A/N *Hands out cookies* you guys deserve some sort of reward for all the reviewing and favorite/following that you do! Trust me, they keep me going so Thank You!
Disclaimer: not mine
Chapter Twelve
Aragorn never knew how long he stayed that way. The next thing he knew something was touching him, pressing against his injure and sending stabs of pain racing though it. Gasping in shook, Aragorn's hand flew up, ready to cover his wound protectively. Only he did not touch cloth…he touched skin.
Jerking up right, Aragorn tightened his fingers around the elf's hand, not daring to turn around and be met with a face that didn't know him. His heart beat so loudly with fear that he was sure everyone in Imladris could hear it.
The hand pulled out of his grip, trembling noticeably, before falling back against the man's shoulder a second later as they were too weak to do much else.
"You…Estel…?" Legolas croaked, his voice soft and barely hearable. That single word of 'Estel' sent Aragorn's emotions spinning out of control. For a second, the human just sat there, unable to move for excitement and joy. Tears began unbidden to make their way down his face, but Aragorn did not care.
Surging up wards in a single motion, the man sited himself next to his friend on the make shift bed.
"Yes, mellon-nin," he sobbed quietly, lifting Legolas's limp finger with his good hand and pressing them against his cheek. The prince lay still, eyes tightly closed and still quite pale, but awake! Aragorn felt like singing, instead he continued to cry, though laughing in a chocked fashion through them.
"C-c-cold." Legolas whispered, this thin frame beginning to be racked by shivers as his mind returned to reality. He felt incredibly weak and ill, not even being able to find the strength to open his eyes.
"shhh…it's ok…I have you. I won't leave." The ranger promised his voice cracking. One-handily he tried to lift the prince's body, thinking to warm and comfort him. He got Legolas half-way up before he lost his hold, accidently letting Legolas crash back down against the pillows.
The wood-elf gasped, hissing sharply as pain radiated through his body as his pale face screwed up.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Aragorn moaned, burying his face in the elf's shoulder, unable to stop the shudders of his shoulders. The constant range of emotion lately had been just too much for him to handle.
"shh…Estel…" Legolas whispered, weakly lifting a hand up and tangling it in the man's unruly strands of hair.
The elf had no idea what had happened since the last time he had been awake. Legolas remembered talking to Aragorn, falling asleep, and then wakening up here. He was sure something must have happened though, with the way Aragorn was acting.
Legolas's body was incredible drained but he still tried his best to comfort the man who was sobbing against his shoulder. When Estel finally calmed, Legolas left his hand against the man's head, finding comfort with the touch.
"Legolas…?" Aragorn asked in a soft voice, sitting up and gently holding the prince's hand, rubbing it. "Do you need anything? How are you feeling?" he finished, wiping his eyes on his sleeve.
"Absolutely horrible…" Legolas mumbled, feeling too drained to fight Aragorn. When the man remained silent, Legolas finally worked up the energy to open his eyes, groaning slightly as light evaded his vision. When he had blinked away the black spots Legolas look at Aragorn, suddenly freezing.
"What happened…to you?" he demeaned, one hand drifting up to touch the white sling.
"Nothing," Aragorn lied easily, not wanting Legolas to worry about him or what had happened.
"No, something did." Legolas insisted, his tried eyes gaining a gleam of determination.
"Nothing happened." The man said with finality, squeezing the elf's hand tightly. "But you need to sleep now, you'll feel a lot better if you do."
Legolas made a face, resentful to sleep after so much had obviously happened,
"Listen," Aragorn pointed out with a smile. "I promise I will tell you the whole story after you wake up," he assured, chuckling lightly at the expression that the elf was wearing. It quickly turned into a fully fledged laugh at Legolas's glare.
Estel sat with Legolas till the elf drifted off, making sure he was not in any danger for the moment. When Aragorn was finally assured that the prince would sleep he got to his feet, knowing that his family would want to know.
Running quickly down the hall, the man burst into the room where he knew Elrond and his brothers were working. Bursting through the door, Aragorn announced.
"He remembers, he remembers!" Elrond looked up sharply where he was working, a smile or relief growing across his face. Elladan and Elrohir did not hesitate to announce their joy, letting out a loud shout and smashing their younger brother between them in a hug.
