A/N: Hey Y'all! It has been a minute. A very long minute. Its been about two and a half years. Wow, I never thought I would be gone that long, but I'M BACK! I've had the craziest adventures and I honestly meant to start posting forever ago but life happened and I had the biggest writers' block of my life. Anyway, here I am again ready and finally rearing to go. This story ended up A LOT longer then I thought it would be but you know. it works.
I can't explain how much I missed you all these last few years. There is just something about the fanfiction community that is special. This is a thank you to those who urged me to start writing again (you know how you are). Without you, I would not be where I am. Thank you. Anyway, enough about all that and on with the story!
Disclaimer: not mine.
Together
Aragorn craned his neck, trying to find the end of the impressive stonework that stretched far over his head. He had been here so many times, but yet the detailed work never ceased to amaze him. It was no wonder that Legolas could call this cave home.
"Estel, do you gawk this much every time you visit?" Elrond whispered under his breath and Aragorn grinned, half turning to face his father.
"I was trying to find Legolas," he whispered back. Elrond raised an eyebrow.
"…in the stonework?"
"No, I was admiring the stonework! I was trying to find Legolas just a few seconds before that." Aragorn flushed lightly and Elrond shook his head, laughing.
"Lord Elrond!" Thranduil's deep voice rang out clearly from above them and both Elrond and Aragorn turned their attention that way. The king stood at the top of the stairs, his head held high. His robes fluttered behind him in the light breeze and the elves lowered their heads in reverence. "Lord Aragorn," he inclined his head towards the human. "It is good to see you both here safely. I welcome you on behalf of Greenwood the Great."
Aragorn and Elrond both bowed low.
"We thank thee, King Thranduil," Elrond began, straightening. The greetings were far more formal then Aragorn preferred and he fidgeted, glancing over the heads of the elves and looking for Legolas' familiar face. He had half expected to find the prince waiting for them at the Elven Road but he had been disappointed.
Elrond elbowed him lightly in the ribs and he turned back towards the front. Thranduil was saying something about a feast having been prepared for them in their honor when Legolas slipped in behind his father.
He looked around and when he caught sight of Aragorn, his eyes widen in surprise. A smile graced his features and he almost silently floated on past his father and down the stairs. The king's eyes followed him and the frown deepened on his face but he didn't call his offspring out.
Legolas slipped into the crowd and began to wind his way towards Aragorn and the next thing he knew he was being embraced by a set of powerful arms.
"Estel!" Legolas whispered after the brief hug. He pulled back, smiling widely. "I didn't expect to see you here today."
"I was a last minute addition," Aragorn said out of the corner of his mouth as Elrond elbowed him again. Legolas caught the action and he smirked.
"Come, I will buy you a drink." He motioned his head towards the doors and began to pull on the man's arm. Aragorn shook his head, giving his friend a strange look. The elf wasn't one to love formalities but he obeyed the unwritten rules better than Aragorn ever had.
"As soon as the all the formalities are over."
The smile slipped from Legolas' face. "I have to leave to go back out to the southern border in little more than an hour," he admitted. "Ada will talk for twice as long as that."
Aragorn's eyebrows drew together in a deep frown. "You leave so soon?"
"It can't be helped." The elf motioned his head towards the door again and grabbed the man's arm. "Come on, they won't even notice that you are gone."
Aragorn glanced back at his father. Elrond didn't look happy about it but he gave the slightest of nods. Grinning, Aragorn slipped into the crowd after his friend and followed Legolas out into a bustling section of the kingdom.
Finding a quiet pub on the far side of town, Legolas was true to his word and soon the pair was seated with tall glasses of wine in front of them and, in Aragorn's case, a warm plate of food.
"What, they don't sell beer here?" Aragorn asked in disbelief as he took his glass from the elf.
"This is a dignified place," Legolas insisted and Aragorn rolled his eyes. Taking a sip all the same, he studied the elf over the rim of his glass.
"How have you been?" he finally asked. "It's been far too long."
Legolas chuffed in agreement. "I've been busy. How about you? What problems have you gotten yourself into this time?"
"No more than you have I'm sure." He paused. "And you must be busy if your father is letting you skip out on that meeting with Elrond."
Legolas smiled, shrugging. "Oh, he wanted me to stay but I had already made plans to go back out. You should have seen his face," he chuckled to himself. "I didn't even know Lord Elrond was coming until last night. By that point it was too late to change plans otherwise I would have."
Aragorn set his glass down delicately, a frown growing on his face. "Legolas, that trip has been planned for almost four months. How did you not know about it? Even I knew about it and I have been wondering the wilds."
