A/N: New chapter!! Hope you'll like it!!
Artemisa: Well, here you are! Enjoy!
the wannabe dwarf: You say you know where the creature is? Well I hope you do!! And thanks for calling my mind "deviously talented", I think it's a great compliment! ;-) I hope this new chapter arrived soon enough!!
Big thanks to Candice for betaing this story once more!! I can't thank her enough!!
Chapter 10
Poisonous Guilt
When Legolas, Gimli and Cindra returned to the campfire a few minutes later, they only saw Aragorn, Ethiannor and Niyan.
Aragorn immediately spotted them and started toward them. "Where have you been?" he asked accusingly, looking at all three of them but more intently at Gimli.
"Legolas was the one possessed by the creature," the Dwarf explained. "When he left with Cindra I knew she was in danger, so I discreetly followed. We managed to get rid of the creature, all is fine now."
"You should have told me," Aragorn snapped - he was angry.
"The creature might have heard," Gimli argued.
"Then you should have told me once Legolas had left," Aragorn replied, "unless you had something particular in mind."
"I had," the Dwarf confirmed.
"And would you care telling me what that plan was?" Aragorn asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I wanted to first isolate Legolas. Then force the creature to switch from him to me," Gimli explained plainly.
"And it worked?" the former Ranger asked unbelieving, an eyebrow raised.
"It did," Legolas confirmed. "When the creature tried to invade Gimli's mind it did not succeed and was vanquished."
Aragorn shook his head. "What you did was completely irresponsible, Gimli. It could have turned out for the worse."
"I know," Gimli admitted, "but I had to take the chance."
Aragorn sighed heavily. "Thanks to the Valar you are all fine now."
"Cindra was wounded during the Orcs attack," Legolas corrected.
As Aragorn turned a healer's examining look on Cindra, she clarified, "no need for worry, it is merely a superficial wound."
"I shall have a look at it anyway," insisted Aragorn while he fetched what would be required.
As the former Ranger cleaned the Norean's wound, Legolas enquired as to how they fared during the Orc attack.
"We lost Raighad," Aragorn answered sadly, the soldier's body was nowhere to be seen - the burial had probably already been taken care of by the remaining men.
Aragorn took a handful of healing herbs and laid them evenly on Cindra's wound. Once that was done he wrapped a bandage around her shoulder.
When he had finished he told her, "You should go and rest," before standing up and turning to face his other companions.
"Now that we are freed from that creature, we should all have a long and more than deserved rest tonight. Tomorrow we will leave for Mirkwood as originally planned. We will need more rest and replenish our supplies as well before going back to Gondor," Aragorn concluded.
* * * * *
Gimli got to his feet and had a stretch while massaging the back of his neck. His night had been tainted with strange dreams but the rest had been gladly welcomed.
He quickly spotted Aragorn and Legolas, next to the campfire, taking their breakfast. Ethiannor and Niyan were some distance away, packing and preparing for their leaving. As for Cindra she was still fast asleep, laying on her side in her bedroll, her wounded shoulder out of harm way.
Gimli joined his two old friends by the fire and inhaled the delectable scent of the food cooking.
"Hmm," he began appreciatively while his eyes roamed over the dead mammals that constituted the pan's contents, "real food…"
"I hunted these early this morning, I thought you might enjoy them," Aragorn explained.
"After weeks of a lembas diet I would enjoy quite anything," Gimli noted with a chuckle.
"And pray tell, what exactly is wrong with lembas?" Legolas asked.
"What is wrong with lembas, you ask? What is wrong with lembas is that you Elves have no idea whatsoever about what 'tasteful' means."
"Lembas are made to be nourishing, not tasteful," Legolas objected. "Besides, I believe you will think otherwise when you taste some of my Lord's wine in Mirkwood."
"I alone will judge if you would allow me."
"As you wish," Legolas answered with a shrug.
Gimli turned and indicated the Norean's sleeping form with a nod. "Why did none of you wake her?" he asked.
"She is wounded, she will need the extra rest," Aragorn explained and Gimli nodded. "Besides, she has never shown much interest in having breakfast before."
