Chapter Ten - Healing the Flesh
The sons of Elrond had seen many strange things in there day, but never before had then seen two elves come out of completely nowhere in Rivendell. Elladan and Elrohir were cautious approaching the figures at first, but when they saw that it was Legolas their caution was lost. Elladan and Elrohir had ridden with Legolas on the Paths of the Dead and trusted him. They quickly came to his side. The elven woman he was with collapsed in his arms only a second after he appeared and Elladan and Elrohir were quickly at his side. The elf was badly wounded, her entire body seemed to burn, the sons of Elrond had never quite seen anything like it.
"Legolas, what is this?" Elrohir asked.
"Melriadora, of the Isle. I'll explain more soon, my friends. She needs help right away." Legolas said, they had never heard him speak so urgently before. It alarmed them.
"We must take her to our Father immediately." Elladan said, upon a mere glance at her. They led the way, Legolas carried Melriadora as they ran through Rivendell.
Melriadora groaned in pain, her eyes, which were seemed strangely blank to the sons of Elrond, seemed to roll lifelessly in her head. "Legolas." She moaned.
"I'm here Melri." Legolas replied. "We're in the House of Elrond, everything will be fine." He seemed to be pleading with her to hold on.
She seemed to process this, her eyes closing, "Then you are not marrying--?"
Legolas shushed her, "Of course not. I love only you, Melriadora. Please hold on for me."
"Father!" Elladan called out.
Lord Elrond appeared, alert, looking for the cause of such chaos. He only had to glimpse at Melriadora to know why Legolas was there. He wordlessly led them to a bedchamber.
Legolas gently set Melriadora down on the soft bed, she was shivering uncontrollably. Legolas looked at Lord Elrond, who was already ordering elves to bring him medicines and he prepare what he had on hand.
"You must save her, Lord Elrond." He pleaded.
Elrond looked at Legolas and saw all that she meant to him. His heart softened, remembering his own wife who had been grievously wounded herself. He put a reassuring hand on the younger elf's shoulder, "I shall do my best, Legolas." He promised. He then turned to his sons who had come with herbs he had requested. "Take Legolas and see that he rests."
"I'd rather stay with Melriadora, my Lord." Legolas said, his eyes not leaving the shaking woman on the bed that was burning with fever, and speaking deliriously in a strange tongue.
Elrond saw Legoals's resolve and nodded, "Very well. You may stay." He then set to work dressing her wounds. It would take all of Lord Elrond's skills as a healer to have any chance of saving this elven woman, and Elrond hoped for the sake of Legolas Greenleaf, he would succeed.
* * * * * * * * * *
It was weeks before Melriadora's fever broke. Lord Elrond was pleased to tell the exhausted Legolas that Melriadora would recover, and should gain consciousness soon. Legolas had not left her side since they had arrived. It frightened him the way she cried out in her fever, she shouted at things that were not there, and cried out in pain. Her body burned like fire as Lord Elrond tried to save her life by healing her wounds, and breaking her fever. When he finally succeeded, she still did not wake for another week.
Around the seventh day, Legolas grew concerned, when Elrond came to check the dressing of her burns, Legolas stood. "Lord Elrond, does Melriadora show any signs of waking soon?" He asked.
Lord Elrond knew of his concerns and sympathized with the Elven Prince. "She will wake when she is ready, Legolas." He told him, but Elrond had another matter to discuss with Legolas. He thought for a moment about how to break the news. "Legolas, when Melriadora wakes up she will be fine, except for her vision."
Legolas stiffened, he knew what Elrond was hinting at, but his heart did not want to accept it.
"I cannot restore her sight, I am sorry. Her eyes are ruined." Elrond told him, with a sad note in his voice. "But she is alive. That is saying much for her strength."
He put a comforting hand on his shoulder, "Perhaps if you call to her yourself she will come back to you."
Legolas looked up at Lord Elrond gratefully. "Thank you Lord Elrond." He said. "You've been very kind to us."
Lord Elrond gave him a rare smile, and left Legolas alone with Melriadora.
Legolas knelt beside Melriadora's sleeping form. He took her hand and kissed it, "Melri, I don't know if you can hear me, but I want you to know that I'm here, and I love you." He stroked her hair, absentmindedly. "You have to wake up Melri, I need you. Please come back to me. I am begging you, wake up my love." He told her kissing her cheek.
