21: Raising above
"Where is he?" lord Elrond asked frantically, "is he still…" his voice faded when the elvenking before him held up his hand.
"He is still alive" Thranduil assured him, "he was given the cure four days ago".
"He was?" Elrond exclaimed relieved and fell down in the chair before the king's desk.
Thranduil walked around the desk, coming at a stop beside the chair.
"His legs a still paralyzed" he said lowly, earning a concerned gaze from the lord, "most of the pain are gone, but he still feels some now and then".
"The cure was given too late" Elrond stated.
"In the last minute" Belenor told from the behind the lord.
Elrond whipped around, raising from the chair, he had not seen the healer when he entered the office.
"Almost his entire body was paralyzed" Belenor told, "he had trouble breathing, throwing up blood. And everything we gave him, he threw up, including the cure".
"But, you said he was given the cure" Elrond said worried.
"He was" Belenor told, "directly into his blood system".
"Was that possible?" Elrond breathed.
Belenor shrugged, "I supposed it was, he is still alive".
"May I see him?" Elrond asked.
o0o
Jalen pressed down at a particular sore spot on Legolas back, earning a dirty curse from the prince, just making the young healer smile even more, and Rozarko laughed. Legolas was lying on his stomach, no shirt on, only his leggings.
Legolas was in a particular bad mood this morning, not really in the mood to have Jalen poke him all over to se if he was getting any better. Jalen had felt down the spine of Legolas, found nothing there that should paralyze his legs, now he was feeling around the hips, which were particular sore, and he had no doubt it hurt the prince when he pressed down at them. Jalen had specialized in the bone, sinew and muscle structure of the body, he even excelled Belenor on that field. Why the royal healer was more than comfortable to leave this to Jalen.
Rozarko was sitting cross-legged before the bed, facing Legolas, who only in short periods at a time glance him looks. Jalen took a gentle hold on either side of Legolas' hips, almost making the prince panic when he felt the touch. Jalen removed his hands as if burnet.
"Legolas" Rozarko moved forth, placing his hands on Legolas' arms, "look at me, Legolas".
Legolas looked up at Rozarko, and immediately started to relax again. He then turned his head around and looked back at Jalen.
"Sorry" he breathed.
"No need" Jalen assured, "shall I proceed?".
"Please do" Legolas said lowly as he lay down again.
Jalen took hold of his hops again, this time Legolas was much more relaxed, even though he flinched when Jalen touched him. The healer felt around the hips, then down the thigh, and back up to the hips.
"Hmm" he breathed, pressing his fingers into the side of his hips.
"What it is?" Rozarko asked from his spot on the floor.
"Something feels not right" Jalen told, feeling a little more around the spot.
"How not right?" Legolas asked, his voice a bit muffle from pressing his face down the covers on his bed.
"Let me just…" Jalen said while concentrating on a spot.
A knock sounded on the door.
"What?" Legolas called irritated, he did not really want to be disturbed now.
The door opened, and Elrond walked slowly around the door and into the bedroom. Legolas did not even bother to look up, his face still pressed down as pain flared through his body from Jalen's treatment. Jalen then found the spot and with skilled hands, he pressed and twisted Legolas' hips. An almost sickening, cracking sound sounded, followed by a low groan from Legolas and another curse. Again, Rozarko laughed, and Jalen could not help but chuckle at his prince foul mouth.
"You two are having way too much fun" Legolas stated.
"Where on earth did you learn such foul curses, penneth?" came Elrond's amused voice.
Legolas whipped his head up to meet the wise, gray eyes of the Imladrian Lord. A smile tucking at the corners of his mouth.
"You have two guesses" Legolas grinned.
Elrond crossed his arms, raising an elegant eyebrow, "and where did those two learn such foul curses?".
"I have no idea" Legolas said.
"Legolas" Jalen asked from behind, Legolas turned around to look at the healer, "will you turn around, please?".
Legolas did as told, having a bit difficulties with no use of his legs, and only a small part of his hips. Jalen did not help, knowing Legolas wanted to be as self-reliant as possible, and also he wanted to see just how much the prince was able to do and move around. Legolas managed quite well and quickly to get into position.
Elrond sucked in breath when he saw the long wound across Legolas chest and left arm. It had been stitched quite good, even though there were signs it had been infected. Legolas moved his head at the sound Elrond made, seeing how the lord looked worriedly down at him.
"Elrond?" Legolas asked.
