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Chapter 67

I felt myself slowly regaining consciousness, but did not yet have the energy to open my eyes. Instead, I listened and focused on my surroundings. There were people making conversation in hushed tones, but it was quiet enough that I knew they were not right next to me. I noted I was lying on a cot, and covered by a warm blanket. In fact, it was almost too warm. I felt a little like I was floating, but as time went on, the familiar ache returned to where the spear had been. Thankfully, the chills and shaking were gone, and breathing was easier.

Finally, I willed myself to open my eyes, but only enough to see the blurry form of Candaith, fast asleep in a chair nearby. It looked uncomfortable, but apparently his fatigue had caught up with him. I blinked rapidly to clear my vision, and considered what to do next. Moving seemed like an impossible task; despite the improvements, my limbs felt very heavy, and the thought of even lifting my head up was daunting. I would need help, but felt bad about waking up a clearly exhausted Candaith.

While I was considering this, my eyes flicked to the opening of the large tent I was in as Elladan silently ducked his head inside. His eyes lit up as he saw me looking back at him, but before he could say anything, I moved my head slightly to motion to Candaith. Elladan understood what I meant and quietly kneeled on the floor next to my cot.

"Hello penneth," he whispered, a relieved smile on his face. He tucked some hair behind my ear. "How are you?"

"I have been better," I replied wryly, still keeping my voice down. "How long have I been asleep?"

Elladan's smile faded somewhat, "Almost two days now." He looked down at the ground, and I noted the strong emotion on his face. "We worried you would not awaken."

I furrowed my brow. I knew it had been dire, but clearly the antidote had worked. Before I could speak again, he offered me a cup of water, which I drank slowly. "Could you not tell if the medicine had worked?"

"We sensed you were improving somewhat, as the shivering had stopped and you looked less pale, but your breaths were still shallow and the wound was an…unpleasant sight," he replied. "As I said, you did not wake, even after you had been here for days. We asked Levra how this type of recovery usually worked, but she said because you were an Elf, she was unsure how it would go." A smile again graced his ageless face, "Yet, here you are, awake and speaking to me." I could see the exhaustion in his expression, and I wondered when he had last allowed himself to rest.

I sighed. "Indeed, although I feel as if I have been run over by a herd of mumakil."

He quirked a brow, "Have you ever seen a mumakil?"

"Thankfully no, but I have heard enough childhood stories of them." I smiled fondly. "Samwise Gamgee told me once that one of his greatest dreams was to see one, although he referred to them as oliphants."

"Hopefully we never have to meet any of those," Elladan replied with a grin, but the worry was still in his eyes. "I am glad you are recovering, Gwin."

"As am I," I whispered. "Thank you for singing for me back there. It…it brought me some peace, and I felt safe."

"I will always sing for you, muinthel," he said softly, and grinned. "Besides, Elrohir is not nearly as good as me, so I am glad you did not ask him."

I chuckled but winced as I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder. Elladan's grin turned into what I call the 'healer mode' facial expression. "I will find you something for the pain," he murmured. "I will return shortly."

After he left, I turned my gaze back to Candaith, and felt an intense rush of love move through me and warm my heart. How lucky was I to have found such a man? I had meant what I said, back at Gevorch's camp. I would love him forever, whether it was here in Middle Earth, or in the Halls of Mandos. I would even bear it across the Sea, should I survive to do it. I shut down the melancholic turn my thoughts were about to take, and focused on the present by studying his profile. It looked like he had tried to curl up in the chair, but it was slightly too small, so one leg was over the arm rest and the other one dangling just above the ground. His arms were hanging at his sides, and he was snoring softly. However, I watched with some concern as his peaceful expression turned troubled. His eyes were moving rapidly underneath his eyelids, and I inferred he must be dreaming.

Elladan had returned with something in a goblet, but followed my gaze and noticed how the sweat had broken out on Candaith's brow and he was shifting restlessly. I looked back to Elladan and said, "Could you wake him? I fear his dreams are dark."

He looked unsure, "It is risky to wake a warrior who is in the throes of a nightmare. He could react violently."

