So. next chapter! Thank you, thank you for all the reactions! Love it! Hope you like this chapter too!
Cretha Loesing: Perhaps a bit... *evil grin again* :P
Nourss: Thank you! I'm sorry, but I fear your beloved Legolas will meet a though time ;)
Sassyfriend: Thanx!
The book fell next to Legolas' head upon the table with a loud thud. Startled, he shot up. Aragorn was standing next to him, with regretful eyes.
"I'm sorry, my friend. I didn't know you were sleeping."
"Did you find something?"
"Unfortunately, no. But I thought it was time we check you memory once again." The elf sighed. Since a few days, Aragorn had come up with the idea to create a cluster of sentences about him that he had to recite, and after that, his friend would ask him some random questions to test his memory. It always made him feel nervous. He was terrified that one day, he would forget something essential. But Aragorn had insisted on it, so from time to time, he would come out of the library to Legolas' room to take a pause and to check on him. Not that he would go far. Most of the time he was sleeping, another of his strange symptoms.
"Fine. First the questions or my description?"
"Let's start with the description," Aragorn answered, sitting down upon the bed.
"Okay," the elf murmered, then continued in a clearer voice. "I am Legolas, son of Thranduil and Lindariel, of Eryn Lasgalen. My sister name was Sîlaliel, but she passed over the sea. I am Sinda. I am 2931 years old. I am a warrior, and I fight with bow and arrow, and two hunting knifes. I am one of the Nine Walkers. Their names were Frodo, Sam, Pippin, Merry, Aragorn, Boromir, Gimli and Gandalf. Eowyn, Eomer, and Faramir too, deserve this honor. I bound my fate to Estel, Aragorn, Elessar, and to Gimli, son of Gloin. I love painting and singing, and one day, I'll create a musical." He opened his eyes, relieved that he had remembered everything.
"Good. Now… What did Gandalf say to us before he fell into the depths of Kazad-Dum?"
"Fly you fools."
"Correct. Who is you best elvish friend?"
"That's a trap! They are Elladan and Elrohir, but if you mean from Mirkwood, it is Naurithil."
"Haha, well done, my friend! Now, let's make this a bit more difficult. The drinking contest you once held with Eomer, Faramir and Gimli, a few days after my marriage. How many pints did you finish?" Legolas laughed softly at the memory. It felt good seeing the mirth his friend again. He had to little reason to smile these last days, Aragorn thought.
"21 for me, 17 for Gimli, 16 for Eomer, and 5 for Faramir. Poor steward. I swear he had the harshest hangover of us all!"
"Haha, indeed. I can recall his face when we offered him some hot stew of Eowyn the next day."
"And usually he's the best of us to swallow Eowyns cooking's. Though she is improved lately. Do you remember the soup she gave us during our march to Helm's Deep?" Aragorn scowled.
"I do remember that you encouraged her to gave it to me, since I had –how did you say it again?- used many of my strengths and needed someone to convince me of eating, before I would fell of my horse. She pursued me for three days with her broth!" Legolas nearly tumbled over from laughing. Even Aragorn couldn't take it anymore and burst out. The room seemed a bit lighter than it had been, these last days. When they finally could breath again, and the tears had been wiped away, Aragorns gaze fell upon the book.
"Well, I guess I'll have to continue my research a bit. Would you mind reading this book? It might be useful. But don't exhaust yourself! We have still time."
"I will, Aragorn." Legolas had still a broad grin upon his lips.
"Good." Aragorn rose and went for the door. On the doorstep, he turned.
"One last question. Who did Frodo see the first in the Mirror of Galadriel?"
"He didn't tell us," Legolas answered fluently. Aragorn frowned.
"He did, Legolas. Can't you remember?" The laugh upon the elf's lips died a quick dead, only to be replace by an uncertain smile.
"You're joking, don't you?" His voice was half accusing, half pleading. His eyes were fearful. Aragorn closed his eyes for a moment. O Valar no, please don't let this be true. Please let him remember.
"Legolas, it was the day after we held that drinking contest. We were quit lazy, as you would expect, and that night we shared some memories near the fire in the Great Hall. Frodo told us there about his vision. Can't you recall that?" Legolas' anguished expression said enough.
"Oh Legolas," Aragorn sighed. He set himself next to his friend upon the bed, clasping his shoulder. "Don't worry. It was a though question indeed and I-"
"It was not a though question at all," Legolas interrupted vehemently. "I am an elf! I should remember everything! That's our blessing and our curse! Why I am forgetting something that happened so shortly ago?" He almost spat the words out, trembling of rage and grief.
"Hush Legolas. It was only a minor detail –"
"No! It is not! I should remember it!"
"Legolas, calm down! You had all of the questions right, only-"
"I don't care! Whether it's one or all of them, my memory is failing! Failing! I am-"
"And that would suffice!" Aragorn shouted, grabbing Legolas both shoulders and shaking him angrily. "We know that something is wrong, otherwise you would have never attacked Thranduil nor me! It is no use pretending otherwise! Now I am searching for a cure, and though I haven't found anything yet, I am not about to give up! And neither should you! Behave yourself, elf!" That seemed to help. Legolas' mouth opened and closed again, and though the fury still lingered in his eyes, he didn't shout anymore. Yet he trembled heavily. In an impuls, Aragorn he drew the elf against his chest in a strong embrace. Between his arms, he felt Legolas' hostile stance crumbling, until he sagged against him, and wept.
