She made her way through the concerned crowd and her gaze found him, lying motionless in his bed, with two black iron arrows sticking out of his chest.
His armor and clothes had been removed from his chest and the healers were working thoroughly around his wounds. He was still alive, but barely breathing.
-'We need to take them out or the poison will kill him before dawn breaks on the eastern sky', the healer decided.
-'Don't! ' Sonja shouted unexpectedly and Legolas seemed to finally become aware of her presence by his father's bed side.
She was looking at him closely, studying the angles of the arrows penetrating his body.
-'He will bleed out in seconds if you take them out', she continued, without anyone interrupting her words.
-'I cannot lose my Adar. He got hurt because of me', Legolas spoke in his grief. 'The arrows were meant for me. Help him, Arvellon!' he almost begged the healer, tears flooding his deep blue eyes.
-'My Prince, if we take them out, he will bleed to death. If we leave them in, the shadow in the poison will take him all the same, only more slowly and agonizing. What would you have us do? '
-'There might be something we can try, but will hurt beyond imagining. My lord Legolas?' Sonja asked for his approval only to find him absent minded again. 'Legolas!' she yelled at him, slapping him across his face.
The elf jumped as he had been burnt by dragon fire, his sharp eyes looking upon her in anger. The room had gone completely silent after the sound of her slap upon his cheek. All the elves present were staring at her, open-mouth, as they waited for their Prince to react to her actions.
-'Get this human out of here!' he cried. 'She has no business being in my father's chambers!'
-'I can save him', she repeated, before the guards could get a hold of her. 'Legolas, please!'
-'What can a human possibly know of healing?' Arvellon voiced his concerns in a condescending tone.
-'Would you rather let him die then?'she asked.
-'What would you have us do, Sonja?' the Prince asked, vanquishing all anger from his thoughts and regaining his composure.
-'I need you to find the brightest, hottest burning flame in the palace. When human warriors are hurt on the field of battle we burn their wounds in order to prevent infection and close them instantly. We cannot remove the arrows from your father's chest so you will need to place the torch against the arrows and let the metal burn him from within. Make sure to hold him down as this will hurt more deeply than any blade could. When the wound is cauterized you can take the arrows out without the risk of bleeding. Pack his wounds with Athelas and pray that the poison hasn't spread by now.'
Hours passed since the healers isolated themselves and Legolas inside the King's chamber. Sonja was able to hear his terrible screams piercing through the thick doors and prayed to Eru that he would make it, so that his long torment would not be in vain. After a while there was only silence. She could not pick up any more noise with her human ears. The double doors opened and the healers left one by one, followed by Legolas.
He spotted Sonja lingering in the shadows of the corridor, bracing herself for the worst of news.
-'You saved his life', he told her and witnessed her eyes starting to shine again, a silent sigh escaping her lips. 'You should be there', he added while bowing his head to her.
-'I'm sorry that I slapped you', she told him, finding her voice.
-'Don't apologize. It was the right thing to do. He yet lives. Thank you!' he said before embracing her tightly.
His golden hair fell upon her soft cheek and reminded her of the King's silken strands.
-'Go to him!' Legolas whispered as he held her close and then released her from his arms.
-'What about you?' Sonja asked as the Prince was moving further away from her.
-'We need to deal with the remaining orcs. I will not let my father's sacrifice be in vain.'
The room seemed even grander now that the crowd had dispersed. She paced slowly as if not wanting to wake him from his rest. She found a chair next to the door and sat in it for a while, watching him from afar, unsure of what she should do or say and uncertain of what his reaction might be towards her being there.
After a sleepless night she felt incredibly tired, her eyes struggling to remain open. When she woke the sun was already high in the sky, shining brightly inside the room. In a few big steps she found herself near the window and pulled down the heavy velvet curtains to block the light from making its way onto the bed.
Shortly after, the large doors opened and Arvellon entered the room, carrying with him more Athelas to dress the King's wounds. He did not seem to mind that she was present. At first Sonja thought that he did not see her standing in the dark. It was only when he called her by name that she stepped forward and approached him.
-'I need you to help me change the bandages', the elf asked. 'The other healers are taken with tending to the soldiers coming from the north.'
-'What of Legolas? Is he alright?' she asked, knowing he was still out there, fighting the legions of orcs that had trespassed into their lands.
-'We did not find him among the wounded or the dead, so we must yet hope he is safe from harm. Should his father not recover from this, Greenwood will need a new King.'
No more words were exchanged between the two as they started their work. Sonja's eyes fell upon Thranduil's chest, vulnerable and bare before her. Two deep markings were etched between his ribs, and countless bruises dotted his pale skin after battling the orc filth. The body of this great warrior reminded her of Brann and how he fought until his dying breath to defend the village. She could not help him then, she had tried to reach him, but her own wounds were too much to bear. She then thought of Legolas, should the worse happen, will he be able to overcome his guilt?
Long minutes went by until they finished tending to the King's wounds. He remained unresponsive, lying in his bed like he was immersed in a blissful sleep. The healer took his leave and promised Sonja he will have some food delivered to her, should she wish to linger at the King's side.
Two more days and nights she stood there, often wandering why she chose to do so. Saving the King's life will not bring Brann back. But if she could save just one soul, just this once, she might be able to start to forgive herself. He did not move or sigh once since she had been there, no sign if he was in pain or if he would recover. All she could do was wait.
Legolas had return a victor from battle but his thoughts were bitter-sweet. He came to visit his father as often as his duties allowed him, now that he had to keep an eye on all the affairs concerning Greenwood. Is that why the voice had asked him to return to his home? He found this plan of the Valar to be cruel and he started to question his faith in the gods.
Sonja drew the chair closer to the bed. She found herself staring at his face, admiring its straight lines and whishing he would open his eyes to allow her to immerse in their freezing depths. A sad tune came to mind and she gave voice to it, singing the soft melody while glancing across the bed and through the window at the sun setting on the third eve since she was watching over him.
Her hands were resting on the side of the bed and as she sang, her fingers touched the King's cold wrist. Sonja broke her gaze from the sky, trying to remember the next verse to sing, but she couldn't. Her fingers followed the outline of his big hand, surprised by its smoothness, until she finally rested them atop his open palm. The lyrics came back to her mind so she started singing again, looking out the large window.
Night was falling fast and she felt the exhaustion spreading over her. As she whispered the last verse that she could remember, she allowed herself to close her eyes and dropped her head upon the elf's abdomen and felt it hard as a rock. She was so tired, she could sleep anywhere.
-'Why have you stopped? The song was beautiful', she heard him asking.
And when he moved his hand under hers, she realized she was not dreaming. Fearful at first, she lifted herself off of him, not sure how to apologize. But then unexpected joy overtook her at the sight of his clear, blue eyes.
-'You're awake!'
She felt like she could give him a hug, but it hardly seemed appropriate. He looked straight into her eyes, as was his habit, piercing them with his own. She bowed her gaze feeling uneasy with his intense stare.
-'I should get the healers', she mumbled, rising from the chair and heading towards the door.
-'Where is Legolas?' Thranduil asked her, his voice betraying the deep pain he was in.
He did not have the strength to try and mask it from her.
-'Do not worry yourself. He is unharmed. I am sure he will be most glad to speak with you again', she replied before walking out of the room.