Hi again. This is quite a long chapter now to make up for my previous short ones. I apologise to any of you who do not like Mary-sues. This is not a Mary-sue though it may appear to be so for this chapter only. Please do not give up reading. It is nearing an end now and I am quite sad. I have enjoyed writing this story. Anyway, here is the next chapter:
Feelings revealed
Legolas could feel the darkness around him lifting. His head was no longer swirling and he could breathe easily. He could also here Novavar's voice and could just make out what she was saying. Her words were soothing and he relaxed when he felt her soft hand touch his cheek. He knew that his friends were there for him and they wouldn't leave him now. He relaxed against Novavar's hand and went back to sleep.
*~*~*~*~*
Novavar sat with Legolas' head resting on her hand. He had once again gone back to sleep but she was glad that he could sleep peacefully and she knew that by sleeping he would build up his strength. She didn't want to move. His face was soft against her hand and his hair brushed against her wrist. She was uncomfortable the way she was sat and had to move although she hated doing so. She had told Aragorn to go and get some rest after his long journey and she herself curled up on a chair and went to sleep. They all slept peacefully and for a long time. It had been a while since any of them had slept uninterrupted.
It was almost suppertime before any of them woke again. Novavar was wakened as Aragorn came back into the room. He apologised for waking her but she was glad he had, as she didn't want to be asleep when Legolas woke up again. It wasn't long before he did.
Legolas' eyes fluttered as he woke up. He attempted to open them but the light was too bright. He closed them again and licked his lips. They were very dry. Aragorn sat on one side of him and Novavar on the other. Legolas eventually managed to summon the strength to speak.
"Aragorn? Novavar?" His voice was dry and cracked.
"We are here." Aragorn said, glad that Legolas was finally awake. "You have had us very worried for quite some time"
"I am sorry." Legolas was tired but he didn't want to go back to sleep again. He had had enough sleep and wanted to talk with his friends. "What happened?"
It was typical of Legolas to want to know everything as soon as he was able to ask. Novavar began to tell him everything.
"The arrow was very close to our heart and could have killed you instantly." She didn't want to think about what could have happened and didn't want to worry Legolas but she knew that Legolas would want to know every last detail. "It wasn't the arrow itself though that hurt you; it was the poison of the arrow. It took us a while to work out what the poison was and Aragorn had to ride to visit the old man on the borders of Rivendell to find it but we managed in the end and we got a cure. It's thanks to Aragorn that you are ok."
"And its thank to Novavar that we even thought of the old man." Aragorn replied, not wanting all the praise.
"I thank you both." Legolas said. "What was the poison?"
"It is called ThaƩd, in Elvish or Worra-Natas in Orc language. A very dangerous poison. The cure for it is small dry leaves called Sevael. There are to be drank and placed on the wound."
Legolas thought about this but he had never heard of this poison before and couldn't believe that a simple Orcish poison had, and still was, causing him a lot of pain. He relaxed back into the pillow glad that it was over and that he could just concentrate on getting better now. The pain would hopefully ease within a few days.
"How are you feeling?" Aragorn asked.
"It hurts. It hurts so much inside but not as much as it did. My body feels very heavy and I am so tired."
"Don't worry." Novavar reassured him. "You have been through a lot and are bound to be tired. The pain will ease in a few days. Try and get some sleep."
Legolas didn't want to sleep but he couldn't keep awake any longer. "Thank you." He repeated, as he went back to sleep.
Novavar and Aragorn felt very happy and relieved. Legolas was awake and he had spoken to them. He was getting better. They covered Legolas with some blankets and made sure he was comfy then they left for something to eat.
*~*~*~*~*
The next few days went by very slowly. Legolas was tired all of the time and he slept for most of the day and most of the night. Nobody bothered him though. They were all just happy that he was getting better.
Legolas was never alone. He always had either Aragorn or Novavar sat with him and he was grateful for this, as when he woke, it was good to have company and not be alone as he had been for so long in the darkness.
Legolas had woken one morning to find Novavar sat next to him on the bed. He smiled at her and this made her feel loved. Even when he was tired and lying in bed he had a heart warming smile that she loved to see. Novavar was just telling Legolas what had been happening that he had missed, when Elrond came into the room.
"I'm sorry Legolas," He said, "but I have to give you one more dose of Sevael. The cure for the poison was one cup of them to drink, which luckily you were able to drink without really tasting them, and to rub some on the wound. I then have to repeat his a few days later which is now."
Elrond had prepared the last of the Sevael in a small dish. He came in to rub it onto Legolas' wound. Novavar shifted to the other side of the bed so as to give Elrond room enough to sit down. He lifted Legolas top and examined the wound close to his heart.
"You were very lucky Legolas." He said as he saw that it was only a few finger lengths away from his heart.
Elrond took the Sevael from the dish and rubbed it over the wound. Legolas cringed. He stifled a cry and gripped Novavar's hand tight.
"I'm sorry Legolas." Elrond apologised. "But it had to be done. That's it now." He left the room glad that he had done what had needed to be done and now it was up to Legolas to build his strength up.
