Disclaimer, Summary and Warning could be found in 1st chapter.
Beta: Aranel
3.
"I do not know, King Thranduil, we were having a race and all of a sudden the guards started to shoot at us. Then, your son was lying on the ground, and I have been trying to do something to ease his pain," Aragorn replied, heavy-hearted, as he watched his friend, trying to figure out what he could do next.
He thought about the arrows. There was also an arrow from the orcs.
"What is it, Aragorn?" Thranduil asked, noticing the man's sudden movement.
"I believe that we were caught in the middle of a fight between the guards and the orcs. One of the arrows that hit Legolas was poisoned," Aragorn mumbled. "But how could I not have heard the yrch?"
"It was not your fault," Thranduil said, sighing, hoping to ease the guilt that Aragorn felt, but the man seemed not to hear his voice. Thranduil noticed then, that the human's shirt was well saturated with blood, as were his hands.
"Aragorn," Thranduil called, hoping to catch the man's gaze but to no avail. He called again, "Aragorn, Estel."
The man kept staring at his son's form, lost in thought. He did not respond. The king feared that Aragorn had gone into shock, or was lost in guilt. Thranduil squeezed the man's shoulder, relieved as Aragorn turned to face him.
"Whatever happened is not your fault, young man. Now I want you to go and wash yourself. If you want to stay in this room, I expect you to have a change of clothes, do you understand?" Thranduil asked.
Aragorn did not reply but only turned his head toward Legolas. Thranduil gestured for a guard to ensure that the man refreshed himself before reentering the room.
A few minutes later, Aragorn stepped into the room, freshly washed with a new change of clothes. Thranduil greeted him. "Do you need anything that could help my son?"
"King Thranduil, I do not think that it would be necessary," Aragorn answered simply.
The king observed the man's features, noticing the lack of joy and hope in Aragorn's gray eyes.
"Can you not do anything?" Thranduil asked, not wishing to lose hope as he added, "I know that you are as capable a healer as Lord Elrond."
"Athelas cannot help; he was shot too many times. The poison is already in his body, in his blood, there is nothing I can do but try to ease his pain till it is over." Aragorn's helplessness was evident in his voice even as he analyzed the situation as logically as he could. He was feeling thoroughly lost for the first time in his life. He could not heal his best friend.
"What can I do?" Thranduil asked and shifted closer to Legolas. He moved his hand across his child's face. It was cold. "What can I do?"
Aragorn shook his head and replied listlessly, "Pray for the Valar's mercy."
End of Chapter 3.
