips moved, but he couldn't seem to find his voice. He felt the way he did so many times as a boy when he and Faramir were caught stealing ale from the store rooms. He didn't know what to say.
Gimli was sitting up now, and looking expectantly at Boromir.
"Who left first?" Gandalf asked, redirecting his attention.
"Pippin."
"When did Aragorn leave?" The remaining Hobbits were up listening now too.
"Not half and hour ago," he said looking at their faces. Bill snorted and Sam got up and patted his side.
"Wait a minute," Merry said standing, "Pippin's run off?" Boromir nodded.
"Where?" Frodo asked, joining Merry.
"Back the way we came," Boromir answered, looking off in the direction Aragorn had departed in. Merry and Frodo looked each other in the eye, then took off in the same direction. Boromir looked back at Gandalf, who gave him a look that simply said, 'fool'.
Sam took off after the two other Hobbits shouting, "Frodo! Mister Frodo!"
"Go after them!" Gandalf shouted as he joined the pursuit. Boromir took off, sheathing his sword, and listened as Gimli followed after, shouting various profanities as he went. Bill the Pony stood placidly in the deserted camp and chomped on some wild grass.
********
Pippin ran as fast as his little legs could carry him. He heard Aragorn in close pursuit.
"Pippin! Stop! Come back!" but Pippin didn't stop.
It was awkward, running with the oversized quiver on his back and bow in hand. He knew that he would never outrun the Ranger; he wasn't called 'Strider' for nothing. But Pippin's hope wasn't in speed. For a Hobbit, he was quick, but by the Valar, he was a Hobbit! And one thing that a Hobbit could do well was disappear. Pippin left little to no tracks as it was, and being the baby of his family, he was especially good at disappearing when he needed to.
He zigzagged through the bushes and trees, hopping from root to root so as not to leave any tracks. He had left the trail, but he figured that he could find it later. He rolled under a thick prickly bush, and hid behind a tree on the other side. He breathed slowly through his nose and listened for any sign of the Ranger. He heard him stop about ten feet away, breathing hard.
"Pippin!" he called out. Pippin made no move. "Pippin!" he shouted again. Pippin peeked out from behind the tree. Aragorn had his back turned to him and he wasn't moving. Pippin silently began to crawl away under the various bushes that populated the area. He got a good twenty feet away from Aragorn when he put his hand down on a twig and snapped it. For some reason, it was the loudest noise Pippin had ever heard.
Aragorn had whirled around and was running straight for Pippin. Pippin was frozen with fear. It would all be for nothing! Legolas would be lost to them! Pippin stayed stuck to the spot waiting for Aragorn to seize him. He was more than a little surprised when Aragorn ran past him. //He thought I ran!// Pippin thought with glee. He was proud of himself for outwitting the Ranger.
He waited until Aragorn was a good distance away from him before he stood and ran in his original direction. He ran as fast as his little legs could carry him. He heard Aragorn call him again from the distance, but he didn't dare turn around. He almost stopped when he heard Merry's voice calling him as well. //So they've joined the chase too, eh? They may catch me, but I'm going to make them work for it!//
He ran through dense patches of bushes, where the trees were somewhat more spread out. His lungs were starting to hurt. He ran between two rather large trees that had tall, thick bushes all around them. He stopped dead in his tracks and bristled when he stepped in something cold and wet. He slowly looked down at the ground, and horrified, he pulled his foot out of a puddle of blood soaking into the earth. He looked up into the tree above him, and his bright green eyes locked with tired pale-blue ones.
"Legolas!"
"Pippin!"
They stared at each other for a moment before Legolas slowly slid out of the tree, landing on his good leg. To Pippin, he looked ten times worse than he had in the dream world. For one thing, he looked as though he would fall at any moment. His entire front was marred with red-purple welts and dark bruises. He was covered in blood, and he was filthy. His normally golden hair was tangled and matted with blood. His whole body was covered in a fine sheen of sweat. He looked absolutely pitiful.
At a complete loss for words, Pippin held up Legolas' weapons, tears falling down his face. Legolas took them, shouldering his quiver. He placed a cold, unsteady hand on Pippin's shoulder, and Pippin hugged him around the legs, crying silent rivers from his eyes. Pippin looked up at Legolas, breathing hard. Legolas' head snapped around in the direction that Pippin had come. He seemed to be listening.
"Pippin, what is chasing you?" he asked, his voice hoarse, but dripping with concern. Pippin heard bushes rustling and he to looked back the way he came.
Legolas didn't wait for an answer. With such speed that Pippin didn't know he was capable of, Legolas whipped out an arrow and notched it in his bow.
