Addiction: Chapter 4
Thank you to all readers and/or reviewers!
Legolas looked up at the sound of a knock at the door. In the past few days he had greatly improved and his father would finally allow himself to be dragged away to work for an hour or two before checking in on him.
"Come in," Legolas called, expecting to see Thranduil. Surprised, he smiled broadly when his visitors walked into his bedchamber.
"Legolas!" Valen sprang upon him in a fierce hug. Legolas nearly cried out from the pain the force of the impact caused but he was too happy to see his friends to care.
"Valen, get a hold of yourself," Sellion chided as he pulled Valen off of Legolas and shoved him into a chair beside the bed. Valen looked horrified.
"I am sorry, Legolas," he said sincerely as he visibly cringed at the painful look on Legolas's face, "But if you could have seen the condition you were in the last time we saw you…"
Valen's voice trailed off and shook his head at the gruesome memory.
"How are you feeling, Legolas?" Sellion asked as he surveyed the splints and the yellowing bruises on Legolas's face.
"I feel better," Legolas answered truthfully, "until the pain tonic wears off then the pain is awful."
Both of his friends gave him sympathetic looks.
"My adar finally left my chamber for more than a few minutes this morning," Legolas told them as he rolled his eyes, "He had to attend court. Camthalion is working in his office and Amoniel is entertaining her guests. I was finally alone since this morning. It is wonderful!"
"The king did not even attend the feast last week," Valen informed him, "Camthalion and Amoniel only stayed briefly. It was not much fun without you, Legolas. But you will be healed by the next one. You should have seen who Sellion was dancing..."
They were interrupted by a knock at the door. Thranduil entered but did not seem surprised to see Sellion and Valen. They rose and respectfully greeted him.
"We should leave so you can spent time with your Adar," Sellion told Legolas, "We will come back and visit soon. See you tomorrow, Legolas. Good day to you, my lord."
"Okay," Legolas said with a smile, though he knew they were leaving because Thranduil made them nervous. Over the years the three of them had been admonished by the king over their shenanigans, as Thranduil called it, more times than they could remember. Given Thranduil's bold manner and strong personality they were in no hurry to be in that position again. Thranduil tried to hide a grin, knowing full well the reason for Sellion and Valen's abrupt departure.
"Adar, I need help," Legolas said suddenly, looking a bit exasperated.
Thranduil only nodded and came forth to carefully pick Legolas up and help him in the bathchamber so that he could use the lavatory. Legolas hated to ask for help. However, he could not walk though his injuries were on the mend. It was embarrassing to be carried around like an invalid and even more so to be helped with intimate things like going to the lavatory and bathing. Usually his father helped him but occasionally when he was busy Camthalion or Amoniel was there to aid him as well. Being carried also caused him great pain not only in his limbs but his ribs and hips as well. By the time Thranduil placed Legolas back into bed, he was sweating due to the pain.
"I will get a healer," Thranduil told him as he looked at the pain glazed blue eyes.
Legolas nodded. Unlike previous injuries, these ones caused him considerably more pain and discomfort and he began accepting pain relief regularly. A healer walked into the room carrying some supplies with him.
"You look well today, my lord," he said with a smile as he began to mix up the tonic. Legolas watched him combine a white powder with a liquid and bring it over to him. Legolas eagerly accepted it and quickly took the tonic. Within minutes he was feeling much better and the pain had left him. He relaxed in his soft bed.
"When can I get these ghastly splints off and get out of bed," Legolas asked the healer.
The healer quickly turned to him with a shocked expression on his face.
"You are not getting out of that bed until you are healed, my lord," the healer ordered and looked over at Thranduil for support, "If you try to walk too soon the injuries will be aggravated and you will have to spend even more time in bed. You need to be patient and give yourself a chance to heal."
Legolas's eyes shifted over to his father. Thranduil was giving him a look that clearly stated that the healer's orders would be followed. Legolas sighed and reached over and grabbed a book from the nightstand next to his bed. He glanced down at the pages for only a moment before looking at his father again. Thranduil was reading some sort of trade agreement with the men of Lake-Town.
"Adar," Legolas said as charmingly as he could muster, "Can you not carry me outside to read in the gardens? I could still rest there."
"Absolutely not," Thranduil answered him, "Did you not just hear the healer? You are not to get out of that bed."
Legolas glared at Thranduil, knowing quite well that he was acting childish. Thranduil held his gaze and returned a stern look. But Legolas did not feel well and the frustration of his injuries was wearing on him. With a frustrated cry he flung the book against the wall, just missing the healer as he walked out of his bedchamber. Legolas turned his head and refused to look at his father.
