For Disclaimer please view Chapter 1.
Author's note: Thanks for the reviews, and don't worry, I'm not falling out of the timeline. I'm trying to get back in track with the book, but like I said before, this story has both book and movie in it. Hope you enjoy! Kersi
Chapter 21: A life for a life
Legolas stood speechless for a few moments; watching the way that Aurel's shoulders rose and fell with her breathing. He had not realized the extent of his feelings for her. How did he feel? He loved her, not because he had to but because he always had. He could not tell her because it would make their mission and quest more difficult than it already was, and now with Lothluin dying in the shadows, he did not see the opportunity near. Oh how much he wanted to just tell her that he loved her, that she needn't worry. He had tried; he had placed the ring that once belonged to Lothluin in Aurel's hand, could she not see that that meant something? Instead Aurel only assumed that he used the ring as a gesture to tell the truth about Lothluin, when in fact Legolas was wishing deep inside that he could place that ring on Aurel's finger.
"Lothluin did come for me Aurel, but only because I left her. Because I could not explain fully why I could not marry her."
It does not matter anymore; you needn't explain yourself to me.
"You have surprised me Aurel, and I have confused myself. Listen to me…" He reached out for her and raised her head with his hand, so that she was looking at him. "I have shared what has happened to you. When you were near death, so was I, and I did not understand it fully. When you slowly recovered, I did as well. But I took your sign of recovery as a sign that all was well, and that was a grave mistake on my part. I looked for you, you must know that, but you hid, you denied yourself anything that associated itself with me or my kingdom. I heard nothing of you, your father was insistent that I not come to look for you any longer, that it was causing you more harm than good. But I could still feel you Aurel, I knew you drew breath every morning you woke because I did as well. The pain of being separated from you was unbearable, I thought that if perhaps I met someone else, that if I would allow myself to be consumed by other things that…"
You could forget about me? And did you? She slowly pushed his hand away.
"I am not married Aurel. What does that tell you?"
You are still betrothed, I do not know.
"I wanted to help you. You must have felt me as well."
I was too consumed in my own fading to feel anything, and I would have left this land, if it was not for the letter I received. She remembered the letter clearly, her eyes searching the words when she first read it, the mention of his fading.
"What letter?"
Your father sent a letter, telling me about your fading. I did not see how that could have anything to do with me, not then. We shared nothing but a kiss, and some words, how could that have possibly forged a bond such as ours? How? I stayed to cause less sorrow and I do not know if have caused less or more! She began to pace back and forth, trying to relieve the frustration she felt, and then she stopped the pacing. I have wished that you would find someone else to love! I have wished it, I have prayed for it Legolas, I left you alone so that you would fall for another, that was my intent. If you were well enough without me, I could leave! She walked away from him, the anger seeping back into her being.
Legolas looked at her retreating figure; he was desperate to make her stay, more desperate than he had ever been. "Will you leave me then? Is that what you are doing now?" asked Legolas, and the question pained Aurel so much it felt as if someone had pierced her heart with an arrow. "If you are, you might as well take this and be done with it now." He took out one of his daggers. She turned around and stared at it. "Your plan failed, my broken betrothal to Lothluin only served as a reminder to my soul that I could only truly love my other half. If you are so eager to leave then please, take this, but kill me first, I would rather die first." The words echoed against the stones.
A droplet of water hit the dagger in Legolas's outstretched hand and it made a clear metallic sound. It had begun to rain amidst all the darkness.
What madness you speak! She walked back over to him and snatched the dagger from his hand. I am not leaving Legolas. What I said before was true. Do you think I would put your life in danger because of my own self pity? You are more important to me than that. She tucked the dagger under her cloak No more! I am not weak, and neither are you, so make your decision Prince. Either decide that you can love me fully as your other half, or go and marry Lothluin, I will live either way. Though one way would be less painful than the other. Forget the past; the present is what is at stake.
"You are not leaving?"
