RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
40.
"I want to see my mother," Elenath whispered, starting toward the door, but Legolas stopped her.
"You cannot," he said. "She is with the healers, and they will do their best to bring her back, but I have seen this before and … Amin hiraetha," whispered Legolas again, his tears spilling over. "I am sorry. If only I could have-"
She met his clouded eyes and exclaimed, "It's not your fault, Legolas! It's not your fault. Please don't take that burden upon yourself."
His head dropped into his hands. "I just… My heart aches within me, Elenath. All I want is to protect you from the evil in this world; to keep you safe from harm and shield you from this kind of pain. And I have failed. I have failed miserably. What kind of a husband am I? What kind of a father will I be?"
Her emotions were raw with this newest loss, and she finally let go of them, sobbing uncontrollably even as she tried to comfort her husband. "…Impossible to keep me safe from all of this… Not your fault… You'll be a wonderful father… Soon this will all be over…"
Fifteen minutes later, Thorondil knocked on their door. When there was no answer, he quietly entered, finding the Prince and Princess still weeping, now silently, into each other's arms on the floor. He said nothing, but knelt next to them, gathering them both up into his arms.
"Have courage," he whispered. "You must have courage. Dry your tears as I have dried mine. We have much work to do." His throat constricted at the pain he saw in the Royal Couple's eyes. "Do not despair. I feel that Llilwen will return to us. Elenath, your young friends are with her even now if you would like to join them."
***
Kara had taken charge of the teenagers that day, along with David who could only help occasionally as he was called away to help with battle preparations. The Woman had been present when Llilwen was brought in, silent and staring, her body a mess of bruises and her hair a tangled mess.
"Who is that?" asked Susan, her eyes wide with fear. "And what happened to her?"
Kara choked back the sob that threatened to rise in her throat. "She is an Elf. Llilwen. Elenath's mother."
"She has been tortured by the orcs," said one of the maidservants bitterly.
"El's mom?"
Kara's face crinkled into tears as she nodded. "Elenath will be heartbroken when she finds out. Her father was killed just shortly after our arrival here."
"I fear for the princess's life," added the servant. "So much grief can be deadly for an Elf. Even a pregnant Elf."
Susan ran her fingers through her purple hair and bit at her tongue ring, as was her habit when she was thinking. Her blue eyes narrowed and she sighed. Why not? she thought to herself. Now more than any time in my life I know that miracles can happen. God has used me to heal many. Why not this Elf? She began to follow the small procession of healers, her friends trailing curiously behind her.
The procession of Elves stopped at a side room and they lay Llilwen down on a bed, their leader speaking gently to Susan. "You must let us do our work, Young One. Perhaps we can save her."
"I can help," replied Susan, adding, "I… I know I'm just a kid and I don't look like much… but sometimes God allows me to heal others. Maybe He will let me help here."
At first, the Elves looked at Susan as if she had lost her mind. Then, one by one, they seemed to remember how Elenath had brought King Thranduil back from the dead and stepped back to allow Susan access to their fallen sister. "Please," said the healer, "do whatever you can."
"You trust me?" asked Susan. "Just like that?"
She nodded. "It is difficult not to trust one with such faith in her abilities, Susan."
"It's not me," said Susan, "but Christ in me." Then, lifting a silent prayer heavenward, she reached out and took Llilwen's hand as her friends gathered around, gently touching the bruised places on the Elf's body.
***
Elenath and Legolas finally managed to pull themselves together enough to be led through the palace to the room where Llilwen lay.
"I've had enough of death to last five lifetimes," whispered Elenath.
Legolas squeezed her hand. "So have I."
As they turned a corner, Elenath heard the sounds of prayer coming from a side room a little further down the hall, "If it is Your will, Father, heal her body and bring peace to her mind. Bring her back to us…" The princess' breath caught in her throat and she dashed ahead, just in time to see Susan leaning over her mother's still, seemingly lifeless form and taking her hand saying, "Llilwen, wake up!"
There was a moment of silence before Elenath's mother blinked slowly a few times at the purple-haired young Woman before her. Color returned to her face, her wounds miraculously healing before their eyes.
The Elves looked at one another in awe of what had happened. Even their most powerful magic would have taken more time to work. It was not long before Llilwen was sitting up and laughing, beckoning her daughter to come near. "I was just in the most amazing place!"
