-Romen
You know where the responses are too!
14. Escape
Klia jerked awake. She blinked, trying to clear her blurry eyes, wondering what had disturbed her. She looked up at the sky. A fork of lightning illuminated the night the velvety darkness. Shortly after, it was followed by the sound of rolling thunder. The forces of nature must have awoken her.
Her eyes flickered towards Legolas. She expected the elf to be awake, but he was slumped over, breathing deeply. Klia swallowed. Now was her chance. She could get up and take off on the horse without Legolas even knowing it.
The rain had lessened a little bit. She might be able to make it without causing any injuries to the gelding. She glanced at Legolas again. He was still sleeping.
Klia pushed herself up with her ankles, quietly pulling her knife out from her sleeve. She crawled forward, trying to make as little noise as possible. Legolas slept on, expressions flashing over his face as he dreamed. She slipped past without waking him. She stopped at the edge of the shelter for a moment, and then ran off.
She hadn't gone two feet when she felt Legolas tackle her. She screamed, trying to push him off of her. Mud was choking her as it was shoved into her nostrils.
"I told you not to run," he grunted as he fought to keep her down. He seemed very weak. He pushed down on her again. They rolled over. Klia was now on top. He shoved her to the left, her chest pressing against his. Her wrists screamed in agony.
Legolas suddenly cried out. Klia could feel a warm liquid pour onto her hand, and it certainly wasn't the rain. She looked down and gasped in horror. Her knife had gone into Legolas's arm!
"I'm so sorry!" she cried, feeling tears slide down her cheeks. "I didn't mean to...You wouldn't let me go!" Her body wracked with sobs. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
Legolas's hands reached up towards Klia. For a moment, she thought that he was going to embrace her, but then she realized that he was reaching for her throat. He was going to choke her!
Klia stood and ran for the gelding, untying his reins. She put her foot in the stirrups and mounted the horse, not glancing back at the elf that she left lying on the ground, bleeding to death.
Legolas stared up at the sky. It was slowly starting to turn to dawn. The rain still came down in sheets. He shut his eyes, waiting for death to take him.
Death was something that he could never have imagined for himself in the past. Now, it seemed as if he welcomed it, praying for it to take him as quickly as possible. He was in incredible pain. He couldn't take it any longer.
He glanced down at his arm. He had pulled out the knife and wrapped a cloth that he had ripped from his tunic tightly around it, hoping to stem the blood flow for a time.
A nudge at his side made him turn. He could see two large dark eyes looking down at him. He sighed.
"Varda, leave me," he said weakly. "Please, I just want to die."
Varda nudged him again. He cried out as he felt the wound slide. "All right. Hold on. You'll have to kneel down if you want me to get on you."
The mare knelt down, nearly falling on top of Legolas. He crawled onto her back, wrapping his unwounded arm around her neck. He felt Varda lift herself up wearily, and they began to go off at a trot. Legolas vaguely remembered that Varda was wounded. He put his face into her mane and breathed deeply, trying to forget where he was and pretend that it was all a dream.
They walked for what seemed like years to Legolas. He wondered if they were really going anywhere. Suddenly, he felt Varda begin to sink towards the ground. He pushed himself up a bit, having gained a bit of energy.
"Varda, come on girl," he crooned. "You can do it."
Varda tried to push herself back up, but failed, falling back down. Legolas felt his eyes sting.
"You can do it, mellon-nin. Come on."
She didn't even try to.
"Get up!" Legolas cried. "Come on! Please." He stood up off of her back and watched her slump over. She was lying on the ground, something that horses just didn't do.
"Please, no...Varda."
He put his hand on her thigh. She was dying, and it was all because of him.
"I've killed you," he said softly, no longer trying to keep the tears down. Varda snorted as if to tell him no.
"You know it's true," he whispered, stroking her neck. "I've killed you. And I..." He paused, sobbing.
Varda groaned. She was in pain. Legolas put his face once again in her mane.
"Varda, you can fight it. I know that you can! Please, girl, try..."
He sat back up, staring at those dark eyes. "If you hadn't followed me, you would still be alive. You were foolish."
Varda blinked.
"After all of the things I've done to you, all of the things I've said, you still returned to me." He shook his head, his voice bitter. "I didn't deserve it. I still don't. You've sacrificed yourself for...for someone like me."
Varda nudged his hand. He didn't move.
"Why did you do it? Why, mellon-nin? Why couldn't you just leave me to die? That was all that I wanted." The tears were stinging his chapped lips. "Now you are going to suffer."
Varda blinked, as if saying, 'You know that you have to do it. Do it, Legolas.'
"No. Varda, I can't."
'Do it, Legolas. You know that you have to.'
Legolas shut his eyes. "Varda, I can't do it. Don't you realize what that would mean?"
'Legolas, would you rather that I suffered?'
Legolas opened his eyes and sobbed. "No." He paused. "Do you really want me to?"
Varda nodded.
The prince sighed, pulling one of his knifes out. He looked at it, watching as the raindrops slid down the blade. "You're...positive?"
Varda nodded again.
Legolas swallowed, bile rising in his throat. He put his hand around the knife and leaned down next to Varda, putting his hand on her heart, feeling it beat.
"Varda, if you can, in this world or the next, please forgive me."
He took a deep breath and pulled his hand away. He longed to shut his eyes again, but knew that he would need his eyesight for this. He put his knife near her heart, his hand poised and ready to thrust it in.
"Until we meet again," he whispered.
He thrust forward. Once he felt it make contact, he shut his eyes, biting down on his lip until he could taste blood. He heard Varda cry out, and then she was still.
TBC...
Deana: You're right, he really has gone far. Look what the poor guy did. (Gives Legolas at pat on the back) Don't worry, mellon-nin, it will all turn out fine in the end...
CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur: Sorry that it took me a while! (Hangs up the phone) I've just been speaking with Celeborn, and he says that duty in Lothlorien calls. Unfortunately he will not be able to appear, and neither will our favorite March Warden, who is really busy with defending the border and such. Anyhow, I hope that you enjoyed this chapter. Oh yes; and Elrohir sends thanks for your gift. His whine has almost disappeared!
Ridicully L: ROTF LOL LOL LOL Legolas tied to a stake? ha ha Aragorn pleading for his life! That's great! (Legolas and Estel are not amused, so she hastily becomes serious) Actually, it never entered my mind before. Don't worry; that's not how it will turn out. And Klia will be a big help in Legolas's emotional recovery in the present and later on.
IwishChan: I hope that Leggy makes the right decisions too. Maybe Varda's death and his injuries will force him to think about the things that he's done.
Freak Goddess of the Crypt: Yes this is rather angsty, isn't it? I hope that you liked this chapter as well. )
Hannon le for your wonderful reviews! Please keep them coming.