BYYOURSIDE
The guards at the door nodded respectfully at Elrond, stepping away from the door to allow their Lord to pass.
"Has he tried anything, or said anything at all?" Elrond asked softly, turning to face the elves with a hand on the door knob. He was on his way to talk with the man that had been captured by Aragorn and wanted all the facts he could have.
"No, my Lord, he has not." The other elf responded, again inclining his head. Elrond nodded thoughtfully, before pushing open the door and quickly sliding in.
The room was dark, only a small lantern lighting the small space. In the corner sat the man, tied to a chair. The man's hood had been thrown back, reveling his bruised face.
Aragorn fought very well, Elrond thought with just a hint of pride. When the door opened, spreading light across the floor, the human looked up. Deep hatred glittered in his eyes and a snarl left his lips.
"Coming to kill me now!" his voice was harsh and angry, but calm. The door snapped shut behind Elrond and they were left in semi-darkness.
"No, not at the moment," Elrond said calmly, gliding gracefully to stand directly in front of the assassin. "I want answers."
This only made the man laugh, a harsh crackling nose. Elrond glared at him, but remained silent till the man had calmed down. Spluttering with chocked laughter, the man abruptly stopped.
"You will never get any answers from me!"
"Tell me. Who is your master? Why is he looking for Isildur's heir?" Elrond spoke just as harshly, taking another step forwards so that they were face to face.
"I told you before. I'm not going to say anything!" the man snarled, glaring pointedly at Elrond.
"How does your master know about Isildur's heir? Most people don't know that that line even still exists."
"Listen, elf. For one I don't know anything. I only work for him but even if I did I wouldn't tell your disgusting race anything that I know." The man spat, twisting in his bonds in anger.
"But you are trusted by him. He put you on this most important job, he has confidence in you." Elrond mused, turning away and beginning to pace. "You are his right-hand man, aren't you?" When the silence stretched on Elrond glanced sharply back, refining his statement.
"No, not his right-hand man. But you are at the top are you not? What do you know?"
"Look, the man pays me well for what I do. That's all that I need to know about him!"
"Is keeping his secretes worth your life?" Elrond pressured, still convinced that the man knew more than he was letting on. The man stared at the Lord for a moment, not lowering his gaze though a slight hint of fear could now be seen.
Elrond nodded softly to himself, seeing that he had struck a nerve with the man.
"What is your name?" he asked softly, making his voice lighter.
"I will never tell you anything! You will never get me to beg for my life, or―or to be wrapped around your little finger." The man said his vioce growing with anger."Never, never will I fall under the powers of the elves, they cannot ―will not― use me!" By this time his breaths were coming in ragged gulps and his eyes were slightly crazy.
Elrond had remained calm throughout it all, but now he stood slowly.
"Think about what I have said. I will be back." With that he turned gracefully and swept form the room, closing the door firmly behind him. Turning to the guards he requested,
"Make sure he is given food, but do not leave him alone while he eats it. At all other times he is too be left tied up."
Making his way back up the stairs, Elrond turned off at Legolas's room. He wanted to check the elf over again to make sure he was doing better or at least the same. The healer had left the younger elf in the charge of his youngest son while Elladan and Elrohir continued to work on the antidote.
Sure enough when Elrond entered the room, he found Estel sitting faithfully by his friend's side, only glancing quickly up at his father.
"How is he?" Elrond asked, stopping next to Aragorn's side. The human sighed loudly, resuming the lightly stroking of Legolas's blonde hair.
"I don't know. I think that the antidote that I gave him is starting to wear off. Are Elladan and Elrohir almost done with it?" Aragorn asked, his face pinched with worry.
"They are getting close." Elrond murmured, watching the prince of Mirkwood sleep peacefully. All was silent except for Legolas's slow deep breaths when Aragorn spoke up again.
"How did it go with the man?" he asked, automatically reaching down with his good arm and pulling the blanket a little higher up on the elf's shoulders. His eyes did not leave Legolas's form as if he was afraid that Legolas would disappear if he looked away. He was just beginning to recover from the shock of having the prince ripped from his grasp and then nearly losing him.
"As excepted. He isn't going to talk, Estel." Elrond said softly, picking up Legolas's limp wrist and checking his pulse.
