Hello my readers! I feel like I am saying sorry about the delays all too often. I had surgery/biopsies and got results they caught it pre-cancerous, I've been recovering since then. Something always seems to pop up, including the dreaded writer's block. I am not totally satisfied with this chapter ya'll so bear with me. As always enjoy and review. Reviews are a balm for my soul.
She awoke to a familiar voice. Trying to groggily place it, Sophie shifted through her thoughts, her brain slow to respond. Her body felt heavy, but with less pain than she had remembered since she arrived. Sophie managed to force her eyes open when the voice clicked in her brain and she made the connection. Sophie was greeted with Arwen and Aundimel standing beside one another chatting, and both turned their heads to Sophie as she rustled the sheets in her awakening.
"Sophie!" Aundimel sounded pleasantly surprised, and greeted Sophie with a glide over to her bed and a brushing of fingers over her cheek. She sat on the edge of the bed and gave her a once over. "You are looking so much better! How are you feeling? Are you in pain? Your skin isn't so pale as before." Aundimel wisely chose not to mention the telltale signs of recent severe injuries. Sophie's face was just a bit slimmer than before, and her hair was beyond being classified as bedhead. Her eyes were still slightly unfocused, and Aundimel could tell by the clenching of her jaw that Sophie was still feeling the extent of her injuries.
Sophie's stomach emitted a loud rumbling, echoing through the room, sounding very much like a bear growling. She blushed, knowing by the chuckles both Arwen and Aundimel gave that they had heard it.
Aundimel left with a brisk, "Let me go procure you some food," while Arwen helped her to use the bathroom.
Aundimel came and went with food, rubbing Sophie's shoulder for a moment before leaving, throwing over her shoulder as she left that she'd see Sophie soon.
Sophie chewed and ate quietly, forcing herself to pace her intake of food. The smell of simple chicken broth and soft fruit was heavenly to her. Sophie's thoughts drifted as she ate, with Arwen standing at the window, her hands resting in the windowsill.
It doesn't get any easier, honestly to let Arwen help me with the simplest tasks, especially going to the bathroom. I'd rather push it away and avoid it, if I was able. Damn this. Damn everything. To her mortification, Sophie felt tears gathering in her eyes, and she gritted her teeth. Turning her head away from Arwen's wise eyes, Sophie attempted to swallow the lump in her throat. Her chin wobbled and she clenched her teeth together harder, forcing the embarrassment off her face, and trying so desperately not to cry, to show any more weakness than she already had. Sophie so desperately wanted to go back to what was familiar, what she knew.
All I know is I am around gorgeous elves, elves for goodness sakes; I can't use the bathroom by myself; my body hurts; I'm so tired of hurting… I want Mom, I even want my sister. I'm being visited in dreams by a psycho who is the epitome of evil here, and an angel-like elf who proclaims something about golden flowers. I just want things to be normal. Sophie met Arwen's knowing eyes as she walked over and burst promptly into tears. Her shoulders shook, and with every sob wracking her body came pain. Her leg, her shoulder, the multitude of bruises half healed along her body, they all rebelled against movement, which only made her wail harder. Sophie lost herself to her tears, becoming an incoherent mess.
Arwen held her tightly as she wept, stroking her hair. As her cries quieted, Arwen managed the get her to drink another vile brew, before gently helping her lay back down. She sat by Sophie, stroking her hair while she started to sing. Sophie's eyes drifted closed as a door opened. Sophie could not muster any more energy to bother finding out who it was. She slumbered, to dream of nothing. There would be no sweet glades, or mountains of ash and barren wastelands. This sleep brought oblivion, and Sophie was grateful.
Sophie woke to eat and then was put into a healing sleep each time, a pattern that lasted several days. Elrond sat with her one day, his face kind, and once examined proclaimed her fit to finally get out of bed. He leveled her with a stern look and told her to take it easy, and if she ended up setting back the healing process he'd have no choice but to put her in a healing sleep until she was fully healed.
