Chapter 5

The Falling And The Followed

"ADA!"

Elrond jumped out of his chair and flew down the hallway, headed back for Legolas' room. He had only been gone for a short while, what could be wrong now?

He threw open the door and ran to the opposite side where Elrohir and Legolas where, but what he found was not something he wanted to see.

Legolas' entire body was contracting in spasms of sharp pain. His arms were bent at the elbows and were jerking wildly in front of him, his back was arched forward and his head thrown back, unseeing eyes stared wide and terrified at some unknown sight. He was gagging horribly as the uncontrolled convulsions completely took over him, rolling wildly over the bed, putting up a good, yet unintentional fight against Elrohir.

"Ada! . . ." Elrohir was kneeling on the bed next to Legolas and was trying to hold the prince down.

Elrond quickly walked to where he had left his herbs and in moments he had put together a draught. He poured the concoction onto a cloth and headed for Legolas. Placing the cloth over the prince's face so that it was completely covered, he began to whisper to him softly in elvish to soothe him. In a few moments the prince calmed, and soon was completely still. When he did not open his eyes, Elrond found the prince's pulse – going much faster than it should have, but the prince was still alive.

"He's all right now." Elrond said, as if that could describe it – he was still critically ill, but he was no longer convulsing. Legolas' eyes were closed tightly, and his breath was hitching every two seconds. He was shuddering so hard Elrond worried that Legolas would lose too much strength before Aragorn came back.

Elrohir breathed a small sigh of uneasy relief and sat back down on a large armchair he had yanked into the room earlier. That was not something he wanted to see again.

"I'm going to say here for a while, to make sure he'll be all right."

Elrohir could only nod.

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Day and night. Travel day and night.

Not going to stop, not until we get there.

Can't give up. Can't give up. Can't give . . . up . . . Can't . . . Won't . . . for Legolas . . . not . . . give . . .up . . . no . . ."

Aragorn entwined his fingers in Arien's mane, comforting the stallion's snorts of weariness and urging him forward, even though his own tired muscles begged for release.

We're almost there . . . almost there . . . almost . . . there . . . can't give up . . . can't . . . Legolas . . . is . . . waiting . . .

"Aragorn!"

Aragorn snapped out of his daze roughly and fell backward in the saddle. Arien was weakened with fatigue and couldn't help the rough, fast stop that ended in rearing high. Gravity worked against him, and Aragorn flew into the air and landed on the ground hard, all air rushing out between his teeth.

"Aragorn! Aragorn!"

"Can't . . . stop. I must . . . keep going . . ." he whispered roughly as oxygen painfully entered his lungs. Arien turned and ran back to his master. Stopping next to him the stallion nudged his head gently, as though begging him to get up. Aragorn sighed deeply, reached up, and patted Arien on the cheek, smiling as the horse whickered happily at the familiar gesture.

Elladan dismounted and ran to the fallen rider. "Aragorn! We need to stop. You aren't coherent enough to keep riding like you are. Come here," the elder elf said, helping Aragorn sit up. The human's head was spinning as he tried to move, and he wearily hung his head, his senses begging for sleep. "You stay here with Arien. I'm going to set up camp. We'll continue when dusk comes."

Aragorn laid back down with a groan and looked up at the sun. It could have only been mid-afternoon at the latest. But he was so tired . . . never stopping . . . telling Elladan over and over that he was fine . . . never giving up . . . and now falling into an uneasy half sleep while riding at a gallop . . . Elladan had had enough. All speed was needed, but Elladan didn't want Aragorn to run himself to death. The ranger needed to sleep. Shaking his head Aragorn cursed his weakness.

Arien nuzzled Aragorn's head softly. The softness of the stallion's muzzle was so comforting; it threw Aragorn into a world of his own, the world of healing sleep. Elladan came back moments later with the human's bedroll, but it was too late. Aragorn was completely gone, enjoying the sleep of the blessed. Arien whickered at Elladan softly, as though to warn him to be quiet. Elladan quietly walked up and spread the bedroll on the ground, gently picked up the human, and laid him on the soft leather. Aragorn sighed and went into a deeper slumber.

Elladan walked over to Arien and removed the horse's bridle, saddle, and the provisions tied to his back, allowing the stallion to walk free. Instead of standing up to sleep, Arien walked over to Aragorn's side and curled his legs under him, settling next to his master with a heavy groan. He wearily laid his head right near Aragorn's hand, and shut his eyes.

Elladan couldn't help but smile. That horse was so loyal to Aragorn, refusing to leave his side even in sleep. It was as if the stallion knew that Aragorn needed him.

Sleep well, faithful one.