Legolas relaxed again on the bed. His grip on Novavar's hand also relaxed, though he didn't let go. Novavar was gazing at her and Legolas' hands locked together. She decided she would have to talk to him now.
Legolas saw Novavar looking at their hands and wondered what was bothering her.
"Are you feeling all right?" Legolas asked, his voice full of concern.
"Yes." Novavar replied. "Yes I'm fine. Actually, I feel better now than I have done in a long time." Legolas gave her a puzzled look but didn't speak, as he knew that she was about to tell him something and it had been playing on her mind for quite a while.
"Legolas, we have been friends for a long time. I love you with all my heart as a friend, you know that, but I think that my love goes beyond friendship." Legolas opened his mouth to speak but then closed it again. "I know that must have come as a shock but I have felt like this for a long time and when you were...you know...ill, I couldn't stand the thought of you leaving me and never knowing how I felt. I had to tell you. I love you so much but I understand that you will probably feel disgusted and will not feel the same way in the slightest but I couldn't hide it any longer. I just hope that it will not ruin our friendship."
Novavar stopped. She felt relieved that she had finally told Legolas but also felt uneasy at the silence there was now between them. She closed her eyes as she waited for Legolas to speak. At last Legolas spoke.
"I had no idea that you felt like that Novavar." Legolas had an understanding yet puzzled look on his face. "Why did you not tell me earlier?"
"I thought that it would ruin out friendship." Novavar looked deep into his eyes but then looked away at her and Legolas' hands, which were still gripped tightly together.
"Don't feel embarrassed Novavar." Legolas looked into her eyes. "It will not ruin our friendship, nothing ever could. I don't really know what to say Novavar. You have surprised me. I never guessed that you felt like this at all and I wish you had told me earlier. I love you too Novavar but I don't think that that love goes beyond friendship. I am sorry."
"I understand." Novavar tried to be brave. "I did not expect you too. I had to tell you though and am glad I did." She couldn't hold in the tears any longer. "I'm sorry Legolas, I have to go. I have something to do in my room." With tears running down her face she ran from the room.
"Novavar?" Legolas called after her. Trying to sit up hurt his chest and he was forced to lie back down again. As soon as Novavar left, Aragorn arrived.
"Are you ok?" Aragorn asked concerned. "Is Novavar ok?"
"I don't know." Legolas replied. "I feel dreadful."
Legolas told Aragorn everything about the conversation he and Novavar had just had. Aragorn sat patiently listening to Legolas. He had already guessed what the conversation was about but he listened as he felt that it would be better for Legolas if told someone.
"What should I do Aragorn?" Legolas asked, coming to the end of his account.
"I don't think there is anything you can do Legolas." Aragorn tried to comfort him. "Leave Novavar for a while. She will come around. You can go back to being friends when she has had some time alone. Would you like me to talk to her?"
"If you think that will help then I will be very grateful." Legolas smiled slightly.
Aragorn stood up and walked from the room. He wasn't quite sure what to say to Novavar when he arrived at her room but he had told Legolas he would talk to her.
He knocked lightly on the doors. There was no answer so he knocked again. This time he heard a murmur of "Please go away" from within. He pushed the doors open slightly.
"Novavar, please may I come in?" Aragorn asked softly.
"I want to be alone." Came the reply.
"I know you do but I promised Legolas I would talk to you and that is what I am here to do." Aragorn slowly opened the doors and walked in. Novavar was lying on the bed; her long blonde hair was scattered around her head. She was sobbing into the pillows. Aragorn sat next to her on the bed and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I know that you must be upset..."
"I am not upset because he didn't feel the same way." Novavar interrupted. "I didn't expect him to; it's just that I made a fool of myself. He probably thinks I am immature and childish now. We are never going to be friends as we were before again."
"Yes you are." Aragorn tried to comfort her. "Legolas doesn't think of you like that at all. He is concerned about how you feel and I admit that it may be a little uncomfortable for the both of you but there is no reason why you can't be friends again."
"Yes there is. I made a fool of myself." Novavar sat up to look at Aragorn. "I love him with all my heart, as a friend as well as something more. I didn't expect him to feel the same but I just feel so silly."
Aragorn didn't really know what to say. He had seen how much Novavar loved Legolas and had known this for quite some time but he had also known that Legolas probably didn't feel any more love for Novavar than the love of a friend.
Before Aragorn had chance to comfort Novavar the door burst open behind them. It was Rinserke, an elderly female elf that was a close friend of Lord Elrond's. She had a look of concern on her face.
"Aragorn, Novavar?" Rinserke spoke politely, "I am afraid Lord Elrond wants you immediately. He is in Legolas' room."
"Is everything ok?" Novavar's voice was full of concern.
"I do not know I am afraid. I was just sent to give you the message." With that she hurried off down the corridor.
Ok, bit of a cliffy there, I'm sorry. Please let me know what you thought of this chapter though. I love to hear what you al think and thank you so much for the reviews you have left me so far. I was blown away by the amount of you that said you have enjoyed this story. Thank you so much.
LegyLuva
PS. The next chapter will be up on Friday.
