"I had hoped it was merely due to some oversight." -Malificent
"This is what we have now that is suppose to defend us?" Thranduil asked a little sceptically as he looked at the four warriors that sat together, while Haldon, Evilya and Elija stood behind them.
"I think they are well enough that they can do a little work." Cervus explained. "Soon enough more warriors can join them, but I am quite certain that the ellyn before you will be able to stay awake more than a couple of hours, without the need that they suddenly feel very sleepy."
"And you want them to go in pairs?" Thranduil asked as he looked at Deawin.
"Ma, aran-nín." Deawin nodded. "A few hours at the time."
"Then we do not have enough Maethyr yet to simply guard our grand entrance." Thranduil sighed. "Very well. Is there any way we can help getting more elves back onto their feet?"
"I fear not. I do not know what is ailing them, so we will have to wait until their bodies get rid of it by themselves." Cervus softly said. "The good food does help regaining their strength, but there is little of that we can give the elves that cannot eat their selves."
"Legolas." Thranduil softly said as his eyes flashed.
"I assure you, your majesty. Legolas will get better, it will only be a matter of time before he will awaken." Cervus quickly said.
"Or before he stops breathing." Thranduil bitterly said. Haldon, Evilya and Elija quietly gasped.
"Legolas is not doing that badly, is he?" Evilya softly asked. He did not want to know if the answer would be yes.
"He has not really shown us anything that he has been waking up since that the Imladris brothers have arrived. I do not know how long the prince can hold on in this state." Cervus whispered.
"Can we visit Legolas for a bit?" Elija asked when they were outside of the armoury.
"I think you can, if aran Thranduil does agree?" Cervus asked. "I think you need to sit down for a bit." He gently told Thranduil who started to look rather pale.
"Baw, hannon-le." Thranduil said as he pushed away the helping hands.
"Thranduil!" Cervus exclaimed as he took Thranduil's arm to steady him. "I warned you that you were not strong enough for such trip yet." The healer scolded as they slowly made their way back to the royal quarters. Thranduil was exhausted by the time he was back into bed. The three warriors felt like they were imposing on the scene as Cervus helped the king undress, before he tucked him in. "Do not stay too long." Cervus said before he left them alone.
"Legolas?" Elija softly asked as he walked up to Legolas and took a warm hand in his own. Thranduil warily watched as the two other warriors carefully took place around his son.
"You know we really miss you. You can't imagine that I am looking forward to go out and destroy some spider nests." Evilya softly spoke. "I am curious about you would be dreaming about, for it must be really dark with your eyes closed…" Thranduil drifted off into elvish sleep with the soft talking of the three warriors on the background. Haldon, Evilya, and Elija stayed for a while longer, softly speaking to Legolas, really hoping their friend heard them.
"It is not good he feels so warm." Haldon softly said when they were back in the sitting room.
"Fever is never a good thing." Evilya softly said. "I really hope that Cervus is right and he will wake up soon. His hand felt like a dead bird in my hand."
"Would you think that the broth is enough to keep him from going hungry?" Elija wondered.
"It will help delay it, but he needs to eat more than they can spoon into him." Haldon replied, he had heard both twins speak to each other about the very same thing. "We can only hope that the broth will help him grow at least a little strength." The others nodded before they sank into silence, all taken up by their own thoughts.
It was several days later when Aragorn was again feeding Legolas some broth when it went wrong again. He felt his stomach drop as Legolas coughed weakly. The elf's head lent upon his shoulder as the human patted his back gently. "Do you think he is getting worse?" Aragorn whispered, holding Legolas up in a half hug.
"I hope he is not." Elladan softly replied as he reached for a cloth to wipe Legolas' face clean. He felt a soft twitch of a muscle underneath his fingers as he was about to lift Legolas' face. "Maybe he is getting better." Elladan softly said as he picked up the bowl.
"What do you want to try?" Aragorn asked as he twisted a little bit so he could see his foster brother. He was rather curious why he thought that Legolas was getting better.
"Can you support his head so it is not leaning upon your shoulder. Maybe this is easier." Aragorn had his right arm wrapped around Legolas back, while with his left hand he supported Legolas' head.
"Is this good enough?"
"Ma." Elladan proceeded to feed Legolas another small spoon full of lukewarm broth. He was about to go and help Legolas swallow, when the muscles twitched underneath his delicate fingers. "I think Legolas is getting better." Elladan said after he fed Legolas another spoon full, and after a moment, the elf swallowed on his own again. A smile grew on Elladan's face as he continued to feed the elf until the bowl was empty again. "Would you mind to try like this again tomorrow?"
"If it helps Legolas, I am willingly to try almost everything." Aragorn as he gently lowered the elf back onto the bed. "We should show Cervus. He can tell us if we are right to feel happy that he is finally improving."