Melriadora's eyes fluttered open for the first time in four weeks. "Legolas?" She whispered. "Legolas are you there?" She called.
Legolas, filled with joy at the sound of her voice, kissed her hand, "I am here, Melri." He smiled down at her. "Welcome back."
Melriadora's sightless eyes darted around in panic. "I can't see! Legolas, where am I?"
"You are in Rivendell, my Lady." Elrond greeted her as he returned to the room. "I am Lord Elrond, and I am very glad to see you awake. How are you feeling?"
Melriadora sat up, "My Lord, you have healed my wounds very well. For that I thank you, but why is it I cannot see?" She asked.
Elrond hesitated, unsure of how to break the news to her. "I could not heal your eyes my Lady, I am sorry." He said softly.
Melriadora registered no emotion, her useless eyes stared blankly at the wall. "You mean I'm blind?" She asked, dully.
Lord Elrond nodded, then realizing she could not see his motion, replied. "Yes, I am truly sorry Lady Melriadora."
Her face then filled with sadness when the news finally hit her. Legolas could not take seeing her look so sad. He turned away and gazed out the window at the river. It was beautiful here. The fact that Melriadora would never see how beautiful it was here pained him. Her bright eyes would never again look into his with a teasing challenge as they had when they were young. It filled him with sorrow knowing that she would never see again. Then he looked at her and realized how selfish he was being. It was she who was suffering. He had no right to feel sorry for himself, it was she who would need help. He had to be strong for her.
She had tears running down her face, Legolas went to hold her, but she jerked away.
"I don't want your sympathy!" She snapped, angrily.
"Melri, please-"
"No!" She shouted.
Legolas stepped back, shocked. He stood watching her every move, waiting, not knowing what to do. He didn't like seeing her like this; it frightened him.
She then sighed, "I'm sorry I shouted. But I need to be alone now."
Elrond nodded, "Very well. Come Legolas." He said firmly.
"If you need me, Melriadora, please call me." He told her.
She smiled sadly, "Thank you." She whispered.
Legolas left after Elrond, as soon as they left the room Legolas turned to Elrond. "I do not like leaving her."
"Legolas, she needs to think. She needs to be alone for a while. Let her have her time." Elrond told the elf Prince calmly.
Legolas shifted, uncomfortably, "But what if she decides to leave, to go West?"
Elrond understood the feeling; his own wife after all had left already. "Then that is her choice. You must except whatever she decides."
* * * * * * * * * * *
A/N- Poor girl :-( Anyway, thank you to all the wonderful reviewers! Hey! It's snowing here! Yay! But I still have to go to class.... boo. Hey, if you guys find a way to cancel all my classes this story will be posted sooner ;-) Hehe! So it's a deal?
Quel- Hehe, wow! I have your loyalty? Will you do my homework then? Just write me a paper on centration in preschoolers! Then a wonderful French business letter, then while you're at it you can take my geology test! Heck, why don't you just go to class for me? Can you do that? Somehow I think it would be against the honor code.... stupid honor code! Always getting in the way! Hehe! Thank you for your kind review though! Your review was the reason I posted again right now instead of tomorrow before the evil evil human growth and development... where I have to watch a video of someone giving birth.... ouch.... that's not going to be a fun class!
Bloomingwood- Yep! Legolas is a sweetie! He's the nicest character I've held hostage so far! And he was very helpful when my roommate and I were building a loft and he picks up after himself, unlike Pippen, who lives in my microwave. He always makes a mess! Legolas is going a bit crazy in here though. You think I should let him out to play in the snow? Hehe! Thanks for the review! I enjoyed it!
Nadako-Mika- Hehe, thanks for the review! I'll update again soon, I promise!
All reviewers- THANK YOU!!! Hehe, I know I've probably left some of you out, I love you all! But I have trouble keeping up with things. I just finished the paper that's due in an hour like five minutes ago!
Hey! I wonder what that little button is?? Oh! It's for reviews! Let's try it out! It will make the writer not so sad after she hikes all the way across campus in the snow and ruins a perfectly good pair of shoes and slides down a hill on her butt only to find out that class is canceled!! Hehe! Do you get the feeling I want you to review?? Do you??
