The Hidden Enemy

Alatar's Lair

Legolas hit the water with a blow that knocked the breath out of him.

He struggled to swim towards the surface, but the water kept dragging him down.

His body twisted in the water, his lungs were screaming for air.
He couldn't last much longer.

He needed air.

Black began to consume him.
This was it.
He was going to die.

Someone grabbed his arm and pulled him to the surface.
Legolas gasped, trying to take air into his lungs.

Another pair of hands grabbed him and pulled him out of the water.

He lay down on his stomach, coughing up water and fighting to breath.

"Legolas!"
Haldir rolled him onto his side.
"Are you alright?"

Legolas struggled to speak.
"I- I'm fine."
He managed to get out.

He took in his suroundings.
Haldir knelt in front of him, they were on a stone ledge on the other side of the river.

Amarth was pulling Gimli out of the water. But something was wrong.

Where is Aragorn?

Legolas searched frantically for his friend.
He stoood to his feet and tried to catch sight of him.

"Aragorn!"
He shouted desperately.
Amarth suddenly ran past him and dove into the water.
Legolas was about to follow when Haldir grabbed him.

"Let go of me!"
Legolas struggled against him.
"You'll get yourself killed!"
Haldir pulled him back away from the water.

The three of them searched for any sign of Aragorn or Amarth.

"There he is!"
Gimli shouted.
They saw Amarth's head appear out of the water.
He had Aragorn with him, he was awake but both were struggling to fight the current.

Legolas tried to get into the water but Haldir stopped him again.
"Haldir!"
Legolas shouted.

"You are too weak! Stay here!"
Haldir carefully lowered himself into the water, he firmly grasped the side of the ledge, he almost lost his grip and Legolas grabbed him.

Haldir was halfway in the water, Legolas was holding onto one arm while the other reached towards Amarth.

The dark elf was struggling towards him, Aragorn was doing what he could to help but it was no use.

Amarth reached for Haldir's hand, his other hand held onto Aragorn.

Haldir finally managed to grab Amarth.
Legolas tried to pull them back onto the ledge.

But now Legolas was slipping.
Gimli grabbed Haldir and pulled.
Haldir grabbed the ledge and pulled Amarth and Aragorn up to it.

Legolas held onto Haldir while Gimli helped Amarth and Aragorn up.

Once they were safe Amarth helped Legolas pull Haldir to safety.

All of them lay on the stone ledge, gasping for breath.

Legolas closed his eyes.
They had made it.
Then he heard laughing.

He opened his eyes again and looked in disbelief at Amarth.

He was laughing.

"Do you think this is funny?"
Gimli glared at him.
"Yes! We almost died!"
Amarth said while struggling to contain his laughter.

"How is that funny?"
Gimli shouted.
"Because; of all the possible ways we could have died, we were almost killed by water!"

Amarth continued to laugh while the others stared at him in disbelief.