Elladan worked about the camp a while longer, securing it before he sat down himself. Kneeling next to Arien's side he watched the horse carefully. Arien had shut his eyes, but he wasn't asleep. Every time Aragorn moved, the stallion's grey eyes would open, checking on him. Even if Aragorn shifted slightly in his sleep and Arien would watch him. Elladan stroked the horse's shoulder knowing that weary as he was, Arien would protect the human with his own life. Arien looked over at the elf with understanding, as if to say "Don't worry, I'll take care of him."

"Sleep well, Arien." Elladan left the horse's side and propped himself against a thick tree. The last thing he saw of them before falling to sleep himself was Aragorn getting up, moving his bedroll to Arien's side and curling up against the horse's shoulder and side, stroking him softly, as though thanking the animal for the chance to let go. Arien sighed deeply and allowed himself to doze.

Elladan's own horse walked up and stood next to the elf, as if she were watching over him. Elladan smiled again as he looked into Hísië's bright eyes. The mare gave a soft neigh and bumped Elladan's shoulder. Elladan reached up and rubbed the horse's forehead. Sometimes I wonder what we would do without our horses. They can be as terrifying and deadly as orcs, and then as soft and gentle as a young dog. In this case though, they save lives, heal hearts, with no thought to themselves. Risking even death.

"Sleep well, Hísië. I'll be up in a few hours." With that, Elladan fell into a deep, unafraid sleep.

Breathing in deeply, he smelled for any sign of danger. Now was no time to relax. They were entering unknown lands, and it put him on the alert. Finding nothing to worry him, he again laid his head down, checking on his sleeping companions as he did so. I'm so tired. He thought as he tried to relax. But something won't let me sleep. There's something out there that I don't want here.

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Again he inhaled deeply as a small gust of wind went by, but this time, he did catch something new. He raised his head again. A new scent, but not unfamiliar. Arien tensed instinctively.

"Hísië!" the mare was dozing on her feet, but at the sound of her name, she jerked awake and walked over to the stallion.

"What's wrong?" dark grey eyes watched him carefully.

"I can smell something new. Can you? I think its orcs!"

Hísië raised her head and her nostrils flared; when a small gust of wind came she to caught the sent and stiffened in fear and dislike.

"I can! Come, we must leave! I'll wake my master, you try to wake yours." With that, she trotted to Elladan's side, whickering softly, but urgently.

Arien twisted his head and nudged Aragorn's. Aragorn was immediately awake, though still gravely tired. "Arien? What's wrong?"

"Orcs! Hurry, we must go!" Arien said softly, but all Aragorn heard was frantic whickering. But still, he got the desired effect Aragorn got up and looked around.

"What's wrong Arien? What do you . . ." Aragorn stopped. He could hear something. No wait, he could hear nothing . . . It was too quiet.

Arien stiffly got to his feet, walked to his master and butted his shoulder, whickering harshly now. "We must go! Hurry!"

Aragorn walked over to a ridge on the outside of their camp and looked. What he saw put him into a frenzy of action.

"Elladan!" the elf was already up, and rushing to him. He to looked over the ridge and saw what had frightened Aragorn so much. He too moved faster than normal, trying to get all their supplies together.

"Aragorn! Come help me!" Aragorn looked up at the sky. They couldn't of slept longer than a few hours. Running one weary hand over his eyes he ran to help Elladan.

As before, they gathered everything they had and escaped. But it wasn't long before whatever was following them to catch up. Arien could now smell something else in the wind with the orc-smell, one that made him want to run for miles to get away from it. Once Aragorn was on his back he didn't wait for a command, rather bolted before Aragorn had time to react. Hísië followed swiftly behind, Elladan to needing to give her no urging.

Aragorn tried to keep in pace with Elladan, hurrying Arien as much as he dared. "Elladan! How far are we from the island?"

"I would guess another few hours at a gallop, but right now we need to get out of range! This is no time to get mixed up with orcs and their pets. Come on, let's move!" and with that, Elladan urged Hísië to a full gallop, Aragorn and Arien right behind them.

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"Arugh! They've escaped again!" a young orc soldier growled as the small company was halted.

"Calm down." said his captain. "We'll catch them. We have too. They can't run forever."

"This is the second time he's gotten away thanks to that elf and those horses! What are we going to do now? Master will not be happy!"

"The horses we can deal with, but we need the elf too, remember?"

"But-"

"Be silent! We'll have to send for Master. The one who had the dream is being protected by the old powers. When Master comes he will be able to loose those bands."

"Send for . . . him?" the young orc quaked slightly at the thought.

"Yes fool. For him. Then finally we can find one of the old powers for the Dark One. Hurry, take a few others and go get him! Remember, if we do get the old power we will finally be freed."

"I have not forgotten the trade, the deal we made. I will go."

"Three days, you miserable bag of bones." The captain snarled at him. "I'll give you three days to come back with him. Go, and do not fail me."

"I will not. Three days. I have only three days." The younger orc recruited a few other companions, mounted his warg, and was soon gone. The elder one watched them leave.

"Do not fail me . . ."