Gimli smiled knowingly. "She does not know what she is missing…" he said while looking hungrily over the meal again.
"After your passage there would not be much left for anyone anyway," Legolas observed with amusement while Gimli prepared himself a full plate.
"Please excuse a poor Dwarf fond of good food and wine," Gimli replied sarcastically, "but I had better take advantage of what we have now for we will most probably have to endure Elven tasteless food during our stay in Mirkwood."
"You were not really complaining back in Lorien," Legolas remarked.
Aragorn watched his friends and resumed his eating as the pair began one of their usual endless arguments, remembering how much he used to appreciate the quiet meals back in Minas Tirith. Now they appeared extremely dull to him as he enjoyed his friend's battle of wit.
The breakfast went on quite unchanged. Every now and then Aragorn's judgment was called for but he always made sure he never sided with anyone - better not with those two. When his men had finished their preparations, they joined the rest of them at the fireside for breakfast, and Aragorn noted that the two were careful not to give the Elf or Dwarf any opportunity to involve them in the discussion.
When the breakfast was over - but surely not the argument since they were now discussing Dwarven and Elvish hunting abilities and, of course, disagreeing - Aragorn spoke up.
"We should wake Cindra," he began, "for we had better leave soon and not linger here any longer."
"I will, for it seems it is impossible to get any information penetrate that Dwarf's thick head," Legolas offered as he rose.
"May I return the compliment, Master Elf?"
Legolas turned his back to Gimli, making sure the Dwarf could not see his smile, and walked to where the young woman was sleeping before kneeling next to her.
"Cindra," he called softly, not wanting to startle her, for she must be fast asleep if Gimli's sporadic outraged outbursts had not woken her yet. "Cindra," he repeated when he got no answer, putting his hand on her arm and carefully avoiding touching her wounded shoulder, hoping the contact would wake her.
Her eyelids flicked slightly but her eyes remained closed.
Legolas frowned and examined her face. Her skin was flushed. Increasing the pressure of his hand on her arm he slowly made her roll on her back. Even the movement had no effect and she fell limply on her back, still unconscious.
Instinctively Legolas quickly drew two fingers to her neck, momentarily relieved to feel a pulse there, before raising his hand to her forehead.
"Aragorn!" he called worriedly when he felt a burning fever.
Within seconds Aragorn arrived, Gimli in tail. Legolas drew aside to allow the former Ranger to check the Norean's forehead as well. Aragorn then lifted the young woman's eyelids one after the other without a word.
"Her mouth is dry," he murmured while examining her face closely.
He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger to hold her head still while he lowered his ear an inch above her mouth. After a couple of seconds of silent and attentive listening he stated, "She has troubles breathing."
Aragorn mentally gathered the symptoms - they were more than enough for him to guess what ailed her.
"Beinheryn¹. It provokes death by slowly paralysing the lungs muscles," he said.
"Poison?" Gimli exclaimed. "But how…"
He did not have the time to end his question since Aragorn was undoing the bandage around Cindra's shoulder. While the wound had closed during the night thanks to the former Ranger's skilled healing, the bruised skin around it that was still purplish the day before now displayed shades of green.
"This is how," Aragorn answered.
"The Orc's blade was poisoned…" Gimli guessed while Legolas, next to him, was growing paler than usual.
Loosing not a single second Aragorn rose to his feet.
"She was rather lucky for being barely wounded. A real wound would have contained enough poison to kill her within a few hours." He paused. "I have to gather a few ingredients to prepare a draught that will slow the poison's effects. However I am afraid I will not be able to stop them completely, for some things I would need cannot be found in those desolated lands. We have to go to Mirkwood quickly so she may be healed."
Aragorn turned to his men. "Ethiannor, Niyan, build a litter, we will have to carry her to Mirkwood." He then turned to his friends. "Gimli, Legolas, I want you to keep an eye on her and keep watch while they prepare the litter and while I gather the ingredients I need. If she convulses, make sure to pull her on her side. Understand?"
As they both nodded he turned round and disappeared into the woods.
* * * * *
Gimli and Legolas sat silently on each side of the young woman, the breakfast's joyfulness already long gone, while Aragorn's men busied themselves with their work.