"What place?" asked Elenath as she embraced her mother, casting thankful glances at her young friends.
"I was on a path, near a golden city… There was a Man there… A great Prince. When I asked him his name, he said, 'Immanuel!'"
"What else did he say?" asked Elenath.
"He said many things, some of which I must never repeat until the appointed time. He also said that my daughter needed me."
Poor Elenath had dissolved once again into tears, but this time they were happy. "I do need you, Mom, more than you know. What mother-to-be does not long for her own mother to guide her through the trials of giving birth and raising a child?"
***
Dinner that evening was a bittersweet event. The return of Llilwen brought an almost celebratory flavor to the evening, but the announcement that the orcs had a dragon struck fear into the hearts of even the bravest Elves.
Despite her fear and uncertainty about the battle ahead, Elenath had to laugh at the sight of her young friends dressed in Elven clothing. The ladies especially were distraught over having to wear the beautiful gowns. Though they valiantly tried to act like ladies and gentlemen, words never before heard in Mirkwood drifted over the tables. Legolas listened to the kids with great interest, figuring out that if something was bad, it was actually good; and if something was sick, well, that meant it was excellent.
Elenath almost lost it when Marcus handed Legolas a basket of fruit. "Here you go, dude."
Legolas didn't skip a beat. "Thanks, dude. Here, have an apple. They're wicked good."
Marcus just smiled. "You're alright, man. I have to admit I was worried at first but I'm stoked that you and El hooked up."
Legolas looked over at his beaming wife. "Me too."
At that moment, the hall fell silent as one of the Palace guards entered, accompanied by a messenger from the Eagles who settled by the King and Lord Elrond with a slight nod of his feathered head.
"What news?" asked King Thranduil, worry clouding his eyes.
The Eagle looked about the hall and then turned to the King. "I crave a word with the Royal Household and its advisors. In secret."
Thranduil nodded. "Are you hungry? Thirsty? Or do you wish to convene the Council without delay?"
"I have flown far and I am famished, but my news is quite urgent, King Thranduil. Please convene the Royal Council and then you can see to my needs."
"Members of the Council, please assemble in the Council Chambers at once," commanded the king. With that, he stood up and left the room, the Eagle and Lord Elrond by his side.
DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)
40.
"I want to see my mother," Elenath whispered, starting toward the door, but Legolas stopped her.
"You cannot," he said. "She is with the healers, and they will do their best to bring her back, but I have seen this before and … Amin hiraetha," whispered Legolas again, his tears spilling over. "I am sorry. If only I could have-"
She met his clouded eyes and exclaimed, "It's not your fault, Legolas! It's not your fault. Please don't take that burden upon yourself."
His head dropped into his hands. "I just… My heart aches within me, Elenath. All I want is to protect you from the evil in this world; to keep you safe from harm and shield you from this kind of pain. And I have failed. I have failed miserably. What kind of a husband am I? What kind of a father will I be?"
Her emotions were raw with this newest loss, and she finally let go of them, sobbing uncontrollably even as she tried to comfort her husband. "…Impossible to keep me safe from all of this… Not your fault… You'll be a wonderful father… Soon this will all be over…"
Fifteen minutes later, Thorondil knocked on their door. When there was no answer, he quietly entered, finding the Prince and Princess still weeping, now silently, into each other's arms on the floor. He said nothing, but knelt next to them, gathering them both up into his arms.
"Have courage," he whispered. "You must have courage. Dry your tears as I have dried mine. We have much work to do." His throat constricted at the pain he saw in the Royal Couple's eyes. "Do not despair. I feel that Llilwen will return to us. Elenath, your young friends are with her even now if you would like to join them."
***
Kara had taken charge of the teenagers that day, along with David who could only help occasionally as he was called away to help with battle preparations. The Woman had been present when Llilwen was brought in, silent and staring, her body a mess of bruises and her hair a tangled mess.
"Who is that?" asked Susan, her eyes wide with fear. "And what happened to her?"
Kara choked back the sob that threatened to rise in her throat. "She is an Elf. Llilwen. Elenath's mother."
"She has been tortured by the orcs," said one of the maidservants bitterly.
"El's mom?"
Kara's face crinkled into tears as she nodded. "Elenath will be heartbroken when she finds out. Her father was killed just shortly after our arrival here."
"I fear for the princess's life," added the servant. "So much grief can be deadly for an Elf. Even a pregnant Elf."
