Chapter Nineteen
Sounds floated on the edges of awareness. His body felt warm and he was content to remain in the darkness. He heard voices, but could not make out their meaning. A door opened and closed.
"Estel, are you awake?"
Silver eyes opened slightly, and a soft light met them. It was still dark outside. How far off was morning? He felt as though he had slept quite a while, but if he did, it should be morning. Estel looked into the concerned eyes of his friend, Fin, who was leaning over to face him.
"Aye, I am awake. What is the time?" he replied, his voice thick with sleep.
"It is just past dawn, my friend."
"Dawn? But it is still dark."
"The storm still rages. The sun is rising, but can barely be seen. I have brought you something to eat." She reached up and touched his forehead. It was much cooler, but he still bore a slight fever. "I have something for your fever as well."
"I do not wish to be drugged, Fin. I am weary enough to sleep on my own."
"Nay, not a drug. Just something for your headache and fever. I will offer the same to Legolas when he awakens. Your father helped me prepare it during the night. I know you like to have your wits about you. At least as much as possible for you!" She finished with a grin.
Estel smiled back and accepted the mug she handed to him. It tasted sweet and good, hardly like medicine at all.
"Thank you, mellon nin." Estel looked over at his friend who still lay in deep dreams on the bed beside him. Legolas' head was turned slightly to one side, his bruised and battered face hidden in shadow. Estel reached over and lifted his chin, and winced at the hurt on his friend's face. The bruise seemed to have grown larger, and the stitched gash was raw and swollen.
"He will heal, Estel."
She looked into the worried silver eyes of her friend. She told Estel of Gandalf's arrival and how she had learned to read the maps in Elrond's study. As she talked he allowed her to feed him a small bowl of rich soup. When he was finished, she sat back and handed him a glass of water. He felt much better. The tea she had given him had all but erased his headache, and the soup felt good in his stomach. He looked at Fin, and contemplated for a moment.
"Fin, thank you. You are a good friend. I know it has been difficult for you here, you have had to hide who you are, and learn to become someone new. How do you fare? How is your wound? You look like you are feeling much better."
"I am well, Estel. It has been difficult for me, especially when I first arrived, but your father and brothers have been more than understanding. I truly believe that they want me here now. Not out of some sense of obligation either. I have much to learn, sometimes I feel very inadequate. I do not know the ways of my own people. It was more discerning at first. I am getting used to it, and I have learned so much already, though I know there is still more."
"You will learn, Fin. There is much to know. I do not want you to feel overwhelmed. Take it one day at a time, my friend."
They were silent for a moment, then Fin asked, "Why do you think orcs have come so close to Rivendell? And a troll too? It has your father worried, I can tell."
"Aye, he is worried. There is danger near. I do not know its source. I have heard many rumors. I do not know what to believe. Wiser heads will be needed to solve this."
"Or perhaps many heads put together?"
Estel nodded. Fin rose and cleared away the dishes. "I will return soon. Your father believes Legolas will awaken soon. He wants to be here when that happens."
Fin left the room. Estel sat and thought, looking over at his friend. The only sounds were the howl of the wind outside, and the calming snap of the fire in the hearth. Through the lacey curtain at the window, Estel could barely make out the whipping snow and grey sky.
Soon the door opened and Elrond came in. Estel turned in the direction of his father and smiled.
"Ada. I am glad you are here. Will he be alright? He is so pale and still." He nodded indicating his friend on the bed.
"Aye, nin ion. He will recover. It will just take time."
Elrond approached the bed and placed a hand on Estel's forehead. Noting that his son was much cooler, he turned his attention to the elf in the bed. Legolas was wrapped in fever. His face and skin were too pale and a sheen of sweat graced his fair face and bare chest. Elrond placed his palm against Legolas forehead and closed his eyes. Within seconds, the elf began to stir under the Lord of Rivendell's hand.
A soft moan escaped his lips and his eyes fluttered open. Estel left his chair to kneel at his friend's side. He reached for Legolas hand and gently gripped it. Legolas' breathing became strained as the pain swept through him.
The elf swallowed and tried to breath normally, but the pain around his chest was too intense. He gripped the hand that held his, his knuckles turning white.
"Estel." he gasped out.
"I am here, mellon nin."
"I am so cold, Estel."
"You have a fever. Do you remember what happened?"