Legolas wouldn't meet his eyes, taking another long sip. "So what brought you on this trip if you were off in the wilds?"
Aragorn stared him for a minute, clearly wondering if he should persist in his own line of questioning.
"Well," he began hesitantly, "after a fair amount of time with the rangers I heard tell that Elrond was coming to Mirkwood and I decided to stop by Imladris with two intentions. First, too finally sleep in a warm bed, and second, to have Elrond deliver a letter to you." He laughed, shaking his head in derision. "I clearly didn't get either. Instead, Ada asked me if I wanted to go. Well, kind of insisted. Said that it was time I started forming relationships and alliances with other kingdoms around Middle-earth."
Legolas reached out squeezing his forearm.
"I'll vouch for you if you ever need anything from Ada," he teased.
"That's good because I'm fairly sure I just skipped an important step in forming alliances. Somehow I don't think that slipping off to go drinking only 10 minutes in is going to impress."
Legolas laughed out loud. A few of the other elves in the room twisted towards them and Legolas muffling the rest of his laughter.
They fell into companionable silence. Aragorn began to eat the food, studying his friend in between bits. Legolas gazed at some distant spot on the wall, the happy smile that the elf had been wearing since seeing Aragorn was slipping off his face. It left him looking sad and lonely. The dark shadows lining his eyes weren't helping matters.
Legolas' leaned his head back against the wood and his eyes began to gloss over until Aragorn realized that the elf was sleeping. He stopped with the fork halfway to his mouth, frowning.
And you are going back out on portal like this? He couldn't help but wonder.
"Hey," Aragorn tapped the elf's foot with his own after he had finished his food and the elf started, his eyes flying open. He blinked rapidly, sitting up straighter. "How long are you going to be gone to the border for?"
Legolas blew out a breath. "I have no clue," he replied honestly through a yawn. "It could be a week, could be a month."
"Well. I guess a warm bed isn't to be my fate anytime soon." Aragorn sighed, tipping the last of his drink down his throat.
"What? My father has plenty of comfortable beds…" Legolas began, clearly confused and Aragorn sighed in mock exasperation.
"I'm coming with you, you fool. Now go get your gear and I will go and face my father."
"Aragorn, no, you don't have to do that!" Legolas protested, grabbing the man's arm before he could stand up. The human frowned, before shaking his head and lightly pulling away.
"I'm not even going to answer that. I'll meet you in 45 minutes by the gate."
Legolas stared after the man in shock. Rubbing his face, he drained the last of his own wine and hurried to catch back up with his friend.
THEADVENTURESOFALIFETIME
The small fire hissed as the wind playfully tugged at it and Aragorn reached out, adding another stick. They had been following the Elven Road towards the southern border for almost two days but even the elves dared not travel at night anymore so they were spending the night in a wooden platform built high in the branches of the towering trees. Up here, the moths weren't as bad and they were close enough to the Elven Road that orcs or spiders wouldn't dare come near.
Turning a long stick that had some pieces of dried meat stuck on it over the fire, Aragorn glanced at his companion. Legolas was reclining back against his pack, staring up at the faint stars that were just discernable through the thick branches and leaves.
"I have a question," he finally asked as he pulled the stick back, taking the meat off of it.
"Hmm…" Legolas blinked and turned to Aragorn. "What did you say?"
"I have a question!" the man repeated with exasperated fondness.
"Oh, what is it?" The elf went back to staring up at the stars and Aragorn sighed. When he didn't speak for a minute Legolas turned to look at him but Aragorn only continued to stare.
"What?" Legolas asked again.
"Why did you never answer my letters?" Aragorn's voice was soft, almost disappointed, and the elf looked quickly away. "I wrote you at least nine or ten over the past three years but you never answered. Did you get them?"
Legolas still wouldn't meet his eyes. "I got them," he finally said once the silence had stretched on to be uncomfortable. "I…" He trailed off, shaking his head. The man's letters at become increasingly probing and he hadn't had the energy or desire to respond.
"I was getting really worried about you, for all I knew you were dead," Aragorn accused once it was clear he wasn't going to get more than that. "I was ready to make Ada swear that he wouldn't come back until he had a response from you to give to me. If he did, I was going to march down here and drag you by your pointed ears over to a quill and parchment."
Legolas didn't smile at the words. "I'm sorry, Estel. I really didn't mean to worry you," He sat up straighter, his hands locking under his knees. "It's just…I guess I didn't know what to say."
"So you didn't say anything?" Aragorn's tone was hurt and when Legolas glanced at him, he could see the disappointment shining in his eyes.