Have you lost your senses Prince? I am not leaving, nor will I take Lothluin to Lothlorien without your permission, she is your charge as she is still your betrothed.
He shook his head in his disorientation of the events that had passed before him. His expectation of how she would react had blocked the reality of how she did react. She was angered, and hurt that he had not told her, but she was not fading, not in the least. More so, it seemed that her eyes had gone brighter throughout their discussion and argument. The anger she emanated was not because of his revelation, but because of hers. She had continued to live so that he would have a chance at life with another, but it had backfired on her, she loved him and no matter what she did, he loved her.
She began to snap her fingers at Legolas. You seem to be in a bit of a daze, have I said something to confuse you? She was still angry, but she smirked at the daft look on his face.
"Aurel I…"
Laughing could be heard coming towards them, and they quickly masked their deepest emotions away. It was Merry and Pippin, being walked along and away from the great hall by Aragorn. He smiled when he saw both the Elves. Pippin and Merry looked disappointed and grumpy.
"Gimli has had too much too drink, and is currently lying on the floor…and these two cause more mischief than 20 men put together, there was only I to escort them out to get some rest." said Aragorn.
"We were having fun, and so was everyone else, if it hadn't have been for Gandalf…" Pippin carried on.
"If it wasn't for Gandalf, you two would be on the ground, like Master Gimli." Aragorn finished.
"Help us." whispered Merry in jest to both Aurel and Legolas.
The rain still fell, but at times like those, no one felt anything and they all carried on as normal. Aragorn looked Aurel's way and silently asked if she could look after the hobbits. She only outstretched her hands and immediately the two little hobbits held on to a hand at each side of her and they walked along. Legolas only watched, knowing they had not finished discussing the matter that came between them.
"I have told Aurel about my betrothal to Lothluin."
Aragorn looked in the direction that Aurel had gone, "That is strange, I would have expected her reaction to be different. I should not take that lightly, she is good at masking her feelings." He spoke more to himself rather than to Legolas.
Legolas picked up the ring from the ledge of the wall and stared at it for a while.
"What do you feel?" asked Aragorn.
"There is so much sadness between us…" He kept staring at the ring, before finally thrusting his arm and throwing it over the ledge and far beyond the security of the gates that guarded the city.
Aragorn did not know what to say or do, without somehow insulting this being that had lived 24 or more of his own lifetimes. He began to leave him quietly, so as not to disturb his thoughts.
"I love her, Aragorn." said Legolas, his voice shaky.
"I know…" He softly continued to walk away. "Let that love guide you towards the right path, friend."
Aurel closed the doors slowly as she left the two hobbits to sleep on their own. In some respects they were so much like children and then when you least took notice, a strength and courage you never knew was there, appeared. She would not be able to sleep this night and ventured out into the open air once more. She had much to think about, what Legolas had revealed to her had not fully been understood yet. She knew that he was betrothed, but that he had left Lothluin. But for what reason? Why had he not married Lothluin? He said that he could only truly love his other half, but he had not dared to say it was Aurel who was his mate. Legolas's entire being was a contradiction, what was the truth? How was she to act around him now? The anger washed itself away with the rain. She should have never hid from Legolas; she should have never denied the bond between them, now she was feeling the consequences. Her focus could not be on Legolas for much time, for there was still a war to fight, and there were still friends in danger. She wondered about Frodo and Sam. She could not sense them any longer, but she knew they had not perished. She thought about Haldir, Orophin, Rumil, and felt like crying, but what use would her tears be? This quest was turning into something she never expected and making her feel in a way she had never felt before. That there was much yet she had to learn, and that not all life is pain and suffering, that there was a reason to stay on Arda, even if she was to die, at least it would not be from fading. She absolutely refused to give into her grief any longer, it would not take her, it would have to take something much stronger than that to have her fall.
