The next chapter, I plan to get back to poor Aragorn!
The elves and their company were making very good time! If no other dangers came up, they would reach Gondor in less than two and a half days! And then they could find Aragorn! Or, at least what truly became of him.
"At least the captives are safely back in their homeland." Legolas sighed.
"Ai, laddie. It was a pleasure to disrupt the work of those dirty dogs and free the poor families." Gimli roughly clapped him on the shoulder. Legolas only nodded.
"Do you think Lord Aragorn is really missing?" Pippin piped up. Everyone frowned hard.
"We do not know, Pippin." Legolas shook his head dismally. "So far, all that has happened points to that. We just cannot know for sure until we reach our destination."
"Gandalf will be waiting for us, if he hasn't run off again on another 'secret mission'." Gimli joked.
"He'd better not, this time." Pippin said firmly.
I pray he's right, Legolas thought miserably to himself. Aragorn! Where are you, my dear friend? What has happened to you? Why will you not show yourself? Is it true, Estel? Have you really been kidnapped, held as a hostage? Beaten and starved like a slave? I pray to the Valar you are not, you have not been sold as...Legolas had to force himself to breathe, struggling not to let his anxious thoughts get the better of him and take him down an even darker path he didn't want to imagine for his friend.
It was the middle of the night, and Bellethiel was keeping watch. She refused to rest, afraid that if she was not the one looking out for danger, that it would surely find them. "Bellethiel," a familiar, deep voice spoke behind her.
"My king," Bellethiel turned and bowed. "Did you summon me? Forgive me. I was caught up in..."
Thranduil held his hand up. "No, no. That is not what I am here for." He stepped closer and stood beside her. "How are you holding up?"
"I am fine, my lord." Bellethiel replied quickly, standing up straight, hoping he would not press the matter.
"Funny thing." Thranduil said skeptically. "Elrond and Legolas do not seem to think so. Neither does Alasse."
"Well, they shouldn't worry so much." Bellethiel bit her cheek hard, trying to keep her face away from him.
"Bellethiel," Thranduil said slowly, touching her shoulder. The unexpected touch startled her and she winced. "Look into my face." Thranduil told her. Bellethiel nearly choked on the sobs trying to escape her mouth. She couldn't face her king right now. She just couldn't! It wasn't his place to give her comfort. She was a servant. She should keep a stiff upper lip. Then she felt strong fingers gently grip her chin and bring her face towards him. "Look into my face." Thranduil repeated himself. Bellethiel obeyed, fighting not to cry. Her bright blue eyes glistened with tears. "It still hurts, does it not?" Thranduil asked her gently.
Bellethiel lost it. She was the captain of the Woodland army for crying out loud! Her kingdom should come first, not her heart. Wasn't that the way it was supposed to be? Yet, here was her stern king offering to lend a listening ear for her to pour her aching heart out. "Yes," She whispered at first. "Yes, yes!" She began to sob, unable to fight it any longer. She looked away from him, hanging her head and weeping.
"You lost a part of yourself, when she perished." Thranduil stated quietly. Bellethiel dropped against the rock wall onto the ground, hugging her knees to her chest, crying painfully.
"Yes, I did!" The grieving captain wailed, one hand holding her chest. "Without her, what is the point of trying to be happy? I will not share it with her again. She should not have died. It should've been me!"
Thranduil stared at the young, raven-haired captain. He'd never considered that she ultimately blamed herself. "You did everything you could. You were performing your duties that night, all of you." He said.
"If only I'd gotten there just two minutes earlier!"
Thranduil remained silent. He understood her pain, more than most. He'd been there. He still was there, every single day, some worse than others. He knew his words would sound empty while the young elleth's pain was still so raw. He knelt down in front of her and pulled her into his arms. At first, she resisted, but at his loving embrace that she so desperately needed, she no longer had the will to act dignified as the stoic army captain. She buried her face in his strong chest and sobbed harder than she had for ages. "That's it." Thranduil murmured lowly. "That's it, little one. Just let it out."
From a distance on the other side of the ridge, Legolas watched thoughtfully and smiled.
