@Karina : You and me both! I am also planning my wedding in secret…but no bridegroom! Ha! Ha!
@Lady Lenna : Asfahn's only have Legyy's prop dagger, not the real one. LOL!
@Lucy : So, you still remember the 'blood brothers' thingy from 'Thicker Than Water', don't you? I have a blood sister, who is my own sister. She will know whenever I steal her clothes. It's kind of sister instinct. A little bit different from Leggy/Estel bond, though.
@szhismine : Everything will not be as you expected. Well, maybe some of it will. You'll see.
@lexani : Thanks for the site of elvish phrases. I'm going to check it out! You are asking for 2 chapters, eh?
@Baby Blaize : Thank you. I will continue writing because of readers like you.
@AbbiCat14 : I'm very glad for the coffee. It keeps me wide-awake now. Err…more?
@Alkvingiel : I'm glad you got the Glamring sword for x-mas just don't come swinging at my head with it, okay?
@Manders1953 : Asfahn is a dumb butt all right! More cereals, mellon?
@Sailor Elf : If trouble you smell, then your nose is in good condition.
@Kitsune : Yes, he is. Why? I'll tell you later on.
@Kayo : Something is always messed up with the ffnet. And what a weird dream you have! Ha! Ha! Oh, shucks! You have cardboard Legyy! I'm jealous! I agree, though. To have such a life-size figure of somebody in one's room is quite creepy!
@restless-soul : I will. I will.
@Hp-Azn : Let's suggest a better brand of cutlery to Asfahn, shall we?
@Gwyn : I know you're gonna get riled up after that cliffie.
@Gerri : Always. He should have learn by now.
@Aranel of Mirkwood : I have been Orli and Kimi since early November because I had pre-ordered them for my Christmas presents!
@tbiris : Nice to see you are still around. You haven't received my e-mail? Oh, poor you!
@AAR Rocks My Socks : If you are still quivering, I have a very thick blanket for you to hide in. ^_^
@purplesmackers : Okay. I'll let Faramir kick some ass in this one!
@Heebo : I'm sure glad you like the cliffie. Wait. There's more!
********************************
Faramir quietly entered the king's chamber. He sighed and sadly shook his head as he saw the Gondor queen still sitting at the same place she was several hours ago. The Ithilien prince slowly approached her and knelt down by her chair, looking straight at her pale drawn face. "My lady?"
Arwen turned her tear-filled eyes towards him. Faramir gulped nervously at that. Give him hundreds of vicious orcs anytime, but a female's tears…Lord! He didn't know how to handle such awkward situations. Knowing of his weakness, smart Éowyn sometimes used it against him to get what she wanted.
"My lady," Faramir tried again. "You are weary. You have not left his side for four days. Let me watch over him now, my lady."
The queen shook her head. "I can't," she softly replied as single tear tumbled over her cheek. "What if he fades away when I'm not beside him?" Her shoulders shaking with her sobs, Arwen grasped her husband's hand and brought it to her lips. She said no more to Faramir after that.
Faramir sighed, knowing nothing else to say to appease the queen. She had been like this since King Elessar was brought into the citadel with an arrow wound in his chest. The arrow was poisoned and Aragorn was clearly fighting hard at the venom circulating in his body. His condition still had not improved even after he was constantly fed with the healing potion that Arwen had made. Even the entire city was overshadowed by a thick gloomy cloud of apprehension and despair. The people knew that their king was dying.
Faramir had just returned to Minas Tirith from Asfahn's keep that fateful day. The heavy rain during his ride had caused him to delay. As soon as he had dismounted by the citadel stairs, Faramir had been informed of the assassination attempt on the king's life. Aragorn had been shot while he was making his weekly round in the city. To make matters worse, no one saw who the shooter was and he was still at large.
With the king indisposed and the queen so distraught, Faramir had quickly taken over the reins of the kingdom. He had instructed for tighter security in the city, the citadel in particular. He also launched a series of thorough investigation on the shooting. He wanted to find out if it was done by the Haradrim that managed to slip under the Gondor's guards, or someone inside Minas Tirith itself. But so far, they had found nothing conclusive to determine the true culprit.
A soft knock at the door caught Faramir's attention. Sending a furtive glance Arwen's way, he saw that she was oblivious to it. Faramir went to open the door and stepped outside to meet the waiting guard. "What is it?"
"Lord Faramir," said the guard, bowing instinctively. "There are three elves expecting to see you in the receiving hall downstairs."
"Elves?" Faramir's eyes widened and hope suddenly flared inside him. "Who would they be?"
"One of them is Lord Legolas, my lord."
"Legolas?" Faramir broke up smiling. "Legolas is back?"
**************************
Arwen laid her head beside her husband's on the pillow, closing her eyes. Her hand was still intertwined with his. "Estel," she whispered. "Heed my call. Return to me, for I greatly need you. I cannot lose you, my love. But if to Mandos you'll go, then to Mandos I'll follow. But return for now. Please. Return…"
So deep she was in her grief, Arwen didn't hear the door opening behind her. Only when a hand fell lightly on her shoulder did she know that she was not alone. She turned to look…and gasped in surprise. "Legolas!"