I nodded slowly. I cast my memory back to when I was still an elfling, but almost to my majority. My brother Fernden had recently returned from a patrol, and I had gone into his room to find him sleeping. He too was moving around with a pained expression on his face, moaning something indistinguishable. I had called his name twice, but he did not awaken. Foolishly I shook his shoulder and a second later found myself pinned to the ground, with his arm across my throat. His eyes cleared as he saw me looking back at him, clearly frightened, and he backed away quickly, looking ashamed. Never do that again Gwinnie, he had said firmly, and I never forgot it.

Instead, I took the pain medicine Elladan offered, "Could you watch over him for me?" I asked, worried about Candaith's current state.

"Of course," Elladan replied. "Rest now, Gwin. You should awaken in a few hours and feel improved."

Elladan went to sit down in a chair nearby, and in a flash of realization, I remembered about Ergothorn. "Elladan, there was a man named Ergothorn. He was the one who rescued me after I had fallen off of the cliff. He went to find our camp in order to escort you back to me, but he," I swallowed, a lump in my throat. "He was gravely injured on the way. I tried to save him, but I had to leave him behind when Levra discovered me." I blinked away the tears in my eyes. "There was nothing I could do."

Elladan returned to my bedside and kneeled down, taking my hand in his. "We found him and returned him here. He had written a letter telling us of your whereabouts. As you said, he was gravely injured. We performed a risky procedure to try and save him."

My stomach dropped; 'try and save him' sounded ominous. "Is he…dead?" I held my breath.

After a beat, Elladan gave me a small smile and shook his head. "He lives. Yesterday he woke for a short time, but he is very weak. His body has much healing to do."

"Did he ask about me?"

Elladan raised an eyebrow. "Ask about you?" I nodded. "He did not say much, except to answer a few questions so we could determine if he could remember his name and some other basic information." He eyed me a little closer. "I see you are worried for him."

Despite my best efforts, I felt a blush creep across my cheeks. Elladan raised his other eyebrow, and I weakly attempted to swat at him in annoyance, but he kept my hands in his. "It is not what you think, muindor," I insisted. "We became friends in the short time we spent together, and I just wanted to make sure he was alive and improving." I owed him so much for his selfless actions; I hoped I would have the chance to thank him soon.

"Hmm," Elladan replied, a little smirk on his face. "If you say so, muinthel. Do not worry, we will keep a close eye on him." He helped me settle myself into a comfortable position, and kissed my forehead. "Rest, penneth. I will keep you safe."

I sighed and let myself fall back into a healing sleep, secure in the knowledge that Elladan was nearby.

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True to Elladan's word, I did feel a little better when I next opened my eyes. The pain was more of a dull ache, and I had more energy. I turned my head to see a familiar sight.

Candaith was pacing, but he did not yet notice me, as the lighting was somewhat dim. Saeradan was also there, trying to talk him down from his agitated state. "Mellon nin, she is well. Elladan said she had woken up a few hours ago."

"Yet she did not speak to me," Candaith replied, sounding frustrated.

"Elladan said you were sleeping and that Gwin did not wish to wake you," Saeradan said calmly.

"I do not care about sleep, I care about her," Candaith growled, sinking into the chair. Neither of them had yet seen I was awake, so I continued to observe.

"She also cares about you, which is why she let you get some rest. You have been running yourself ragged, Candaith. You have barely slept in a week, and hardly eaten. I heard Calenglad had to nearly force feed you lembas." Saeradan was looking at Candaith with some compassion. "I know what it is to love someone, and if this had happened to Daria, I would be acting similarly." I recalled that was the name of his wife from when we spoke on the road. "Gwin is on the mend, and is safe here. She is a fighter, and she did it with all her strength to come back to you."

Grief was on Candaith's face. "I thought I had lost her." He ran his fingers through his hair. "When she closed her eyes after we gave her the antidote, she was barely breathing. I thought…I thought we were too late."

Saeradan kneeled down next to Candaith so they were on the same level. "Yes, it nearly was, but she prevailed." Saeradan's eyes flicked over to me as he noticed me looking, but Candaith was too busy glaring at the ground. He smiled, winked, and turned back to Candaith, "Now fix yourself up a little. You wouldn't want Gwin to wake up to a scruffy-looking ranger, now would you?"

A wry smile formed on Candaith's face, but I closed my eyes again before he could see me. "I think she likes that I am 'scruffy-looking'."

Saeradan chuckled, "Perhaps, but you look more like a barbarian. Now, go take a wash in the lake, change into some clean clothes, and eat something."

