Aragorn looked back at his companions as they trudged on behind him. They were heading towards the river Nimrodel, and already they were getting close to its banks. The night was already deepening above them, and he knew that they would have to rest sometime soon. Frodo and Sam seemed to be in pain, while the others seemed to be just plain tired. Near the rear walked Eli and Camille, and it seemed that they were talking about something in hushed voices and in a language that he couldn't understand.
Legolas approached him at that moment. ^Aragorn, I think it would be wise to stop for now,^ muttered the Elf. ^Frodo and Sam do not seem to be doing so well, and I think that Eli is ill.^
Aragorn's eyes widened. ^Ill! How can that be?!^
Legolas' tone was lower. ^I do not know. But somewhere between our escape from Moria and our arrival here, she fell ill. I do not know how, but it must be so.^ He glanced over his shoulder. ^She is much too pale for my liking, and she coughs too frequently. When she does so, I do not like the sound of it much. It is no ordinary cough that she has.^
^We must travel just a little further. We are nearing the Nimrodel, and once we cross it, we may stop for a while and see what ails our companions,^ Aragorn said with finality. He didn't see Legolas nod, but he did know that the Elf fell back slightly, so as to keep the Hobbits company.
Their group waded across the Nimrodel, and though the water was cold, it had a healing feel to it that soothed the travelers' aching feet. When they had reached the other bank. Aragorn turned to them, and said, "Let us rest here for a while." He had barely spoken the words when Eli suddenly collapsed on her knees, her fall barely prevented by Camille and Boromir.
The Ranger's eyes widened. "Eli, what is wrong?" He approached them then, and heard the coughing of the poor girl. He winced. It had a deep, dry, raspy ring to it, and it sounded as though every cough threatened to rip her lungs to shreds.
Eli looked up at him then, and her eyes were glazed from a pain that she struggled to control. "I'll be okay, Aragorn…I just need to rest. Go look after Frodo and Sam."
Aragorn shook his head. "I shall tend to you first, for it seems that you are the one who is more gravely ill here."
Eli shook her head, and pushed him away from her. "Buzz off, Aragorn. I know what I'm doing. Go! Sam's wound looks pretty bad, and I have the funny feeling that Frodo broke a couple of ribs."
Aragorn gazed at her, a stunned expression momentarily crossing his face. How can she say such things when I can see such deep pain in her eyes?!
"Now's not the time to argue, Aragorn," Camille muttered, albeit a little harshly. "I'll take care of Eli myself."
Finally realizing that there was no point in trying to dissuade these two girls, he obeyed them and turned his attention to Sam. After treating the Hobbit's wounds, he glanced at Frodo. "Now it is your turn, Frodo!"
"I am alright," said Frodo, as if he were reluctant about something. "All I need is some food and a little rest."
Aragorn shook his head. "No. We must have a look and see what that spear has done to you. I still marvel that you are alive at all." Gently he stripped of Frodo's old jacket and worn tunic, and gave a gasp of wonder. Then he laughed. Before his eyes, against a shirt of soft leather, shimmered a corselet made of mithril-rings.
He lifted it over Frodo's head, and turned to the others. "Look my friends! Here's a pretty Hobbit-skin to wrap an Elven-princeling in!"
Gimli gazed at it in wonder. "It is a mithril-coat. Mithril! I have never seen or heard tell of one so fair. Is this the coat that Gandalf spoke of? Then he undervalued it. But it was well given!"
Aragorn got back to treating Frodo's wound with the athelas he had found at Weathertop before, but out of the corner of his eye, he kept a close eye on the two girls. He watched as Camille placed something small and white in Eli's palm. The latter then placed the object in her mouth, and followed this with a long draught of water from one of the skins. While she was doing all of this, Camille was continually patting and rubbing her back, as if trying to soothe her.
Soothe her, but of what? After he had finished treating Frodo's injuries, he glanced more fully at Camille and Eli, and realized that the latter had fallen asleep. Camille was still awake, but her dark brown eyes were deeply troubled.
Realizing that something was wrong, Aragorn approached her, sitting beside her. "Camille, although I feel that this is an inopportune time to ask, but I must know: what is wrong with Eli?"
"She's sick," Camille replied, and bowed her head. "Very sick."
"How so?" Aragorn pressed. "If it is an illness that I can treat here and now I will do it before it worsens."
Camille let out a deep sigh. "You can't cure it. No one in our world has been able to. Treat it, yes, but cure it?" Here, she shook her head. She looked up at him then, and Aragorn noticed that she was on the verge of breaking down emotionally. The quest, the loss of Gandalf, and the condition of her best friend were all beginning to tell on her. "She has rheumatic heart disease."
"Excuse me?"