"Guard! Do not sit there in idleness, get up and do your duty!" shouted a man. The shout was obviously meant for her, and she stood. It was dark and raining, but she looked up to see who had shouted at her and had mistaken her for a guard. "It is you." said Eomer rather distastefully. "Are you not freezing in this rain? You are soaking wet." He was surprised to find Aurel, instead of guard, sitting alone on the stone steps leading out to the courtyard. "I am sorry for my harsh tone before, I had not realized it was you in that dark cloak."
Aurel sat back down on the steps and he looked at the top of her head, wondering what was going on. "Did you need anything, lady?"
She looked up at him from where she sat; the hood of her cloak fell to her shoulders, revealing her face fully. He dared to think her beautiful, despite her obvious arrogance towards the race of Men. She was not exactly what he had imagined an Elven female to look like, he certainly never imagined them fighting in wars and battles, but these were strange times and she interested him. Her skill was flawed; she rushed too quickly into fighting, as if not wanting to miss one chance. She was obviously weak from something, yet still stronger than any Man, an illness perhaps? Eomer could not find the answer to the riddle as he studied her face. He almost imagined her human until his gaze fell upon her pointed ears and he frowned. Elves were not to be trusted, the old ways told him, but they were a helping hand in battle. Aurel recognized the look of disdain that Eomer held for her and quickly put the hood to her cloak back up; she stood without looking at him once more and left without a sound.
Once away from his gaze Aurel could breathe again. Eomer had stared at her intensely and she almost feared giving a hint of emotion instead of the stone cold gaze she usually held. Why had he looked at her that way, and what was he thinking? She had not noticed that the rain had dampened all her clothes, and it was very late. She decided that perhaps she should have a rest before the next ride out, but shouts along the way back to a room, made her thoughts of getting rest drift away into the wind.
"Open the gates! Open the gates!" yelled out one of the guards. Aurel directed her attention to where the shouting was coming from. A much worn out pack of men, women and children came running in as the guards, fully opened the gates.
"My children!! My children!" was yelling one woman. "They are still out there; you have to go after them!" She begged the guard and clung on to him, but he only began to close the gates. "Please, please, I cannot leave them out there!" She tried to run back out, but the guard she had clung onto, took a hold of her arm. She struggled to get free and yelled as the gates closed fully once more. "No!" It was clear that this pack had been attacked by Orcs, or other foul creatures.
Aurel could see that Eomer had already seen to the situation, he was not going to risk the lives of many for the lives of a few. She quickly sprinted towards the room she had risked to keep her weapons in, slamming the door open and packing on as much as she thought necessary. When she returned to the scene the woman was still crying and there were some there to comfort her. Legolas was now with Eomer, and he spotted Aurel going into the stables to fetch a horse. He rushed over to her.
"Wait, what are you doing?" asked Legolas, following her.
That woman cries for her children, they are still out there. She continued to rush around, and mounted the nearest horse, without a saddle, literally wrapping her weapons around her.
"You cannot go out there, there is no one else going, you do not know how many of the enemy there was."
Then it looks as if I am going to find out very soon Prince. She nudged the horse to ride on towards the gates. Legolas ran out after her. Eomer, who had been tending to the situation, gave her an audacious stare.
"What do you do Elf? Get off that horse; you are not riding out there." said Eomer.
Aurel only rode closer to the gates, unsheathing her sword; the confrontation gave Legolas enough time to catch up to her.
I will break this gate down if I have to Legolas, if it takes killing one these guards, I will do it. She looked around to see who the weakest guard would be.
"Tell her to back away Master Elf!" shouted Eomer.
"Aurel!" shouted Legolas, motioning for her to back away. He looked around to the guards and then Eomer. Aurel would kill, he knew this. He saw no other possible way out. "Open the gates." said Legolas to Eomer, "She does not ask for help, if she wishes to risk her life, then so be it, open the gates or tragedy will occur."
"Do not threaten! She in not strong enough to counter all the guards here." said Eomer.
"Open the gates Lord Eomer; she is stronger than she looks. What use will it do to waste the energy of your guards on her?"
