Ripples

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

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United We Stand

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Aragorn gaped, surprised by this new turn of events. His mind darted back to the wargs he had fought not more than five hours ago. Valar! Who would have thought they would be out after noon! But then again, this forest shunned the sunlight and so he amended his former thought. He wasn't surprised at all.

Aragorn hugged Legolas close to his body as his muscles tensed, not knowing how to deal with this sudden onslaught. The Elf moaned softly at the pain the action inflicted but was too tired to do anything else. The ranger doubted that Legolas able to see anything past his pain at this point and he could hardly be blamed. If the prince didn't go completely delirious within the next few minutes Aragorn would be pleasantly taken aback.

But if he wanted to live long enough to see if his prediction came true he couldn't dwell on this now.

Setting Legolas gently down, and clasping the Elf's cold hand he promised, "everything will be all right. Just lay here and relax." He smiled confidently and then turned around abruptly, knowing it was very dangerous to turn his back on beasts such as these under any circumstances.

Pulling his sword from it's sheath, Aragorn took a defensive stance and watched as the first and bolder of the warg yearlings stuck it's shoulders through. He had the perfect opportunity to kill it now but that would never work, because it would block the entrance and then he and Legolas would be trapped and there would two more outside somewhere to deal with.

To do this properly he was going to have to lure them into the cavern and slay them one at a time without getting injured and without getting Legolas crushed or torn apart. Keeping himself between Legolas and the determined adversaries, Aragorn tried to make himself seem more vulnerable and weak than he was in actuality, seeing if one would be rash and gullible enough to take the bait.

This was taking a huge risk because a single wound could prove fatal for them both in these close quarters and Legolas was utterly defenseless anyway. If Aragorn were wounded and unable to fight Legolas would die one way or another.

The first warg could obviously not contain itself any longer and lunged in at the ranger, thinking it might have an easy snack and the more logical and sadistic part of it's small mind remembering its mother's death. Once it was in the small space, Aragorn realized the room was almost too small for the two of them and he was nearly forced to step away from the helpless Elf behind him. Nearly.

Refusing to move, instead he raised his sword stabbed, delving the blade into the flesh of the creature's foreleg. The result was an immediate yelp and then a snarl of rage as the creature wished to attack further but was forced towards the back as Aragorn advanced, swinging his sword to intimidate the trapped animal further before the fatal blow.

Stopping the show, Aragorn suddenly stabbed, piercing the great chest and sending the beast instantaneously folding to the ground with a muffled rumble from somewhere within as it drew it's last breath and gurgled it's death rattle.

Hearing the distress of one of their siblings as their rage redoubled but only able to fit one at a time through the entrance, one of them came charging through as a furious blur of matted and mottled fur. Aragorn pressed himself against the wall, being inconspicuous as possible while the creature turned towards its dead brother, sniffing the body and nudging it with its nose as though seeing if he was really dead.

Making his move at the opportune moment, Aragorn whirled into view, noticed too late by the Wolf of Sauron and he plunged his sword into the creature's neck, severing the spine and felling it immediately.

The room was getting hot and crowded, he mused mentally as he waited in the shadows for the next one to show its ugly face. Wiping sweat off his forehead, Aragorn hoped he and Legolas would be bale to get out of here after this, weaving a path through the bodies. There wasn't much space and it was easily possible that the Elf would be crushed accidentally underneath a warg's paw during the battle.

Minutes passed and the third warg did not enter, though Aragorn could hear it pacing and sniffing outside the small cavern. Its claws were rending the earth with large strokes as it became more and more frustrated.

It appeared to be a bit calculating, although, considering he was thinking this of a warg Aragorn had to briefly ask himself if he was insane. Decidedly coming to the conclusion he wasn't imagining things and that this warg was waiting for its opportune moment, Aragorn felt a shiver run up his spine and shudder back down.

Suddenly he had the thought that this warg might go after Legolas' still form that was sprawled across the room from him. But he realized with alarm, this unnaturally intelligent beast had laid a snare of its own.

It was waiting for Aragorn to come to Legolas' rescue, waiting for him to make himself vulnerable so that he would be easy to subdue and kill. Swallowing, the ranger couldn't help but be alarmed and curious as to what would happen if he evaded this trap, leaving Legolas there. He knew far better than walk into a snare with open eyes and simply expect to come out alive just because he knew of it ahead of time.

