A\N: To Kat: I am glad. :) No, I didn't get you wrong. I understand what you want to say but I do realize that people want to be enchanted from the very first chapter. Unfortunately, that is not in my power. I am kinda slow person and you really have to be patient with me, give me time and encourage me. Then I can shine. Without reviews, I am not sure if I would continue this one. They are like fuel, so your is more than welcomed! And about your english.. Lol, I have like thousands of grammar or spelling mistakes in my stories. :) Not my first language though. So don't worry about it. Yes, I'll try to show you that and I really hope that you and the rest of my readers will be pleased with the end of this story! Thank you. ;)
Thank you all on your views and visits and reviews! You cannot even imagine how much they make me happy! Stay awesome! :)
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"We are almost there."- Bjarte murmured and uncomfortably squirmed in his saddle. They were in front of the Golden Woods but neither of them was able to fully see the beauty of this eternal forest.
Legolas was riding Aragorn's horse. He was sitting behind the man and supporting his heaving body with his hands, as much as he was able for he had to hold the rains in his hands. The man was coming and going, from time to time. Sometimes he would blink and murmur something, when his fever would allow such thing but most of the time he was shivering and sweating. He rested his head back on Legolas' shoulder. His eyes were closed and his breathing was worse than usually. Legolas took a deep sigh. Those weeks seemed to be too long for him. He was worn out, a complete mess, same like the boy. Their horses were nervous, hungry. He didn't even feel his legs or body- everything was so numb, useless. With effort he managed to move his fingers. But when he would gaze at the man's sick face, he knew he had to move on, with no break or sleep. And now it was over.
"Shh, Brego, calm down."- Legolas whispered and caressed the horse's mane. Brego neighted and dug the ground with his hoof. The horse had no peace- he sensed that his master was injured, and not even the elf's presence could take a hold of his heart.
"Come."- Legolas said in tired voice and spurred the horse. Bjarte followed with Maras tied to his horse's saddle, but it was obvious that the boy had no trust.
Aragorn suddenly winced in his arms. Legolas frowned.
"We have to hurry up, he is suffering too much."- the elf said and kicked his horse gently on the sides. He carefully pulled the man's collar down, only to see livid flesh, stained with black spots. He gasped. It has become worse in past few weeks.
"Legolas, it is too quiet."- Bjarte whispered worriedly as he was following the elf. No birds, no wind. Leaves seemed frozen, unmoving. And to his own surprise, there were no soldiers at the entrance. His heart was beating wildily, aware than he was actually walking this land, land forbbiden to the humans. Land of the Elves. But it seemed that Legolas wasn't touched by that fact even a slightest bit, not even considering the option that here might live his family. Aragorn was more important than all of that together now.
The man mumbled something and let out a painful breath. Legolas hurried.
"Wait, please, someone can easily attack us, we are exposed.."- Bjarte started to plead desperately but he knew that Legolas wouldn't listen. He has become a stranger to him. He was surpirsed to see the elf in his full strength, capable of enduring this journey with no remorse or whimper. It was the boy who has been complaining all the time. But Legolas didn't care.
They were almost galloping and Legolas wasn't looking before himself- he was staring at the man's face. Aragorn was all pale, lifeless. He could feel his every breath or moan as if they were his own and they were hurting him almost as if that pain was his alone.
"Legolas, slow down. We are reaching..."- Bjarte hissed but he didn't finish his sentence. His voice died when they broke out of the woods and found themselves under tall, strong trees that blocked the sky. Bjarte's jaw dropped on the ground and he lifted his head up.
Everything was painted in gray, white and silver. Soft, gentle lights were, it seemed to the boy, hanging on the branches or were laid on the silver grass. They lighted up the whole area. He could see boards and hanging wooden stairs on the trees and he realized that those were homes. He was staring and he knew that he was enchanted.
But Legolas wasn't able to see any of this. He got off the horse and opened his arms, ready to support the man.
"Where are they?"- Bjarte thought for himself and stained his eyes, trying to see behind the branches and the trees. His eyes caught a strand of silver hair behind one trunk, almost same like Legolas'. He gasped.
"Legolas, someone is there! Behind the tree!"- he hissed and jumped off his horse. He hurried towards the elf that was struggling to keep the man on his uncertain legs.
"Legolas.."- Aragorn mumbled and moaned in pain. He grapsed the elf's tunic and leaned against him.