It was that scene that Aragorn stumbled in on. He leapt through the bushes to find himself at the business end of Legolas' bow. Pippin was clutched tightly to one of Legolas' legs, but it wasn't the Legolas that Aragorn new. The Elf that stood before him was broken. He was bruised, swollen, and bloody and utter fatigue and defeat were in his eyes.
Tears were in Pippin's eyes, but Aragorn couldn't bring himself to cry. He was frozen in place, breathing heavily. Legolas hadn't moved or lowered his bow. The three of them just stood rooted in place. The world was suddenly silent and empty but for the three of them. Legolas and Aragorn just stared each other in the eye, utterly shocked.
At that moment, the rest of the Fellowship came tumbling into the clearing. The world rushed back, and the newcomers stared in shock and amazement. Legolas felt something that he had never before, in his nearly 3000 years of life, felt in the face of a mortal.
Shame.
He was ashamed of his appearance, of his condition, of everything that he had let happen to himself. He felt all of their eyes on him, boring into his soul. He longed for some dark place to crawl into and hide himself from the light of day.
Legolas didn't drop his gaze, but he dropped his arrow, then his bow. He was shaking.
"Estel..." he said in an almost whisper. This was the moment that his legs chose to give out. Pippin was forced to let go, but Aragorn had Legolas in his arms before he hit the ground. He wanted to say something; that he was sorry, that he was happy, that he missed his brother in arms, but no words came. Legolas stared blankly up in to the trees, and Aragorn knew that he had blacked out. No one moved. Without a word, Aragorn stood, cradling Legolas in his arms, stared Gandalf in the eye for a cold second, and started off towards the camp.
The rest of the Fellowship followed dumbly behind with not a few quick questioning glances to each other. Pippin was left alone in the clearing. He had not moved since Legolas fell, and tears ran afresh down his face. He bent down and picked up Legolas' discarded arrow and bow. Staring at the objects that he had carried to that spot, he hugged them tight to his body. He dropped to the ground in utter misery and wept openly and vocally, rocking back and forth.
He sat there in that state, totally unaware that he was being watched. After a few moments, Boromir, Son of Denethor, Captain of the Armed Forces of Gondor, bent down and utterly cuddled the weeping little creature before him. He scooped up the miserable Hobbit into his arms and held him tight. Pippin buried his face into Boromir's neck and continued to cry. Without a word, Boromir turned and started off back to the camp.
********
Sad enough of a reunion for ya? I'm heartbroken, and I wrote it! Please R/R! It gives me hope for the future.
Legolas: Uh--no...*shifty eyes* why do you ask?
ForceOfHobbit: He's been missing for quite some time...
Legolas: Well, you know how he is, coming and going all the time...
ForceOfHobbit: Riiiiiiiiight...
Anywho, this giant plot-bunny jumped into my lap this morning, and won't seem to leave. So big stuff on the horizon, folks.
To my beloved readers:
Ancalimawen: Yes, I will leave you ther! where did you find Legolas' white knives? luckily for you, I will quickly upload another chapter:)
Beguile: You would never blow up elves would you? That's blasphemy! Anyway, I have to have some line of defense. How 'bout a peace treaty? You don't blow up my elves, and I'll supplement you with more chapters!
Starlit Hope: Thanks, I liked writing that chapter!
Marauderluver4-ever: Pippin needs to learn to use that brain of his a bit more often. Yay! I'm inspiring! Be sure to tell me when you have your story up!
Barbara Kennedy: We can all be devious little...well, you get the idea:) Awww, but what does Pippin do best? Gets himself into trouble! That's right!
grumpy: Thanks, that's one of the best compliments I've ever been given. I always try to keep them in character, even if it turns out to be AU.
Saxaphonebaby: A bit eager, are we? Hope you like this chapter!
Teari: Shuttup Strumpet!
elfmage: Thanks a lot! We've been going over imagery and sensory details in my advanced composition/ Novel class at school:)
********
Problems Along The Way
Chapter13
Safe In My Arms (You're Only Sleeping)
********
Legolas had been walking for quite some time. In fact, his injured leg was beginning to seize up, and he didn't think he could take much more. He leaned his back up against a tree for support, taking solace in the shiny, dark green leaves that made up the canopy above.
Suddenly, he was grabbed from behind. He tried to turn, but found he couldn't, as the grip was quite strong. He struggled and thrashed, upsetting his ribs and giving him a wild headache. He turned his head to face his attacker, and felt like a complete fool.
