A/N Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Americans out there!
Disclaimer: not mine... :(
Chapter Five: Watch out for that Orc!
Aragorn grasped the elf's wrist and waist tightly, using it to force Legolas up into a better position against his body when he was forced to step over a fallen tree that lay in their path. Legolas clumsily took the needed step, and would have fallen but for the fact that Aragorn was holding him up.
The prince had long ago stopped supporting his own weight, forcing the ranger to all but drag him down the small path. Legolas was not doing well, but they had been forced to step up the pace of their march. Hours ago, Legolas swore he could hear orcs or maybe just an orc following them and the elf was never wrong. Legolas was not the only one who had the feeling that something was wrong though; Aragorn also felt the eerie sensation of someone watching them.
A sense for speed forced his tired body onwards, pulling Legolas along with him. However, he needed to face the facts. Legolas needed to rest and he himself was tiring, the aches and pain from his beating still there.
"Soon we will stop." he said softly into the pointed ear, for Legolas head rested against his shoulder. The elf was too tired to even hold it up. In response, Legolas lifted his head slightly gazing around with half lidded eyes.
"Good…" he muttered, before letting his head fall back to its former position, his eyes slipping shut. The elf trusted Aragorn to lead him carefully. They continued on into the growing dusk, each of Legolas steps becoming slower and less functional. Legolas knew that the ranger had slowed his steps to match his, knew that Aragorn had to be frustrated at the slow pace at which they were moving, but at the moment, Legolas knew he could go no faster.
Aragorn finally was forced to call a halt, for Legolas sake. Pulling the elf into a secluded section of trees, the human let go of Legolas wrist, allowing it to slide off his shoulder. The elf apparently did not have the strength to support it. Helping Legolas slide to the ground, the ranger placed own hand on the archer's shoulder, critically examining him.
The prince of Mirkwood was pale, incredibly pale. What little color he had gained back in the cave had vanished long ago leaving Legolas deprived of any. The lack of color made the dark shadows under Legolas's eyes stands out all the more, giving him a weird contrast. The blue eyes were glazed over and dull, not really taking anything in. Sweat coated the elf, causing both his tunic and hair to cling to his skin.
Fishing out the water skin, Aragorn pressed it into Legolas hand,
"Drink, you need the water." he ordered not willing to take no for an answer. Legolas clumsily struggled with the stopper for a full minute till Aragorn took compassion on him and uncorked it. Raising it to his lips, the elf failed and almost dropped the almost empty container. Once again, Aragorn came to the rescue and brought it up, helping Legolas take several swallows.
"How do you feel?" slowly Legolas raised his heavy head and gazed at the man, his eyes blank. When no response was forthcoming form his friend, the man gentle placed his finger on Legolas's neck. The wounded elf's pulse thumped weakly against his finger tips, beating at such a rate that it was worrying, though Aragorn very well knew that the speed at which it raced had a to do with the long walk.
"Aragorn…?" Legolas weakly asked, bringing his hand up and clasping at the man's tunic, finding it and wrapping his fist tightly into the material.
"Shh…" Aragorn whispered tenderly, using his dirt and blood stained hand to push back the golden locks for his friends hair, before letting it slide down and cup the side of the elf's face. Frowning, Aragorn realized that indeed Legolas's temperature had risen, and was higher than Aragorn liked.
"Aragorn!" Legolas suddenly called out again, his eyes flashing with alarm. "Estel!"
"Hush, Legolas. I am right here." Aragorn soothed, uncurling Legolas weak fingers and rubbing them gently. Legolas was awake but, obviously not cohort.
"Behind you!" Legolas shouted, his body surging forward to get up.
"Legolas, Legolas! Stop it, just stay still. There's nothing there." Aragorn cried, letting go of Legolas hand and pushing against the elf's shoulders forcefully. Legolas could not afford to reopen the wound. The prince cried out, fighting against Aragorn.
The human captured the prince's hands before practically lying on him to force him down.
"The leader…" Legolas moaned, as he was forced to sit still.
"No one's here," Aragorn comforted, keeping a firm hand on Legolas shoulder, however. Legolas panted heavily, now even more sweet glistening on his forehead and face. "Sit here and do not move." Aragorn ordered, before removing his hand and swinging his pack off.
Rummaging through, his ears pricked up. Was it just him or was there something out there? Aragorn slowly turned, his hand falling to the handle of the sword. Finding nothing there, Aragorn slowly stood his eyes glancing though the dark green trees, out of the corner of his eye, a dark something flashed. Whirling around, Aragorn drew his sword. Nothing was there; edging forward Aragorn put his sense onto overdrive. A sudden moan brought his mind back to Legolas. The elf should not be alone.
Returning to Legolas, Aragorn began again what he had started. Pulling a fresh piece of bandage Aragorn soaked it in the water before whipping the sweat off Legolas's face. The elf moaned loudly, eyes flashing open and raised his hand weakly to push away the wet cloth.
"Cold..." the prince muttered, almost to softy for Aragorn to hear.
"Shh…hush I know." the future king soothed, holding the wet cloth against Legolas brow. "Here let me help you lay down…try to get some sleep." Legolas shook his head, wildly, not really understanding what the man was asking him. Aragorn bit his lip, Legolas needed sleep if he was to heal. Once again rising Aragorn swiftly prepared a cup of herbs, bringing to Legolas and helping him to drink it. Within a matter of seconds, the elf's eyes had slipped disturbingly close and he was asleep.