"I am here, meleth, stay awake. I am here, you are safe.."- Legolas almost started to hum quietly. With numb fingers and hands, he took the man in his arms and helped him to stand up, his back pressed on the horse's side, and his left arm wrapped around Legolas' neck. He completely ignored the boy.
"Bjarte, help me to lay him down, I'll go to call for someone."- the elf said in determined tone, forgetting where they were and that this wasn't their home. They were intruders but nothing could stop the elf now. He was ready to walk this forbidden land.
"You can't! I saw someone there!"- Bjarte uttered in scared tone, this unusual silence making him both excited and restless.
"Good. Show me where, I'll go to find him or her and ask for help."- there was a mad smile on his lips. The boy suddenly started to worry about him. His face was everything but alive. Legolas' eyes lost their blue color. Now they were dim, dirty. His hair was in mess, tied in a loose tail and left to the wind to play with it. Every blink of the eye was burning him. He wanted to sleep and rest.
Bjarte was searching for the right words, battling with his fear in the same time. Legolas needed help. He was out of all sorts, mad, careless. The man winced again and coughed and a sudden spark sailed through the dead eyes.
"Aragorn, please, stay awake.. You can handel this, I am here.."- he again started to hum and now he was holding the man's full weight. He was too heavy- the elf gritted his teeth. He was becoming way to nervous, wondering why Bjarte hasn't disappeared already, in search for someone. Aragorn's head was lowered down and he was hanging in the elf's arms like a puppet.
He threw one desperate look at Bjarte. The boy's throat went tight when he saw how much torture he found in those swollen eyes.
"Help me."- he whispered and the boy opened his arms, ready to take the man's body in his hands.
"Estel!"- high voice startled both Bjarte and Legolas. They looked behind themselves, staring but seeing nothing. Legolas only heard fast, easy footseps. Many of them.
Aragorn jerked at this and opened his eyes. For so long he hasn't heard this voice. He grabbed the boy's shoulder and weakly rose up but his legs were trembling. Legolas made a step back and tried to hide the man behind his back but it was useless- the man was too big for that. Bjarte rapidly supported the man's torso with his hands.
Legolas was silently staring, the man's ragged breathing caressing his neck. Although he was determined to speak and ask for help, his body was ready to attack.
"F-father?"- Aragorn coughed and forced his eyes to stay opened, glaring at the darkness.
"What?"- Legolas whispered and turned back, immediately grabbing the man't tunic and offering his help. Aragorn wrapped his arm around the elf's lean shoulders and rested his weight on him. He was trying, but he was falling back into slumber once again.
Four elves, one silver-blond and three dark-brown in hair, suddenly lost their voices and looked as if they were nailed to the ground when they saw them. Legolas saw how their eyes went wide in shock.
Aragorn started to breathe faster and his eyelids became too heavy. He lowered his head down.
"Estel!"- one of the elves, it seemed the oldest one, hurried towards them. Legolas body was lost to his mind while he was looking how worriedly the elf grabbed Aragorn and pulled him up, although the man was far lager than him. He slipped through his and the boy's fingers but Legolas firmly clasped his hand around the man's forearm.
"Elladan! Elrohir! Come here!"- he wasn't rising his voice but two elves that had similar face lines, moved swiftly towards them. They helped their father and took the hold of Aragorn. He was hanging between their hands and bodies. Legolas' palm was gently but firmly spatted.
"Let me heal him, he is in safe hands now."- the elf murmured and lowered Legolas' hand down. He smiled sadly at the blond elf and rested his palm on his shoulder. Legolas was chained to the look of the wise, kind eyes. He wasn't able to speak.
"Thank you."- the elf murmured and slightly touched cheek of the younger elf. He felt sorrow in his heart when he gazed upon the restless, gray face.
With a corner of his eye, he noticed how Elladan and Elrohir were taking Aragorn away. He suddenly jumped and scared all of the present elves, including the shocked boy behind his back.
"NO! Wait! I am going with him!"- he almost shouted and his loud voice broke all the silence apart. Elladan threw one shocked look over his shoulder.
The old elf only shook him softly and forced him to look at his face.
"You need rest. Haldir will escort you and your friend to the chamber."- his voice was soothing and quiet.
"N-no, Aragorn is.."- he struggled to say that the man was badly wounded but the elf nodded his head knowingly.