"It's been a… rough past few years." Legolas finally admitted. "And I don't know. I just didn't want to have to think about it never mind write about it. Let's be honest," the smallest of smiles lifted his lips. "I couldn't say anything because you can sniff out trouble faster than a bloodhound and you won't leave it alone until you know what's going on."
Aragorn frowned. "I do not."
"Estel, we have been friends for over 70 years. I think I would know what you do and do not do."
Aragorn shook his head, muttering something under his breath.
"I heard that," the elf smiled, turning back to face the stars. Aragorn turned back the fire, huddling in around its warmth.
"How long has it been since you have been home for more than a couple days?" Aragorn asked, the question having nagged at him since Legolas had fallen asleep at the pub. Legolas made a face.
"See, you can't leave it alone!" he insisted, pointing a finger at the man.
"I just want to know!" he held up his hands in defense, "An gell nîn."
Legolas sighed. "I don't know, maybe a few months."
Aragorn couldn't help the frown. "And that wasn't a stint in the healing halls, right?"
Legolas remained quiet and Aragorn threw his hands up in the air.
"I've told you this before and I'm telling it to you again! You can't keep doing this to yourself. Legolas. Even an elf's endurance won't last forever and one of these days you are just going to drop of exhaustion or worse, you aren't going to be able to defend yourself in battle."
"What other choice do I have?!" Legolas glared at Aragorn before getting to his feet, crossing over to the end of the fleet. He stared down at ground; his shoulders slumping. "Estel, right now there is no other choice."
"There is always a second choice," Aragorn remained sitting where he was it, watching his friend. "Always."
Legolas laughed bitterly. "Lord Elrond named you well, young one. You do always see the hope in a situation." He pulled his cloak tighter around him, as if he was cold, and remained staring out into the darkness.
Aragorn grimaced at being called young but let it slide. "What hope do you see, Legolas?" he finally asked. Legolas' shoulder drooped further.
"You talked about having another choice." His voice was so soft that Aragorn had to lean forward to hear it. "Right now, our choices are to keep fighting with everything we have or die alongside Greenwood."
Aragorn stared at the elf, his mouth dropping open. "No, Mirkwood is not that point, not yet." He denied vehemently. Legolas laughed darkly.
Bracing himself against a branch to get to his feet Aragorn was on his knees when he heard the faintest of snaps, almost like the string of a bow being fired. Whirling around, he had a warning on his lips but Legolas had heard it as well and was already leaping back away from the edge.
He wasn't quite quick enough. The arrow flew true, the light of the fire illuminating the elf's outline, and slammed into the elf's chest.
"Legolas!" Aragorn dropped to the ground, watching in horror as the elf toppled to the side, crying out. Terror coursed through his veins and he made a dash for Legolas' side, but another arrow came zigging through the air and he dropped back. He could see Legolas moving, rolling backward, so he was at least alive.
"Stay still!" Aragorn hissed through his teeth, scrambling over on his knees to the prince's side. "Don't move—don't." Hands clenching in Legolas' tunic, he held him still and tried to see where the arrow had hit. Fear was making his heart pound as he felt along the elf's chest, trying to find the shaft.
Legolas cried out as Aragorn's hand found the arrow.
"Don't move," Aragorn again commanded, leaning over his friend. The orcs were howling and cheering below, their torches flickering into light now that secrecy was no longer needed.
"Put out. The fire." Legolas grunted, trying to get to his feet but Aragorn pressed him back down.
"Stop, stop. Hold still." Crawling back over to the glowing embers he began to dump water from his waterskin onto it. It sizzled, steam rising rapidly from the heated wood before darkness enveloped them. Some of the orcs cheering lessened and Aragorn breathed a sigh of relief.
Legolas let out a clenched cry and he scrambled back to his side.
"Hold still," he commanded for what felt like the tenth time. Holding the elf still with one hand, he found the shaft again. It had almost missed Legolas, but it had found its home in at the edge of his chest. Another inch and it would have just been a bad cut.
"We need to leave," Legolas moaned, squirming under Aragorn's hands.
"Stay still for one second, for Valar's sake!" Aragorn snapped, still trying to figure out what damage had been done. He could feel the wooden shaft through the skin and the end of the head was jutting out.
"No, there will be spiders. We need to leave, now." Legolas eyes flickered closed, sweat beading his upper lip as he grunted in pain. Aragorn's hand froze, listening. He could still hear the orcs below them but he couldn't hear any of the sinister clickings that accompanied the spiders.
"Alright," He pulled back. "Alright." Aragorn once again rose to his feet and hurried across to where their packs and weapons where. Down below he could still see the torches of what appeared to be about a dozen orcs. Without hesitation, he set an arrow in his bow and pulled the string back. When an orc was dumb enough to set foot in the light, he sent the arrow spinning into their midst.
