So many reviews... I know not what to say but... THANK YOU !!!
It makes me happy to know that so many of you like this story ...
And to those of you that asked: Ai, you know me too well... the next story is already forming in my mind, but I am really fighting myself to finish this one first... :-)
Special thanks to Little My, my most patient beta reader!!!!
...and do not forget to tell me if you like it!!!
___
Too many sensations, too many voices and sounds at once, where until now had only been darkness and emptiness. While a small part of him rejoiced in the smells and sounds he could sense, the rest of him simply panicked. Then the noise faded and the room fell silent, and only the chirping of birds could be heard. Once he had identified this sound, he could feel himself calm down.
He hesitantly opened eyes he had squeezed shut in an attempt to lessen the sensations drowning him. The room was bright with sunlight, and the two faces he recognized watching him with a mixture of joy and worry were both unexpected and welcome at once. He refused to search his memory, shying away from what he might find there. It did not feel completely right to be here, as if he had expected to find himself somewhere else, but he did not try to think about it. For the moment he was completely satisfied to be where he was. As he let himself be hugged and caressed, a feeling of security washed over him. For the first time in much too long, he felt safe.
When he finally relaxed and his eyes were clear and unclouded, a burst of such joy had swept through Amayn that it even overcame the terrible weakness she felt. He tried to speak then but his voice failed him. She had hushed him and Thranduil had moved with more haste than she had seen in a long time, getting a cup of water for his son. She could feel he was still disoriented as his eyes roamed about the room.
He had not tried to speak again and as her husband took over, ordering a bath and food to be prepared, she could feel her exhaustion starting to win over excitement. She did not wish to leave her son so soon after he had awoken, but knew that she needed a moment's rest. So it came that she left, making her way to the gardens to restore her strength. And that was where she came to know the whole truth of what had happened to Legolas.
She was deeply troubled to hear Gimli's words as this confirmed her deepest fears. She had suspected that something had transpired that had affected Legolas deeply, even before this creature had attacked him.
The Queen of Eryn Lasgalen quietly entered the room that held her husband and son. A smile radiated from her face when she saw Legolas propped up with cushions and nibbling on food.
It had been long moments until he had calmed down after his awakening, his confusion and panic only lessening slowly. Now, after taking a cleansing bath and dressed in fresh clothes, he looked a lot better.
She exchanged a look with her husband, noting the tender expression in his eyes. There were many that considered him cold and only interested in the riches of jewels and gems. But he had never left any doubt in her that he considered his wife and the children she had gifted him with the most precious of all gems.
She sat down next to the bed, smiling at her son.
'It seems to me you feel better,' she spoke. 'Are you in pain?'
He shook his head but she was not sure if she really believed him. The bruising on his side looked painful to her.
'Do you remember what happened?' she gently asked, watching him closely for any reaction.
Legolas' eyes darkened a bit but he shook his head again. He refused to think about anything but the present. She waited for a long moment until he averted his eyes. Accepting defeat for now, she let the matter rest. There would be time later.
He did not feel hungry any more, and handed the plate with the remains of his light meal to the servant hovering close by.
'You should get some rest,' she advised gently. 'Ere your friends can no longer be kept away from you. They are much worried about you.'
The though of sleep brought a sudden rush of panic that he struggled hard not to show. Amayn could see the flicker of it in his eyes but it was quickly gone.
'My friends?' he asked, trying to not think of why the prospect of slipping into his elven dreams would fill him with such terror.
'Yes, they have brought you here. Mithrandir, Elessar, as well as the Prince of Ithilien and the King of Rohan, and...'
'Gimli?' Hope flared in his eyes. He remembered his friend had been here, remembered his strong presence.
She handed him a cup and he sipped at it, not noticing the taste of the herbs that had been mixed with the tea.
'Yes, Gimli is here. Take some rest now for you have endured much. Things will be easier to deal with when you have regained some strength.'
Legolas could feel the effect of the herbs when she took the cup from his suddenly slack fingers. Fear welled up as the memory of terror and pain broke through his mental defenses.
'No...' he whispered, trying to fight the sleep overcoming him.
'There is nothing to fear, Legolas,' she calmed him. 'You are safe now.'
His eyes slipped out of focus and she suppressed the feeling of guilt at having tricked him into sleeping. She knew the panic he had to feel but he needed the rest. It was better if he faced his fear now than later.
