Bloodlines
Namarie (Farewell)
He was bothered by the Med-Jai's death. Legolas did not display it openly, but she had seen the look on his face when Abdul-Medjid passed away. Truth be told, she was bothered herself. Tired now and shaken, Evelyn pulled herself out of the vehicle and rubbed her face as she straightened. She could still hear chanting in the distance, Imhotep's name echoing throughout Cairo. They could not afford to sit here waiting for death. Legolas knew it as well, exiting the vehicle. His keen eyes swept their surroundings before resting on her. Neither spoke, but both could see the unease in the other.
Cursing, Jonathan yanked himself out as well and peered back inside at the one Med-Jai that had managed to live through the crash. "He's wounded badly," he announced in a dejected tone as he stood again. Jonathan kicked the ground. "What now?"
Legolas turned towards the sound of motion nearing. "They are after Evelyn and I. We must travel quickly."
Her brother nodded, catching on. "You want me to help him off somewhere. Right. I can do that. I'm sure we're not anything that walking terror would care to take time on anyway." He smoothed his hair back and looked Evy over. "Be careful, Old Mum?"
Impulsively, Evy stepped forward and hugged him. Maybe it was the close brush with death or maybe it was the impending doom, but she was suddenly very grateful to be able to do such a simple thing. He felt it too, wrapping his arms around her. "You be careful too."
Jonathan nodded and when they pulled away, he fixed Legolas with a serious look. "Take care of my sister, okay? I wouldn't want to have to send the kitten after you."
The Elf grinned. "She will endure until my last breath. Evelyn, we should get moving now." He held out his hand for her to take and grasped hers firmly once she did. "Namarie, Jonathan."
"Oh no, you're absolutely right about that," he countered very seriously. "Marie's testy and rude. Better to stick with Gina. She's a good girl." He smiled and turned back towards the vehicle.
Evy shot Legolas a look as they started away from the wreck. She arched her eyebrow thoughtfully. "What's this? He wouldn't be talking about that little diversion to the tavern the other night, would he? Corrupting your mind with his disgusting habits?"
He gave her hand a little squeeze, his face amused. "I am certain I know not of what he speaks. Namarie means farewell." Then his expression became serious. "Evelyn, the dangers we face are great. Should something happen to me I want you to run."
"But…"
Legolas shook his head. "You must promise me. I swore to Aragorn I would see you safe and even had I not, that remains my concern. You have been gracious to us and are a fine lady. I have won myself out of dire trouble before, so if I am overcome and you must flee, fear not that you will never see me again. Only find yourself a safe haven where the evil creature cannot get you. Will you promise?"
Haltingly, she replied, "I'll…try."
It was good enough for now. They came onto a main avenue and there met up with their doom. The servants of Imhotep approached them on nearly all sides. Legolas stopped and darted his vision around, seeking a way they could escape. Evy bit her bottom lip. "This doesn't look very good. Do you think they can sense us? If we were to take cover in a building?"
He shook his head. "I cannot say, except that their hunt is very keen." The Elf nodded towards an uninhabited alleyway. "Come."
Together they ran towards the shadowy path and darted down it. Night was fast falling upon the city, giving the atmosphere an ominous feel to it. Evy began to doubt they would find any help even at Fort Brydon. She could still hear the sounds of being followed, the ever-present name on the air. They would be lucky to make it out of Cairo itself, but she wouldn't do that if it meant leaving the others behind.
They made it to the end of the alleyway, gazes sharp, looking for the deadly thralls of the dark priest. Three that had been standing still, staring off, took immediate notice of their arrival. Legolas frowned, pulling her along with him towards another street.
When they turned the corner they saw their path blocked by slaves. Elf and woman skidded to a halt, then turned to flee back in the other direction, but it was too late. The hypnotized citizens were beginning to surround them. Looking on the hopeless scene with wide eyes, Evelyn whispered, "Oh dear."
Legolas darted his eyes around, seeking any way of escape. There were none. The shuffling, zombie-like thralls backed them into a building, hands outstretched and eyes dead. "Imhotep," they chanted hungrily, eager to serve. Evy cried out as one grasped her hair.
Drawing his sword, Legolas struck out against the one that touched her, but knew all was lost. There was no escape and far too many had converged upon them. His fist tightened against the hilt of his sword in a testament to his frustration. He could see no way of out of this, not for him, nor for her. He instinctively put himself before Evy and backed her against the wall, knowing it would not be long before he was torn down. He struck at another of the thralls and another, but where one was taken down another took its place.
Numerous hands were on him before long, dragging him away from her, filling his ears with the sound of the fell priest's name, until a shout halted all movement. The alien tongue identified the speaker easily enough and as Legolas straightened he saw a path being made leading from the city to where he and Evy stood. A black robed figure approached with smoldering eyes that seemed to swallow him whole. There was no good in this being.