"Good shot."
Turning, he found Legolas half standing, using the tree limbs for support.
"I told you not to move!" Throwing both packs over his shoulder, he reached out and caught the elf's arm. He could just see the shaft sticking out his chest and he placed his hand around it once more. The elf's tunic was wet with blood but he could just feel the slim wood beneath the skin. "It's not too deep but—"
Legolas kept shaking his head."We need to leave." His hand also found fletching of the arrow and he gripped it tight.
"Stop, what are you doing?" Aragorn smacked Legolas' hand away. "If you pull it out you are only going to bleed more."
"I'm just breaking the rest of the arrow off," Legolas argued. "I can't fight with an arrow sticking out."
"Oh, but the other half is fine?" Aragorn snapped back, once again beating the elf's hands away. "Let me do it." Making sure that his friend was steady against the tree, he flicked out his knife. Bracing the arrow, he sliced at with one swift blow. The fletching part of the arrow dropped to the ground and Aragorn pocketed his knife.
Legolas was instantly in motion. Snatching his bow away from Aragorn, he leaped lightly from the fleet and into the branches of the tree next to him.
"Stupid elf," Aragorn muttered under his breath. "If he bleeds out I am so going to tell him I told you so." Turning, he made a running leap towards the next branch. Legolas was waiting, one hand gripping the branch tightly.
"Follow me," he began to swing onto the next branch and they moved further and further away from the wooden fleet. Aragorn kept up as best as he could, but in the trees, he was no match against a wood elf, even a wounded one.
The darkness swamped him and the light from the orc's torches quickly faded. He couldn't even see the branch in front of him and all too soon he became hopelessly disoriented. The only light he had was that of Legolas' faint shine but even that wasn't much as the elf kept disappearing every few seconds between the trees.
He finally stopped. He couldn't see Legolas and he had no clue which way to go next.
"Legolas!" he hissed. The tree limb beneath him was bending under his weight and he swung down until he found a studier one. "Legolas!" he called out again. "Legolas!"
The elf appeared at his side almost out of nowhere and the man jumped.
"Shh," Legolas instructed, inching closer to the man. "I was seeing what was ahead. We need to go back around."
Aragorn nodded and he began to follow the elf back the way they had come. If Legolas said they needed to go back, then they needed to go back.
Legolas was hopping almost feverishly from branch to branch, circling around Aragorn before scouting ahead.
"Stop it!" Aragorn finally spat. He would have forced Legolas to stop a long time ago, but he couldn't quite catch him faster enough. "You're going to make that wound worse if you haven't already."
"It hasn't shifted," Legolas replied easily, looking like he could care less about it. "And if you don't mind, I'm trying to keep the spiders off our backs." And then he was gone again.
Aragorn felt like cursing. He was faster than any other human in the trees (it was a widely known fact that Aragorn was one of the few outsiders the Mirkwood elves allowed to follow them into the trees) but right then he wished for a just a little more surefootedness so that he could catch up to the elf. If Legolas passed out, he wasn't going to be able to catch him in time.
Legolas was in front of him again, "There is another fleet up ahead. If we don't light a fire we can probably stay there for the rest of the night." Aragorn reached out, latching onto the prince at last. He could feel Legolas shaking ever so lightly.
"And I can get a better look…" he paused, frowning. There was an unnatural sound of scuttling coming from behind them. Shivers went up his spine and instinctively both of them melted into the shadows. The scurrying increased and something large passed them by.
A giant spider squeezed past on an adjacent branch. It stopped a few feet in front of them, and its eight legs began to go to work spinning a silky strand of web. Using it, the spider began to climb to a higher branch.
"Where one is there will be another," Legolas said so quietly that Aragorn wouldn't have heard him if he hadn't been right next to him. They remained entombed in the shadows, waiting. Sure enough a few moments later, a few more spiders began to scuttle by. These ones were bickering amongst themselves, complaining about having to chase after stray elves. Aragorn didn't know if it was better or worse when they turned to the topic of how tasty elf blood was.
He felt Legolas tense next to him and he looked over at him. The elf was pale and his eyes had narrowed into dangerous slits. Reaching behind him, Legolas slipped an arrow free from his quiver and raised his bow. Aragorn hardly dared breathe.
Aiming for the retreating spider's head, Legolas let the arrow fly. The great monster screamed as it fell to the ground, legs twitching hideously. The other one shrieked, scuttling into the trees.
Legolas groaned quietly, swaying, as he latched onto Aragorn's arm and the man's arm shot out, steadying him.
