Author's Notes:
A big THANK YOU to all my dear reviewers: Deana, Svana, Keji, SpaceRoses, Viggomaniac, Briryan, Del Rion, HarryEstel, Captain Morrigan Savvy, FFAMasquerade2005! All of you should have the review responses by now. :-)
To all those lurkers out there: can I do something to make you review? (puppy eyes) Hehe. If you review or not, I hope you enjoy this story, too! ;-)
Here is the second part of my story, this time from Aragorn's POV. Enjoy and I'd love to get feedback:) :) :)
Thank you to ((Imbecamiel)) my dear editor, and to ((Alinah)) for her comments!
Disclaimer:
I do not own the characters and places in this story. It all belongs to the one and only J.R.R.Tolkien and as much as I'd like too, I cannot claim to be him. ;-)
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- Found -
Part Two: Aragorn
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I do not know what had driven them down from their lairs in the Misty Mountains that day. I had not expected to meet any of them this close to Rivendell. My senses warned me of their presence, but it was already too late. They were too near to run from, and too many to fight, but I had no choice. So I stayed and drew my sword, waiting for them to find me. I would take as many of them with me as I could.
I heard the stomping of their feet, as they broke through the undergrowth, and their harsh, guttural voices. They knew of my presence. I had so many reasons to hate these foul creatures. They had murdered my parents, brought grief to my adoptive family, and had nearly taken my closest friend from me, the brother of my soul. I thought of the pain they had caused him, as the first orcs swarmed into the clearing and saw me, their dark eyes lighting up with vicious anticipation. Raising my sword in silent greeting, I met the stares of those gleaming eyes with a cold smile.
Suddenly, all fear left me and anger took its place. A calm, burning anger that could be used and brandished like a weapon, that would both shield me and give me strength. I forgot about their numbers and the deadly situation I found myself in. This would be my day of revenge. For Legolas. For all the pain and the fear these creatures had caused him… and me.
I chose my position carefully, drawing close to a tall tree that would guard my back. Somehow, it seemed to be fitting that a tree would do now what a wood elf had done so many times before. I wondered what Legolas would have to say to that.
I watched my enemies. They must have seen something dangerous in my eyes, because they were approaching slowly now, looking around and sniffing the air as if they expected a trap. They could not understand why I showed no fear, though I was badly outnumbered and alone. I wanted to laugh at their confusion, dozens of orcs being afraid of a single man.
I waited, and then, finally, one of them barked an order in their black tongue and they charged. I fought silently, blocking strokes, parrying, slicing and hacking, turning as soon as I had killed one of them to engage the next of my foes. I felt a dark satisfaction within me whenever I felled one of the foul creatures, images of what they had done to me and those that I loved forever burned in my mind.
Many times I felt the sting of their scimitars, daggers and arrows, but I did not allow myself to feel the pain from my wounds. I would not allow them to defeat me and cause more pain. I split the skull of another orc and rammed my elbow into the sneering face of a creature that had tried to sneak up on me from behind, turning in one fluid movement and impaling the orc before the sneer could leave its face. I was panting by now, the sword heavy in my hands, waiting for the next attack.
It did not come.
I blinked and turned in a slow circle, realizing for the first time that the ground around me was littered with corpses. My enemies were dead, laying at my feet. I was alone.
A light summer rain started to fall. I raised my head and wished it would wash away the stench and the dark blood. The sword fell out of my hands, and I sank to my knees, slumping against the rough bark of the big tree behind me. I knew I should try to rise or make an effort to treat my wounds, but I could not. I rested my head against the tree and closed my eyes, feeling single drops of rain touch my skin when the leaves of the tree above me swayed with the wind. A deep peace engulfed me. My eyes closed. I felt as if I were falling, and then there was only darkness.
Awareness returned slowly. I felt a deep, steady pain that made me wish to be unconscious again. But there was also something else, gentle hands touching me, cleaning and binding my wounds. Someone was with me.
I forced my eyes to open and saw a blurry figure of green and gold kneel beside me. Legolas. Somehow, I was not surprised. He was able to find me when I needed him the most, just as I had found him not too long ago. He raised his head, feeling my gaze, and our eyes met. I tried to speak his name.
"Don't speak," he answered softly. "I am here."
His voice was uneven, and I could see how shaken he was. I could see the fear in his eyes. I knew he would not be able to bear another loss, to endure even more pain. I wanted to take his hand, to reassure him, but I found I was too weak.
"I believe you would find me anywhere," I whispered and let my eyes tell him what I wanted to say. How grateful I was to always find him at my side when it mattered most.
I knew I would not die today. I could not fall when he was there to catch me. I could not die with him at my side.
There was a smile in his eyes, if not on his face, and I knew that he understood.
- End -
of the second part