A/N The title of this one could almost be the tittle for any one of these stories involving Legolas...
Anyhoo, happy Cinco De Mayo as well as being sure to note of the Revenge of the Fifth. :)
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Seven: Stubborn Elf
"We should send more warriors to the west. They will not expect an attack from there," Aragorn said, pointing at the large map hanging from the wall of Elrond's study. He sat in front of the desk, straddling the back of a hard back chair as he examined the map with weary, critical, eyes. "The orcs would never be able to scale a cliff, up or down, like that but the elves could."
Elladan, who was sitting on the single, soft armchair, glanced up at his twin who was perched preciously on the arm. Elrohir nodded.
"We agree with Estel," Elladan said for the both of them. Elrond tapped the spot on the map thoughtfully, before turning to look around at the other elves gathered in his study, which included Glorfindel, Lindar, and Erestor.
"What do you say?" he asked, "We have limited warriors and must place each where they will be most needed." The elves and Aragorn nodded in sync, needing no such reminder. Glorfindel looked at the map, his fingers tapping lightly against the wood of the desk.
"It will be easiest to attack from the north. We can be in, and then out." He straightened, crossing his arms as he looked to around. Erestor was quiet, his ageless face thoughtful.
"Whatever we do, we need to take care of the orcs. They are becoming more and more daring," Aragorn insisted into the silence. He clenched his right first around the top of the chair, anger flashing through his grey eyes. "This problem isn't going to go away by itself and we need to fix it, before something like what happened to Legolas happens to someone else."
Elrond nodded briskly, his face pulling downwards as he frowned. "I say the west. Surprise can sometimes be the greatest ally."
"I disagree." A new voice came softly from the doorway and the others in the room jumped, turning in surprise to face the new visitor.
"Legolas Thranduilion," Elrond snapped sharply. His face transformed almost instantly from thoughtful into a glare strong enough to be felt, though it couldn't help but be noticed that the anger was underlined with concern.
The wood-elf smiled softly at the look as he leaned heavily up against the door frame. His golden hair spilled over his shoulder and hung lankly around his face, missing its usual braids. A dark, ugly, bruise decorated the left side of his face, and the line of hidden bandages appeared under his loose tunic. His face was unnaturally pale and dark shadows lined his eyes.
"Did I give you permission to be out of bed, never mind out of your room, yet?" Elrond strode across the room, ready to escort the prince of Mirkwood back, but Aragorn beat him too it.
"Come, mellon-nin, you should not be taxing yourself so just yet," he said gently, taking the elf's arm.
"No, Aragorn, I am fine. Truly," Legolas insisted. He pulled away from the man and tried to take a step further into the room. With a small hiss, he leaned back against his support, his face blanching as he grimaced.
"That was 'fine'?" Aragorn asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Legolas, you were brought in not five days past, treading towards death's door," Elrond pointed out, his glare softening. "Go back with Aragorn and get some rest."
"No," Legolas stubbornly repeated, shaking his head doggedly. "I have information that could be crucial to your plans. You need me." He smiled smugly and Elrond sighed in despair. Taking the younger elf by the shoulders, he intently examined the prince. Aragorn violently shook his head, a frown deepening his face and making him seem older than he was.
"You are far from well, Legolas. Let me help you back to you room, and then you can tell me all you know, which in turn, I can tell everyone else." He again attempted to guide Legolas away from the door, but the elf shook him off.
"No," he said firmly, unwilling to move as he gripped the doorframe tightly. "You get it now, or never." Aragorn rolled his eyes in exasperation. He seriously doubted that was true, for he knew that the elf wouldn't withhold information that could spare lives, but turned helplessly to his father.
"He is already here, Estel," the lord of Imladris said just as helplessly, "And he is right. If he has information, then we need it." Legolas smiled exuberantly, seeing that he had won the fight, and stepped into the room, only to collaspe against the wall in a despreate attempt to say upright as his knees buckled.
"Next time, I am locking your door and throwing away the key," Aragorn whispered just loud enough for the elf to catch. He took the prince's arm and began to gently lead him forward and away from the wall. He supported his light weight with ease as the prince's leg faltered.
"I'd still find a way out," Legolas said with a small grin, accepting the man's help after only a half resistance. He nodded at the twins, who were wearing looks of shock and admiration.
"You managed to get past both Ada and Estel?" Elladan asked in an awed tone, earning himself a glare from Aragorn.
"This one time only," the man insisted. He twisted his chair around so that it faced the front. "Sit." He pointed at the chair firmly.
Legolas shook his head, "I'm fine. I'll stand."
"Sit," Aragorn growled again, his voice harboring no yield as his eyes darkened dangerously. Legolas sat. Aragorn moved behind him, and planted his booted feet firmly while his strong fingers grasped the elf's shoulders protectively.
