Chapter 5

Eowyn sat upon her bed, gazing up at the ceiling. She knew not what time it was, as the sky was still so dark. She thought of Aragorn, sitting beside Legolas, and was half-tempted to go to him. "For I can not sleep." She told no one in particular with a soft sigh.

Aragorn was an amazing man, and Eowyn admired everything about him. She slid off of her four-poster, snatched her robe of fine silk, and decided to check on the ill elf. As she entered the corridor, she stopped short. 'Are you truly going to check on Legolas?' A voice in her head asked with uncertainty. She glanced over her shoulder as though expecting to see someone behind her, but the hallway was empty. Eowyn chewed on her bottom lip in concentration. 'I do not LOVE him. He already gave his heart to another.' She thought bitterly as she remembered the jewl around the ranger's neck. Arwen. That, Aragorn told her, was his true love's name-the daughter of the Lord Elrond of Rivendell.

A bought of very harsh coughing suddenly broke Eowyn's trail of thought, and she quickly dashed towards the direction of the sick room. When she arrived, it was not Aragorn who was there, but Gimli the dwarf. She had to smile-what a pair Legolas and Gimli made. She cleared her throat to make her presence known. The Dwarf looked up and a small smile appeared beneath his thick, auburn beard. He nodded respectuflly to her and she nodded back.

"How does he fare?" Eowyn asked, walking over to Legolas's side. She took hold of the Elf's hand, finding that his skin was still burning.

"The fever still rages, Lady." Gimli replied, tears filling his dark eyes. Eowyn sat on the bed and caressed Legolas's burning cheek as a mother would do to a sick child.

"I have not yet seen an Elf asleep with his eyes closed. He must be in terrible pain." She whispered.

At that moment, Legolas let out a moan and stretched out a bit. Gimli touched the Elf's other hand and peered down at his sleeping face. "Aragorn was considering calling for your aid, Eowyn, but he had not the hear to awaken you."

Eowyn quickly looked up and felt her cheeks grow warm. "He-he did? He should have sent for me if he wished. I was not sleeping peacefully either and would not have minded."

Gimli noticed her pink cheeks and smirked. "You are not in love with him, are you?" He asked.

Eowyn gasped. "Gimli son of Gloin! How DARE you say such a thing? I know of Arwen of course!" She pursed her lips.

Gimli sniggered. "I can sense your jealousy."

Eowyn was now fuming as she snapped, "I will not continue this conversation with someone who can not even tell apart a woman from a man in his own kin!" She folded her arms and turned away, staring at the wall. Gimli looked down at his feet, still smiling a little.

"I did not mean to hurt your feelings. I just thought you ought to realize that he is not availible."

Legolas's eyes suddenly fluttered open. "Need-water." He gasped. Eowyn turned around again and watched as Gimli retrieved a glass of clear liquid from the nightstand. The Elf was too weak to even lift his head from the pillow, so Eowyn took the cup and gently allowed him to sip from it.

"Everything about me is turning hazy." Legolas told them. "I have not even the strength to move my fingers."

Eowyn touched his arm. "Please hold on for us. You WILL make it." She closed her eyes as tears fought to seep down her cheeks. "You have a good fight still left in you, love."

Gimli wiped away his own tears and gave a small cough. "You will NOT leave me, Legolas. You are my...."

Legolas watched as Gimli broke down and immediately hurried out of the room, unable to take the sadness any longer. Eowyn was now crying too as she held Legolas's hand to her cheek, kissing it softly. "I have not known you for long, Legolas, but I will miss you terribly if you go. Please." She begged. Legolas took a deep breath before turning his head in the opposite direction. Eowyn bowed her head, touching her lips to the Elf's hand. "We will do everything we can to help you feel better-I promise." She whispered.

In the corridor, Gimli slid down the wall, burrying his head in his arms as he sobbed quietly. He missed Legolas more than anything in the world. He even missed the Elf's cracks about the Dwarf folk, which originally bothered him quite a bit. He didn't notice Theoden approaching until a gentle hand was laid upon his shoulder.

"Do not grieve, Gimli. Your friend will recover."

Gimli looked up, not bothering to wipe his tears away. "Your highness. I did not hear you come." He quickly stood. "Should you not be asleep?"

Theoden smiled softly. "I should, yes, and Eowyn will have my head if she finds me out of my chamber. But, I wished to check on the Elf's progress."

Gimli shook his head. "He is not doing any better, King Theoden. I am sorry."

"The Valar is with him." Theoden promised. "They will protect him. They know how much you and Aragorn care for him and that he has still so much left to accomplish that they will not take him from this world as yet."

