Thank you to Aranel Mereneth - you are right - it is Sauron not Sauroman - not sure why I missed that but thanks for keeping me on my toes!

Sailor Silvanesti, Yashida and Caelhir - I hurried with this one - thanks for letting me know you are reading and enjoying.

Rated M for violence and sexual encounters

Disclaimer: The characters all belong to the master Tolkien and this is only being written for my own enjoyment and hopefully yours. No money or profit involved

A Cage of a Different Kind

Chapter Nine

Aragorn could not believe his bad luck. Not only had he been knocked down by a troll, but now he was slowing being crushed. He knew death was always a possibility in battle but he had always thought it would be an arrow or sword that caused his demise, not a giant foot, the irony of it all. Just as his ribs started to crack and the pressure became overwhelming, it stopped. He looked up to see a familiar green fletched arrow protruding from the troll's neck. Seconds later, another arrow pierced the beast's eye and it fell over backwards, dead. His friend had once again saved him. Pain almost overcame him as he struggled to his feet. His ribs were at best cracked, at worst broken, making every breath an agony. He noticed the battle stop around him and his attention was caught by the eye of Sauron as it tumbled from the sky. Frodo and Sam had succeeded!

Gimli cried out Aragorn's name as he eased Legolas to the ground. He didn't even notice the eye crumbling, the concern for his friend blocking out all else. Legolas gasped in pain as Gimli laid him down carefully. The dwarf grasped the sword and pulled it swiftly from the elf's stomach. Legolas tried to stay silent but a scream of agony escaped his mouth. The blood was pouring from the wound and Gimli sobbed as he tried to staunch it. "Aragorn" he yelled again. He took his cloak and pressed down on the elf's belly, another scream of pain from the elf finally got Aragorn's attention.

Even as elation swelled in Aragorn, it quickly turned to horror as he heard a familiar voice scream in agony. As Sauron's monstrous army turned and ran, Aragorn frantically searched the battle field, trying to locate his friend. Soon he saw the dwarf bending over someone lying prone on the ground. He ran to them and almost fainted at the sight before him. Legolas lay in a rapidly spreading pool of blood as the frantic dwarf tried desperately to help him. The gaping wound in his stomach was going to kill him.

"How had this happened? Legolas had just saved him! Of course, the fool elf had pulled his bow in the middle of battle to rescue him and had paid the ultimate price." Aragorn fell beside his best friend and moved Gimli aside to examine the wound. Blood continued to flow in rivers down Legolas tunic and leggings. The elf's breathing was labored and his hands clutched at his middle in an effort to stop the bleeding as well. Aragorn gently removed the elf's hands and comforted him in his own tongue as he ordered Gimli to start tearing his cloak into strips. He could tell that the sword had been cruelly twisted which made Aragorn fear internal damage as well. He cut away the elf's tunic and applied pressure once again in an effort to slow the bleeding. As he pressed down on the elf's abdomen, Legolas let out a strangled cry and fell back limply. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, confirming Aragorn's worst fears. He took his pulse quickly and breathed a sigh of relief when he found one, faint, but there.

Gandalf had pushed his way to them by now and knelt beside the ranger. He immediately placed his hands over the rangers and started mumbling some words. A brief glow spread from his hands into the elf's body and he hissed in anger. "Poison!" He helped Aragorn clean and bind the wound which had slowed the bleeding for the moment. Worry showed in his eyes as he said "We must get him back to Gondor with all haste or his life is forfeit."

Gandalf stood and raised his staff in the air. Just then, giant eagles appeared in the sky. Two flew towards Mordor while the others landed on the battlefield awaiting Gandalf's wishes. He quickly thanked his feathered friends and motioned the company to climb onto their backs. Without hesitation, Aragorn lifted Legolas into his arms and climbed onto the closest eagle, his own pain quickly forgotten. Gimli tried to climb up behind him but could not make it without help. Aragorn's hands were full with the elf so as the dwarf stood sputtering, the giant bird lifted into the air, scooping the protesting dwarf up with its talons. It quickly flew towards Gondor.

Eowyn had been pacing the battlements again, the wind buffeting her about as she looked towards Mordor. She knew something was wrong, she could feel it. Faramir had followed her and watched with concern. "Come back inside Eowyn, it is far too windy up here. I can feel a storm coming." Her whole body sagged. She had been so sure that something important had happened but she had no idea what. She turned for one last look when she noticed a far off spec in the sky.