Thick vines were wrapped securely about his shoulders. He sighed, and calmed himself, as the vines further secured themselves around him. //I should have known that *they* would not abandon me...// dark thoughts of betrayal and anger towards the Fellowship flooded his mind. //At least the trees still care...// He shook his head to clear it. //What am I thinking? They did not abandon me, the quest is far more important// He chalked it up to fatigue, and took deep, calming breaths as he was lifted into the trees.
The vines carried him slowly, but they began to speed up. The ground beneath him began to blur and he lost sight of Bill the Pony's hoofprints below. He went faster and faster, being passed along with the gentlest touch by the vines. Wind whipped through his hair and chilled his skin. He felt as though he was flying.
For hours he was carried on like this, and when the stars began to fade, and the sky was a deep blue, they began to slow down. The foliage in the trees was growing steadily less dense, and Legolas decided that they were coming to a place where vines did not grow. Indeed, as he was set in one of the uppermost branches of this particular tree, the vines retreated back the way they came.
He peaked his head up through the branches. He couldn't hear the waterfall anymore, and far in the distance, he saw a small break-line in the trees. //That must be where the river cuts through. I've been carried at least a day-and-a-half's march!//
"Hennaid evyr, mellonîn!" he shouted back to the trees, "I will never forget your kindness!"
He looked up at the sky and estimated that it was at least a few hours until sunrise. He was weary, began climbing down to one of the thicker, sturdier branches which he could take some rest on. It was difficult with his injured leg, and he took it slowly. He reached his good leg down onto a lower branch, and placed it firmly on the bark before he lowered his bad leg down after it. He then did something in the tree that he had never once done in all of his adult life.
He fell.
There had been moss growing on the tree limb, and he could not retain balance on his bad leg. He plummeted down, watching foot by foot of air sail past him as he neared the ground. He clenched his eyes shut in anticipation. //At least the leaves will cushion my fall...//
He covered twenty feet when he hit it. It happened sooner than he had expected, and it caught him completely off guard. No soft cushion was there to ease the pain, he did not hit the ground. He landed face-first on a large, firm branch, not ten feet from the ground.
Any air that he ever breathed was knocked out of him. All mending that his ribs had done was undone and cracked anew, and healing puncture wounds were ripped open and began to spill fresh blood. Legolas had never known such pain. Everything around him, his senses, his feelings, all were consumed in blinding white light, just before the black void of unconsciousness consumed him.
He laid there unconscious, slumped over the branch. Birds flew past, chittering about the odd sight below. Wind scraped across his broken body, and stole what heat was left in his bones. Drops of his blood made their way into the crevices of the tree bark and collected in a red puddle on the forest floor below. He lay there as the first signs of light crept into the sky, and they opened their arms to Legolas.
His slender finger-tips twitched as the wind teased past them. He opened his eyes wide, and the world flooded back to him in a great rush. He gasped and hugged the tree limb tightly, as if it would give out under him. He choked and coughed and spat up warm blood, and his head swam. He felt as though someone were grinding multiple blades into his torso, and the pain wouldn't stop.
He blinked hard several times, and his head pounded and threatened to burst. With all the strength he had in him, he pushed himself up off the tree branch. His eyelids were heavy and hung low over strained pale-blue eyes. He had never felt so weak in his life. He pushed himself up so that he was straddling the tree branch and supporting himself with his arms. They were shaking from the strain.
He attempted to swing his legs up on the branch, but found that his injured leg was not only bloody in the calf, but blood was dripping down off of his toes. The muscles were stiff and painful all the way up into his thigh, and he suspected it to have popped out of the socket.
Using his arms, he pushed himself on his rear back along the branch until he came to the trunk. He leaned back up against it and struggled to breath properly. He wanted nothing more than to go to sleep, but knew that it was not good for him at this point in time.
He let the wind flow by him, though it chilled him greatly, and he watched as the sun rose and the sky turned the pale color of his eyes. He let his eyes wander, and his mind drift through the trees that were his home. After a moment, he realized that he had been staring down at his chest, and when he actually took in what he was seeing, he was shocked.
His blood had seeped through the bandages on his chest, and his entire front was covered in ugly purple and green bruises. He placed his cold finger-tips up to his face, and it stung at the faintest touch. He cringed, but that hurt as well.
He sighed, and resigned to the fact that his face was just as bruised, swollen and bloody as the rest of his body. He leaned his head back against the tree and pulled his good leg up to his chest while the other one hung limply over the tree branch, as was the most comfortable position for it. Cool wind blew, and silent silver tears rolled down his swollen face.
********
Pippin was bent almost double as he searched the ground for the tracks that led back to the waterfall. He had lost the trail several times, but found it again. He had been walking for almost an hour, and each time he saw something he recognized, he started running until he lost the track.