Looking up she could see the encouragement on Thranduil's face and realized he completely understood.
''He is refusing to remember,' she said softly, her fingers brushing away a strand of hair from Legolas' face. 'He will have to face what has happened or it will destroy him.'
'You think facing his friends will help him?' His voice held some doubt but then he had never trusted outsiders freely. Even less when it came to those he held dear.
She would have answered positively without hesitation had not Gimli's words lingered in her memory. The issue between him and Legolas had to be resolved, but it could cause even more pain to her son. She was not sure how much he could take in his current state. He was fragile in his emotions and she hesitated to risk anything.
'They will be of great help,' she finally spoke, hoping the deep bond of friendship had not been severed.
@@@
Somehow they had all met again in the wide garden of Thranduil's palace. Once more all they could do was wait and it had started to take its toll on them.
Gimli refused to speak to anyone, ignoring the attempts of conversation from Aragorn. Gandalf had disappeared again without them noticing when and where he went.
The three men kept up a quiet conversation, speaking of matters with no or little importance to pass the time. They had not seen Amayn or Thranduil, or even Calenuial again, and had no knowledge of how Legolas fared.
It was hard on Gimli, for talking to Amayn had brought him no comfort. And while a part of him wished for nothing else but to see his friend again to make sure he was well, another part of him wished deeply he had not to face him. He knew not what Legolas thought of their fight, knew not if the elf even considered him a friend anymore. He knew not even for sure if it had truly been him that had aided Legolas out of the darkness, or if it had been merely a coincidence. Maybe the elf had simply reached for something, anything without really noticing whom it was he clung to.
Doubts and fears filled Gimli's heart, and his emotions could be read easily from his face if someone bothered to look.
Calenuial had returned twice to check on them without ever bothering to show himself. His eyes had always sought Gimli, anger burning in them. Had it not been for Amayn's decision, he would have personally taken care of the dwarf's removal from this realm. His deep love and respect for his Queen warred with his own burning emotions. Ever since finding Legolas in the realm of the dwarves, he had been helpless and unable to aid his friend. Finding out that someone Legolas had considered a trusted and dear friend had helped inflict this damage to him was almost too much for the elven warrior to keep his fierce temper under control.
If Legolas should not fully recover, he would know whom to blame.
It makes me happy to know that so many of you like this story ...
And to those of you that asked: Ai, you know me too well... the next story is already forming in my mind, but I am really fighting myself to finish this one first... :-)
Special thanks to Little My, my most patient beta reader!!!!
...and do not forget to tell me if you like it!!!
___
Too many sensations, too many voices and sounds at once, where until now had only been darkness and emptiness. While a small part of him rejoiced in the smells and sounds he could sense, the rest of him simply panicked. Then the noise faded and the room fell silent, and only the chirping of birds could be heard. Once he had identified this sound, he could feel himself calm down.
He hesitantly opened eyes he had squeezed shut in an attempt to lessen the sensations drowning him. The room was bright with sunlight, and the two faces he recognized watching him with a mixture of joy and worry were both unexpected and welcome at once. He refused to search his memory, shying away from what he might find there. It did not feel completely right to be here, as if he had expected to find himself somewhere else, but he did not try to think about it. For the moment he was completely satisfied to be where he was. As he let himself be hugged and caressed, a feeling of security washed over him. For the first time in much too long, he felt safe.
When he finally relaxed and his eyes were clear and unclouded, a burst of such joy had swept through Amayn that it even overcame the terrible weakness she felt. He tried to speak then but his voice failed him. She had hushed him and Thranduil had moved with more haste than she had seen in a long time, getting a cup of water for his son. She could feel he was still disoriented as his eyes roamed about the room.
He had not tried to speak again and as her husband took over, ordering a bath and food to be prepared, she could feel her exhaustion starting to win over excitement. She did not wish to leave her son so soon after he had awoken, but knew that she needed a moment's rest. So it came that she left, making her way to the gardens to restore her strength. And that was where she came to know the whole truth of what had happened to Legolas.
She was deeply troubled to hear Gimli's words as this confirmed her deepest fears. She had suspected that something had transpired that had affected Legolas deeply, even before this creature had attacked him.
The Queen of Eryn Lasgalen quietly entered the room that held her husband and son. A smile radiated from her face when she saw Legolas propped up with cushions and nibbling on food.
