(-)Chapter 9(-)
The elf stared at the human in front of him a moment as though contemplating his words before jumping forwards and bringing the blade in his right hand into the human's stomach.
Aragorn's eyes widened and he choked, stepping back to stare at the familiar blade buried in his stomach. The chaos around him dimmed greatly.
The elf stepped forward and pushed the human off his feet, throwing him backwards.
As the ranger hit the ground the arrow in his back was shoved through, piercing through the lung and coming out through his chest. The human made a half gasp before he was unable to bring any more air into his body and he began to slowly drown in his own blood. Aragorn choked and suddenly felt a panic he had never before experienced when he found himself unable to inhale. Everything around him blurred and he quickly became unaware of everything going on around him except the inablility to breathe, the horrid feeling of suffocation and the coppery taste of blood filling his mouth.
Legolas dropped to his knees next to the dying human and brought the second blade to point at the mans heart, then paused, watching the humans suffering. He sat back and stared at him blankly, his hand falling away from the blade to simply sit on the man's stomach, and quickly became covered in his blood.
Aragorn slowly became aware of his friend's touch and forced his eyes open, only then realizing they had been closed, he stared at the elf and painfully managed to drag his hand up to rest on the elf's.
Legolas stared back at the man as his eyes locked onto his, he glanced down at his hand for a brief second before latching onto the human's dying gaze. He felt himself become overwhelmed by the look of utter pain and sorrow in the man's eyes. He suddenly realized the human was trying to show him his forgiveness.
The elf's eyes widened suddenly and he jerked his hand away to stare in horror at the blood that coated it. He scrambled to his feet and backed away from the man, shaking his head frantically before throwing himself forward again, dropping to the ground beside him.
"Dear valar no," he gasped, reaching over and gripping the man's hand, "come on Estel, breathe!"
The elf pulled the human onto his side and gasped in horror at the amount of blood that spilled out of the human's mouth, he had never before seen so much of his friends blood, he had never expected to.
The man suddenly curled in on himself in his pain, only causing himself more damage and finally giving in to his wounds, his body went limp.
Legolas shook his head slowly, "No... oh valar no, no no no no NO!"
The elf leaped to his feet, stringing his bow as he went and swiftly shot a barrage of arrows at the evil human in the centre of the blackened clearing. He threw his bow to the ground and spun around, dropping to his knees again and wept silently as the fire around them grew by the second and surrounded them all. He continued to cry for his friend until his body passed out from the smoke.
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Elen and Menel darted around the burning clearing, searching for the human, they glanced at each other worriedly before quickly running from the area.
Elen glanced at her brother, -He must have gotten out already, he is probably waiting just outside the clearing.-
Menel snorted slightly, -Of course, it is just like a man to run in the face of danger.-
Elen glared at him, -Where did this come from? You seemed to like him.-
The other glanced away from his sister as he ran before looking to her again, -I am worried for him. He is unable to handle the flames as we can. We remain unnaffected but we failed to take into consideration the fact that the fire could kill him just as easily as the orcs.-
Elen bowed her head, the same worries had been stuck in her mind ever since they started the fire.
She shook her head suddenly, "He'll be fine."
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Aragorn shot awake suddenly, coughing and choking on the smoke, he quickly scrambled to his feet, trying to remember what had happened. It came back in a flash and he suddenly wondered why he wasn't dead and felt no pain other than some minor smoke burns. His gaze swept the near area and his eyes latched onto his own body and he froze.
"What in all-" he was unable to finish the sentence as he began to choke on the smoke again, it was enough to recognize the voice though.
His eyes widened and he glanced down at himself, or his friends self, whichever way he looked at the situation. He quickly knelt and jerked the knife out of his bodies stomach and wiped it on his cloak, which remarkably had not caught on fire, and quickly sheathed it, then did the same with the other one. The elf's bow was destroyed, unfixable, so he left it. He picked up his sword and sheathed it. Then lifted his body and swiftly left the clearing.
He continued to run until he was out of the forest and out of danger, as soon and he left the trees he dropped his body and fell forwards in exhaustion. Panting slightly he glanced over at his body. He knew he was being given a chance. It would be the only one he was given and he knew he was lucky to have gotten the one. He would need his father's help. The wounds had to be cleaned, they had to be closed and tended to. He knew he couldn't do it here either. His medical supplies had been destroyed in the fire.
He glanced down at his hands and smiled slightly, "Ai Legolas, you're a mess," he joked weakly.