Candaith huffed. "You sound like my mother."

"Good," Saeradan replied, and I could hear the amusement in his voice. "Off with you."

I heard the swish of the tent flap, and I opened my eyes to see the twinkling ones of Saeradan looking back at me. "You know Gwin, it is rude to eavesdrop."

I raised an eyebrow, "It is not eavesdropping when you are having a conversation right next to my bed."

"Fair enough," he replied, coming a little closer. "How are you, really?"

I took a moment to assess myself before answering. "I feel more awake, and the pain has lessened. Would you perhaps help me sit up a bit?" Saeradan nodded, and slowly I inclined to more of a sitting position, with some extra pillows behind my head and back. I couldn't help the grunt of pain from the movement, but after taking some deep breaths, it subsided. "What has become of Gevorch?" I asked hesitantly.

Saeradan looked grim. "He lives yet, but his fate does not rest in our hands. Levra informed me that the punishment for his crimes is death, and there is no shortage of volunteers to do this…but Halbarad did not think it is our right. It should come from his people, not ours."

"I doubt his clan is sympathetic to our cause; why would they take him from us without trying to attack us?" I wondered.

"Levra made it seem like, in this instance, the clan would almost be calling a temporary truce with us in order to retrieve their kinsman to dole out judgement. Most of the Dunlendings know we are here in Enedwaith, although not necessarily aware of our location. It would be a transfer done in a neutral area, away from the camp," Saeradan explained. "Levra would be the witness who will give them more information about what happened, so they can decide on the type of punishment."

"I see," I replied quietly. "Has he repented of his crimes?" I knew he gave up the location of the antidote under duress, and he clearly wished me dead not so long ago.

Saeradan frowned, "I am unsure. He refuses to speak to us, but the anger and madness in his eyes has been extinguished. He is stubborn, but also disheartened. I do not think he would risk harming you again, nor want to. The fight has left him."

"I see," I repeated, unsure what else to say. I studied my friend's face and saw a conflicted expression. "What is it? You can speak plainly with me; I will not be offended." I smiled at him, and he relaxed somewhat.

"Would you like to see him before he leaves?" Saeradan asked quietly.

I considered this for some time. Did I want to confront him? Part of me wished to rage at him for what he had done to me; I had nearly died three times now from his actions. Did he not deserve to be confronted? Would seeing him myself give me the closure I wanted? Yet, he had caused me so much pain and grief, and being in his presence once more made me shudder with revulsion.

"No," I whispered. "I…I want to put this behind me." I looked into his concerned brown eyes. "Does that make me weak?"

Saeradan shook his head, and reached out to squeeze my hand. "Not at all. You are the strongest person I know, mellon nin. You have weathered more than I could possibly imagine, and made your way out to the other side." He gave me a small smile. "I am glad we are friends."

I returned it, "As am I." At this, my stomach growled, and he laughed quietly. "Would you happen to have any extra food nearby?"

"I do," Saeradan replied, and he pulled out some dried fruit and retrieved a bowl of broth I had not noticed was in the tent. "Easy does it, according to Elladan. Do you need help?" He smirked as I rolled my eyes.

"No, but thank you." I furrowed my brow. "Have you seen Elrohir? I thought he would have come to say hello."

"He is guarding Gevorch," Saeradan answered, looking serious once more. "He refuses to take his eyes off him until he has been given back to his clan. I am worried, if I am honest."

I sighed, taking a spoonful of the broth. It was a little salty, but warm. "I hope seeing the back of Gevorch will bring him some peace. If you encounter Elrohir, can you let him know I am doing much better? Perhaps he will stop by." I was a little disappointed my brother (in all but blood) had not taken time to see me, but I understood.

"Of course," Saeradan replied. "I will leave you to it." He uncharacteristically grinned cheekily. "I will send in your Dunedain prince as soon as he returns."

I raised an eyebrow, "Dunedain prince? I think he would take offense to that."

"Indeed, I would," a familiar voice said with some amusement, and I felt a rush of joy at the entrance of Candaith. His eyes locked with mine and it warmed my heart.

Saeradan rolled his eyes and left without a word.

Yay, they are finally reunited! Gwin is on the mend! Will our lovers get a chance at some peace for a while? They certainly deserve it! Thanks for reading, and leave a review :)