Wow one whole week in already! This has already been such a wonderful journey to share with you all. Thank you so much for all the magnificent reviews you have all left! My favorite part of the day in responding to all the kind words you leave me. I cherish every one I get.
I hope you are all still enjoying this story because we've still got a LONG way to go! I know I am so looking forward to the weeks to come! Thank you all again and enjoy!
Malorn sat nervously on the edge of his bed. Today was the day he would find out if he was to suffer any weakness in his limbs from the wound to his back and, if he did, if it would be lasting. He desperately hoped not, but he had had many days to ponder the possibility and had firmly decided that even he would have to bear a disability, it would not matter. If he had the opportunity to do something different, he would not. It had been worth anything to save Elrond's life after the elf lord had been so overly kind to him.
Malorn smiled as he felt words of comfort coming from the baby tree. He turned his eyes to the small pot that sat on the table. Elrond had brought it to him a few days previous so he could plant his seed and the tree had wasted no time in starting the process of breaking out of its seed, excited for the new life it would find.
Suddenly the door opened and Elrond stepped into the room with Elrohir in tow. The younger twin had several medical instruments with him that would be used to test Malorn's nerve responses.
"How are you feeling, Malorn", Elrond asked. "Do you feel up to doing this today?"
"Aye, my lord", Malorn said. "I wish to know for sure."
"Very well. We will start with testing your arms."
Elrond held out both his hands palms up to Malorn. "I want you to place your hands on mine and push down. Try to exert equal strength from both arms simultaneously."
Malorn did as instructed, pushing down against Elrond's hands while the healer offered resistance to gauge Malorn's strength. They repeated the process with Malorn pushing up, in, and out with his hands.
"Very good, Malorn", Elrond said when they had finished. "Now how do your arms feel? Are you in pain anywhere?"
"Nay, my lord, they feel fine", Malorn said, flexing his arms.
"Excellent, now I shall test the responses in your legs and feet."
Elrond took his knuckle and tapped firmly on both Malorn's knees nodding in approval when his legs jumped in response. Then he drug a small, flat piece of wood over Malorn's soles, also nodding when his foot twitched. Next, he took a small needle and gently poked each of Malorn's toes. Asking after each if Malorn could feel it and each time, the young elf could.
"Alright, Malorn", Elrond said, pleased with the results. "Would you like to try to stand?"
Malorn nodded. Elrond stood on the left side of him and Elrohir on the right. As one, they lifted the young elf to his feet, supporting almost all his weight to start. Then, slowly, they released their hold, allowing Malorn's legs to take his weight. But just before he would have been standing completely on his own, Malorn's right leg suddenly gave out beneath him and he would have fallen, had Elrohir not been there to tighten his hold and support him.
"Easy, Malorn, easy", Elrond said, helping to steady him.
They sat him back down on the bed and Elrond had Malorn repeat the exercises he did with hands, but with his feet. Elrond frowned slightly when he noticed Malorn's right leg was significantly weaker than his left and Malorn began complaining of an aching in his right thigh and hip that radiated down his whole leg.
"Alright, that will be all", Elrond said, rising.
"Is it permanent, my lord?"
"I cannot say for sure right now", Elrond replied, "But I do not think so. However, I wish to keep you in bed for another week and give your back a chance to rest and heal further. Once a day, for an hour, we will do exercises to strengthen your leg and we will try again for you to walk after the week has elapsed."
Malorn sighed, casting a glance out the window at the trees he longed to meet and climb.
"It will not be so bad", Elrohir assured him, sitting on the bedside too. "Elladan and I will come every day and keep you company and maybe Erestor will start your lessons in here."
Malorn brightened at the thought. Erestor had already paid him a couple of visits and he liked the advisor immensely. He had showered Erestor with questions the first time he had met him and the Master of Knowledge was only too delighted to answer them all, appreciating that someone seemed to finally enjoy his teachings instead of sighing at the clock and waiting for class to be over. Malorn already had a pile of books by his bedside, given to him by Erestor, and he had read many of them.
"I am sure Erestor would be thrilled to do so", Elrond agreed, smiling as he remembered his usually quiet and withdrawn advisor nearly chattering with excitement to be able to teach 'such a willing and eager young student'. "Now, how about we get you back into bed, Penneth. You have done enough exercises for one day."
Elrond and Elrohir helped Malorn back into bed, sitting up against several pillows.
"Now if you begin to feel pain anywhere, you are to lie down for a while", Elrond instructed. "Listen to your body and do what it tells you and soon you will be better."
"Thank you, my lord", Malorn said.
Elrond nodded and left the room with Elrohir, the younger twin promising to return with his brother to have lunch with Malorn. The door shut with a quiet click, plunging the room into quietness once more. Malorn sighed sadly. He had wished desperately not to have lingering effects from the shot in his back, but he was thankful that they were at least not overly sever and Lord Elrond believed he would recover completely. Making up his mind to make the best of the situation he was in, he picked up one of his books and began to read.
True to Elrohir's promise, the twins both came and ate lunch with Malorn, telling him stories both exciting and humorous late into the afternoon. When it came close to dinner, Elrond arrived, servants carrying trays of food coming in behind him. The servants expressed their deep gratitude to Malorn for saving their lord and he was treated like royalty himself.
"Such a difference between here and Mirkwood", Malorn mused, accepting a plate of food from a smiling servant. "Though here, they only know me as the elf who saved their lord. Not tried to kill him. I wonder how they would act if they knew the truth?"
Malorn chose not to dwell on such thoughts, but to instead enjoy the kindness and hospitality offered to him. Elrond and his sons stayed with Malorn until the night grew old and it was time for bed. The twins bade Malorn goodnight and carried out the trays of empty dishes. Elrond, went to a nearby shelf and pulled down a jar of creamy salve.
"Lie on your stomach for me, Malorn", Elrond instructed. "This salve should help your back heal more quickly and soothe any aches in your muscles from the strain you put them through."
Malorn did as instructed and Elrond rubbed the salve gently into Malorn's back, massaging out any knots he found as well. Malorn couldn't hold back the deep sigh of contentment as the salve and massage eased tension that he didn't even know existed and he relaxed against the soft pillows. By the time Elrond finished, Malorn was more asleep than awake, his eyes beginning to glaze.
Elrond chuckled and blew out the candle. "Goodnight Malorn."
The young elf mumbled a response and then fell silent as sleep claimed him fully.
Elvish Terms:
Penneth – Young one
One more quick announcement. I wanted to let you all know I have started my first community. It is titled "Gems across Genres". It is open to family-friendly stories of all kinds from all across FanFiciton. If you would like your story added or one of your favorites, simply PM me with the name of the story and I will read it and decide whether I will post it. Very few well written stories will be declined as long as they are from family-friendly genres and are clean (No excessive violence, swearing, etc.) so send any that you'd like.
One more special thank you to Jaya Avendel for her sweet shout-out at the end of her last update to "Nin-Chronicles: My Word". Please go check out and review all her stories as well. She is a fantastic and passionate author and one of my very best friends! Thank you mellon-nin!
Thank you again for all your support! I look forward to seeing you all here and in Gems across Genres!
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