Chapter Eight

All eyes turned to the she-elf as she collapsed into Lord Elrond's strong arms. He gently lowered her to the floor and unclasped the cloak that was fastened around her neck. Legolas was immediately at his side, and they lifted her together and removed the cloak. Legolas withdrew his hands from her back and stared at the blood on them. He reached back and felt the broken shaft of the arrow that was jutting out from Fin's left shoulder.

"My lord, she is gravely wounded."

Elrond leaned the lithe creature forward so that her face rested upon his shoulder. Her breath was coming in shallow gasps, and she moaned as he probed the wound.

"An orc arrow."

Her body felt warm to his touch and his concern was over whether or not the arrow had been tainted by some evil orcish poison.

"Elladan, tend to your brother. I must see to Fin's wound. Legolas, Elrohir" he looked the elves in the eyes, "you must help me now."

He picked Fin up, cradling her body against his chest, and carried her to her quarters. He lay her on her stomach on the bed, and cut away the tunic she wore. Only inches of the black arrow was showing, and Elrond knew he would have to cut into her body to remove the head. The edges of the wound were red, and black tendrils crept away from it in all directions. The arrow had indeed been poisoned.

Elrohir left quickly to fetch the herbs, instruments and bandages that his father would require. Legolas filled a basin with water from a pitcher on the night stand and brought it to the bedside. He looked down on his friend, concern etched his face.

"We did not know, she displayed no sign of injury."

"She is strong. We are fortunate she is so strong. We might have lost them both but for her strength."

Legolas nodded in agreement and reached down to brush a stray strand of light brown hair from her face. Her eyes were closed, a sign that she was deeply unconscious.

Elrohir returned in minutes and laid out the things his father needed. He lit a fire on the hearth and began to boil water there in a small kettle.

Elrond heated a small knife in the flames and wiped it clean. He needed to enlarge the gash on Fin's back in order to pull the arrow cleanly out.

"Be prepared to hold her down," he said as he looked at Legolas.

Adeptly, he sliced into the flesh on her back, enlarging the cut that the arrow had created. Even in her unconscious state, Fin tensed up and moaned. Legolas had to hold her down with his hands, one on her right shoulder, the other on the small of her back. Elrond grasped the shaft of the arrow, and eased it back and forth slightly before pulling it out. A loud gasp issued from the wounded elf, and her body jerked upward in pain. Again, Legolas gently held her down.

Elrond cleaned the wound with a cloth dipped in athelas-laced waters that Elrohir had prepared. He hoped the herb would be able to successfully fight off the poison in her system. Blood tinged a blackish red flowed from the wound. As the flow slowed down, Elrond was relieved to see that it had returned to a brighter red shade.

He packed the wound with the full leaf of the athelas plant and lightly bandaged it. It would continue to weep poison for a while and would need to be kept clean.

He knew there was teas he could give her for the fever and pain when she awoke, but for now, he knew she needed to rest. Her elven healing ability would eventually kick in as the poison was purged from her system.

Just then, Tan entered the room. "Estel has awoken, my lord. He asks for Fin, and you."