Author's Notes:
Okay everyone…*shrinks away from authors* Calm down…I'm truly sorry I left you at a cliffhanger BUT it was around 1:00 and I was tired AND I have to go to church early in the morning. Short chapter again and angst-ridden… School again tomorrow. I have a semi-final debate! I finally finished my assignment! Yay! Review and wish me luck!
Rath: You couldn't be bothered to log on but you bothered to review? How sweet. Thanks.
Fishgirl: No, Legolas has NEVER been out of the palace. He has heard of Lord Elrond but he does not know what he looks like and he has NEVER met him before.
IrishQT: More torture, angst and doubts ahead…read on…
Elrond to the rescue! …Legolas' thoughts are in italics.
Elrond was first to reach Herendil. His sons' were holding his emergency med pack. The twins looked disgusted, even as healers themselves, as they saw the amount of blood lost and the horrific sight of the knife protruding from Herendil's stomach. Elrond wasted no time and breath. Time was of the essence, he knew.
"Elladan, Elrohir. Hold him down," Elrond ordered, his healing instincts taking over.
"This will hurt, nin mellon [my friend]" Elrond said softly before curling his fingers firmly around the handle of the knife.
Herendil cried out in pain, an aberrant scream of agony. He twisted, his limbs contorting but was held in place by the sons of Elrond. Herendil succumbed to unconsciousness as his vision blurred, blinding him.
Elrond thanked the Valar. He did not want any elf, even a stranger, to suffer pain. He took out a compression bandage and pressed it onto the stomach wound to staunch the blood flow.
"He is still losing a lot of blood. Glorfindel, keep the pressure on the wound. It will need to stop bleeding before we travel back to Imladris. I need to check on the young one."
The warriors had tended to Legolas, they had cleaned some of his cuts with the water from their flasks. They had wiped the grime, sweat and blood from his face. Elrond could see that the stranger resembled someone that he knew, but he couldn't place his finger on it.
"Where does it hurt, young one?" Legolas looked at him distrustfully and flinched away and Elrond tried to assess his injuries. Legolas pulled his tunic down, to hide the bruises and cuts.
"I won't hurt you." The Elven Lord said. He softened his tone and composure. Elrond realised that Legolas may be intimidated by his behaviour, he was often very authoritative when he was healing someone. He knelt down on the ground with Legolas so that they were the same height.
But you hurt him. Legolas looked over at Herendil. He could see the blood soaking through the cloth.
"I had to take the knife out of his stomach, so he could get better." Elrond explained patiently, he could see that Legolas was not convinced. Elrond's keen gaze flickered over to Herendil, he could see that the bleeding was slowing, but they couldn't risk moving him yet. He looked at Legolas, who was silent.
Legolas was trying to control the pain in him – both physical and emotional. Herendil. He couldn't stop staring at him. He had been hurt because of me. He might die. Like Ruthiun did.
Elrond could see the conflicting emotions on the elfling's face. "He will recover. You must hold onto hope." He was not sure of the older elf's condition but he sensed that Legolas needed to be comforted.
Legolas avoided Elrond's compassionate gaze, he looked away.
"Ada, the bleeding has stopped. We will rest before we go to Imladris, we don't want to move him too much. It might make the wound worse." Elladan's tone was grave. What he meant was that Herendil could die, but he didn't want to say it out loud. The young elfling seemed to be distressed enough.
"The orcs will be back. We have to make it before nightfall." Elrond looked solemn. "Glorfindel, prepare the horses. Guards, bring the dead body with us. We need to give it a proper burial."
After waiting for some while, it was decided that Herendil would ride on Elrohir's horse. Elladan and Elrohir would share a horse, reminding them of old times – good times. They had complete faith in Elrohir's mare, they knew that she would not let him fall.
"Be a good girl." Elrohir whispered softly to the horse in Elvish. The mare snorted indignantly. "I have faith in you." She nickered softly as Herendil was lifted up on her back.
Elladan rode over and let his twin mount. Legolas' eyes widened as he saw the twin brother. It must be fun to be twins. I've never had any brothers or sisters, Legolas mused. Elrond walked his horse up to Legolas, intending the elfling to ride with him. The Elven Lord beckoned to Legolas, carefully to keep his poise relaxed as not to startle the doubting elf.
Legolas mistook his approach. I am too tired to run but I won't let him know that I am. I don't want to be weak. Legolas wearily handed the other end of his rope to Elrond, his hands were still bound although the ropes had loosened.
Elrond was confused and angered. How could anyone tie an elfling up? He thought. It was only then he noticed the ragged tunic that the young elf wore. Almost like a slave, he observed, but the guard and the other elf wore clothes from…Mirkwood? Quickly he unsheathed his knife to cut the bonds.
Legolas whimpered but didn't dare flinch so openly again. I might offend him, he looks like an important person. He only bowed his head.
"I'm not-" Elrond almost retched at the thought of what Legolas thought he was going to do. "-going to hurt you." Elrond choked on his words then he quickly cut the rope.
Legolas was surprised. What? His eyes had an inquiring gaze.
"You will ride with me young one." Elrond offered his hand so he could pull Legolas up on the horse. Legolas reached out hesitantly, but did not want to hold things up.
When all of the company was ready, they set off to Rivendell. I am exhausted. Unknowingly he leant back on Elrond, who tightened his arms protectively around him. Resignedly, Legolas fell asleep.
It was nightfall by the time they arrived at the hidden valley of Imladris. Legolas was too tired and Elrond did not want to wake him. He didn't look like he had a lot of rest, Elrond thought. Legolas and Herendil were placed in separate but adjacent rooms in the Healing House.
Elrond stripped the bloody clothes off Herendil, leaving a white sheet to cover his nakedness. He deftly cleaned the wound with antiseptic and stitched it up cleanly. As he covered Herendil up, he noticed the faded scars on Herendil's back. Dismissing the discovery for the time being, he went to Legolas' room.
The Elven Lord contemplated tended to Legolas' injuries while he was asleep but he wanted the young elfling to trust him. He also respected his privacy and a quick visual scan showed that there were no life-threatening injuries. As he covered Legolas up he saw the discoloured bruises on the prince's neck. Elrond was angry, he sent a healer to check on his two patients as he went to his study to calm himself down.
Glorfindel was already there. "My Lord, you look like you will explode. What troubles you?"
"I was tending to the patients and I found old scars on the elder one's back. It looked like he had been whipped when he was younger but I don't understand it. Who would do such a thing! The younger one, I didn't want to touch because I know that he already is suspicious of me. I saw these bruises on his neck, they looked like-" Elrond seemed too repulsed to continue.
"Go on," Glorfindel encouraged. He had a frown on his face.
"Like handprints. Oh Valar, someone tried to choke him and it looks like it happened more than once. His hands were also bandaged." Elrond put his hands on his head. "I don't even know their names."
"Will the older one live?" Glorfindel asked tentatively.
"I'm not sure. The wound is clean, but he has to wake up by himself. He has lost a lot of blood. The longer he stays, the less chance that he will come back. Back to this world anyway…" Elrond trailed off then added. "To complicate to things, I sense an overwhelming guilt coming from both of them, a heavy burden rests on both their souls."
Nothing seemed to be making sense for Elrond. He sat down.
"I will stay with you, tonight. I don't think you will get any rest, its is going to be a long night."
Elrond gave Glorfindel a grateful look. Indeed, it will be a long night, he silently agreed. He prayed for the grace of the Valar that it would be over soon.