Legolas' gaze was lost in the distance as if he was scanning the area, though Gimli knew it was not the look he had when keeping watch. He finally decided to give voice to his concerns.
"What is wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing," Legolas answered, dismissing the question with a shrug.
"You have not said a word since we found her unconscious," the Dwarf insisted.
"Well I have now, have I not?"
Gimli knew from the Elf's look it would be useless to persist and they both fell into a silence only disturbed by the sound of Aragorn's men chopping wood.
After a couple of minutes however, Legolas timidly spoke up. "Gimli?"
"Aye?"
"How did Qeladon die?"
The Dwarf stared at him for a few seconds before answering. "He was killed by Orcs back in that clearing, do you not remember?"
"Did you see him die?" Legolas asked again.
"I did not. Legolas, why are you asking this?"
The Elf sighed, pointedly avoiding Gimli's gaze. "There is a part of my memories, right after the creature possessed me, that are inaccessible to me," he eventually murmured. "I know not what I did during that period of time. As far as I know I could well be the one who killed Qeladon." Before Gimli could object he went on. "Then I killed Crireth. And now Cindra might die because of my negligence."
Gimli let go an heavy sigh. "First, you did not kill Qeladon. Second, Crireth's death was not your responsibility, the creature is the only one to blame for that. Third, I do not understand how you could be held liable for what is happening to Cindra."
"Poisoning one's blade is a common practice of this region's Orcs. I have scouted these lands enough to know that for sure, I should have remembered," explained Legolas with a guilty look.
"Come on, this is ridiculous, Legolas, and you know that," Gimli assured.
"Had I warned Aragorn earlier he would have been able to treat the poison while the wound was still open and she might have had better chances of survival," argued Legolas.
"You could not know, and I doubt it would have changed anything," Gimli pointed out.
The Elf's eyes found the unconscious body of the Norean. "She is young. She deserves to live," he whispered. "I should have heard that Orc coming. It is entirely my fault," he ended.
Gimli shook his head. "I should have heard him coming as well," he objected, a bit short of arguments.
"You are a Dwarf," Legolas stated.
Had they been in the middle of one of their verbal jousts, Gimli would have assumed it was meant as some kind of insult. But they were not and he knew it was not the intended meaning. Gimli was a Dwarf but he, being an Elf, was expected to do better.
"Even an Elf can fail sometimes," Gimli said softly in an attempt to comfort his friend, before inwardly cursing himself - he had just implied Legolas *had* failed.
Legolas gave a weak mirthless smile. Gimli decided not to add a single thing, fearing it would aggravate his friend's morale more than it would alleviate it.
* * * * *
By the time Aragorn came back Ethiannor and Niyan had nearly finished building the litter. He silently mixed the ingredients he had found together and the draught was almost ready when he heard Gimli's cry.
"Aragorn!" the Dwarf called. "She is… She is waking!"
The King of Gondor hurried to the young woman's side while Gimli and Legolas drew aside as her eyes slowly opened. She seemed dazed and lost, Aragorn immediately noted the abnormal dilatation of her pupils, another symptom of the poisoning.
"Cindra, can you hear me?" he asked softly.
Her nod was almost imperceptible. "What…"
Aragorn stopped her with a movement of his hand. "Do not talk. Save your strength and let me explain. The blade that wounded you yesterday was poisoned with beinheryn."
She first seemed confused, as if she did not know that word, then thoughtful while she mentally listed her own symptoms to establish her own diagnostic.
"Deadly nightshade?" she eventually articulated with a weak voice.
"It is another name for that plant, aye," confirmed Aragorn.
Aragorn could read in her eyes that she knew what it meant. She turned her head away from him.
"I see," she whispered.
"We will reach Mirkwood soon enough to have you healed at King Thranduil's House of Healing," he assured.
"No you will not," the young woman replied, turning her tear filled eyes back to him. "Do not make promises you cannot hold, King Elessar," she added with a frail voice but looking at him straight in the eyes as if defying him to say otherwise. He did not.
