20

Desperate Legolas tried vainly to reach and undo the knots at the small of his back. But the rope had pulled tight and his fingers barely made an impression on them. So painfully taunt was the rope around his waist that he was forced to take small sips of air. He had lost the short knife that he had been carrying. It glittered uselessly on the snow some thirty feet below.

With every gust of wind he swayed like some macabre toy upon a string. He called out to Aragorn repeatedly but gave up when there was no reply. It was possible that the ranger was already dead. To have come so far and failed…

He could feel the spider observing him through its many eyes but as yet it had not attacked. He knew that it was waiting for him to wear himself out. He tried to keep his body upright but the effort cost him…

He could see nothing but the snow that still fell. He raised his head trying to gauge the spider's location, but the creature was cleverer than that. Having secured its first victim it had circled the elf warily. It knew the scent of this creature, had beenhurt by their pointy sticks many a time. In its vengeful heart it relished the opportunity to taste the flesh of such an annoying morsel. Never before had it managed to ensnare one of them. Now it waited high in the branches of the tree poised and patient.

……………………………

Legolas groaned in pain. He was bent almost double at last unable to move. He had closed his eyes against the stinging wind and now only waited for death. He no longer knew how many hours had passed. Time for him was measured by each pain filled shallow gasp of air.

"Aragorn, gohenan nin," was Legolas' final thought.

…………………………

The spider delicately plucked at the vine that held the elf captive. The elf hung limp and even when she touched it did it move. Twice more did the monstrous creature check, then grasping the vine delicately between its fore claws began to descend.

The spider held the recumbent elf greedily between two of its front claws and with the rest of its legs began to wrap the elf's body in its sticky web. Legolas twitched only slightly when the spider's fangs pierced his skin.

………………………….

The screams had stopped some time ago but by then Galad was in the general area from whence they had come. He rode quickly eyes piercing the swirling snow. When he reached Feanor Pass, a stretch of dark wood favoured by the spiders he slowed. His bow, without which he never travelled, was taunt. Here the trees seemed to lean in to each other blocking out the bleary day light. Everywhere was white and still more snow fell, eddying crazily with the gusting wind. But Galad ignored the snow and looked beyond it, up to the tops of the trees. He did not see her at firstfor she was covered with snow, but she must have moved for abruptly she was visible. Her partially cocooned victim she held tightly.

………………….

Three arrows pierced her hide and she screamed. Hunger had made her careless. Rearing onto her back legs she dropped her precious meal and scuttled away in fear. She should have known that there were other annoying creatures about. They never travelled alone.

…………………………

Galad climbed with a racing heart. The elf in the cocoon was stiff and still. Only his long hair was visible…

Galad lay prone along the branch and stretched out as far as he could. His fingertips just brushed the rope. He reached back for his bow and then used it to hook the rope and pull it forward.

Frantically he tore at the web…

"Tithen muindor," Galad whispered shakily framing Legolas' face with his hands.

He cut the rope that bound Legolas so tightly and Legolas began to breathe again. But there was blood on his neck and marks left by the spider's fangs. And there was the rope.

…………………………

Legolas awoke to the soft touch of a damp cloth on his face. He was dazed, lost in the soft cottony world of the spider's venom.

"Aragorn?" he whispered. But there was no familiar voice to comfort him. Instead a distorted sound assaulted his ears.

"Aragorn," he repeated fearfully. He tried to sit up but strong hands pushed him back down onto something soft. He squinted, trying to see past the milky film that covered his eyes.

"Rest Legolas," Galad was saying. He saw tears begin to gather in his brother's dull eyes and a vicious anger filled his heart. He could not know that Legolas did not hear him. He soothed his brow and sang to him and when Legolas finally ceased to fret and slept, turned with a vengeful expression to the shivering human who lay on the earthen floor.

"I would kill you for what you have done," he said. "But I will reserve your judgement for he who you have wronged."

But Aragorn was in the throes of the spider's poison and beyond hearing. Galad had applied just enough of the liquid cure that all Mirkwood elves carried to keep the ranger alive. But he was making sure there would be no easy recovery for the human. All the aches and chills and fever would be his to bear.

Luckily for Aragorn the spider's barb had gone straight through his shoulder, so little poison had actually entered his system. Yet what had entered was bad enough.

Galad did not dress his shoulder wound but he did clean it. And he left the human on the cold ground.

…………………………..

Legolas recovered in slow stages. His hearing and vision competed for supremacy. Galad nursed him through it, patient with his incoherent ramblings and incessant fumbling. But on Aragorn he had no such mercy and the ranger trembled, sweated and cried himself into an exhausted recovery.

…………………………

Then came the day when Legolas opened his eyes and saw pale blue ones above him. They belonged to an angular face that was framed by hair the colour of ripening wheat. The lips were smiling.

Galad's relief and Legolas' joy were overwhelming and for a long time they simply embraced, words unnecessary between them. but soon enough Legolas looked around seeking his friend.

"Where is Aragorn, is he well?' he asked eagerly.

Galad was taken aback, frowning he said, "The human is your friend."

But Legolas did not reply for he had caught sight of the bundle of rags that was his friend huddled against one corner of the arbour wall. Galad did not stop him from crawling to the ranger's side nor did he speak when Legolas tearfully cradled Aragorn's head.

"He saved my life Galad, he brought me home,"

Galad knelt beside him looking with shame at the pale almost wasted form of the human in his brother's arm. "I did not know Legolas, forgive me my anger."

"He will die?" Legolas asked.

Galad took the ranger's wrist and felt for the beating of his heart. It was weak but steady.

"I will not let him,"

…………………………..

Like an elfling Thranduil raced down the hallway, his heart pounding erratically in his chest. The word had come only moments before. At first he had stood rigid in disbelief, ignoring the curious looks of the delegates in the council hall and then had begun to run. All gave way as he flew past, everyone was abuzz with excitement. The princes had returned…

Galad had just helped Legolas to dismount when a blur of grey and blue whisked him away with a great shout. The king smothered his youngest with hugs kisses and words of joy. Galad smiled to see his father thus. It had been a long time since he had smiled. Thranduil grasped Legolas so tightly the young elf grunted in pain, but not even that could stop the pure bliss that suffused him. He was finally home.

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

Tmelange----------hey there, only one more to go!

Lindahoyland--------thanks fer hanging in there!

KnightGuardian------------- I loved your essay! Thank you.

Invisigoth3---------Sorry for the wait, hope you liked.

Grumpy----------- your hope was well founded.

Ciryaquen------- how's the new job and house? Wish I had a pet troll, (sniff)

LegolassQ----- Ah Lembas, my favourite!

Shanna----------has sido mi inspiracion para continuar. espero que la disfruta!

OokamiJudge----------Thank you, I hope you liked this one.

DL------ thank you.

viggomaniac---------How bout being caught by a ringwraith? heh heh!