It was an hour before dawn, when Gimli shot up like an arrow and raced around the camp, bellowing, "They're onto us! Orcs! Wake up, you! Grab your arms!" The entire camp was wide awake now! Everyone snatched their weapons. Legolas, Thranduil, Elrond, Bellethiel, Gimli, and Alasse raced to the front.
"How far off are they?" Legolas asked.
"Not far." Gimli grumbled. They would not be able to outrun the monsters.
"What do we do, Ada?" Alasse asked.
"Alasse, make sure Pippin and the rest are safely sheltered." Thranduil replied. "Legolas, call your men." Legolas obeyed. "I will not have Elvish blood spilled here this day." Thranduil commanded, grasping his sword.
"Nor dwarf, nor hobbit blood for that matter." Gimli huffed.
"Here they come!" Elrond pointed out, able to see the Orcs not far off even though it was still dark.
"Take aim!" Thranduil ordered.
"There's plenty for the both of us, may the best dwarf win!" Gimli announced. Thranduil glowered at him vehemently. The elves, soldiers, and dwarf stood their ground, weapons drawn. Then the Orcs appeared. Gimli hollered gleefully when they ran head on to meet their opponents.
The battle was over. They'd managed to pull together and vanquish their foes, and with no serious injuries. But the traveling party was far from peaceful now. They pulled up stakes as quickly as possible and fled the region. One of the Orcs had leaked some information before he'd drawn his last breath. "You cannot win." He'd sneered. "Merlyn, and the White Seeds." He'd laughed derisively before breathing his last.
"The Feast of White Seeds is in less than four weeks!" Legolas exclaimed. "What does it all mean?"
"That was the same thing they said when they'd invaded our kingdom." Thranduil said dryly. "This means that this was no random pack of Orcs. They were sent to prevent us from entering Gondor."
"Sent? But by whom?"
"Whomever it was that is withholding Estel from his throne." Elrond added. After that, they made for Gondor with all haste.
"Someone didn't want us to come, to save Aragorn." Gimli breathed, fearfully grasping the grave words coming out of his own mouth.
"This party was sent as a warning." Thranduil said dismissively.
"Then, there could be more!" Legolas gasped. Alasse had been listening and now she felt like a dart of poisonous fear had stricken her heart. So, it was all true! Everything she'd seen and felt, it was all true! Her middle cut her off guard and she hugged herself as hard as she could so that she wouldn't whimper out loud.
That night, they rested but with several watch men on guard. Nobody wanted to sleep, after the attack of the Orcs that morning. Of course, Gimli was heard snoring as soon as his head hit his cot, and so did Pippin.
Alasse was sitting on a tree stump, watching Bellethiel, hoping she was okay. But she was also avoiding speaking with her family because she didn't want them to worry. She felt even worse than she had after they'd left Rohan and it was scaring her. She was so absorbed in her fretful mind, listening to the whispers of fear when she felt a hand touch her shoulder. She jumped back and drew her weapon then winced at the pain it had caused her.
"Peace, iel! It is only me." Thranduil half chuckled. "I was trying to speak with you, but you did not heed me."
"I am sorry, Adar." Alasse panted in relief. She brought her arms closer to herself as she returned her weapon to its sheath. Her rigid posture did not go unnoticed by her father!
"What is wrong? Tell me." He said firmly, stepping directly to her.
"It's..."
"Do not hide it from me." Thranduil cut her off. "You are having pain, aren't you?" Alasse hung her head. "Aren't you?!" Thranduil demanded.
"Y-yes, Father. But I can bear it..."
"No." Thranduil snapped. "Why did you not say something? What is wrong with you?"
"I'm truly sorry for worrying you, Ada." Alasse said sadly.
"Apologies will do you no good. I do not want to hear them!" Thranduil fumed. "You are going to see Elrond this moment." Alasse nodded and went to find the healer, Thranduil hot on her heels.
Elrond was just returning to his tent after checking on one of the Gondorian soldiers. "Elrond!" Thranduil bellowed. He sounded quite angry. Elrond stopped short. Why did he feel so nervous? "Elrond, you must check Alasse's scar. She has been hurting and did not tell anyone!" Thranduil rambled. Elrond narrowed his eyes and stared at the elleth who felt like a little girl again, caught with her hand in the biscuit jar.
