Chapter Eight – Near Death

Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli had been following the Uruk-hai for four days. Frodo and Sam had split from the fellowship to continue on their way to Mordor. Boromir had been killed by an Uruk-hai, while Merry and Pippin had been taken captive by them. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli were on the chase to reclaim their friends.

As they were running one morning, Aragorn stopped them. Legolas heard it too – horses. They headed behind a large boulder, Aragorn yanking Gimli along when he didn't move on his own. The three hid there and waited while a flock of horses rode past them with banners raised. Legolas recognized the banners from Rohan.

When all of the horses had passed, Aragorn came out from behind the boulder.

"Riders of Rohan! What news from the Mark?!" He shouted to them.

At the sound of his voice, the leader of the horsemen signaled for them to turn. They rode back to where Aragorn, and now Legolas and Gimli, stood. They formed a circle around the three, spears at the ready. Legolas was reminded of the elves in Lothlorien.

"What business does an elf, a man, and a dwarf have in the Riddermark?" The horseman who had been at the head asked from atop his horse. When none of the three answered, he grew impatient. "Speak quickly!"

"Give me your name horse master, and I shall give you mine." Gimli answered without missing a beat.

After handing over his spear, the horseman dismounted.

"I would cut off your head, dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground."

Legolas responded to the horseman's words even more swiftly than Gimli had. With lightening speed, Legolas had taken his bow from his back and notched an arrow. It was pointed at the horseman.

"You would die before your stroke fell." He snarled coldly, glaring into the eyes of the horseman.

The men surrounding them shoved their spears further into the faces of the three travelers. Legolas held fast, the arrow just inches from the horseman's nose. Only when Aragorn pushed Legolas' arm down did he lower his bow. He didn't replace it to his back, but kept it at the ready by his side.

"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. This is Gimli, son of Gloin, and," Aragorn placed a hand on Legolas' shoulder, "Legolas of the Woodland realm. We are friends of Rohan, and of Théoden, your king."

"Théoden no longer recognizes friend from foe." The horseman lifted his helmet from his head, and held it at his side. The spears around the travelers relaxed. "Not even his own kin. Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over these lands. My company are those loyal to Rohan, and for that, we are banished. The White Wizard is cunning. He walks here and there they say, as an old man, hooded and cloaked. And everywhere his spies slip past our nets."

"We are not spies. We track a party of Uruk-hai westward across the plain. They've taken two of our friends captive." Aragorn answered the subtle accusation that they were spies.

Legolas, who hadn't taken his eyes from the horseman's, saw a familiarity in his eyes when Aragorn mentioned the Uruk-hai. He hoped that it was a good thing.

"The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night."

"But there were two Hobbits. Did you see two Hobbits with them?" Gimli asked frantically.

"They would be small, only children to your eyes." Aragorn's voice suggested that he was already thinking grim thoughts.

"We left none…well, we encountered a she-elf. I had one of my men take her to Edoras, in the hopes that my sister could assist her. She was very near death, from what I could tell…" The horseman continued to speak, but Legolas had retreated into his mind when he had mentioned a she-elf. He knew that the chances were slim, especially since it had been orcs that had taken Belle, not Uruk-hai.

"Did the she-elf give her name? What did she look like?" Legolas knew not if he had interrupted someone when the questions hurriedly left his lips. He felt a glimmer of hope when he saw another familiar look in the horseman's eyes.

"I just remembered…she uttered a name before she fainted into my arms." The horseman looked directly into Legolas' eyes, and nodded towards him. "She said your name."

For the first time in months, Legolas could feel his heart beating in his chest. It had begun to sprint behind his ribs when he heard the horseman's words. He looked to Aragorn, who wore almost the same look on his face. Legolas turned back to the horseman.

"Who was the she-elf?" He asked before Legolas could ask a question of his own.