Legolas paused and closed his eyes, trying to gather his thoughts. It was difficult to put an intelligent sentence together.
"Aye, there was a troll," Legolas paused, "and you went for another swim in the lake," he finished with a slight smile.
"I am glad you have remembered. You have a very bad head wound. It is a good sign."
Legolas nodded in understanding, regretting it immediately when this slight movement caused intense pain to fill his head. He reached up with his good hand and touched the stitches and felt along the bruise.
"Elfling, I can give you something for the pain, but it will not take it away completely. I would rather give you something much stronger, but it will put you to sleep."
"For how long?" Legolas was not entirely sure he wanted to be drugged, but he had never been in so much pain. What good would it do to remain awake at this point?
"At least a day. I can guarantee you will waken by tomorrow morning. It will give your body a chance to mend, and the pain will be more controllable. It is what I am recommending, but it is your decision."
Legolas looked to his friend, who only nodded in agreement with his father. He could not stand to see his friend in such pain. He knew elves healed faster than humans, and that by tomorrow Legolas would be feeling much better.
"Alright, My Lord. I will take the drug."
Estel helped him raise his head enough so that he could sip the liquid offered by Elrond. It was bitter and thick.
"Water."
Estel then offered him a drink of water, which Legolas barely finished before his eyes closed in sleep.
Just then Elrohir appeared in the doorway, Tan behind him.
Elrond nodded. "We should meet with Gandalf. I would like some answers. Please get your brother, Tan, and Fin, and ask Gandalf to meet us in the study. Estel and I will be along as well."
"How is Legolas, ada?" asked Elrohir from the doorway.
"He is as well as can be expected. He will sleep until tomorrow."
"He let you drug him? He must have been in great pain to allow that."
"Aye, he is. Estel, we have much to discuss. I wish to know what you found out when traveling with the rangers. Do you feel strong enough to come downstairs?"
Estel looked at Legolas. He was determined to find a cause or reason behind the attack on his friend. Trolls did not wander so near to Rivendell. He too hoped Gandalf would be able to help with some answers. Elrohir stepped up to the fire and stoked it to last. Then the man and the elves left Legolas slumbering, as the storm continued to rage outside.
Sounds floated on the edges of awareness. His body felt warm and he was content to remain in the darkness. He heard voices, but could not make out their meaning. A door opened and closed.
"Estel, are you awake?"
Silver eyes opened slightly, and a soft light met them. It was still dark outside. How far off was morning? He felt as though he had slept quite a while, but if he did, it should be morning. Estel looked into the concerned eyes of his friend, Fin, who was leaning over to face him.
"Aye, I am awake. What is the time?" he replied, his voice thick with sleep.
"It is just past dawn, my friend."
"Dawn? But it is still dark."
"The storm still rages. The sun is rising, but can barely be seen. I have brought you something to eat." She reached up and touched his forehead. It was much cooler, but he still bore a slight fever. "I have something for your fever as well."
"I do not wish to be drugged, Fin. I am weary enough to sleep on my own."
"Nay, not a drug. Just something for your headache and fever. I will offer the same to Legolas when he awakens. Your father helped me prepare it during the night. I know you like to have your wits about you. At least as much as possible for you!" She finished with a grin.
Estel smiled back and accepted the mug she handed to him. It tasted sweet and good, hardly like medicine at all.
"Thank you, mellon nin." Estel looked over at his friend who still lay in deep dreams on the bed beside him. Legolas' head was turned slightly to one side, his bruised and battered face hidden in shadow. Estel reached over and lifted his chin, and winced at the hurt on his friend's face. The bruise seemed to have grown larger, and the stitched gash was raw and swollen.
"He will heal, Estel."
She looked into the worried silver eyes of her friend. She told Estel of Gandalf's arrival and how she had learned to read the maps in Elrond's study. As she talked he allowed her to feed him a small bowl of rich soup. When he was finished, she sat back and handed him a glass of water. He felt much better. The tea she had given him had all but erased his headache, and the soup felt good in his stomach. He looked at Fin, and contemplated for a moment.
"Fin, thank you. You are a good friend. I know it has been difficult for you here, you have had to hide who you are, and learn to become someone new. How do you fare? How is your wound? You look like you are feeling much better."
