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Post by Karri on Oct 13, 2004 21:19:53 GMT -5
All righty, then, here's the start of a round-robin to play with. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Aragorn stooped, resting his hands on his thighs, as the air around him grew steadily more palpable, pressing in on him like a heavy weight. Drawing in several long, deep breaths, he felt momentarily better…then the leaves started up again. They’d been rustling in the still air all day, as if purposely taunting him with the sound of a breeze that never came. Closing his eyes, Aragorn mumbled a steady stream of curses, directed more at the elf beside him, than the suffocating trees. “Please, friends,” Legolas soothed the trees, as he grinned at the mortal. “Your enthusiasm lightens my soul, yet the weight of it is a trifle stifling.” The trees drew back a little, swaying their branches enough to stir the still air. Refreshed by the slight breeze, Aragorn straightened, rolling his eyes at their eagerness to please Legolas. “You would think they had never seen an elf before.” “It has been long since any of my kindred journeyed in this forest…before many of these trees yet grew,” Legolas reminded his friend. “Elves journey in these lands.” “High Elves, yes, but not Wood-elves,” Legolas corrected. “Hmph,” Aragorn huffed in reply. “Come, Aragorn, you are tired. Let us stop for the day. You’ll be less grumpy after you’ve rested a bit.” Legolas dodged away laughing, as the mortal swatted his direction. Aragorn settled for glaring at the elf, then plopped down on a soft looking bit of moss between two great roots, his back against the tree. “As I am in such need of rest, oh blessed Wood-elf, you can tend to our supper while I nap.” Legolas simply bowed deferentially and disappeared into the wood, leaving Aragorn cursing in another long stream, as he closed his eyes and drifted into a light doze. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Roused by the mouth-watering aroma of roasting quail, Aragorn stretched, long and slow, before opening his eyes and grinning at the elf crouched beside a small cooking fire. “Supper, as ordered, your majesty.” Legolas bowed his head in mock respect, before dodging the stick Aragorn tossed at him. “His majesty, King Elessar, remained behind in Bree with his royal escort. I am Strider the ranger, and nothing more…for a little while, anyway.” “In that case, you can tend to breakfast,” Legolas teased half-heartedly, his spirits dimmed by wistful tone of his friend’s voice. “I don not think so, my friend. I refuse to spend all the morrow listening to you complain about the poor fare I manage for breakfast after the fine meal you provided for supper.” Legolas smirked, but Aragorn caught the obligatory nature of the expression. Accepting his share of the supper, the ranger stifled a sigh and began to eat. Chewing distractedly, Aragorn watched his friend set his food aside and sink into the pensive silence that had become all too familiar since they left Bree. “I am well, mellon nin.” Feeling the weight of his friend’s scrutiny, Legolas met Aragorn’s gaze with a patient smile. “Merely a little worn from our travels.” “Rest then,” the ranger suggested mildly, attempting to hide his growing concern. The admission was a rare one for the elf, and a sign that Legolas truly was not well. To Aragorn surprise, and mild alarm, Legolas responded with a nod and moved beyond the light of the small fire, spread out his cloak, and lay on his back, gazing up at the stars that managed to peak through the canopy. Aragorn watched, waiting for the elf’s breathing settle into the slow rhythm of sleep. “Aragorn! Stop watching me and finish eating.” Grinning, the ranger complied with the elf’s demand, shifting his attention to his food. Legolas breathed silent sigh of relief, as Aragorn gaze lifted, and closed his eyes. He really was worn and worrying about Aragorn worrying about him only added to it.
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Post by Gwenneth on Oct 13, 2004 21:41:48 GMT -5
Will be posting next bit in a ... bit.... LOL
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Post by Gwenneth on Oct 13, 2004 21:53:44 GMT -5
******************************************* As Aragorn whiled away at his supper, Legolas focused his attention on the brilliant stars above him. No matter what his mood, the stars always held a kind of solace for him.
Ever since he had heard the call of the Sea, Legolas had found himself restless and weary. As he watched a shooting star flicker across the sky, he imagined a ship sailing across the water and it brought a frown to his face.
