Chapter 12

A Darker Void

Dawn had come. Barely distinguishable shadows of mist hung over areas of water, illuminated by what was left of the darkness of night. The sun rose slowly, painting the sky with colors of orange and white, a pale blue in the background. Few clouds if any were left from the night before; the rain had finally stopped. The dew on the ground was extra heavy, and the earth as slick as ice in many places.

Legolas walked alone, back to the cave. Several minutes before sunrise he had left the hollow in silence, wanting to pursue the cave and its inhabitants on his own. He would not endanger anyone's life beyond his own, so he had left Arwen, Estel, and the horses behind, leaving Arwen in charge. She had done enough, Legolas had figured, she needn't do anything more now. There was a barely noticeable limp in his step, a fading reminder of the injury he had been given on the previous night, but the prince's mind was far away from the wound and it did little to hinder his stubborn spirit.

All his weapons had been taken from him by Ralorn's men; all the elf carried now was Arwen's bow, full quiver, and a long knife. He hoped they would aide him well in the time to come; perhaps bring them all a victory that had been denied in the past few days.

As the elf walked, he thought back to his departure. Arwen had willingly accepted the charge of staying behind while Legolas went ahead, but the prince could tell she took no pleasure in being left behind. Legolas understood, but he had a better chance of sneaking in than Arwen did, so they had chosen their positions to reflect that.

The man was doing little better come morning. The two elves had halted his descent into darkness but his body was pitifully weak from all the hurt. Sleep, too, evaded the ranger. He didn't seem to be able to. He had woken several times during the night, though each time was silent and almost undetectable. Legolas wouldn't have known about it if Aragorn had not confessed to finding no rest. He had not slept in well over a day now and that with the latest shock to his system was not helping him heal. He wanted to, but he could not.

It had hardly been so difficult for the prince to leave anyone behind.

Their parting words however, had left the prince confused and distressed. Legolas recalled the burning conviction in his friend's eyes as he had made a single request of the elf prince. The memory came back to him, brief but meaningful.

"Legolas," Aragorn whispered just as the elf made ready to depart. "I need you to promise me something."

"What is it?" Legolas knelt next to his friend and watched him closely.

Estel sighed, his eyes and heart heavy. "If it is possible, bring Ralorn back alive."

Legolas stared at him, shock filling his face. "Why?"

The ranger leveled his friend with a firm stare, bidding the other to understand his wish. "Because I must know the truth."

Legolas shook his head, in turmoil as he walked. He didn't know what to do. Ralorn deserved more than death for his actions, it didn't matter how much reason they had behind them. Returning hurt for hurt never helped anyone, ever. His crimes had all been planned, premeditated. Ralorn would willingly admit to it too, he already had.

Aragorn though, he was the last person Legolas would have expected to vouch for Ralorn's life. Aragorn had every right to demand Ralorn's execution. He had been kidnapped, beaten, starved, and tormented. Anyone would make such a request in regards to their tormentor. But Aragorn had not. He wanted answers, he wanted the truth. He wanted to know why.

But Legolas and the twins could have told him why! Could have told him Ralorn's history, shared the reasons of why the elf had become who he was and done the things that he had done. Yet the prince could remember the firm gaze Aragorn had given him when making the request. The man did not want any assumptions made by outsiders. He wanted the real truth, he wanted to understand. He wanted to be able to look his tormenter in the eye, because only then would he be able to let go of his fear. Only then could he be free.

Up ahead Legolas could make out the outline of the cave entrance. He was not far now, another ten minutes and he would reach his destination. He prayed for strength of mind in doing what must be done. He prayed he would be able to fulfill Estel's only request of him.

Amidst all the beauty of the waking world, the cave entrance was hideous. In the growing light, it truly did look like a scar in the earth, a gouge made by a ravenous animal upon the rocks. Legolas slowly climbed up the small hills that lead directly to it, his heart growing fierce within him. Before the time came, he could feel the fear that came with the danger he was placing himself in, but in the moment he felt none.

Just outside the cave was the first time he stopped, listening for anything from within. Pressing his ear against the earthen wall just to the left of the opening, Legolas listened.

The interior of the cave was in deep unrest. Anger and hate had woven itself into the walls of the entwining tunnels. Distress too, had found a home here. This cave was evil - not of its own devices, but because of the intentions of the one who had taken residence here. With these realizations came a pull, a desperate need to keep moving. Something was happening, he needed to keep going!