Elrond met Legolas eyes, breathing deeply before he slowly shook his head. Signaling for Jalen to continue. Jalen took hold of his right leg, bending it over Legolas' upper body. Elrond looked on as Jalen worked, twisting and bending Legolas' legs. He was stunned to see how much weight the prince had lost, it was a lot. He could not have lost so much weight in a week, it was more than ten kilos, maybe fifthteen even. How did he come to lose so much weight? He promised himself to find out.
Jalen finished with his treatment, handing Legolas a clean shirt. With great effort, Legolas managed to pull him up and seated himself against the headboard of the bed. Elrond seated himself at the edge of the bed.
"I do not know much of this poison, Legolas" Elrond told, "but I will work together with Belenor and Jalen to find out what we can".
Legolas nodded.
"I will meat with Belenor then" Elrond said.
"I'm coming with you" Jalen said as he packed his bag.
o0o
For days the healers worked together, researched and examined Legolas to find out every thing they could. For every day though, Legolas got a little better. Jalen kept on training and treating Legolas back, hips and legs, to train his muscles, and for every day, Legolas got a little more feeling back. The healers started to hope the paralyzes was only temporarily. They could find no word written down about other afflicted of the poison, and received the cure in such a late state and survive.
One week after Elrond's arrival, Legolas had gotten much more feel back in his legs, and he could move them by now. and it was time to see if they could support him.
"Are you ready?" Belenor asked, Legolas nodded.
Rozarko was on his right side, Jalen on his left, both holding on to his arms. Elrond was standing next to Belenor in front of Legolas. Legolas used all he had in him and tried to stand, his legs felt like jelly, shaking madly under him. He only just managed to get into a standing straight position before his legs gave in. Both Rozarko and Jalen grabbed him tightly.
"We have you" Rozarko assured as they lowered him down on the bed.
Legolas was breathing heavily.
"You did well, penneth" Elrond encouraged.
"Did I?" Legolas asked skeptical.
"Yes!" all in the room answered simultaneously, making Legolas chuckle.
"Can I please try again then" Legolas asked.
"If you feel you have enough strength left" Elrond replied.
Legolas nodded, and Rozarko and Jalen took hold off his arms again, and supported him as Legolas again rose from the bed, this time managing to take two steps before his legs gave in.
o0o
Next time, it had been five steps, then seven, ten. Legolas kept on training, Jalen often with him supporting him while training. The stubbornness of Legolas paying off, and soon he could walk short distances. He was quickly to get tired though, but he kept on pushing himself all he could.
After two weeks, Thranduil called for the final trial of Saon, who had been kept in the dungeons while Legolas recovered.
"Do you know what punishment you will give Saon?" Girion asked.
Legolas was sitting on the edge of his bed, getting ready for the trial. He combed his hair, and was ready to braid it.
"Here, led me" Girion offered, and started to braid Legolas hair in the traditional braid of the House of Oropher.
"Thank you" Legolas breathed, already getting tired, "yes" he added, "I know what punishment I will give Saon".
Thranduil had told Legolas some days ago, that the council had thought that Legolas was the one who should decide Saon's punishment, and the prince had no doubt what he wanted to do.
Girion was just finishing off braiding Legolas hair when Rozarko entered the bedroom, smiling at the two sitting in the bed. In his hand he had something wrapped tightly in red fabric. He handed it to Legolas.
"It's ready" he told.
Legolas nodded and unwrapped the thing inside the fabric. It was a small knife, securely placed in a scabbard. Legolas placed it inside his sleeve, out of sight, but easy and quickly to reach.
o0o
Saon found himself standing in the middle of the council hall again, looking up at the king before him. The seat right to him empty, much to the elf's delight. Behind him, he heart the doors open, and turned to look who were entering. He was shocked to see Legolas enter, looking magnificent as always, no sign of being poison upon him. Saon growled lowly as Legolas walked up to the seat next to the king.
"Disappointed to see me?" Legolas asked calmly as he seated himself next to the king.
"It would be a lie if I wasn't" Saon spat.
"Saon" Thranduil cut in, "you are here to get your punishment for what you did. The judges have agreed that it is up to Legolas to decide what punishment you will receive".
For a moment Saon looked relieve.
"You look relieved" Legolas stated.
"I am" Saon grinned, "I thought I was going to die today".
Legolas slowly rose from his seat, feeling his legs tremble under him. He stood for a few seconds before he continued:
"Maybe not today" Legolas said calmly as he took the knife from his inside his sleeve.
