Disclaimer: I own nothing of LotR.
Warnings: Nothing as of yet. No slash in this fic either, I'm afraid. ;-; Just wouldn't fit with this one. Sorry guys.
Sorry 'bout all grammar and/or spelling mistakes.
Sorry this took a while to get out. I had no time to type it up since I had a game Tuesday and that's the only day outta the week that I can type it up, besides the weekends when I'm at my father's. Sucks, but… ..:shrugs:.. I'll try to type them sooner if possible. n.n
Thanks to everyone for your wonderful reviews. They were very much appreciated, and encouraged me to continue this fic… not that I'm stop in the first place. XD ..:ahem:.. But… yeah, thanks everyone. n.n
And here's chapter two. n.n Hope you enjoy. Don't forget to let me know what you think, 'kay? n.n
Bound
Chapter Two: Suspicion
This time when he woke he no longer had a pounding headache, but only a dull ache that could, for the most part, be ignored. That pain that had overwhelmed him before had also lessened, enabling him to move.
When he opened his eyes it was to darkness and he began to panic, thinking he hadn't escaped the cave, after all. Maybe everything had been a dream? Maybe he was still within their clutches…
He quickly searched for some type of light, some type of reassurance, his eyes darting around in the dark.
He knew he shouldn't have gotten his hopes up.
"Aelin, he's awake!" a man shouted, causing him to jump and look to his right, where the sound had come from.
The man lit a candle, causing shadows to flicker along the walls, floor and ceiling.
Room. It's a room, he thought reassuring himself as best as he could. It wasn't a cave. It was a room. He had never been so relieved in his life.
"You must eat, Legolas; then you can rest," a gentle voice told him, upon seeing the blue orbs watching them.
Who is that? he thought disoriented. The voice was familiar, and… not at the same time. But they knew his name…
The elf reopened his eyes to place the voice with a face. Then he would know.
Instead he was greeted with a face he did not recognize.
It was a man with brown hair and eyes. He had a mustache and stubble for the beginnings of a beard. Obviously human.
No, he had never seen him before. So why had he sounded so familiar?
The man noted the look of confusion and gave the blonde elf a warm smile. "I'm Ellun, Aelin's husband. We found you near a cave," he said to refresh the younger elf's mind, hoping Legolas would remember the conversation he had had with his wife… it had been a few days ago. Apparently, Legolas' body had needed a lot more rest than any of them had thought.
Receiving a look of understanding, the man picked up a cup from the stand and helped the elf drink it.
The way this man… Ellun, held him so gently reminded Legolas of a healer's touch.
Estel! his wearied mind exclaimed, finally making the connection.
At the sudden thought, he had choked on the water, causing harsh coughs to wrack his battered body.
How could it have taken him this long to think of his friend!
Panic shot through him like a volley of arrows being released.
What of Estel? Was he well or had he been captured too? Had he made it back by now?
All these thoughts raced through his mind in a matter of mere seconds, as his distracted mind tried to stop the coughs. He needed to know what had happened to his friend, for he had all these questions; yet no answers. Not for a single one of them; it frustrated him to no end.
Ellun was shocked when the young elf suddenly shot up from his grasp, coughs still making his weak form shudder at the strain.
Aelin had come to her husband's shouts and had immediately tried to help him calm the struggling elf. She was relieved when the coughs finally did ease up.
Legolas felt a pair of strong hands push gently against his shoulders, trying to force him back down, while a voice tried to soothe him. However, his need to find Estel, to see how he was, pumped adrenaline through his veins, giving him strength he never thought possible in his current condition. The humans hadn't expected it either and were having a hard time controlling him. In fact, they couldn't. Even as horribly injured as he was, he was still an elf; not only that but his friend's life was in possible danger, and that was what made him truly stronger. He cared not for himself, but for his loved ones.
He needed to know! They didn't understand!
"Let me go!" he shouted, voice cracking against the strain it caused his already sore throat.
"Legolas, please you must calm down," Aelin said pleadingly. Who knew how the blonde's body would react to this type of treatment later. Ellun was barely able to restrain him as it was. She had a hard time believing the strength of the injured elf, but was still sure that at least one of his wounds had reopened. And this filed her heart with even more fear, for that meant that it would take even longer for him to heal. It had already been nearing two weeks. It had taken him long indeed to come this far.
In his struggling Legolas had accidentally hit Ellun in the stomach, forcing the man to gasp for breath and release his hold as his hands instinctively went to wrap around his abdomen. This allowed the elf to get his feet on the floor.
However, Legolas' desperate efforts were in vain.
As soon as his bare feet touched the cool wooden floor, dots invaded his vision as it started to go black. His legs instantly collapsed under him, too weak to support his body so suddenly.
