Disclaimer: If I owned them I wouldn't have to right things like this about
them. I can only dream.
A/N: i-like-chickens: Thank you so much for the review and for reviewing regularly. I hope the rest of the story pleases you.
Ch 9 Gardens
They ate the rest of their breakfast in silence, each waiting for the other to say something, the fact that no one did made it a very quiet breakfast. When both Aragorn and Elrond had finished eating and a servant had taken away their empty plates Elrond stood up.
"Shall we take a walk? My gardens are very nice this time of year. I am sure Legolas would appreciate the fresh air." Both Aragorn and Legolas rose from their seats, Legolas did so without his usual grace and seemed to grip the table for the support he needed. They all left the dining hall and made their way to the gardens. A place both Aragorn and Legolas had loved to sit whenever they visited Imladris.
The three proud figures walked quietly enjoying the freshness of the nature around them. Legolas visibly relaxed once they were outdoors and not inside the building any more. He appeared to be listening to the nature around them, something Wood Elves were renowned for. Aragorn and Elrond exchanged a slightly worried glance when Legolas began to slow slightly, Aragorn decided it would be best if they rested and finally spoke.
"Perhaps we should sit under a tree and enjoy our surroundings, after all the gardens at Rivendell are the best in Middle Earth."
At first Elrond looked confused, Aragorn had always preferred exploring the gardens rather than resting in them. Aragorn nodded his head at Legolas who was still slightly behind them, Elrond instantly understood what Aragorn was doing and agreed.
"Yes, what a good idea. The trees provide shade on this hot day. Would you like to join us?" He asked politely looking at Legolas.
Legolas nodded, "Thank you my Lord."
They soon found a tree that provided them with a good view of the gardens. Both Aragorn and Elrond knew how much Legolas loved the gardens of Imladris, he would have stayed out there all the time if they had allowed it. Legolas nodded his agreement at the choice of tree and sank down against it leaning back into it once he was seated. The tree seemed to move as Legolas leaned against it, as if it were trying to make the prince as comfortable as possible. Legolas closed his eyes and listened to the sound of the gentle wind in the trees.
Elrond and Aragorn exchanged a smile at the look of contentment on Legolas' pure face, they too sat down under the tree. Aragorn made sure he sat right next to Legolas. Elrond looked at the man and marvelled at his devotion to the Elf, despite the obvious opposition to their relationship Aragorn had continued to be loyal to Legolas, a trait Aragorn had undoubtedly picked up during his many years in Rivendell.
They stayed this way for some time. Elrond eventually rose and said, "I believe it is time for something to eat, will you join me?" He looked down at Legolas and Aragorn.
"Yes, I think that is a good idea." Replied Aragorn.
He looked over to Legolas to find the Elf with his eyes closed and rapidly breathing. He was sleeping peacefully but Aragorn couldn't help but notice the Elf's drawn and pale face. Aragorn reached over and touched Legolas' face and was shocked to find that it was cold.
"He's sleeping." Elrond said. "It may be best not to wake him."
Aragorn nodded in agreement and gently picked the sleeping Legolas up with strong arms. Legolas' head fell back against the man's shoulder and he let out a slight groan at being moved. Elrond put a hand on his forehead and worry creased his face when he too felt how cold Legolas was.
"We should get him back to bed, he is not well."
Aragorn walked quickly and steadily towards Legolas' room. He and Elrond ignored some of the surprised stares they got from the servants of Rivendell. They did not stop to explain anything to them but Elrond managed to shoot some angry glances when they started whispering things to each other.
They finally reached Legolas' room and Aragorn carefully placed Legolas on the bed. He felt the Elf shaking slightly. He stroked Legolas' hair as Elrond set to work removing Legolas' clothes. Legolas whimpered in pain every now and then and Aragorn tried his best to help the distressed Elf relax although it wasn't working very well. Nothing he did seemed to comfort Legolas and Aragorn looked up frantically at Elrond who was examining Legolas' wound.
"Talk to him and try and calm him down. He is too agitated I need him to calm down."
Aragorn nodded and leaned closer to talk to Legolas, he didn't even know what he was saying although Legolas to understand as both Elrond and Aragorn saw Legolas' tense body relax slightly. However, when Elrond touched the wound, which was now black around the edges, Legolas cried out.
"Aragorn keep him calm and still or I can do nothing." Elrond almost shouted at the distressed man.