"Can I go talk to him, Ada?" Aragorn asked slowly, knowing what his father would say to that. He raised his eyes to meet his fathers, one hand still resting on the elf's head.
"Certainly not!" Elrond exclaimed, looking up sharply. He gently lay Legolas's arm back down across his stomach while starting Estel in the eye. "He is looking for Isildur's heir, you are not to go anywhere near him."
"I just want to talk with him, it's not as though he is going to get free! Or that I am going to tell him who I am." Aragorn justified, quietly slightly as Legolas shifted in his sleep, turning his face into the pillow.
Pulling Aragorn to his feet, Elrond steered him across the room. His voice was lowered even further as he spoke to his son.
"Estel, I will not have you visiting him, that final. Is that clear?"
Aragorn was silent for a second before nodding his head softly, though he was clearly put out. "I want answers, though, and he is the only who can give them to us." He said sourly. "Plus, I really want to punch him in the face. Talking doesn't have to be involved."
Elrond fought to hide a small smile at that, shaking his head. "You have already delivered him some very good bruises, Aragorn."
Aragorn thought about for a second before shaking his head, "Not ever going to be enough, not for what he did to Legolas."
As if hearing his name, the elf on the bed stirred restlessly, rolling over onto his stomach letting out a soft cough. Aragorn and Elrond glanced over, surprise written on their faces before they crossed back over to the bed.
Legolas was still sleeping, lightly though it was. Aragorn looked up worriedly at his father, eyes shining with new fear.
"He needs more of the antidote." Elrond nodded in agreement, laying his own large hand on the younger elf's head.
"I will go see how it is getting along. Do not be afraid to call me if need." He whispered, before leaving the two friends alone again.
Aragorn gently eased himself back down on the bed, waiting breathlessly to see if Legolas awake as the mattresses shifted. He did not and the ranger went back to stroking the prince's hair. It had come far too close to losing the elf for his comfort and he needed reassurance that this friend was there.
TBC…
YAY! Legolas remembers! But what will happen to the assassin now that he is in their grip…
Lusse Eldalion: Yay, he did! That would be so sad if he hadn't. Thanks!
World-classgeek: I love rain, it is so dramatic! I adore Aragorn so much…and Legolas…and Elladan and Elrohir…and pretty much everyone else! Lol. :D
AmazingWriter123: *Smiles sweetly* I like cliffies (if you hadn't noticed!) That is awesome, I'm glad that you think it is! Hannon le, Mellon-nin!
Freddie23: More suffering ahead! Yes, we are very, very, cruel and I love it! *sighs happily* far too much some say!
DragonElf: That is an excellent question! I have no answer…creative license, I guess. I agree with you so much and kind of wish I had done it…It is very true, the guy would have done it. Thanks!
Animepercystyle: yeah…grammar is not my strong point. I totally agree with you there, slash is just is horrible! I am very much in love with angst I will NEVER be able to get enough of it so I know what you mean! Thanks so much! (I 3 Legolas as well)
LILEVILONE96: that must suck! Authors who do that really annoy me, they make me want to smash something if it is a good story! Poor Aragorn indeed, he is going to get grey hairs before his time! Thanks!
Crystal di Angelo: That would have been awesome! I kind of wish I had done that, but alas, I don't think Legolas could have held on any longer. Thanks!
ShadowHawq35: You are right, poor Legolas needs lots more of it! Thanks mellon-nin!
Robinsmum: I hope so too! ;) Thank you for reviewing! What you don't trust me…I wonder why. Lol!
Jack-damian: Indeed, Aragorn needs a lot of saving before his hair turns gray! I hate exams, so I understand you r pain…we should just be rid of the whole lot!
Sarathestarkidranger: Agreed, very much so agreed! I am so jealous right now…. I want to go to New York! I'll wait patiently for you to return…Thanks!
Sandy-wmd: Aragorn is awesome, I love him. Thanks for noticing that, I guess I didn't think about it!
LotR-HP-PJ: I had defiantly better not kill him! ;) It would be a very interesting way to die… Thanks so much, I am glad you like it so far!
Elves are awesome: I love that word as well! Well, luckily, he remembered yay! Thanks!