The Sea-Longing has only grown worse over the years. As much as I dearly love Estel and Arwen, as much as I can not imagine parting from them, I am weary of this world., he thought to himself.
But as disheartened as he may get, Legolas vowed not to speak of it to Aragorn, for he knew it would only pain the man.
The Elf lightly turned his head, making not a sound, and stole a glance at his dear friend. Aragorn was sitting, slightly hunched, munching away at his food. The Elf could tell that much was on the man's mind, and he knew that his own temperment was bothering Estel. He would have to work harder to hide his disquiet.
You should just tell him, he may even understand, a small voice in the back of Legolas' head chimed. But another voice quickly countered. He is Human, and though quite knowledgable in the ways of Elves, could never know what the Sea-Longing is like.
Legolas sighed.
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A sigh. An audible sigh. That is just not like Legolas. What could be bothering him so? Aragorn looked over to his right and spied the Elf, still staring up at the stars, not lost in revery, meerly lost in the beauty of the sky and in his own thoughts.
Aragorn knew something was wrong with Legolas, but he didn't know what. He himself was weary, but he was weary from travel and from lack of practice.
Since he had been crowned King of Gondor, it had been difficult to leave the kingdom. There had been much to do to restore order to his realm and it had taken him a number of years to accomplish it.
In the meantime, Legolas had begun a colony of Elves in Ithilien and Aragorn had thought the Elf happy. But he had traveled with him before and knew that the Legolas with him now was not the old, cheerful, jesting Wood-Elf he had once traipsed Middle-Earth with.
I will see you returned to your old self, Legolas. I will drag the true out of you if it is the last thing I do.
So caught up in their thoughts they were that neither Legolas nor Aragorn caught the first signs of warning that something was about to happen.
The trees had gone quiet and not a single woodland creature stirred. The wind was whipping now, blocking out any foot, or paw, falls.
And it was under the cover of an uncharacteristic obliviousness on the Man and Elf's part that the wolves were able to approach the small camp without being seen nor heard.
Their attack was swift and their bites harsh.
Legolas, lying on the ground as he had been, couldn't move quickly enough and found himself pinned down under the massive weight of a male wolf, saliva dripping from the creature's fangs as it bent down to tear into his neck.
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Post by Joee on Oct 14, 2004 21:39:56 GMT -5
Once Legolas recovered from the surprise, he immediately grabbed hold of the wolf’s neck to prevent the razor sharp teeth from getting to his neck. It was not easy, although this was an ordinary wolf and not a warg, it clearly had the advantage over the elf and it’s strength was beginning to win out.
The wolf’s mouth was coming closer and closer to his throat. He could feel the hot, putrid breath on his neck. Time was running out.
“Aragorn,” he gasped as he fought to keep the wolf at bay. “Help!”
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Aragorn, meanwhile, was having his own troubles. He had been luckier than Legolas and was able to narrowly avoid a wolf as it launched itself at him, but now he was left defending himself with only his dagger, as his and Legolas’ weapons were out of reach.
Two wolves began to circle the human, each taking their turn to try and snap at him. Aragorn had heard Legolas’ cry for help and knew that he had to act soon. He quickly pondered his options. The wolves weren’t going to keep toying with him for much longer. He could try and stab one with his dagger but that would get him very close to the animal’s teeth and leave him open to attack from the other one. On the other hand, he could throw his dagger at one of the snarling beasts, but that would then leave him unarmed.
Aragorn finally made up his mind as was about to act when he realised it was too late. The couple seconds he took to contemplate the best strategy cost him as one of the wolves leapt at him.
The force of the impact sent him to the ground with a searing pain in his chest. He found himself in the same position as Legolas, but with one advantage, he still had his dagger. Aragorn wasted no time in plunging the weapon into the side of the beast. He could feel the creature’s blood pouring down its side and it wasn’t long until he wolf sagged against him, a glazed, dead look in its eyes.
Aragorn, however, wasn’t given much time to rest because as soon as he went to move the body, the second wolf that had been circling him stepped onto its fallen comrade and prevented Aragorn from escaping.
