Round Robin
Chapter 17
By Deana

"How is he?" both Aragorn and Elladan said at the same time, the human asking about Elrohir, and Elladan asking about Legolas.

Aragorn looked down at the blond-haired elf, who wore a grimace of pain on his too-pale face. "Not well," he said simply, not sure yet what the full extent of his friend's injuries were.

"Our brother may not be as bad off as I feared," Elladan said happily, his words making the atmosphere a little lighter. "The blade looks to have deflected from a rib, thereby preventing any fatal damage."

Aragorn closed his eyes in relief at the news, before reopening them to continue assessing Legolas. "Mellon-nin?" he said, gently feeling the elf's ribs.

Legolas' answer was a cry of pain.

Aragorn winced in sympathy, quickly pulling his hand back.

Legolas groaned again, his breath hitching in his chest as his broken ribs protested the act of taking in air.

Aragorn saw the elf's distress, and carefully slid an arm under his back, slowly lifting him up enough to assist his breathing. With the elf in that position, Aragorn had easier access to his head injury; blood had dried around a cut on the right side of the elf's forehead, but it thankfully didn't look deep. What concerned Aragorn more than the blood was the large, colorful bruise surrounding the cut.

"Legolas? Can you look at me?" he asked.

The injured elf obeyed, his bright blue eyes locking onto the Ranger's, albeit slightly unfocused.

Aragorn sighed at the sight. "You have a concussion, Legolas, do not fall asleep."

The Prince of Mirkwood groaned at his words. He wanted nothing more than for sleep to allow him respite from the horrible pain and weakness that he felt throughout his body.

"Do you have any other injuries?" Aragorn asked, worriedly.

Legolas didn't answer, closing his eyes instead as a stab of pain laced through his chest.

Aragorn waited for his friend's wince to subside before he urgently asked again. "Legolas, where else are you hurt?"

Legolas finally heard him and reopened his eyes. He had to take a moment to register the pain that afflicted the rest of his body, beyond the fire in his chest and midsection. Shifting slightly, he tested his limbs. Most of his body ached, but before he could say anything a tremor suddenly shot through him, leaving him shivering. "I am cold, Estel..." he found himself whispering.

Panic welled up within Aragorn at his friend's words; it was a serious matter for an elf to feel chilled. He looked to Elladan, whose expression showed alarm.

Having seen no blood on the front of Legolas' tunic, Aragorn hadn't bothered to lift it when he'd inspected his friend's ribs, having not wanted to cause the elf further pain. But now he carefully laid his friend down and removed the belt from around his waist, gently but quickly raising his tunic. What he saw made him gasp.

A deep purple bruise covered the elf's midsection, signifying his worst injury of all: internal bleeding.

Quickly pulling the shirt back down, Aragorn gently slid his arms under his friend. "Elladan, we have to get out of here NOW!" He stood, but stopped before he took a step. "We're on a boat! How will we--"

"Peace, Estel!" said Elladan, likewise lifting Elrohir. "I know of a way. Follow me."

Aragorn obeyed, holding Legolas tightly as they left the room.

Elladan walked back the way he'd come, praying that they wouldn't encounter any of the kidnappers. They had to hide a few times when they heard someone approaching, but managed not to get caught as they made their way up to the deck.

Elladan peered around the door, seeing no one in sight. He nodded to Aragorn before quietly walking over to the rail and looking over the side.

Aragorn followed, relieved to see a rowboat attached to the ship's hull.

"Now, the difficult part," said Elladan. "Getting them in there."

"What?" they suddenly heard.

Aragorn and Elladan smiled at the sound of Elrohir's voice.

"My brother!" Elladan said, sounding relieved but sad at the same time. "You are awake! *Please* forgive me for inflicting your wound?"

Elrohir shook his head, blearily opening his eyes. "Do not apologize, I should be saying that to *you*..."

"No one should be saying *anything* until we get off this ship!" Aragorn cut in. "There is only one way to do this," he told Elladan. "I will get into the boat, and you will hand them to me."

"I can do it myself..." Elrohir said, sounding hazy. He struggled to get down, and Elladan carefully set him on his feet, leaning him against the ship's rail as Aragorn handed Legolas to him.

The half-conscious elf-prince groaned softly at the movement, eyes still closed.

"Hush," said Elladan, holding him gently. "We are escaping, mellon-nin; all will be well."

Aragorn climbed into the rowboat and helped Elrohir in, setting him down and then holding out his arms for Legolas.

Elladan handed him back before climbing into the boat himself and releasing the rope pulleys, allowing the boat to descend into the water.

Aragorn removed his cloak and wrapped it around Legolas, holding onto him tightly as he prayed that their escape wouldn't be immediately noticed.

Elladan took up the oars and began rowing as fast as he could, steering the small boat towards the dock. So far there had been no outcry from the slavers to alert them that they'd been discovered, and fear for his friend and brother drove him to row relentlessly, not stopping until they were safely onshore once more.

Aragorn was surprised at the speed in which they reached the dock, and he and Elladan quickly carried Legolas and Elrohir off the boat.

Elrohir protested, saying that he was capable of walking, but his twin brother ignored him as they stood watching the slaver's ship glide further and further away.

They had made it.

Aragorn sighed in relief, before looking down at Legolas. The elf lay in his arms limply, making no sound or movement, his skin deathly pale. A stab of fear hit the human's stomach as he realized that their main task now would be trying to keep Legolas alive.

TBC...