Human adopting an elf? Not realistic at all, I know. But did any of you guys see this documentary about a dog adopting small kitties, or a monkey adopting a puppy? It's kind of cute, don't you think? Now I sound like the ever-crazy Steve Irwin! (Ooo, I love that guy! He's superb!)
Anyway, thanks for the wonderful reviews (like usual, I luv it!) and read on…
"Here we are. Get in, Tiger." Keldarion pushed open the door to let the animal enter Legolas's chamber. The great white tiger reluctantly stalked in, growling deeply in his throat.
"I know, Tiger. You want to go looking for Legolas too." Keldarion crouched down, rubbing Tiger behind its ears. "But the situation out there is bad for you. The human would mistake you for the other beast, and that would only get you kill."
Straightening up, the prince added, "Stay here. I'll ask some food to be brought to you. I'll go find your master and bring him back. I promise."
Tiger looked up at Keldarion with doleful eyes. That look weakened the prince somewhat. He almost relented in letting the tiger come along with their search party. But he knew that it would only jeopardize its safety. So before he totally lost control over his own resolve, Keldarion hurriedly walked out of the room, shutting the door firmly.
Keldarion and half of the search party had returned to the palace an hour ago. Knowing that they were nearing the territory of men, which would become a great risk to Tiger, Keldarion had decided to send the beast home. But Tiger would not go with the other guards, being very stubborn to come along with the troop of elves. Keldarion had no other choice but to lead the animal home himself; for beside Legolas's, Tiger would only listened to his words.
As soon as they arrived, the king had demanded an answer. Shaking his head regretfully, Keldarion had replied, "No, father. No sign of him yet. We also believe that Legolas had fallen into the river."
Thranduil had become even more distress. "Fallen into the river?"
Keldarion quickly assured his father that they would continue the search as soon as they'd refilled their rations and gotten fresh mounts. They didn't know how long the search operation would take, so they had to be fully prepared.
Without even taking a brief rest for his tired self, the crown prince set out to the woods once again with the search party, galloping fast on their horses.
*************
"How does he fare?"
Gertha looked up as her husband entered the sleeping chamber. "No better. He's still unconscious, but he has stop shivering."
Hasmon nodded. The hot bricks they had put around the elf atop the layers of blanket could have done the work, warming him up. The man stared in silence as his wife gently washed the grime and dirt from the creature's long hair. The elf's face was already scrubbed clean; revealing his fine alabaster skin.
They had already peeled the soaked and muddied clothes off the elf's body. When they caught sight of a shining stone attached to a thin chain around the elf's neck, the husband and wife were left speechless. "What kind of jewel is this? It's shape like a pearl, but pearl would not glow as bright as this."
"Nor it is a diamond. I believe it's something very sacred to him," Hasmon had said. Then they'd proceeded to sponge the mud and grime from the still form before covering him with many layers of warm blankets. The morning was still too chill for comfort, especially to this poor being that had spent the whole night in the freezing water.
Finishing with her wash, Gertha stood up and gathered the basins and rags. "I'll start the cooking. He needs to eat something when he wakes up." Bending low, she kissed the elf's forehead. "You better wake up, do you hear?"
Hasmon got hold of his wife's hand when she passed by. "Gertha."
She looked at him questioningly. "Yes, love?" Hasmon sighed, a little torn to speak his mind but his wife must be reminded of something very important. "He doesn't belong to us."
Gertha inclined her head, staring back at her husband with narrowed eyes. "What is that suppose to mean?"
Hasmon sighed heavier. "I saw the way you look at him."
"What way?"
"Like he is your own child."
"Why? Is that so wrong?" Gertha looked slightly hurt. She lowered down her head, biting her lips to stop herself from crying. Hasmon gathered her wife into his arms, rubbing her back in comfort. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, love. But I can't let you get too attached to him. I'm afraid that you'll get hurt even greater when it's time for him to leave."
Gertha pushed away and stared at her husband with teary eyes. "I hope he'll never leave! He's the nearest to a son that I've ever got!" She then burst into tears.
Hasmon hugged her tighter. He understood his wife's feeling. She was barren; she never conceived in all the twenty years of their marriage. Their life had been so empty without a child. But she needed to see that the elf would never be theirs; not in a million lifetimes. "Don't be like this, Gertha," he coaxed. "You know he can't stay with us forever. He's of elf kind, we're humans. Sooner or later as he is able to, he will return to his people."
Gertha cried even harder, burrowing her head deeper into her husband's chest.
"And just think of what his family is going through right now. They must be worried like crazy for him," added Hasmon. Gertha stopped crying then and looked up to her husband, before turning to the still unconscious figure lying on the bed. The elf's breathing was shallow, but he still clung to life.
"I understand, Hasmon." Wiping the tears off her face, she forced a brilliant smile. "You must be hungry. I'll go cook the fish…and prepared some soup for him."
"Go. I'll sit with him." He kissed her cheek before she left for the kitchen. Taking the stool that her wife had abandoned, Hasmon sat down and watched over their sleeping patient, hoping for the elf to wake up soon.
************
The man stared at the dead body of his younger brother in fury. "An elf did this?" He glared at the men that had brought the body home. "And you didn't kill him back?"
One of them spoke, "The elf is too fast on his feet and very skilful with his weapon."
"But you are many! And he's alone, you said!"
"We didn't dare, Bregus. We were in the elf's territory, actually trespassing. Killing him would only make matters worse. Furthermore, he is not a simple elf. He moves like a warrior!"
Bregus growled in anger, smashing his fist on a nearby table. "We already have the problem with the tiger, and now I have a score to settle with an elf! Damn it all!!"
He turned to glare at his men. As the chief of the village, he had the power to order them about, bidding them all at his will. "Keep searching for the beast. Kill it, catch it, do whatever you have to do." He smiled grimly. "And if you come across the elf, I want you to bring him to me. I'll kill him with my own bare hands!"
TBC….