"My fiancé." Legolas answered, his fingers reaching up to touch the ring around his neck. The image of Throduk with it in his teeth came to Legolas' mind, but he pushed it away with great force. Even when the images of her drowning in his dreams tried to sneak up on him, he was ready to send those away. "Who is your sister?"

"Her name is Eowyn." The horseman answered. He then turned away from him, putting his fingers to his lips. He whistled. "Hasufel! Arod!"

Two horses emerged from the circle.

"May these horses bear you to better fortune than their former masters. Farewell." The horseman suddenly mounted his horse. He replaced his helmet to his head. "Look for your friends, but do not trust hope. It is forsaken in these lands."

With that, the company was riding off. It was at that moment that Legolas went to one of the horses. He began to mount it when he felt a hand on his arm. He turned to see Aragorn standing next to him.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"I ride to Edoras."

"My friend, these are very dangerous times. Are you sure that you should be riding there by yourself?" Aragorn asked, but he could already see that Legolas would have been willing to walk through fire if it meant getting to Belle. "Come with us for now. I promise you that after we look for Merry and Pippin, we will ride to Edoras."

"Did you not hear what he said Aragorn?" Legolas asked harshly. He could feel that the features of his face were just as hostile as his voice. He took a moment to calm down enough to speak civilly to his friend. "The horseman said that the she-elf was near death. I could already be too late…"

Aragorn nodded. He understood Legolas' reason for haste.

"Gimli and I will join you in Edoras as soon as we can." Aragorn told him, grasping his arm tighter for a moment. "Be safe."

"I will."

Legolas mounted the horse. He murmured both names into the ear of the horse to see which one it reacted to. He then gathered Arod's reigns into his hands.

Hold on Belle…hold on until I get to you…

Legolas was in Edoras before nightfall. He road without stopping, even when he reached the hall. He road right up to the steps, dismounting before the horse had stopped. Legolas bounded up the steps, and was finally stopped by the guard standing there.

"What is your business with the king?" He asked.

"My urgent business is with Eowyn." Legolas replied hurriedly.

"However urgent your business may be, I cannot allow you to enter this hall until my men have stripped you of your weapons." The guard nodded towards him.

Before the men could surround Legolas, he had whipped out his knives, twirling them expertly before handing them over to the head guard. He then slipped off his bow and quiver, and handed them over as well. When he had given the guards all of his weapons, he shoved past them and headed into the hall.

"Belle!" Legolas shouted, running down a corridor. He went to each door he came across and opened it to look inside. When he was unsuccessful, Legolas returned to where he had started from, but went down the opposite corridor. "Belle!"

Suddenly, a door behind Legolas opened. He whirled around, his eyes wild and his breathing heavy, to see a young woman standing in an open doorway. She met his eyes and motioned for him to come forward. Legolas not only came forward. He went past the woman and burst into the room.

"I am going to get you out of here. Nothing will harm you, not as long as I draw breath."

"I will come back for you."

"Ever since that day at Mirkwood, I have been plagued with terrifying nightmares. All I can see is her…drowning in a pool of darkness. All I can hear is her screaming my name, crying out to me as she drowns…and there is nothing that I can do to save her…"

"I promised her Aragorn. I promised…Belle…that I would return for her. I promised her that she would be safe as long as I drew breath. Then how is it that I can still breathe, while Belle…cannot?"

Legolas waited to wake up, to have this be a cruel dream. But, as he approached the bed at the far end of the room, he knew it was real. He paused when he had gotten halfway across the room, his eyes running over the figure beneath the heavy blankets.

"Go to her Master Legolas." Legolas turned to see the young woman there, who he presumed was Eowyn. She had closed the door and was standing in front of it. "She is very ill…"

Legolas turned back around. Without another hesitation, he closed the gap between himself and the bed. He looked down at the she-elf he had lost that day four months ago. All this time he had thought she was dead. It alleviated the pain that had plagued his chest, but he was also greatly concerned for her health. He pressed his hand to Belle's forehead, alarmed at just how hot she was.