"I won't let you fall," he swore, gripping his elbow tightly. Legolas wavered for a moment, but after several deep breaths, he steadied himself. Aragorn was opening his mouth to ask him if he wanted to stop but Legolas was already on the move. Tugging at Aragorn's sleeve, the elf began to lead him up an invisible path amongst the branches.
They almost escaped without further notice.
Rounding a bend, they came face to face with the other spider. It seemed just as shocked as they were and for half a second they all just stood there. Legolas was the first to act as he whipped out another arrow, the spider screeched, rising up on his hinds legs and kicking out at the elf. Aragorn had his sword drawn in a flash and with a hefty swing, he drove it straight towards one of the many legs. The spider's ear-splitting scream shook the trees and it toppled over the edge.
Catching itself on one its long strand of web, it began to scuttle back up towards them. Green blood splattered out from the stump of its leg, floating through the air. Legolas drew another arrow but the spider swung on its web and the arrow went wide. Aragorn had his sword raised and at the ready but Legolas second arrow flew true and the spider toppled from its hold, dead.
"The forest floor is covered with their shells," Legolas said dispassionately as they stared down before turning.
A third spider stood right behind them, its pincer's clicking.
Flicking one of its long legs out, it caught Aragorn in the chest and he went flying. He hit branch hard, rolling forward. The branch was suddenly gone from beneath his body and he was falling. Screaming, he just managed to wrap his fingers around the edge of the branch. He dangled there with only the strength of his arms to keep him from falling. Legolas was yelling his name and he tried to answer but his fingers were slipping. Scrambling for a purchase he looked down. He couldn't see the ground. He was going to join the spider down below, he was going to die if he didn't do something, anything.
And then Legolas hands were on his wrist.
"Don't let go," Legolas gasped, trying to pull him up. He grunted, sweat dripping into his eyes.
"I won't," Aragorn promised, his fingers searching for another hold. Legolas swore under his breath, his face rapidly losing all color. Aragorn managed to throw an arm around the branch, half hoisting himself up.
The spider gave a nasty squeal and Aragorn wondered what Legolas had done to it before it was suddenly looming behind Legolas.
"No!" Legolas lunged forward, wrapping one hand in the back of the man's collar, trying to heave him up as the spider pounced. It grabbed Legolas by the leg, pulling him back.
Aragorn slid back down several inches, just managing to keep his arm wrapped around the branch. Legolas let scream and Aragorn swung his legs back and forth, trying to gain momentum. Hooking one leg around the branch, he pulled himself up the rest of the way and stumbled back onto sure footing.
He was shaking, but didn't hesitate as he saw his sword and his chance. Letting out a yell, he scooped up the weapon and charged forward. The spider's fat body twisted, turning to come for him, but it was too late. The sword plunged into its side, sinking in until the hilt was all that was left. The spider screeched, scuttling back. Aragorn tightened his grip on his sword, pulling it free. Green blood bubbled up, spilling from the deep wound and staining the tree.
The spider, who had Legolas trapped against the trunk, screamed one last time. It twitched once and then toppled to the side. Its heavy body hit a branch just below them and it snapped off, following the dead creature into the darkness that was below.
They Legolas and Aragorn stayed still for a moment, breathing heavily.
"Help me," Legolas' voice was demanding and Aragorn turned in surprise. The spider had obviously been attempting to twist the elf up in its web and strands of the sticky substance coated his legs and lower body. He already had one of his twin knives out and was cutting. Aragorn joined him and within seconds the elf was free.
Accepting Aragorn's hand up, Legolas cursed as his left leg buckled under his weight. Aragorn caught his elbow, helping him balance. Legolas smiled weakly up at the man.
"It got me," he said softly and Aragorn crouched down. Sure enough, the elf's calf was bloodied and torn, but two pincer marks were distinct. The elf had been bitten and it was only a matter of time before he would become unresponsive.
"Alright, alright, it's fine," Aragorn began, looping Legolas' arm around his shoulders. The elf was swaying, his face white beneath the flecks of green and red blood. "Focus and tell what direction I need to go in." The elf nodded, his fingers digging painfully into Aragorn's arm. He pointed and without a second glance back Aragorn took off.
Legolas continued to give directions but it was clear that he wasn't going to last much longer. His words began to slur slightly and his legs refused to carry his weight, leaving it upon Aragorn to drag from branch to branch.
"Stay awake," Aragorn urged as the elf's words halted and his head dropped towards his chest. Giving Legolas a firm shake, he called his name loudly. Legolas feebly waved towards the left and the man eased them over to that branch.
