Okay, I know I haven't updated in… FOREVER! Sorry about that… I've just been bust with ending school and we've had some out-of-town guests and stuff. I'm posting two chapters on his story today to both make up for that, and make up for this very short chapter.
Tears of Blood
Chapter Four: New Acquaintances
"What have you done to me?!" Naegion asked, looking down at his arm in horror. Or what was left of his arm, rather.
"We had no other choice, Naegion. If we hadn't cut it off, you would have died from the poison! We couldn't save you unless we cut it off." Thranduil tried to explain quickly.
"You cut off my arm?!" Naegion asked in horror, not taking his eyes off the bandaged appendage.
"I already told you; if we hadn't you would have died. It was either your arm or your life." Thranduil earnestly argued. It seemed so strange to him that now he was the one arguing this point.
"But—how am I supposed to fight? How am I…? I can't do anything without—I…" Naegion trailed off, his eyes still glued to the stump.
"You still have a perfectly good left hand." Thranduil pointed out. "It will take some time, but eventually you'll be just as good a fighter with your left hand as you were with your right. I know plenty of elves who are left-handed who would be more than happy to teach you how to fight with your left hand." The king reassured.
"But… My arm!" The elf was obviously not over the shock quite yet.
"The main thing is: you'll live. Right now you just need to relax…" Thranduil eased the elf down onto the pillows. He resisted slightly, but in the end let himself be laid on the pillows. "What you need now is some dinner; what do you say?" Naegion didn't look up, and didn't nod. "I'll take that as a 'yes, I'm hungry'." Thranduil got up, heading to the kitchen. On the way, he ran into his wife.
"Where are you going, Melath?"(Love) She asked, touching his shoulder gently.
"The kitchen." He replied shortly, continuing on his way. He was stopped by a petite hand.
"Why? Dinner's in a few minutes…"
"Naegion needs dinner too." He replied, trying to continue again. She wouldn't let him go so easily.
"Did you have to—you know…" She couldn't bring herself to say it.
"Aye." He said, finally stopping.
"How's he doing now?" Meril asked, studying her husband's face closely.
"Much better. His fever has already disappeared almost completely. He's just—not dealing with the loss of his limb too well." Thranduil finished his explanation.
"Could I go see him?" Meril asked, fiddling with her husband's shirt.
"Aye. It would be good for some one to keep him company until I return with food." Thranduil smiled, and then went on his way.
Once he had gotten the food and was heading back, he ran into his son.
"There you are Ada!" He said, hugging his father's leg. "When's dinner? I'm hungry." He eyed the plate in Thranduil's hand as he spoke.
"In a few minutes. I have to give Naegion his dinner too." He said, continuing on.
"Can I come too?" Legolas asked, jumping up and down excitedly behind his father. He wanted to meet his new brother.
"I suppose. Just be gentle, he's still hurt too." Thranduil said. He was hoping Naegion didn't get rude when he was upset. He didn't want Legolas' first impression of his new brother to be that way.
Thranduil strode back into the dark room, sitting next to the bed and giving the plate to Meril. Legolas followed his father shyly, hiding behind the elf until they reached the bed, where he peeked out from under his father's cloak. The king pulled Legolas onto his lap, which got Naegion's attention.
"Naegion, I don't think you've ever met my son, Legolas. Legolas, this is Naegion, your new big brother." Unfortunately for Legolas, he had never seen someone who's missing a limb. He stared at it, his mouth even falling open a bit. Naegion glared at him, hiding the appendage under the covers again. "Legolas, be polite; don't stare." Thranduil whispered, hoping Naegion hadn't heard. He didn't seem to, but continued to glare at Legolas until the elfling looked down at his hands.
"So much for a good start…" Thranduil muttered as Meril helped Naegion eat. Thranduil carried his son out of the room to get him some dinner too. Hopefully they would get used to each other over time…
I apologize again; that was a little over half as long as usual… It's because I suck at transitions… The next part doesn't transition well directly from this…