Ethiannor and Niyan chose that moment to bring the finished litter over to them.
"Have her drink that draught," Aragorn ordered, handing the beverage to Niyan. With a gesture he then urged Legolas and Gimli to follow him.
"Legolas, how long will it take to get to your Lord's palace?" he questioned as soon as they were far enough for his liking.
"Four days³ I would say. Three if we really hurry," Legolas answered. "How long will she live?"
Aragorn hesitated. "With that draught to slow the poison, two at most," he said in a low voice.
Gimli noted Legolas closed his eyes at hearing that statement and knew the Elf still held himself responsible for what was happening. They all knew they would not make it in time to save her.
"Maybe we should tell her…" Gimli suggested.
"She is a healer. She already knows," Aragorn answered.
As he said that Cindra's voice rose. She recited with a trembling voice what sounded like a prayer, spoken in her own language. They managed to recognise the name of Eru, but had they been able to understand the language of Norea here is what they could have heard:
"O Eru, thou took those dearest to my heart, now claim me. I call upon the mercy of thee to claim me quickly for I long to meet those who await me in the Halls of Mandos."
"We will hurry, then," Aragorn continued, "and if we do not stop to rest for the night we may have a chance."
* * * * *
They immediately set off, Cindra laying on the litter carried in turn by two men. The young woman was quickly unconscious again, lost in a poison induced agitated sleep. All were walking the fastest they could, hoping to cover the maximum ground before nightfall - their progression would prove trickiest in the darkness of the moonless night to come.
It was Aragorn's men who were carrying the litter , Ethiannor at the front end and Niyan at the rear, when the latter called, "Ethiannor!"
The older soldier gave a quick look over his shoulder to see what was happening and put the litter down when he saw Cindra shaken by strong convulsions.
Remembering his King's instructions Niyan hurried to the young woman's side and immediately rolled her on her side, holding her while she emptied her stomach's contents on the ground in obviously painful jerks.
The young man looked up at Aragorn as he held tightly to the still shaking body of the Norean, stroking her brow in a calming gesture, hoping the former Ranger would provide a solution. But Aragorn had none to offer, much to his own dismay.
"She is condemned," Gimli whispered to Aragorn. "We will not reach Mirkwood early enough to save her."
Aragorn glared at the Dwarf. "They were three, coming from Norea as ambassadors of their homeland to warn us of the coming of an evil creature. Two already died. I will not send a messenger to Norea to inform them that all three died while under the protection of Gondor. She will live," he concluded, not trusting his last words as much as he would have wished, and turned to continue his way.
He was quickly stopped by Legolas. "Aragorn, I just came up with an idea that might allow us to bring her to the House of Healing in time."
"Do tell," Aragorn urged.
"We have several outposts along the southern border of Mirkwood," Legolas began, "at least we had the last time I was there but I have no reason to think it would have changed. A couple of horses are usually kept at each of these outposts in case an urgent message has to be sent to my Lord."
Aragorn nodded. "I see. If we can reach one of these outposts, someone will be able to carry her to the House of Healing on horseback."
"Absolutely," Legolas agreed. "If we do not stop for the night we can get to the closest outpost by tomorrow morning," the Elf estimated.
"This should work," Aragorn admitted, "it should take less than a day on horseback to cover the distance between south and north of Mirkwood.³ We shall do that, then," he concluded, gesturing everyone to keep on going.
* * * * *
They went on advancing all night, barely ever pausing to nibble on some food or have a little drink. However, at the first lights of dawn as Legolas had planned, they reached the edge of the thick forest.
With a move of his hand, Aragorn invited the Elf forward. "Legolas, if you would take the lead. You know those lands better than any of us."
The Elf agreed with a nod and entered the forest first. Ever since its edge had been within his eyesight, the feeling of being home had overwhelmed him and a part of him kept thinking 'at last'. He stepped further into the woods, breathing in the familiar scents.
Remembering that he could not allow himself to marvel at how beautiful the forest had become - more beautiful than it was in his memory - he decided that it was high time he found that outpost.