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Legolas knew something must be wrong, Aragorn never kept him waiting when he called for help unless something was wrong. He tried to look at where he heard the ranger fighting but was unable to see around the wolf on top of him. He knew he had to get himself out of this situation.
Making sure his left hand had a firm grip on the wolf’s neck, he reached towards his quiver with his right hand. It was slightly out of his reach he realised with dismay. He would have to get the wolf off of him before he could reach it.
Legolas put both his hands back on the wolf and then suddenly, with the strength and speed graced to the elves he rolled himself over the wolf. As he reached for his knife he felt a searing pain in his right hand and knew that the wolf had bitten him. He gave the pain no more thought as he buried his knife up to the hilt into the animal’s neck.
Instantly the creature stopped moving and Legolas wasted no time in searching around for Aragorn. He saw his friend pinned beneath two wolves. Legolas hurried over to him and quickly dispensed with the last wolf, taking it by surprise from behind and slitting it’s throat.
“Aragorn? Are you alright mellon nin?” asked the elf as he began to pull the carcasses off of the human, all the while ignoring the pain in his hand.
“My chest hurts,” said the slightly breathless ranger.
Legolas finished moving the animal bodies and knelt down by his friend. He noted the deep scratch marks on Aragorn’s chest and immediately took of his cloak and put pressure on the bleeding wound. “This looks bad.”
Aragorn gave a small smile. “Really? I thought it looked rather pretty.”
“We need to stop the bleeding now, I’ll – ” Legolas stopped talking and looked up suddenly.
“What is it?” asked Aragorn in alarm.
“More come.”
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Post by Deana on Oct 14, 2004 23:12:46 GMT -5
The sudden snarls that floated through the air sent a shiver of dread down Legolas' spine. He held Aragorn down, searching through the trees in an effort to locate their foes. The wolves hid themselves well, and Legolas gripped his knife, ignoring the pain that it caused his injury.
When the first wolf suddenly attacked, Legolas met it head on.
The animal was smarter than Legolas expected. He swiped his knife at it, but the wolf simply halted it's forward motion, effectively avoiding the strike. As Legolas' hand passed it's nose, the creature grabbed onto the elf's arm.
Legolas couldn't hold back a pain-filled gasp, and he grabbed the knife in his other hand, quickly stabbing the wolf. It howled and sagged to the ground, taking the elf's arm with it. Legolas tried to pull his limb out of the wolf's mouth, frantically looking behind himself to see how Aragorn fared. He was relieved to see that the human was holding his own against two others.
Finally freeing himself from the dead wolf's teeth, Legolas moved to help his friend, not even seeing the blood that dripped from his bleeding arm and hand...and not seeing the wolf that was coming up behind him.
Aragorn turned when he heard a startled cry come from his friend, and he saw Legolas thrown to the ground by the wolf that now stood on the elf's back. Ignoring the painful cuts on his chest, the human threw his dagger with all his might, inwardly sighing in relief when it slammed into the wolf. The carcass fell on top of Legolas, and the human quickly ran over. "Legolas? Are you all right?"
A grunt was his answer.
"Wasn't *I* the one who was under a wolf a few minutes ago?" Aragorn said, pushing the wolf off the elf.
"Indeed you were," said Legolas, pulling himself to a sitting position. "How do you fare?"
Aragorn opened his mouth to answer, but his eyes widened when he saw the blood on his friend's arm. "Better than you!" he said, picking up the elf's injured limb.
"It is nothing, Estel," said Legolas, trying to pull away. "Your wounds--"
"Are not as deep as yours," Aragorn interrupted, studying his friend's face. "Come, let us tend to our injuries, and then you will tell me what has been weighing on your mind."
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Post by Karri on Nov 7, 2004 18:20:12 GMT -5
Legolas finally succeeded in gingerly pulling his arm free and moved swiftly away from the ranger, hurriedly gather all he deemed vital from their small camp. “We shall tend each other wounds, but first let us take to the trees, lest we are set upon by more foes.”