The elven prince instantly pulled her into his arms, running a comforting hand down her back as she broke into uncontrollable sobs. "Hush, 'plumpkin'. Hush. I'm here," Legolas crooned, kissing her temple. "We are all here. You are no longer alone."
"Hello, sis."
Arwen looked up and received her second surprise of that day. "Ell! Ro!"
Elladan and Elrohir, Arwen's twin brothers rushed forward from the doorway and grabbed her into their big embrace. She was both crying and laughing now, so delighted to see them yet sill sorrowful of her husband's fate.
Legolas moved aside to let the siblings with their reunion. He stepped to the other side of the bed and sat down, his hand straying to Aragorn's ill white face. "Estel," he called softly, not expecting a reply. Aragorn's eyes stayed closed, his skin stayed hot to the touch. The once vital and strong man looked so weak and lifeless that it brought tears to Legolas' eyes.
The twins also came closer to the bed to look at their human brother. They each took Aragorn's hands and brought them to their hearts, whispering words of prayer and hope.
Faramir had stepped into the chamber and was silently watching the heartrending scene. He was not putting his expectations too high, but Faramir knew the three elves brought hope along with them. King Elessar will survive this because those elves are obviously here to make it happen!
Arwen sat next to Legolas and touched his cheek. "How did you get here so fast? I thought it might take you at least a week to be here as soon as you received my missive."
"I didn't get your missive," Legolas replied.
"You didn't?"
Legolas smiled. "No. But I received some kind of a premonition instead." He went on to tell her how he had briefly stopped in Rivendell to fetch Elladan and Elrohir before moving on to Minas Tirith. What he didn't tell her was that he had also brought along a huge battalion of elves from Eryn Lasgalen and they were all waiting in the deep of the woods outside the city gate, waiting for Legolas' signal to take action. Lord Glorfindel stayed behind to oversee the large troop, greatly anticipating the excitement of imminent combat that he had missed so much.
"I'll look after him, Nara," Glorfindel had told his niece on the day of their departure. "I will make sure that he will not jilt you on your wedding day!" He had said this with a warning glance directed at Legolas.
Narasene had chuckled and kissed her betrothed. "You better return in time, my lord, or I will…" At this, she had whispered something into Legolas' ear that had caused the prince to blush deep red.
"Uh…well." Legolas had to clear his throat before he turned to speak to the king. "Father, this is something I have to do. Aragorn needs my help. Don't worry. I will not become a victim this time."
Thranduil had come closer and cupped his son's cheeks in his palms. "Make sure you don't. I still need to see those grandchildren of mine."
And that had caused Narasene to blush as Legolas chortled in amusement. The sight of Narasene's lovely blushing face had been lingering on Legolas' mind throughout the ride to Minas Tirith and he vowed to keep himself alive to see it again.
Frowning at Aragorn, Legolas then beckoned at Faramir. The man instantly came forward. "Has he been like this since the day of the shooting?" the elf prince asked.
"Yes." Faramir nodded grimly. "There has been no change, and that's what worries us. The hole in his chest has been thoroughly cleaned and is beginning to close up, and Lady Arwen has been constantly feeding him with healing potion but…well, he is still not improving."
"What about the wound in his back?"
Arwen and Faramir looked at each other, completely surprised at the question. "His back?" the queen asked, puzzled. "What are you talking about, Legolas? We only found one arrow on him."
Without further ado, Legolas gently lifted Aragorn off his back and leaned him in Elladan's arms. They both untied the strings of the man's nightshirt before pulling it off him. The pristine white bandage was wrapped around Aragorn's chest and Legolas was glad to find it clean and devoid of blood. Faramir had been right. The wound was healing perfectly.
Then, running his fingers down Aragorn's broad back, Legolas stared closely as he searched for the tiny punctured wound that he knew was there. He found it at the small of his friend's back, right below his spine.
"Here. Found it," he announced, touching the place. The rest of them gathered close to get a better look. But to Faramir and Arwen's now mortal eyes, they could discern nothing. "What is it?" asked Faramir.
"A very tiny hole," Elladan said quietly, seeing the mark.
"He was shot by a poisoned needle, I suppose," Legolas added as he looked up. "The needle is still inside. That's why he is deteriorating."
"Does that mean there were two shooters?" There was a dangerous note in Faramir's voice in his effort to control his fury. He and the others were staring at the elven prince, astounded.
"H…how did you know this?" Arwen asked with widened eyes.
Legolas gave her a sad smile. "I wish I knew."
The next hour found them trying diligently to extricate the needle from Aragorn's back. Trained by their own father in the arts of medicine, the twins guided the task, asking for a distilled blade and a bowl of warm water before they set to work.
Seeing how it distraught Arwen more to hear her husband's moan of agony, Legolas put an arm around her shoulders and steered her out of the chamber. He took her down the hallway to the queen's parlor and called for her maids to attend to her.
"Now eat something," Legolas told her when the servants entered with trays of nourishments.
Arwen shook her head. "I'm not hungry."
"Liar," Legolas gently admonished, brushing her cheek. "Please eat, Arwen. Estel is going to need you when he wakes up, so you don't want to be feeling weak and frail then, do you?"
Breaking into tears all over again, Arwen collapsed against him. "I'm so glad you are back, Legolas," she said brokenly.
"So am I, Arwen," Legolas whispered in return, stroking her head. "So am I."
TBC……