Chapter 5
Suddenly Nature Stilled…
" So Legolas, do you think you are going to win the next battle of the wits?" Gimli asked.
" Legolas? Hello! What, are you mad at me now? Look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean t-"
"Gimli!" Aragorn interrupted.
" WHAT?!" Gimli snapped
Gimli suddenly noticed how tense Legolas was, and now knew why….
"Yrch!!" Legolas suddenly yelled. And before Gimli could even blink, Legolas had his bow in his hand, arrow already knocked Yrch-Orcs!
" Stay on your horses" Aragorn Instructed, Narsil in hand. " We want to be able to stay above them, so that we can have the advantage."
"Let them come to us!" Gimli said proudly, his mighty ax already in his dirty hands.
"Exactly, Master Dwarf" Aragorn pointed out grimly
"Legolas what do your elf eyes see?" Aragorn asked, not able to see as far as his companion.
" Two dozen orcs are coming directly towards us, they have not sensed our presence." Legolas replied quietly, studying their surroundings keenly.
"How long till they do see us?" Gimli asked impatiently, repeatedly changing his position on his ax.
"About 100 yards" Legolas replied.
"More then enough for your shooting range Legolas." Aragorn stated.
"Ai, More then enough" Legolas said, while spotting out the leader of the large orc group, letting loose the deadly projectile…
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Grimsha marched along side his companion Yershig, who was eating maggoty bread
secretly.
"Let me get some o' that!" Grimsha croaked out, reaching for the bread.
" No! You should uh' saved yer own!!" Yershig snapped, reaching away from Grimshas greedy hand.
Grimsha reached out again, trying to snatch the bread desperately.
" Let me alone ya greedy orc!" Yershig yelled.
" QUIET!" Their leader, Regrig screamed at the two.
"You two's need ta shut up befor-" Regrig didn't get to finish his sentence, as an arrow slammed straight into his left eye.
Blood spattered all over Grimshas grimy face. Yershig stood behind Grimsha's body, face a mask of shock.
" Yershig?" Grimsha asked nervously.
Suddenly Yershig started forward, face falling into Grimshas black pool of blood, an arrow protruding from his chest.
Thus chaos erupted within the group of frightened and confused orcs.
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As soon as the orc group came into view, Aragorn knew that Legolas' arrow's struck their marks, the large group of orcs scattering in all directions, grabbing their weapons and swinging at unseen foes.
" Yup, I knew you'd strike a mark." Gimi said getting into as much of a battle posture as possible, considering the fact that he was on the backside of a horse.
"You doubted my aim?' Legolas questioned, mirth evident in his voice.
"NO! I wa…was just making a statement, that's all." Gimli said quickly, clumsily pulling off a stutter, while trying not to laugh,
"No time for conversations my friends, they see us." Aragorn interrupted calmly, sword before him.
And indeed, the orcs did see them,… because they all stood there. Starring in shock because their foes were actually three men…in fact a man, an elf, and a short stocky dwarf.
The orcs started growling and yelling as they advanced slowly towards their prey, anticipating the kill of the three species they hated most.
" This is not going to end well." Aragorn said, not realizing that he had said it aloud.
"Ai, take care Estel," Legolas said meaningfully.
" I will my friend, and you do the same, as well as you Gimli." Aragorn said pointedly, as the group of orcs advanced.
" I know, I know." Gimli muttered, though he was glad that they were concerned.
As the orc group headed closer, Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn could here there foul language being spoken among many of them, while others spoke in English to let their enemies understand there foul wishes and plans. And soon enough, they were upon them….
As soon as the orcs came upon their prey, they were immediately surprised by the vicious attacks they received. Instead of being on the defensive side, they were actually on the offensive turn of the fight, quickly being killed off by their mighty component of three. Soon though, all three were off the safety of their horses, and the real fight began.
" Gimli!' Legolas yelled over the loud screams and shouts of the fighting and dying orcs.
Gimli looked at Legolas and immediately ducked, Legolas' arrow souring over his head into a sneaking orcs throat.
Gimli nodded his thanks, though Legolas did not have time to return the gesture, because the large group of orcs were no longer confused and frightened and were fighting ferociously.
