Post by Móreadhiel on Jun 13, 2006 15:39:28 GMT -5
The downpour outside the small cave had slowed a bit, but that had not made Aragorn’s condition improve any.
He was freezing cold to the touch and hallucinated often. He continued to call out for his father and brothers. He even called out for his mother a few times.
Legolas had no idea what to do! He was stuck with his mind reeling about how to help his best friend.
On one hand, the prince thought of carrying the man back to Rivendell. But that idea had quickly been forgotten when he remembered something Elrond had said about people in this situation.
Yet, he knew that he could not stay here and watch his best friend die of cold and injury. He would not allow it!
But what to do?
It seemed almost all his options had run out, he looked up with tears trailing down his cheeks. He stared at the two horses that stood outside; they were not in the rain. The ledge had protected them a bit and he was grateful for that.
Amon was favoring his right front leg and the prince knew now that his last option was gone.
Lowering his head in defeat, he put a hand on his friend’s and waited in silent failure, waiting for Aragorn to pass away from the realm of this world.
The moon continued it’s trek through the sky, even though no one could see it.
As night turned to day and the rain faded to a gentle mist, the prince continued to await the inevitable.
Harfin stuck his large white head through the entry way and turned his head to the side, as if to ask questions.
‘What is wrong with Estel?’ he seemed to say, the beast neighed softly and pawed the ground.
Looking up, Legolas saw that Amon had disappeared.
The prince turned his eyes back to the disturbed horse and smiled reassuringly.
“He’ll b-be al-rrright.” he said, trying to keep the lie out of his stuttered words.
It seemed to subdue the horse’s fears and worries because Harfin turned his large head round and limped outside slowly, and leaning his head down toward the earth, he began to chew some grass.
As the sun began to peak through the clouds he could now better see the scratches upon the black horse’s belly. There was only a little blood and they did not seem too deep.
This helped the prince and lifted a burden from his heart and stilled his mind.
Harfin would be alright, the scratches were only miniature and did not hit anything vital.
They would heal soon and be nothing more than new skin upon the beast’s midsection.
Snorting softly, Harfin stuck his head up and looked towards the valley path.
Legolas’s curiosity was perked, but he waited.
The prince might have thought it to be more wolves, but the fact that Harfin did not run or warn them was another thing that stilled his madly beating heart.
‘What if it is men?’ he thought looking to his unconscious and hardly breathing friend. ’Could they help him?’
The elf prince knew nothing of the ways of men, he only knew that many were rude and unkind to elves and a few were rather snobby. But their were groups that could and would be kind, especially if they saw that Legolas was trying to help another human.
Taking another look at Aragorn’s deathly pale face, he decided how awful that would be if they were men.
‘Not that they would be mean or uncaring.’ he let his brain talk out the situation. ‘But they might think they would know what to do, but in reality they would not and it would bring you to more trouble, Estel.’
He mentally laughed at himself for talking to his friend inside his own head.
‘My, I am quite a unique elf, am I not?’ as this notion left he saw the excitement and joy that seemed to collect in Harfin’s dark eyes.
Listening for a moment, he took his concentration off Estel’s laborious breathing and turned to the noises outside.
Soft talking caught in his elven ears and he listened to the eloquently spoken words, and among that was the hobbled prance of another horse.
“Cenin runyar, narmo runya.”
The words elvish words floated upon the air a mist.
“I see more than tracks, little brother.”
Legolas head a deep gasp as the many wolf bodies were discovered.
“Oh, Eru help us.” The plea was raspy and held much emotion and Legolas felt that the younger of the twin’s was worried for them.
“We will find them, ‘Ro.” the older of the two reassured. “They are as well as safe in my arms-”
At this moment, Aragorn began to shiver all the more and a harsh coughing fit seized his youthful body.
The prince felt the man’s body spasm and jerk as the water left his lungs. But among the specks of water, there was a barely seen crimson liquid.
Blood!
The elven prince’s mind shot into fear and he stroked his friend’s fading body, the gentle rub helped him back to a peaceful state.
But deep in his heart and head, Legolas knew, oh yes he knew, Aragorn was dying and he could not help him alone.
“Estel?” one of the voices called as both slid from their horses.
Soft shadows filled the cave entrance and the prince saw the silken leggings that each wore.
“Legolas?”
A dark head popped down and an luminescent smile grew on the younger twin’s pale lips.
“You wouldn’t be in need of some assistance, would you, young prince?” he chuckled as the grateful grin passed over his Sindarin friend’s pale features.
“I-I wwwwould inde-ed.” his grin grew wider as the younger twin stood astonished, his head to one side.
“Eru! Legolas was that you?” A second later, another identical head slid into the prince’s vision and he chuckled, nodding softly.
