Feä Bond (Legolas x OC)

Stranded

As promised, here is the next chapter. A bigger one, even ! Cheers.

He surveyed the door as well as Théoden's figure. What would they do now? At last, Gimli and Legolas came back, their faces sombre. Aragorn's relief was short-lived, and his heart leapt in dread. In three steps, he was by their side, his face lined with worry.

"Where is Frances ?"

Blue eyes met grey, and for a moment Aragorn thought the elf was going to collapse. He said no word, shaking his blond head, defeated. The ranger's voice shook when he turned to Gimli's slightly misty eyes.

"When last have you seen her?"

The dwarf swallowed :

"Before the wall flew off. I caught a glimpse of the lass on the far side. Legolas wanted to fetch her after they rang the retreat, but even his keen sight couldn't find her. I had to drag him back inside the wall before they barred the doors."

Stunned, Aragorn left his arm slide on the dwarf's shoulder for support. Gimli's hand braced his forearm, overcome by wariness. What were the chances of Frances being still alive? Had she been projected by the blast? Had she died at the hands of the Uruks? Had she escaped somewhere in the caves? Doubt gnawed at him like a snake hissing in his ear.

"I should have sent her to the caves", Aragorn said, releasing the dwarf's arm.

"Aye. But I doubt she would have obeyed."

Gimli's words were strangely comforting. Still, Aragorn could not prevent from feeling guilty. From the day he had found Frances outside weathertop, he had been the one protecting her. Not once he had left her out of her sight outside the safe city of Imladris. What would Lord Elrond say? And Arwen, sweet Arwen, could she forgive him for this foolish mistake? To let Frances fight in such a hopeless battle when he had been able to turn Eowyn's plea down?

For a moment he thought about letting go. A quick look at the elf's desperate features spoke aloud that grief was threatening to take him. If Gimli looked shocked, it was nothing comparable to Legolas's haggard expression. His despair was so overwhelming that Aragorn nearly staggered. Something had obviously happened after he fell from this cliff, something that had strengthened the bond between elf and lady. And now this fresh new link had been severed, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

Straightening, the ranger dug out his last piece of determination. It was not time to give in, all those years he had prepared for the last battles, knowing fully that companions and good men would be lost. He needed Legolas more than ever; he was a formidable fighter. They could not afford to have him in a haze. The ranger gathered his poise; it was the moment for Aragorn, son of Arathorn, to prove his worthiness. So the ranger went to King Thédoen and, talking him into a suicidal sortie, knew that his faithful companion would follow. There was still hope ... And if there was none, they would at least give the Uruk's time to regret it.

Frances fell into slumber, her body stuck uncomfortably inside the cracks. Rock spines dug into her flesh and her muscles were failing. Comatose took over her trembling limbs. Drenched to the core, her body was quickly falling in temperature but she was too exhausted to care. She'd handle the fever in the aftermath, if she lived to see it.

Harsh voices filled the air as they took over the place and eradicated the last pouches of resistance that stood between them and victory. Repeated vibrations came to her ears, the sound echoing all over the valley as the battering ram slowly attacked the last standing gate of the fortress. It lasted forever. Boom, boom. Like impending doom knocking at the front door, delivering the deadly message. Boom, Boom. Its blows made her body recoil in fear.