"Faramir, do you see that? Can you make out what it is?" Eowyn asked as she shaded her eyes staring off into the distance.

He stepped up beside her and peered intensely in the direction she had indicated. "There is definitely something there my lady, but it is still too far away."

They waited impatiently as the shapes slowly drew closer. Her heart hammered in her chest and her stomach felt strangely queasy. It appeared to be huge birds.

"They are eagles and they seem to be carrying people." Eowyn exclaimed.

Her senses on alert, she trembled as the great birds approached. The wind that was already strong was whipped up even more by the sweeping of the giant wings. Eowyn started to lose her balance as Faramir grabbed her and held her steady. Her knees almost buckled as she saw what they carried. Aragorn rode on the first bird and she could see silver gold hair whipping about. No one had that color of hair, it had to be Legolas and he appeared to be prone in the ranger's arms. There was only one reason Aragorn would be holding him, Legolas had been hurt. Faramir held her up as she started to crumple, the huge bird coming to a landing just a few feet from them.

Aragorn held Legolas close as the elf started to awaken, struggling in his arms, totally disoriented. As his blue eyes opened he was startled to see Eowyn. His prayers had been answered. She was well again. "But whose arms held her?" He stared in disbelief as Aragorn slipped off the back of the eagle and started to run to the healing ward. The jarring of the landing ripped agonizing pain across his middle and he quickly lost consciousness again.

The Dwarf tumbled from the giant birds talons with a tirade of curses as they made their landing but few noticed. All eyes were centered on the elf and ranger. When Gimli did not continue with the tirade that would normally have accompanied abuse of this nature that alone spoke volumes to the seriousness of the situation. The dwarf picked himself up with a few grumbles and swiftly followed the running ranger.

Eowyn screamed Legolas' name as she tore herself away from Faramir. She ran after Aragorn easily passing the dwarf, as he made his way swiftly towards the castle but he did not even pause to acknowledge her.

"What has happened? How badly is he hurt?" she yelled as she followed him to the healing ward. He did answer her for the adrenaline was starting to subside and his own wounds were starting to take their toll on him. Combine that with the worry and grief he was feeling over his friend, he could barely stay on his feet. It seemed like the greatest distance Aragorn had ever traveled. The all too familiar beds finally came into view and Aragorn swiftly but gently laid his best friend on the closest one.

Eowyn dropped to Legolas' side and gasped at what she saw. There was blood everywhere. "Valar no!" she cried as she tried to take him into her arms. Aragorn gently pushed her aside as he began to try to save Legolas' life. He lowered his head to his chest trying to find a heartbeat as Gandalf rushed in after them and they both began to feverishly work over the prone elf.

Eowyn's tears flowed freely as she watched them do everything in their power to save him. Gimli and Faramir came in and silently stood by her side watching the scene unfold, the shock keeping them silent and motionless. Finally Eowyn could not hold back any longer and she turned on the dwarf.

"Please Master Dwarf, tell me what happened." Eowyn pleaded.

Without taking his eyes off the drama in front of him he answered. "The fool elf took out his bow in the middle of battle and got skewered with a sword for his trouble." Gimli grumbled but those who knew him well could hear the concern and sadness within his gruff tone.

"He was saving my life yet again my lady." Aragorn said quietly as he hurriedly mixed up a paste. Another healer came running over with a basin of water and clean bandages. "Please get me a needle and thread as well." Aragorn ordered as the healer hastened away to do his bidding. Aragorn removed the bloody bindings and probed the horrible wound. Red lines radiated out on the elf's pale skin, a sign that poison was making its way through his body. Purple bruising had appeared around the wound as well. "It is as I feared, he is bleeding internally." Aragorn said as he turned to Gandalf.

Gandalf placed his hands over the elf's stomach and concentrated. "We must stop the internal bleeding." he said as Aragorn quickly turned to get a knife. "I wish Elrond was here, this may be beyond my ability to heal." Aragorn said remorsefully.

Faramir watched all this, forgotten in the process of everyone rushing around trying to save Legolas. He had seen the elf with Aragorn and had heard about their close friendship. "Could this be who Eowyn loved? Certainly not". He dismissed the idea, "Could it be Aragorn?" Faramir pondered all this as everything continued around him.

Eowyn moved over beside Aragorn, "I can help." she said as she sterilized the knife.