"Alasse?" Elrond addressed her sternly. She nodded. Elrond sighed in exasperation. Curse the Thranduil family pride! "Come inside and let me have a look at you." He beckoned, opening the tent flap.
Alasse turned and touched her father's arm. "Let me go alone, Ada. Please." She said.
"No." Thranduil glared. "You've dug your hole deep enough!"
"Please." Alasse tried again. Thranduil frowned darkly at her.
"Go. But don't be long." He grumbled. Alasse hurried inside the tent. Thranduil's shoulders slumped and he sighed heavily, rubbing his face. Why? Why did his children keep scaring him like this? If he didn't know better, he'd say it was a conspiracy!
"I was wondering when you were going to seek me out." Elrond said gruffly.
"You knew?" Alasse asked. She immediately felt stupid for asking it. Of course he knew! Elrond was lethally observant! As a healer, he had to be. Why did she think she could hide from him?
"I did. And I am far from pleased that you did not come to me." Elrond scolded, pacing the floor.
"I was going to. Once we'd arrived and settled..."
"You are just as hard-headed as your brother." Elrond pursed his lips. Alasse nodded, hanging her head. She knew she deserved this chewing out, especially when she'd scared her dad after he'd already watched her die! It wasn't fair to him that she should put herself at risk like this.
"I am sorry." She said meekly. Elrond finally faced her, and after a long sigh, he spoke more gently.
"Alasse, I am here to help. You can always come to me, you know that. Or you should." He said.
"I know. I was being selfish." Alasse said. Elrond shook his head.
"How bad is it? The pain?" He asked.
"It's...worse." Alasse said nervously. "It is worse than when we left Rohan. I...I was afraid to come to you because...I do not understand it."
"Mmm." Elrond grunted. "Open your shirt for me and lie down on your back." He instructed. Alasse sat down on the cot, and unclasped her top then stretched herself back comfortably on the bed. Elrond came forward beside the bed and frowned hard when he got a good look at her scar. He didn't like what he saw, and it frustrated him to no end because he had no solid answers for the cause. Her war wound look worse! It was more red than before when it should've been completely faded. And it was festering again, except this time she was not crying out.
"What is wrong?" Alasse asked nervously, watching his hardened expressions with guarded eyes.
"You say the discomfort is becoming worse. Is it outer or more inside?" Elrond asked.
"I feel it deep inside, not on the surface." Alasse answered.
"Are you feeling it now?"
"Yes."
"How is this different than when you have on of those infernal attacks?" Elrond asked carefully as he sat beside her.
"Right now, it is throbbing. It is dull yet burning at the same time, more than I am used to. But it is all the time now. When I have a flare up episode, I feel as if I am being branded and stabbed, all at once." Alasse tried to explain.
"Alasse, I need to touch your scar to find more answers. But I am not sure what will occur when I do. It might hurt more. May I do so?" Elrond asked cautiously.
"Yes." Alasse gulped. Not sure what to expect, she forced herself not to tense up as Elrond's gentle hands made contact on her bare skin. He gently ran them over the old wound that wasn't looking so old right now.
"Am I causing you further pain, my dear?" He asked, concerned.
"No." Alasse shook her head. Elrond whispered a healing spell, hoping it would dull some of the pain if not take it away altogether! He couldn't understand. Why had this not healed? It had been an Orc wound, like many others had received. Why did this one refuse to be healed all the way? Elrond opened his eyes.
"Has the discomfort ceased?" He asked.
"No. It's still there, though not as bad." Alasse answered quietly. Elrond's jaunt eyebrows creased further. The strangest thing had happened when he'd touched the wound. His arms had tingled. Straight up to his shoulders, as if someone had drugged him with a warm liquid. It had not hurt, but it had felt very odd.
"Alasse, I wish I had clear answers for you, dear child." Elrond said dismally. "But I'm afraid this is beyond even my knowledge."
"I can bear it, if I have to." Alasse said reassuringly.