Susan ran her fingers through her purple hair and bit at her tongue ring, as was her habit when she was thinking. Her blue eyes narrowed and she sighed. Why not? she thought to herself. Now more than any time in my life I know that miracles can happen. God has used me to heal many. Why not this Elf? She began to follow the small procession of healers, her friends trailing curiously behind her.
The procession of Elves stopped at a side room and they lay Llilwen down on a bed, their leader speaking gently to Susan. "You must let us do our work, Young One. Perhaps we can save her."
"I can help," replied Susan, adding, "I… I know I'm just a kid and I don't look like much… but sometimes God allows me to heal others. Maybe He will let me help here."
At first, the Elves looked at Susan as if she had lost her mind. Then, one by one, they seemed to remember how Elenath had brought King Thranduil back from the dead and stepped back to allow Susan access to their fallen sister. "Please," said the healer, "do whatever you can."
"You trust me?" asked Susan. "Just like that?"
She nodded. "It is difficult not to trust one with such faith in her abilities, Susan."
"It's not me," said Susan, "but Christ in me." Then, lifting a silent prayer heavenward, she reached out and took Llilwen's hand as her friends gathered around, gently touching the bruised places on the Elf's body.
***
Elenath and Legolas finally managed to pull themselves together enough to be led through the palace to the room where Llilwen lay.
"I've had enough of death to last five lifetimes," whispered Elenath.
Legolas squeezed her hand. "So have I."
As they turned a corner, Elenath heard the sounds of prayer coming from a side room a little further down the hall, "If it is Your will, Father, heal her body and bring peace to her mind. Bring her back to us…" The princess' breath caught in her throat and she dashed ahead, just in time to see Susan leaning over her mother's still, seemingly lifeless form and taking her hand saying, "Llilwen, wake up!"
There was a moment of silence before Elenath's mother blinked slowly a few times at the purple-haired young Woman before her. Color returned to her face, her wounds miraculously healing before their eyes.
The Elves looked at one another in awe of what had happened. Even their most powerful magic would have taken more time to work. It was not long before Llilwen was sitting up and laughing, beckoning her daughter to come near. "I was just in the most amazing place!"
"What place?" asked Elenath as she embraced her mother, casting thankful glances at her young friends.
"I was on a path, near a golden city… There was a Man there… A great Prince. When I asked him his name, he said, 'Immanuel!'"
"What else did he say?" asked Elenath.
"He said many things, some of which I must never repeat until the appointed time. He also said that my daughter needed me."
Poor Elenath had dissolved once again into tears, but this time they were happy. "I do need you, Mom, more than you know. What mother-to-be does not long for her own mother to guide her through the trials of giving birth and raising a child?"
***
Dinner that evening was a bittersweet event. The return of Llilwen brought an almost celebratory flavor to the evening, but the announcement that the orcs had a dragon struck fear into the hearts of even the bravest Elves.
Despite her fear and uncertainty about the battle ahead, Elenath had to laugh at the sight of her young friends dressed in Elven clothing. The ladies especially were distraught over having to wear the beautiful gowns. Though they valiantly tried to act like ladies and gentlemen, words never before heard in Mirkwood drifted over the tables. Legolas listened to the kids with great interest, figuring out that if something was bad, it was actually good; and if something was sick, well, that meant it was excellent.
Elenath almost lost it when Marcus handed Legolas a basket of fruit. "Here you go, dude."
Legolas didn't skip a beat. "Thanks, dude. Here, have an apple. They're wicked good."
Marcus just smiled. "You're alright, man. I have to admit I was worried at first but I'm stoked that you and El hooked up."
Legolas looked over at his beaming wife. "Me too."
At that moment, the hall fell silent as one of the Palace guards entered, accompanied by a messenger from the Eagles who settled by the King and Lord Elrond with a slight nod of his feathered head.
"What news?" asked King Thranduil, worry clouding his eyes.
The Eagle looked about the hall and then turned to the King. "I crave a word with the Royal Household and its advisors. In secret."
Thranduil nodded. "Are you hungry? Thirsty? Or do you wish to convene the Council without delay?"
"I have flown far and I am famished, but my news is quite urgent, King Thranduil. Please convene the Royal Council and then you can see to my needs."
"Members of the Council, please assemble in the Council Chambers at once," commanded the king. With that, he stood up and left the room, the Eagle and Lord Elrond by his side.