Apologies I haven't updated in a while but I hit a bit of writer's block with how I wanted to finish this.
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Sacrifice
Aragorn's heart started to race as he placed his ear to the elf's chest, overjoyed to hear a heartbeat. Now the Ranger needed to get him to breathe and so the tilted Legolas' head back in the hopes that it would help and then he dashed to his pack. He pulled out some herbs that he quickly mixed in a bowl with some water crushed them until the turned into a paste. They let off a strong, pleasant scent and Aragorn carried the small wooden bowl over to his friend, sat down beside him, scooped some onto his fingers and waved it beneath the princes' nose. Legolas took a sudden deep breath, coughing as his eyes rolled around beneath their lids.
'Breath easy Mellon nin.' he said as he placed a hand on the elf's heaving chest.
Legolas calmed to his companion's touch and his breathing evened out, but he did not wake. Aragorn rubbed a small amount of the paste onto his companion's chest before he scraped the mixture back into the bowl and allowed himself to relax, watching the slightly more even rise and fall of his Legolas' breaths.
'Come on you must fight this.' he said as he rubbed his eyes with the palm of his right hand 'your father would have my head if anything were to happen to you.' he finished as he placed the bowl of the floor and picked up a cloth to wipe the last of the mixture from his fingers.
He sat in silence for a while, the only sounds were the happy cries of families reunited with their loved ones. Haleth appeared in the doorway and Aragorn smiled, happy to see the young boy had survived.
'My Lord.' said the boy as he bowed his head in respect.
'Haleth, good to see you alive and well.' Exclaimed the Ranger as he stood slowly and walked towards the boy, giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
'My Lord I have been asked to fetch you by the King, he said its urgent.' said the boy, his panicked expression made Aragorn's blood run cold.
He turned his head to see Legolas was sat bolt upright in his cot, his piercing blue eyes burning through him.
'Tell the King I will come directly.' he said as he turned and walked back to Legolas, perching at the edge of the bed as he took in his friends condition.
'How do you feel?' he asked as he felt the elf brow, relieved to find no fever.
'You should go, the King is waiting.' said Legolas softly as he batted Aragorn's hand away.
'I don't want to leave you alone, not when you were half dead not half an hour ago.'
'Well, then I suppose I shall have to come with you.' Replied the elf as he swung his legs around and off the bed.
Aragorn jumped up at the sudden movement, surprised by how much strength had returned to the elf already. He helped him get onto his feet and slowly they made their way to the throne room, greeted by familiar faces as they made their way through the large wooden doors. Evidence of the battle still surrounded them as they moved deeper into the room, shields and weapons streaked in black blood littered the floor. A table stood in the centre with a body laid out on top of it that was covered with an elvish flag.
'Lord Aragorn… Legolas.' said Théoden as he nodded at both.
Aragorn bowed his head in response then turned his attention to the body that lay hidden beneath the silk fabric 'what is this?'
Gamling walked towards them, his head hung low as he grabbed the material and slowly peeled it back to reveal a familiar face beneath. Legolas turned white as his eyes opened wide, tears brimming as he turned his head to look at the Ranger. Aragorn took a step closer to the elf as placed his hand across his chest, bowing his head before placing a kiss upon the man's brow.
'Haldir…' he paused, taking a step back again 'be at peace.' He finished as he returned Legolas' gaze.
'I am sorry.' pipped up the King as he stepped towards them gingerly 'We are forever in his debt.'
Aragorn said nothing, just placing a comforting hand on Legolas' shoulder. The elf no longer looked at the Ranger, his eyes fixed on his kin as a few tears escaped his tired eyes. Everyone stood in silence for a while, all watching Legolas as he stood there motionless.
His skin glowing in the dim light of the stone hall. The men had spoken of the elf who burst into pure light, obliterating and Orc that was in sight. There had been a mixture of joy and terror in their voices as the spoke of Legolas, unsure how to speak of the elvish prince. Aragorn noticed as the elf began to waiver, catching him before he fell to the ground. Gamling jumped the rangers aid along with a few other guards who were nearby.
'Its okay Mellon Nin, just a little tired is all.' said the elf, blinking as he tried to focus on everything around him.
'Aragorn is Legolas well?' Quizzed the King as he stepped into view 'Éowyn told me he was sick from the battle.'
'He will mend.' Replied the ranger as he pulled his friend into a sitting position 'perhaps we should take you back to your chambers to rest.'
Legolas nodded in agreement, allowing Gamling to help him to his feet.
'Gamling see to it that Legolas is returned to his chambers and that the healer sees to him right away.' Said Theoden 'I need to speak to Lord Aragorn alone.'
The man nodded before helped Legolas limp back to the doors, the other residents of the hall following closely behind, including Gandalf who gave the Ranger a quick smile as he walked by. Once the room was empty the King walked towards a table that sat beside his throne, picking up a golden jug and pouring liquid into the two goblets that had been sat beside it.
'My men tell me that Legolas is a witch.' said the King as he handed Aragorn one of the goblets.
'My Lord?' Aragorn looked at him with a perplexed expression.
'He burst into a fire white light, they have told me… He turned the orcs to ash with said light.' he continued as he took a sip from his cup.
'We are unsure of what Legolas' powers are.' Replied the ranger, 'he was taken by a sorcerer, experimented on.
Aragorn paused, taking a sip from his cup and welcoming the cool liquid as he coated his mouth.
'He struggles to control it and we fear that if he tried to access the full extent of it… it will kill him. We believe he was created as a weapon.'
'One that we now possess.' replied the King, a small smile crossed his lips.
'Legolas is not some sword to slay a dragon with.' spat Aragorn as he stepped towards the king 'he is heir to the Throne of Mirkwood, Son of Thranduil of the woodland realm.'
'Yes, yes of course.' Splutter Theoden as he took another large swing from his cup 'well if it weren't for him I fear we would have lost with war. Thank him for me.'
Aragorn nodded before bowing and turning to leave. He stalked through the stone halls as he made his way to Legolas' chamber, his eyes were greeted by Éowyn sat by his bedside as the elf sleeper. She looked up and at Aragorn as he entered the room, a smile painted her lips as she rose from her chair.
'He's resting.' she said as she allowed Aragorn to sit down at the elf's side 'Will he recover?'
'He is weak, he has spent much of his power but with time he will mend yes.
'Will he use that power to help us win this war?' she quizzed, her eyes still fixed on the sleeping Legolas.
'I fear if he uses his power the extend that he did in this battle again… he will most certainly die.'
Éowyn opened her mouth, ready to respond but the words were lost to her. She nodded at the Ranger and left, leaving Aragorn to the tend to his fragile companion. He did not know what the future would bring, whether or not Legolas would need to sacrifice himself for middle-earth. What he did know was that if he did… If Legolas was to let the power course through him to that extent again, it would consume him. For now, the battle at helms deep was done, they had made it through and they would continue to fight and give Frodo the best chance he had. Even if that required a sacrifice.
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Well hope you enjoyed this, I think I will finish it here. Please let me know what you though.
