Hello Everyone! A few of you asked for an update to celebrate the premier of movie! It is tomorrow night and I am beyond excited!
Chapter 7: A Prince's Fight
"Legolas! I'm out of arrows!" I shouted as I reached back and my hand gripped empty air. I turned to where I last saw him but didn't see the blonde in the chaos. I quickly grabbed my mother's blade and started hacking at the creatures.
After a long fight that never seemed to end, I sliced off the head of the last orc. I sighed and looked around. Nearly 30 Orcs lay around us dead. I had some scratches and brushes, my hair long fell out of my braids, and my blade covered in black blood. My eyes finally rested on Gimli who was pulling one of his hand axes out of a corpse. He had a few cuts and bruises too, but would live. As I searched around, I found no sight of my betrothed.
"Legolas?" I called out. My heart stopped as I heard no reply. I followed the circle of corpses as I found one of his twin blades in the chest of an orc.
"Gimli! Have you seen Legolas?!" I asked more than scared.
"No, lass, I haven't." He started shouting his name and walking out of the area to look. I stopped and listened, straining my ears. I heard a stream not far away and started towards it.
"Legolas?" I shouted again as I reached the water. I heard a groan to my left and was never more relieved to see the blond elf lying on the ground. That is until, I saw the blood, not black orc blood, red blood; his blood staining the grass around him.
I held back a scream but yelled for Gimli as I ran to him. I kneeled before him and pushed back his hair. He was pale, so pale; dark circles formed under his eyes. I looked over him and saw his hand pushed against his side. I moved it and saw the wound. It was deep, he had gotten stabbed. The blood continued to seep out. I pulled off my cloak and pushed to his side. I could not stitch it out here and keep it clean of infection. It needed to be washed out and wrapped for now. But I had to see his eyes. I had to know he was still alive.
"Legolas, please open your eyes." I pleaded, fighting the tears in my eyes. His face grimaced but his crystal blue orbs slowly opened.
"My star…" He said slowly lifting his arm to run a bloodied hand along my cheek. I grabbed it and held it tight. I have never seen him like this: on the edge of death. His grip slacked, dropping his hand, and his eyes slid shut once more.
"Don't leave me, you hear me! We are going to make it to your home. I'm going to meet your father, and you'll announce our betrothal. In a few months, we will be married and we're going to have so many elflings…" Finally, the tears fell down. He was unconscious now. It won't be long, if something isn't done. But I can't do anything myself!
"Mae?" I turned to see Gimli, struck with grief.
"How bad is it?" He said taking his spot next to the Mirkwood Prince lying on the ground.
"He's bleeding out. I need to stitch him, but there's so much blood. I don't know if I can do it…" My voice was barely a whisper.
"I'll hold pressure on the wound. Go wash your hands and get what you need from the horses; we have to get him to a healer."
I stood and walked back to the horses, slowly, not trusting my own legs to carry me. I reached moonlight and started searching through my pack with shaking hands. I went to turn only to be met by an arrow pointed at my face. The elf didn't look familiar but was dressed similar to what I first saw Legolas in.
"Who are you and why do you travel so close to Dol Guldur?"
"Are you of the Mirkwood Guard?" I asked hopeful. He could get help!
"Answer my question." His grip on the bow tightened and I thought Lorien wardens where hard.
"I am Maethriel of Lorien. I am traveling with my betrothed and a friend. Our destination is Thranduil's Halls. I am in need of healers immediately, if one is in your company."
"I am Calanon of the Mirkwood Guard, I serve under captain Tauriel." Thank the Valar! She will be able to
"Tauriel! Is she nearby?"
"Yes, but what do you wish of her?"
"Tell her Mae of Gondor needs her urgently! Your Prince is gravely injured!"
"Prince Legolas?!"
"Yes, we were ambushed by Orcs! In case you can't tell, we were greatly outnumbered. Now go get her!"
"Of course my lady!" The guard disappeared and I prayed he would return soon with help." I quickly returned to Legolas, who looked no better with pressure on the wound. I can't wait for help. If I don't stitch him, he will be dead before they return. I filled the cup with water. I was more than thankful to see fish swimming in the water. I tore some strips from my outer tunic and kneeled next to Gimli. I carefully, pulled back the cloak and started washing out the wound. Thankfully, there was no evidence of poison.
"Legolas, this is going to hurt but I must sew the wound shut to stop the bleeding." My weeks of shadowing a healer weren't paying off, because I saw nothing of this extent in the small village.
"Gimli, I brought some Athelas. I remember Aragorn mentioning it had healing properties. Crush it up with some water." I looked down at the needle and thread. It took several tries to get the thread attached due to shaking hands but eventually I had cleaned his wound enough and slowly punctured his skin. He didn't flinch and that scared me even more. I made quick movements, hoping to be swift and accurate. I tied it off then dipped the strips of tunic in the Athelas water and placed them over the wound. I took some water and continued to clean off his face and hands, checking for further injuries. After some time, I heard a familiar feminine voice and rejoiced as a red headed guard burst into the clearing.
"Mae! What happened?!" She said coming to kneel next to me, fear evident in her eyes.
"Orcs, we were outnumbered. We need to get him to a healer as soon as possible. I sewed up his wound, but I know not the extent of other injuries."
"It's okay, Mae. You did what you could. He is almost home." She said taking my shaking hands in hers.
"Calanon, send word to Moril, that Legolas is in the Realm but injured. Hérion get the wagon from the talan. We have to get him to the city as fast as possible." Tauriel snapped order changing from friend to captain.
"Yes, Captain." The male elves nodded and disappeared into the trees. Tauriel looked down at Legolas and pushed back his hair, much like I did.
"My friend, can't you ever just come home like a normal elf?" She asked him.