"He is unconscious now but I need everyone near in case he wakes up. You will need to hold him still for I cannot risk giving him anything, I am afraid he will never awaken." Aragorn waited as everyone took their position and he prayed to himself that the elf stay unconscious until he had finished.

"Wait" Gandalf said as he took a mixture he had been working on and poured some of it down Legolas' throat. "The poison stops the blood from clotting. He has already lost too much and I am hoping this will keep the additional blood loss to a minimum."

Eowyn stood next to Aragorn. Gimli, Gandalf and Faramir each took a limb, ready to help if needed. Aragorn took a deep breath and slowly cut into the elf's pale stomach, widening the wound that already flawed the pale elf's stomach. Immediately, blood started to flow. Eowyn helped wipe it away as Aragorn located the ruptured organ. Aragorn felt perspiration drip down his back as he stitched the rupture closed. He was just about ready to finish when the elf's eyes flew open and he started to convulse. The companions went into action and held him down as Aragorn tried to soothe him. A cry of pain erupted from his throat and Eowyn almost fainted when he shuddered and went limp again. She quickly checked for a pulse and was relieved to find one, even if it was far too thready and weak for comfort. Everyone looked almost as pale as Legolas as Aragorn hurriedly stitched his incision closed and put the paste he had mixed over the original wound. He then cleaned the area again and wrapped him with clean bandages. He finally sank back with a sigh. "Now we wait and pray."

A few hours later Aragorn, Gandalf and Gimli had to leave Legolas' side when word the Halflings had been found and brought back reached them for they were in need of care as well. Eowyn said a small prayer of thanks that Frodo and Sam had destroyed the one ring and lived to tell about it. "At least one thing had gone right this day." She thought as she ran her hand down his still face lovingly.

She spent the night curled in the chair beside his bed, unable to sleep for fear he would stop breathing. "How could this be happening?" Faramir had been called away but Gimli had returned sometime in the night and she learned that Legolas had hardly left her side when she was injured. Now the fates had conspired once again for them to be in the same room but still far apart. There was so much Eowyn needed to tell him. "Something that I must tell him." She thought as tears welled in her eyes.

The next few days were a blur of visitors and healers. Faramir had returned and sat with her whenever he could, his quiet presence comforting her and helping her stay strong. Legolas had alternated between burning with fever and shivering with cold. Eowyn and Aragorn had taken turns sponging him with cool water and wrapping him in blankets as the need arose. Gandalf had said that the fever was his body's way of burning off the poison but none could explain the coldness. Merry and Pippin had visited as had Frodo and Sam but as days went by, spirits started to sag. Finally the fever had broken but Legolas did not regain full consciousness. He would thrash occasionally muttering in his own language. Eowyn had no idea what he said and Aragorn did not seem to want to translate. Most concerning was the fact that his wound had continued seeping blood, not large amounts, but enough to need regular bandage changes. As an elf, the wound should have already healed, instead it continued to weep. The only bright spot was that he seemed able to swallow so they made sure he had broth and water to try and keep his strength up and help the blood loss.

As the days turned into weeks Aragorn was finally talked into leaving Legolas' side but it took threats of bodily harm to accomplish it. He had a coronation to plan and they needed his help. He still checked in daily but there was no change. Faramir had stayed and kept Eowyn company as often as possible but even he had duties that needed to be attended to. Gimli had stayed at the elf's side as steadfastly as Eowyn but then he had to leave and help with the dwarven delegation that was arriving soon. Feeling desperate and lonely Eowyn had crawled into bed with Legolas hoping her presence would comfort him. She held him and talked to him, bathed him and changed his sheets and bedclothes ignoring the healers and servants that felt she should leave his care to them. She had never been someone that cared what others thought. Even Eomer had kept his distance, coming around occasionally to look in on her or try to coax her into leaving and sleeping in her own bed. Unbeknownst to Eowyn, Faramir had been instrumental in keeping Eomer in check for he had been ready to burst into the room and drag her from the elf's side but the Stewarts son had taken him aside and somehow convinced him to let her be. Had she not been so absorbed she might have wondered at this unusual change of heart by her volatile brother but as it stood, she was just relieved that she did not have to deal with him.