Once they were all settled once more, Elrond moved back next to the map.
"As I was saying, surprise is the best option for such a large group. Legolas disagrees." All turned expectantly to face the prince and Legolas nodded.
"Not about surprise, surprise is the best option. But the orcs were not too careful in hiding their plans when I was their prisoner, however, and I heard them celebrating…" A look of pure revulsion crossed his face and he scrunched up his nose, "Celebrating the fact that they thought the elves would try and attack the cliffs as we have done in past. They have stationed most of their guards that way, and have left their side open."
The other elves glanced at each other.
"To the north, then?" Erestor asked, to which Glorfindel nodded.
"To the north," Elrond replied with a sweep of his hand.
"How large are their numbers, would you say, Legolas?" Elladan asked, chewing on his lower lip thoughtful. Legolas paused, sighing as he counted mentally.
"500, give or take," he answered assuredly, twisting part way to face the older twin. Aragorn's grip on his shoulders tightened with the movement.
"We could send out snipers to pick off several from the cliffs, to attract their attention. Then come from behind," Elrohir suggested. Glorfindel stirred, getting to his feet and crossing to the map so he could examine it more closely.
"I think you can get away with that if you are extremely careful," Legolas agreed, trying to stand to also move over to the map, only for Aragorn to dig his fingers into his flesh with bruising strength. "The path up the cliff face is trapped like you wouldn't believe."
"Oh, I believe," Aragorn said dryly, "They managed to catch you, and you aren't exactly easy to catch." Legolas smiled genuinely up at the man, who shrugged.
The strategy and suggestion continued for well over an hour as they fit the small pieces of the puzzle together until they had mapped out their attack. Legolas offered help and advice as he could, but Aragorn noticed that the longer they talked, the prince grew quiet, almost lethargic, and only offering his opinion if so called upon. His hands fluttered to his wounded midriff, or to his head, and Aragorn caught him more than once squeezing his hands together until his knuckles were white in an effort to distract himself from the pain.
Aragorn's grip on his friend's shoulders tightened, and for the briefest of moments, Legolas rested his head against the man's arm. Glancing up, the prince flashed a wan smile at his friend. Aragorn gave him a pointed look back in return, as if to say I-told-you-so, and Legolas shrugged back, widening his eyes a little. Aragorn shook his head in exasperation, trying to hide the half annoyed smile that was threatening to cross his face. He purposefully turned his attention back onto Glorfindel, who was speaking, and Legolas followed suit.
After what seemed to be an age to Legolas, the lord of Imladris began to wrap the meeting up, delegating out responsibilities to each member present. One by one, each elf left hurriedly to complete their missions until only Aragorn, Elrond, and Legolas were left.
"Legolas," Elrond began as the door shut with a soft click behind Elladan, "I want you to go back to bed and rest." He stopped in front of Legolas and looked down sternly, his eyebrows rising slightly as if to dare the elf to defy his order.
"Nay, Hir-nin," Legolas insisted, sitting up straighter. "Saes. Let me do something to help." He glared up at Aragorn as the man dug his fingers in once more as warning, but Elrond was already shaking his head.
"You have already done more than your fair share, Legolas," Elrond intoned gently, tilting the elf's head up so that he could look into his earnest face. "You gave us information that was paid through with your blood. That is more than enough." Aragorn nodded hurriedly in agreement, his grip softening somewhat as he felt Legolas slump back.
"He's right, you know, mellon," he pushed softly. Legolas frowned, pressing his lips together into a thin line. It went against his very core to sit around idle while others were putting their lives on the line, but at last he had to agree with the two healers. He was from well, and his body knew it even if he wouldn't admit it.
"You sure I couldn't do something…?" Legolas tried on last time, mainly for appearance. Elrond shook his head.
"Come, Legolas," Aragorn said, letting go of Legolas' shoulders and moving around to the front as Elrond backed off. He held his hand out, and Legolas took it, allowing the man to pull him up right. He swayed alarmingly, his face draining of all remaining color, and Aragorn made a grab for his other arm. "Right, you are prepared to work, as—" he teased before his smile vanished abruptly. "Legolas!" he called sharply as Legolas' eyes rolled back in his head and his knees folded underneath his weight.
Elrond whirled around at the call just in time to see Legolas swoon against the human like a puppet with its string's cut.
"Legolas!" Aragorn called again, trying to hold the limp elf up as he slumped forwards against him and he stumbled back. Elrond jumped forward, wrapping his arm around the lithe elf and pulling him back off his son.
"Here, help me with him," Elrond grunted, lowering Legolas slowly to the floor. Aragorn dropped to his knees next to his friend and leaned anxiously over him. Elrond knelt also, elevating the prince's legs.