“Well, well. Speaking again are we-” his gaze drifted down to his youngest brother’s pale and thin form. He let a sad smile come to his face. “Oh, Estel.”
Elrohir, turned to see his little brother and gasped. He had never seen the boy like that before and this was not a pretty sight.
In the daylight, all three elves could see how pale the boy had become. His skin was only a little darker than a white bed sheet. His leg, which had been torn up by the wolf, was red around certain edges of hanging skin. Patches of white bone could be seen through and although that was ugly, that was not the worst.
Elladan spied a trickle of dark blood seeping slowly from the corner of the man’s pale lips.
Not to mention the knock to his head and the black-eye he now sported.
“We have to get him home, to father.” Elrohir spoke first, his shock recovering more quickly.
“But how? He can not ride a horse! That will kill him and rip his lung further.” Elladan argued, his eyes showing of how painfully aware he was of the situation.
For a few moments, silence followed.
No one did anything but think. Outside, the horses ate clumps of grass and neighed happily in the shimmering sun.
“I will c-carry hhhim-m.”
Identical eyes looked upon the prince and saw the truth he held in his own pale-blue eyes.
The twins knew that if he had to, Legolas would carry Aragorn. They knew how much the man meant to him.
Legolas loved Estel like a brother, and they knew that no matter what other option they came up with. No one and nothing would be more careful with the boy than Legolas would.
Reluctantly, Elrohir nodded and so did Elladan.
“All right. We trust you, prince.” Elrohir whispered, but a hand to his brother’s freezing brow. ’Odd.’ he mused. ’How he is cold and not hot.’
“But what about your arm? Don’t think I haven’t noticed.” the older twin shook his head, almost shunning the thought altogether. “You know what your father will do if your arm is maimed! And it will be if you continue to put weight on it.”
Legolas, without saying another word, hugged the young man closer to himself and bobbed his head from side to side.
“I-I willll ca-arrry him.”
Elrohir knew they could do nothing but let him. This bantering over who should carry the injured man was taking far too long and Estel was not going to last much longer.
“Let him, Elladan.” the younger twin spoke, grabbing his brother’s sleeve and making him turn. “We will guide the horses, let Legolas carry Estel.”
“But-” for a moment, Elladan was not about to let Legolas hold HIS injured brother. But he noted the frantic look in his’ twin’s identical, silver eyes.
Reluctantly, he nodded and moved forward with Elrohir, only turning his eyes back once to glance upon the prone form of his little brother in the elven prince’s gentle arms.
He was freezing cold to the touch and hallucinated often. He continued to call out for his father and brothers. He even called out for his mother a few times.
Legolas had no idea what to do! He was stuck with his mind reeling about how to help his best friend.
On one hand, the prince thought of carrying the man back to Rivendell. But that idea had quickly been forgotten when he remembered something Elrond had said about people in this situation.
Yet, he knew that he could not stay here and watch his best friend die of cold and injury. He would not allow it!
But what to do?
It seemed almost all his options had run out, he looked up with tears trailing down his cheeks. He stared at the two horses that stood outside; they were not in the rain. The ledge had protected them a bit and he was grateful for that.
Amon was favoring his right front leg and the prince knew now that his last option was gone.
Lowering his head in defeat, he put a hand on his friend’s and waited in silent failure, waiting for Aragorn to pass away from the realm of this world.
The moon continued it’s trek through the sky, even though no one could see it.
As night turned to day and the rain faded to a gentle mist, the prince continued to await the inevitable.
Harfin stuck his large white head through the entry way and turned his head to the side, as if to ask questions.
‘What is wrong with Estel?’ he seemed to say, the beast neighed softly and pawed the ground.
Looking up, Legolas saw that Amon had disappeared.
The prince turned his eyes back to the disturbed horse and smiled reassuringly.
“He’ll b-be al-rrright.” he said, trying to keep the lie out of his stuttered words.
It seemed to subdue the horse’s fears and worries because Harfin turned his large head round and limped outside slowly, and leaning his head down toward the earth, he began to chew some grass.
As the sun began to peak through the clouds he could now better see the scratches upon the black horse’s belly. There was only a little blood and they did not seem too deep.
This helped the prince and lifted a burden from his heart and stilled his mind.
Harfin would be alright, the scratches were only miniature and did not hit anything vital.
They would heal soon and be nothing more than new skin upon the beast’s midsection.
Snorting softly, Harfin stuck his head up and looked towards the valley path.
Legolas’s curiosity was perked, but he waited.
The prince might have thought it to be more wolves, but the fact that Harfin did not run or warn them was another thing that stilled his madly beating heart.
‘What if it is men?’ he thought looking to his unconscious and hardly breathing friend. ’Could they help him?’