The warg, he could tell was getting impatient and he could hear it shifting uneasily, snarling and generally making far too much noise to truly stalking anyone or anything. It obviously didn't care if Aragorn knew or not, either that or it was too young to know how to hunt properly.

Aragorn knew if he rushed forward he would be jumped immediately, but he simply was not willing to allow Legolas to be harmed anymore than he already was. He had done enough already to hurt and frighten the Elf and his heart was still burning inside his chest, as he knew Legolas saw him as being a traitor. If the fault of one more injury to his friend was his own he knew he couldn't live with himself or ever look Legolas in the eye again and that was providing that the prince lived.

Rushing forward before he had time to think on these things anymore, Aragorn threw himself bodily over the prone Elf, covering him with his own body, ignoring how Legolas gave a frightened but barely audible cry.

At that same time the third warg thrust itself halfway into the tunnel like room, swiping one of its massive paws into the air, claws barred. Aragorn felt the wind of the first sweep of the paw brush over him, ruffling his hair as the warg missed and growled its displeasure at the ranger.

Pressing himself against Legolas to make them both flatter to the earth, he whispered remorsefully to the Elf as the warg prepared for another strike. "I am sorry, Legolas. Forgive me." He knew Legolas was more or less claustrophobic and he really couldn't be blamed, not after all that he had been through.

The second lashing out of the warg's paw collided with Aragorn's leg and the claws anchored themselves deeply in the flesh of his calf, instigating caustic pain to flood his senses before he realized he was being dragged backwards across the dirt. He wanted to hold onto Legolas and remain secured to his best friend but he feared to cause the Elf more pain and almost instantly let go, making the warg's task all the easier.

Before he could even have much time to react, he found himself halfway out of the hole and with no room to use his sword that was still being tightly gripped in his preferred hand. Before he was pulled the rest of the way out of the dirt room his eyes were caught and held by Legolas' wide ones that were still glazed by pain and fear.

But he knew in that moment that the Elf held him blameless and he watched as Legolas' hand weakly reached out towards him, feet from being within his grasp but not having the strength to pull himself closer. Feeling helpless and suspended in darkness, Legolas didn't want his friend to leave him and he clawed at the ground with his fingers, trying to pull himself closer but unable to move an inch. "Strider!" he tried to scream but it came out as a frantic whisper.

As Aragorn watched this he felt overwhelming joy compromised by the deepest sorrow. He knew Legolas didn't hate him and he was jovially appreciative at the value their friendship still seemed to hold. But seeing Legolas in that desperate and weakened state made tears spring into his eyes.

The warg had him out on the grass now and Aragorn knew he was only going to have one chance to break free and finish this for good. Without even giving it a second thought, knowing that Legolas needed him, Aragorn used his other leg and as the creature dragged him so he was nearly under her, he kicked her in the nose with his free leg.

She let go in surprise and leaped back with fangs barred, freeing his leg and giving him time to roll over and ready his sword. Hot blood oozed from the several deep wounds the claws left, running down his leg in several rivers and staining his boot as well as his leggings. However, thinking only of his friend's plight and the bigger problem at hand, the ranger managed to push his pain and discomfort aside for the time being.

Suddenly the warg rushed upon him and was above him before there was anything he could do about. Dodging her snapping jaws around his face and neck Aragorn knew she was coming in for the kill, realizing her prey was too dangerous to be played with and was trying to bite his neck and break it.

Aragorn knew it would be impossible for him to dodge her jaws forever. Eventually he would tire out and slip up and then it would all be over in less than three seconds. Raising his sword, he waited until her mouth came perilously close to his neck and then he lashed out with it, making one quick swipe.

Dark blood spurted from her throat, staining his sword and his tunic as he rolled clear of her collapsing bulk.

The she-warg staggered and swayed on her four feet as she tried to understand why she felt so lethargic and why the world was turning black as she bled out, suffering from no pain. Her eyes blinked vapidly as she watched Aragorn and the lust for revenge still burned within her. Taking a faltering step towards him she could go no further and sank to the ground, lowering her huge head and clawing up the earth as she still tried to drag herself to her escaping prey.

Aragorn breathed deeply in relief as she gave her last breath before he began to stumble weakly towards the cave where he prayed that Legolas was still alive. If the Elf had suffocated it would be a miracle.

Pain blazed up his leg but he ignored it, unwilling to sacrifice his friend to spare himself some discomfort.