"Wake, Legolas," Aragorn called, slapping the elf's cheeks lightly. The elf's eyelids fluttered, a low moan left his lips. "That's it, come one, open your eyes." He began to chaff the prince's wrist gently but firmly. Another low groan left the elf's lips and his head twisted feebly to the side, but his eyes blinked open and he gazed up in bewilderment.
"What, what happened?" he asked faintly, blinking sluggishly upwards at Elrond and Aragorn's faces.
"You fainted," Aragorn said pointedly, shaking his head and sitting back on his heels. "Next time, please just stay in bed." Legolas smiled apologetically, pushing an elbow under himself and trying to right himself. Two pairs of hands on his chest and glare from Elrond stopped him in his tracks and he lay back down.
"Let him rest for a few minutes and recover, and then take him back to his room." Elrond stood, dusting off his robes as he looked down at the human and the ranger. "I have duties to which I must attend, but I will check in on you later, young elf." Aragorn and Legolas nodded, the prince still looking dreadfully pale.
He stepped soundlessly from the room, the only indication that he had left was the soft click of the door shutting.
"I'm fine, Estel," Legolas insisted as soon as they were alone and trying to sit up once more.
"Right," Aragorn snorted, rolling his eyes as he reached out and once again gripped Legolas' shoulder, keeping him firmly on the ground.
"Really, it was just a moment of light headiness. I stood up to quickly."
"Light headiness, in an elf? You are losing your touch, Legolas," Aragorn teased.
"A recently tortured elf," Legolas corrected with as much dignity as he could muster. Aragorn raised an eyebrow, getting to his feet as his legs began to tingle lightly.
"You had better come up with a better excuse than that if you don't want to be carried to your room," he said, crossing his arms and looking down at his friend.
"You wouldn't dare!" Legolas cried in horror, his eyes growing wide as he pleaded with Aragorn. He tried to sit up, but Aragorn was forced to brace his shoulders as he swayed alarmingly. Aragorn gave him a glare.
"Wouldn't I?" All the same, Aragorn reached down and helped ease Legolas slowly back up into a standing position. "You aren't going to pass out on me again?" he teased as the prince once again tilted to one side. Legolas rolled his eyes in exasperation, giving the man quite a stare for only moments before having been unconsciousness on the floor.
Aragorn took the elf's arm and slung it over his shoulder before hooking his arm around the elf's waist and walking him out of the room.
They made it half-way back before Legolas' dizziness overwhelmed him once more and Aragorn was forced to help him sink down to sit on the steps of the stairs they had been climbing for fear that he would once again pass out.
"You wouldn't believe me even if I tried to tell you I was fine, would you?" Legolas asked as he glanced over at Aragorn, whose arm he was gripping tightly. The man shook his head in agreement, pushing against the back of the elf's neck so that he was forced to lower his head in between his knees.
"I would believe you if you told me you were idiotic," he remarked. "Seriously, though, Legolas, who gets out of bed mere days after being severely tortured?" The elf laughed softly, trying to lift his head only to have the future king of men tighten his grip and force him back down.
"I thought you knew me," Legolas stated, making the man smile.
"It is called having hope that you may just yet change and become less stubborn and stupid," the human said delicately. Legolas laughed quietly.
"That will certainly be the day," he agreed ruefully, tightening his grip on the man's arm with a small moan as the stairs insisted on dancing around him.
"I am not called hope for no reason." Aragorn allowed the elf to lean most of his body weight against him, patting his arm lightly.
"No, no you are not," Legolas agreed in a serious tone. He tried to sit back up again, and Aragorn allowed it. "Lord Elrond knew what he was doing when he named you." The human shrugged and a comfortable silence fell between them as Legolas once again rested his head on his knees.
When the elf indicated that he was ready, they once again started off, this time reaching Legolas' room with no further mishaps.
"Promise to tell me if there are any further developments?" Legolas asked as Aragorn helped him onto the bed.
"I promise," Aragorn agreed, sitting down on the edge of the bed and lightly drew the blanket around his shoulders.
"Stop fussing." Legolas pushed the man's hands away, shifting with a hiss as pressure was added to his wounds.
"I'll stop once you stop getting yourself injured," Aragorn replied smartly, making Legolas grin.
"Well, I'll stop that once you stop leading me into trouble."
Aragorn glared at him, smacking him lightly atop the head.
"You are one stubborn elf. Why can you not admit that it is the other way around?"
THE END
Well, maybe, *maybe* Legolas has learned his lesson and will stay in bed. :) Somehow I doubt it.
Next time! Young Estel, the twins, Elrond, Legolas, and a bedtime story. Looking forward to seeing you then, and in the mean time have a fantastic May!