In one shift movement, he unsheltered the knife from its scabbard and threw it at Saon. It imbedded itself in his left shoulder. Saon screamed in pain at the impact. Legolas stood calm, waiting for Saon to turn his attention back to him. The councilors in the hall looked stunned, but not surprised at what Legolas had done. Thranduil tried to stay calm.
Saon looked back up at the prince.
"You missed" he smirked, looking back down at the knife and then up at the prince again, his smirk fading when he saw Legolas smirk back at him.
"Oh, I hit just fine" Legolas told calmly, waling down to stand in front of Saon.
"What?" Saon hissed.
Legolas took hold of the knife, and very slowly pulled it out of Saon's shoulder.
"At first" Legolas said calmly, regally even, "you will start throwing everything to eat or drink up".
Legolas started to circle around Saon.
"And when there is nothing back, stomach acid will be thrown up".
Legolas wiped the blood of the knife off on Saon's tunic.
"And when that is done, blood will splutter out off you".
Legolas was now behind Saon.
"Then the fever will start" he continued, "burning you up from inside".
Legolas was now at his right side.
"And then the pain, shooting though you as a thousand knifes" Legolas led the tip of the knife run over Saon's cheek, drawing small drops of blood.
"Then you lose the feeling in your feet, legs, hands. Until all off your body is completely paralyzed, and you will stop breathing".
"You poisoned me" Saon breathed.
"I did nothing you did not do to me" Legolas stated as he walked back to his seat next to his father.
Legolas then looked at the guards next to Saon.
"Throw him back in the dungeons" he ordered.
The guards grabbed Saon and hauled him out of the hall. Slowly the councilors exited too.
"You surprise me, ion nin" Thranduil said when the hall was empty.
"How so?" Legolas asked.
"I did not think you were capable of giving such a punishment. I do not disapprove" he quickly added, "I could have done the same".
Legolas nodded tiredly, "I thought of many things I could do to him" he said quietly, "but it all turned back to this".
Thranduil nodded, "shall we get you back?" he asked.
Legolas nodded and tried to stand, his legs gave in the moment he put weight on them. Thranduil looked worriedly at him. Rozarko and Girion walked forth.
"Give me a minute, and then I am ready" Legolas told, looking emptily ahead of him. He was glad the hall was now empty, only the guards by the door still there. The others nodded, and waited a few minutes before Legolas tried to stand again. This time he managed to get without falling back.
"Led us help" Rozarko offered and extended his hand.
Legolas breathed deeply, but accepted the help, and letting Rozarko support him back to him rooms. They had just entered the royal wing when Legolas swayed, and placed a hand on the wall to support himself.
"Here" Rozarko said, putting an arm around Legolas waist.
"I'm going down" Legolas told as his legs gave in.
Rozarko supported him to the floor. Legolas leaned against the wall, tired and breathing heavily. He closed his eyes for a few moments, and when he opened them again, he was not looking at Rozarko, but Ruviana. Her brown eyes looked worriedly at him, her cobber brown hair framing her beautiful face.
"Well, hello there" Legolas smiled at her.
"Why are you sitting on the floor?" she asked.
"Seemed comfortable, I had to try" Legolas grinned.
"Really?" she grinned and settled down next to him, "I'm not sure I agree with you".
"I only said it seemed comfortable" Legolas stated, "I did not say that it was".
"Right" Ruviana grinned.
"Shall we get you back then?" Rozarko offered, extending a hand to Legolas.
Legolas took the hand, and allowed Rozarko to pull him back up. He held on to the prince for a few moments, making sure he was steady on his legs, and then followed him back to his chambers.
"You were poisoned?" Ruviana said worriedly as they had settled down in the couch before the fire. Girion and Rozarko had left the two friends to talk undisturbed.
Legolas had told her what happened after his encounter with Saon. Almost the entire forest knew their prince had been poisoned, but only a few knew how bad and just how close it had been.
"But I did not know it was that bad" she added, "they just said the blade Saon used was poisoned. Are you all right now?".
"I will be" Legolas confessed, "I am getting more and more use of my legs for each day. But today was the longest I had walked, I had hoped I could make it back".
"And you will" she told him, taking his hand, "I am sure of it, for you are just too stubborn not to".
Legolas chuckled.
"Do you remember when we were elflings" she told him, "we use to race through the gardens and climb the old oak near the river".
"I remember you were very fast, and a quick climber" Legolas smiled.
"You led me win more than once" she exclaimed.
"I had to" Legolas defended himself, "you were such a bad looser".
"Well" she grinned, "one day, we will race through the gardens again, and climb that big, old oak".
