The sun had slowly begun to make her presence known as the last stars of evening faded with the coming of dawn. The sounds of morning began to fill the air as men and beasts awoke to the new day. Among those to awaken with the sun was the newly crowned king of Men. Aragorn had dressed early and found that he had need of the cool morning air. What he had not expected was to see his long time friend asleep outside.
My dear friend, thought Aragorn as he quietly approached the sleeping prince, Why is it you torment yourself in solitude? Do you think me so blind, so caught up in my own destiny that I have not seen your suffering?
And of course he did. Everyone did. For as hard as Legolas tried to be ever cheerful and full of spirit in front of those he called his friends, the spark of life that had once filled his eyes had dulled. Even Gimli had commented on the change he had seen in the Elf. Aragorn smiled slightly as he remembered the conversation a few days back...
"Fix him"
Startled by the sudden command from his grizzly companion, Aragorn could only tilt his head and look at the Dwarf in confusion.
"Fix who?"
At this question, the Dwarf glared hard at the man before him, and Aragorn found himself thankful that the Dwarf was unarmed because if Gimli had been armed, he was quite certain that he would be the shortest reigning king in history.
"The Elf you blasted Human. He is sick...something vexes him and he shrugs it off whenever I speak of it to him." Silencing the man before he could speak, Gimli held up his hand. "Aragorn, I know nothing of Elves and their ailments; for all I have been told they do not know sickness, and I have seen the look of pain and not understanding enough in his eyes to know that death will forever haunt him." Gimli sighed heavily and let his eyes wander to the window. " But something haunts the Elf and it is only his foolish pride that keeps him from asking for help. So I ask you...Can you fix him?"
Aragorn could only close his eyes and bow his head. He knew what ailed the Elf, and he was even more aware that he had no cure for his friend. This fact cut him deeply. It was this that led him to beg his foster father for some unknown cure. Lord Elrond only shook his head and gave Aragorn a look he knew all to well from childhood. It was a look that spoke volumes. Legolas' only cure lay far beyond the sea...far beyond mortal reach.
"I cannot cure him, Gimli. Not even the most skilled healers of Middle-earth can heal his heart."
Gimli, being a Dwarf and therefore a very stubborn and willful being, stood to his full height. And although Aragorn was still much taller, the Dwarf was still a menacing sight. And if not for the situation, it might be amusing to see a Dwarf so heated over the care and health of an Elf. Again, Aragorn found himself thankful for the lack of weapons near at hand, and vaguely wondered if he could still rule should he be cut down at the knees. Shaking the image away, he only caught the tail end of Gimli's ranting.
"...Will not stand idly by and watch the Elf waste away. How is it that the sea can be so deadly to our friend?"
Placing his hands on the Dwarf's shoulders, Aragorn looked Gimli in the eyes with a very determined glare of his own. "I do not have all the answers to your questions, my friend. And I find Legolas' situation to be as hard to accept as you." Squeezing the shoulders of the Dwarf with determination, he continued, "But I do know that even if we cannot take away his pain we will not abandon him...we will not let him lose hope."
And with this last thought, the Dwarf sat down in defeat, only to be joined by the former ranger as they both contemplated what could be done to save the Elf who had been a rock for them to anchor to during the worst battles and times of despair.
Aragorn knelt before Legolas and reached out to brush a stray lock of hair from the Elf's pale face, but the once mighty ranger found that he could not bring himself to touch his friend. He sighed in despair. He had failed the one being who had meant more to him than a crown of gold. He had not only failed a friend, but a brother. How could he face the Elf with this knowledge? The hands of the king are the hands of a healer indeed. Anger crept into the ranger's face, and he once again refused to be king. The price was far too great.
Too little, Too late, a voice seemed to whisper. Sighing once again, Aragorn could only watch his friend. Gimli was right...in front of their very eyes the Elf that lay before him was fading.
He finally reached down and brushed the lock of hair from Legolas' face, tucking it behind the Elf's delicate pointed ear. He held his friend's cheek in his trembling hand, closed his eyes, and began silently pleading with whoever would listen. Bringing his forehead to touch Legolas', Aragorn pledged an oath to the Elf in front of him.
I will do whatever I must, mellon nin...gwador nin...just please do not fade from my sight. We will face this together.
