Chapter 9

Celeborn had to hold Arwen tightly as she anxiously awaited the approaching boat. She could see Elrohir at its head, himself waiting impatiently for the boat to reach the beach. The siblings nearly contemplated rushing into the water to reach one another.

"Where is he?" Arwen asked, her voice cracking with nervous emotion. Her eyes flicked to the bow of the ship, still unable to locate her husband. Celeborn remained silent, the fear that gripped him when he noticed Aragorn was no where to be seen, steadily grew as the rescue boats neared the shore.

When Elrohir deemed the boat close enough, he leapt from its dry wood and into the sea, rushing toward his sister.

"Onooro!" {brother}  Arwen was wrapped in his strong arms faster than any man could blink, held tight and safe.

"Onoone! {Sister} You're safe! Valar be praised!" Elrohir enfolded his sister in his arms, breathing a huge sigh of  relief.

Celeborn and Cirdan stared, noticing another emotion hidden beneath the surface of the elf's eyes, something carefully masked.

"We were so worried!" Elrohir quickly led Arwen to the boat, Celeborn following closely behind.  Cirdan remained behind to assist with the injured, taking the next boat that arrived nearly on the heals of the first. He gripped his pack of herbs tightly, thinking with a heavy heart that he would need them later.

"Who is with you?" Celeborn asked, settling himself on one side of Arwen, Elrohir on the other.

"Everyone," Elrohir answered, catching the unspoken question in his grandfather's eyes.

"Estel?" Arwen's eyes lit as she glanced up at her brother with hope-filled eyes.

"Yes. He is with us."

Arwen released a breath of relief and sagged against her brother's chest. "Valar be praised."

Elrohir exchanged a look of concern with Celeborn, his eyes unable to hide from the ancient elf that all was not entirely well.

"Then why was he not on the bow? And why are you here in his place?" Arwen asked quietly. She, too, could feel her brother stiffen and knew instantly that something was wrong. When she arched her neck to look into her brother's eyes, he was unable to completely mask his fear.

"He is injured?" Celeborn finally asked, knowing his granddaughter would not stop questioning until she received an answer.

"Yes."

Arwen's eyes narrowed and her breath hitched, "How badly?"

Elrohir took a deep breath and Arwen closed her eyes, her heart sinking into the pit of her stomach.

"Why don't we wait until we reach the ship, Arwen," Celeborn mercifully spared Elrohir the necessity of responding. "We will be there soon enough."

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When Imrahil went to check on Aragorn, what he found sent his heart plummeting into his stomach.

Elladan was leaning over the King, his mouth pressed tightly to the injured man's, and Imrahil could see that the elf was forcing air into Aragorn's lungs.

"Oh Valar!" Imrahil rushed to Elladan's side.

"He begins breathing and then stops, continuously now."

"What can I do?"

"Pray." Elladan drew a deep breath and pressed his lips to Aragorn's once again.

They could hear a cheer go up as the first boat docked with the ship and Imrahil knew that Arwen had been found.

Elladan, too, surmised the same but he had little time for joy. He glanced at Imrahil, eyes pleading. "Don't let her see this."

Imrahil nodded and rushed out the doors to greet the Queen of the Reunified Kingdom.

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"I want to see Estel," Arwen demanded, sending a scathing glare in the direction of her brother.

"Let's get you settled first and-" Elrohir trailed when he noticed Imrahil coming toward them. In his eyes was a quickly masked look of fear that sent Elrohir into a near fit. Something had happened. Elladan was not here to greet his sister.

When the Lord of Dol Amroth dropped to his knees before Arwen, Elrohir immediately knew there was something wrong.

"Blessed be, M'lady!" Imrahil took her hands and squeezed them between his own. "You're safe!"

"Quite, thank you." Her tone changed to that of a royal queen who demanded to be obeyed. "Now I would like to see my husband if you will kindly escort me."

"I will escort you to your chambers right away. You look as if you need your rest-"

"That is not what I asked." Arwen's voice turned cold, her eyes icy. "Where is my husband?"

"He is ill, M'lady. Elladan is tending to him. He asked- not to be disturbed."