"Legolas look OUT!!" Aragorn yelled from the middle of an increasing pile of orc carcousses.
Legolas quickly looked to Aragorn to see the cause of warning, but as soon as he did this, a very large and muscular orc carrying a large solid wooden shield barreled into Legolas' side, slamming him into the ground.
" LEGOLAS!!" Aragorn screamed, trying to get to Legolas who was under the large orc fighting for his life.
A loud roar froze all of the orcs actions, as they looked around to see what the loud horrifying sound came from.
Gimli plowed through the orcs as he slammed his ax into any limb or body in his way, trying to get to his best friend.
"Get out of my way you disgusting pieces of garbage!" Gimli roared.
The orcs began fighting again, this time trying to keep Gimli and Aragorn from reaching Legolas' side, who was trying to block and parry all the blows from the large orc while laying on the ground trying to stop his broken ribs from ripping out of his body or into his lungs from the movements.
"Aragorn!" Legolas yelled from under the orc
" I'm coming Legolas, hold on!" Aragorn said, trying to get to the malicious orcs who were enjoying the desperate actions of two friends trying to get to an injured.
"Yer friends gonna die, and I'm gonn-" The orc didn't get to finish his sentence, for his head was cut cleanly off his body by Aragorn's sword.
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Legolas didn't know how long he could hold of the orcs desperate movements with his injuries.
He knew that he had at least 1 cracked rib, and he was sure another was broken.
Legolas gasped as he was kicked in the side from another laughing orc as a few jeered beside him.
"Look at im! He thinks he can fight Jershig and live!" A jeering orc laughed as Jershig still brought down blows upon the elf that was desperately parrying them.
" I don't know Kensig, I heard bout this elf, and he fought big things before Sauron was destroyed." Another orc said uncertainly. " He's just injured, I am sure he could probably kill Jershig if he wasn't." He said again, Jealous that Jershig was so well spoken of.
"Oh shut of Hurma! You don't anything!" Kensig said, smacking Hurma upside the head.
Legolas blocked another blow from a scimatar with his twin daggers as he jabbed with his left dagger into Jershigs knee, feeling a moment of grim satisfaction when the dagger grated against bone.
Jershig screamed in pain backing of a few paces howling in agony.
Legolas sat up quickly, softly crying out when his rib scraped against another.
Jershig soon got over his pain however and hobbled toward Legolas with a murderous gleam in his eyes.
" Your gonna die, you stupid elf! I'm gonna gut you till ya scream!" Jershig growled menacingly, with a malicious laugh.
Legolas looked at Jershig with a an icy glare, showing him the hatred he felt for the stupid lump of orc.
Jershig saw this, and started to advance with an evil anticipation, yet suddenly a loud yell was heard, and a sword appeared through his mid-section, tearing him in two.
"Are you okay, Legolas?" Aragorn asked from behind Jershigs severed body.
"Ai, as well as I can be under the circumstances since I was just barreled by a large meaty orc." Legolas replied with dry human, sitting on the bloody ground.
Legolas looked around and noticed that all the orcs were either dead or gone, fleeing in terror from the three creatures whom they couldn't kill.
"How bad are you hurt?" Aragorn asked, unable to study Legolas since he was sitting on the ground.
"Its nothing, just a scratch." Legolas lied, holding his breath from the sharp stab of pain he received from breathing deeply.
"Right, it's always just a scratch." Aragorn said with dry humor.
"Were is Gimli?" Legolas said, changing the subject, yet curious as to why Gimli wasn't next to him complaining that he should have been more careful.
"He is out searching around to make sure the area is safe enough for now." Aragorn said, understanding what Legolas was trying to do.
"oh…o..kay" Legolas said, trying to breath properly.
"Legolas?"Aragorn rushed to the other side of Legolas and got to his knees while studying the elf, searching for the source of the problem, and easily noticing the way he was holding his ribs with one hand while the other was on the ground to keep himself from falling.
Taking Legolas' hand away from his ribs and lifting his outer and inner tunic carefully, Aragorn could definetly tell that there were some broken ribs.
Putting a hand to Legolas' side, he applied some pressure and could feel 2 cracked ribs, yet he could that one of them was more cracked then the other and was scraping against another rib.