Only a few minutes of walking deeper into the forest and followed closely by his companions, a smile stretched on his lips as he found it. Their was nothing indicating the presence of Elves nearby, just details only experimented eyes could notice.
He was not proven wrong since a couple of seconds later they were surrounded by a dozen Elven archers. However, their notched arrows were all pointing down to the ground, hence were not as menacing as they could have been.
While Gimli was looking around warily, neither Aragorn or Legolas seemed cautious. The latter even seemed confident and at ease.
However Legolas' eyes grew slightly wider with surprise at the sight of the Elf stepping forward and towards him.
"Mîrdolen," he acknowledged.
"Legolas," the other replied rather dryly.
Gimli observed the pair attentively as they stood silently in front of each other for a few seconds as if sizing one another up. The other Elf may be a bit older than Legolas, though it was hard to tell with Elves, and the two seemed to share a physical likeness. Maybe a relative, Gimli mused, unable to guess any further since Legolas had always been very discrete and secretive about his family.
Both Elves suddenly broke into laughter, clasping one another's arm and affectionately laying a hand on the other's shoulder.
Aye, Gimli thought, they knew each other well.
"We saw you coming," the Elf named Mîrdolen eventually said, pointedly choosing to speak in Westron so as everyone could understand.
Before he could add anything Legolas interrupted him. "I am afraid we will have to save any discussion or explanation for later. We carry a poisoned young woman," he said indicating the litter behind him, "that is in great need of an appropriate healing. How many horses do you have?"
"Only three," Mîrdolen answered, gesturing to an Elf behind him that soon disappeared into the woods. "It is not enough to carry all of you, but only one will be needed for one rider to bring her to the House of Healing."
The other Elf came back, a horse walking next to him with no guidance. When he stopped, the animal continued until it reached Mîrdolen.
"I will take her myself," Mîrdolen offered while absentmindedly caressing the horse's mane, "for things will be smoother if it is I who go and she will be treated quicker."
Legolas nodded while Gimli wondered why it would be simpler if it was that Elf that brought the Norean.
"I will also warn our Lord of," his eyes briefly strayed to rest on Gimli before turning to Legolas again, "your coming."
The Elf's side look was not lost on Gimli, though he was glad to see it had not been filled with disdain or hatred.
On his part, Legolas knew what the other Elf meant. He would warn his King of their coming - and especially of the Dwarf's coming. Surely the arrival of a Dwarf at King Thranduil's palace had better be… forewarned… - if Thranduil knew beforehand, his reaction and subsequent decision might be less… categorical… Legolas mused.
Mîrdolen leapt gracefully on the back of the unsaddled horse and waited until Ethiannor and Niyan brought Cindra next to him. The two lifted the young woman so as the Elf could wrap an arm around her waist and hold her on the horse in front of him.
After securing his grip on the Norean, Mîrdolen assured Legolas, "I will have other horses sent for you all as soon as I arrive."
"It will not be necessary, it is not a long walk," the other Elf replied.
Mîrdolen eyed him suspiciously. "Wish to have more time to prepare for your return, do you?" he mocked, leaving Gimli very surprised at how overfamiliar that Elf was with Legolas - the Elf's King's son.
"Remind me to ask you what exactly it is you did to be given the southern border to patrol," Legolas retorted with a mischievous smile.
The other Elf snorted. "I had better be on my way."
Right before he pushed the horse forward, Legolas warned, "Aldaro, muindor. He alcuiatha annan²." (A/N: "Hurry, brother. She will not live long.")
Mîrdolen nodded and disappeared in the woods.
"I hope he will arrive in time," Aragorn eventually said.
"Mîrdolen is a fast rider. He will," Legolas guaranted.
Aragorn nodded. "Let us keep going, shall we?" he added.
As they all resumed walking northward, the other Elves dispersed soundlessly into the forest, allowing their Prince and his companions to advance.
Mîrdolen had been right, Legolas thought. He wished he had more time to think over his return to Mirkwood. He had not been there since he left to attend to the Council of Elrond, he was conscious he had changed a lot during those last few years away from Mirkwood. Thranduil might not appreciate so much change in his son…
Furthermore, despite all his warnings, Legolas had befriended many mortals, among which was a Dwarf…
Legolas was at a total loss as to what his father's reaction would be.