The sky was light, and he thought that by now, someone in the Fellowship ought to have woken up. If they chose to come back for him, good. If they didn't, well then, he would help Legolas himself.
He bent down to inspect a particular rock that he thought he recognized. He got the creeping feeling that he was being watched. He stood up stick straight and whirled around. Out from the bushes stepped Aragorn.
"Come, Pippin, it's time to go back," he said with a tone of finality.
Pippin's jaw nearly hit the ground. "How did you find me?!" he asked in shock.
"I followed you out of camp."
"You knew I left?"
"I was awake when you did."
Pippin silently scolded himself for his error. He didn't give in none-the-less. "I can't go back," he said edging away from Aragorn.
"What has come over you? If we hurry back, Gandalf will not find out," he said looking back in the direction he came.
"No. I have to go find Legolas," he said with a step back.
Aragorn sighed and hung his head. //I should have known.// Pippin had Legolas' quiver slung over his shoulder, and had his bow in hand. He looked a bit awkward, holding the bow that matched his height.
"Pippin, we've been through this," he said with his head cocked to the side.
"I could see that Gandalf was only humoring me. I'm short, not blind," Pippin said with a frown. Aragorn opened his mouth to say something, but Pippin stopped him short. "What's that?!" he cried, pointing to the trees behind Aragorn.
Aragorn spun around, sword in hand, scanning the trees. In an instant he realized his error, and turned back to the empty spot that Pippin had just vacated. He made an irritated noise and ran off after Pippin.
********
The sky was light blue in color and it reflected off Boromir's sword as he polished it. It had only been about twenty minutes since Aragorn had gone off in search of Pippin, but Boromir was beginning to worry. What if something had happened to one or both of them? What if they had called for help and Boromir hadn't heard it?
The Man of Gondor was shaken from these thoughts by a hand on his shoulder. He stood and whirled around, sword in hand, and came face to face with Gandalf. He couldn't hide the shock and worry on his face when Gandalf looked him in the eye.
"Boromir?" Gandalf asked. Boromir was silent. "Where are Aragorn and Pippin?" Gimli stirred and lifted his head from his blanket nearby. Boromir's lips moved, but he couldn't seem to find his voice. He felt the way he did so many times as a boy when he and Faramir were caught stealing ale from the store rooms. He didn't know what to say.
Gimli was sitting up now, and looking expectantly at Boromir.
"Who left first?" Gandalf asked, redirecting his attention.
"Pippin."
"When did Aragorn leave?" The remaining Hobbits were up listening now too.
"Not half and hour ago," he said looking at their faces. Bill snorted and Sam got up and patted his side.
"Wait a minute," Merry said standing, "Pippin's run off?" Boromir nodded.
"Where?" Frodo asked, joining Merry.
"Back the way we came," Boromir answered, looking off in the direction Aragorn had departed in. Merry and Frodo looked each other in the eye, then took off in the same direction. Boromir looked back at Gandalf, who gave him a look that simply said, 'fool'.
Sam took off after the two other Hobbits shouting, "Frodo! Mister Frodo!"
"Go after them!" Gandalf shouted as he joined the pursuit. Boromir took off, sheathing his sword, and listened as Gimli followed after, shouting various profanities as he went. Bill the Pony stood placidly in the deserted camp and chomped on some wild grass.
********
Pippin ran as fast as his little legs could carry him. He heard Aragorn in close pursuit.
"Pippin! Stop! Come back!" but Pippin didn't stop.
It was awkward, running with the oversized quiver on his back and bow in hand. He knew that he would never outrun the Ranger; he wasn't called 'Strider' for nothing. But Pippin's hope wasn't in speed. For a Hobbit, he was quick, but by the Valar, he was a Hobbit! And one thing that a Hobbit could do well was disappear. Pippin left little to no tracks as it was, and being the baby of his family, he was especially good at disappearing when he needed to.
He zigzagged through the bushes and trees, hopping from root to root so as not to leave any tracks. He had left the trail, but he figured that he could find it later. He rolled under a thick prickly bush, and hid behind a tree on the other side. He breathed slowly through his nose and listened for any sign of the Ranger. He heard him stop about ten feet away, breathing hard.
"Pippin!" he called out. Pippin made no move. "Pippin!" he shouted again. Pippin peeked out from behind the tree. Aragorn had his back turned to him and he wasn't moving. Pippin silently began to crawl away under the various bushes that populated the area. He got a good twenty feet away from Aragorn when he put his hand down on a twig and snapped it. For some reason, it was the loudest noise Pippin had ever heard.
