Tales From Middle Earth: The Harad Road
4
Ithilien was known as the garden of Gondor. It boasted streams, pools and falls in abundance. The rangers called it the land of many fountains. But it was more than that. It was a land of rich vegetation, much of which, it was rumoured, was planted by the peoples of Gondor. There were forests of Ash and Cedar trees, thick woods of Cypress, Fir and Juniper. There were groves of Myrtle and Olive trees and stands of Oak everywhere.
The three travellers and their guides journeyed through fields of Heather and Fern and plains of Briar bushes. The Hyacinths were in bloom, as well as Celandines and Wild Roses. Legolas felt his spirit lift as the scent of Marjoram and Sage, battled with that of Irises and Lilies for dominance on the warm sea air that flowed up from the south.
Aragorn felt no such pleasure. The fresh and fragrant air made him sick to his bones. The riot of colour made his eyes hurt and tear. Even the food, which was mostly bread and fruit, made him upset. He vomited at least once a day and the pain in his belly was a constant companion. More and more he became dependent on Legolas for survival.
He would not eat if the elf did not insist that he did. He could not sleep if Legolas did not stay nearby. How he hated Elegost and the others. Why did they not vanish into the void? He groaned as Legolas lowered him to the ground, a rolled cloak beneath his head for support.
"Rest here," said Legolas. "I will get you water."
But Aragorn grabbed at his sleeve ere he stood. "Do not leave me," Aragorn whispered, his body trembling with emotion.
"I will never leave you Aragorn, never." Legolas swore his blue eyes brilliant in the evening light.
Aragorn reached up with one hand and threaded his fingers through the elf's long hair. It was something he did of late.
Legolas stared down at him; he had gotten so much thinner. The stern lines of his face had softened and become delicate. Even his hands were smaller, finer. Legolas took Aragorn's free hand and placed it in his own. No, these hands could no longer wield a sword. Had it only been three months since that fateful night?
Aragorn slipped into sleep and Legolas rose quietly. He passed the rangers at the fire and walked to the edge of the pool next to which they had camped. He stifled a sob, but his eyes still shone with tears. A soft sound warned him of Elegost's approach.
"He is dying?" Elegost asked softly.
Legolas shook his head. "I do not think the curse was meant to kill, but to weaken and cause suffering. It was meant to strip him of joy and pride and prowess." Then he stopped speaking, for to continue would cause him to breakdown entirely.
They gained the crossroads in two days. Their new guides had been already in wait and immediately took them further north. Aragorn was in a haze of pain. His eyes hurt in the bright light of the sun and his head pounded like a drum. His legs felt heavy and they ached and trembled. His throat was sore and his mouth dry. But he walked because Legolas walked with him, hand upon his arm guiding him forward. It was the only reason he could. When they stopped to rest under a Cedar grove Aragorn curled up on the leaf strewn ground. The pain in his belly was like the touch of a familiar lover and he rubbed his stomach absently. His clothes hung on his reduced frame but that suited him just fine. When Legolas brought him a cut of venison, the scent of it drove him wild. He ate greedily, stuffing the cold meat into his mouth, relishing the musky tang. Legolas gave him all of it, content to see him eating so.
"How much further must we go, can we not stay here?" Aragorn asked plaintively when it was time to move. Legolas studied his wan face wishing he could answer positively.
"We must get to a place of safety. Though we have seen none, orcs as well as southrons use this land as a byway to Mordor. We cannot stay in the open."
"Then end my life here, torment me no further," said Aragorn bending his head. His hair which had grown long and wild slipped forward over his shoulder leaving his neck exposed. How vulnerable he looked sitting there. For a moment Legolas could not speak. Then kneeling beside him, he kissed the top of Aragorn's head and whispered.
"If you die here so will I my friend."
Aragorn's head flew up. "No, no I do not want you to die." he cried touching the elf's face with cold fingers.
"Then will you not come with me," Legolas said holding Aragorn's gaze.
"Yes," he said.
Then together they rose and began to walk once more.
oo
If luck had been with them on the journey so far it deserted them two weeks later as they left the Harad Road and descended into the valley. A party of Uruks and orcs lay between them and the cavern. They debated the correct course of action to follow. To go around the party was impossible for the valley plains stretched as far as the foothills of the mountains, offering no concealment. Continuing on the road was also out of the question for the Uruk/orc party was headed straight towards it.
Their only choice was to attack and soon in order to gain the advantage of surprise. But this meant that Legolas could not take an active part in the fight for who then would keep safe the ailing ranger.
The men of Ithilien hurried away, each taking opposite directions in an attempt to encircle the enemy party. They used the tall brush as cover to get into position. Elegost stayed south.
"If all does not go well for us head for the cavern. Help will find you there." So saying he gave to Legolas a map showing the location of Henneth Annûn.
"You knew where it was all the time?" Legolas asked incredulously, secreting the parchment in his vest.