"I will look forward to that day" Legolas smiled.
o0o
Elrond found himself before the doors to Legolas private champers, he could hear Belenor and Jalen inside. It had been ten days since he had arrived, and he had packed all of his things again, traveling home again the next day. He slowly knocked on the door, entering when he heard Legolas give permission.
Legolas was laying on his back on the floor in the middle of his livingroom. Jalen had a firm hold on his left leg, pressing it down against Legolas' chest. Belenor was leaned against the desk to the left, a document and a pen in his hands.
"Push back, Legolas" Jalen told, and leaned his weight against Legolas' foot.
Legolas pushed, trying his best to push the young healer away. It took a few attempts, but then Legolas was able to push Jalen away. The young healer looked pleased down at the prince.
"That was very good" he said, looking up as the lord entered the room.
"Lord Elrond" he said with a bow of his head.
Legolas looked back from his place on the floor, smiling at Elrond, but not bother to get up.
"Making progress?" Elrond asked, smiling down at Legolas.
"He surely is" Belenor smiled, "for each day".
"May I get up now?" Legolas asked.
Jalen smiled and extended a hand helping Legolas up.
"We will come back this afternoon again" Belenor told as he gathered his documents.
"I assumed" Legolas said, "thank you" he added before the two healers walked out the door, they turned to smile at him before they closed the door.
"So, you are travelling home tomorrow" Legolas stated as he walked to pour himself a glass of water.
"I am more than comfortable to leave you in the hands of Belenor and Jalen" Elrond smiled as he walked towards the chair by the fire, "besides, they managed to heal you just fine without my help".
Elrond held up his hands when Legolas was about to explain.
"I do not blame them for seeking my help" Elrond quickly added, "I decided to come because I wanted to help all that I could, even though I did not know more than they did. And, together we had written down what we know of the poison and cure, with what you provided of knowledge too".
"Glad that I could be of help" Legolas grinned.
"I would have preferred that not to have gotten than knowledge from you" Elrond stated.
"Sorry" Legolas smiled, seating himself down in the couch next to Elrond.
"You returned early from you quest south" Elrond told, "what happened?".
Legolas breathed deeply, and told Elrond what had happened, how they had taken down the house of Horandor, found the slaves who had escaped, had been attacked, and lost the battle. How they had just managed to escape themselves and had to return home. Legolas refrained from telling about his own capture in the northern mountains.
"You lost a lot of weight, Legolas" Elrond stated, "and it is not just from the poison. How did you come to lose so much, penneth?" he asked concerned.
Legolas sighed, he was not sure if he wanted the lord to know. He trusted Elrond, and the lord had always treated him like a son. He even had to come to see Elrond as a second father, especially after he housed him doing his exile. Elrond saw the conflict Legolas was in, and rose to sit next to him in the couch instead, but when extended his hand to cup Legolas' cheek, Legolas flinched and moved his head away.
Elrond quickly removed his hand, looking even more worried than before. Legolas just looked beaten.
"Do not think I haven't notice how you flinch when people try to touch you" Elrond told softly, "what happened, Legolas?".
"Please, do not go there" Legolas warned.
Elrond looked stunned at Legolas. The prince looked troubled, he a part of him wanted to tell Elrond, another part wanted to run screaming for the hills. He knew, if he had to rise above what happened to him, he could not run from it every time he was confronted with it, or similar situations.
"When we returned to the forest" Legolas began slowly, not looking at Elrond, but keeping his eyes on the fire instead, "we were ambushed at the border by men, the team patrolling there was late for the shift, and therefore the area was unguarded. We were greatly outnumbered. They took me". His voice was soft, he took a deep breath to steady himself. "I was brought north, to a slave trading camp" he continued, "but" he breathed deeply again, Elrond kept quiet, knowing Legolas had to do this in his own pace. "But" he tried on, "they did not use me for normal slave work… they… I was…." his voice broke.
He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, "for two months I was there before I was freed by my father's army" Legolas opened his eyes again, looking at Elrond this time, "I am trying my best to rise above what happened, Elrond" Legolas told.
Elrond looked stunned for only a second before he hid it, then he opened his arms.
"Come here" he offered the young elf before him, seeing how Legolas almost flung himself at him. Elrond closed his arms protectively around the prince, giving him comfort and making him feel safe.
"Do not say more" Elrond told him, "you will rise above" he promised, "you are so strong and too stubborn".
"Please don't tell…" Legolas muffled voice sounded.
"I will not" Elrond promised. Even though Legolas had not told him directly, he knew what the men had done to him, but he also knew Legolas would rise above this, he had already come a long way.