Aragorn nodded and moved to help gather their few thing. It as not until the pair had stowed themselves comfortably with the dense crown of an old oak that the ranger frowned at his friend. He had not missed that Legolas gave no mention to speaking his mind when he talked of tending each other’s wounds. Aragorn had little time to ponder his friend’s choice of words, however, for the elf promptly stretched out his injured arm.
“Here,” Legolas offered, “you may as well tend to this first. It would not do to be dripping all the while I tend to your wounds.”
The ranger raised a startled brow, having expected Legolas to insist on tending his friend’s wounds first while claims that his own were naught. His expression darkened though as he realized that while his clothes soaked up the blood of his chest injury, Legolas sleeve was too saturated to soak up anymore, and the elf’s blood dripped freely. They would have to relocate to another tree once they had tended each other, lest the scent of the elf-blood upon the wood draw evil to them.
Legolas did not meet his friend’s eyes as the ranger gently grasped his arm. He sensed that Aragorn comprehended the need to speedily tend the injuries and move on from these parts and so was not likely to waste time probing the elf’s thoughts. Legolas could only hope that before it was convenient to spend time in conversation, the ranger, amidst all the distraction, would forget his desire to know what troubled the elf's thoughts .
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Post by Gwenneth on Nov 10, 2004 12:43:58 GMT -5
Aragorn frowned again as he gently tried to extricate the shreds of Legolas' tunic from the wound in his arm. It was painful work, and it wasn't helping matters that he had to work with all haste because of their predicament. Legolas swallowed hard when bits of the cloth snagged firmly in the slowly caking blood.
"I am sorry, mellon nin," Aragorn whispered as he heard yet another sharp intake of breath from the Elf. "I wish I did not have need to hurry. It would be far less painful for you."
Legolas nodded, gritting his teeth. "Yes, but rest assured that the same sentiments you will hear from my own mouth in a few moments time when I tend to your wound, Estel."
The man chuckled at that. "Too true, Legolas."
Soon, he had cleansed away much of the blood that had covered his friend's arm. Getting a full look at the wound, he cringed. It would be a while before the Elf regained full use of his arm. The muscle was roughly torn and the gouges deep.
But he remained silent hearing the sound of creatures nearing. If he heard them, Legolas must have heard them for a few minutes. Funny, the Elf had said nothing.
"Are you well, mellon nin? Surely you heard the approach of our enemy before I?" Aragorn glanced up from where he was nearly finished wrapping the wound securely.
Legolas looked back at him, startled. He tilted his head to the side and heard the sounds approach and he was suddenly embarrassed. He had been lost in reverie again.
"I fear I am distracted, Aragorn, for I did not listen to the night and I did not hear their approach. But let off my arm, for I must tend your wound and we must make haste and leave this place." The Elf proceeded to pull his arm from the man's grasp and push Estel back against the tree trunk.
Both were perched on an exceptionally thick branch, not too far off the ground because as you climb higher in the trees, the branches narrow and thin.
Aragorn acquiesced, eying the Elf. Legolas was still not entirely himself. The man watched as his wound was uncovered, and efficiently cleaned. He could not think on Legolas' state of mind, however, as the pain reminded him of the wound's presence.
Legolas apologized profusely as the man cringed and winced, but Aragorn would have none of it. "It is not your fault, but the fault of our enemy."
Finally, with the sounds of approaching danger roaring in their ears, Legolas and Aragorn dropped from the trees and set out at a quick pace along the forest floor.
Their steps were light and quiet and their trail not easy to follow.
But unbeknownst to Aragorn, and forgotten by Legolas, was a wound in the Elf's shoulder that had gone untended.
A wound that was leaving a crimson trail of blood for all to follow.
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Post by Deana on Nov 20, 2004 23:28:48 GMT -5
The elf and human quickly made their way through the forest; nervous but confident that they would lose the wolves.
Legolas led the way, his good arm wrapped around that of his friend. He tried to ignore the throbbing pain that his body felt, and knew that Aragorn did the same, as they continued to put space between themselves and their enemies. His elven ears could still hear them, and he wondered how that could possibly be.
"They still follow!" Aragorn suddenly said.
Legolas nodded. "Aye; I do not understand how they remain on our trail."
"Mayhap we should take to the trees!" said Aragorn.
