-Hi there! Again a huge thank you for the reviews! I must admit to you I kind of disliked how I displayed Faramir in the previous chapter. I absolutely adore Faramir as a character and I really want him to have a good displayment in my story while trying to make him different from how Aragorn would handle things…
It is a personal goal to try something different with my writing, if you have not noticed yet, in the hope that I will be able to top my record length! So I already must say sorry if the chapters seem to drag on a little. Let me know if it becomes to annoying!-
Chapter three: Master Faramir.
"How is he?" Arwen asked when Aragorn entered the parlour again.
"He drank a few sips water. Hopefully he will be able to sleep a little bit." Aragorn softly said. "We have to figure out something that will help him. I will go to the Houses of Healing tomorrow, but I do not wish to leave Legolas completely alone the whole day."
"Legolas could spent the morning with me in my office." Faramir offered. He had a lot of paperwork to catch up on. He was sure Legolas would not cause any trouble and even could offer him some company.
"I am sure he can spent the afternoon with me and Eldarion." Arwen smiled, for she knew that Legolas had shown one of his rare smiles when they had told him they would become parents. Yet soon after he had disappeared.
"Very well. Then I am going to retire, it has been quite a day." Aragorn smiled as all three went to their rooms.
Aragorn had barely slept the whole night. Every time he started to drift off his mind wandered to Legolas. It was near dawn that Aragorn decided he had tossed and turned enough in his bed, so he started his day. He washed and dressed himself before he made his way to Legolas' room. Aragorn softly knocked twice, before he entered. He found Legolas curled up in the same corner as he had last seen him. Aragorn softly cursed under his breath as he saw Legolas' closed eyes, as well as the blood soaked back side of the nightgown.
"Legolas?" Aragorn softly called as knelt next to him. He hated to awaken him, especially because he probably would only have slept little. "Legolas?" Aragorn reached out for Legolas foot. he managed to touch the skin, even though it lasted for only a little moment. Legolas moved his foot away from the warm touch while his eyes flew open.
"Master." Legolas softly gasped. He had looked Master in the eye before he quickly lowered them. Master had awoken him, he supposed to be up and about before him!
"I did not mean for you to startle." Aragorn gently told him. "I just wanted to have a look at your wounds before I have to go and work." Aragorn explained as he moved away, giving Legolas some space.
"What do you want me to do?" Legolas softly asked as he uncurled himself and sat on his knees. He had to go and serve his Master. How long had he slept? Was it already time for luncheon? Legolas wondered.
"Let me tend your injuries." Legolas turned around so his back was in front of Aragorn. "Remove the nightgown." Aragorn gently said. When Legolas did not move, Aragorn proceeded to help Legolas get out of the nightgown, that on several places stuck to his skin. Aragorn quickly fetched his healer satchel that he kept in their room.
"This might hurt a bit." Aragorn warned as he started to clean the open welts. He felt Legolas stiffen and flinch almost every single time as the cloth made contact with the tender flesh, not making a single sound. "You are very brave." Aragorn gently encouraged. Putting the bowl and cloth away, he took a small jar of Althelas paste and applied a generous amount on the wounds before he bound them. "There you go." Aragorn softly said when he packed his satchel again.
"I am not worthy of your kindness." Legolas softly whispered as he went to bow. Aragorn shook his head before he retrieved a pair of trousers.
"I want you to wear this." Aragorn said while he the trousers out for Legolas to take. Legolas eyed the piece of clothing. "Slave, pull this on." He softly ordered. Legolas blinked twice before he reached for the item. "Then we shall have breakfast. After breakfast I hope Faramir is already awake. I need you to go and stay with him."
"Yes, Master." Legolas replied as he stood and pulled on the trousers. Again, they were on the short side, but they at least did not right away slide from his behind when he let go of the fabric.
"Come with me, then we shall go and eat something." Aragorn said. "Slave, come." Aragorn cringed, but Legolas finally moved. Aragorn started walking on a slow pace as made it to the dining hall, occasionally checking if Legolas was still following him.
"Go and sit." Aragorn gently said when he sat down at the table. Legolas simply stood there for a little moment before he started to seek everything he needed to set the table. "Slave, what are you doing?" Aragorn softly asked, confused. This was the most movement he had seen from him since they were reunited.
"Serving my Master." Legolas replied as if it explained the world. Aragorn carefully watched as Legolas moved around quickly but stiffly. Soon Legolas came back with a plate and a goblet. The next time Legolas came from the kitchens, he was followed by an angry looking servant.
"Your majesty? What is this?" The servant motioned to Legolas who clutched a knife, fork and spoon.
"That is a friend of mine. Just let him do his thing, or has he been touching things he should not?"
"He is not a servant and therefore he does not belong in the kitchen, your majesty." Mathem, the head-servant explained.
"I believe my friend is eager to help out a hand. Just tell him what to do so he can help preparing breakfast." Aragorn said, looking at the servant sternly.
"Yes, your majesty." Mathem bowed before disappearing in the kitchen again. Legolas carefully put down the utilities.
"How can I be of service, Master?" Legolas quietly asked as he hovered nearby.
"You may fetch me a glass of milk, if you like."