~~~~~~~~~~~
¹ A Sindarin word I made up from bein (beautiful) and heryn (lady) to stand for belladonna (meaning "pretty lady" in Italian), also known as deadly nightshade, an extremely poisonous plant. While I may have taken some liberties with the symptoms of belladonna, most should be all right, though I didn't use *all* the symptoms.
² Hopefully I should have managed to get that Elvish phrase almost grammatically correct. However I couldn't find a Sindarin translation of 'hurry', so I chose the closest in meaning or intention. Hence 'aldaro' should mean 'do not stop'.
³ As my wonderful beta reader Candice pointed out, they wouldn't cross Mirkwood in only 4 days. Mirkwood is a BIG forest and a more accurate estimation would be 20 days on foot, and 3 days on horseback. But I hope you will understand that for dramatic purposes I decided to keep it to 4 days on foot despite the fact that I absolutely HATE inaccuracies, so please bear with me.
A/N: Since we basically know nothing about Legolas' family (except Thranduil), I dare claim total ownership over Mîrdolen (name and personality) and any other siblings/relatives I may introduce to this story.
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End of Chapter Ten...
Hey, aren't you happy? No cliffy this time! Well, not a real cliffy... But anyway, don't forget the creature is still around and that they're now going to Mirkwood, bringing it along!
I already started writing the next chapter, so it should be ready soon!! And I promise, it will be much more lighthearted! (well, some parts of it anyway...)
And in the meantime, I'd loooooove to have plenty, plenty, plenty of reviews!!!!!
Next chapter: "Homecoming" (or delving into Mirkwood's royal family...)(Hmm, Mirkwood... ;-)
Artemisa: Well, here you are! Enjoy!
the wannabe dwarf: You say you know where the creature is? Well I hope you do!! And thanks for calling my mind "deviously talented", I think it's a great compliment! ;-) I hope this new chapter arrived soon enough!!
Big thanks to Candice for betaing this story once more!! I can't thank her enough!!
Poisonous Guilt
When Legolas, Gimli and Cindra returned to the campfire a few minutes later, they only saw Aragorn, Ethiannor and Niyan.
Aragorn immediately spotted them and started toward them. "Where have you been?" he asked accusingly, looking at all three of them but more intently at Gimli.
"Legolas was the one possessed by the creature," the Dwarf explained. "When he left with Cindra I knew she was in danger, so I discreetly followed. We managed to get rid of the creature, all is fine now."
"You should have told me," Aragorn snapped - he was angry.
"The creature might have heard," Gimli argued.
"Then you should have told me once Legolas had left," Aragorn replied, "unless you had something particular in mind."
"I had," the Dwarf confirmed.
"And would you care telling me what that plan was?" Aragorn asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I wanted to first isolate Legolas. Then force the creature to switch from him to me," Gimli explained plainly.
"And it worked?" the former Ranger asked unbelieving, an eyebrow raised.
"It did," Legolas confirmed. "When the creature tried to invade Gimli's mind it did not succeed and was vanquished."
Aragorn shook his head. "What you did was completely irresponsible, Gimli. It could have turned out for the worse."
"I know," Gimli admitted, "but I had to take the chance."
Aragorn sighed heavily. "Thanks to the Valar you are all fine now."
"Cindra was wounded during the Orcs attack," Legolas corrected.
As Aragorn turned a healer's examining look on Cindra, she clarified, "no need for worry, it is merely a superficial wound."
"I shall have a look at it anyway," insisted Aragorn while he fetched what would be required.
As the former Ranger cleaned the Norean's wound, Legolas enquired as to how they fared during the Orc attack.
"We lost Raighad," Aragorn answered sadly, the soldier's body was nowhere to be seen - the burial had probably already been taken care of by the remaining men.
Aragorn took a handful of healing herbs and laid them evenly on Cindra's wound. Once that was done he wrapped a bandage around her shoulder.
When he had finished he told her, "You should go and rest," before standing up and turning to face his other companions.