Sophie nodded quickly and used his support to finally stand. Her legs trembled with the exertion and Sophie quickly sat, embarrassed and frustrated.
Elrond, noticing her reaction, laid his hand on her shoulder and said soothingly, "It will take some time to strengthen your muscles to what they once were, and scattered meals are the culprit. You have been resting for more than a week and a few days since you arrived. Walk for a few minutes in this room, first. I will send Aundimel to assist you, and will check up on your progress. I am glad to see you returning back to health. Do not overtax yourself." His eyes were kind, his voice calm.
Sophie peered at him for a moment, before inwardly gasping. That's what I was trying to put my finger on. Instead of looking perfect like the other elves, he has a face that seems stuck in time. He has more weight on his face. Like he has seen too much in his time. Sophie was struck with a pang of sadness for the elven leader. She gratefully thanked him, her voice soft. He left with a light pat to her shoulder and a pleasant smile.
Sophie sat in silence, mulling over her recent conversations, one in particular nagging her, from a few days prior.
Elrond sat on the edge of her bed after checking her injuries, and assuring herself she was on the mend, slowly but surely.
She interlaced her fingers, looking down at them, instead of meeting his eyes. He really did have eyes that seemed to know her innermost thoughts and made her uncomfortable meeting him head on. Elrond had an air of unmistakable authority, an aura that was seemingly effortless.
He spoke, low and quiet, like one would with a startled foal. "Sophie, I have enquired about letting you return back home, if that is your wish. Long have I searched for any answers about where you appeared from, to no avail. The Lady Galadriel and I have both come to a conclusion that the event that brought you here can not be replicated to return you back home. It is my hope that you will feel comfortable here, and in time think of this as your home.
Sophie had cried when, long and heard at the thought of leaving her few friends and family. The 21st society she had not taken in appreciation, the ease at which life was. Here, it seemed everyone had to work so much harder at everyday life and Sophie didn't know if she would be able to adjust. Elrond sat with her, until her tears had subsided and she had fallen asleep in grief and emotional exhaustion.
She was grateful for everyone's kindness but she still had no idea what was really going on, even Elrond mystified at what had exactly brought her here. She felt stifled, trapped in this room, needing to get up and move, whether it was to a bench outside, or even out of her bed. The news only threw Sophie down even deeper and she could feel her irritation building. Sophie blinked tears out of her eyes, and willed the lump in her throat to cease, smothering her feelings.
Sophie was interrupted by Aundimel strolling in with an armful of cloth and bottles. She cheerfully told Sophie that she would help her bathe and opened a door set in the far corner away from the entrance that Sophie hadn't noticed before. Sophie could hear the sounds of water running and cloth rustling before Aundimel helped her off the bed. Sophie timidly leaned on Aundimel after attempting to take a few steps without support. She ended up heavily relying on Aundimel as her injured leg still could not support her but for a light bit here and there.
Sophie took a deep, gratifying breath at the lavender and minty steam that wafted through once the door was opened. She limped over to the waiting tub. Sophie abandoned all sense of propriety and eagerly entered the bath, sighing at the heat that quickly soothed her muscles. The stitched wounds burned coming in contact with the water but eventually dulled. Sophie laid back in the tub at Aundimel's urging.
"This water is infused with an herbal mixture to both cleanse wounds and soothe them. It is used with every patient if they are at risk for infection. Elves generally do not run a high risk for infection due to the nature of our bodies, but we take the proper precautions regardless. I have seen many a time an infection carry off elf and human alike if it becomes out of control. There are some instances even Lord Elrond can not save someone if too far gone."
Sophie listened with rapt attention, distracting her as Aundimel gently bathed her, showing extra heedfulness to her shoulder and leg. Aundimel helped her out of the tub and carefully towelled her down before helping her dress, easing the soft tunic over her head and weaving through her bad arm, avoiding the hard cast.