"You know how some babies are born not breathing? They're alive, but not breathing?"
"Yes, I have heard of such children, but they do not live for long. They often die early."
"Well, you see, Eli's one of them."
Aragorn's eyes widened. "Are you certain of this?"
Camille nodded. "I am. When Eli was born, the doctors – kind of like healers in our world – told her mother that she wouldn't live to see her second birthday. When she did, they gave her three years more to live. When she went past that, they gave her five years. But when Eli passed her tenth birthday without dying, the doctors admitted that it was some kind of miracle, and that if all went well, she'd live normally.
"But her heart has its limitations. She cannot strain herself too much emotionally, or else her heart would give, and that would be the end of it all." She sighed, turning away from him to look at Eli's sleeping face. "She's had to live with the fact that she was going to die soon. And now, I'm scared that she will REALLY die."
Aragorn sighed, and placed an arm around Camille as a few tears slid down from her face. "She will be all right. She is a strong girl, she will live."
He stayed with her that way for a while, affording the poor girl some comfort. Her heart has been weighed down since Gandalf's fall, he mused. We are all weary from the grief, but these two all the more so.
In the meantime, Legolas had started to climb a nearby mallorn tree, intending to rest amongst the branches. However, an Elven-voice shouted a command in Elvish, ^Halt!^ Legolas dropped back down to earth with a cry of surprise.
Aragorn stood up as soft laughter echoed to them from overhead. Words were spoken in the Sindarin tongue, and Legolas responded to them. After a while, a rope ladder was thrown down to them. Aragorn smiled. "So they wish us to come up." He held his hand out to Camille, and pulled her up to her feet. "Come, the Elves have asked us to join them." When he saw her give a worried glance at Eli, he smiled reassuringly. "I shall take care of her."
Camille smiled at him then. "Thanks Aragorn." With that, she proceeded to climb up the rope ladder right after Frodo.
* * *
Camille slowly climbed up the rope ladder until she reached the platform that sat in the midst of the tree branches. Legolas was already there, as were Sam and Frodo. She noticed three shadowy shapes sitting near the trunk of the tree, and though it took her a while to identify what they were, she realized that they were Elves.
One of them stood up, and uncovered a small lamp that gave out a slender beam of light. This Elf gazed at each of them, but lingered on Frodo and her, in particular. After a while, he covered the lamp again, and spoke in the Common Tongue, but slowly. "Welcome! We seldom use any tongue but our own; for we dwell now in the heart of the forest, and do not willingly have dealings with other folk. Even our own kindred in the North are sundered from us. But there are some of us still who go abroad for the gathering of news and the watching of our enemies, and they speak the languages of other lands. I am one. Haldir is my name. My brothers, Rumil and Orophin, speak little of your tongue.
"But we have heard rumors of your coming, for the messengers of Elrond passed by Lorien on their way home up the Dimrill Stair. We have not heard of – Hobbits, of Halflings, for many a long year, and did know any yet dwelt in Middle-Earth. You do not look evil! And since you come with an Elf of our kindred, we are willing to befriend you, as Elrond asked; though it is not our custom to lead strangers through our land. But you must stay here tonight. How many are you?"
"Ten," replied Legolas swiftly, his light tenor bringing some comfort to Camille. "Myself, four Hobbits; and two Men, one of whom, Aragorn, is an Elf-friend of the folk of Westernesse."
"The name of Aragorn son of Arathorn is known in Lorien," said Haldir, "and he has the favor of the Lady. All then is well. But you have spoken only of seven. Who are the remaining three? And who is this Lady who sits before us now, she with the fair face and mournful eyes?"
Camille nearly snorted. Fair face and mournful eyes?! Oh please, give me a break!
Luckily Legolas did all the talking, as she didn't feel like opening her mouth then. "She is one of the three I have spoken of. Her name is Lady Camille Selvitar, and she is one of the Summoners of the Four Great Spirits of Middle-Earth."
The three Elves suddenly started to murmur amongst themselves. Camille felt her ears starting to burn, because she was certain that she was the one being discussed.
After a long while, Haldir spoke again. "We heard no news of this from the messengers of Elrond, though we have heard the Lord and Lady speak of a pair of young ladies, mortal yet Elven-fair, who held great power within them and would be members of the Fellowship." He turned to her then. "Forgive us for not recognizing you earlier, My Lady. The Lady of the Galadhrim said that you and your companion were to be treated with utmost respect. I am sorry if we have not given that to you."
Camille sighed. "Don't worry about it. I'm just really tired, and at this point, I couldn't really give a damn whether you called me names or anything like that, as long as I get some sleep. But there is something you could do for me."
Haldir nodded. "As long as it is within my power to grant, it shall be done."
