VII
It was past midnight when Legolas finally gave in to Gimli's demands that they return to the palace for much needed rest. Between them, they had discovered twenty-one bodies, each one causing Legolas both fear, then relief, then anger at the needless loss of life. The attack had been carried out in a particularly populous sector of the city, at a time when the gates would be choked with tradesmen and their families entering and leaving the city before dusk, and it was thus that so many had been killed.
"I promise we can return once you have stopped shaking from exhaustion," Gimli said as they walked slowly away.
All around them, the air was tense and tinged with fear. Even the smallest children looked ready to burst into tears at the slightest provocation, and each face turned away as Legolas's and Gimli's weary gazes swept past.
"Did you hear what 'ee said?" A tall man stood talking to another at the doorway of a small inn.
"Aye, made a lot of sense, 'ee did. They don't call 'im the king for naught! All that talk about not giving in, about us all 'aving the role to play in this fight! Now I was a mere babe in swaddling clothes when 'em Orcs and Southerners attacked, but it seems our people are being called to fight something as big as that again!"
"You think so, Wilmar?"
"That I do. And such a fight we will give 'em! Say, what are these two strangelings doing 'ere?"
Legolas and Gimli startled, realising he was talking about them now. Lowering their heads, they turned, eager not to attract any more attention.
"Oy, they are trying to get away!" Wilmar shouted. "City gates being blown up, strangers in our streets, what next?"
Legolas and Gimli found themselves pressed against a wall with pitchforks, hammers, spears and various weaponry being shoved in their faces. Every man around them raged with anger, and the shouting was so loud it sounded like the inside of an angry nest of hornets.
Gimli bared his teeth and reached for his axe, but was held back by Legolas.
"Who are these strangers?" A strong voice cried through the din. "We should hand them over to the soldiers!"
"No, we would do better dealing with them ourselves! I never thought the soldiers could get it right! Look what good they did with this latest attack!"
"Revenge! We shall have revenge for poor old Brom, killed, just like that! I saw his widow and daughters weeping over his body!"
The angry mutterings grew louder, and it seemed Legolas and Gimli would need to exert force to extricate themselves when a large swarthy man came tearing down the narrow alleyway.
"Halt! Have you lost your senses? These are Lords Legolas and Gimli, who fought alongside our king as the Three Hunters! Why, I was a young soldier in the battle of Pelennor Fields when I saw them disembark the ships, bringing with them the ghostly army which turned the tide against those foul beasts from Mordor!"
The crowd melted away as quickly as it built.
"You are young to have been a soldier then," Legolas said.
"You saved our hides," Gimli said.
"Send my regards to my Lord Faramir," the man said, winking, before melting away into the shadows.
"Come on!" Gimli cried, dragging a shaken Legolas back into the main pathway. "Wait till I find that blasted Aragorn with his rousing speeches to boost morale! He almost got us killed!"
Legolas took another moment to glance at where the man had disappeared down and made a mental note to compliment Faramir on the effectiveness of his spy networks.
"To carry on, they needed to feel they were making some contribution," Legolas said.
"Ha! Carry on killing innocent folk such as you and I? I'd say! But enough about that, laddie, I will insist that you get some proper shut-eye before the morn."
"And you promised to wake me should Roh --"
"Of course! Run along now!"
Nodding, Legolas covered the last walk back to his room with a sickened heart. Now that Gimli's company was taken away from him, he was again left with feelings of emptiness and despair. He wanted to believe so badly that Elrohir would be found, but how could he allow himself to think that, when faced with the evidence of only bodies being pulled out of the wreckage?
He opened the door and started to see a girl sitting on his bed. She turned upon his entry, then fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face. It was Catheryn.
"My Lord! I am so sorry!" she gasped between shudders.
Exhaustion took its hard toll on Legolas then, and instead of rushing to help her off the floor, he leaned against the door and slid down, eventually burying his head in his knees.
Catheryn reigned in her own tears and went to him, saying, "My Lord, what is wrong?"
Legolas took the opportunity to wave his hand at her, but did not lift his head, which was spinning around so madly.
When the feelings of nausea and unease had subsided to controllable levels, Legolas looked up at her frightened face.
"What is it that you want, Catheryn?"
She swallowed. "I came to see if there was anythin' I could offer you, my Lord."
It had been just three months since her entry into the palace and already Legolas noted the change in the way she spoke. And healthier sheen had also started to appear on her face, accentuating the ice-cold features fit for a Queen.
"I was there, my Lord. I was there with Lords Elrohir and Eldarion and Lady Elessiel when --"
"Calm down, Catheryn, I will hear all of it, but not at your expense."
She turned grateful eyes to him.
"I would that I had the chance to save them."
"Tell me," Legolas said, starting to tremble again.
"We were nearin' the gates when fighters attacked Lord Elrohir and Lord Eldarion, but they both fought them off admirably. Why, Lord Elrohir took down five with one sword stroke! I fled, forgettin' all my pledges, for I was so scared! Then, a series of almighty explosions tore through the air, and I was flung away and knocked black out. It was only when I woke did I see the large pile of black stones, and I ran back here."
Legolas hauled himself to his feet with great effort, pushing aside any aid she tried to render.
