THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Every single one of your reviews really keeps me going. I'm sorry this chapter took so long. I'm in some kind of creativity low... Let's hope I get over with it quickly :/
Personally, I don't like this chapter at all. But well... A little fluff (I guess?) never hurts. For further advice on hair tending, consult your elvish waifu.
xxx
Problems don't get solved, while we wait for God to take care of them.
- Martin Luther King
xxx
When she opened her eyes, it was dark around her. A strange thing, since the Halls of Healing - or any room here, as far as she was able to judge - were never really dark. Somewhere, light always found its way into the chambers. However, in here she was surrounded by total darkness; she couldn't even see five inches afar. She groaned in pain and sank back in her chair. Good God, it hurt so much. Her tongue felt swollen and hot in her mouth, the fingers that had been clamped in the elleth's hand were stiff and her hands felt raw and skinned. And above all, where was Linarin? Rai had expected her to stay with them, but it seemed she had been wrong.
Stiffly, she got up and took a deep breath. This had been exhausting, very much more than the last time. Eliandeth had been far closer to the gates than the ellon she had clung to after battle. As long as she stayed with her, she'd be able to keep the connection. Offering protection from the everlasting light, but it was so very much more straining than the last time.
With a deep sigh, she forced her tired limbs to move and tried to blink the darkness away. Did they darkened the room to help her? She couldn't be certain, however; before she was able to ponder any longer, the door opened just the tiniest bit, lightening the room a little in the process. "Come in." Even she herself heard the weariness in her voice. Careful steps neared and Rai forced a smile on her face, even though it was probably more of a grimace. "Hey, Linarin." On the other side of the door, hushed words were uttered. Sindarin, she guessed. Another pair of silent feet got closer and Rai looked up. "Fìriel," she mumbled and the healer stepped closer. Slowly, the darkness retreated.
"I never told you my name," Linarin quietly stated and Rai sighed. "She asked for you," she answered tiredly and didn't even have the power to lift her head more than two inches. She was so very tired and everything hurt… everything was in pain. The white-haired lowered her head again and finally, Fìriel spoke up. "Your hands require tending." She was right, Rai noticed. The skin was red and burnt, cracked on a few places. The wounds wept and their edges were coloured in a sickly yellow-white. "If I let go now, she's lost." The statement was quiet and sober; Linarin sobbed. "She was too close to the gates," she murmured. "Just a few steps closer and I wouldn't be able to get to her."
"Gates?" Before she was able to answer, Fìriel cut in. "This conversation shall be for another occasion." Thankful, Rai blinked towards her. She was just too tired, to have a discussion like that right now.
xxx
"But… she has not yet woken up."
Rai gave a tired sigh. "I know."
"If I wait any longer, she won't find her way back." With her free hand, Rai rubbed her face. "She's stable. I can't wait any longer." It was the truth: For two days she had stayed right beside Eliandeth, gotten mere minutes of sleep, had rarely eaten. However, the more time passed, to bigger the risk of Eliandeth not being able to step out of the comforting shadow and back into life grew. Both, herself and the healers, had done everything they could during these last few days; yet it was uncertain whether it would be enough. Anyway, she was far too weary to ponder further about the difficulties and risks that a sanctuary in the shadows meant. It had been necessary.
"I can't wait any longer."
Slowly, she loosened her left hand's stiff fingers and grit her teeth to bite back a whimper. Then, she retreated her second hand as well, before carefully lowering the elleth's fingers on the sheets. She didn't move, when Rai got up – only to nearly fall down a mere moment later. She had rarely moved at all during the last two days, not moving from Eliandeth's side. Every movement had been limited since she couldn't have let go of the elleth's hand.
"Follow me, if you would."
Surprised, she looked up. A guard had appeared behind her; she couldn't remember his name, but remembered to have seen her face somewhere. She nodded and forced her aching legs to get moving.
"So help her, you fool," Fìriel rudely hissed. She had arrived at the bed not too long after Rai and afterwards had refused to leave as well. It was she who had darkened the room after having escorted all the visitors outside. Rai didn't know what exactly had happened, but Fìriel had explained how she had started talking in Sauron's tongue. She wasn't able to understand the language and neither did she want to, since every single sound was disgusting and felt wrong and painful in her ears. However, as the shadows had started creeping down the walls, swallowing Eliandeth's body, she had darkened the floating lights and evacuated the room – at least, until Rai became conscious again. She had not left the room afterwards. While Rai had kept the elleth in a stable -yet critical- condition, the elleth had done her very best to hasten the recovery process.
The guard wanted to throw her a glance that left no question about his less than willing attitude towards the subject. However, Fìriel's face left no doubt about him having to cope, if he ever wished for any kind of service after another few bruises after training. Thus, he grabbed the white-haired's arm to aid her steps, while she stumbled next to him. It was a pathway she didn't recognise, but she was way too tired to remember any of it right now. At some point, a door was opened in front of her and the ellon let her go. "You shall reside here, whenever you decide to seek refuge in the king's halls. You may use them as you wish." Rai blinked. The room was huge, (even if not as gigantic as Thranduil's living space), and two doors led to separate rooms. The bed was covered in sheets and the area left room for a desk with a chair, two soft-looking armchairs, a small selection of around a dozen books, a few chests and a large cupboard. Placed on a table stood a bowl of fruit beside a decanter filled with water. Carpets covered most of the ground and a large window took more than half of the southern wall; heavy curtains allowed for shutting out the light. The fireside was lit.