Shifting the elf so he lying down, Aragorn used the wet cloth to help keep Legolas cool once more before leaving it there. Standing up, the human stretched his sore muscles, before beginning a silent watch over Legolas and the makeshift camp.
Slowly the night began to pass, sometime around twelve the sky unleashed a steady drizzle.
When the first cold drops hit Legolas face, he stirred moaning ever so quietly. Aragorn, who happened to passing by in his self appointed task, dropped to a crouch and passed a hand over Legolas brow, calming him almost instantly and the elf's breathing returned to normal.
Rising from his crouched position, Aragorn froze. He could have sworn he'd heard something. Glancing at Legolas with worry, the ranger quietly drew his sword half-way. Moving swiftly he took cover behind a large tree.
A twig snapped somewhere in a dark. Heart pounding in worry Aragorn cast a glance at the sleeping elf before moving stealthily into the shadows. Even so slowly and softly, the human followed the sounds, determined to find the cause and get back to the elf.
Little did he know that in the makeshift camp, Legolas stirred again. Shifting his weight, the wounded elf's eyes fluttered and he muttered something about Rivendell. His eyes opened, though they were glazed and cloudy.
Glancing around, the elf frowned. What am I doing sleeping on the floor?! he wondered. Rolling over he gathered enough strength to stagger to his feet, stopping there he held onto a 'post' which was in reality a tree. The fever was causing the ill elf to hallucinate.
To Legolas confused mind, he realized that if he walked forward then he would end up in his room and it was undignified for a prince to sleep on the floor, so he made an effort to get there. Staggering forward, he kept one hand on the 'wall' and one on his aching side. Legolas made progress down the hall his room inching ever closer. Swaying ever so dangerously, it was a miracle that he managed to stay up right. But Legolas believed that he was perfectly fine so he was.
In his mind, Legolas saw his door coming ever closer and tried to move his feet faster; all he wanted to do was go to sleep. Rain began to fall harder and faster as the elf walked farther and farther away. Reaching his 'room', Legolas lent his full weight against the door knob, trying to open it.
Since there was no door, however, Legolas did a face plant into the muddy ground….and did not get up.
CRIMSONSTAINS
Aragorn frowned as he got farther and farther away from Legolas. Hearing nothing for several minutes, the ranger retraced his steps back to the camp, worry gnawing at his heart. Entering the small areas of trees in which he had left the elf, his first act was to check on the unfortunate being.
To his great surprise and shock Legolas was not there. Mouth hanging open, Aragorn stood there for a moment glancing around. Then he went into over drive, he ran swiftly forward heading first for where Legolas had previously. Crouching down, his grey eyes searched the ground for some sort of struggle. It would not take much of any monster to drag the elf off, being as weak as he was at the moment.
To his great dismay, there was nothing…except of set of footprints. Legolas footprints to be exact, this was to Aragorn's great confusion. Why had the elf just gotten up and left? How had the elf found the strength to walk away?
Heart-wrenching fear filled the man's heart and mind as he quickly followed the footsteps. He all to well remember Legolas behavior of before, it was all to likely that Legolas had stumbled off in a fevered dilemma. The elf was obviously having trouble; the prints he was following were deep and uneven, nothing like a normal elf's tracks.
As he ran, the rain began to truly downpour and the human was soaked in seconds. Lighting crashed illuminating the ground. Legolas footprints went on, he was close so close, he just knew it. He had to find Legolas before he caused himself any more harm.
Frantically searching the ground, he froze spotting just a glimpse of what could be Legolas boot. Straining his eyes he ran forward, just as another crack of lighting light up the surrounding forest brightly…and through the trees a silhouette was cast, one of a small ugly orc raising a knife over his head just beginning the downward plunge
Screaming in terror, Aragorn put a final burst of speed…it was as if everything had gone into slow motion. Aragorn's face turned an ashen color with fear as the charged the orc leader. The monster grinned evilly the knife already close to the unconscious elf's back and the rain beat down in sheets over all of them.
TBC…
He, he, he, I have been feeling very evil lately, if you had not noticed. I told Legolas he should have killed that orc, I told him so, but no he wouldn't listen to me and look where it got him. Reviews are very much appreciated!
Review Responses:
Guest: I like where this is going as well, Legolas angst is the best!
robinsmum: That was a nasty cliff hanger wasn't it! Trust me, I have some many story ideas and stuff that I will be a miracle if I ever write all of them. I love reading your reviews!
tigerra79: So glad to hear from you again! Thanks for the suggestion, I tried to fix it for new readers…I suck at coming up with summary's so I appreciate all the help I can get!
Kindered Spirit: You are too kind… You are a good writer, I like reading your stuff!
ElrondofImladris: Yes, lots of serious angst to come, defiantly. I love writing creepy cliff hangers and Hannon le!
Ginger Ranger: Thanks so much! I am always glad to hear that someone else enjoys my story!
Firecracker27: Hurting Legolas is very, very, contagious! And lots of fun! Thanks for reviewing! I hope you had a wonderful day!