Aragorn knew many things, but the maze of Mirkwood was not something he could ever navigate without his friend's help. No one could except for a wood elf.
"You…" Legolas paused again, shaking his head to clear it. "Take…right." He couldn't keep his eyes open and his head rolled limply forward. Aragorn's voice drifted through his ears and he forced his eyelids open enough to be able to see where they were at. He paused for a second, trying to think.
"That way," he said, or at least that is what he hoped he said. The terrifying numbness was creeping across his body and he hated it. He hated spiders, he hated them so much. He hated orcs, he hated…
Aragorn was tugging at him, calling his name.
"Legolas," he heard him say again in that commanding tone and his eyelids fluttered open. They were so close, he just had to hold on for a little bit longer. The trees wavered in front of his eyes and he squinted. Waving his hand vaguely, Legolas was dimly aware that the man was speaking to him. He couldn't understand what he was saying. Frowning, he tried to force his brain to work but it just wouldn't. Drifting badly, he only just got them to the nearest fleet.
Relief flooded Aragorn's system as he stepped foot into the sturdy wooden fleet. Legolas gave a low sigh from where was hanging before his body went slack. Aragorn carefully eased him to the floor, ripping off his own cloak and bunching it up under his head like a pillow.
He rested two fingers rest against the elf's throat, reassuring himself that the Legolas was simply unconscious. His heart was beating a steady rhythm and Aragorn let out a shaky sigh. That had been far too close for comfort.
They should have been safe, they were near the Elven Road.
Washing a hand over his face, he stared around at the blackness that surrounded them before rolling up his sleeves. Searching through his bag, he found his packet of herbs and bandages.
Once again placing his hands gently around the wound, Aragorn frowned. The arrow had shifted in deeper and now he could just feel the jagged edges of the slim wood if he inserted a finger into the hole. The wood was slippery with blood; he wouldn't be able to pull it out that way.
Wishing for some light to work by, he pulled out a small, clean knife. The arrow wasn't going to be easy to get out, but it wouldn't be impossible. Feeling along the length of the arrow with his left hand, he followed with his knife, cutting into the skin.
It took time, but he was happy with the results when he tied off the last bandage. The bloodstained arrow lay next to him, glistening innocently. Slipping the unresponsive elf out of his tunic, he began to search for any other wounds that Legolas might have received in their brief battle.
By this time, dawn was just beginning to light the sky and what he saw shocked him. Legolas' stomach and back were covered in dark, purple and black bruises that looked incredibly painful. A half healed and raw wound punctured his right shoulder, sloppy stitches just barely holding it together. Just scabbing on his bicep were almost identical pincer marks to the one on his leg and that wasn't even to mention the fading scars that crisscrossed his ribs.
"What are you doing to yourself, mellon-nin?" Aragorn searched Legolas' white face. "What are you doing?"
THEADVENTURESOFALIFETIME
Pain was the first things that filtered through Legolas' mind. His brain was moving sluggishly and he couldn't remember the last thing that had happened to him. Vague memories of a spider attack came to the front of his mind, and then he had been falling, falling, falling into the abyss below.
No…this time he hadn't been falling. He had been desperately trying to reach something or someone.
He jerked his eyes open, half expecting to find himself cocooned in a spider's web. He wasn't. Tree branches waved merrily over his head as a weak sunlight filtered through their branches. The light made his already pounding head throb and he closed his eyes. There was a warm cloak over his bare shoulders and no one was screaming so that must have meant that they had escaped the spiders, right?
A strange smell drifted across to his senses and his brain struggled to comprehend what it was. It hit him a moment later. It was that nasty pipeweed that Aragorn had grown accustomed to smoking. Legolas had yet to convince him of what a bad habit it was, and Gandalf wasn't helping matters. He was probably the one who had introduced it to his friend after all.
Wait…was Aragorn here? Why would Aragorn be here?
Cracking an eyelid open, he turned his head to the side. Aragorn was indeed there, smoking his pipe. The man's face was blank, but there was a silent fire in his eyes and Legolas felt his stomach drop.
"What happened?" he croaked. His limbs were too heavy to move and he watched as Aragorn glanced his way.
"Don't try to move, you will rip your stitches," he said in a tight voice. Legolas frowned, all the more confused. Ignoring the man's command, he tried to sit up. Pain flared instantly and he fell back with a hiss, clutching at his chest.
"Who's dead?" Legolas tried, his heart thumping madly in his chest once he could speak.