"Have you told any of this to Faramir?"
"No, my Lord, I have not spoken of it to anybody."
"Wait here for me then."
With one last clenching of the jaw, Legolas forced his disobedient legs to take him to Faramir, ignoring any protests that shot through his body, urging him to rest.
He banged on the Steward's door, hoping that he would have retired for the night and was not in some far-flung corner of the palace pouring over detailed plans.
The door was answered by Éowyn, who gave a shocked gasp when she saw how he looked.
"Save that for later, Éowyn. I must speak with Faramir."
"He has just retired, Legolas," she said, allowing him into their chambers. "He had not slept last night --"
"That can wait. I have important news --"
"Legolas!" Faramir cried, emerging from the bedroom and fastening a robe around himself. "You should rest; you look ready to collapse!"
I have already, Legolas thought, but quickly repeated what Catheryn had told him.
The sleep was gone from Faramir's face, and he rushed back into his bedroom and started dressing.
"I must speak with my men," he called through the door. "Had we come across any fighters or weapons in the rubble?"
"No," Legolas said, wondering too. "They must be near the bottom."
"Do not lose hope, Legolas! I must run, but please, rest, you look as if the entire army of Mordor has been through with you! My men report you to have moved stones a horse would struggle to."
"He had taken no sleep last night; I came to the palace to ensure he gets some tonight," Éowyn said, sighing, once Faramir had left.
"I am sorry."
"I have better sense than to shoot the messenger."
Éowyn caught him as he swayed once more.
"Legolas, you must rest, but would you have some tea to calm yourself?"
"No, Éowyn, Catheryn is waiting for me in my room."
A shadow crossed Éowyn's face.
"Then return to her. The servants have started to shun her, for they say she brings death to everything she touches. They start to call her Sorrowmaiden, for to be involved in both blasts is inconceivable. There is also the issue of the investigation into yours and Elrohir's supposed dalliances with her --"
"I will ensure she gets her rest, for it seems she has had little sleep too," Legolas said, deliberately ignoring the last part of Éowyn's speech.
Éowyn gave his arm a squeeze and watched with undisguised concern as he limped back to his room, forcing himself to remain upright.
Legolas fell forward and would have crashed onto the floor once he closed the door of his room behind him had Catheryn not caught him.
"Come, my Lord, let us get you cleaned and rested," she said, brushing aside the sheet of perspiration on his face.
Legolas was unable to protest as she guided him to the bathroom, removed his soiled clothes, and proceeded to brush off days of grime and toil. It occurred to his sluggish mind to remonstrate against the treatment, but he was so tired, so worried, so burdened.
"I have some skill in unknottin' flesh, my Lord, so if you wish --" she said, once she had dried him and brought him to the bed.
His mind a fog of exhaustion, Legolas simply nodded and fell forward onto the bed, allowing her to do what she might as he drifted off into a deep slumber long before he was aware of her firm hands kneading his fatigued muscles.
x
He awoke with a start and saw that sunlight was streaming in through the crack of the curtains. While there was still weakness in his limbs, Elven healing powers meant that in the space of a few hours, his body was able to render its exhaustion a thing of the previous night.
Struggling to rise, shock filled him as he realised there was another curled up in the sheets beside him. The alarm increased tenfold when he saw that it was Catheryn.
A burst of pain greeted his discovery, and Legolas found himself curling up in bed as the waves swept over him.
Catheryn was woken up by his convulsions, and she tried to gather him in her arms, crying, "My Lord! What is wrong?"
Faint alarm crept into Legolas, and he pushed her away and fell to the floor.
"You are bleeding!" she cried, kneeling beside him and pulling his palm for closer examination where the flesh had split open and blood was streaming out.
"Stay away!" he croaked. "Please, do not come any closer!"
She watched with horror as he dragged himself away.
Then, as quickly as it started, the pain was gone, and Legolas was left feeling as if he had every last strength siphoned away.
A banging sounded on the door.
"Legolas? Legolas?"
It was Gimli.
He forced himself to his feet, placed his finger to his lips to silence Catheryn, and opened the door a crack.
A sharp burst of laughter greeted him as Gimli saw that he was still clad only in a loose pair of leggings.
"Still undressed? And I thought you were no sluggard!"
"I will join you for breakfast downstairs," Legolas said.
Gimli shoved his hand through the cracked to prevent Legolas from shutting it, and concern replaced his amusement.
"You alright, laddie? You look as if you could do with more sleep."
"Any news?"
"Still none."
"Then I wish to be there searching. I will see you downstairs."
"Very well then, although there is no doubt that Elrohir would have my hide for not insisting you take some rest."
Legolas gave a weak smile, then turned back to where Catheryn had started tidying the room.
At his questioning look, she dropped her gaze.
"I was so tired, my Lord, I am sorry."
"You have had to put up with much strain, Catheryn. Do not apologise."
Her eyes lifted and she searched his face.
"You are not angry with me, my Lord?"
"No. Now, please go."
"Will you visit the blast site again, my Lord?"
"Yes."
"I hope you find them."
"Catheryn?" Legolas said as she started to leave.
"Yes, my Lord?"
"My friends call me Legolas."
Hidden from his view, a smile spread across her face as she ducked out of the room.