"The good and dear always DO die," Gimli sobbed. "How could I possibly hold onto that hope?"

"You must hold onto that hope, Gimli. I have sent..." Theoden cleared his throat. "I have sent for one of Rohan's local healers. He will be here in an hour or so to see if he can not ease your friend's pain."

Gimli gasped. "You did?" He fell to his knees. "Thank you. I am most gracious. We will all be."

Theoden nodded. "You are most welcome."

Gimli smiled. "Would you like to see Legolas? He is in a dreadful state but I am sure a third visitor would not be much of a problem, as he is barely coherent."

The King laughed softly. "I would like to see him, but I fear I will get the whip from my niece." He winked and this caused Gimli to chuckle as he lead the King now int the sick-room. Eowyn had stopped crying and looked up to see the King come in.

"Uncle! What are you doing out of bed at this unearthly hour?" She cried in shock. "You have been through eons of hardship and you need your rest!"

Gimli snorted as Theoden held up his hand. "Who is the King of Rohan, sister-daughter? Surely not yourself!"

Eowyn's lips tightened in a thin line as Theoden came over to her. "If you do not mind my saying so, what are YOU doing out of bed at this unearthly hour? You are eons younger than I."

Eowyn blushed. "Well I-I could not sleep."

"Neither could I. So we are even then." He was glad to see her smile at last as she stood and went to give her Uncle a hug.

"He has sent for a healer," Gimli told Eowyn.

Eowyn looked up. "Oh Uncle." She sobbed.

Theoden touched her cheek with the palm of his hand. "Go and get some rest."

"All right. Good night, Uncle." She nodded to Gimli before turning and heading back for her bedroom.

As Theoden had promised, his healer arrived about an hour after being sent for, and set right to work on the Elf. He checked Legolas's heartbeat, his breathing and his temperature, and then barked orders to retrieve a bowl of luke-warm water, a fresh mug of chamomile tea, clean towels, etc. Gimli blinked once the lamps were lit and the sickroom became very bright. Alarmed by the very high temperature, the healer told Eowyn to create a luke-warm bath. "We must sponge him down. The fever must be drawn from his head."

Legolas was taken from his bed and soon placed into the large tub. Eowyn knelt down beside the tub and aided the healer in sponging him down. "Let me go!" Legolas yelled after the first bucket of water was poured over him. "Unhand me!"

Eowyn held the Elf down firmly by the arms until the process was considered complete. He was immediately wrapped in a fluffy robe borrowed by Theoden and placed back into bed. By dawn, the tea was administered, but the Elf was not recovering as quickly as the healer had hoped.

"His fever is still the same." Said Aragorn, after taking Legolas's temperature around breakfast.

"It is the poison." Eowyn sobbed. "The poision is slowly devouring him."

"What will we do?" asked Gimli, grasping Legolas's clammy hand. "You stupid Elf-come back to us this instant. You certainly know how to worry a fellow, don't you?"

Aragorn turned to Theoden. "Your Highness-would you be so kind as to write a letter to King Thranduil of Mirkwood? He must know of his son."

"I will straight away, Aragorn." Theoden hurried to his study.

"Is there not an antedote that could fight the poison?" asked Eowyn hopefully. "You are a ranger-you MUST know of this type of thing!"

"We must find the hobbits," Legolas suddenly choked.

Aragorn, Eowyn and Gimli turned to him. "He is having another nightmare," Gimli said. "Do something, Aragorn, before he hurts himself!"

"Half a moment." Aragorn glanced at the Elf. "Legolas-where are the hobbits?"

"They are-they are moving towards Isengard with the Ent folk. Saruman."

"How does he know this?" Eowyn asked quietly, "If he is not present with them?"

Aragorn frowned. "I am not sure, but I am sure the poison has something to do with this. Saruman created the orcs that used the arrow that struck Legolas, and I am very positive that the poison was very magical."

"And of course deadly," sighed Eowyn.

"As for an antedote, I am not exactly sure. I could make a brew with Athelas that he could take down and we will see if that helps."

Eowyn nodded. The healer frowned as well. "Yes-that could be useful. The poison is slowly attacking his immune system, and even if the Elf does recover, he will still be prone to falling ill. With this cough, it could slowly turn into pneumonia. That is not a treatable illness and he most likely will die."

Eowyn turned to Aragorn. "Create your brew, quickly."

Aragorn bolted off towards the Great Hall so he could have enough space for the cooking of the liquid and so that it would not bother Legolas. He had no time to waste.