"Yes, Master." Legolas almost hurried away to fill in the request as quickest as possible. Only a couple of moments later, Legolas had returned with a glass of milk.
"Thank you, Legolas." Aragorn gave him a smile, but was not sure if he would see.
"How else can I be of service, Master?"
"Join me for breakfast." Legolas stood there, not knowing what to do, and so it appeared to Aragorn as well. "Sit. The servants will serve us our food in a few moments." Legolas sat down on his knees next to Aragorn's chair. "Don't you prefer to sit at the table, on a chair?"
"No, Master." Legolas softly replied. Aragorn nodded to himself. Legolas seemed as comfortable as he would become. Getting him to sit at the table would for sure have him panic again. It was better to have him sit there and eat a bit than at the table and have him throw up afterwards, Aragorn decided.
"Is there anything else I can get you, your majesty?" The servant asked as he had put several dishes with bread, fruit, cheese and cold meat.
"A small bowl of a light porridge." Aragorn replied.
"In a moment, your majesty." The servant returned several moments later with a small bowl and a spoon.
"Thank you." Aragorn said as he took the bowl. The servant bowed before he returned to the kitchen. "I think you can eat this. Eat it slowly." Aragorn said as he put the bowl down before Legolas. "Be mindful, it is hot." Legolas looked at the bowl, but made no move to eat. "Slave, eat, before it gets cold." Aragorn said when he noticed that Legolas had not started eating yet. it surprised him even more that Legolas tried to eat with his hands instead of the offered spoon.
"Where do you think a spoon is used for?" Aragorn asked when Legolas was about to finish his porridge. "Answer me, slave." Aragorn softly demanded. Why did he need to keep Legolas adressing as a slave? He is a free person again, even if he did not believe so yet.
"Eating, Master." Legolas quietly replied.
"Then why did you not use the spoon?" Aragorn picked up his not yet used napkin.
"Slaves are not allowed to use them."
"Well, when I am their Master, they are. Give me your hands." Legolas hesitated for a moment before he held out his hands.
"Forgive me, Master." Aragorn gently wiped his hands clean. He got up from the chair and knelt in front of Legolas. He gently lifted his chin before he wiped his face clean. At least Eldarion would look and laugh at him.
"All is well, just try to remember next time. How does your stomach feel? Nauseous? Still hungry? All right?"
"All right, Master." Legolas replied after a long awkward silence. He did not really know how his stomach felt. It was very nice to have something warm in his stomach. Unfortunately that only for a little while...
"Good. Then we shall go and see if Faramir is already awake." Aragorn stood. "Come." He instructed and waited until Legolas stood, yet Legolas did not come that far before everything came back up. Aragorn winced as Legolas retched.
"Forgive me, Master." Legolas managed to shakily say when it appeared his stomach was empty.
"Do not worry about it." Aragorn softly said as he filled his glass with a little bit of water. He fished out his handkerchief from one of his pockets and cleaned Legolas' face again. It was quite a wonder that Legolas had managed to not throw up on his trousers. Was Legolas going to flinch every time someone touched him? Aragorn wondered. "Take a few sips to rinse out your mouth." Aragorn instructed as he pressed the rim of the glass to Legolas' lips. Legolas complied after a moment, opening his mouth slightly. He swallowed two mouths full before the glass was empty.
"I will clean the mess I made." Legolas said, his eyes on the floor.
"No, one of the servants will." Aragorn said as he stood again.
"Forgive me, Master. Please punish me." Legolas said, even though it sounded more like a strangled sob.
"I shall go and think about something fitting." Aragorn replied. He was never going to punish his friend for throwing up. If it was someone's fault it was his.
"Thank you, Master." Legolas said, bowing his head so it touched Aragorn's boots.
"Now, come. Faramir must be waiting for us." Aragorn gently said. "Slave, come." Aragorn waited for Legolas to stand again before he made his way over to Faramir's study.
"Good morning, Faramir." Aragorn greeted with a smile as he saw the steward come from his bedroom.
"Good morning, my lord." Faramir greeted with a bow. "I am just on my way to my study."
"How about breakfast, my friend?" Aragorn asked while he went to walk next to him.
"Servants will bring me some in a bit. There is too much to do, and I can eat while reading." Faramir explained himself.
"It is not a problem that Legolas will stay with you this morning?"
"No, his is more than welcome to stay. I might even have something for him to do if he likes."
"That is good to hear. I will be in councils if you need me, this morning. In the afternoon I will be making a little trip to the Houses of Healing." Aragorn said as he stopped walking as they had reached his study. "Go and have lunch with Arwen in the garden if the weather is well. Then Legolas can go with her."
"Very well. Legolas, we need to walk a bit further." Faramir said as he turned around to face the elf. Legolas awkwardly stood between the two men. Master had not ordered him, while the other man asked him to come. Who did he need to believe?
"Look at me." Aragorn softly ordered as he walked in front of Legolas. He gently placed his fingers underneath Legolas' chin, forcing him to lift his head and look at him. Legolas stiffened when Aragorn touched him, but managed not to flinch away. Aragorn let out a soft sigh when Legolas would not meet his eyes. "You will go with Faramir now. I will make sure he will take good care of you."