Legolas entered cautiously, keeping close to the wall. No one was about in the main tunnel. The prince inched his way forward, keeping his eyes roving over all he could see and his hands on the wall, walking in a direction that he had not been down before, lead solely on instinct. Following one cavern passage filled with flickering torchlight, he treaded softly toward its source.

He found the one called Mayroniel in the passageway.

Legolas froze. Mayroniel was not looking at him, but in the doorway of a connecting room the elf was watching someone else. Mayroniel's face was livid and the prince noticed the flash of a blade. Whomever it was in the cave room, Legolas was sure he did not want them to be harmed. He reached over his shoulder swiftly and silently, letting his fingers come into contact with one of the arrows in the quiver on his back.

"You aren't playing easy to kill, Elrohir," Mayroniel said darkly at a being in the room, removing all doubt from Legolas' mind.

In another second the archer let loose his projectile. The arrow flew straight and true, slamming into Mayroniel's body and driving deep into the elf's unprotected side, just under his ribs. Mayroniel gasped in sudden pain as he fell to the floor.

Legolas leapt over Mayroniel's prone body and entered the room though the elf underfoot made valiant attempts to stop him despite the arrow in his side. In front of him was a being that looked horribly disfigured, scaled black-green randomly about his face and streaked into his dark hair. The archer nearly raised his bow again to ward off this new creature, but then the being spoke to him, calling him by name.

"Legolas!" the creature rushed to him and Legolas knew.

"Elrohir!" they embraced briefly and broke apart, gripping each other's forearms tightly for a moment. They had been separated so long, never really knowing the fate of the other; it was so good to be together now!

"What happened?" Legolas immediately bombarded his friend with questions. "You look every bit some kind of demon-"

"Later," Elrohir said, picking off more pieces of the substance on his face. "We need to find Elladan, fast!"

Mayroniel attempted to rise, ignoring the elven arrow shaft protruding from his side. The look in his eyes was wild and desperate as he tried to hold the other two elves back from finding anything they looked for, but the deadly wound he had been dealt was sucking his strength. Wavering on his feet he nearly fell to the side as the archer and the elf twin advanced.

"Let me handle this," Elrohir told Legolas, stopping the prince in his forward motion to deal with Mayroniel. Elrohir walked swiftly to the wavering elf, his eyes firm but calm.

Mayroniel attempted to launch at Elrohir but the elf twin easily stopped him and forced the other against the opposite wall. His grey eyes flickered for only a moment, but Elrohir buried his intense anger behind the calm façade of his gaze.

"You have violated my family and assisted in both the torment and abuse of innocent lives. I am ashamed to be linked to you in race." Elrohir's bold grey eyes bore into Mayroniel where he was pressed up against the cavern wall. "Even if I killed you there would be no respite for your blackened heart. Do not stop me, do not follow, and I will give you the courtesy you do not give others, for I do not desire to take your life." Elrohir shoved him back, down the opposite side of the dark pathway. "Stay away from my family."

"Legolas, come with me." Elrohir turned in the opposite direction and did not look back as he began to run, his mind far forward in another task. Legolas did not hesitate to follow. They left Mayroniel, and the memory of him, behind.

Legolas raced down the cave hallway after Elrohir, deeper into the cave. He now knew where they were going; this was the same way the guard had taken him the day before, close to the only room with the door...

Árë and Faroth burst out into the cavern hallway. Concealed in a room not far from where Legolas and Aragorn had been taken, they had heard someone coming. They were caught! Elrohir could barely catch a glimpse of his twin just beyond them, but he could hear Elladan resisting in there. Both Elrohir and Legolas made firm eye contact with the two guards in front of them, ready. Never again would any of them back down.

Without even thinking Elrohir and Legolas acted first. Legolas drew his bow back and Elrohir struck barehanded. Árë and Faroth had been taught ground fighting but they found a formidable fighter in Elrohir, who took them both on at the same time. Elrohir knew what to do in situations such as these. He rushed Faroth first and kept the elf between him and Árë, who left Faroth to his foe and turned to contend with the elven prince.

