Summary: Legolas and Aragorn ride ahead to Mirkwood to celebrate an
occasion but never make it.
Disclaimer: I don't own them for their own good.
A/N: Written for a challenge issued on Mellon Chronicles.
Chapter 4
The first rays of sunlight streamed down on the three raven haired elves. They had ridden all day and through the night. They were not tired, but the horses that carried them were beginning to stumble.
"Ada, we must rest the horses," Elladan begged.
Elrond stopped, his brow wrinkling as if he were deciding something. "We shall stop but we cannot linger here very long."
Elrohir who was normally quiet couldn't take it any longer. "Ada what is this all about? You kill a man without first asking his purpose, and then ride all day and night long. Is Estel in mortal danger?"
Elrond studied a broken limb on a tree before turning around. "The man deserved my wrath. A quick death by my sword. Your brother is in trouble, I can sense it. I have not felt this strongly since your mother. We must hurry if we are to save Estel and Legolas."
"Ada, we are many days travel from Mirkwood, and we do not know where they are along the way."
Elrond studied the path they were on for a moment before again mounting up on his horse. "Then we shall ride day and night, stopping for nothing but t rest the horses lest they collapse. I will walk should I have to but I will find them."
The twins did not understand what was going on completely, but they knew to trust their father's instincts.
Back in the camp ...
Legolas and Aragorn slept a few minutes at a time the night. Each would fall asleep only to roll over, and awake in pain, their raw backs having touched the ground beneath them. "This is the least amount of sleep that I have had since we were trapped in that cave near Rohan."
"Estel, you would have fallen asleep there if you could have. The only thing that stopped you was the water was waist deep and there was no where to lay down."
"Aye, you kept me awake so that I would not drown. You helped me to my father's and saved me Legolas. I must one day return the favor."
Legolas then smiled, "You already have Estel, many times."
Their conversation came to a halt however when the flap to the tent was opened and the leader stepped in. "Get up, there are men to entertain!"
Aragorn and Legolas were on their feet in seconds, but it was Aragorn's swift insolence that spoke. "We are not your servants to order about!"
This comment had the leader stepping closer to him, grabbing Estel by his hair. "These are warrior braids in your hair, am I right? Today we shall see how much of a warrior you truly are."
With a shove Aragorn landed outside the tent, grimacing in pain, as he landed on his back. Legolas was at his side in seconds, helping him to his feet. "There was no need for that!" he shouted.
"You are not to question me ever again," the leader spat at him, before dragging Aragorn away to the center of a group of men.
"As you can see while you two slept my followers and I have been busy building this."
Aragorn and Legolas looked down into a hole. The hole was about seven foot deep, and twenty feet across. "What do you plan to do with this marvelous hole you have constucted," Aragorn said, sarcastically.
"You shall find out first of all," Bortian told him, as he shoved Aragorn into the hole. Legolas was restrained by a couple of men, his arms tied behind him, and watched as two dogs were shoved into the hole where Aragorn was.
"You see elf. The dogs have been starved for many days, having no meat tends to make them aggresive. We shall see if your friend is deserving of the warrior braids he wears.
The dogs circled Aragorn, growling, baring their teeth. With each step that Aragorn made the dogs advanced two more. He knew he would never survive this, but he also knew he would go down fighting. He would not cower in fear in front of these men, no he would fight till he drew his last breath.
The first dog lunged for him, and Aragorn pushed it away, just inches from his throat. This only angered the dog which rallied quickly and the next time it lunged so did the other. Aragorn kicked the one dog off, but the other sank its teeth, deep into his leg. Aragorn could feel the sharp teeth hit bone and he screamed out before punching the dog in the head.
Standing as best he could Aragorn looked up to see Legolas staring down at him. In that split second the brown dog leapt upon his back, sending pain like fire up his back, and blood pouring from the already open wounds.
Legolas stood in horror watching Aragorn fighting. He wanted to help him, to save him from such a horrid fate, but his hands were held tightly by both of the men. He knew if he tried to wiggle free, they would surely break his hand in the struggle.
