Authors Note: Thank you so much for all your reviews I luv reading them. I
am sorry that this chapter took a little longer than I was able to predict
I had to complete two pieces of coursework over the weekend and
unfortunately that had to come first, but it is finished now so I should
have a few free weeks to finish this fic!
Thank you again.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
It had not taken long for Lysander, closely followed by Estel to locate a healer.
The healing wards were almost full; elves with stab and arrow wounds littered the surrounding corridors waiting to be seen. Rushing through the main entrance way Lysander raced towards the nearest healer, an elf currently examining a young warrior with a deep chest wound but they did not have time to wait for him to finish, Lysander grasped hold of his shoulder pulling the elf back a few paces.
"Healer." Lysander said keeping him away from finishing his task.
"What is the meaning of this," The Healer, who Estel recognised as Phelan a healer that had mended his broken body on many occasions, cried out pulling himself from Lysander's strong grip. "If you had not noticed I have important matters to attend to!"
"Lord Elrond requires you immediate assistance!" Estel growled, glaring straight into his eyes.
That changed everything.
The Healer nodded before calling out to his apprentice and directing her towards the injured warrior he had been pulled away from.
Turning back to Estel he spoke quietly in order to draw as little attention as possible, if their Lord was injured it would effect the feelings of all those around them.
"What has happened?"
"Prince Legolas has fallen from a balcony and is seriously injured. Lord Elrond has examined him and wants to birth the infant now before it is too late to save either of them." Lysander explained before pushing Estel in the direction of the store cupboards.
At Estel's confusion he mouthed the word 'towels' and pushed him again in the same direction.
The healer followed Estel, quickly pulling a suede sack from the bottom of the cupboard and filling it with different jars of what looked like herbs and salves. Throwing the bag at Lysander Healer Phelan helped Estel remove a large bundle of clean sheets from a high shelf before turning back and heading towards the doorway.
All moving into a fast run as they made their way out of the building and into the courtyard.
~*~
Elrohir reached out and gently ran his fingers through his unconscious friends flaxen hair, removing the few strands that clung to his still ailing looking features. There had been no change in Legolas's condition, much to Elrond's relief he feared any change would only make the young blonds condition worse.
Elrohir looked up and watched as his father continued to examine Legolas's swollen stomach the furrows in his forehead deepening with his concern.
"I do not think we can wait much longer." The elf lord sighed glancing up to meet his sons gaze. "It concerns me greatly that he has not woken or displayed any sign of awareness."
"It would not be wise to begin without the right equipment Ada." Elrohir murmured although he was not quite sure whether he was trying to convince himself or his father. "If we just hold on a little bit longer then I am sure they will be here by then."
Elrond nodded slowly in agreement.
"But what if he," He inclined his head towards Legolas. "Can not hold on?"
"He can." Elrohir spoke with determination. "He is strong enough. He would not leave Estel alone in this world."
"ADA!" The shout made both Elrond and Elrohir jump; they had been so caught up in Legolas that they had not heard the fast falling foot steps of Estel and the healer, Lysander was close behind them carrying what looked like a heavy pail from their distance.
Estel reached their side first, all but throwing the towels and sheets he held at his brother.
He immediately dropped to his knees, not caring where he fell, his eyes roaming up and down Legolas's body searching for some kind of change, anything that would give him hope no matter how small, but he found none.
Looking up he met his foster brother's sorrowful eyes and watched as Elrohir shook his head.
There had been on change at all.
Healer Phelan rushed to Elrond's side his eyes briefly skimming over Legolas's silent form.
"The prince of Mirkwood I presume." Phelan murmured, not needing an answer. "What is to be done?"
"We must birth the child before both are lost to us." Elrond said quickly before displaying the small dagger in his hand to the healer.
Nodding Phelan reached over for the sack Estel had been carrying.
"How do you wish to proceed?" He asked the elf lord, glancing around at the other three around them.
"If I deliver the infant will you take it straight back to the healer's wards it will not be healthy if it lives at all and will need all of your help, Estel will go with you and Elrohir will stay to help me with Legolas." Elrond said and received a quick nod in return from the healer.
"I want to stay!" Estel interrupted.
"No you will make sure that your child is safe and well, you will do no good to Legolas if you crowd him and ignore his babe." Elrond glared at him. "Now," He turned back to the healer by his side. "Are you ready?"
Phelan nodded reaching out to pull a clean, white sheet from where Estel had dumped them on Elrohir's lap and laying it across the underside of Legolas's stomach.