Before Legolas he stopped, looking behind to view Evelyn, then his eyes fell upon the Elf once more. He spoke, reaching a hand out to grasp his hair. Legolas jerked his head away, glaring openly. "He calls you 'ancient one'," Evy supplied, laying a hand on his shoulder. "He says the dead whisper of you."
Imhotep grinned, sliding his eyes between them as she translated, then tilted his chin up in satisfaction. Legolas recognized what was going to happen, the intent written in those hungry black eyes. He lifted his hand to deflect the blow, but it was immensely too powerful. The force knocked him to the ground and would have taken his consciousness had he not had the presense of mind to lift his arm.
Legolas looked up, gripping his sword, but stopped when Imhotep took Evy by the throat and dragged her nearer. He spoke harshly to her and she translated grudgingly. "He says to go ahead and fight. Um, I do believe he's being sarcastic, by the way." She whimpered lightly when the dark being squeezed.
The priest looked down on the Elf with merciless eyes before kicking him down to the sand again. Legolas gripped the gritty material in his fist, not knowing what to do. He had a split second choice to make, one that could endanger Evy if he underestimated Imhotep's grasp on her. Tilting his head, he glanced at the hand holding her throat. He had to chance it.
Racing to his feet, Legolas pushed her from Imhotep and inserted himself between the two of them, swords drawn and eyes glittering. Behind he heard her groan of pain that was a sign her neck had not been drastically injured in the wrenching from Imhotep's hand.
He did not retaliate right away, as Legolas had thought he might. The dread priest smiled as if he were dealing with a mere child who had gotten a lucky hit. "Legolas," Evy said, standing up and dusting herself off. She did not sound very hopeful. "He could kill you."
"Then you must run quickly," he replied, never taking his eyes off Imhotep's. Any moment now the fight would begin. He could see it in his foe's eyes.
Evy was resolute. "I'm not leaving you to die."
"Evelyn…"
"No!" She took his shoulder again and he knew if Imhotep chose that moment all would be lost. The priest looked poised to do so, but Evelyn's soft voice stopped him as she spoke the words of his tongue. Her fingers on his shoulder tightened as she tried to reason with the madness before them. When Imhotep smiled patiently, Legolas knew she had made a bargain. He glared as she said, "He'll let you live if I go with him."
Legolas shook his head. "Then I shall die."
Her hand left his shoulder. Evelyn came to stand beside him with knit brows and using a sharp tone, retorted, "Then you'll die and he'll take me anyway! Where do you think I can run to?" Her face softened. "He wants to take me to Hamunaptra. At least this way you have a chance of warning the others."
He let go of his watch on the priest for but a moment to look at her, to express his want that this not end this way. "Evy…" It was then Imhotep chose to make his move. The last thing he saw after a rapid, hard blow to his head was her dark, wide eyes as he fell.
A stirring at his hand did not seem enough to awaken the sleeping Elf. In vain had Aragorn searched the city for any sign of the Med-Jai, fighting much of his way here, well beyond the museum. The thralls of Imhotep had been intent on a goal, one that the Ranger followed after, but even still he had been met with opposition. For a time. Suddenly and without warning the fighting and following stopped, the thralls falling in their places to the sand, unconscious, leaving him ample passage through Cairo.
He had searched without ceasing until at last a familiar form came into view. Jogging to where Legolas lay, Aragorn made ready to awaken his friend, but stopped, seeing another little being here. A little ball of gray fur was sitting calmly at the Elf's left hand, licking his fingers with an occasional mewl. Kneeling at his friend's side, the Ranger ran his fingers through the cat's fur and said, "Take heart, little friend. Legolas endures." Putting his hand to his friend's shoulder, he gave a nudge and urged him to consciousness. "Legolas?"
His fingers twitched and the kitten stopped licking, gazing intently at its now prey. Hunkering down, it watched as Legolas wiggled them again, then pounced at just the right moment. Aragorn looked down just in time to see the furry animal nip at the Elf's flesh, having curled arms around the offending fingers. "Ai," Legolas groaned a little raggedly, drawing the Ranger's attention back where it was needed.
"Are you all right, mellon nin?" Aragorn asked in concern, looking into half-lidded, dark eyes that bore the weight of pain.
Despite that Legolas immediately tried to sit, groaning with the act. Shaking his head, Aragorn tried to get him to halt his motion, but the Elf was intent. "He has taken her," he breathed and the Ranger drew a breath. Legolas placed a hand to his temple, accepting his friend's aid with the other. His eyes were sorrowful.
They stood carefully and Aragorn sighed, looking at the Elf's pained expression. "What happened?" He looked for any sign of blood or bruising, seeing none. Still, Legolas appeared a little worse for wear.
Shaking his head, the Prince of Mirkwood looked out across the battered city, his eyes searching where those of a mere mortal could not. "We ran and came upon the Med-Jai. Their vehicle crashed into a building." His expression became grave as he looked again to Aragorn. "Abdul-Medjid Bay has fallen."
