Chapter Eighteen

It seemed like the darkness had enveloped him his entire life. It was peaceful and quiet. There was nothing here, no sound, no color, no sensation. His thoughts seemed to float along, silently as if on a gentle breeze. He was alone, and this concerned him, for he should not be alone. There should be color, sound, sensation. He knew if he reached out, it would all be there. He also knew if all this returned to him, there would be other feelings as well.

Pain, distress, weakness. The dark was becoming somehow lighter. It was not so much the presence of light, but the absence of the dark. It was receding, awareness was coming back to him.

Warmth was the first thing he felt, he could feel it as if it were housed in his very bones. Next came a weightlessness. A dizzying, floating sensation. Then came the pain.

It began slowly, and at first just edged itself into his being. It built as the darkness fell away. The sensations of it made him aware of his body again. Now it felt heavy. The pain washed over him in waves, nausea filled his mind and gut, cloudiness filled his head.

Sound came back to him, and slowly, he could sense where he was.

".waking.adar.heat." was all he could make out; the sounds seemed to echo in his head.

A shadow passed before his closed eyes, momentarily blocking out the faint light that tried to pry open his eyelids.

"Legolas."

No. He could not do this. It was too much. His body ached with a fury such as he had never felt. Every breath he drew sent waves of agony over his him, blocking out all other sensations. It felt as if iron bands were wrapped around him, squeezing without relenting.

"Mellonnin, it is time to awaken."

He turned his head slightly toward the voice, his head throbbing. He felt compelled by the voice to at least try. His eyelids fluttered, but remained closed.

What is wrong with me? Even as his body failed to heed his commands, he could hear the gentle voice yet again, pleading with him.

"Please, Legolas.open your eyes."

The faint light pored into his brain as he finally was able to open his eyes. It was but a crack, but enough to satisfy the beings that had gathered around him. The vision of them swam and multiplied, then faded. His brow creased in confusion, sending pain lancing through his head.

"I.can't.breath.hurts.," he whispered, his throat dry making his voice rough.

His breath hitched in his aching chest. Pain would not allow him to breath. Panic and frustration set in. He struggled to draw air into his lungs, the pain kept him from satisfying this need. Steel wrapped around his chest, crushing him from the outside. His head shook from side to side, his eyes widened, and the pain took over. His breath came in short gasps. He tried to reach up to grip the being that leaned over him, the pain in his arm screamed at him to stop the movement.

"Where.who.no."

"You are safe, Legolas. You must relax." The face looked away. There was a calmness and familiarity to the voice that he could not quite place or understand.

"Elrohir, the cup, please."

Legolas suddenly felt a hand at the back of head lift him up slightly and a cup was pressed to his lips. His head was lifted slightly higher and he drank. The liquid was warm and bitter. He tried to turn away from it, but the strong hand held him there. At last, satisfied, his head returned to the pillow and the hand disappeared along with the mug.

He looked at the vision before him, multiple images of a dark haired elf swam in front of him, refusing to fuse together.

"Elrond.?" he whispered in a hoarse voice.

"Aye, young one. All will be well, sleep."

Darkness once again enveloped him.

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"He is in extreme pain. The tea should help. He needs to sleep. Only then can he heal."

"Ada, is there nothing more we can do?"

"I am sorry Estel. I know you are concerned. Legolas will heal, but his pain will be intense and he will need time. I think it best if he is sedated for a time, until his body can handle the pain."

"Nay, ada, you know Legolas would never agree to that," Estel softly whispered. He sat on the edge of the bed, gently brushing the strands of blond hair away from Legolas' forehead. He could feel the heat of fever beginning.

Elrond sighed. He did know. The elf would rather face the pain than lie in a drug-induced stupor.

Elrond sighed, "I will concede. You are right. It is against my better judgment, but I do not wish to lose his trust. The tea he just drank will keep him asleep until the morning. I will offer no more. Legolas can decide then what he needs."

"He will need something for his fever, I can feel the warmth on his skin, ada." Although he himself was somewhat feverish, Estel could still sense the unnatural warmth of his friend.

Elrond reached his hand to rest on the prince's forehead. He feared infection in Legolas arm, along with the severity of his injuries would cause the elf to develop a fever.

"Very well, Estel, I wish for you to rest. Elladan, help your brother pull that chair closer to the bed." Elrond knew better than to order the human to his own room. His past experience told him that Estel would find someway to return to Legolas' side. Once the chair was nearer to the bed, Estel lowered his body into it. Fin helped him settle and then covered him. Turning to Elrond, she added, "I know of a tea that will help with the pain, but leave Legolas for the most part clear headed. It also is not bitter tasting as many medicines are."

"Let us go and see if we have the necessary ingredients to prepare this tea. Estel, sleep. Your brothers will come and get me if I am needed here."

Gandalf left the room with Elrond and Fin. He had been impressed by her skills and had remembered that her mother had been a healer in Mirkwood all those years ago. She must come by it naturally, he thought.

Estel nodded at his father before he left and looked at the bed. Legolas lay still, his chest rising and falling as he slept on unaware. His face was pale as was the rest of his body. The bruises fairly glowed with color against the too fair skin. He reached out to place his hand gently over Legolas'. Only then did he close his eyes.