Estel watched as Elrond moved his hand holding the blade to his lover's stomach, and immediately turned his head so that his face rested against Legolas's upper chest, he had no wish to see the blood of the one he cherished most spilt no matter how necessary it was.
He began whispering words of comfort and love, gently moving one hand to tangle it deep in the soft, blond strands of hair. He hoped that Legolas could hear him wishing he could reassure his beloved that everything would be fine and that in a few moments time they would both be happily greeted by the birth of their first child.
He heard the sounds of the blade cutting deep and slippery flesh being parted. Estel attempted to push his face deeper into Legolas chest, anything to block out the noise, but it did not help, his mind instantly flooding with blood covered images of Legolas's mangled body.
The sound of the blade hitting the stone floor at speed echoed in his mind, tormenting him.
He shuddered.
"Here." Estel heard his father mumble after a lot of shuffling around.
"Is it alive?" Elrohir asked the voice full of concern.
That caught his attention and Estel slowly moved his head sideways glancing across and up at the healer. In his arms Phelan held a sheet, stained crimson in places with blood. Out of the top of the sheet Estel could just make out a small patch of fair hair, but that was all he could see from his current position, yet he was afraid to move any closer.
"Just." Phelan muttered, roughly rubbing at the tiny infant with the sheet to stimulate its breathing. Everyone but Elrond froze waiting for the sound of it first breath all silently begging for its survival.
Then it came, just as all were about to give up, a soft gurgle rather than a breath that was shortly followed by a second and then a third each marginally stronger than the last.
Jumping to his feet Phelan glared across at Estel, the healer's sharp eyes boring deep into his.
"Come, we need to go now, he will not survive out here in the cold." He stated.
"He!" Estel whispered disbelievingly, although he did not move.
A son.
He had a son and his lover was lying here possibly bleeding to death because of it.
Seeing the agony in his sons eyes Elrond gestured with his head to Lysander.
The dark elf nodded and grasped Estel's arm pulling him up.
"Come you will do Legolas no good if you stay out here." He murmured into the young mans ear whilst dragging him after the healer who was moving at speed across the courtyard.
Estel found he had no strength left to resist all his strength had long since left him the agony and suffering of the day crashing down upon him in a tidal wave of despair.
Glancing back over his should he could see his father and brother franticly working on restoring Legolas's health, he watched as Elrohir discarded a blood sodden sheet and quickly replace it with a clean one.
Everything would be alright, it just had to be.
~*~
TBC.
Thank you again.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
It had not taken long for Lysander, closely followed by Estel to locate a healer.
The healing wards were almost full; elves with stab and arrow wounds littered the surrounding corridors waiting to be seen. Rushing through the main entrance way Lysander raced towards the nearest healer, an elf currently examining a young warrior with a deep chest wound but they did not have time to wait for him to finish, Lysander grasped hold of his shoulder pulling the elf back a few paces.
"Healer." Lysander said keeping him away from finishing his task.
"What is the meaning of this," The Healer, who Estel recognised as Phelan a healer that had mended his broken body on many occasions, cried out pulling himself from Lysander's strong grip. "If you had not noticed I have important matters to attend to!"
"Lord Elrond requires you immediate assistance!" Estel growled, glaring straight into his eyes.
That changed everything.
The Healer nodded before calling out to his apprentice and directing her towards the injured warrior he had been pulled away from.
Turning back to Estel he spoke quietly in order to draw as little attention as possible, if their Lord was injured it would effect the feelings of all those around them.
"What has happened?"
"Prince Legolas has fallen from a balcony and is seriously injured. Lord Elrond has examined him and wants to birth the infant now before it is too late to save either of them." Lysander explained before pushing Estel in the direction of the store cupboards.
At Estel's confusion he mouthed the word 'towels' and pushed him again in the same direction.
The healer followed Estel, quickly pulling a suede sack from the bottom of the cupboard and filling it with different jars of what looked like herbs and salves. Throwing the bag at Lysander Healer Phelan helped Estel remove a large bundle of clean sheets from a high shelf before turning back and heading towards the doorway.
All moving into a fast run as they made their way out of the building and into the courtyard.
~*~
Elrohir reached out and gently ran his fingers through his unconscious friends flaxen hair, removing the few strands that clung to his still ailing looking features. There had been no change in Legolas's condition, much to Elrond's relief he feared any change would only make the young blonds condition worse.
Elrohir looked up and watched as his father continued to examine Legolas's swollen stomach the furrows in his forehead deepening with his concern.
"I do not think we can wait much longer." The elf lord sighed glancing up to meet his sons gaze. "It concerns me greatly that he has not woken or displayed any sign of awareness."