The sons of Elrond had seen many strange things in there day, but never before had then seen two elves come out of completely nowhere in Rivendell. Elladan and Elrohir were cautious approaching the figures at first, but when they saw that it was Legolas their caution was lost. Elladan and Elrohir had ridden with Legolas on the Paths of the Dead and trusted him. They quickly came to his side. The elven woman he was with collapsed in his arms only a second after he appeared and Elladan and Elrohir were quickly at his side. The elf was badly wounded, her entire body seemed to burn, the sons of Elrond had never quite seen anything like it.
"Legolas, what is this?" Elrohir asked.
"Melriadora, of the Isle. I'll explain more soon, my friends. She needs help right away." Legolas said, they had never heard him speak so urgently before. It alarmed them.
"We must take her to our Father immediately." Elladan said, upon a mere glance at her. They led the way, Legolas carried Melriadora as they ran through Rivendell.
Melriadora groaned in pain, her eyes, which were seemed strangely blank to the sons of Elrond, seemed to roll lifelessly in her head. "Legolas." She moaned.
"I'm here Melri." Legolas replied. "We're in the House of Elrond, everything will be fine." He seemed to be pleading with her to hold on.
She seemed to process this, her eyes closing, "Then you are not marrying--?"
Legolas shushed her, "Of course not. I love only you, Melriadora. Please hold on for me."
"Father!" Elladan called out.
Lord Elrond appeared, alert, looking for the cause of such chaos. He only had to glimpse at Melriadora to know why Legolas was there. He wordlessly led them to a bedchamber.
Legolas gently set Melriadora down on the soft bed, she was shivering uncontrollably. Legolas looked at Lord Elrond, who was already ordering elves to bring him medicines and he prepare what he had on hand.
"You must save her, Lord Elrond." He pleaded.
Elrond looked at Legolas and saw all that she meant to him. His heart softened, remembering his own wife who had been grievously wounded herself. He put a reassuring hand on the younger elf's shoulder, "I shall do my best, Legolas." He promised. He then turned to his sons who had come with herbs he had requested. "Take Legolas and see that he rests."
"I'd rather stay with Melriadora, my Lord." Legolas said, his eyes not leaving the shaking woman on the bed that was burning with fever, and speaking deliriously in a strange tongue.
Elrond saw Legoals's resolve and nodded, "Very well. You may stay." He then set to work dressing her wounds. It would take all of Lord Elrond's skills as a healer to have any chance of saving this elven woman, and Elrond hoped for the sake of Legolas Greenleaf, he would succeed.
* * * * * * * * * *
It was weeks before Melriadora's fever broke. Lord Elrond was pleased to tell the exhausted Legolas that Melriadora would recover, and should gain consciousness soon. Legolas had not left her side since they had arrived. It frightened him the way she cried out in her fever, she shouted at things that were not there, and cried out in pain. Her body burned like fire as Lord Elrond tried to save her life by healing her wounds, and breaking her fever. When he finally succeeded, she still did not wake for another week.
Around the seventh day, Legolas grew concerned, when Elrond came to check the dressing of her burns, Legolas stood. "Lord Elrond, does Melriadora show any signs of waking soon?" He asked.
Lord Elrond knew of his concerns and sympathized with the Elven Prince. "She will wake when she is ready, Legolas." He told him, but Elrond had another matter to discuss with Legolas. He thought for a moment about how to break the news. "Legolas, when Melriadora wakes up she will be fine, except for her vision."
Legolas stiffened, he knew what Elrond was hinting at, but his heart did not want to accept it.
"I cannot restore her sight, I am sorry. Her eyes are ruined." Elrond told him, with a sad note in his voice. "But she is alive. That is saying much for her strength."
He put a comforting hand on his shoulder, "Perhaps if you call to her yourself she will come back to you."
Legolas looked up at Lord Elrond gratefully. "Thank you Lord Elrond." He said. "You've been very kind to us."
Lord Elrond gave him a rare smile, and left Legolas alone with Melriadora.
Legolas knelt beside Melriadora's sleeping form. He took her hand and kissed it, "Melri, I don't know if you can hear me, but I want you to know that I'm here, and I love you." He stroked her hair, absentmindedly. "You have to wake up Melri, I need you. Please come back to me. I am begging you, wake up my love." He told her kissing her cheek.