Legolas made a sound that almost sounded like a snort, and Aragorn suddenly remembered his friend's injury.
"Or not," said the human.
Legolas gave his friend a slight smile, quickly looking him over to be sure that he fared well. Satisfied, he looked back to the forest as they ran, nearly stumbling when a wave of lightheadedness rode over him. *Have I lost 'that' much blood?* he thought, glancing at his arm. The bandages were spotted red in numerous places, and he brought his arm close to his chest, wincing when a pain shot through it from shoulder to fingertips.
The snarls of the wolves suddenly grew louder, and Aragorn looked over his shoulder. "They are gaining, Legolas!"
Legolas turned, relieved that the creatures at least weren't close enough to be visible. He said nothing, feeling lightheaded again as they continued to run for their lives...
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Post by Joee on Nov 21, 2004 20:59:56 GMT -5
Legolas began to stumble more and more as they made their way through the forest, slowing the pair down as they attempted to outrun the wolves.
“We cannot continue like this,” said Aragorn, noticing his friend’s plight. “They will catch us in no time! We must think if something else.”
“Aragorn, look behind us,” said Legolas, indicating the trail of blood. “They will find us in no time anyway.”
Aragorn chanced a look behind him. “Ai Legolas! We must stop, you cannot go on like this.”
“No!” cried the elf. “If we stop now we’re as good as dead.”
“If we continue then you very well may die!” Shouted Aragorn.
The ranger reached over and halted the elf. “Aragorn no! We must keep going. They are almost upon us.”
In fact, the creatures were now visible even to Aragorn and were quickly charging the pair down. Having no other option, Aragorn drew his sword and Legolas drew one knife in his good hand. The wolves wasted no time in attacking and the pair of friends soon found that they were having a hard time fending them off. The battle was heavily in the wolves favour and it looked like Aragorn and Legolas were going to loose when all of a sudden a wolf, that was just about to lunge at Aragorn dropped dead, the arrow of a crossbow protruding from its back.
Aragorn chanced a look up and noticed a heavily cloaked man standing some feet away taking aim with his crossbow again. Another wolf fell. When the battle was over, and all the animals lay dead Aragorn and Legolas, both looking the worse for wear, turned to the stranger. “We thank you for that, friend,” said Aragorn.
“Don’t be so sure about the friend part,” said the man in a deep, raspy voice as he trained the crossbow on the pair. “Now get moving.”
“Excuse me?” said the ranger, not quite understanding what was going on.
“I said move, in the direction,” he said indicating with his head. “Do it now or your friend dies.” The man moved the crossbow so it was pointed at Legolas who was leaning heavily against a tree, trying to stay conscious. “What’s your choice?”
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Post by Gwenneth on Dec 9, 2004 23:02:11 GMT -5
Realizing that the man was completely serious, Aragorn swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded. "We will do as you ask."
Legolas looked up, his eyes telling Aragorn he had no desire to follow this man, even if the cloaked figure had saved their lives.
But Aragorn lightly shook his head. Legolas, frowning, pushing himself away from the tree, swayed and fell heavily to the ground with a strangled cry.
In complete awe, Aragorn hurried forward, rushing past the man with the crossbow, and fell to his feet beside the Elf who was hunched over and laboring to breath.
"Legolas?" The man reached forward and eased Legolas back a little so he was sitting somewhat upright and looking into Aragorn's face. "What is wrong?"
The Elf didn't answer immediately. Aragorn's head was blocking the cloaked man's view of the Elf's face, and Legolas took this opportunity to let Aragorn know his intention.
Jerking his eyes downward, Legolas willed the man to follow his movement. Aragorn did so and saw the blade in the Elf's hands. One of the prince's throwing daggers.
Smiling lightly, Aragorn nodded his understanding, but realized that Legolas would have a time throwing the weapon with a wounded arm and shoulder.
So he reached forward slowly, pretending to be checking the Elf's wounds as he heard the man approaching, and took the dagger from his friend.
Now the cloaked figure was directly behind Aragorn. "Get him up or I'll fire!" The man called out, pulling back on the crossbow string.