"There is little of Ithilien that I do not know," said Elegost with a wink. Then he was gone, blending into the nearby vegetation with little effort.
oo
Aragorn's eyes were wide with fright as they hid among the tall grass. Taking Aragorn's hands in his Legolas said to him. "Keep behind me and stay low to the ground. I want you to go as fast as you can the way we came. Climb the first tree that you come to. Go as high as you can and stay there. I will find you when this is over."
Aragorn shook his head frantically a small sound escaping his throat.
Trapping his face with both hands Legolas said, "Aragorn you must do this. Swear to me that you will. I cannot fight unless I know that you are safe." There was such anguish in the elf's face that Aragorn slowly nodded.
oo
The first four arrows took down two Uruks and then chaos erupted among the lesser orcs. They could not see their enemy so many died without knowing what was happening. But then the Uruks caught scent of the men. Metal rang on metal as the rangers fought; sword against axe and spear and steel. Legolas strung his bow and from his place of concealment felled many of the enemy before they could have ended the life of one of his companions.
From his perch Aragorn watched the battle with a racing heart. Elegost was in mortal danger. He faced three of the Uruk Hai. As one of them swung Legolas fired, catching it in a vulnerable spot under the arm. The creature fell missing Elegost neck by a hair. Legolas shot again and two orcs went down. But as fate would have it the Uruks caught site of him. With shrieks of rage they went after him. With trembling hands Aragorn climbed down. He gave no thought to his earlier promise. He ran towards the battle.
oo
Legolas was fighting wildly, knives flashing, as the Uruks tried to bring him down. One struck him a blow on the arm, drawing blood. Aragorn cried out. Two of the fell creatures whirled.
"Run Aragorn, run!" Legolas shouted as he parried a mighty blow.
Aragorn ran blindly, his heart pounding in his chest, his pain forgotten. Behind him he could hear the grunts of the beasts.
The Uruks could smell his fear and knew that he was easy prey. They herded him with ease towards the lake.
Aragorn shot out of a grove of trees and stopped in horror. A body of water stretched before him as far as he could see and the Uruks were not far behind.
oo
Aragorn backed into the lake until the water reached his thighs, his fear permitted him to go no further. He stood there quivering.
On the shore the Uruks jeered at him. They raised their crude blades and made rude sounds. "Puny human," they called. "Come out of the water."
Aragorn hugged himself and keened softly.
They took turns lunging at him making him shriek with fear. They laughed at his cries.
Shivering and terrified Aragorn tried desperately to dodge the stones and small rocks they threw at him but many found their mark for he dared not go deeper into the water. Cut and bleeding he gave into despair. He cried without shame hot tears spilling down his face. The derisive laughter of the Uruks made him wail all the more.
They had taunted him for so long that when one of them finally attacked he was caught off guard. The Uruk lunged into the water and catching him around the waist carried him to the shore. But desperation gave him a renewed burst of energy and he wriggled out of the beast's grip. The creature dealt him a powerful blow to the face and Aragorn fell into the mud. There was a rending sound as his shirt tore when the two Uruks grabbed for him simultaneously in an attempt to pin him down. But Aragorn shrugged out of his torn clothing and tried to get back into the water. The taller Uruk lost patience and growling grabbed at his head. Catching him by the hair, it pulled him backward. Aragorn screamed. The scream was cut off as the Uruk slammed him bodily into the mud.
He was barely conscious when they pulled up him from the ooze.
Their intention was to despoil him before killing him in the most brutal way possible. They cuffed and slapped him mercilessly when he instinctively resisted their efforts to remove the rest of his clothing. But soon his torn leggings and undershirt went the way of the rest of his garments. The Uruks paused to examine his nakedness finding his soft skin and the slope of his belly pleasing. One of them poked at his chest and he slapped weakly at the calloused hand. They laughed. It was the last thing they did for Legolas and Elegost had at last arrived.
oo
They bathed him as gently as possible in the clean waters of the lake. They bandaged the worst of his cuts and dressed him in a spare shirt, and leggings. He moaned softly as they put him to lie close to the campfire. The camp was at the lake side for none of them had the strength to move on just then.
Elegost was unhurt for the most part but one of the Ithilien rangers carried a nasty wound on his forearm. Elegost cleaned and bandaged the wound and gave the man a mixture of dried willow leaves for the pain. Legolas had gathered their provisions while Elegost was busy and started the fire. But when he started to fix supper the other ranger shooed him away.
"I shall fix our supper tonight, see to your friend." It was his way of showing gratitude to the elf, for indeed without Legolas' accurate archery the fight would have been lost.
Aragorn still slept so Legolas joined Elegost at the water's edge. Freshly bathed and changed Elegost inhaled deeply of his pipe. He released the smoke in one long slow breath. He cast a sidelong glance at Legolas as the elf settled next to him. They both stared out over the water not speaking, but then they did not need to speak. Aragorn's swollen belly and distended breasts needed no explanation. It was the culmination of the curse, though what exactly grew inside him was a question that frightened them both.