Legolas stumbled yet again as he stepped on another rock coated in ice, obscured by the deep snow, and his leg shot out from underneath him, but he rightened himself before he dropped his precious burden. The action sent pain shooting up the limb before it was dulled by the bitter cold.
How could he be so dense? No one would be daft enough to leave their rooms without any footwear or proper clothing for the elements. No one but him.
Legolas glanced back at his brother, sighing when he found the same sight that greeted his eyes every time he checked on him.
Ascal was still deeply unconscious; showing no signs of waking any time soon.
"Ascal," he whispered desperately. Nothing. Not even a twitch. Legolas feared greatly for his brother. His head injury could send him into a death sleep, if he wasn't in one already.
The elf chewed his lip in nervous thought, taking care to adjust the cloak around Ascal's injured head so no snow landed upon it.
A glimpse of crimson against the harsh white caught his eye. Blood. Where was it coming from?
Panic shot through the Prince as his mind immediately supplied Ascal as the source. He craned his head around best he could as he looked over his brother for the injury. His head surely must have stopped bleeding by now, right?
A blow rained down on his unprotected gut, taking him completely by surprise as he hunched over in attempt to staunch the pain.
"Keep moving elf!" Hundar growled. It was only then that Legolas realized he had ceased his relentless march in his distress for his brother.
Reluctantly he began walking again, but threw glances over his shoulder. Blood trailed behind him in small drops and tapered off gradually before disappearing altogether.
The Prince's brow furrowed in confusion. What had caused the blood so suddenly?
Pain laced up his leg again like a million stinging needles as he slipped on a rock again. Legolas cursed under his breath in Sindarin and glanced down. Blood dotted against the snow underneath his foot.
Realization dawned on the young prince. That was the source of the blood. He had cut his foot earlier on the jagged rocks, and now cut it open again.
Hope shot through him and warmed his freezing insides. The blood left a clear trail through the blizzard. Granted others were not far behind, they would be able to see the trail before the blowing snowflakes buried it forever.
His warrior instincts flared within him. He finally had a plan for their escape.
"I'm going to get us out of here Muindor," he whispered behind him silently enough that the men could not hear him.
He inhaled deeply, steeling himself for the arduous task ahead of him. This was for Ascal.
Legolas gritted his teeth and studied the ground underneath him as they trudged on through the snow.
Every rock he spotted, he stepped on. He made sure to slide his feet across them so the serrated edges would slice the tender soles of his elven feet.
Throwing a quick glance behind him revealed his plan was working. The men were either oblivious or indifferent to his blood that stained the bleached earth and bared the way like a beacon.
Anyone searching for their trail would surely see it.
He smiled despite the piercing aches from his feet. He could do this for Ascal. He would do this for Ascal. Because he needed help; because he was his brother.
"Leg…las…" the broken murmur took the Prince by surprise. The shock was swiftly drowned out by his sheer relief. Ascal had awoken.
Legolas almost stopped before remembering to keep moving lest he take another blow.
"I am here, Muindor. Do not fear," he reassured quickly. Ascal's head shifted marginally against Legolas' shoulder, a low moan escaping the younger elf.
"Wha…" Ascal's strained voice faded, but Legolas knew of what his brother asked.
"We have been captured by men, Muindor. Men of Beladge. We are traveling to their kingdom, but fear not; I have a plan. Help will come. For now I need you to stay awake. I haven't the time as of yet to check your injury."
Ascal took in a shuddering breath, trying to calm the rampant pounding in his skull. It felt like nothing he had ever felt before. Never in his wildest fantasies could he have imagined a headache being so excruciating.
The agony was breath-taking; he just wanted to sleep. As if sensing his brother's intentions, Legolas shook the shoulder that was underneath his head, and whispered words of encouragement to him.
"No. You must stay awake, Muindor. Saes, do not retreat back into sleep just yet." But the younger elf was exhausted, the few moments he was awake too much for his injured body. He exhaled silently as he was swept under the waves of darkness.
"Muindor? Ascal! Awaken! You mustn't sleep!" He shook his shoulder again in vain; Ascal was once again unconscious.
Worry settled over the Prince. He wished more than anything he could cease this march and check his brother's wound. Or better, take him back to Mirkwood where the healers could look after him properly.
An almost imperceptible flash of green inside the tree-line caught his attention. He strained his elven eyes towards it intently. Another flash, and Legolas instantly recognized the object.
It was a cloak. A cloak of a Mirkwood warrior.
Legolas prepared himself for the elves to implement their plan. He was finally going to be able to get Ascal help.
The time to escape was nigh.
_=O=_
Muindor: Brother
Saes: Please
Sorry guys for the late post. I was trying to post it yesterday, but for some reason the website wouldn't let me. Or anyone for that matter. I was talking to other people that had the same problem. So without further ado, enjoy!