"If you are in need of assistance, you may make use of the bell." The guard nod towards a long, red rope, the lead to somewhere she couldn't see and probably activated some mechanism. Normally, she'd try to figure it out, but right now she was just too tired to even think of anything besides the soft looking sheets. "If you do, a servant will be by your side as soon as possible. Is there anything else you might require?"
"Sleep," she mumbled. "Some sleep would be nice."
The ellon nodded and retreated, closing the door behind him. Rai pulled off her boots, (nearly crushing to the floor in process), and crawled between the sheets. They smelled like heaven and she was just Oh so tired…
xxx
Long fingers stroked her hair, soothing the tangled strands. Still half asleep, she cuddled into the caress and contently murmured under her breath. It took a few seconds until reality set in and her eyes cracked open, and she flinched. Some more moments passed, before she recognized the person sitting on her sheets.
"Thranduil?"
"That is my name," he confirmed and finally, Rai clumsily sat up. He pulled back his hand, ignoring her little pout, before she asked: "What are you doing here?"
"This is my realm. In which way do I need to exculpate?"
Rai snuffled. "Sometimes I really don't know how I ended up in bed with you."
A dark brow lifted. "Shall I explain?"
"Ungh, no," she griped and flinched, as she straightened herself. She was awfully stiff, every move hurt. After days without even the idea of a bath she felt filthy and disgusting and probably looked the very same. Still… "Any news?"
Thranduil guessed where she was referring to, but shook his head. "Eliandeth has yet to gain consciousness."
Her head dropped. "I waited for too long," she murmured. "The longer one seeks refuge within the shadows, the harder it gets to leave. The desire to stay, to let fall, let everything go, gets stronger and stronger. It should've stopped sooner. But then, it might've been too early… I wouldn't have been able to follow her again, the gates were already far too close."
Thranduil's head snapped up. "Gates?"
She nodded. "It's unbelievingly big, without a beginning or any end. Everything is flooded with light and in the distance are the gates. The further you get towards them, the stronger the light gets… I cannot get too near, or… I don't know. Maybe I'll be burnt. It certainly feels like it. Eliandeth was on the very edge. Just a few more feet and I wouldn't have been able to get to her anymore, because-" She blinked. "Thranduil?"
"They're the gates to Mandos," the king quietly answered. "To the Halls, where our kin remain after having been slain in battle. You have seen them?"
The Halls of Mandos? She had heard about that a few times, actually, but- "Edhel are not meant to die," the ellon explained. "Yet we are not secured from a violent death. Whenever this happens, the fae will remain within Mandos' Halls, until Arda in unmade… my father remains there."
"I'm sorry," Rai murmured. "But… Your mother, didn't she…"
"Naneth was unable to bear the pain. She sailed West, mere weeks after the taking part in the fallen soldiers' funeral ceremonies. I stayed behind on these shores, my people battered after years of battle, their fae torn by death and darkness… and a son who was a mere elfling." He was grateful for it. Had Legolas been just a few decades older, he would have been sent to battle as well. He would have had to fight along with the Last Alliance, the fallen warriors' bodies rotting beside him, the wounded screams of agony in his ears… he wouldn't have been able to lose him as well. If it hadn't been for his son, he would have set sail to the West alongside his naneth. And probably most of his people would have followed. "Hey…" Carefully, his cheek was caressed. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to bring back unpleasant memories." Her apology was an honest one. He had already mentioned his mother wasn't with him, but she didn't think that…
The king's face softened. "You are young," he answered, as if that explained everything. Rai chuckled. "And you are old." She wriggled around a little and flinched, when the movement sent a sharp sting through her back.
Thranduil got up. "Come."
Obediently, she took her boots and stood up. "Where are we going?"
Whenever they met, Thranduil had made pretty much every preparation possible, to avoid being seen with her. Why did he just now- "Oh." She blinked, when he opened the wardrobe, to do something she couldn't see, and the back door soundlessly slid open. Behind the two of them, he pulled close the wardrobe's doors (now that they both stood inside, its size made way more sense), before entering a pathway.
"I had reasons to choose these particular rooms for you," he stated and Rai grinned. "Then walk ahead, my Lord."
A few minutes passed in silence. Again and again, they passed cross-ways, some a little wider or higher than others, some illuminated, others mostly dark. Twice, pathways even went above each other and Rai blinked. "You probably have to be immortal, to have enough time to remember all that," she murmured and Thranduil smiled. "None but my son and I may enter these pathways. If these halls were to be conquered by whatever enemy we stand against, most of them were built to be able to evacuate people safely outside," he explained and Rai gave a nod. It only happened on rare occasions, but she really was impressed. Such a labyrinth and he had done everything on his own… Suddenly, another door opened in front of them and Rai recognised the bookshelf that had slid aside, making way to his chambers.