Locking eyes on Legolas', Aragorn swallowed, closed his eyes and prayed to the Valar this would work.
Then, he spun nearly faster than the eye could see, and flung the dagger with all his remaining strength, straight at the man's chest.
Doing so, knocked him off balance and he hit the ground hard, listening in horror as the arrow on the crossbow zinged sharply.
He felt no pain from the bite of the released arrow, however, and quickly sat up, turning back toward Legolas.
The Elf's eyes were wide and his mouth slightly ajar in shock. An arrow, the black and orange fletchings still quivering, protruded from the prince's side.
Looking up, his eyes filled with pain and anguish, Legolas tried to speak, but he could form no words.
Then, his eyes rolled back and he began to fall forward.
To Aragorn, it all seemed to be happening in slow motion and he just barely managed to catch the Elf before he hit the ground and impaled himself further.
"Legolas! Mellon nin!"
There was no response.
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Post by Deana on Dec 9, 2004 23:10:46 GMT -5
Oh wow...poor Legolas! ROTFL you know the poor elf is in REALLY big trouble when FOUR of us are writing the same story, LOL!
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Post by Karri on Dec 11, 2004 23:11:55 GMT -5
Aragorn eased Legolas down onto his back gently. His first instinct was to reach for ties of the elf’s tunic, but he then decided that Legolas could not afford the exposure compounded with the blood loss.
'Nay, I will leave it for now,' he thought. 'I cannot treat him properly here, anyway. I must stabilize the arrow, and then get him to a safe shelter.'
His hands moved toward the arrow instead. Gently lifting the tunic’s torn edges, Aragorn leaned in to inspect the wound, but a feral growl from behind brought his head back up. It turned with a snap toward the sound, his fingers reflexively wrapped around the arrow shaft as his eyes widened at the site of the man charging at him. Moving to his defense faster than his conscious mind could register, Aragorn’s hand yanked the arrow from the elf’s body and rammed it into his attacker’s abdomen as the man’s hurtling body slammed into him, throwing him atop Legolas.
The force of the man’s weight crashing down on him pressed the air from Aragorn’s lung, banishing all though from his mind except, Breathe!
An agonized scream tore from Legolas’s throat as Aragorn ripped the arrow from his abused flesh. It was cut short though as a tremendous weight abruptly slammed down atop him, pushing the air from his lungs and preventing him from drawing any back in. Incoherently, Legolas instinctively struggled, in a blind frenzy, against the sinister blackness overtaking his last shreds of consciousness.
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Post by Deana on Dec 19, 2004 14:22:28 GMT -5
Aragorn quickly scrambled out from between Legolas and their enemy, pushing the dead man away from the wounded elf. "Legolas!" he exclaimed, still hearing his friend's anguished cry of pain echoing inside his mind. "Legolas!"
The elf gave no reply, unconscious thanks to the abuse that his body had taken.
Aragorn turned, grabbing the man's wrist to ensure that he was truly dead and no longer a threat to them. Relieved to find no beat, he removed his cloak and quickly began ripping it for bandages.
Legolas remained oblivious throughout Aragorn's ministrations, something that the human was grateful for; when he'd ripped the arrow free, he'd accidentally made the wound worse than it had been already.
Once finished, Aragorn gently lifted his friend, mindful of his multiple wounds. Sighing, he quickly started to walk back to their campsite, ignoring the sting of the cuts on his own chest. He barely felt them, concentrating on the fact that Legolas needed to be properly tended too as soon as possible; he'd already lost too much blood from his arm and shoulder...if Legolas was human, the added arrow wound would possibly have already killed him.
It took Aragorn a while to reach the campsite, for they had run quite far. He laid Legolas down and immediately opened his healing bag, gathering everything that he needed.
Legolas remained completely motionless, and the human quickly put a pot of water over the fire. Removing the elf's bloody bandages, he applied pressure to slow the bleeding before carefully stitching the wounds shut. That done, he mixed some herbs into the heated water and carefully fed the medicine to his friend.
Sitting back, Aragorn took the elf's wrist to feel his pulse. It was fast, and not as strong as Aragorn would've liked. Sighing, Aragorn wondered who that man had been, and why he'd attacked them.