Aragorn got up and went to Vanyll, taking his healing packs off the side pocket, and quickly taking a large cloth out of another pack and tearing it into a thinner piece.
Running back to Legolas, he noticed how pale he was and could see that he was trying to stand up.
"Legolas!" Aragorn yelled as he reached Legolas, stopping is crazy best friend from further wounding himself.
"I am fine Aragorn." Legolas lied again, still trying to stand up.
"You are about to fall over!!" Aragorn warned, putting his hands on Legolas' shoulders, keeping him seated on the floor.
Legolas hissed in pain as Aragorn expertly cleaned and wrapped the wound professionally, knowing what he was doing from years of training with the best healer besides Galadriel, his father, Lord Elrond.
"Maybe..you should treat your wounds first, my friend." Legolas breathed out, after looking at Aragorns nasty wound on his forehead over his eye.
"It looks pretty bad Estel," Legolas said, studying the wound, so he wont have to focus on the pain that he was unfortunately still radiating from his battered rib's.
"Legolas, I know what you are trying to do, but I am not as injured as you." Aragorn said wearily.
He was exhausted, but he knew that he needed to see to everyone's wounds first before they left, including his own wounds before they became infected.
Suddenly Gimli appeared from behind a bush looking unusually happy.
"Stupid orcs, running off like cowards." Gimli said disdainly. " I'm not surprised, we were undefeatable!!" Gimli boasted.
He walked towards the two on the floor, and noticed their injuries.
"Hmmp, I am not surprised, Every fight we have been in, there is always someone hurt, and it is always one of you two." Gimli said, walking towards the two.
"Did you see anyone out there?" Aragorn said, ignoring Gimli's attempt at lighting the mood, though appreciating it.
"No,..well none that weren't running away." Gimli chuckled.
Aragorn smiled, while tightly wrapping Legolas' Ribs.
Legolas was listening in on the conversation and chuckled quietly, yet the chuckling quickly turned into harsh coughing and black spots starting appearing in the corner of his eyes.
"Legolas!" Aragorn yelled alarmed.
Holding Legolas up as he coughed, Aragorn could now feel the problem that was making Legolas' breathing so difficult. The two ribs that were grating against eachother, caused a shard to glaze a lung.
"Cant..breath' Legolas gasped out, the black spots were growing big, spreading across his vision and he felt his body weakening under the lack of oxygen.
"Hold on Legolas, I have to get us out of here, the orcs may regroup and return.'' Aragorn said hurriedly.
He knew that there was a good chance that Legolas would blackout very soon, and hurriedly tried to help him breath.
Legolas' dry gasps made Gimli worriedly start to advance toward the two on the floor after keeping his distance.
"What's happening to him?" Gimli cried worriedly.
"A rib has glazed his lung and he can't breath" Aragorn rushed while keeping Legolas' head tilted up against his shoulder.
"Breath Legolas, relax." Aragorn said in the grey tongue.
Legolas could here him, and tried to calmly breath in and out, yet his lungs wouldn't cooperate, and no air was allowed in and out of his lungs.
"Calm yourself mellon nin. I know it is hard, but you must will yourself to breath, will your lungs to cooperate. You can do it, mellon nin, you can do it." Aragorn said calmly and quiety, though inside his heart was tight with worry.
Legolas' lungs burned with the lack of oxygen, yet he ignored it. 'My friends need me, I cant give in. I CANT give in.' And as he inwardly said this, he concentrated on his inner self, is inner light and willed his lungs to start working again.'
As Aragorn held Legolas, he was in a position were he could see Legolas' face, and his face alone caused Aragorn's heart to twist in his chest.
Legolas' eyes were clamped shut, shutting the brilliant blue orbs from view, while his lips were beginning to turn blue. His face was a white sheet..And it scared Aragorn to unlimited ends.
Suddenly Legolas' inhaled deeply, and started to breath again, yet this caused a cry of pain..wounds no longer ignored to Legolas'.
"Thank The Valor." Aragorn breathed, as he helped Legolas sit up taller.
Yet Aragorns happiness was short lived when Legolas' suddenly stilled.
"Aragorn!" Gimli snapped sharply. Noticing Legolas' stillness.
"It is alright, he is not dead. Just unconscious.' Aragorn reassured, after quickly feeling for Legolas' pulse and finding it there.