Aragorn nodded and tried to think about what would calm Legolas down. He suddenly had an idea. He sat down on the bed and moved as close to Legolas as possible. He carefully lifted the Elf so he was leaning against Aragorn's chest. Elrond shot Aragorn a warning glance when he moved Legolas but when he saw what the man was doing and that Legolas was calm he nodded his approval. Aragorn smiled and placed a gentle kiss on Legolas' cold forehead. He stroked the prince's hair hoping to let Legolas know that his lover was close by. Legolas moved and tried to get closer to Aragorn. His plan was working.
Elrond set about making some kind of tea. The smell of the liquid made even Aragorn relax. Elrond passed Aragorn the cup and signalled that Legolas needed to drink all of it. As Aragorn did this Elrond went into an adjoining room and fetched a blanket, which he placed over the shivering body of Legolas. Aragorn handed him the empty cup and smiled down at Legolas who was struggling to open his eyes. Finally he succeeded and saw Aragorn looking lovingly down at him.
"Aragorn?" Legolas mumbled sleepily.
"Hush my love. You must rest." Aragorn said softly. Legolas nodded and allowed his heavy eyelids to close. He felt strangely cold and couldn't seem to control his body at all. He didn't understand what was happening to him but the fact that the warm body of Aragorn holding his trembling body close was comforting. The man's warmth seemed to relax Legolas more than Elrond's soothing teas.
Elrond moved over to the door preparing to leave Aragorn and Legolas together. He disapproved of this but knew that it helped Legolas to be near his lover. Elrond would never make any Elf suffer needlessly and would not deny Legolas some much needed sleep.
Before he could leave Aragorn whispered to him, "He's dying isn't he?" There was a pain in the man's voice that Elrond had never heard before.
"The poison has been in the blood for too long my son. Even if you had gotten him here sooner I don't think it would have made a difference. This particular poison is very difficult to spot. He will need your care over the next few days Aragorn."
"Days?" Aragorn had not been expecting it to be days, he thought it more months.
"Do not think ahead, concentrate on the task you have now. He is all that matters and he needs your strength for a while. Make sure he sleeps for a while. I will see you later."
Aragorn nodded and looked down at the sleeping Legolas resting against him. His eyes were closed and he was perfectly still. Aragorn could feel his light but steady breathing against him and he felt comforted that the Elf was so relaxed. When Aragorn looked up Elrond had silently gone out of the room whilst he was looking at Legolas. Aragorn hugged Legolas tightly and felt the Elf relax even more.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: So did you like? Tell me. I live only for your reviews.well almost only for your reviews.
A/N: i-like-chickens: Thank you so much for the review and for reviewing regularly. I hope the rest of the story pleases you.
Ch 9 Gardens
They ate the rest of their breakfast in silence, each waiting for the other to say something, the fact that no one did made it a very quiet breakfast. When both Aragorn and Elrond had finished eating and a servant had taken away their empty plates Elrond stood up.
"Shall we take a walk? My gardens are very nice this time of year. I am sure Legolas would appreciate the fresh air." Both Aragorn and Legolas rose from their seats, Legolas did so without his usual grace and seemed to grip the table for the support he needed. They all left the dining hall and made their way to the gardens. A place both Aragorn and Legolas had loved to sit whenever they visited Imladris.
The three proud figures walked quietly enjoying the freshness of the nature around them. Legolas visibly relaxed once they were outdoors and not inside the building any more. He appeared to be listening to the nature around them, something Wood Elves were renowned for. Aragorn and Elrond exchanged a slightly worried glance when Legolas began to slow slightly, Aragorn decided it would be best if they rested and finally spoke.
"Perhaps we should sit under a tree and enjoy our surroundings, after all the gardens at Rivendell are the best in Middle Earth."
At first Elrond looked confused, Aragorn had always preferred exploring the gardens rather than resting in them. Aragorn nodded his head at Legolas who was still slightly behind them, Elrond instantly understood what Aragorn was doing and agreed.
"Yes, what a good idea. The trees provide shade on this hot day. Would you like to join us?" He asked politely looking at Legolas.
Legolas nodded, "Thank you my Lord."
They soon found a tree that provided them with a good view of the gardens. Both Aragorn and Elrond knew how much Legolas loved the gardens of Imladris, he would have stayed out there all the time if they had allowed it. Legolas nodded his agreement at the choice of tree and sank down against it leaning back into it once he was seated. The tree seemed to move as Legolas leaned against it, as if it were trying to make the prince as comfortable as possible. Legolas closed his eyes and listened to the sound of the gentle wind in the trees.
Elrond and Aragorn exchanged a smile at the look of contentment on Legolas' pure face, they too sat down under the tree. Aragorn made sure he sat right next to Legolas. Elrond looked at the man and marvelled at his devotion to the Elf, despite the obvious opposition to their relationship Aragorn had continued to be loyal to Legolas, a trait Aragorn had undoubtedly picked up during his many years in Rivendell.