I held onto his hand tightly, and often stopped to listen for his heartbeat. Finally, the wagon appeared and we slowly moved him. I mounted Moonlight and pulled Arod along beside me. I stayed behind Legolas as Tauriel sat on the wagon with him. There were many more elves now. We were more protected, we would make it. We traveled through the night and much faster than we had been. I constantly asked her how he was holding and it was always the same: 'he is alive'. I was more than grateful to see large gates opening before us. We wasted no time, before we reached the opening to the caverns that was the true kingdom of Mirkwood.
"Mae, welcome to the Mirkwood or Eryn Lasgalen as King Thranduil plans to rename it." Tauriel said smiling as she dabbed another wet cloth to Legolas' forehead. Normally I would be jealous of such an action, an elleth doing my job so to speak. But Tauriel is happily married and bonded to Legolas' best friend and a friend of my own who will watch over him closely.
Legolas was rushed to the halls of healing and I was pushed out along with everyone else as the healers went to work calling for herbs and hot water. After the initial shock was over, I sat down and looked at the space around me. Tall trees lined the walls despite being underground. It was beautiful here. But I had no time to appreciate its beauty, not with Legolas possibly dying in the next room. It seemed like hours we sat looking at the door that led to the halls of healing.
Suddenly, everyone stood, and I felt my arm being pulled up as well. The room became quiet as I saw Moril walking behind an elf I could only assume was Legolas' father. He had the same hard cut face and high cheekbones. His blonde hair shined like silver even in the dim light, and the eyes confirmed it, the same blue as the love of my life. This was undoubtedly Thranduil, King of Mirkwood, and my future father in law.
"Tauriel, where is my son?" He stopped in front of her.
"The healers are tending to him now, my king."
"What happened? Was he alone?"
"Nay, he was traveling with the son of Gloin and…" She was cut off by his question
"He travels with a dwarf?" His eyes traveled down to my friend who stood next to me.
"Yes my Lord, he was one of the nine that traveled with Prince Legolas to destroy the ring"
"If he was one of the nine, then perhaps he may stay until news is heard. But what of you?" I looked up to see his eyes studying me.
"You are not of my guard or my palace attendants."
"I am Maethriel, daughter of Lindor of Lorien." I find it best to not mention my human heritage just yet. I know not what Legolas has told him.
"So you are the Daughter of Battle, another rare elleth that is as deadly with a bow as she is in a dress." He said raising an eyebrow.
"My son spoke very highly of you." I let out the breath I had not realized I had been holding.
He was about to speak again, when the door opened and an older woman stepped out.
"My King, you may come in. We did all that we could. Only time will tell. He is resting now."
"Tauriel, find a maid to accommodate our guests…" He eyed Gimli wearily but the dwarf said nothing which was probably smart, given the family history.
"I wish to see him before I…" I started but was stopped by a cold glare on the king's face.
"No one is to enter this room tonight. Tomorrow, you may enter should he wake." The king said shutting the door behind him. When will I see him again? Does his father not know we are betrothed?
"I have a few cuts that I wouldn't mind you looking at." I looked at the healer.
"Come this way dear, we have another room for you to get cleaned up." She said pulling me along. She asked a maid to find me a clean dress and under garments.
"Bathe first, then we will bandage those cuts. My name is Amaniel should you need anything." She led me to a side room that held a large tub with steaming water. I carefully stripped out of the blood soaked clothes and threw them into the corner before sliding into the water. The cuts stung at the new heat but I smelt herbs so there was most likely something in the water. I washed my hair and then sat there praying to the Valar for Legolas. I knew I would not sleep until he woke or showed signs of improvement. After the water turned cool, I rose and used a towel to dry as I reached for the garments and pulled on the new dress. It was forest green material with split sleeves. It was a little big in the waist, but it would do for now. I ran a brush through my hair feeling the pain in my muscles. I returned to the main room to see the lady washing my blood soaked clothes.
"Let me finish these and then I will look at those cuts." She said smiling.
"Thank you; you didn't have to."
"Any guest of the King and Prince is more than worthy of such effort." She motioned for me to sit on a cot to the left of her.
"So how do you know the Prince?"
"We traveled together on his journey to destroy the One ring. I joined the company not long after leaving Rivendell."
"A brave warrior then, perhaps they will find you a place on our guard?"
"We will see." I smiled. She wrapped the two cuts on my arms very well but while looking at my hands, stopped.
"Where did you get this ring?" She motioned to my betrothal ring. It was his mother's ring.
"Um…Legolas asked me to hold on to it when he first got injured." I lied, definitely not my best lie either. No one here knows much of our betrothal.
"Perhaps you should give it to the King for safe keeping. It was once the Queen's betrothal ring. I would know it anywhere. I was there when he ordered it from the smith for her."
"Unless, he gave it to you for another reason?" She said with knowing eyes.
"He did." I am a horrible liar but I could tell the healer was a close friend of the royal family.
"Congratulations my dear! You have no idea how long I've been after that elfling to find a good elleth." She said smiling and became much more cheerful.
"Thank you but I fear for him." Her face dropped.
"Once the king, leaves for the night, I will bring you to the Prince. I know what it is like to be separated from the one you love, especially when they're injured. My husband was on the border guard for many centuries until we had elflings. Now he serves here in the palace."
"I would be forever grateful." I said smiling. Hopefully he will wake up soon.
So there you go! Hope it was a good chapter! What do you guys think?
I hated writing this chapter...
Next chapter is a fun one. Mae gets to have a little chat with Thranduil.
Hope you guys enjoy the Hobbit Desolation of Smaug! I'm beyond excited!
Please leave a review, follow, or favorite! I love them almost as much as I love Legolas!
Until Next Time!
-B