"I am well, Estel. It has been difficult for me, especially when I first arrived, but your father and brothers have been more than understanding. I truly believe that they want me here now. Not out of some sense of obligation either. I have much to learn, sometimes I feel very inadequate. I do not know the ways of my own people. It was more discerning at first. I am getting used to it, and I have learned so much already, though I know there is still more."
"You will learn, Fin. There is much to know. I do not want you to feel overwhelmed. Take it one day at a time, my friend."
They were silent for a moment, then Fin asked, "Why do you think orcs have come so close to Rivendell? And a troll too? It has your father worried, I can tell."
"Aye, he is worried. There is danger near. I do not know its source. I have heard many rumors. I do not know what to believe. Wiser heads will be needed to solve this."
"Or perhaps many heads put together?"
Estel nodded. Fin rose and cleared away the dishes. "I will return soon. Your father believes Legolas will awaken soon. He wants to be here when that happens."
Fin left the room. Estel sat and thought, looking over at his friend. The only sounds were the howl of the wind outside, and the calming snap of the fire in the hearth. Through the lacey curtain at the window, Estel could barely make out the whipping snow and grey sky.
Soon the door opened and Elrond came in. Estel turned in the direction of his father and smiled.
"Ada. I am glad you are here. Will he be alright? He is so pale and still." He nodded indicating his friend on the bed.
"Aye, nin ion. He will recover. It will just take time."
Elrond approached the bed and placed a hand on Estel's forehead. Noting that his son was much cooler, he turned his attention to the elf in the bed. Legolas was wrapped in fever. His face and skin were too pale and a sheen of sweat graced his fair face and bare chest. Elrond placed his palm against Legolas forehead and closed his eyes. Within seconds, the elf began to stir under the Lord of Rivendell's hand.
A soft moan escaped his lips and his eyes fluttered open. Estel left his chair to kneel at his friend's side. He reached for Legolas hand and gently gripped it. Legolas' breathing became strained as the pain swept through him.
The elf swallowed and tried to breath normally, but the pain around his chest was too intense. He gripped the hand that held his, his knuckles turning white.
"Estel." he gasped out.
"I am here, mellon nin."
"I am so cold, Estel."
"You have a fever. Do you remember what happened?"
Legolas paused and closed his eyes, trying to gather his thoughts. It was difficult to put an intelligent sentence together.
"Aye, there was a troll," Legolas paused, "and you went for another swim in the lake," he finished with a slight smile.
"I am glad you have remembered. You have a very bad head wound. It is a good sign."
Legolas nodded in understanding, regretting it immediately when this slight movement caused intense pain to fill his head. He reached up with his good hand and touched the stitches and felt along the bruise.
"Elfling, I can give you something for the pain, but it will not take it away completely. I would rather give you something much stronger, but it will put you to sleep."
"For how long?" Legolas was not entirely sure he wanted to be drugged, but he had never been in so much pain. What good would it do to remain awake at this point?
"At least a day. I can guarantee you will waken by tomorrow morning. It will give your body a chance to mend, and the pain will be more controllable. It is what I am recommending, but it is your decision."
Legolas looked to his friend, who only nodded in agreement with his father. He could not stand to see his friend in such pain. He knew elves healed faster than humans, and that by tomorrow Legolas would be feeling much better.
"Alright, My Lord. I will take the drug."
Estel helped him raise his head enough so that he could sip the liquid offered by Elrond. It was bitter and thick.
"Water."
Estel then offered him a drink of water, which Legolas barely finished before his eyes closed in sleep.
Just then Elrohir appeared in the doorway, Tan behind him.
Elrond nodded. "We should meet with Gandalf. I would like some answers. Please get your brother, Tan, and Fin, and ask Gandalf to meet us in the study. Estel and I will be along as well."
"How is Legolas, ada?" asked Elrohir from the doorway.
"He is as well as can be expected. He will sleep until tomorrow."
"He let you drug him? He must have been in great pain to allow that."
"Aye, he is. Estel, we have much to discuss. I wish to know what you found out when traveling with the rangers. Do you feel strong enough to come downstairs?"
Estel looked at Legolas. He was determined to find a cause or reason behind the attack on his friend. Trolls did not wander so near to Rivendell. He too hoped Gandalf would be able to help with some answers. Elrohir stepped up to the fire and stoked it to last. Then the man and the elves left Legolas slumbering, as the storm continued to rage outside.