"No one," Aragorn wasn't looking at him, but his knuckles were white where he gripped his pipe. Legolas frowned, trying to remember what had happened. He had been on patrol, they had sent him back home to rest from his injuries…It all came flooding back. He had headed for home but been waylaid by a group of struggling elves and he had promised that he would return and aide them within the next few days after reporting to the king. Then the embassy meeting, Aragorn, and yet more orcs and spiders.
Washing a hand down his face, he peeked under the blanket. New white bandage where wrapped around his chest. Looking back at Aragorn with confusion, recognition dawned on Legolas.
"You are mad at me?"
Aragorn's grip tightened and he didn't say anything. Legolas stared at him, hurt and confused.
"I don't understand…" he finally said. He couldn't remember anything that he had done that would make the man refuse to talk to him. "Whatever I did, I'm sorry."
Aragorn huffed, taking the pipe out of his mouth.
"You know what, I don't understand either," he said, his eyes shining. "Legolas, what are you doing?"
Legolas' eyebrows came together. "I am sitting here…" he finally said, unsure of what the man wanted.
Aragorn shook his head, jamming his pipe back into his mouth and puffing on it for a few seconds. The fire was growing in his eyes and Legolas wondered what he had done to warrant such a response.
"What are you doing to yourself?!" he finally snapped. "Legolas, you shouldn't have been out there. You shouldn't have been planning to go back out to the border for another week or two at least. Did you even tell anyone that you were injured? Where you planning on telling me? Or do you have some sort suicidal tendencies to—to" the man broke off, unable to speak and waving a hand as if to explain what he couldn't in words. The explosion of words had happened so quickly and Legolas head was hurting enough that he just sat there with his mouth open.
"I'm still confused. What?"
"That injury to your shoulder will never heal if you insist on bouncing around from tree to tree, killing every orc and spider that you see. And those bruises? How are you even able to move? Did you tell anyone about them? What if there had been internal bleeding? You would have died." Aragorn spelled out.
Recognition dawned on the elf's face and he pushed the blanket all the way off. Sure enough, the wounds that he had received sometime earlier that week had been cleaned and bandaged.
"Oh…"
"OH?! Is that all you can say? I understand going out to battle injured, sometimes you have to do it. But this is just a simple border patrol check. You should not have been given clearance to come back out here. Legolas, you cannot keep this up. It will not end well for you."
Aragorn got to his feet, beginning to pace. The anger was clear on his face and if he was a lesser elf, Legolas might have cowered in the corner. "We have been over this, before. You've been in bad places in the past because you have done this exact same thing."
Legolas felt a flash of anger of his own. "And I suppose your solution is to go to Imladris? To rest and recover and skip merrily in the meadow?" He shook his head, which only made the pain worse. His stomach was starting to churn as well but he paid it no heed.
"Imladris is a place of healing!" Aragorn shot back. "And maybe there we can pound it into your thick head that you can't do this to yourself. You may be the prince and captain, but you don't have to be on the front lines for every skirmish that there is." Aragorn waved a hand in his direction and turned away, trying to compose himself.
Legolas glared at the man, his own eyes narrowing into small slits. Throwing off the blanket he grabbed the nearest branch and heaved himself to his feet and took a step towards the man. All the color drained from his face and he swayed alarmingly. Aragorn glanced back just in time to catch him as his legs crumpled. He clutched at Aragorn's forearms, squeezing his eyes shut and breathing deeply.
"See what I mean?" Aragorn asked much more softly. He bowed his head until their heads were touching and they remained there for a long minute. Legolas breathing harshly as he tried to control his dizziness and Aragorn clutching his friend close. "I'm just worried about you, Legolas." The anger was gone from his voice replaced with something more like sadness.
"I don't mean to be a worry." Legolas squeezed the man's arm where it was wrapped around him. They sat there for a few minutes until Aragorn untangled himself and helped the elf sit back against the tree trunk.
"Let me get you a painkiller, and then we need to talk."
Legolas grimaced, his stomach doing small flip-flops at the words talk but Aragorn was not to be dissuaded.
After forcing the elf to drink some of his potions he sat cross-legged in front of Legolas. The elf wrapped his hand around his cup, not meeting the man's eyes.
"Would you even consider coming to Rivendell?" Aragorn asked with determination. Legolas shook his head almost immediately.
"Not right now." He smiled weakly at the human. One hand came up, loosely wrapping around his ribs. "I can not rest while others do not."
"Is it a matter of how many warriors you have? I will take your place for a little bit." Aragorn pressed and once again the elf shook his head.
"You are needed elsewhere, Aragorn. Your place isn't going to be to die in Mirkwood at the hands of common orcs."
"And yours is?" Aragorn immediately fired back. Legolas closed his eyes, feeling the gentle kiss of wind against his face.