"We know everything. We won't do any harm. Those are his brothers."- he was speaking but he couldn't reach Legolas' clear sense. The elf was shaking his head and shuddering.
At last, he gave up, sensing that they were wasting time.
"Haldir, take the boy with yourself. Legolas is going with us."- he said and gently pushed Legolas, urging him to walk. Legolas wondered how he managed to stay this calm. He was surprised to hear that he even knew his name.
"My name is Elrond, I am the lord of Rivendell."- he spoke as they were walking through the woods. Legolas only weakly nodded and traced three figures before them with his empty eyes.
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Dawn started to glisten when Elrond finally removed his hands from Aragorn's chest.
"It is done."- he spoke calmly and watched the elf.
Legolas was sitting next to the bed, following every move or face expression on Elrond's face with his deep eyes. But now he was staring at the man. He was tucked in the soft mattress with a clean pillow under his head. His naked and exhausted body was covered with white, easy sheets. His breathing has just become normal.
"The arrow was poisoned. Not to kill, but to paralize but it became dangerous for his health and life for the venom was not removed on time."- Elrond spoke and checked bandages that were covering the man's shoulder and left side of chest.
Legolas nodded.
"Devon, the necromancer, offered to help but I didn't let him. Maybe I made a mistake. He has suffered so much, I cannot even realize how he.."- Legolas started to mumble but Elrond raised his hand.
"That was the right decision. Black magic rarely can really heal with no consequences for the soul. Especially when it is used on a man, and no matter what, Estel is just a man."- the elf said and calmly watched Legolas.
"He is strong. He shall be conscious in few days."- he assured him.
Legolas jerked and removed his eyes from Aragorn to Elrond. He realized that in front of him was a highborn. He knew he was supposed to stand up and bow, but his feet were nailed to the ground. He had no strength.
"No need for that. Sit."- as if Elrond read his thoughts in instant. Legolas heart trembled but he only lowered his head.
"Thank you, my lord. Thank you for saving him."- he whispered and took the man's hand in his palm. He gently caressed it.
"Estel is my son. There is nothing to thank for." he stated firmly but his heart went tight as he eyed the poor looking of this elf. Under his eyes were dark circles that were looking like bruises and his body seemed drained, same like his face.
"Legolas, you should rest."- the elf said in caring tone and Legolas couldn't remember when was the last time he closed his eyes.
"No, I must watch over Aragorn."- he shook his head and forced his eyes to stay aware. He was staring down at the man's sleeping face.
Elrond said nothing on this but he frowned.
"Should I say to our hosts to prepare you a bath and bring you some clean clothing?"- he offered and Legolas needed few moments to respond.
"I must stay here."- he weakly protested and tightened his palm around Aragorn's hand.
Elrond was silent for a long time. At last, he nodded.
"I understand. I shall leave you now but I'll come back."- he said quietly but Legolas showed no reaction. Few tears started to fall down his face. Elrond sighed and lowered his gaze.
He turned around with no word and quietly left the room.
Legolas let out a sob and buried his face into the mattress. His body fell down on the floor and he pulled the man's hand. He looked up at the sleeping form with tears that were leaking.
Legolas pressed his lips on the skin of Aragorn's hand.
"Forgive me, seron vell, this is all my fault. Forgive me.."- he whimpered and rested his forhead on the back of Aragorn's hand.
He was crushed. His constant worry and fears broke out and Legolas realized that he had no strength or will to deal will it. He couldn't hide it anymore so now when he was all by himself, he let his shameful tears to fall down. He has never seen Aragorn like this- vulnerable, injured.
Legolas swallowed one sob and lifted his drained body up. He carefully sat on the edge of the bed, not wanting to sully the white sheet with his outworn clothing. With trembling fingers, he tucked his wild locks behind his ears and straightened his creased clothing. The elf coughed and rubbed his eyelids.
He threw one absent gaze through the window with no glass and his heart twitched in joy when he seized the golden beauty of this forest. But it lasted only a second.
The elf removed his sleepy eyes back at Aragorn. The man was peacefully breathing and some color came back in his cheeks. Legolas felt his eyes heaving.
He slowly lowered his wracked body down on the bed and let out a soft groan when his muscles started to relax. The elf pressed his nose on the man's bare forearm and inhaled his scent.