"Forgive me, Legolas," he suddenly said, still feeling terrible over his earlier action. He knew that Legolas would forgive him, as it had been necessary in order to save their lives, but he couldn't help feeling guilty all the same.
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Post by Joee on Jan 1, 2005 15:06:05 GMT -5
It was a few guilt ridden hours that Aragorn had to wait before Legolas first began to show signs of waking. Slowly the elf opened his eyes, and took in his surroundings and the condition that he found himself in this time. Pain radiated from his body, but no more than one particular point in his side. At first he wondered what had happened to cause such a searing agony, but slowly the events of the few hours all came back to him.
“Aragorn,” he managed to gasp out.
Aragorn, who had been busy mixing some ingredients together, looked up from his work. “Legolas, mellon nin, how do you feel?”
“Like a horde of goblins decided to use me as target practice,” he said with a weak grin before adding, “what happened?”
Instantly the small smile, which had been there since Legolas had awoken, died from Aragorn’s face. “Do you not remember? Legolas, you were shot by some mad man in the woods. Can you not recall anything of what happened?”
“Aye Aragorn, do not worry, I remember most of what happened. What I meant was what happened to that man? Who was he and was did he want? We appear to be back in our old campsite, how did we get here?”
“The man is dead. Who he was or why he wanted us is not clear to me. I did not even think to search him for clues of his identity, my main concern was you. You were bleeding heavily from the arrow wound, and…” Aragorn sighed and looked his long time friend in the eyes. “I am afraid I made it much worse for you. When I pulled, nay, when I ripped the arrow from you, I caused further damage. I am so sorry mellon nin.”
Legolas’ heart nearly broke at the sad look in Aragorn’s eyes. “Estel, do not feel guilty,” he said softly. “Although my recollection of the events after I was shot are hazy at best, I know that you would never have done anything to hurt me on purpose, without some well intended reason. I do not blame you for my condition and neither should you blame yourself.”
Aragorn couldn’t help but smile slightly. Although he knew that Legolas would forgive him, actually hearing it from the elf seemed to make things much better.
Legolas watched as Aragorn’s face lightened. “I am glad that I could ease some burden off of your shoulders my friend, but now, would you mind informing me what happened back there?”
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Post by Gwenneth on Jan 7, 2005 18:36:18 GMT -5
Legolas breathed shakily after hearing the story his friend told. He honestly didn't remember any of that, not even when Aragorn ripped the arrow from his flesh. Of the latter, he was thankful.
"You should get some rest, Legolas." Aragorn reached forward and adjusted the blanket he had covered his ailing friend with before telling the tale of the strange man's death.
With a small frown, Legolas countered, "As should you, for I know you were not unscathed in this battle and you have not tended your wounds, nor have you rested."
Aragorn smiled. "Know-it-all, Elf. One would think you had been up watching me."
"Maybe I was."
"I doubt it."
Legolas left it at that, not having the strength to play word games with Aragorn. Instead, he cast his eyes to the stars and found himself thinking, once again, of the sea.
Aie the Sea! Oh how I still long to see it, more so in this pain than when I am well, for I know it and that beyond would be nuturing and no pain dwells beyond these shores! No pain? No pain but that of leaving my dear friends, he amended.
Perhaps then, there was pain in the Havens, for how could he survive if he left all his dear friends behind. He knew it had been difficult for Thranduil to leave him when he had sailed with the remnants of Eryn Lasgalen.
Does Adar feel pain at my absence? He wondered.
"LEGOLAS!"
The elf was jolted from his reverie by Aragorn's cry. Thinking something was wrong, he moved to sit up, but a restraining hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"No...do not move. I was merely worried that you were not answering me. What torments your mind, Legolas?"
Tell him! His inner voice yelled. This has weighed on your mind long enough!
"I...I..." he hesitated. Where to start? The voice again...Try at the beginning... "It began when I heard the cry of the gulls..."
And he began to pour out his emotions as he lay shivering on the cold ground, his lifeforce weak and his blood seeping through the cloth that bound his wounds.
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