"Quite possibly yes," he said honestly. He opened his eyes seeking the far away skies. "We are losing the war, Aragorn. Every day we lose a little more ground and every day more elves die. Every day the number of orcs only grow, the spiders joining them in droves. This isn't going to get any better and my place is with my people, to the very end." He paused, his eyes finally finding Aragorn's. "We are on the last leg of the race if it is to our deaths then so be it. But I am not going to die in a palace and drinking wine. I'm going to die taking out as many of Sauron's minions as I can."
Aragorn stared at him. Tears pricked his eyes and he blinked rapidly.
"When did it get this bad?" he asked. "I would have come back sooner, I would have stayed. I would have fought, will fight, by your side."
Legolas smiled sadly. "I know, but it has always been an illusion that we would win. The darkness has always had the upper hand; they just didn't know it. Estel, Cín near na- ú- hi."
"But…" Aragorn paused, twisting the ring of Barahir around his finger. The time was drawer ever nearer when his own destiny would come to head. "You swore to me that you would be by my side when the time came," he whispered and Legolas gave him that same sad smile.
"And I will be, if it is in spirit or in person I will always be near you." He shifted his hand, pressing harder against his wound as if that would somehow help. Aragorn's painkillers dulled the brunt of it, but it wasn't enough. It never was anymore.
Aragorn gazed at his friend, his voice husky. "What must I do to help Mirkwood and you?" he asked again. Legolas shook his head. Ever the optimistic, Aragorn was.
"The world will need you before this Age is over. It's not just Greenwood that darkness is taking over." He smiled again and reached out, playfully shoving the man's shoulder. "But if you are ever in the area come and visit me."
A smile graced Aragorn's face. "I could do that," admitted, holding up a finger. "But only if you answer any letter that I might write."
"I will do better," Legolas agreed. The wince returned to his face as he shifted and Aragorn sighed dramatically.
"Let me have a look," he insisted, gently moving the elf's hands aside. The arrow wound still looked neat and clean, no sign of infection. "Listen," he said as he began to rewrap the wound. "I…I probably wouldn't mention this to just anyone I am friends with," he paused, meeting the elf's eyes, "but Gandalf has said some things recently."
Legolas looked up, his interest peaked.
"He thinks things are changing, for good and bad." He stopped again, lowering his voice before he continued. "He thinks that the ring has been found."
Legolas gaped at him like a fish out of water.
"The Ring? How is that possible?"
Aragorn shrugged. "You know that old wizard. He only lets odds and ends slide. Just enough to make you curious, and right now he wouldn't tell me more than that. But I think that sooner rather than later things are going to start changing. Your battle here in Mirkwood won't last forever, Legolas, it will end."
Legolas sat back, still shocked, as Aragorn tried the bandages off again. Legolas looked up at him, locking eyes.
"If something ever happens, I will help in any way that I can," he promised softly. He had no doubt that Aragorn would be right in the thick of things and he would be there by the man's side (if he wasn't dead yet). He had meant what he said to Aragorn earlier. His place was with his people but in reality, evil would need to be destroyed throughout the whole of Middle-earth before Mirkwood gained their well-earned rest. If he had a chance to play a part in the bigger picture then he would.
"Hannon-le." Aragorn bowed his head, accepting the promise.
Legolas made as if to get up and Aragorn turned a seething glare on him.
"Uh-no. The border will hold long enough for you to actually get some decent rest. You are going to sleep and let your wounds heal." He placed his hand on his hips, looking rather like Elrond. "And then we will go to the border unless I decided to drag you back to the palace by your pointy ears."
"But—"
"—No buts. I may not like it all the choices that you are making, but I am not wavering on this one. Rest until those wounds are healed."
"No, I'm—"
"—Going back to sleep? Sounds like the best idea you have had this year, mellon-nin." Grinning, Aragorn reached out a clapped a hand on the elf's shoulder before standing. Picking up his pipe from where he had left it, he went back into his corner.
Legolas still looked pale and sickly but for once he listened. Laying back down, he bunched up Aragorn's cloak as a pillow.
Aragorn made a silent pack with himself as he watched Legolas' eyes drift shut that he was going to check in on the elf more. Legolas wasn't going to stop until evil had been defeated and Aragorn wasn't going to either. Times were changing, but they would face them the way that they always had. Together.
The End
Well, there it is folks! Let me know what you thought (I have tough skin and can handle just about anything. :) ) Seriously, though, I would love to hear what you thought.
In the next few weeks, I am going to start posting another story. Not quite sure what is going to be called yet but be on the lookout!
Thanks again for everything and I will see all of you beautiful people later!