Eomer looked at him and then at Aurel, who had a vicious look in her eyes. He looked at his guards and gave a quick nod of the head, who immediately began to open the gates. Legolas jumped on the back of the horse Aurel was on and held on to her.
"Come back with survivors or do not come back at all!" shouted Eomer, "You have disgraced us this night!" It was the last thing that Legolas heard before the gates were closed. Now they were riding out in the middle of the night, in the rain, in open territory for enemies.
You have no weapons.
"You have enough for the both of us. What use will they be in any case, there are two of us and we do not know how many of the other, these children you seek are most likely dead!"
You underestimate our skill.
"And you think too highly of yourself." He growled.
They reached a deep ridge, filled with large boulders with sharp edges. I smell blood here. Aurel slowed the horse down and jumped off the horse, crouching down to touch the earth. Legolas took the quiver she carried and the bow; she was left with her sword. They did a quick scan of the area.
He pulled her back as they began to enter the maze of stones, "Let me lead, my eyes are more accustomed to the dark." She nodded and fell a step before him. Legolas walked with caution and with his bow and an arrow ready to attack. Aurel heard a soft whimper and stopped her walking.
Stop. Can you hear it? She asked him, lightly touching his arm.
He turned around to face her, and once again Aurel seemed to hear the whimper, though Legolas could not. It is coming from over there! She sprinted towards a cluster of large boulders. Legolas quickly ran over to her, he too could hear the whimpers now and passed ahead of her. All at once, shrieking could be heard, it was a young child hiding in the crooks of the boulders. Legolas had his arrow pointed at the young child and it began to shriek even louder. Aurel appeared next to him and the child became quiet for a moment, "Mama?" Aurel pushed Legolas out of the way, and came closer to the child, although, the closer she got to the child, the more terrified it became, noticing that Aurel was not her mother. It was little girl, no more than the age of 7. She began to shriek again. Aurel picked her up and wrapped her arms around her, the child was wailing, kicking and flinging her arms around, but soon Aurel spoke words that calmed her and put her into a deep slumber. Legolas had gone off to see if there were any more survivors. He came back with another child in his arms, but he looked wounded and limp, Legolas had not chanted him to sleep. This was the cause of a fight.
Any others?
Legolas shook his head, "The rest are dead, and it was not Orcs that caused this, we must leave now." Aurel agreed and they began to walk back to the horse they had left behind. Each had a child in their arms and for their own safety that had to walk more carefully than before. Though something was not entirely right, Legolas sensed this as they continued to walk through the ridge. He spoke quietly, "Aurel, I sense something."
Yes. was all she was allowed to think before Legolas put the child he had down and pulled an arrow from his quiver, releasing it and hitting something, that made a thump as it fell down to the ground.
"Take the children and get out!" yelled Legolas.
But Aurel had already taken the children and found a place for them to hide; she was not to leave Legolas alone to fight. They still could not see their enemy, but the smell they held spoke of who they were, treacherous men. Aurel unsheathed her sword and stood next to Legolas. Men?
Arrows came in a flurry towards them and they managed to dodge as many as possible. There were many of the enemy, twenty, maybe more, but then it was dark, and raining, even Elven senses could not be that sharp. Legolas and Aurel both made steps backward, as if trying to gain more time, but another flurry of arrows came towards them and Aurel was struck in the shoulder. She did not fall back, but she did look like she was in a great deal of pain. Legolas made to tend to her but she pushed him away.
