Angst angst angsty angst with blood, blood, and more blood!
Thank you for reading reviewing and following! Please enjoy my lovelies! I apologize if the Elvish is a bit off.
-WingedIceWolf
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN LORD OF THE RINGS OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS!
Aragorn awoke suddenly at the sound of screams. He groaned and looked up to find a large Warg pinning down someone, its large body visible even in the moonlight. His eyes widened and he scrambled to find his blade, all the while trying to think as to why the screams sounded vaguely familiar. His fingers finally curled around the hilt of his blade.
Why was he here? His head pulsed and ached too badly for him to recall that situation. The more he came to, the more he came to realize he was on horseback.
Hasufel?
The horse neighed and bucked, trying to get closer to whoever was pinned by the Warg. Aragorn's head jerked toward a glow that was nearing them, followed by the thundering of hooves. A voice shouted, echoing.
"Legolas!"
Legolas…? Who-
Aragorn stopped. It all came flooding back to him. Now he could recall the Warg battle, how he had been dragged off the cliff by one of the foul creatures of Saruman and sent plummeting into the raging waters below.
Legolas! Legolas was his elven Companion, his best friend, his brother! This Warg had the Prince of Mirkwood pinned and was about to bring about his demise. Aragorn would not allow that! Not in a million years! He already lost Gandalf once and lost Boromir; losing yet another was unacceptable!
He had little time...
Aragorn leapt from Hasufel, not even giving the action a second thought, hitting the ground and rolling to absorb the impact. Horrible pain shot through him, but he raised his blade and brought it down upon the Warg, piercing its muscular body before it could deliver the final blow.
The Warg yelped in pain, releasing Legolas and turning to take revenge upon its foe. It leaped at him with a menacing snarl, but Aragorn evaded the leap quickly, dashing to the side, taking his blade and performing a figure eight over his head as he switched the blade to his other hand, bringing it down in one swift move upon the creature's nose.
The Warg again yowled in pain, aggravated and bloodlust. It turned its gaze to look at Aragorn as it paced, its eyes alight with rage and want to kill, shining in the moonlight.
Aragorn knew he would have to be careful, even if the creature was weakened. He could attempt to throw it off the cliff, but then again, it would only find a way back up. He would have to end it right here and now.
The Warg charged at him, and again he evaded, but the creature swerved in the direction Aragorn had avoided it, catching him off guard for just a second. He brought his blade down, but the Warg snapped at it, clenching it between its teeth. It jerked the blade harshly, forcing the Ranger to release, lest he wished to lose an arm.
The Warg threw the blade with a toss of its head, it landing somewhere nearby Legolas with a soft thump. Aragorn's eyes widened in fear, but again fell upon Legolas. If he could distract the Warg for just a bit longer, he could save his companion.
Aragorn did something he thought he would probably regret later. He charged at the Warg head on, his already bloodied fists raised, delivering a hard blow to the Warg's nose. It yelped loudly in pain, lashing out at Aragorn with lightning fast speed.
The Ranger barely managed to step back in time, the claws grazing his arm and his chest, but the wounds were nothing too deep. Regardless, it hurt. He hissed through his teeth, dazed.
The more he stood and fought, the more he felt the world turn ever darker and shapes become nothing more than fuzz. As he battled against the Warg, he forced himself to stand through both pain and weariness that was hardly bearable.
The Warg dropped to the ground, placing both paws over its noze, yelping and whimpering. Between yelps and whimpers were snarls accompanied by heavy, raspy breathing from the hot blood bubbling in the creature's nostrils.
Hasufel was next to Legolas, neighing and nudging the injured prince. Legolas remained unconscious, unable to bear any more pain. The steed stomped his hooves, looking back to Gimli who galloped over, dismounted, and shouted as he ran toward the Warg at full speed.
The horses galloped up to the Warg, kicking its sides harshly and knocking its head with their front and back hooves. Bones crunched under the pressure, snapping, shattering, and cracking. This moment of weakness was all they needed to defeat this thing.
The Warg stood and turned left and right, snapping and snarling, often managing to get a leg of a steed, but it was well outnumbered. And it knew it was outnumbered; it laid low and growled, blood dripping from many wounds upon its body. It reluctantly paused to gag and spit up its own blood, but Gimli took that moment to embed his ax into the creature's eye, slashing its throat with a powerful cry of triumph mixed with rage. It screamed loudly before dropping dead, writhing and seizing.
The dwarf turned to Aragorn, hugging him tightly. "Bless you, laddie! You're alive!" Gimli chimed. Aragorn breathed heavily, but pushed Gimli aside, running to Legolas.
The Elf Prince lied nearly still, breath labored and barely existent. He subconsciously called out quietly as Aragorn approached, his voice nearly silent. "A-Aragorn…". The Ranger knelt, took his hand in his, squeezing it reassuringly before intertwining their fingers.
He's so cold…
"I'm here, mellon nîn," Aragorn spoke softly, trying to keep his voice unwavering. His eyes wet with fresh tears searched for any open wounds, finding his arm bleeding freely, his hip torn from hip to his other hip, gushing blood along with the four deep gashes in his chest. His leg was swollen and bruised, too spewing crimson. Aragorn forced himself to choke back a sob as he stared at his pale faced, scarlet soaked companion who clutched to the dying embers of life.
He wanted to act like none of this happened, wanted to believe he was just in a dream and he would wake up from it all. But that would never be the case. This was reality and just like when Gandalf had fallen victim to the Balrog and when Boromir had been felled by orcs, he had to accept that this was not something he could brush aside in his mind or simply make up a happy ending for like when he had as a child.