Faroth aimed a hard right to the elf twin's head but Elrohir blocked it with his left, stepping closer and punching Faroth in the nose. Faroth brought one leg up and harshly kicked Elrohir in the side, then the stomach. Barely affected, Elrohir smacked Faroth's leg away from him and moved forward again, catching the elf around the neck with one arm and bringing his bared fist down against Faroth's kidney. The elf gasped slightly at the painful hit and wrapped both arms around Elrohir's waist, letting his clenched fists barrel into Elrohir's body - his left fist against the small of Elrohir's back and his right into the elf twin's lower abdomen. Momentarily stunned by the shock of it, Elrohir struggled but Faroth brought his left hand up, wrapped it around Elrohir's forehead and pulled him backwards, giving the elf twin a harsh kidney shot of his own. Elrohir backed up, nearly falling backwards if it had not been for his elven balance. Absorbing the pain of the hits he bore back into the fight, smashing his elbow into Faroth's sternum, and then bringing his clenched hand down into a hard hit to the groin, then bringing his elbow up to smash into the chin, snapping the elf's head back. Faroth fell away from him, shaking his head and then found an elven arrow driven straight into his upper chest, catching him completely by surprise and knocking him off his feet.

Árë had been taken care of by Legolas in Elrohir's focus on Faroth. When Faroth and Elrohir had begun their fight Árë had turned around to deal with the other intruder. Unsheathing a long knife from his hip the elf rushed toward the archer. In too close quarters Legolas had to drop his bow and produced the knife Arwen had given to him, meeting Árë in the middle. The blades crashed, broke apart, and then crashed again. Árë stepped closer and slashed his blade across Legolas' face, lightly cutting across the prince's left cheek. They broke apart again. Legolas could feel blood on his face but ignored it, rushing Árë suddenly as he transferred his knife to his left hand. When the knives made contact again, Legolas threw his attacker's blade away to the left and stepped closer, driving his right fist into Árë's stomach. As Árë arched forward into Legolas, the prince brought his knee up with such force into Árë's face that he broke the elf's nose, then as Árë fell forward Legolas helped him in his descent, the archer's left elbow making contact in the middle of the other's back, knocking Árë to the ground. As Árë attempted to rise Legolas picked up his fallen bow and pulled an arrow from the quiver on his back, aiming and firing the projectile into Árë's shoulder. Halfway to his feet, Árë cried out softly and froze as Legolas inserted another arrow on the bowstring, aiming first at him, then shifting the direction the arrowhead pointed and releasing it to where Elrohir and Faroth had been fighting.

Removing another arrow from the quiver, Legolas again settled his gaze to Árë, who was still quite able to fight despite the arrow in his shoulder and the blood flowing from his nose. Legolas' cheek was still bleeding from the four-inch long surface tear that Árë had dealt him and his leg shook slightly under the strain of his actions, but the archer didn't even twitch as he sighted in on the arrow.

"If you value your life at all, get back on the floor," Legolas hissed dangerously at Árë, his eyes filled with no lie. "NOW!"

Árë did as instructed, glowering at the archer but did not get back up from the ground. Caught off guard and not nearly as talented as the Mirkwood prince, he was outmatched and he knew it. Árë was far younger than Legolas and it never showed as obviously as now.

Neither guard was dead, but Legolas and Elrohir did not pursue the matter. Those two guards were not their prime targets. The elf still inside the room however, was.

Legolas entered the room first, his bow trained on Ralorn while Elrohir ran to assist his twin. Helping Elladan to his feet, Elrohir kept a firm hold on him. Separated and nearly killed, he wasn't about to let go of the person he was the closest to.

Elladan had not been badly injured, but his injuries brought some cause of alarm and it slowed the elder twin up a bit. He too had been put up in the ceiling restraints and had been battered around cruelly, but Elladan had a very thick hide and his eyes still burned much fire. It had given him quite an advantage to take his mind away. Legolas walked right up to Ralorn, sighting in the arrow in between the dark elf's eyes.

Ralorn stopped moving. Why was the prince free? How had he escaped and overpowered Mayroniel and the others? Out the door he could see his fallen guards, not dead but most definitely lost now. He could not help them. He turned wild, hate filled eyes on the elf prince who had so suddenly destroyed everything. He had lost. Everything he had worked so hard for was draining away in front of his eyes.

"I should kill you right here and now," Legolas' voice was dark and livid. Only his loyalty to Estel stayed the rage in his hands, begging him to let go of the arrow. "But at the request of another I am bound to let you live. But understand this Ralorn. Your oppression has ended."

The wild look in Ralorn's eyes faded. His face became impassive, calm, cold.

"Kill me," he whispered, his voice low but fierce.

"I will not," Legolas did not let the bow drop, nor did the arrow lower from the target the prince had set, but Legolas spoke true – he meant what he said.