"Leave me with her." Legolas suddenly said, turning to look at Eowyn. He waited until she had gone before he turned back to Belle.

He sat down on the bed, his hand still against her forehead. He fished around beneath the blankets for Belle's hand, and held it tightly in his. He was not an expert healer, but he had some skill. For nearly any hour, he used what knowledge he did have to help break Belle's fever. During the process, Legolas grew more and more afraid when Belle began coughing hard in her unconsciousness. After he had done what he could when it came to his healing talents, Legolas left the room. Eowyn stood outside the door. Legolas listed off the several things he would need for Belle, and sent Eowyn to get them.

When Legolas returned to Belle, he sat back down on the bed. It was the first time since he had found her that he was able to look her over properly. When he did, Legolas began to slowly break down. His fingers traced her hollowed cheeks, and the bones upon her face that had become prominent and sharp. There were faint, dark circles beneath Belle's eyes, just as there were dark circles beneath Legolas'. Belle's skin, which was usually pale to begin with, was practically translucent. Legolas was both enraged and devastated to see her so weak and broken.

"Belle…please forgive me." He whispered, cupping her face. "Had I known that you were alive…had I known…I would have been looking for you."

Legolas' free hand went to Belle's hair. He moved his fingers gently through her long, dark hair. By the smell of it, Eowyn had bathed Belle. Legolas inhaled the air, but couldn't smell the usual lavender scent that Belle carried on her skin. She did, however, smell ill.

Eowyn returned with all of the things that Legolas had asked for. Legolas instructed Eowyn to crush up the different plants and roots that she had collected, while Legolas boiled water over the fire that was roaring in the fireplace. After they had both finished their individual tasks, Legolas mixed the different pastes and goops into the boiled water. He stirred it liberally until it became thin.

When the drink was ready, Legolas had Eowyn carefully sit Belle up straight. Legolas couldn't help but feel sick to his stomach when his eyes could make out each of Belle's ribs beneath her thin nightgown. He sat behind Belle, and Eowyn gently laid her back against Legolas' chest. She then brought all of the blankets up and over Belle's body.

Legolas tipped Belle's chin back. Her head rested in the nook between his neck and shoulder. Always being gentle, Legolas parted Belle's lips and began to pour the hot liquid down her throat. He did so slowly so that she wouldn't choke or cough any of it up, but also tried to move quickly. The sooner that he had the healing drink in Belle's system, the more likely she would recover from the illness that Legolas concluded had come from having been practically starved and not properly rested or hydrated.

When the drink was gone, Eowyn took the mug from Legolas.

"I will go and prepare some hot broth for her to eat. Would you like something to eat Master Legolas?" Eowyn asked.

"No." Legolas answered simply. His strong arms held Belle against him possessively. His eyes were on her face, searching for any sign that she would wake. He pressed soft kisses to her hot neck, and then her jaw, and then the hollow beneath her ear. He wanted to continue touching her and holding her. He felt as though, if for even one second he wasn't, Belle would disappear in a puff of smoke.

Legolas began to hum as he pressed his cheek to Belle's.

"Open your eyes, my love." Legolas murmured. "Open your eyes."

Eowyn rushed into the bedroom a little more than a half hour later empty handed. Legolas could tell that she had been crying recently as he looked away from Belle.

"Come quickly Master Legolas. There are two men and a dwarf who said that they came to see the king, and they have begun a brawl with the guards." Eowyn was out of breath and panicked.

Carefully, Legolas wriggled his way out from behind Belle. He laid her down and made sure that she was tucked in thoroughly enough to keep the warmth in. He then bent down and brushed his lips briefly against her forehead.

Legolas bent over and unsheathed a secret knife that he kept in his boot. It earned a gasp from Eowyn.

"Stay with her until I come back. Do not leave her side." Legolas ordered, and with that, he left the room and followed the sounds of commotion, knife at the ready to kill anyone that prolonged his time away from Belle.