Entering into the den that was already reeking of dead warg, he found Legolas, where the Elf's outstretched hand lay still and his eyes were closed, dark circles outlining their edges making the rest of his face look illuminated in the darkness.

Knowing he had to get Legolas out and into the fresh air as quickly as possible and preferably into a rare patch of sunshine, Aragorn gathered Legolas gently and whispered, "Legolas? Legolas, can't you hear me? Please, say anything, my friend. Anything at all."

The Elf smiled softly and opened his eyes partway. "How…badly are…you hurt?" Closing his eyes and going limp without warning, Aragorn feared the prince had died in his arms but Legolas drew a deep breath. "I…am sorry…for my h-harsh...words earlier."

Aragorn smiled down at his friend as they both passed under the door and were out in the fresh air just in time to feel a rain sweetened breeze run through the forest. In his mind there had been no need for the Elf to apologize to begin with so when the Elf asked in a raspy and tired voice for forgiveness he nearly cried.

"Legolas, you were and still are hurting so I hold the pain responsible. But this drug, its something I am not sure I can cure you of." He shook as he felt terror clutching his heart and pain at having to Legolas he could do nothing and the prince was simply biding his time. "But you are going to have to keep down some fluids or else you won't be able to get it out of your system and you will dehydrate."

He could feel the fever still clinging to his friend and shook his head. If that didn't come down rather than climb up then there wasn't much hope.

He felt Legolas despair at his words but the Elf remained strong outwardly. "I…understand." He drew another labored breath, this time shallow.

Aragorn suppressed his mounting panic and whispered consolingly, "I will not let you die, Legolas."

The Elf smiled thinly at his words but did not speak. He was too weary. All his energy was being devoted to fighting the venom to the point where breathing was almost an afterthought.

Looking at Legolas' flushed cheeks, Aragorn knew what the Elf chiefly needed was to be submerged in cold water up to his neck. To his dismay the closest River was too far away to get to in time.

Remembering the water he had found he stumbled in that direction noticing how as life seem to separate from the Elf he became heavier, more like a man than a Firstborn.

Because of his wound and burden it took Aragorn a minute or two longer to reach the precious liquid but once he did he carefully set Legolas down on his back, noticing how the Elf only fluttered his eyes but other than that lay perfectly still.

Taking off his outer tunic, which was just a heavier replica of his under tunic, Aragorn wadded it into a ball and seeped it in the puddle, watching it absorb and become filled with the cold water. He waited impatiently for about a minute and then pulled it from the water.

Gently, afraid even to touch Legolas' battered chest that was mottled with dark bruises, but knowing that he must, Aragorn used his sopping shirt to bath Legolas' upper body, allowing the cold water to run over his friend. Taking his wet hand, he used it to wipe the Elf's hot face.

Opening his eyes, frowning, as he felt unnaturally cold and miserable, Legolas watched as Aragorn repeated the procedure. Strangely, though he was shivering, Legolas was beginning to feel a whole lot better as far as his body temperature went. But he was still in horrible pain that he doubted anyone but he could begin to fathom.

Aragorn could feel the heat receding from his friend though he was sure Legolas was still suffering from a slight temperature. Putting his wet tunic aside, the ranger asked the conscious and shivering Elf, "Could you sit up if I helped you?"

Legolas puckered his brow and answered more clearly than he had in a long time. "I think so." He didn't want Aragorn to know that he still felt as though he had been turned inside out and slowly turned on a spit over a fire for a couple hours.

Aragorn nodded, and gently, with a small amount of help from Legolas, he got the prince into a sitting position, leaning his back and head against the rock behind him. To Aragorn's eyes Legolas still looked frail and like he could draw his last breath at any given moment.

"Wait here," Aragorn told him, garnering a small and feeble laugh from the fair being.

"I will try to contain myself," Legolas answered softly, a small twinkle coming into his eyes but fading as the pain intensified a little. It wasn't like he could easily go anywhere anyway.

Aragorn chuckled, realizing the silliness of his command and began to drag his injured leg after him back to the cave to get the leaf cup so he could try and get that Elf to drink. Smiling, he wondered what Legolas' reaction would be to this.

Legolas watched the ranger's back as the man went and then scowled at the limp the human bore and the blood covering the man's left leg. He was hurt and was carrying one as though he was as well as ever! This was nothing new but Legolas would have thought that reckless human would have learned by now. When Aragorn came out that man was in for a serious talk and Legolas wasn't going to let him laugh it off either. This time he was going to listen and listen well.