They stayed this way for some time. Elrond eventually rose and said, "I believe it is time for something to eat, will you join me?" He looked down at Legolas and Aragorn.
"Yes, I think that is a good idea." Replied Aragorn.
He looked over to Legolas to find the Elf with his eyes closed and rapidly breathing. He was sleeping peacefully but Aragorn couldn't help but notice the Elf's drawn and pale face. Aragorn reached over and touched Legolas' face and was shocked to find that it was cold.
"He's sleeping." Elrond said. "It may be best not to wake him."
Aragorn nodded in agreement and gently picked the sleeping Legolas up with strong arms. Legolas' head fell back against the man's shoulder and he let out a slight groan at being moved. Elrond put a hand on his forehead and worry creased his face when he too felt how cold Legolas was.
"We should get him back to bed, he is not well."
Aragorn walked quickly and steadily towards Legolas' room. He and Elrond ignored some of the surprised stares they got from the servants of Rivendell. They did not stop to explain anything to them but Elrond managed to shoot some angry glances when they started whispering things to each other.
They finally reached Legolas' room and Aragorn carefully placed Legolas on the bed. He felt the Elf shaking slightly. He stroked Legolas' hair as Elrond set to work removing Legolas' clothes. Legolas whimpered in pain every now and then and Aragorn tried his best to help the distressed Elf relax although it wasn't working very well. Nothing he did seemed to comfort Legolas and Aragorn looked up frantically at Elrond who was examining Legolas' wound.
"Talk to him and try and calm him down. He is too agitated I need him to calm down."
Aragorn nodded and leaned closer to talk to Legolas, he didn't even know what he was saying although Legolas to understand as both Elrond and Aragorn saw Legolas' tense body relax slightly. However, when Elrond touched the wound, which was now black around the edges, Legolas cried out.
"Aragorn keep him calm and still or I can do nothing." Elrond almost shouted at the distressed man.
Aragorn nodded and tried to think about what would calm Legolas down. He suddenly had an idea. He sat down on the bed and moved as close to Legolas as possible. He carefully lifted the Elf so he was leaning against Aragorn's chest. Elrond shot Aragorn a warning glance when he moved Legolas but when he saw what the man was doing and that Legolas was calm he nodded his approval. Aragorn smiled and placed a gentle kiss on Legolas' cold forehead. He stroked the prince's hair hoping to let Legolas know that his lover was close by. Legolas moved and tried to get closer to Aragorn. His plan was working.
Elrond set about making some kind of tea. The smell of the liquid made even Aragorn relax. Elrond passed Aragorn the cup and signalled that Legolas needed to drink all of it. As Aragorn did this Elrond went into an adjoining room and fetched a blanket, which he placed over the shivering body of Legolas. Aragorn handed him the empty cup and smiled down at Legolas who was struggling to open his eyes. Finally he succeeded and saw Aragorn looking lovingly down at him.
"Aragorn?" Legolas mumbled sleepily.
"Hush my love. You must rest." Aragorn said softly. Legolas nodded and allowed his heavy eyelids to close. He felt strangely cold and couldn't seem to control his body at all. He didn't understand what was happening to him but the fact that the warm body of Aragorn holding his trembling body close was comforting. The man's warmth seemed to relax Legolas more than Elrond's soothing teas.
Elrond moved over to the door preparing to leave Aragorn and Legolas together. He disapproved of this but knew that it helped Legolas to be near his lover. Elrond would never make any Elf suffer needlessly and would not deny Legolas some much needed sleep.
Before he could leave Aragorn whispered to him, "He's dying isn't he?" There was a pain in the man's voice that Elrond had never heard before.
"The poison has been in the blood for too long my son. Even if you had gotten him here sooner I don't think it would have made a difference. This particular poison is very difficult to spot. He will need your care over the next few days Aragorn."
"Days?" Aragorn had not been expecting it to be days, he thought it more months.
"Do not think ahead, concentrate on the task you have now. He is all that matters and he needs your strength for a while. Make sure he sleeps for a while. I will see you later."
Aragorn nodded and looked down at the sleeping Legolas resting against him. His eyes were closed and he was perfectly still. Aragorn could feel his light but steady breathing against him and he felt comforted that the Elf was so relaxed. When Aragorn looked up Elrond had silently gone out of the room whilst he was looking at Legolas. Aragorn hugged Legolas tightly and felt the Elf relax even more.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: So did you like? Tell me. I live only for your reviews.well almost only for your reviews.