"All we can do is try." Elladan softly said and squeezed Aragorn's shoulder. "I am going back to the kitchens to see if the warriors have already brought the fresh food."
"I will come down soon to help you." Aragorn agreed with a small nod before the elf left him. It was a good thing Thranduil was in the sitting room with Galion and Feren. He made sure everything was clean and Legolas was provided with everything he could need before he also left for the kitchens, but not before walking into the sitting room.
"Good afternoon, Estel." Galion greeted. "I would like to know when I could start upon some light duty again."
"I am going to the kitchens in a moment. You may accompany me to there and see how you feel after your walk." Aragorn thoughtfully said.
"Hannon-le." Galion responded. "I fear I have no clothes here to dress in." He added after a moment when he realised he could not just walk through the hallways in his nightgown.
"Do not worry about dressing." Aragorn said with a little smile. "We will lend a robe from Thranduil, and most elves will not find it strange to see the others in their sleeping attire. It is no problem at all." He assured as he got up and retrieved the robe for the head-servant.
"Hannon-le." Galion said as he pulled on the dressing down. With a small nod, Aragorn ushered the elf from the sitting room and slowly walked to the kitchens.
"Maybe you have an idea about some dishes that are the favourite of the Mirkwood elves?"
"Let's see what we still have in here, then I can probably cook up something that will be in the liking of our royal family." Galion agreed as he tried to keep up with Aragorn's large strides. "Would you mind?" Galion breathed after a moment as he reached out to grab Aragorn's arm.
"Are you tired already?" Aragorn asked a little concerned.
"Just do not walk so fast." Galion replied as a sheepish expression spread over his features.
"Ai, goheno-nin." Aragorn replied. "Why did you not tell me sooner?"
"I thought it would be okay, but it appears it is not, at least for now." Galion sheepishly said.
"I will find you a stool so you can sit for a little bit." Aragorn agreed and went to walk slightly behind Galion, so the elf could set the pace that was comfortable for him. Galion softly sighed as he sank down at a stool at the big table in the middle of the kitchens. "Are you still glad that I took you here?" Aragorn asked as he looked at the tired face from the servant.
"I still am." Galion responded as he looked around the familiar surroundings. "How long have we been asleep? I have never seen it become dusty in here." Galion softly wondered.
"I am not sure, long enough for sure, but not long enough for complete bad things to happen." Aragorn replied as he cleaned off the table, before pouring heaps of flour on the table and adding water. Galion gladly helped making bread. An hour and several breads further, Aragorn noticed Galion was fighting to stay awake. "Well, I think it will be time for you to get back." Aragorn said with a little smile as he went to wash his hands. He then helped Galion to his feet and supported the elf as they slowly made it back to the royal quarters.
"Hannon-le." Galion tiredly said when the human helped him lower himself back on his bedroll.
"You are very welcome, and I am glad for the little help." Aragorn replied as he made sure the ellon was comfortable. Galion yawned and within the next few moments, he was fast asleep with half lidden eyes.
"He is out like a light. What did you do with him?" Elrohir asked as he watched over Aragorn's shoulder as the man took a moment to observe the sleeping elf.
"He came to the kitchens and helped me bake bread." Aragorn told him as he turned around and walked back to Legolas' room so he would not bother any of the other sleeping elves. "He still needs a lot of recovering but I do not think it would be a problem if he would come to the kitchens every other day or so. As long as he feels up to it."
"We can still use all the help we can get." Elrohir agreed.
A/N We are not yet quite there, but getting very close. I estimate Legolas still needs a good week before he possibly wakes.
Dictionary:
Ellyn - Elves
Marthyr - Warriors
Ma - Yes
Aran-nín - My king
Baw - No
Hannon-le - Thank you
Ai - Oh
Goheno-nin - Forgive me
Ellon - He-elf
Elleth - She-elf
Have you noticed that the difference in between nin and nín is me and my? Just wanted to point that out. Have a good day!-
"Oh! There is someone inside!" The small goblin like orc shrieked in delight as the peeked through one of the few small windows of a small cabin. They were with a few orcs that made it to the other side of the enchanted river, and they had just run into their first cabin. The cabbages and carrots crushed under their heavy boots before they easily forced the door open.
"This will be mine." The Uruk said. "If you do not get out of my way, you will be my snack." He snarled before he pushed the goblin-like orc away to gain entrance of the small cabin.
"I found it first!" The goblin-orc shrieked.
"Too bad for you." The Uruk snarled back before he advanced on the elf and soon sat feasting upon the unfortunate elleth. Only when the Uruk had filled his belly, the other orcs had a chance to feast themselves at the fresh meat. It was a good thing the elleth never awoke…