Aragorn had whirled around and was running straight for Pippin. Pippin was frozen with fear. It would all be for nothing! Legolas would be lost to them! Pippin stayed stuck to the spot waiting for Aragorn to seize him. He was more than a little surprised when Aragorn ran past him. //He thought I ran!// Pippin thought with glee. He was proud of himself for outwitting the Ranger.
He waited until Aragorn was a good distance away from him before he stood and ran in his original direction. He ran as fast as his little legs could carry him. He heard Aragorn call him again from the distance, but he didn't dare turn around. He almost stopped when he heard Merry's voice calling him as well. //So they've joined the chase too, eh? They may catch me, but I'm going to make them work for it!//
He ran through dense patches of bushes, where the trees were somewhat more spread out. His lungs were starting to hurt. He ran between two rather large trees that had tall, thick bushes all around them. He stopped dead in his tracks and bristled when he stepped in something cold and wet. He slowly looked down at the ground, and horrified, he pulled his foot out of a puddle of blood soaking into the earth. He looked up into the tree above him, and his bright green eyes locked with tired pale-blue ones.
"Legolas!"
"Pippin!"
They stared at each other for a moment before Legolas slowly slid out of the tree, landing on his good leg. To Pippin, he looked ten times worse than he had in the dream world. For one thing, he looked as though he would fall at any moment. His entire front was marred with red-purple welts and dark bruises. He was covered in blood, and he was filthy. His normally golden hair was tangled and matted with blood. His whole body was covered in a fine sheen of sweat. He looked absolutely pitiful.
At a complete loss for words, Pippin held up Legolas' weapons, tears falling down his face. Legolas took them, shouldering his quiver. He placed a cold, unsteady hand on Pippin's shoulder, and Pippin hugged him around the legs, crying silent rivers from his eyes. Pippin looked up at Legolas, breathing hard. Legolas' head snapped around in the direction that Pippin had come. He seemed to be listening.
"Pippin, what is chasing you?" he asked, his voice hoarse, but dripping with concern. Pippin heard bushes rustling and he to looked back the way he came.
Legolas didn't wait for an answer. With such speed that Pippin didn't know he was capable of, Legolas whipped out an arrow and notched it in his bow.
It was that scene that Aragorn stumbled in on. He leapt through the bushes to find himself at the business end of Legolas' bow. Pippin was clutched tightly to one of Legolas' legs, but it wasn't the Legolas that Aragorn new. The Elf that stood before him was broken. He was bruised, swollen, and bloody and utter fatigue and defeat were in his eyes.
Tears were in Pippin's eyes, but Aragorn couldn't bring himself to cry. He was frozen in place, breathing heavily. Legolas hadn't moved or lowered his bow. The three of them just stood rooted in place. The world was suddenly silent and empty but for the three of them. Legolas and Aragorn just stared each other in the eye, utterly shocked.
At that moment, the rest of the Fellowship came tumbling into the clearing. The world rushed back, and the newcomers stared in shock and amazement. Legolas felt something that he had never before, in his nearly 3000 years of life, felt in the face of a mortal.
Shame.
He was ashamed of his appearance, of his condition, of everything that he had let happen to himself. He felt all of their eyes on him, boring into his soul. He longed for some dark place to crawl into and hide himself from the light of day.
Legolas didn't drop his gaze, but he dropped his arrow, then his bow. He was shaking.
"Estel..." he said in an almost whisper. This was the moment that his legs chose to give out. Pippin was forced to let go, but Aragorn had Legolas in his arms before he hit the ground. He wanted to say something; that he was sorry, that he was happy, that he missed his brother in arms, but no words came. Legolas stared blankly up in to the trees, and Aragorn knew that he had blacked out. No one moved. Without a word, Aragorn stood, cradling Legolas in his arms, stared Gandalf in the eye for a cold second, and started off towards the camp.
The rest of the Fellowship followed dumbly behind with not a few quick questioning glances to each other. Pippin was left alone in the clearing. He had not moved since Legolas fell, and tears ran afresh down his face. He bent down and picked up Legolas' discarded arrow and bow. Staring at the objects that he had carried to that spot, he hugged them tight to his body. He dropped to the ground in utter misery and wept openly and vocally, rocking back and forth.
He sat there in that state, totally unaware that he was being watched. After a few moments, Boromir, Son of Denethor, Captain of the Armed Forces of Gondor, bent down and utterly cuddled the weeping little creature before him. He scooped up the miserable Hobbit into his arms and held him tight. Pippin buried his face into Boromir's neck and continued to cry. Without a word, Boromir turned and started off back to the camp.
********
Sad enough of a reunion for ya? I'm heartbroken, and I wrote it! Please R/R! It gives me hope for the future.