"I will not be taken prisoner. I will not live behind bars." Ralorn's eyes flashed at the thought. He had lost everything; he would not suffer the rest of his life with that punching him in the face every morning. "There is nothing for me here any longer. Kill me!"

"I made a promise, and I will not go back on my word." Legolas locked his gaze with the dark elf's, but he was unprepared for what Ralorn said next.

"My life has been nothing but darkness," the elf whispered, imploring the prince, who had once been his prisoner, to end his life. "Just kill me. Kill me now."

The prolonged tension began to make Legolas' hands shake as he continued to hold the bow up. The prince was trying so hard to remain as impassive as Ralorn ever was, but all that he knew of this elf crashed into him at once and Legolas found he could not kill the elf, even if he had not been bound by any vow.

"I will not!" Legolas eased the tension of the bow and let it drop to his side. He had told himself so many times that he would voluntarily take Ralorn's life himself after so much hurt, but now faced with the opportunity, he found he just couldn't.

Elrohir and Elladan stood slowly behind the elf prince. Elladan kept one arm wrapped around his twin's neck so that he would not fall, and Elrohir held him up strongly. They silently watched Legolas take control of the situation, their ire just as strong as the prince's, yet not quite understanding why the prince was allowing Ralorn to live.

That thought was quickly torn away, as a new threat rose to greet them all.

They all felt it. After two in the past two days, it came as both an expectance and a surprise. The elves felt it a split second before it happened, the earth groaning beneath their feet, like a deep breath of wind before the first wave of a storm... and it began, twice as harsh as the last earthquake, twice as deadly. The earth around them violently twisted in full tilt.

"Elrohir!" Legolas yelled as he leapt forward, catching Ralorn in a fast grip and twisting the elf's right arm behind his back, guiding the other forward and out of the cavern room. "We need to get out of here fast!"

"The cave is too unstable!" Ralorn surprisingly spoke, attempting to look behind at the prince as Legolas shoved him out of the room. "We can't reach the entrance fast enough. We'll be trapped in here!"

"Shut up!" Legolas growled at him. The rumbling earth was rising in violent intensity with breath-taking speed, nearly knocking them off their feet. True to his word, the lower parts of the cave were crumbling under the force of the earthquake. Ralorn was right. In moments they would be overcome.

"Elrohir, follow me! There is another way to get out!" Legolas bodily forced Ralorn out into the hallway, half walking, half sliding to the only room with a door. Yes, there was another way out, one that only Legolas knew of in this group. Elrohir kept a firm grip on Elladan as he followed the prince out of the room and down to another. If they could make it fast enough, there was a chance they could survive.

§§§

The air was crisp and cool, refreshed by the heavy rain of the previous night. Unlike out in the open however, the interior of the hollow as comfortably warm, aided by the bodies of five beings and a well kept fire long since built in the early hours of the morning.

Asfaloth gently whiffed at Arwen's hair, nudging her head in the silent plea to be talked to and held. Willingly Arwen raised her arms and softly stroked the stallion's great forehead. She needed it, more so than the horse did. Still hurt and upset at the circumstances she had been left in, it was going to take her some time before she could feel at all stable.

Now that Aragorn was safe, Arwen felt a new fear rising within her and it was one she did not take any pleasure in. Now her older brothers were trapped. The twins, whom she loved more dearly than life, were being threatened to give everything they could, including their lives. Desperately afraid for them and forever frustrated with her current position, the young elf maiden could find little reprieve from her thoughts.

She couldn't just sit here. She was as protective, high-minded, and thick-skulled when it came to someone advising her about her family as her brothers were. There had to be something she could do. It couldn't be the end of the story for her, the last mark of her part in the tale made in this hollow. She wouldn't let it end this way. If the twins were to die, it would not be because she was sitting here, waiting for them to return. Mind made up, Arwen stood and walked next to Aragorn's side. Still very weak but rapidly regaining strength now that the herbs she and Legolas had been giving him were taking effect, as well as being aided by the strong Númenorean blood of his family, the ranger was awake and feeling slightly more alive. He was well on his way to healing his physical injuries.

"Estel," she whispered as she again knelt by his side, reaching forward and hesitantly touching the side of his face as she spoke. The fear had not yet left her, but gradually she was beginning to move past the pain of it. She smiled as Aragorn turned his gaze to her and gave her a small grin.

"Are we going after them yet?" Aragorn said softly, his eyes reclaiming a shred of their light at the thought. Legolas had not yet been gone fifteen minutes, but he knew Arwen's heart would not allow her to remain behind, for he felt the same in spite of his condition.