"Yes, Master." Legolas replied as he freed his chin from the gently grip to look back at the ground again.
"Good luck, keep a close eye on him." Aragorn softly said.
"I will." Faramir nodded. "Come with me then." Faramir said as he walked to his study. Legolas simply followed his new Master.
"How can I be of service, Master?" Legolas asked when Faramir had taken place behind his desk.
"Let's see..." Faramir ducked into one of his drawers. "There it is!" Faramir exclaimed when he pulled out as mall stack of sheets. "You can still read, right?"
"Yes, Master."
"Can you read this for me and tell me what you think about this when you are done?"
"Yes, Master." Legolas replied as he took the offered papers from Faramir's outstretched hand. Legolas went to stand in the far corner of the room before he started reading. He indeed could read, but the Westron language had been quite a while ago since he had last. It was a scouting report. Legolas realized when he had managed to read the first few lines. The writing was not that bad, just a little on the small side.
Faramir occasionally glanced up from his paperwork to see that Legolas moved as much as a statue.
"Legolas?" Faramir asked after quite a while. Usually he would have finished such a document by now. When Legolas did not give any notion he had heard, Faramir stood and walked over to Legolas. "Legolas?" Faramir reached out for Legolas shoulder. He had barely touched him before he almost jumped a foot. This was not a typical thing for elves to get a scare when touched, was it?
"M-Master?" Legolas almost fearfully asked.
"Have no fear, Legolas. I just wanted to ask how you were doing." Faramir softly said as he let his hand drop.
"T-the document?"
"Yes, what do you think about it."
"I have not finished it." Legolas said as he hung his head. He had disappointed his Master. "Please punish me."
"Punish you? For what? I want you to tell me what you think of the document so far." For what should he ask for a punishment? He surely had done nothing wrong? "Legolas?" Legolas did not react. "Legolas? Will you answer me?" When Legolas did not react Faramir took a deep breath. He tried to avoid it, but Legolas was giving him little choice. "Slave," Faramir quietly said, "What do you think of the document?"
"It is a scouting report." Legolas softly replied. Why would Master ask for his opinion? Master should not care on what he thought.
"That is what I knew as well." Faramir replied with a little smile hoping he still could encourage Legolas in to talking. "Do you remember more detail?"
"The lands of Rûhn." Legolas softly replied. "About the things they encountered and detailed descriptions of the landscapes."
"What kind of things had they encountered?"
"Local tribes and animals mostly."
"Would you wish to go there?" Faramir asked. He was sure it was the most Legolas had said since he was here with Aragorn.
"I-I, Master? Go there?" Legolas asked confused. Where they going to sent him away?
"Yes, based on the report, would you like to go there?"
"If you order me to." Legolas replied. If they ordered him, he had no choice, had he?
"Order you? No, Legolas. I was merely inquiring if you think it is a beautiful place to visit."
Legolas shrugged. "If you like grasslands."
"I will let you finish reading the document." Faramir softly said as he walked back to his desk and continued with his own work. So far for trying to make a conversation...
"M-Master?" Legolas softly asked after a while. He had long stood there staring at the document. Was he to call the attention of Master to inform he had finished reading so he could read something more? Master seemed bery busy with working as a half bowl of porridge stood now forgotten and cold next to him. After a moment he decided he was better of use to let Master know he had finished.
"Yes, Legolas?" Faramir asked after he had finished writing a sentence. He looked up to see Legolas still standing in the corner of the room, still holding the document. "Yes, slave?" Faramir asked again when Legolas did not react.
"I finished reading. How else can I be of service?"
"Good." Faramir smiled. "Was there anything else of interest in the document?"
"I do not know what you find interesting, Master." Legolas softly replied.
"Was there anything you found interesting?" Faramir rephrased his sentence.
"No, Master." He had never liked to read or write reports.
"Hand me the report back, then you can go and see if you find anything of your liking." Faramir gestured to the wall that was filled with rows of books. Legolas carefully handed the stack of sheets back before he went back, standing in the corner. Faramir frowned at the action, but said nothing. He returned to his own document to finish it.
"Shall we go and see if luncheon is already served?" Faramir asked when he had finished his document and noticed it was already past the time they usually would go and eat. "Legolas?" He asked when Legolas had not reacted. Now he started to understand why Aragorn was annoyed. Faramir stood and walked over to Legolas. "Hey." Faramir softly said trying not to startle the elf, even if it was of little success. Legolas' whipped around, almost losing his balance in the progress.
"Forgive me Master, I did not hear what you said. Please punish me as you see fit." Legolas went to kneel before Faramir's feet, his forehead touching the toe of Faramir's boot.
"I asked you if you were ready to go and see if luncheon was already served." Faramir gently said, trying to ignore the comment about deserving a punishment. "There is no need to bow."
"Yes, Master." Legolas muttered, not moving.
"Get on to your feet then." Faramir gently said. "Slave." He quickly added with a shudder. "I am not about to wait till luncheon get paws to crawl to here." Faramir chuckled.
"Yes, Master." Legolas replied again as he got to his feet, keeping his head bowed all the time.
