Ships in the Sky Chapter Eight- Many Tongues

Phlox left Legolas with a firm instruction to sleep, and returned to his work table. The idea of using herbs to treat sickness was by no means new, but it wasn't something he was knowledgeable about and he was desperate to learn more. He was soon immersed in his studies.

'Doc have you checked you patients recently?' it was Archer taking his morning walk around the ship. Phlox had worked the night away he realised with a start. He hadn't checked on his patient, leaping to his feet he all but ran into the ward to be greeted by a sight to chill the heart of any healer. His patient was laying sprawled across the bed, one arm hanging over the side, his open eyes gazed into nothingness.

'I don't understand,' wailed Phlox, 'The alarms should had sounded.'

Archer stepped in, he couldn't let Phlox suffer.

'Easy Phlox, take a proper look at your patient.'

Phlox drew a deep breath and approached the bed, he could immediately that Legolas was breathing. The sheen of fever had gone from his face and the skin tone of his exposed torso was a healthy tan rather than the wan pallor it had been earlier. He reached out a trembling hand and touched the exposed skin. Legolas' eyes blinked and instantly focused.

He smiled at the Doctor, 'Quel amrun Healer.'

'You're eyes were open, I thought you'd died.'

Legolas smile grew broader, 'Elf folk always sleep with their eyes open, so we can see the stars.'

Now it was Archers turn to be surprised, 'He's speaking English like a native. Don't tell me you taught him that as well?'

'No' replied Phlox, 'He woke up able to speak it. Must be something to do with the mind weld with T'Pol, some sort of overlap. She seems to know a lot about him.'

'And he picked up English,' finished Archer laughing.

Their discussion was interrupted by a single bark from the floor. Archer still laughing bent and picked up Prothos, his beagle dog which was now the ships unofficial mascot.

'I'm sorry Prothos, are we ignoring you. Legolas, please let me introduce you to the most spoilt dog in the universe.'

'Vedui, Prothos,' Legolas replied, touching his right hand to his chest, smiling.

'And I'm the Captain of this rag tag bunch, Jonathan Archer,' He held out his hand in greeting.

'Mae govannen, Jonathan Archer.' Again the touch to the chest, and this time an inclined head.

Archer returned the gesture, 'What language is that?' he asked, 'Hoshi, that's our linguistic expert, couldn't get a soundtex fix on it.'

'My birth language is Sindarin, the lower language of the first born.'

'Hoshi said it sounded like you were using several other languages as well.'

Yes, that is possible. I also speak Westron, the Common Tongue, Cirth which mainly the dwarf folk speak, Tenguine, Quenya, and some of the black tongue which the orcs use.'

'No wonder she couldn't get a fix through that lot,' Archer commented.

'Enough,' injected Phlox, ' Let me check my patient.' He pushed Archer back, but not before giving Prothos' ear a friendly scratch, he had grown fond of this quadpedrial creature that followed the Captain.

'How are you feeling?' he asked taking Legolas' pulse and peering into his eyes.

Legolas considered the question, 'My arm is stiff, I'm thirsty.' This was the answer that Phlox at expected. Maybe he was spending too much time among humans.

'Right, I'd best check your arm then.' He soon had the bandages removed, and peeling back the night shade leaves from the wound gasped in surprise. Where only a few hours ago there had been an ugly pus filled wound there was now new pink scar tissue forming, the infection was gone, the wound was healing.

'That plant stuff is pretty good by the look of it,' said Archer.

'I've never seen anything like this, yesterday I was considering amputation the infection was so bad.'

Legolas gently moved his arm, bending and twisting it.

'It's a little stiff, a few more days and it will be hale.'

'A few more days, at the speed that's healing it'll be alright by tomorrow. Let me see you ribs.' Phlox then proceeded to prod and poke the Elf's ribs and only managed to raise a slight wince from his patient.

'Do your people always heal this quickly?'

'Of course.'

'Do you feel well enough to try standing?' Phlox held out his hand to steady the Elf, but Legolas ignored the offered and hand and virtually jumped from the bed, letting the sheet slip to the ground.

'I feel fine.' he stated.

'You look pretty good as well,' said a female voice. They all turned towards to the voice if was Hoshi.

'I came down to see it I could help, but I can see you don't need any.'

Phlox realised that Legolas was standing in the middle of sick being naked, with a very young member of crew passing a more than admiring eye over his slim body.

He hastily scooped up the fallen sheet and wrapped it around the Elf, who did not seemed perturbed by his nudity.

Archer coughed, 'Eh, Legolas is this Hoshi, Hoshi, this is Legolas.' Hoshi smiled her most brilliant smile, she had liked what she'd seen of this stranger.

'Hi Legolas,' then her smile broke into a laugh, 'I think you'd best take that sheet off Phlox, before he does himself, or more importantly you a mischief.'

Legolas returned her smile, and taking the sheet from Phlox quickly fashioned a toga.

'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you,' he replied.

'It's okay, it not you, it's Phlox, his people have a very strong body taboo,'

'Which is very strange for a man with three wives and two husbands,' finished Archer.

'It's not me you should worry about, it's Hoshi,' Phlox insisted.

Hoshi, grinning, replied, 'Oh I didn't mind one little bit.'

'I think we should all leave and give Phlox time to check out his patient properly. If he's up to it Doc, please join me for dinner in my Mess at 1800.' said Archer.

'Thank you Captain,' replied Phlox, 'It will be a pleasure.'

Quel amrun - Good morning

Vedui – Greetings (Sort of Hello)

Mae govannen – Well met (Very formal greeting)