Chapter 19: Injured
The final battle was won, but the work was not over for the army of the West. Many of the enemy forces fled, but a few of the Men organized themselves and mounted a last stand. Gandalf left with some of the Eagles. With some of the others, Seven rode after them, destroying the resistance to a man.
In the last fight with the resistance, Seven took an arrow in her shoulder. Legolas bandaged it for her, but the arrow was poisoned, and by the end of the first day fever set in. Legolas tended her through the night. In the morning, he took one of the other soldiers and, with Gimli riding with the soldier, Legolas carried Seven on his horse. The four of them rode hard to Ithilien where Aragorn waited.
Even with Aragorn's care, it was some time before Seven woke, weak and a little confused. "Where am I?"
Legolas was sitting nearby. He burst into a smile as he looked over her. "So you finally wake. One moment, and I will answer your questions." He got up, stretching as if he'd been sitting there too long, then left the tent, calling to Gimli to take word to the king. He returned and sat beside her. "Everyone has been worried about you. You took fever after that wound in the last battle and we returned to Ithilien, where King Elessar tended to you. I imagine you'll be weak for a few days, but we won't be leaving for a while, in any case. Gandalf, with the Eagles' help, was able to rescue Frodo and Sam on the slopes of Mount Doom, but they are still asleep."
"What is the date?" Seven's voice was rough, and Legolas reached for a waterskin before replying.
"It's the sixth of April." Seven gaped at him. The battle at the Black Gate had been March 25. She had been unconscious for over a week. "Forgive me if I hover over you, but I've been worried. How do you feel?"
"I am not certain. I have never been ill before."
"Never?"
"No—at least not that I can remember. I was very young when I was captured by the Borg, and I have not had any disease since." She had required medical treatment, but not for an actual disease. She didn't bother trying to explain that.
"Well, be careful when you move. You may be weak or dizzy."
Seven tried to push herself up on her elbows, but winced when she tried. Her shoulder was still quite tender. Legolas reached around her shoulders and helped her sit. With anyone else, she would not have accepted the aid, but she allowed it, realizing as she did how weak she had become. With his help, she raised herself to a sitting position on the pallet, grateful for the pants she wore. They were uncommon for women here, but at least they didn't slide up easily. Her shirt had been cut at the shoulder to allow access to the wound, but was held together with a strip of cloth. From the bulkiness, Seven guessed there must be bandages below, as well. Much of the shirt was blood-stained, not just the shoulder.
Aragorn entered a moment later. Seven was amazed at the change in him. He seemed more regal, more powerful. She had seen glimpses of that from time to time, but now it remained constantly, not fleeting as before. "How are you feeling, Lady Seven?"
"I am weak, but functional."
Aragorn chuckled. "Legolas predicted you would say that. Does your shoulder pain you?"
"It is uncomfortable, but not bad enough to be bothersome." She didn't want to complain, but it would be unwise to hold back information from her caretakers. In truth, the pain was rather distracting.
"Somehow, I guess it is worse than you would make it seem." Aragorn smiled. He had seen through her. "Rest as much as you can. Now that the fever has broken, the wound should heal. I must ask you, lady, to allow me to examine the wound, so that I can be certain it is healing properly."
Seven nodded. Legolas slipped out of the tent quietly. Undoubtedly Aragorn had checked the wound before, but the standards of this culture were very modest. She reached to untie the cloth that held her garment in place, but her fingers were clumsy. She dropped her hand, and Aragorn quickly untied it, then removed the bandages and inspected the wound. He probed gently with his fingers, but it was enough to draw a hiss from Seven.
"My apologies, lady."
"It is nothing."
Aragorn shook his head and finished his inspection, then rebandaged her shoulder and helped her retie the cloth that held her shirt in place. He called Legolas back, and after the Elf had entered, Aragorn slipped out. Gimli appeared at the doorway to the tent, clearing his throat to announce his presence.
"Come in, Gimli," Seven called to him. He had just sat down near her pallet when another small figure appeared at the doorway. Seven recognized Merry from their meeting in the Houses of Healing. She beckoned him in and the three of them chatted about their experiences.
After about an hour, Seven began to grow weary. Legolas noticed almost before she did and shooed the other two away. "I will leave you, too, so you can rest. Before I go, is there anything you require?"
Seven shook her head. "I am beginning to feel hungry, but at the moment, I think my need for sleep is greater." She was trying to be honest, but it felt awkward to admit weakness so openly.