Elrohir moved toward the King's cabin while she argued with Imrahil. Celeborn moved to stand in Arwen's line of sight so that his grandson could leave to tend whatever business had him on edge. If it was as he suspected, he, himself would be needed as soon as Arwen was placed comfortably in a secure chamber – away from her husband.

Elrohir winced at her tone, envying not the scathing tongue lashing Imrahil was about to receive from his sister. Once out of her view, he rushed around the corner and down to the lower desks as fast as he could.

The terror in the eyes of his brother greeted him like a blow to the chest, stealing his breath. "I need help, Elrohir. Please tell me Lord Celeborn and Cirdan have been found with Arwen?"

"Yes." The brother crept closer. "Valar, what has happened?"

"I need them." Elladan worked frantically, pressing on Aragorn's chest as hard as he dare. "Now!"

Elrohir jumped and immediately rushed out the door. Gratefully, Arwen had been removed, none so quietly as her voice could still be heard, from the upper decks and when Elrohir threw open the door and rushed out onto the deck, everyone bore witness to the terror in his eyes.

Cirdan, who had just arrived with the last of the survivors, turned and immediately followed Elrohir, with the twin asking for Imrahil to fetch his grandfather from Arwen's chambers.

By the time Celeborn and Imrahil arrived in Aragorn's chamber, the stench of death filled the room, nearly causing the elf to sink to his knees in despair.

Celeborn rushed to Elladan's side and extended a steady hand toward his grandson. "Tell me what you need. It will be done."

Elladan's head snapped toward the Prince and he recited a list of items that he would need. Imrahil took note of them and rushed out the door.

Celeborn took a deep breath as he heard Aragorn's unsteady and gurgled breathing. "Punctured lung." It was not a question. "Valar." The elf muttered beneath his breath.

Aragorn groaned Arwen's name once again and Celeborn leaned over the man who had stolen his granddaughter's heart. "She is well. Resting and taking care of your babe." He flattened a hand on the man's brow and cringed at the heat radiating from Aragorn's skin. "It is going to take all your will, all your strength to pull through this, Aragorn. But you must, "Celeborn leaned closer, his lips nearly touching the injured man's ear. "You must live for Arwen and for your son." The determination in the elves eyes heartened the twins as they continued to prepare the items that would be needed to save their brother's life. When Celeborn stood and began to prepare himself, he whispered, "Let the light of Valinor shine on him once more. Please."

The twins echoed Celeborn's prayer as Imrahil walked in, several guards carrying additional requested items.

"It's crude, but…"

"It will do." Celeborn interrupted. "Please make sure Arwen is kept far away. She should not see what we are about to do."

Imrahil nodded and watched as Celeborn shoved an edged metal rod into burning coals and the twins prepped the other instruments. "What are you going to do?"

"We must drain the blood from his lungs." Celeborn began. "He will suffocate in the blood if it is not removed. That is why he continues to stop breathing." Celeborn continued with his preparations. "Once that is done, we will have to seal the puncture."

Imrahil glanced at the metal stave that would be used to cauterize flesh and winced. Elrohir crushed some herbs and forced them down Aragorn's throat in an effort to numb the pain that was to come.

"We must begin." Celeborn instructed the twins and Cirdan stepped up to lend his assistance.

Imrahil's eyes narrowed as Aragorn continued to toss in the bed. "Will you not sedate him?"

"We cannot." Cirdan answered as Celeborn examined Aragorn closely and prepared to insert the sharpened metal tube. "We have dulled his senses as much as we dare. He needs to be kept alert. If he falls into sleep, or unconsciousness, he may not wake."

Imrahil nodded, eyes wary.

"We will call for you when we have finished. Please see to it that Arwen comes no where near these chambers."

Imrahil nodded and walked slowly out the door, turbulent emotions threatening to bubble into violent anger. The guards at the top of the steps glanced quickly down at the Prince, easily reading the emotions plainly written across his face. As Imrahil ascended the steps to the upper deck, his insides twisted. The blood-curdling scream that echoed down the hallway startled the guards and they glanced quickly at the Prince, who simply shook his head.

"He is in the hands of his kin now." Imrahil whispered as sunlight beat down on his head. "If anyone in Middle-Earth can save him now, it is they."