When the young ranger reappeared, struggling over to where the Elf sat with his eyes never leaving Aragorn, giving him a hard glare, Legolas accused flatly, "you ripped your leg open!"

Aragorn raised his eyebrows, smiling slightly at the scolding while dipping the cup into the water, getting a little in it and swishing it out before filling it again. "No, I didn't," he said innocently. "The warg did." Lifting the cup from the water, he meant to crouch by the Elf but sat instead, trying to avoid placing any pressure on the injured limb.

The movement wasn't wasted on Legolas but his arguments were stifled as his eyes settled on the cup being lifted to his lips. Blinking, he tried to believe what he was seeing but it was a challenge. "A leaf cup?" he asked incredulously. "Elrohir would …be proud."

Aragorn nodded, "that he would be, but Elladan would kill me." Shaking his head, he glared, shoving the cup so it was nearly beneath Legolas' nose. "You will drink this." His voice was nearly threatening and the Elf grinned helplessly.

"I have never been …happier to follow ...instruction," the prince obliged.

Aragorn held the cup for his friend, putting the rim against the Elf's pale lips and tipping it slightly so the cool water could slide down Legolas' parched throat. Legolas felt it flow down his esophagus and slam into his stomach like a heavy rock, at the same time tasting and feeling wonderful. Before he knew it he was gulping and Aragorn withdrew the cup hastily.

"Only small sips," he instructed anxiously, hoping Legolas hadn't managed to make himself sick. The scathing glare of the Elf made a small semi-smile play on his lips. "Legolas, if you drink it all but throw it up it isn't going to do any good."

"If you insist," Legolas answered, too drained to argue over this trivial matter. A sudden pain made him jerk and his arms went across his stomach as he curled in on himself. Shuddering, he nearly fell over, but was caught by Aragorn with one hand. "Hurts…," he moaned. "I think I am going to, be sick…"

Rubbing his hand soothingly up and down Legolas' back, being very mindful of his bruises, Aragorn whispered, "it's alright if you do. Just get this stuff out of your system." Aragorn had a sinking feeling that this could have been a whole lot worse if Legolas had actually ingested some Athelas tea and not just breathed in some fumes.

Once more, Legolas expelled the contents of his stomach, nearly whimpering as it felt like he had literally puked his entrails out. Gasping and clenching his eyes tightly shut, he panted and then threw up again.

After a few moments he sat up, blinking, and breathed a few deep breaths as his racing heart slowed gradually down to about the normal pace. Signing heavily, he leaned against Aragorn's shoulder. As unpleasant as vomiting had been he did feel better and Aragorn passed the cup over to him.

"Try it again," he encouraged, hoping maybe this time the water would stay down.

Legolas shook his head tiredly and refused, still catching his breath. Keeping his eyes closed, Legolas seemed to fall asleep, leaning on the ranger's shoulder.

"Legolas, this is all my fault. If I hadn't boiled that Athelas-"

"It's fine Estel," murmured the Elf, trying to sleep despite himself and wishing the ranger would stop squirming and stop talking. The pain was wearing off and he was becoming very drowsy.

"No, its not," Aragorn insisted, causing Legolas to open a set of bleary blue eyes that looked slightly annoyed.

"If you hadn't came and saved me when you had I don't think you would have ever had a chance," Legolas whispered insistently. "And you didn't kill me. I was wrong to be harsh with you and I never meant to be so cold to my best friend."

Closing his eyes again, Legolas listened to Aragorn's reply, being more alert than he appeared.

"I just should have known better is all. Because of my mistake you suffered more," he finished, looking at his hands as he began to feel sick to his stomach. His wound to his leg was throbbing and still bleeding slightly.

"No more than I would of at the hands of Lostiâ," Legolas muttered drowsily. He yawned before asking, "Have you seen to your leg yet?" He already knew the answer but felt compelled to change the subject.

"No," Aragorn admitted a bit ruefully. "But I am not going to until you drink some more water and keep it down."

Legolas retorted sleepily, "That's blackmail." Opening one eye he looked up at the ranger's face to gauge his reaction. If he was looking to see the man taken aback or scowling he was sorely disappointed.

"Yes," Aragorn agreed with a frustrating grin. "It is."