"Do you remember the path?"
The white-haired blinked. "Not even close," she admitted and the king frowned, before his face got calm again. Obviously, she was forgiven. He made the heavy shelf slide back again. "You will not enter these pathways on your own," he ordered. "Some lead to a very unpleasant death." "And you're telling me now?!"
"It is early enough," he deemed and walked ahead. To her surprise, right to the one door she hadn't already entered. She stepped beside him and immediately, warm and hot air blew into her face. The room was huge, as large as the living room. On her left, water rinsed down the wall, to be collected by a curb on the floor, flowing into a large basin. Another one was captured in a pool of white marble, the water steamed and bubbled. Another basin had been carved into the ground, the water inside shone turquoise and had a wonderful smell she didn't recognize. There were even more pools, one of them a dozen meters long, taking all the space down the right wall and another little, circled one, next to yet another closed door.
"Uhm…" Rai blinked, obviously a little overwhelmed by that much luxury. She had taken a few baths in hot springs if she could find them, and normally simply cleaned herself in just another river.
Meanwhile, Thranduil strode to the small pond filled with turquoise water and pulled forward a little, wooden bench, to put his boots on.
"You know, there are more subtle ways to tell me I smell," she noted half-heartedly and bowed down, to pull her boots off. Unfortunately, she wasn't only way clumsier than him, but also so very stiff, she actually had to sit down to reach her feet. "If it had just been filth, you might as well wash yourself in a puddle," he answered and watched her teeter to the pool stiffly. At least, the pond was in-ground, allowing her to simply slide inside. Sighing, she skittered aside, as Thranduil's robes fell to the ground. Rai made a face. "Can't you be a little more… clumsy?"
"Clumsy?" He lifted an eyebrow and she sighed once again. She was awfully stiff, and more than a little clunky. She could live perfectly well with that… but every one of his flawless movements showed their differences all to clearly, making her feel ignoble. A few moments passed, before Thranduil as well slid into the steaming water.
More and more, her cramped body relaxed, until she finally had sunk into the hot water all the way up to her chin. If she stayed inside around half an hour, she might be able to move painlessly again. Thranduil noticed her proceeding relaxation. The bath's water had been laced with healing essences, that might even close up scratches and stop small bleedings. A few sore muscles should be calmed perfectly well. Rai's eyes fell shut and she slid down further, until the water touched her chin. Her hair floated at the surface, tangled, knotty, and begging for attention. Finally, he gave a silent sigh. "Come here." Sleepy, black eyes blinked towards him and after a moment, which apparently her brain needed to process his words, she shuffled towards him until she was leaning against his chest. Carefully, he took the wet hair, ordering the untidiest strands. "Dive," he ordered, and surprisingly, she obeyed and disappeared below the surface. He took a small bottle, when she emerged, and carefully began to message the white liquid into her hair and scalp, all the way down. He rinsed her hair, just to take another potion, before carefully combing the white hair. "Dive," he ordered again, just to knead some other liquid into her hair afterwards, churning it between his palms. Content, her eyes stayed shut, while his long fingers worked their way on her strands.
"I think, you revived it by now," she finally chuckled, after the fifth potion had been rubbed into her hair. It wasn't soap anymore, since after the first two sessions, he had used something else. Afterwards, he had massaged something inside, that had been some kind of scented salve, and now he seemed to have used the merest drops of oil. Afterwards, he pinned up her hair, to avoid them falling back into the water. As he took just another bottle, she frowned. He had just apparently finished doing… whatever it was, that he had done. Why- "Oh." Well, of course he'd like to wash his own hair as well. "Let me do it," she offered and after a short moment of hesitation, Thranduil lowered his hands again. Rai turned around and straightened a little, before carefully foaming… whatever it was, that he used… and started massaging it into his hair. It was way more soft and shiny, than hers could ever hope to be, and a lot longer. She laughed a little. Even his hair obeyed him.
"What are you laughing about, tinnu nín?", he asked in a mild voice and she smiled. "Only your perfection."
"I am not perfect," he replied frowning and she shrugged. "Your hair is." She nodded contently. "Done." Unlike her, he didn't dive all the way, instead just leaning back until he was able to rinse his hair. Then she sighed. "I think, I need to get out. My fingers are shrivelled."
"Pardon me?"
Rai laughed and showed him her fingers. The skin was soaked and had tightened afterwards; it had taken on an unhealthy white colour. "Mortals are strange creatures," he stated. "Said the immortal Elvenking in his bathroom," she grinned and took one of the soft towels that were kept neatly folded on a small shelf. Carefully, she padded outside and took her clothes, just to put them aside again, making a face. Everything was filthy and smelled, being soaked in sweat as well. She honestly wasn't too keen on putting them on again, now, that she was clean for once. Maybe she could wash them somewhere too, before having to put them on again. For now, the towel had to be enough.