No...This was all real.
Seeing Legolas in such a state as this made Aragorn's heart shatter. He curled in on himself, tears spilling down his cheeks, glistening in the moonlight with his silent sobs. His shoulder shook with his uneven breaths caused by his despair.
How was he supposed to save Legolas now…? In fact, his leg could be pooling with blood from the inside, which would then kill him and destroy any connection his body had with the leg...
Aragorn trembled faintly, holding Legolas's hand close to his face, not caring if he were to get carmine smeared all along his face. It would take a miracle to save his Companion…
Miracle or none, all Aragorn had to go off of for now was hope. That's what his Elven name had meant. Estel.
How ironic?
Maybe he would have laughed were this not such a dire situation. Maybe Legolas would have teased him about it as he usually did. Maybe everything would be alright and they would all be back on the road, reuniting with Merry and Pippin. but now was not how it would have been.
It was now or never, he had to make a choice. Legolas would either die or he would live and now was the decision. Legolas's life rested in Aragorn's hands. All it would take would be one foul mistake and the Prince of Mirkwood would lose his life…
"Gimli, get Arod. You will ride back with Legolas and don't look back," Aragorn demanded. "I will keep your backs and meet you at Helm's Deep."
Gimli stared at Aragorn in bewilderment. "We came here to get you Lad, and you think that we're going to leave you here after everything this Elf has gone through to find you? Do you have any idea what he has risked, Aragorn? What he's allowed himself to come to?" Gimli nearly shouted, clenching his jaw tightly, lips set in a thin line.
Aragorn grimaced, his dark, blood and dirt matted hair shadowing his face. "I know...But please...Legolas is going to die if we don't get him help immediately! Please Gimli, son of Gloin. I beg of you,"' Aragorn begged, his voice cracking.
Gimli's gaze fell back to Legolas, he frowned but reluctantly nodded, giving in. The more they argued, the less time there was for the Mirkwood Prince and Aragorn would not forgive himself if Legolas passed on. The burden would forever rest upon the Heir of Isildur's shoulders.
Aragorn stood, helping Legolas onto Arod. The horse neighed worryingly for its master, turning his head back to look at him. Even in Aragorn's arms, the Prince was hardly responsive; so frail and cold, Arod's white coat being quickly stained with Legolas's blood.
"Stay yassen amin, Legolas," Aragorn said quietly into the Elf's ear, giving his hand yet another squeeze. Aragorn so badly wanted to break down and sob at that moment, this was tearing him apart, digging into him like a thousand red-hot knives. But he had to be strong...For Legolas.
Aragorn then aided in getting Gimli mounted onto Arod, despite the dwarf's protests that he could do so himself. "Do not let him fall, Gimli," Aragorn stated gently. The dwarf opened his mouth to protest, but a cold glare mixed with a concerned plea stopped him from progressing any further.
Stubborn, prideful dwarves… Aragorn thought to himself bitterly. He then spoke into the ear of the steed, knowing Arod understood Elvish commands due to his rider. "Auta, Arod! Ride yassen asca!"
The horse neighed, rearing and stomping its hooves before galloping into the distance. Even in the darkness, he could see the thundering hooves of the steed hitting the ground in a rhythmic gallop. Aragorn's gaze rose to stare at the many stars glittering above him, tears falling from his eyes, glistening in the pale moonlight.
In the past, Aragorn had treated both the fallen and injured with Athelas. But would it be any different this time or would he have need to seek out the aid of the elves? Would any aid come in Helm's Deep? Would Legolas be claimed by death many miles from home? There were so many questions unanswered, questions he wished he knew the answers to right here and now. He did not want to wait to find out.
Hasufel nudged Aragorn gently. He turned and embraced the horse, sobbing into his mane. "Please let him live. Manwë, Eru Ilúvatar, Varda, I beg of you…" He said quietly to the heavens above.
As if in response to his plea, a light floated down in front of him, glowing brightly, like a star itself had been gifted to him. His eyes widened, reaching out to the orb, but it only floated away from his grasp, giving off a light as bright as day. Hasufel reached for the orb as well, trying to nip at it with his teeth, but again, it floated from him.
"I...I think it's here to guide us…" Aragorn said aloud. Hasufel lowered so Aragorn could again mount, but Aragorn turned to retrieve his blade before doing so. The light sped away from them, glowing in the far distance. He dug his heels into Husfel, the horse breaking into a full gallop.
Every time they got closer to the orb, it floated farther and farther away. Hasufel never seemed to tire, and neither did Aragorn's determination to keep the light in view. Alas, the keep of Helm's Deep could be seen in the distance. Aragorn's hopes rose, galloping up to the bridge. The light faded from view, as if it were never there to begin with.
Two guards stood at the entrance, spears pointed at the approaching figure, bodies tense, but upon seeing Aragorn, they both nearly dropped their spears, mouths agape.
"Lord Aragorn!" One of the guards cried. "You're alive!"
"I need entrance, now!" Aragorn demanded. The second guard bowed his head.
"Lord Legolas and Gimli had returned just recently…" the guard spoke, stepping aside. "I pray we do not lose him or you this night, Lord Aragorn. My best of wishes go to you and the Prince…"
Yaaay! Thank you all, I hope you enjoyed!
-WingedIceWolf
Translations:
Stay yassen amin, Legolas - Stay with me, Legolas
Auta, Arod! Ride yassen asca! - Go, Arod! Ride with haste!