The elf prince knew nothing of the ways of men, he only knew that many were rude and unkind to elves and a few were rather snobby. But their were groups that could and would be kind, especially if they saw that Legolas was trying to help another human.
Taking another look at Aragorn’s deathly pale face, he decided how awful that would be if they were men.
‘Not that they would be mean or uncaring.’ he let his brain talk out the situation. ‘But they might think they would know what to do, but in reality they would not and it would bring you to more trouble, Estel.’
He mentally laughed at himself for talking to his friend inside his own head.
‘My, I am quite a unique elf, am I not?’ as this notion left he saw the excitement and joy that seemed to collect in Harfin’s dark eyes.
Listening for a moment, he took his concentration off Estel’s laborious breathing and turned to the noises outside.
Soft talking caught in his elven ears and he listened to the eloquently spoken words, and among that was the hobbled prance of another horse.
“Cenin runyar, narmo runya.”
The words elvish words floated upon the air a mist.
“I see more than tracks, little brother.”
Legolas head a deep gasp as the many wolf bodies were discovered.
“Oh, Eru help us.” The plea was raspy and held much emotion and Legolas felt that the younger of the twin’s was worried for them.
“We will find them, ‘Ro.” the older of the two reassured. “They are as well as safe in my arms-”
At this moment, Aragorn began to shiver all the more and a harsh coughing fit seized his youthful body.
The prince felt the man’s body spasm and jerk as the water left his lungs. But among the specks of water, there was a barely seen crimson liquid.
Blood!
The elven prince’s mind shot into fear and he stroked his friend’s fading body, the gentle rub helped him back to a peaceful state.
But deep in his heart and head, Legolas knew, oh yes he knew, Aragorn was dying and he could not help him alone.
“Estel?” one of the voices called as both slid from their horses.
Soft shadows filled the cave entrance and the prince saw the silken leggings that each wore.
“Legolas?”
A dark head popped down and an luminescent smile grew on the younger twin’s pale lips.
“You wouldn’t be in need of some assistance, would you, young prince?” he chuckled as the grateful grin passed over his Sindarin friend’s pale features.
“I-I wwwwould inde-ed.” his grin grew wider as the younger twin stood astonished, his head to one side.
“Eru! Legolas was that you?” A second later, another identical head slid into the prince’s vision and he chuckled, nodding softly.
“Well, well. Speaking again are we-” his gaze drifted down to his youngest brother’s pale and thin form. He let a sad smile come to his face. “Oh, Estel.”
Elrohir, turned to see his little brother and gasped. He had never seen the boy like that before and this was not a pretty sight.
In the daylight, all three elves could see how pale the boy had become. His skin was only a little darker than a white bed sheet. His leg, which had been torn up by the wolf, was red around certain edges of hanging skin. Patches of white bone could be seen through and although that was ugly, that was not the worst.
Elladan spied a trickle of dark blood seeping slowly from the corner of the man’s pale lips.
Not to mention the knock to his head and the black-eye he now sported.
“We have to get him home, to father.” Elrohir spoke first, his shock recovering more quickly.
“But how? He can not ride a horse! That will kill him and rip his lung further.” Elladan argued, his eyes showing of how painfully aware he was of the situation.
For a few moments, silence followed.
No one did anything but think. Outside, the horses ate clumps of grass and neighed happily in the shimmering sun.
“I will c-carry hhhim-m.”
Identical eyes looked upon the prince and saw the truth he held in his own pale-blue eyes.
The twins knew that if he had to, Legolas would carry Aragorn. They knew how much the man meant to him.
Legolas loved Estel like a brother, and they knew that no matter what other option they came up with. No one and nothing would be more careful with the boy than Legolas would.
Reluctantly, Elrohir nodded and so did Elladan.
“All right. We trust you, prince.” Elrohir whispered, but a hand to his brother’s freezing brow. ’Odd.’ he mused. ’How he is cold and not hot.’
“But what about your arm? Don’t think I haven’t noticed.” the older twin shook his head, almost shunning the thought altogether. “You know what your father will do if your arm is maimed! And it will be if you continue to put weight on it.”
Legolas, without saying another word, hugged the young man closer to himself and bobbed his head from side to side.
“I-I willll ca-arrry him.”
Elrohir knew they could do nothing but let him. This bantering over who should carry the injured man was taking far too long and Estel was not going to last much longer.
“Let him, Elladan.” the younger twin spoke, grabbing his brother’s sleeve and making him turn. “We will guide the horses, let Legolas carry Estel.”
“But-” for a moment, Elladan was not about to let Legolas hold HIS injured brother. But he noted the frantic look in his’ twin’s identical, silver eyes.
Reluctantly, he nodded and moved forward with Elrohir, only turning his eyes back once to glance upon the prone form of his little brother in the elven prince’s gentle arms.