Estel, Estel… I cannot… he thought guiltily; unable to think straight through the new bout of pain he had throughout his body.
He was sprawled on the floor, no longer able to move. His adrenaline had worn off and now there was only pain and exhaustion in its wake.
Aelin knelt by Legolas' side and gently brushed the damp hair out of his face.
Ellun also joined them, having regained his breath.
Both were still left shocked at what they had just witnessed, and neither knew what they should do now.
"Legolas…?" the man started uncertainly, while his wife continued to stroke the golden, sweat-soaked strands, trying to calm the young elf.
Legolas opened his eyes and, looking at Ellun, immediately started repeating, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," over and over again. However, he did not move another inch. The only movement from him was his heavy breathing and his lips as they continuously poured out the same statement.
"Shh, there is nothing to apologize for," the light-brown haired man tried to reassure the young elf, starting to carefully pick him up.
"I did not mean to," the distraught elf continued like a child who had broken a rule.
"I know, worry not," Ellun said, setting him down just as gently. Aelin had pulled back the covers for him and now draped them over their charge.
"Rest now. You shall eat when you wake," the woman said warmly, trying to calm Legolas down farther. It seemed like he wasn't able to move even if he tried, though; his exhaustion evident by his limp form.
The reason why he had started to struggle free was still fresh in Legolas' mind, however. "Nay, I must find my friend. Only then can I rest," the blonde stated firmly, demanding his unwilling body to cooperate with his mind, but failing miserably.
"My you are the stubborn one," the red-head said with a small smile.
"I need to find him," Legolas repeated with a determined gleam in his eyes.
"Estel?" Aelin inquired quietly, stilling any and all movements the elf was about to attempt.
Legolas stared at the woman in shock; for the first time since he had awoken, his breath stilled in his throat. "How… how do you know about Estel?" he asked suspiciously. He had never fully trusted these humans since he had no idea who they were or what their purpose was, but because of them helping him he had accepted them, and possibly even trusted them to take care of him… not like he had much choice under the circumstances.
Now, suspicion flared up like a snake getting ready to sink its sharp fangs into the flesh of its victim, spreading its venom.
"Some of your wounds were infected; you developed a dangerously high fever that took days to overcome," Aelin explained, taking no offense to the distrust that was in the narrowed eyes. She had expected it from the very beginning. They had never met, after all. "You talked much in your delirium."
The two humans watched as Legolas' expression changed from distrust to guilt to fear.
What did I say? he thought terrified of the fact that he could have told total strangers his inner-most thoughts. He could have spoken about the recent torture he had undergone as well. He loathed the thought. He wouldn't have even told Estel! …well, not for a while at least…
He shut his eyes tightly, not wanting to think about it.
"Fear not, we shall tell no one," the woman said firmly. Besides, most of what was said had been incomprehensible and in Sindarin. She had been shocked to hear some of it in the common tongue.
Legolas reopened his eyes, switching his gaze back and forth between the two. Something in the woman's voice told him that she could be trusted; their eyes told him the same and he found himself actually relaxing, his head fully resting against the pillow beneath him.
"Forgive me for being such a burden. You are too kind," the blonde whispered contritely, deciding to give them their trust for now.
They shook their heads, showing there was no use for further apologies.
"Just concern yourself with getting better," Ellun said with a smile.
Legolas smiled back weakly and closed his eyes in exhaustion, unable to stop himself. When he realized what he had done he snapped them open. "I need to find him," he pleaded suddenly, after a flash of Estel's face crossed his mind. They just didn't understand!
"I'm sorry, Legolas, but you cannot even stand in your condition," Ellun tried to reason with the elf.
"But he could be in danger!"
"We cannot allow you to leave until you have recovered," Aelin said sternly. There were other reasons behind her words that Legolas could, and hopefully, would never know about.
Legolas stared at the woman, unsure of what to make of those words. There was a caring note to it, but also… fear? He had no idea what to make of it. Should he really trust these strangers, even this much? Strangers who had saved his life, but strangers nonetheless. They could have ulterior motives for all he knew.
Looking at the humans, he knew one thing for sure: he would have to sneak out if he wanted to leave before he was completely recovered.
No matter how hard he tried he could not deny his weariness any longer. He had already pushed it beyond what it should have gone. For now, he would listen; he would sleep. He needed time to think of how he could leave, of how he would find Estel.
Even before he had come to this decision, his eyes had closed of their own accord and now he could do nothing to stop his need to sleep.
Estel… I will find you soon. I promise, the elf thought before falling asleep, the couple watching him thoughtfully.
Well, Legolas is certainly determined about finding Estel. XD
So, how did you guys like it? Was it disappointing? You will find out what's going on with Aelin and Ellun soon enough. n.n
Ja ne