Worry not, focus, they will charge soon. Thought Aurel as she broke the arrow in half, it was still embedded in her shoulder, and she knew it would be better if she kept it there, she could still fight, she could still yield the sword. They could not run, not without leaving the children they had found. Legolas dropped the bow and quiver, there was nothing he could do with those anymore, he could see the enemy clearly, he went to take his daggers out and remembered he only had one. Aurel had taken the other one and never returned it. It was in this state that they were charged at, though the humans were weaker and slower, their advantage was their number. One injured Elf with a sword and the other with one dagger would not stand for long. It had been a trap. The children that had survived the previous attack had clearly been bait for anyone who would have tried to come along and look for them afterwards. Though the men were hoping it would have been more that just two Elves, they were happy enough to fight them. The fight lasted a few moments without either side being injured or killed, but Legolas was soon swarmed with ten or more men. One of the men managed to slash at his chest, the weapon used was poisoned and it weakened Legolas, but he kept on fighting. Aurel was keeping them away, but their main focus had been Legolas and when Aurel next looked at him, he had been defeated, not dead, but greatly injured, he was on the ground, and the fight around her had abruptly come to a halt. "Drop your weapon and he may live!" yelled the man who held his sword to Legolas's throat. For a moment she contemplated just charging at him, but not at the risk of Legolas's life, and she looked at him. His eyes told her to keep fighting, but her heart ruled over everything and she dropped the sword, gaining a few laughs from the men around her. All at once, she became swarmed as well; they pushed her towards Legolas, and threw her down on the ground. She wanted to see his wounds, she would be able to try and heal him by touching him and chanting some words, but the opportunity was taken from her. She had only been by his side for a moment before somewhere grabbed her by the hair, pulling her up. She panicked, she placed her hands on the man's arms and nearly broke it, but she just was not strong enough anymore. The tip of the arrow that had struck her, had been poisoned as well, and she was starting to feel its effects. Her panic was consuming her; this was too like what had happened to her before. The harsh reality was hitting her; she was destined to die in this manner, but not Legolas, not Legolas. "Squeal Elf!!" shouted the putrid man. "I want to hear you scream!" All she could think of doing was kicking him, and she kicked him so hard that he released his grip on her hair and she struck him, causing him to fall. The other men were quick on grabbing her so that she would not be able to harm anyone else. The putrid man who had fallen rose, with a new type of anger. Legolas was weak, but he too tried to be released from him capture, there were just too many for them. He smiled before he grabbed Aurel by the throat. "Watch." He said and he looked at the men who held Legolas. "Kill him! But let her see!" Aurel's eyes widened as they forcefully made Legolas stand, taking out their knives. With the last bit of strength left she pulled away from the man's grasp and threw herself on Legolas, without thinking she spoke… she finally spoke.
"No! Please… take me in his stead, I am a noble of Rivendell, my death will be of greater triumph for you! Please…"
Legolas shook his head in shock and denial, not only had she thrown herself on him to save his life, but she had begged for them to take her life instead of his, with a voice he had not heard in over 500 years, with a voice he had thought had disappeared. Her body trembled and pressed itself tightly around him.
Before Legolas could respond, the men pulled her off him and she kept begging. He fell to the ground and landed on his face, the poison had had its full effect on him and he could not do anything anymore, he could not move his limbs or speak. He could only hear, and he kept hearing her begging. He wished she would stop.
"Alright then, we'll kill you both!"
They pushed Aurel against one of the boulders and she fell down with a cry. Legolas could hear something more now, with his head against the ground, the rumbling of horses, and they were headed this way. One of the men became aware of the sound, and alerted what was left of their small army. Some of the men began to run away, but the putrid man that had held Aurel before was intent on killing her. It was clear he was the leader of his group, and it was also clear that he knew a great deal about how to cripple his victims, he had been taught well. He dragged Aurel who was still on the ground over to where Legolas laid, immobile. "He's almost dead and you'll soon join him." He took a sharp knife out. Legolas was in horror and panic, he could not do anything to stop him. He had heard what the man had told Aurel, but he did not hear Aurel at all, not even her breathing. Over the next few seconds before his hearing began to fail him, all Legolas heard was the sound of metal meeting with flesh, and then a warm liquid dripped on him, a large thud to the ground and, that was it, his hearing was slowly going, and his sight was almost completely gone. He thought he might have felt someone trying to pull him up and in the corners of his sight he thought he saw Aragorn and Gimli. He could almost make out their voices, but they seemed so far away, and it was easier to just succumb to the dark emptiness.