Melriadora's eyes fluttered open for the first time in four weeks. "Legolas?" She whispered. "Legolas are you there?" She called.
Legolas, filled with joy at the sound of her voice, kissed her hand, "I am here, Melri." He smiled down at her. "Welcome back."
Melriadora's sightless eyes darted around in panic. "I can't see! Legolas, where am I?"
"You are in Rivendell, my Lady." Elrond greeted her as he returned to the room. "I am Lord Elrond, and I am very glad to see you awake. How are you feeling?"
Melriadora sat up, "My Lord, you have healed my wounds very well. For that I thank you, but why is it I cannot see?" She asked.
Elrond hesitated, unsure of how to break the news to her. "I could not heal your eyes my Lady, I am sorry." He said softly.
Melriadora registered no emotion, her useless eyes stared blankly at the wall. "You mean I'm blind?" She asked, dully.
Lord Elrond nodded, then realizing she could not see his motion, replied. "Yes, I am truly sorry Lady Melriadora."
Her face then filled with sadness when the news finally hit her. Legolas could not take seeing her look so sad. He turned away and gazed out the window at the river. It was beautiful here. The fact that Melriadora would never see how beautiful it was here pained him. Her bright eyes would never again look into his with a teasing challenge as they had when they were young. It filled him with sorrow knowing that she would never see again. Then he looked at her and realized how selfish he was being. It was she who was suffering. He had no right to feel sorry for himself, it was she who would need help. He had to be strong for her.
She had tears running down her face, Legolas went to hold her, but she jerked away.
"I don't want your sympathy!" She snapped, angrily.
"Melri, please-"
"No!" She shouted.
Legolas stepped back, shocked. He stood watching her every move, waiting, not knowing what to do. He didn't like seeing her like this; it frightened him.
She then sighed, "I'm sorry I shouted. But I need to be alone now."
Elrond nodded, "Very well. Come Legolas." He said firmly.
"If you need me, Melriadora, please call me." He told her.
She smiled sadly, "Thank you." She whispered.
Legolas left after Elrond, as soon as they left the room Legolas turned to Elrond. "I do not like leaving her."
"Legolas, she needs to think. She needs to be alone for a while. Let her have her time." Elrond told the elf Prince calmly.
Legolas shifted, uncomfortably, "But what if she decides to leave, to go West?"
Elrond understood the feeling; his own wife after all had left already. "Then that is her choice. You must except whatever she decides."
* * * * * * * * * * *
A/N- Poor girl :-( Anyway, thank you to all the wonderful reviewers! Hey! It's snowing here! Yay! But I still have to go to class.... boo. Hey, if you guys find a way to cancel all my classes this story will be posted sooner ;-) Hehe! So it's a deal?
Quel- Hehe, wow! I have your loyalty? Will you do my homework then? Just write me a paper on centration in preschoolers! Then a wonderful French business letter, then while you're at it you can take my geology test! Heck, why don't you just go to class for me? Can you do that? Somehow I think it would be against the honor code.... stupid honor code! Always getting in the way! Hehe! Thank you for your kind review though! Your review was the reason I posted again right now instead of tomorrow before the evil evil human growth and development... where I have to watch a video of someone giving birth.... ouch.... that's not going to be a fun class!
Bloomingwood- Yep! Legolas is a sweetie! He's the nicest character I've held hostage so far! And he was very helpful when my roommate and I were building a loft and he picks up after himself, unlike Pippen, who lives in my microwave. He always makes a mess! Legolas is going a bit crazy in here though. You think I should let him out to play in the snow? Hehe! Thanks for the review! I enjoyed it!
Nadako-Mika- Hehe, thanks for the review! I'll update again soon, I promise!
All reviewers- THANK YOU!!! Hehe, I know I've probably left some of you out, I love you all! But I have trouble keeping up with things. I just finished the paper that's due in an hour like five minutes ago!
Hey! I wonder what that little button is?? Oh! It's for reviews! Let's try it out! It will make the writer not so sad after she hikes all the way across campus in the snow and ruins a perfectly good pair of shoes and slides down a hill on her butt only to find out that class is canceled!! Hehe! Do you get the feeling I want you to review?? Do you??