"That is terrible news," he replied, turning his gaze outward along the city. None of the people Imhotep had put under his spell were awakening. All they did seemed to turn to ash even as they set their hands to prevent the very things happening. Evelyn was now gone and in dreadful danger. But even as he accepted these things he knew they could not give up. Not while there was still a sliver of hope. He looked back, seeing Legolas standing with his eyes shut, and said, "We need to get your head looked at. Then I will return to Hamunaptra."
"I will be all right," the prince assured him, looking at their feet. He pointed and the Ranger looked down. The kitten was pawing at his boot curiously. "He'll not allow us to leave him behind, I believe."
Aragorn hummed thoughtfully as he knelt down and collected the kitten. "Is it that, or is it that you are taken with him yourself?"
Legolas looked down the road towards the museum absently. "It is Jonathan's beast." His eyes grew solemn. "We should inform the Med-Jai curator of his kinsman's fate."
They began the trek slowly, though every second away from the museum troubled Aragorn, for he knew these were moments that the dread priest used to get away. Hamunaptra was not far, but neither was it as close as he felt comfortable with. He knew nothing of what Imhotep would do once there, nor how long Evelyn would have before his plans carried her beyond their reach. "Did he do her any injury?" he asked, scratching behind the kitten's ears.
"Nay," Legolas exhaled softly and turned to Aragorn with an apology on his face. "I tried to protect her. We ran, but in the end he caught up to us. She would not leave me alone to fight him and before I could stop him he hit me. One blow and I was on the sand." The last phrase was not without a degree of self-rebuke.
The kitten meowed and rubbed against the Ranger's thumb, drawing his gaze. "He is a monster, Legolas," he said firmly. "There is little any of us can do against him. Ai, what I wouldn't give for the advice of Gandalf right now." They shared a wan smile between them, but he did not have to ask to see the wistful expression in his friend's eyes. He felt it too. Looking up across Cairo, he considered what they were doing. It seemed wherever they went there was always something to do, some trouble to overcome. He did not resent that, but instead began to think perhaps things were this way because they could do these things where others could not. And perhaps that was how it was at home. He did not want to be king, but if he did not there was no one else. But what if he could never get home?
It wasn't long before they came upon the museum. A few windows were broken and the entrance left open, but it seemed otherwise intact. Together Man and Elf entered and stopped inside. There were a few Med-Jai waiting there and the curator, who stood as Jonathan tied off a bandage around his wrist. He tightened the string and Dr. Bey hissed, then slapped his hand away with a sour expression. The Englishman shook his head, then noticed them as he turned. "Well, I see you made it away and even brought back a few missing friends. Where's Evy?" When Legolas and Aragorn exchanged looks his mood became graver. "What's this?"
His friend would feel it was his place. Proving Aragorn's thought, the Elf stepped forward and exhaled a breath. "Jonathan, I am afraid I must tell you most distressing news. She has been taken. I could not protect her. I am sorry."
Jonathan's eyes widened. "Taken? By that…that fiend?"
Gravely, Legolas nodded. "He is taking her to Hamunaptra, my friend. We must make all haste there." The Elf looked to Dr. Bey with something else on his mind.
"At best the trip will take some few days. He travels much faster than that. By the time we arrive it will be too late," he responded to their thoughtful expressions. He did not miss the way Legolas looked at him. "If you have something to say…?"
Aragorn felt for his friend, who was not accustomed to being the bearer of so much grave news. Certainly not of this nature. Elves did not have to deal with death. "I lament having to say this, but your cousin has fallen. The automobile you gave to them crashed and he was injured beyond repair."
Bey's eyes widened a moment, then he exhaled and turned away. When Legolas tried to speak the curator waved him off. "We don't have the luxury for grief. Before you depart on this fools journey I have something I must confirm. If you will excuse me."
The curator left them without another word. The Prince of Mirkwood sighed and wandered back to Aragorn's side and the Ranger was suddenly struck with a thought. If they never got home Legolas would live for ages to come, always watching those around him fade away from him. He would have no one permanent in his life, no foundation, no one he could count on to be at his side through the many long years of his life. No end to his grief without the promise of sailing to the Undying Lands, save should he be slain and see the Halls of Mandos. Much of the promise of his life had been taken away with their coming here. He wanted to say something, but what could he possibly tell his friend to change the stark reality of it?
"So much peril at our heels," he said sorrowfully, looking out a broken window, then back again. "What can we do to save Evelyn?"
A thought seemed to occur to Jonathan, who snapped his fingers, then paced a little. He paused to pet the kitten and looked up. "I have an idea. I need to go out for a little bit."
The kitten in Aragorn's hands squirmed as the Englishman scratched his belly. "Where are you going?" the Ranger asked, knowing time was not on their side.
There was a light in Jonathan's eyes as he said, "Out for a drink."
"Now is not the time," Legolas began, shaking his head. He stopped when Evy's brother held up a hand.
"Trust me, my good son. I know what I'm doing." He yanked his hand back when the kitten nipped his finger. "I say, you little monster."
Author: Ruse – Disclaimer: No infringement intended. Naseen and Salih are mine.
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