Legolas smiled and pulled something out of a pocket. It was a packet wrapped in leaves. He opened it to reveal a flat, bread-like substance. He broke off a small piece and handed it to her. "Lembas. It won't fill your stomach, but it will help you recover."
Seven ate the sweet stuff, then Legolas left her to rest. She awoke sometime during the night. Even if she had known what time it was then, she was unaware of what time of day she had first awoken, so she had no idea how long she had slept. She carefully pushed herself up to a sitting position, relying on her undamaged arm and abdominal muscles to pull herself up. She was still weak, but less light-headed than earlier. She carefully rolled to her knees, then stood slowly.
"You shouldn't be up."
Seven turned too quickly and Q had to catch her. Fortunately, he grabbed her uninjured arm. "It's a shame you had to get hurt so near the end, but you seem to be recovering well. At least, you will, if you take it easy."
"I am not tired, and I do not wish to simply lie in bed all night."
"I don't think you realize just how weak you are, Seven. Take it easy. You know, I'm in shock. I can't believe the little twerps did it." Seven looked at him, puzzled. "Destroyed the Ring. I didn't think they would manage to give it up. It was too much of a temptation. I didn't think anyone could give it up once they'd had it for more than a few minutes, and even that would have been pushing it. That Ring was…it's part of why I was forbidden from directly interfering with events here. You don't need to know the details. They were afraid I'd steal it and use it to cause havoc. They're probably right. It could have even gotten the best of me…" Q trailed off, thoughtful.
Seven might have pushed the issue if she hadn't seen the seriousness in Q's face. Q was truly unnerved by what might have occurred had he seized the Ring. "If you will excuse me…" She wanted to find Legolas. Their nighttime conversations had become one of the high points of her life.
"I'm not sure you're ready to be out alone, Seven. I'm not joking. I don't think you should be up at all." Seven wondered how much of his concern was genuine and how much was simply to keep himself out of trouble. "You know, if I go with you, you could introduce me to your boyfriend." The old Q was back, mocking, superior tone and all.
"I would rather not."
"So you two are an item. I'm glad you admit it. I thought you'd try to hide it from me. You know that doesn't work. You know, I would never have seen this one coming. It's too funny. This is going to be fun to watch." Q chuckled to himself, then straightened as Gandalf approached.
"Is he bothering you, Lady Seven?" Gandalf smiled at her.
"Not yet, but I think it is time for his visit to end."
"OK, OK, I can take a hint. Keep an eye on her for me, Gandalf? She thinks she's still invincible." With that, Q disappeared.
"That is one of the most annoying beings I have ever met, but he does have a point. You shouldn't be up." Gandalf chuckled, glad to be rid of Q.
"So I am told. I an not tired, and I do not wish to remain laying in the dark all night." Gandalf smiled at this, lines crinkling around his eyes.
"No, I suppose not." He offered her an arm. "Would you walk with me?"
Seven nodded and took his arm. She might not admit it, but she was grateful for the support. As they left the tent, Legolas walked over.
"I'm tempted to tell you that you shouldn't be up, but something tells me you've already heard it—and ignored it."
Gandalf nodded to him, then turned his attention back to Seven. "Q may be a pest, but he brings up an important question. Will you stay here, or return to your own world?"
Seven glanced over at Legolas, then answered without hesitation. "I will remain here. I do not want to return."
"I was hoping to hear that," Gandalf said, smiling. "You don't have to sort out your entire future here tonight, but you should start planning. Your slavery stole much of your humanity. I've seen you struggle to regain it. I think you know the repercussions of your presence here and Q's actions. There will be no place in the new age for the deathless ones. Already the Elves are leaving. Soon the Ringbearers will depart, as well. I'm not trying to be gloomy, but you must know what is coming. You will not be turned away should you seek entrance to the Undying Lands. Bear this in mind as you decide your future. Don't overextend yourself while you're still healing." Gandalf patted her lightly on the cheek, then walked away.
Seven didn't know quite what to think about this. Legolas smiled broadly, but didn't say anything about it, letting the implications of Gandalf's words sink in. He knew if he said too much now he'd probably frighten her. The two of them walked for a while, which helped Seven burn off her restless energy. After a bit, Legolas slipped off into the night and Seven returned to her tent to rest, worn out from the activity and head spinning with the implications of everything that had just happened.