Life moved on around Legolas. Even the hobbits came to visit less and less for they had a hard time seeing their friend in this condition. Legolas had long ago been moved to a private room that overlooked the court yard. Aragorn had made sure that as much fresh air and sunshine as possible was available for the ailing elf. Eowyn would stand and watch all the people that had started arriving for the coronation and was not very surprised when she had seen a large group of elves arrive. She had heard that Aragorn had been raised by elves and she wondered if these were his relatives or Legolas'. Soon Aragorn strode in with three ebony haired elves. As Aragorn completed the introductions Eowyn could not help but stare at the identical twins that good naturedly teased the soon to be King. They were all amazingly beautiful and graceful and it was now clear where Aragorn had gotten his regal bearing and strength. Lord Elrond moved immediately to Legolas side and proceeded to perform a detailed examination, for the elf's lack of healing worried them as well. Elrond frowned as he unwrapped the bandages from Legolas' torso and Aragorn looked a little nervous until he complimented him on his surgery. But try as he might he could not explain why Legolas was not healing as he should. He had not gotten worse but he had not gotten much better either.

Poison had obviously invaded his body and they had not purged it as well as they had originally thought. Elrond mixed numerous medicines over the next few days trying to rid the elf of this life threatening poison but nothing seemed to work. Finally, he decided to reopen the wound and see if even the smallest part of the weapon could have been left inside the elf's body. Perhaps that could explain his condition.

Eowyn and Aragorn hovered and watched as Elrond carefully slipped his knife into the weeping incision. He cut each stitch and carefully pulled open the wound disturbed that it had not closed at all on its own. It was easier to see now since the bleeding had been reduced. He could not hold back the sound of his breath inhaling sharply when we saw the tissue inside. It was black and it actually looked like it was dead. Elrond hissed in fear knowing he would have to cut it away to get to healthy tissue.

Aragorn paled as he say the condition of his friend. "Ada I swear, there has been no sign of infection or pus of any kind to indicate this kind of tissue damage." Aragorn said, silently berating himself for missing this.

Elrond was working diligently to clean the wound but knew that his son would be blaming himself. "I know Aragorn. Had he not been unconscious for so long I would not have checked this either. Let's just hope this helps."

Eowyn had gone pale as well when the wound was opened and now that Elrond was starting to cut the black tissue away, the world started to spin. Aragorn looked up just in time to see her eyes roll back in her head as she crumpled to the ground.

"Eowyn!" he exclaimed as he rushed to her side and checked her pulse. It was strong but she was not recovering quickly. He picked her up and laid her on the other bed. He rubbed her hands and gently slapped her face finally bringing her around.

"What…Where? Legolas! What happened? Did I faint?" she asked, obviously confused.

Aragorn just nodded and pressed her back down in the bed. "Please rest for a moment Eowyn; I need to make sure Ada does not need my help." He returned to his father's side as Eowyn lay there, too weak to follow.

Elrond had cleaned the wound out as completely as he could without being too invasive. He was happy that the surrounding organs had not been affected yet. "Make another paste of alethea leaves Aragorn and I will pack the wound. I am not going to stitch him again until I can be sure I have stopped this."

Again the vigil was kept at Legolas' bedside, this time Elrond and Eowyn stayed and watched and worried. Aragorn came whenever he was able but his people were demanding his crowning and he needed to oblige. The good news was that Elrond seemed to have gotten the diseased tissue and it was not spreading, the bad news was that the elf remained unconscious.

Then, just a few days before the big event, a commotion was heard in the corridor outside Legolas' door. It was flung wide and an elegant elf with long silver gold hair the same color as Legolas' swept into the room.

"Why did no one inform me that my son was injured? Did it not occur to anyone here that I might want to know?" He descended on Legolas without even glancing at Eowyn. He took the blankets from him and bent to examine him while Aragorn and Elrond hovered behind him trying to explain that they had sent a bird to inform him and that they had no idea that he had never received the message. Eowyn thought how funny it was to see Aragorn and the ever regal Lord Elrond trying to placate this person who was obviously her loves father.

A hiss escaped his perfect lips as he saw the crimson still staining the bandages. "This wound is weeks old. Why is it not healing? Are your human healers this incompetent? And what about you Elrond? Surely you know what the problem is. I demand someone heal my son!" Aragorn and Elrond tried their best to calm the King down but he would have none of it.

"Everyone leave me, I need some time alone with my only son." Stunned, they left without another word. Even Eowyn did not have the strength to gainsay him.

tbc