It had been long moments until he had calmed down after his awakening, his confusion and panic only lessening slowly. Now, after taking a cleansing bath and dressed in fresh clothes, he looked a lot better.
She exchanged a look with her husband, noting the tender expression in his eyes. There were many that considered him cold and only interested in the riches of jewels and gems. But he had never left any doubt in her that he considered his wife and the children she had gifted him with the most precious of all gems.
She sat down next to the bed, smiling at her son.
'It seems to me you feel better,' she spoke. 'Are you in pain?'
He shook his head but she was not sure if she really believed him. The bruising on his side looked painful to her.
'Do you remember what happened?' she gently asked, watching him closely for any reaction.
Legolas' eyes darkened a bit but he shook his head again. He refused to think about anything but the present. She waited for a long moment until he averted his eyes. Accepting defeat for now, she let the matter rest. There would be time later.
He did not feel hungry any more, and handed the plate with the remains of his light meal to the servant hovering close by.
'You should get some rest,' she advised gently. 'Ere your friends can no longer be kept away from you. They are much worried about you.'
The though of sleep brought a sudden rush of panic that he struggled hard not to show. Amayn could see the flicker of it in his eyes but it was quickly gone.
'My friends?' he asked, trying to not think of why the prospect of slipping into his elven dreams would fill him with such terror.
'Yes, they have brought you here. Mithrandir, Elessar, as well as the Prince of Ithilien and the King of Rohan, and...'
'Gimli?' Hope flared in his eyes. He remembered his friend had been here, remembered his strong presence.
She handed him a cup and he sipped at it, not noticing the taste of the herbs that had been mixed with the tea.
'Yes, Gimli is here. Take some rest now for you have endured much. Things will be easier to deal with when you have regained some strength.'
Legolas could feel the effect of the herbs when she took the cup from his suddenly slack fingers. Fear welled up as the memory of terror and pain broke through his mental defenses.
'No...' he whispered, trying to fight the sleep overcoming him.
'There is nothing to fear, Legolas,' she calmed him. 'You are safe now.'
His eyes slipped out of focus and she suppressed the feeling of guilt at having tricked him into sleeping. She knew the panic he had to feel but he needed the rest. It was better if he faced his fear now than later.
Looking up she could see the encouragement on Thranduil's face and realized he completely understood.
''He is refusing to remember,' she said softly, her fingers brushing away a strand of hair from Legolas' face. 'He will have to face what has happened or it will destroy him.'
'You think facing his friends will help him?' His voice held some doubt but then he had never trusted outsiders freely. Even less when it came to those he held dear.
She would have answered positively without hesitation had not Gimli's words lingered in her memory. The issue between him and Legolas had to be resolved, but it could cause even more pain to her son. She was not sure how much he could take in his current state. He was fragile in his emotions and she hesitated to risk anything.
'They will be of great help,' she finally spoke, hoping the deep bond of friendship had not been severed.
@@@
Somehow they had all met again in the wide garden of Thranduil's palace. Once more all they could do was wait and it had started to take its toll on them.
Gimli refused to speak to anyone, ignoring the attempts of conversation from Aragorn. Gandalf had disappeared again without them noticing when and where he went.
The three men kept up a quiet conversation, speaking of matters with no or little importance to pass the time. They had not seen Amayn or Thranduil, or even Calenuial again, and had no knowledge of how Legolas fared.
It was hard on Gimli, for talking to Amayn had brought him no comfort. And while a part of him wished for nothing else but to see his friend again to make sure he was well, another part of him wished deeply he had not to face him. He knew not what Legolas thought of their fight, knew not if the elf even considered him a friend anymore. He knew not even for sure if it had truly been him that had aided Legolas out of the darkness, or if it had been merely a coincidence. Maybe the elf had simply reached for something, anything without really noticing whom it was he clung to.
Doubts and fears filled Gimli's heart, and his emotions could be read easily from his face if someone bothered to look.
Calenuial had returned twice to check on them without ever bothering to show himself. His eyes had always sought Gimli, anger burning in them. Had it not been for Amayn's decision, he would have personally taken care of the dwarf's removal from this realm. His deep love and respect for his Queen warred with his own burning emotions. Ever since finding Legolas in the realm of the dwarves, he had been helpless and unable to aid his friend. Finding out that someone Legolas had considered a trusted and dear friend had helped inflict this damage to him was almost too much for the elven warrior to keep his fierce temper under control.
If Legolas should not fully recover, he would know whom to blame.