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Legolas woke to a dark sky, stars brilliantly shinning overhead.
Looking around, he noticed that he was in a camp, and realized that the camp was made by Aragorn, since he was sitting sleeping a few feet away.
Trying to sit up , a sharp pain flashed dimly through his system, and suddenly Legolas' remembered everything. Gasping in pain when Legolas tried to sit up again, Aragorn woke up immediately.
"Legolas, how are you feeling." Aragorn said, again, realizing how stupid a question it was.
"I feel better, considering the fact that I am no longer dying." Legolas joked dryly.
"That's good" Aragorn said with mirth.
"How long have I been unconscious?" Legolas asked while looking around at his surroundings, trying to determine how long he had been unconscious.
"Five days." Aragorn said, fully knowing the reaction he would receive.
"FIVE?!" Legolas said, alarmed. "How could it have been THAT long?" Legolas asked, more to himself immensely surprised by the length of time that he was unconscious.
"Blackouts or unpredictable, you can be out from 1 minute, to 2 week's. It depends on the cause." Aragorn informed.
"If I have been out for five days, then we should reach Mirkwood tomarrow!" Legolas said, shocked.
"We are." Aragorn confirmed. "Your quick healing has mended your cracked ribs, your little healing sleep has healed them to the point of only being bruised. We can move out in a few hours, and reach Mirkwood by sunrise." Aragorn informed.
"Alright, and were is Gimli?" Legolas asked curiously.
"He is taking last watch since you were not available to do so yourself.' Aragorn told him.
"I am sorry, I was such a burden. I don't recall being wounded for a long time, at least, not like this." Legolas said meekly, embarrassed by his weakness.
" No Legolas, it was not your fault. I warned you, yet I was not fast enough. I am the one who is supposed to be sorry, not you." Aragorn said, taking the guilt without thinking about it.
Legolas and Aragorn always exchanged guilt without so much as a thought, because they were such close friends that they always made and excuse as to why it was their own fault.
"Stop Estel. You are not allowed to take fault in this. I was stupid and blind, and I made that mistake, so I got hurt. It is NOT your fault. Do you understand?! It is NOT your fault." Legolas corrected eagerly.
"I understand. I am just sorry, that you had to receive the brunt of the fight, and all I received was a superficial cut on the forehead." Aragorn said, embarrassed.
" I would love to trade wounds with you…" Legolas joked.
"No thanks nin mellon. " Aragorn replied, returning the joke.
" Get some rest Aragorn, I will see you at dawn." Legolas said, laughing. He was still exhausted.
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"Estel, It is time to wake. Estel, wake you stubborn human" Legolas coaxed, trying to wake the sleeping ranger and King.
When Estel opened his eyes, they met cheerful blue eyes.
"Prissy Elf" Aragorn mumbled.
"Good morning to you to my friend, for a second there, I thought I would have to reserve to water in order to wake you," Legolas said from above, chucking quietly at the stubborn human.
" You wouldn't dare," Aragorn growled.
"Last time someone said that, it was Gimli, and he and water met for the first time that day." Legolas recalled fondly.
" Yes, and I returned that favor two hours later!!" Gimli called over, after helping Legolas pack up the camp for them. And for the first time also, trying to prove he wasn't as lazy as he looked..though pretty close to it.
" I'm going to wash up." Aragorn announced, surprised that he was actually the last to wake that morning, and how everything was already prepared.
"And we will be waiting my friend." Legolas told him.
Aragorn nodded in agknowledgment going to the nearby pond and washing his face.
When he returned Legolas and Gimli were already on Arod, waiting for him.
"Ai Valor, this day is just to fast." Aragorn said, wide eyed as he leaped atop his Vanyll.
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Two hours later the gates of Mirkwood were visible in the near distance. As the three friends made their way to its gates, they all felt the ever thickening presence of evil slowly seep into their blood…..
AUTHORS NOTE:Hope you all liked this chapter…evil cliffe, bwhhahahaha. It is so far the longest chapter, and I am really hoping that I get good reviews for this chapter, and no flamers..though I know that is wishful thinking. I really appreciate reviews! Thanks to those who review and read my stories! Hannon le!