"It would not be wise to begin without the right equipment Ada." Elrohir murmured although he was not quite sure whether he was trying to convince himself or his father. "If we just hold on a little bit longer then I am sure they will be here by then."
Elrond nodded slowly in agreement.
"But what if he," He inclined his head towards Legolas. "Can not hold on?"
"He can." Elrohir spoke with determination. "He is strong enough. He would not leave Estel alone in this world."
"ADA!" The shout made both Elrond and Elrohir jump; they had been so caught up in Legolas that they had not heard the fast falling foot steps of Estel and the healer, Lysander was close behind them carrying what looked like a heavy pail from their distance.
Estel reached their side first, all but throwing the towels and sheets he held at his brother.
He immediately dropped to his knees, not caring where he fell, his eyes roaming up and down Legolas's body searching for some kind of change, anything that would give him hope no matter how small, but he found none.
Looking up he met his foster brother's sorrowful eyes and watched as Elrohir shook his head.
There had been on change at all.
Healer Phelan rushed to Elrond's side his eyes briefly skimming over Legolas's silent form.
"The prince of Mirkwood I presume." Phelan murmured, not needing an answer. "What is to be done?"
"We must birth the child before both are lost to us." Elrond said quickly before displaying the small dagger in his hand to the healer.
Nodding Phelan reached over for the sack Estel had been carrying.
"How do you wish to proceed?" He asked the elf lord, glancing around at the other three around them.
"If I deliver the infant will you take it straight back to the healer's wards it will not be healthy if it lives at all and will need all of your help, Estel will go with you and Elrohir will stay to help me with Legolas." Elrond said and received a quick nod in return from the healer.
"I want to stay!" Estel interrupted.
"No you will make sure that your child is safe and well, you will do no good to Legolas if you crowd him and ignore his babe." Elrond glared at him. "Now," He turned back to the healer by his side. "Are you ready?"
Phelan nodded reaching out to pull a clean, white sheet from where Estel had dumped them on Elrohir's lap and laying it across the underside of Legolas's stomach.
Estel watched as Elrond moved his hand holding the blade to his lover's stomach, and immediately turned his head so that his face rested against Legolas's upper chest, he had no wish to see the blood of the one he cherished most spilt no matter how necessary it was.
He began whispering words of comfort and love, gently moving one hand to tangle it deep in the soft, blond strands of hair. He hoped that Legolas could hear him wishing he could reassure his beloved that everything would be fine and that in a few moments time they would both be happily greeted by the birth of their first child.
He heard the sounds of the blade cutting deep and slippery flesh being parted. Estel attempted to push his face deeper into Legolas chest, anything to block out the noise, but it did not help, his mind instantly flooding with blood covered images of Legolas's mangled body.
The sound of the blade hitting the stone floor at speed echoed in his mind, tormenting him.
He shuddered.
"Here." Estel heard his father mumble after a lot of shuffling around.
"Is it alive?" Elrohir asked the voice full of concern.
That caught his attention and Estel slowly moved his head sideways glancing across and up at the healer. In his arms Phelan held a sheet, stained crimson in places with blood. Out of the top of the sheet Estel could just make out a small patch of fair hair, but that was all he could see from his current position, yet he was afraid to move any closer.
"Just." Phelan muttered, roughly rubbing at the tiny infant with the sheet to stimulate its breathing. Everyone but Elrond froze waiting for the sound of it first breath all silently begging for its survival.
Then it came, just as all were about to give up, a soft gurgle rather than a breath that was shortly followed by a second and then a third each marginally stronger than the last.
Jumping to his feet Phelan glared across at Estel, the healer's sharp eyes boring deep into his.
"Come, we need to go now, he will not survive out here in the cold." He stated.
"He!" Estel whispered disbelievingly, although he did not move.
A son.
He had a son and his lover was lying here possibly bleeding to death because of it.
Seeing the agony in his sons eyes Elrond gestured with his head to Lysander.
The dark elf nodded and grasped Estel's arm pulling him up.
"Come you will do Legolas no good if you stay out here." He murmured into the young mans ear whilst dragging him after the healer who was moving at speed across the courtyard.
Estel found he had no strength left to resist all his strength had long since left him the agony and suffering of the day crashing down upon him in a tidal wave of despair.
Glancing back over his should he could see his father and brother franticly working on restoring Legolas's health, he watched as Elrohir discarded a blood sodden sheet and quickly replace it with a clean one.
Everything would be alright, it just had to be.
~*~
TBC.