Arwen laughed lightly at his bold question, knowing all too well that he knew what was in her heart. "Yes, Estel, I wish to follow them."

Aragorn rotated his body stiffly, subconsciously attempting to sit up but finding that his injuries would not allow this. He settled back down again with a sigh. "I'm impressed you waited this long, my lady. I would not have."

Arwen shook her head and smiled at the praise. "Do you think you can sit on Asfaloth with me? I do not feel it would be wise for you to ride alone yet."

"If it means moving-" Aragorn said with a slight pull in his voice, absorbing the pain of his body and pressing it from his mind. There would be another time and place to deal with that, but now was not then. He wanted to keep moving, no matter the cost. "I will not object."

"Good. Silme can follow us and Celebnar as well. If we hurry, we won't be too far behind Legolas when we reach the cave."

At the sound of their names, Silme and Celebnar looked up at the elf-maiden expectantly. Celebnar gently flew from his place on Silme's back and landed right near Aragorn's side, chirping softly. He was still wary of these two beings for they were not the master he had claimed, yet still they treated him and each other with utmost kindness and he was fast losing any fear of them.

Aragorn looked down at the falcon and chuckled at the sight, a sound much like a deep inconsistent hum. "Legolas told me about him. Leave it to the wood-elf to make friends with a bird and bring him along..."

Arwen would have smacked the ranger playfully for his taunt if not for the notion of how painful that would have been for the man. "Estel, behave, or I'll leave you behind." Her voice was serious but her eyes twinkled.

Aragorn wisely decided to shut his mouth, even though he knew she was jesting only.

Arwen gently helped the man rise to a sitting position, careful of his torn shoulders and the wounds on his back. However, before he was even ten inches off the ground Aragorn cried out without any of his mind's consent. His tailbone screamed and an even deeper ache returned; one Aragorn was powerless to push through no matter how hard he tried.

Arwen immediately laid the ranger back down, gripping his hand tightly and soothing him with her voice as his face contorted and his breathing hitched, his chest rising and falling irregularly in the attempt to regain control. Moments passed and gradually so did the pain, ebbing out of his mind as pain does but never fully, always in the center of his thoughts.

As soon as he could speak again, Aragorn looked up at Arwen with a rather fierce look in his eyes. "Don't leave me behind," he whispered at her desperately. "Please don't leave me behind."

She looked quite concerned, biting her lip. "Estel, I don't think it's safe for you-"

"No!" Aragorn shook his head vigorously. "It can be no other way."

Arwen hesitated, unsure.

"I can't let you go alone," the ranger pleaded.

In reality, that was not what he feared the most. He feared what would happen without his knowledge, and he feared being left alone. More than anything else that was his fear, and it had been harder on him to let Legolas leave, for his hold on his friend had become very strong.

Arwen knew not of this and she could not read the man as easily as her family could, having only been around the man a few times and only recently discovering strange stirs within her heart whenever she was near him. Though she feared for the man's health, Arwen could decipher some of the emotion that raged behind a veil in the man's eyes. She knew leaving him behind could end up turning deadly in his favor.

Nodding slowly, she responded to his wish, though her voice was heavy with distress. "All right."

Calling Asfaloth closer, Arwen gently lifted the man into her arms with some difficulty. Though she was not nearly as strong as Legolas nor built as sturdy, the elf maiden could still summon enough strength and will to make the effort. Her study had not been warfare though at times she had wished for it; she was one of the Eldar, blessed with a vitality that gave her the energy to try. Carefully settling the ranger atop one of the blankets to make his seat more comfortable, she helped him hunch forward enough so that there was no pressure to his tailbone. Once he was stable and Asfaloth still, Arwen gathered anything that had been left out in the hollow, stowing cloaks, blankets, and some herbs into her pack and stamped out the fire, spreading the ashes so it would not re-ignite. Once all had been done, Arwen walked up next to her stallion and gained her seat behind the ranger. Bringing the man up into a more secure position for them both, she gently held him up in her arms as she told Asfaloth to walk. The horse's gait was steady and smooth, attesting to elegance in his step. Arwen was never more happy or proud of him.

Silme followed, trotting for a moment so she could catch up to the stallion's side and walk beside him. Celebnar perched precariously on her neck, his talons woven tightly into her mane and his wings out in the effort to stay upright. He fluttered dangerously, but did not fall or give up and fly. This time, he wanted to stay with the group.