"Estel…"
"Hush, my friend. Everything is going to be all right, I promise. I'll find the cure." The sobbing slowly lessened. Legolas sighed deeply, and freed himself from Aragorns embrace. Quickly, he swept his tears away.
"I am sorry. I should not have…"
"Don't you dare to apologize to me, elf. You have been under a lot of stress the last days."
"You too." Aragorn merely smiled.
"I'm going to the library for some minutes, and then I'll take the books here."
"You shouldn't…" Aragorn rose abruptly.
"Will you now leave off? The library is quit dusty. I'd like to sit here for a while." Legolas snorted. The library was in no way dusty, but he comprehended that he couldn't stop Aragorn, so he smiled weakly.
"As you wish, stubborn Ranger."
"Obstinate elf."
He closed the door just before a pillow hit the wood, and hastened to the library. He hadn't rounded the corner properly, as a slender hand knocked upon the now closed door.
"Come in," a puzzled voice ordered. The small hand now softly opened the door and entered. The Golden Elf was sitting upon the bed, some traces of tears still lingering upon his fair face.
"Dinemîn! What are you doing her?" A shy laugh appeared, and she pointed at the plate she held in her hands, filled with broth.
"Oh. I'm sorry for causing you trouble, Dinemîn, but I fear I'm not hungry at all for the moment." The maiden scowled, and pointed again at the food. Legolas smiled vaguely.
"You're not going to leave off, will you now?" She shook her head vehemently. Legolas' grin widened.
"Then put it there on the night stand, if you would please." Obediently, she did what she was told, but she didn't go away. Rather, she looked at the elf expectantly. Legolas returned the glare puzzled.
"What is it?" A hand went to her mouth. Eat, she gestured. A hint of irritation was shown, but he hide it quickly.
"I will eat it in a moment, Dinemîn. You can go." Stubbornly, the maiden repeated the gesture, more compulsory this time.
"For such a young human girl, you can be extremely foolhardy, Dinemîn." She just stood there, her arms crossed, and looked at him defiantly. Legolas scowled.
"Fine. Since you are so persisting." He quickly propped three snaps into his mouth and swallowed.
"Satisfied?" She merely smiled and kept standing there. The Golden Elf snorted and ate some more, until half of the plate was finished.
"That's enough. Thank you for bringing this to me, but you can return the rest to the kitchen. You can go, Dinemîn." There was the smallest disillusionment on her face, but before Legolas could wonder what it meant, she grabbed the plate and disappeared through the door. Not five minutes later, Aragorn entered again, only to find his friend deeply in sleep.
Silently, he slipped in and sat down in a chair near the balcony, not entirely outside, but just enough to see the room and the Gardens. He winced as the wood protested loudly against his weight, but Legolas didn't move. Slowly, the Ranger relaxed, and started reading.
When Anor was making way for Ithil, and shadow were covering the pages of the book, Aragorn looked up. He had completely lost track of time, so absorbed he was in the healing wisdom of the wood-elves. Where Lord Elrond used mainly herbs and healing magic, the Nandor selected flowers, tree barks, some kinds of grasses and fruits in very specific quantities and preparations, so that one plant could be used for many different recipes. Unfortunately, he hadn't found anything for amnesia yet.
Sighing, he closed the book and entered the room. Legolas was still sleeping. He pondered for a while whether he should wake him, but he decided that he needed something to eat, and that –though his condition wasn't optimal- his body didn't really require sleep –at least not in the quantity that waking him for an hour would harm him. Gently, he probed Legolas' shoulder.
"Legolas. Wake up. You slept the whole afternoon. You'll not be able to sleep this night if you don't get up now."
"Mmmm." An irritated grumbling was all he got for answer. The elf turned and pushed his head beneath his pillow.
"Legolas. Lazy elf! Get up."
"'Stel?"
"Yes it's me. Come, on your feet!" With sleepy eyes, the elf arose and blinked.
"Aragorn? When did you arrive?" An icy knot fell into the man's stomach.
"I was just gone to the library for a few minutes. You were sleeping when I returned."
"The library? What were you searching there?" the elf asked groggily. No. This couldn't be true. Not so fast! A few hours ago, everything was fine, safe for one false question. How could he have deteriorated that quickly? His voice was very soft when he spoke.
"Don't you remember?" The elf smiled uncertainly.
"What are you talking about? What do I have to remember?" Swiftly, Aragorn pasted a reassuring expression upon his face.
"Nothing, Legolas. Just kidding."
"Oh." The elf wasn't convinced at all, but to the man's amazement, he dropped the subject.
"I'm tired. Can I sleep a bit?" Aragorn didn't trust his voice anymore, so he just nodded. Immediately, Legolas dropped himself upon the pillow and closed –closed!- his eyes. Not a minute later, his breathing was slow and regular. He seemed so relaxed in his sleep, totally unaware of the man who was still sitting besides him, with dazed eyes, and a lonely tear upon his cheek.
Please review! They really, really make my day! :)
xXx Archiril