Pale eyes had managed to stay opened for a second more before the view of sunlight on the white walls disappeared and everything was black. He firmly grasped Aragorn's hand, like a child, and finally allowed himself to drown into his so needed slumber with, to Legolas' relief, no dream.
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"Can I go to see him?"- Elladan started the second his saw his father approaching them.
Elrond sighed but smiled at his impatient son.
"No, let him be. Legolas is with him. They both need rest."- he said gently but in voice that left no space for any further discussion. Elladan frowned.
"He is my brother."- he tried again.
"And your brother needs rest."- Elrond said and gazed through the window in the hall.
Young elf shook his head.
"Orcs never go that near Rohan."- Elrohir wondered quietly and stood next to his brother. Behind them, lady Galadriel was silently staring at Elrond. Her face was brighter than the morn.
"It is because of him, isn't it?"- Elladan suddenly declared.
Elrond gave his son a stern gaze.
"Estel was not harmed because of Legolas but because of the Orcs, Elladan."- and his son bowed his head.
"Forgive me, Adar. But they were following them because of the elf."- he firmly said and looked up at Elrond.
The wise elf only shook his head and traced how the sunshine was playing with the leaves.
"He is exhausted in both body and soul."- the Lady of Light spoke in silver tone.
Elrond knew that she was talking about Legolas.
"He is as empty as a seashell after the flood. There are no memories or life inside of him. Only echoes. His life wasn't meant to be his."- she spoke sorrowfully and Elladan closed his eyes.
Elrond refused to look at her eyes.
"Elrond, it was a tragedy for the Woodland realm. It wasn't meant to be but it had happened only because of the greed of a single man."- her eyes were transparent, lost in the past.
"We can change that now."- she whispered.
"And what about Estel?"- Elrond gritted his teeth.
"And what about Thranduil who still mourns in his empty halls, calling for his one and only son? I do understand you worry and your pain, but you have seen him yourself. He is broken, but not irreparable for good. He needs his family and his homeland."- she pleaded gently.
Elrond, despite his wisdom and knowledge, closed his eyes in desperation.
"Estel is in twilight of his life. And Legolas.."- he opened his mouth and closed it.
"Yes, the man is in his twilight, but the elf is in the morn. Elvenpath is not for humans to walk."- she sighed and moved towards Elrond. She rested her white, gentle hand on the shoulder of the old elf.
"Eryn Lasgalen calls its prince. And so the Sea will soon. He is the Firstborn, the heir. We cannot blind him. Neither him, nor the man."- she uttered and Elrond knew that the eternal lady was right.
"So be it. But, my lady, it is not ours to tell. We shall heal them and help them, but I will not be the one who will steal Thranduil's right."- he said and Galadriel nodded her head.
"I understand. But the prince must return to his home as soon as possible. His father has waited long enough for his blood and flesh that had been stolen with no right or reason."- Elladan and Elrohir were quiet, not daring to utter a word while the Lady was talking to their father.
"I am only afraid about the soul, my fair lady. The soul of a human or an elf. I am afraid that one of them will not escape that doomed fate."- he whispered. Elladan shivered.
Galadriel lowered her bright gaze and her palm fell down.
"My mirror shows me various things."- she said calmly and four elves were standing silently as the Sun started to shine.
But all of it seemed unimportant to the blond, young elf that was peacefully sleeping next to the Dúnadan, clutched onto his arm and breathing into his skin. It was unimportant to Aragorn too, because for the first time after many days he was dreaming. His curled arm twitched and gently grasped one long lock. Yes, it was unimportant for them for the dreamers are not aware of reality and whatever lies in the dark, sleeping, cannot scare the ones that are bathing in the light.
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The king was standing on the dry ground, his long, noble robe touching the burned grass. He breathed out in both relief and sorrow as he gazed down at the red flowers. Amaryllis.
Crimson color stained slightly pale petals and now they were burning like fire, same like they used to burn in past eight years.
He smiled.
"You are well, my son. May my light always be with you, wherever you are."- he spoke and finally, after many days spent gazing at the flowers, he moved back to his palace.
He was waiting then same like he was waiting from the first day, never doubting the color on the flowers. As long as Legolas was well, he could survive another day.
But what the King didn't know was that that his waiting days were over and that his son was about to come home.
No one knew that except of Devon who remained to sit in his cove with his servant, patiently waiting and thinking.