Aragorn winced gently at the pain of his hurts, heightened now that he was in motion but never did he allow the full look of pain enter his eyes. Arwen was not nearly as stubborn as his brothers, father, or best friend, and he wasn't about to let her start that familiar trend yet. He throbbed more than words could say, but there was no way he was going to let that stop him. His deep concern for his brothers and Legolas ran deeper than his pain.

Some distance from the hollow, Aragorn glanced up at Arwen and gave her a small smile, his voice becoming wistful and distant. "Elladan and Elrohir found me over twenty-five years ago and claimed me as their own; Legolas saved my life after I fell out of a tall tree, poisoned and injured. They have been my idols and protectors for many years, been there in times of weakness and strength... but I want to thank you for taking up their burden... for being my hero today."

Arwen was silent for a long time, but it was not uncomfortable. Aragorn kept his eyes roving from the ground to the forest ahead, watching and listening. It was peaceful, the sky opening slowly to a brilliant shade of blue. The air was fresh and the breeze gentle. If there was not such a weight of worry and fear shadowing his heart, Aragorn would have greatly enjoyed the stillness of the morning.

"Estel," Arwen smiled, although the ranger could not see it. "They discovered a hero in you long before you found one in them. If it had not been for you, they would have not found the strength to move on."

"Move on to what?"

"Rediscovering hope," whispered the she elf as her arms tightened almost inperceptively around the man.

Aragorn was silent now, pondering. As he felt the gentle, consistent rocking motion of the stallion beneath him and touch of the wind as it blew through the trees, he wished he was not worth so much to his brothers and friend and often wondered why he was. Inside he knew he would risk the same sacrifices for them, but he still felt his life did not outweigh theirs and feared deeply every time they were put on the line.

"They fight for you, Estel." Arwen's voice captured his attention again. "Not because of what your name is, not because of who your father was, but because of who you are. You are so precious to them, you have earned their loyalty, and they fear losing you more than they do losing their own lives."

Aragorn shook his head slightly, looking down at the ground. "I don't even know why..."

There was a calm assurance in Arwen's voice as she spoke next that gently cut off all argument. "I do."

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"Estel?"

Aragorn shook his head wearily. Valar, this was hard. His mind had woven in and out of consciousness during the ride back to the cave, his heart growing steadily heavier as they got closer. It had been long since he had spoken to Arwen, his body failing him slowly again.

"Estel?"

Aragorn rose up from the relaxed position he had slowly found himself in, nearly too fast. Arwen caught him by the shoulders before he could go too far, holding him steady until the man woke up entirely. The ranger looked back up at Arwen, his eyes slightly glazed with pain and weariness.

Arwen nodded only when she saw the man was awake, showing she needed no conformation that he was awake now. "We are here," she whispered softly, carefully gauging his reaction.

Aragorn shut his eyes and tensed. He did not want to be here. Only for his family could he find the strength to come back, but that did not outweigh the intensity of the hate and fear he held for this place. He turned his head and cracked his eyes open, searching for the entrance. Several hundred feet away, he found it. The scar. The very sight of it was terrifying. He resisted the urge to shudder and back away.

"I'm going to dismount, hold on for a moment and then I'll help you down." Arwen said softly to him. Aragorn was in too much pain and emotional torment to object. At the moment, he just didn't care.

Arwen slid off Asfaloth's back and quickly unclasped her cloak, spreading it over the ground. Aragorn slid slowly off of the stallion's back, caught before he hit the ground in Arwen's strong grip. She settled him down on his stomach over the cloak, and said nothing when Aragorn turned his head away from the direction of the cave. She wanted to ask him if he was all right, ask him what was wrong, but she already knew the answers to both, it was worthless to even think about it.

Perhaps it was a mistake to bring him here. Arwen knew she would not have been able to leave the man in the cave, but maybe that would have been the wiser course of action. Coming back had had no positive effect on Aragorn. Rather, it seemed to be sucking the strength he had barely gained.

"Estel..." she whispered again, touching his head gently. When he looked up at her, she attempted to reason with him. "I don't know if-"

She glanced up a moment and froze, her eyes growing wide.

"Arwen?" Aragorn quickly observed her facial expression. It was not good.

Arwen dove down to the ground, partially shielding Aragorn's body with her own. There was a deep groan within her body that Aragorn felt, and his heart began to hammer.

"Estel, don't... move," she whispered. Pulling her left leg slowly up, she reached into it and withdrew a short single-edged knife. Holding it fast in her grip, she looked the ranger directly in the eyes.

"Mayroniel is coming."