Again Aragorn sidestepped the brown dog, but this time the white dog lunged for his throat. The dog missed, but his claws did not. Four deep gash marks were now bleeding on Aragorn's chest, and he fell to his knees. If only he had his sword, or even a dagger, then he would ot be so vulnerable. He knew his time was short so with another deep breath he stood as he dogs circled.
He was ready for them, his hands raised high to strike whichever one jumped first, hoping to kick the other one away with his feet. The only thing wrong with the plan was that both dogs leapt after him together. Aragorn could do nothing but cover his face and neck while the dogs clawed at him. Germ ridden teeth bit him, and Aragorn screamed in agony as he was dragged across the small hole on his back, sending dirt into his wounds.
Legolas stood watching in horror, his eyes spilling the tears of frustration. His friend was going to die. Knowing he could not live with himself, if he stood by and watched it, Legolas grabbed the dagger from the man's belt. With one quick swipe he had cut is bonds and two seconds later he jumped into the hole.
The dogs attacked, finding the sight of something new to overpower a challenge. The dagger hit its mark and the first dog fell dead at Legolas' feet, but the second sank his teeth into Legolas' leg. The elf screamed, but drove the dagger through the dog's heart, killing it as well.
The crowd hissed at them both, upset that they had prevailed. Four men jumped into the hole, grabbing up both of them, and hoisting them up the rope.
"You were not to help him!" Bortian yelled.
"I am not like you. I cannot stand idly by while my friend is slaughtered. Do with me what you will, but it does not change the fact that your plan was ruined."
Bortian rounded on Legolas, "You shall pay for interferring!" Before anyone could stop him he dragged both Aragorn and Legolas back over to the tree, and tied each to it. The rough bark scraping their backs was unbearable it seemed. "As you say elf, that you would lend a helping hand to your friend, does he also agree?"
Aragorn raised his pain filled eyes to stare at Bortian. "Aye, I would do whatever I could to help my friend."
"That was all I needed to know," Bortian said, before grabbing the bow off the man beside him. "Hold him!" he screamed as he took aim.
The arrow sailed true, and Aragorn's left hand was now pinned to the tree by it. His screams echoed through the air, as he fought back the nausea the pain was causing him.
Legolas knew he was next, and though he tried to be brave, he began to whimper, knowing his fate. He was an archer, had been one since he was but ten summers. His hands meant everything to him. The arrow again sailed straight, and his right hand was not pinned to the tree, the brown arrow going straight through the palm.
"Leave them till nightfall!" Bortian told the other men. "Let us see if their friendship lasts the day."
The men left the two of them sitting against the tree, and both fell into unconsciousness, losing the battle with the pain. It was Aragorn who awoke first, and only after trying to stretch did he remember what had happened. He stared over at Legolas. The normally vibrant elf had been beaten, his hand pierced by the very thing he treasured most, a bow and arrow.
Aragorn hoped he would get to finally give Thranduil the gift he had made. He wanted to also see the two elven realms together in a peaceful setting, one of happiness instead of the many meetings about war, and suffering they usually spoke of. He longed to see his father's face, his brothers, but he knew he would probably not live to see them again.
Legolas stirred, blinking his eyes against the sunlight that was bearing down on them. He could see the sweat trickling down Aragorn's face, and longed to reach out to him. He stared numbly up to his hand, the one he aimed with, and let a few tears of pity slip from his eyes. He reached over with his left hand and tried to wipe some of the sweat from Aragorn's face. He did not deserve to die this way, no one did. Legolas knew he had already spent many hundreds of years in Arda, but Aragorn, he had only seen seventeen summers. It was too cruel to watch him slowly die this young.
As night once again descended on them both Bortian stomped over. "You have had plenty of time to think over today. I shall give you a choice. One of you may be freed from this pain, but the other shall remain here till morning. The choice is yours."
Aragorn spoke up quickly. "Let Legolas go free. I shall stay here."
Legolas tried to refute the plan, but Bortian sneered at him. "The choice has been made. You will do as I say, and stay in the tent tonight. You will even be brought fresh water."
Legolas' face was on of pity as his hand was released from the arrow. He did not feel the pain as the arrow was pulled free, all he felt was sorrow as he was dragged back to the tent. Aragorn would spend another night at the tree, while he took refuge in the tent. It was not fair, fate was cruel, and he began to cry in earnest.