"Very well, for your sake I will try to drink some more," the Elf allowed as Aragorn pressed the cup to his lips again and gave it a tip to get the prince started.

"And please remember to take small sips this time," Aragorn teased as the Elf glared at him over the rim.

It took a while but once all the water was gone from that cup and Legolas had consumed another cup full the prince was feeling much better. He still was a bit groggy but it was nothing he was sure he couldn't handle.

Glancing at the unconventional cup as Aragorn dressed his wound with strips from his wet over shirt after cleansing it with the rest of the water from the little pool, Legolas shook his head. Leaning back against the boulder, he laughed a clear sound form the heart. "I still can't believe it actually worked."

Aragorn scowled at his wound as he spoke, winding the strips around his leg so tightly he wouldn't be surprised if the circulation was cut off later. "Me either," he mumbled, concentrating on not jerking as the lacerations objected to his harsh movements.

"Those are ugly," Legolas remarked as Aragorn tied off the last bandage. He reached a finger out to touch one gingerly. "You are going to have make sure Elrond looks at those soon and I mean it, Strider!"

The Elf went very quiet and for a moment Aragorn held his breath.

"Aragorn," Legolas slipped, accidentally using his friend's real name. "When you protected me from that warg and then were dragged out…it reminded me too closely of…of well, you know, Calmir and his cruelty." The prince fumbled for the right words and was apparently suffering from a stunted vocabulary. "I was afraid for those few minutes. You are the only human I have trusted for a long time and the only friend besides Rothinzil who truly knows all that happened. I didn't want to lose you and I was terrified I would."

He sighed. "I didn't want to be left helpless in that cave either. When you let go of me, I panicked and reached for you."

Aragorn smiled as he tested his leg out, applying a little pressure on it and wincing before he answered. "I knew you were afraid and I tried to stay with you but I didn't want to hurt you even more."

"Just promise me something," Legolas said in all seriousness. "Don't pull a stunt like that again or you may age me before I am three thousand." Though swaying, the Elf struggled to his feet and leaned on the boulder, obviously too weak to walk very far without help. Blinking, he shot a sheepish look at Aragorn, who was shaking his head.

"You need rest," he insisted, staring the Elf down but making no progress.

"We have no time for that," Legolas retorted rather bluntly, obviously feeling better enough to be obstinate once more. "My father is coming to get me, thinking I am with Lostiâ. When my uncle finds me missing and my father shows up I don't know what he will do." His eyes went hard. "I will not lose my father."

"You can barely stand," objected the human straightforwardly.

"Neither can you!" Legolas spat the comeback, fear for his father making his voice sharp. "I have to go and save my father before something terrible happens that we can't fix! And for all you know Lord Elrond could have gone with him looking for you!"

Legolas' distress was contagious and Aragorn suddenly became very worried for his foster father. If something happened to Elrond his brothers would absolutely kill him if he didn't do it himself first. The sickness spreading in his stomach seemed to worsen.

There had to be some way they could travel, but everything seemed hopeless. Legolas was about as strong as water right now and walking more than a little ways on his own would make him sick again. Then Aragorn had his ripped leg to think of. He could hardly put any weight one that.

"Let's support each other."

Aragorn's suggestion made Legolas frown. As Aragorn came to stand hobbling beside him the prince took a step back, reluctant to follow through with this new plan. "Are you insane? I mean, we will both fall over like a pair of idiots!"

"If you know of a better way I am listening," Aragorn told the Elf as he pulled him close on his left side and put his hand just aboveLegolas' hip. Legolas cast him an irritated and long suffering gaze but complied, coming to the understanding that this was about the only thing that they could do.

Putting an arm over Aragorn's shoulders, Legolas smiled thinly, unable to not be reminded of a three legged race. He laughed lightly at the absurdity of it. "Alright," he conceded as they took a step in unison. "United we stand, divided we fall."

TBC...A bit of a touching chapter, huh? Oh! And there was some Aragorn angst! Yay! See? We won't let Legolas have all the fun!

Now, we know we ask this all the time but... please review! They mean a lot to us! (hold hands to ears) what was that? You will? Aw, thanks! LOL

Oh, and sorry about not getting review responses out but school has kept us hopping as well as the work on the sequel to "Masquerade" as we want that story to 'premiere' around Christmas time. We are working on actually piecing together a music video of sorts as the preview too, but we don't know if our site will accept it. Hopefully it will:) However, this time we will try to get review responses out by Tuesday...