"But you shouldn't have to!" Elrond exclaimed. "Your wound should've healed, long ago! And I cannot fathom what this has to do with my son, why the extreme pain enables you to see what is happening to him. The only possible explanation is that it is because he was the one who brought you back, but even that does not clarify much."
"Maybe, Mithrandir will have some answers." Alasse sighed.
"Perhaps. I certainly hope so." Elrond shook his head. "You may put your shirt back on now." He stood up while she got dressed. "I can give you some medicine to take for when it becomes very bad, but I am afraid that is all I can do for now." He said.
"I appreciate it." Alasse nodded. "Thank you, Sir." She started to leave the tent but turned back and squeezed his arm. "We will find Aragorn. We have to!" She told him.
"Ai." Elrond murmured sadly, unable to say anything else. He was deeply worried for his foster son. He loved Aragorn as much as his two other sons and his daughter Arwen. Aragorn was strong and brave, and not a guy to be messed with! How had this even all happened? And if what Alasse was seeing was true, Aragorn was suffering terribly at the hands of someone he'd trusted. It had to have been someone he trusted! Otherwise, how in the world had this phantom been able to pull this crime off? The more Elrond thought about it, the more likely it seemed that Aragorn had been betrayed by his own kind.
Alasse quietly slipped out of the tent. Thranduil was standing there, watching her anxiously. Alasse sighed. So, he'd heard everything. She didn't want him to. He would only worry himself to a frazzle more than he already had! And his worry already was not pretty. "He, gave me something to help." She sighed. She didn't know what else to say. Thranduil stared down at her coldly, his eyes bearing hurt. "I am sorry, Father. You were right. I should've come to him right away. It will not happen again. You have my word."
Thranduil said nothing but stiffly gazed straight ahead, as if he hadn't heard her at all. Alasse kissed his face and left him alone. Thranduil sadly watched her go. Then he barged into the healer's tent. Elrond was sitting at his desk, rubbing his forehead in exasperation. "Is there nothing you can do?!" Thranduil reprimanded him sharply. Elrond winced hard.
"I have done all I can." He answered lowly.
"No. There must be something you know to do, something that can heal her!" Thranduil persisted desperately.
"My friend, if I did, do you not think I would've performed it before now?" Elrond retorted, rising to his feet. He had so much on his mind to deal with. He felt just desperate and concerned as the Elven king, not only for Alasse, but even more so for his own son who was missing in action. And the race of men! Aragorn was the one who was supposed to bring everything together and restore peace. If Aragorn was lost, what would happen to the rest of Middle Earth? "If I knew how what to do, I would do it! But I do not know. I just do not know, and I have no answers!"
Thranduil looked down at the floor. Elrond was his friend and he would not lie to him! He was the greatest healer in Middle Earth. Thranduil had watched him spend all his energy to save his daughter before. And he had done nothing but take care of her to the best of his ability after she'd come back. He had no reason to doubt Elrond. He would not fail him deliberately. "I am sorry, mellon nin." Thranduil apologized fervently, touching the healer's shoulder.
"I know." Elrond smiled sadly.
"You have done all you can, I know that. I'm just...so worried. So afraid for her." Thranduil swallowed to avoid tears.
"We both are. For her and Aragorn."
"Yes. It was not my place to demand so much of you when you are already distressed, not knowing if Estel is even alive! Forgive me, my friend."
"There is nothing to forgive, Thranduil." Elrond assured him. "And Estel is alive."
"How do you know?"
"If he was not, we would all know it. I would know it." Elrond said gravely.
"Ai." Thranduil agreed. "Elrond, I shouldn't ask this of you, but...when this is all over, I am begging you to do whatever you possibly can to heal my daughter! I cannot bear watching this happen to her."
"You know that I will do all I can." Elrond promised. "But alas, I am at a loss. Once this is cleared up, she may need to be taken to Lorien, to the Lady Galadriel. Perhaps they can heal her. I wish I knew."
"Whatever it takes." Thranduil said firmly.
The next morning, as they rode the high hills, they looked over the horizon and their hearts lept. They'd reached Minas Tirith at last!