"Good. Look, my friend, Elisabeth Carnahan – the other Summoner – is really sick. If she stays out here for much longer, I don't know how long she's going to hold out. Could any of you take her back to wherever it is you're going to take us?"
Haldir glanced at his brothers, and they conversed for a moment together. It was only a short debate, because Haldir turned to her then, and it seemed that there was a smile upon his face. "We shall do as the Lady requests, but we shall need some time to prepare. Do you wish to accompany your friend into Caras Galadhon?"
Camille smiled, and nodded. "Yes, I'd really like that. Thanks for offering." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Legolas twitch a little, but it was so quick a movement that she couldn't be too sure.
Once again, Haldir and Legolas continued to speak in hushed Elvish voices, but since it didn't concern her anymore, Camille felt herself slipping slowly into sleep. She was only half-awake when Legolas left. Rumil, one of Haldir's brothers, gave her skins to lie on and blankets to keep her warm. The minute she lay down, she fell into a deep sleep.
* * *
Legolas stared into the deep forests, brooding silently as he gazed into the shadows. His thoughts were supposed to be on keeping watch, but they couldn't stay there. He turned away, and looked at the flet where Camille and Eli slept with the Hobbits.
Why did she want to go ahead, he wondered to himself. There wasn't a time when they had been separated, and he did not want to start anytime soon.
^Thinking of her, Legolas?^
Legolas looked up, and noticed Haldir smiling down at him from his position higher up in the tree. Legolas sighed, and looked again towards the shadows. ^Am I so transparent that you can know my thoughts, Haldir?^
The archer from Lothlorien chuckled. ^Nay, I cannot know your thoughts; that is a talent only the Lady of the Golden Wood can have. Rather, I have seen it in your actions, and the way you were gazing at her a while ago.^ He fell silent for a while, but he broke it soon. ^Though I cannot blame you for desiring her. She is fair for a mortal. One would think that she was Half-Elven, at least, but she is not.^
^Nay, 'tis not her beauty alone that draws me,^ Legolas whispered, enough for Haldir to hear him. ^There is a fire that fuels her beauty, and that, perhaps, is what draws me to her. She seems so strong on the outside, but fragile within. And her eyes…ah, her eyes! They speak of the things she desires, things that I would pay with my immortal life for her to have, and yet they mirror my own wants. For she wishes so much to give, but she does not have the power.^
Haldir's tone was quiet. ^Do you know what she desires, Legolas? For you say that you can see what she wants, and yet they mirror your own desires.^
^Many things. Peace, happiness…love.^
^Love?^
^Aye, love. That is what she desires most. We all desire to love and be loved back, but in her it is a want so deep that I sometimes wonder if she has been loved at all.^
^Have you spoken of this matter to her?^
^I have. The Falls of the Bruinen were witness to the day I professed my love for her, but she would not have it.^ Legolas shook his head. ^Nay, she COULD NOT have it. She claimed that she could never have my love, though she has no lover. I do not understand why she would refuse it.^
^Perhaps-^
Haldir's statement was cut short when he heard a harsh laugh and the tread of many feet, along with the ringing of metal. Soon both Elves were up on their feet on their respective tree branches, scanning the horizon. In the distance, they saw a large company of Orcs crossing the Nimrodel, and heading towards them.
Legolas cursed as he jumped down to land on silent feet, intending to head towards the flet where the girls and the Hobbits slept. But Haldir soon stopped him.
The other Elf shook his head. ^You must do something else, Legolas. I know now that I must fulfill the request of the Lady, and it should be done now. I will take them with me to Caras Galadhon ere I go to deliver the message that these foul Orcs have arrived.^
Legolas looked long and hard at the archer, and at long last, nodded. ^Do as you say, Haldir. But I shall hold you responsible for any hurt that the Ladies may incur.^
Haldir smiled slightly at his attitude. ^So be it.^ With that he sped towards the flet, while Legolas joined Orophin and Rumil in attempting to lure the Orcs away from their camp.
AUTHO'RS NOTES: Wa-hey, they have arrived in Lothlorien! Okay, I feel that I've written enough action for now, and I will move on to the more romantic aspect of this fic! The next chapter will FINALLY have a kissing scene (the last one was, what, ten chapters ago?)! Three guesses as to who it is ^_^! All ye Legolas fans, come on down! I dedicate the next chapter to all my readers and reviewers, but particularly to Legolas fans and to Angare, THEwriter Lioness, Alatariel and Dakki, as a method of thanks for putting me on their favorites list (Angare, Alatariel, THEwriter Lioness), and for being with this fic from the get-go (Alatariel, Dakki). Hope you four like this story, and the chapter that I have dedicated to you ^_~. It's fluff time, girls!