"How do you set a break and make sure it stays in the proper place?" Sophie asked curiously as Aundimel finished dressing her and sat Sophie down to brush her hair.
"We use a sweet, thick, herbal resin. First we wrap it in cotton, for comfort. Then we set the resin, which takes half an hour or so to harden. Finally, we seal the outside with a paste very similar to the resin. This makes it water resistant so patients can take baths and such. Your leg brace we took off before you awoke to air the stitches. Lord Elrond's healing sleep does much to enhance healing time, coupled with the elven healing prowess.
Sophie nodded, taking the information in stride. "How much longer until I am fully healed?" Sophie eagerly asked, hopeful for a positive answer.
Aundimel finished the simple braid in Sophie's hair before replying. "It depends if you do anything to set back your progress. With shoulder injuries it is easy to accidentally jostle it, since the shoulder is used in many movements. The leg is easier because it can rest, but the muscles will become weak so the buildup of necessary strength to walk is required. The arm as well, since it is constantly in motion even while in the brace. You will need to train your muscles once again. Once you do, that will be near the end of your recovery. Do not overtax yourself, Sophie. I have been tasked, along with Arwen, to aid in your recovery." Aundimel laid one of her hands on Sophie's good shoulder. She guided Sophie back to her bed, checking the healing of her injuries. Sophie finally could see the extent of her leg injury. The skin around the stitches was a light red, and she counted at least 12 stitches. Her ankle was bruised a deep splotchy purple, and slightly swollen. Random bruises dotted her legs, some a faded green/yellow, almost fully healed, while others were still a dark purple.
Aundimel ran her cool hands down Sophie's shoulder and Sophie flinched when she reached a particularly sore spot. She tested the seal on the brace around her mid arm, and then turned to her leg.
Steeling herself as Aundimel ran her hands around her ankle, she tensed, ignoring the pain resulting from the movement. A minty, cool, green lotion was slathered over her stitches and a flash of purple out of the corner of her eye caught Sophie's attention. She turned to see a bouquet of lavender flowers tied to the headboard. Sophie took a deep whiff, enjoying the soothing smell.
It slowly lulled her into dozing, and then to a full blown sleep.
Sleeping, waking, eating, attempting to walk, and strengthening her legs was all Sophie did for the next week, slowly building herself up to normal. Her wounds healed, but the imprints of fingers on her wrist did not disappear. It perplexed Aundimel, and Elrond as well once he came to check up on her injuries.
"It bears the mark of darkness, and I can sense a poison from it, reducing the ability to heal a small area, such as your wrist. While not life threatening, the poison is really meant for prolonged torture." Elrond was able to identify the exact poison once he took a small sample of blood, and mixed it with a selection of herbs, one after another until one finally was successful. The mixture of blood and herbs darkened on contact, turning into black once mixed. He turned to her and realized the distressing message that the poison shown reacting was a
As the days passed, Sophie slowly healed, and grew stronger. The terrible dreams that plagued her grew fewer and fewer in between and she never saw Sauron in any. She had a feeling deep in her gut that he was searching for something, but she always felt a lingering sense of being watched, as if there was one eye on her at all times. Ohan and his beautiful garden didn't procure an appearance either.
The poison on her wrist was able to be purged, slowly and painfully but it was finally nearly gone, with a few lingering bouts of weakness and fatigue. Her injuries were well on the mend, and for the first time since being here Sophie felt as if things were looking up. She never could really breach into the elven society, being as she was holed up in bed most of the time. Arwen came to visit, sweet and calming, she left the shutters open for a cool breeze to flow through, and Sophie even got to see Aundimel, and talk between the few for a bit. Whenever Sophie got the occasional chance to sit outside on a padded chaise lounge on the balcony outside her room, she watched everyone milling about. It seemed like everyone had a purpose, a reason to get up everyday.
Where is my purpose? Why was I put here? What makes me so special?