Aragorn turned his gaze to his body and after a moment of indecision untied the sword and it's sheath and tied them about the elf's waist, "You'll have to forgive me my friend, I know you are not experienced with the sword but neither am I experienced with your knives and if is I who must fight we have a better chance of survival if I have my sword on hand."
He paused suddenly, wondering why he was talking to the elf when it was obvious he was still out cold, -Come to think of it, I should still be out.-
With this revalation he stumbled and fell forward, unconscious.
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He awoke again when he heard someone calling his name, he frowned wearily in confusion. He forced himself to his feet and turned his gaze about the area, searching for the one calling him.
Aragorn immediately realized that his friend was still out and quickly became worried but after glancing up to check the time realized that it was perfectly normal and the elf probably wouldn't be awake for at least an hour.
-That much more time for me to figure out how to explain this,- he thought sarcastically, before calling to the one looking for him.
In a few moments Elen and Menel came through the trees and froze at the sight.
"Legolas?" Elen finally spoke, her eyes wide and remaining on Aragorn's body, "What... he's..."
She finally turned her tearfilled eyes to the elf, "Those wicked creatures stole his life didn't they..."
Menel just stood in shock.
Aragorn winced, "Nay, my friends I am Estel."
Elen gave him an upset look, "Legolas... you know not what you are saying."
Aragorn smiled slightly, "Yes I do. I died. But I am given another chance. I could not return to my own body, I cannot stay there until it is repaired. Unfortunetly I do not have my medical supplies with me as they were destroyed in the fire. We have to get back to Rivendell so I can leave Legolas alone."
The hope-filled, silver-blue eyes of the ex-dragon locked on to his, "Estel? I don't understand... how?"
He shrugged, "I have not a clue how. Come now, the sooner we get back, the sooner I can get this accursed collar off!" He pulled unhappily at the mithril clasp about his neck.
Elen only just noticed it, "Legolas was captured?" her worry was evident, "Is he well? And what happened to you?"
Aragorn winced, "Elen... don't blame him. He had no control, the shock of what happened pulled him out of Venatral's control and he killed the man."
"Legolas killed you!" Menel gasped, his eyes widening.
Aragorn nodded slowly, worried over how they would accept this.
"Poor Legolas," Elen muttered suddenly.
Aragorn let out a silent breath of relief and nodded sadly, "It was the last thing I was aware of. His pain," he gave a small smirk, "Venatral's lucky he's dead or I would have caused him a great deal of pain for what he did to my friend."
Elen smiled slightly and shook her head, "You don't have it in you."
The ranger shrugged, "Perhaps not. Come, let us go. There is a town nearby where we can get a horse," he knelt and drew a bloodsoaked pouch out of his pocket.
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Aragorn managed to get what he needed in half an hour. A large blanket, some rope and a good horse. His body was wrapped and tied down to the horse.
"I wish I was able to afford more horses," he muttered before shaking his head, "we'll have to walk."
Elen stared at the dark bundle tied to the horse, "This is all too weird."
"You think it's weird? Imagine how I feel," Aragorn joked, "ah! Imagine how Legolas will feel if he ever decides to wake up."
Menel frowned slightly, "Is he well?"
Aragorn nodded, "He is fine, he is beginning to awaken, though he seems to be fighting it. I cannot blame him though," he added sadly, "I'd do the same if I were in his position. Be calm with him okay? I ask that you act as though all is normal, it may help him settle if he does not think you're worrying over him. We all know how much he hates that," he smiled slightly.
The two nodded in agreement.
Aragorn frowned suddenly, "I'm going to have to talk to this stubborn elf about following me when I do not wish to be followed."
Elen laughed slightly, "Talk to him as much as you wish, he will still continue to follow you."
Aragorn rolled his eyes, "It cannot hurt to try."
"It's going to drive you insane isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Warnings are always helpful, you should have bought extra rope," she joked.
Menel rolled his eyes, "This is how it's going to be the entire way back isn't it?"
"Of course! All 26 hours of it!"
He groaned.
"Oh come now, you know you're secretly amused by it."
"I will not admit that which is not true my young friend."
Aragorn glared at him, "If you start calling me young as well I'm going to have to die a second time," he grumbled.
A/N
Elven Kitten: Okay! I promised a couple people I'd try to get this chapter up quickly so here it be:) You see though, it get weird... if anyone finds themselves offended or anything tell me and I can change the outcome of their fight... XP I don't want anyone hating me! lol, so I hope you enjoyed it! Thank you sielge, IwishChan, invisigoth3, Ilaaris, MicroChips, Elentariel, and grumpy for the great reviews! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! Namarie!