"Legolas!" Thranduil said severely, "I have not seen such a rude display from you in quite some years! That is enough! You are going to have to be patient. There is nothing more you can do, ion-nin."
Legolas still refused to look at Thranduil, he was so angry. Thranduil put down the parchments he was holding and sat on the bed next to Legolas. He put his arm around Legolas's shoulders and gently drew him close to him.
"I understand that you are frustrated," Thranduil soothed him, "Soon enough you will be ready to go back on patrol. If you listen to the healers and obey their orders that time will be here sooner than you think. Now, I want you to promise me that you will do just that."
Legolas felt comforted to be in the familiar embrace of his father but he still did not look at him or answer him. After several moments Thranduil took Legolas's chin in his hand and forced him to look at him.
"Do not pretend that you did not hear me. I know that you did," Thranduil said as he seriously looked into Legolas's eyes.
"Yes, Adar," Legolas muttered.
"Yes what?" Thranduil prompted.
"I will do as the healers say," Legolas finally answered with a sigh.
"Good," Thranduil said as he released his hold on Legolas's chin.
Legolas allowed his father to keep his arm around him. It helped ease the tension and aggravation. Some time passed and they sat in silence, both deep in thought. Finally Legolas signed with contentment and looked up at his father and gave him a genuine smile. His father returned the smile and leaned over and kissed his brow.
"Do you feel better?" Thranduil asked him.
"Yes," Legolas answered honestly.
"Good," Thranduil replied as he got up and returned to his paperwork, "Perhaps you would like something else to read."
Legolas shook his head. "I have read all I want to today," he said.
"The healers will be glad of that." Thranduil quipped with an amused grin.
Later that evening Legolas watched as the healers loosened the splints on his legs. They probed at site of the fractures and moved his legs to check the status of their healing. Before he could stop himself Legolas let out an agonizing moan and tried to sit up to stop them from hurting him further. Camthalion was at his side and firmly grabbed his shoulders and tried to push back down onto the bed.
"I am sorry, my lord,' the healer apologized, "but the splints must be adjusted. We are trying to hurry. I know it hurts but please try to be still."
Camthalion could feel Legolas's shoulders quivering in his grasp. Legolas let out another cry of anguish as they finished with his right leg.
"Make them stop, Camthalion!" he wailed and tried again to get up.
"Hurry this up! Can you not see what it is doing to him?" Camthalion said sharply to the healers, "You are torturing him!"
"This must be done, Lord Camthalion," one healer said, his face was full of sympathy, "If we do not the bones will not heal straight."
Camthalion pulled Legolas into a strong embrace and he held him to his chest. Making comforting sounds he stroked his brother's blond head.
"It is nearly over," he crooned as he continued to stroke Legolas's head, "Just a little bit more and they will be finished."
Legolas was still trembling. He wanted to weep it hurt so much but found he could not. The pain seemed to have paralyzed his lungs. His breaths came in heaving gasps. He could hear the frenzied drumming of his own heart. His eyes were a blur of unshed tears. Without any warning he felt a sharp tug on his left leg and he cried out in torment again. Somewhere in all the chaos he could hear his brother's calm voice. He tried in vain to draw comfort from Camthalion's presence but the pain was too great. Then it was finally over.
"They are finished, Legolas," Camthalion told him softly.
He kissed the top of Legolas's head. Legolas made no response. Camthalion gently pulled Legolas's face from his chest, believing that he has passed out from the ordeal. Legolas's face was beaded with sweat. His blue eyes were teary and glazed with pain. His entire face was still twisted in agony. Camthalion glared at the healer as she handed him a damp cloth to wipe Legolas's face, obviously still angry about the situation. He blotted Legolas's face with the cloth then gently laid him down on the bed. His breath was still coming in painful gasps and he whimpered when he could get his breath. Camthalion stroked Legolas's brow as he watched the healer make more pain tonic. He noticed that they made it stronger. The healer brought it over and administered it with shaky hands. Camthalion was clearly making her nervous.
"I know that was agonizing, my lords," the healer said as she looked at them, "for both of you. The fractures caused some tissue and nerve damage which made it more difficult to reset. I am sorry that it hurt so badly."
She gave Legolas's shoulder a gentle squeeze and flashed a warm smile then left. Camthalion dropped into the chair at Legolas's bedside. It had clearly hurt him nearly as much as it did Legolas. But Legolas did not notice. The tonic had taken effect. The pain gradually melted away. Then he felt a sensation that he had never felt before. The room was slightly spinning and his spirits soared. He had not felt so happy in such a long time. It felt extraordinary.
Note: I am using the opium in the powder form in this story. I feel that this is more realistic because there are not any hypodermic needles in Middle Earth so using drugs intravenously is not possible. So the opium in my story will be in its purest form.