"Now that we are freed from that creature, we should all have a long and more than deserved rest tonight. Tomorrow we will leave for Mirkwood as originally planned. We will need more rest and replenish our supplies as well before going back to Gondor," Aragorn concluded.
Gimli got to his feet and had a stretch while massaging the back of his neck. His night had been tainted with strange dreams but the rest had been gladly welcomed.
He quickly spotted Aragorn and Legolas, next to the campfire, taking their breakfast. Ethiannor and Niyan were some distance away, packing and preparing for their leaving. As for Cindra she was still fast asleep, laying on her side in her bedroll, her wounded shoulder out of harm way.
Gimli joined his two old friends by the fire and inhaled the delectable scent of the food cooking.
"Hmm," he began appreciatively while his eyes roamed over the dead mammals that constituted the pan's contents, "real food…"
"I hunted these early this morning, I thought you might enjoy them," Aragorn explained.
"After weeks of a lembas diet I would enjoy quite anything," Gimli noted with a chuckle.
"And pray tell, what exactly is wrong with lembas?" Legolas asked.
"What is wrong with lembas, you ask? What is wrong with lembas is that you Elves have no idea whatsoever about what 'tasteful' means."
"Lembas are made to be nourishing, not tasteful," Legolas objected. "Besides, I believe you will think otherwise when you taste some of my Lord's wine in Mirkwood."
"I alone will judge if you would allow me."
"As you wish," Legolas answered with a shrug.
Gimli turned and indicated the Norean's sleeping form with a nod. "Why did none of you wake her?" he asked.
"She is wounded, she will need the extra rest," Aragorn explained and Gimli nodded. "Besides, she has never shown much interest in having breakfast before."
Gimli smiled knowingly. "She does not know what she is missing…" he said while looking hungrily over the meal again.
"After your passage there would not be much left for anyone anyway," Legolas observed with amusement while Gimli prepared himself a full plate.
"Please excuse a poor Dwarf fond of good food and wine," Gimli replied sarcastically, "but I had better take advantage of what we have now for we will most probably have to endure Elven tasteless food during our stay in Mirkwood."
"You were not really complaining back in Lorien," Legolas remarked.
Aragorn watched his friends and resumed his eating as the pair began one of their usual endless arguments, remembering how much he used to appreciate the quiet meals back in Minas Tirith. Now they appeared extremely dull to him as he enjoyed his friend's battle of wit.
The breakfast went on quite unchanged. Every now and then Aragorn's judgment was called for but he always made sure he never sided with anyone - better not with those two. When his men had finished their preparations, they joined the rest of them at the fireside for breakfast, and Aragorn noted that the two were careful not to give the Elf or Dwarf any opportunity to involve them in the discussion.
When the breakfast was over - but surely not the argument since they were now discussing Dwarven and Elvish hunting abilities and, of course, disagreeing - Aragorn spoke up.
"We should wake Cindra," he began, "for we had better leave soon and not linger here any longer."
"I will, for it seems it is impossible to get any information penetrate that Dwarf's thick head," Legolas offered as he rose.
"May I return the compliment, Master Elf?"
Legolas turned his back to Gimli, making sure the Dwarf could not see his smile, and walked to where the young woman was sleeping before kneeling next to her.
"Cindra," he called softly, not wanting to startle her, for she must be fast asleep if Gimli's sporadic outraged outbursts had not woken her yet. "Cindra," he repeated when he got no answer, putting his hand on her arm and carefully avoiding touching her wounded shoulder, hoping the contact would wake her.
Her eyelids flicked slightly but her eyes remained closed.
Legolas frowned and examined her face. Her skin was flushed. Increasing the pressure of his hand on her arm he slowly made her roll on her back. Even the movement had no effect and she fell limply on her back, still unconscious.
Instinctively Legolas quickly drew two fingers to her neck, momentarily relieved to feel a pulse there, before raising his hand to her forehead.
"Aragorn!" he called worriedly when he felt a burning fever.
Within seconds Aragorn arrived, Gimli in tail. Legolas drew aside to allow the former Ranger to check the Norean's forehead as well. Aragorn then lifted the young woman's eyelids one after the other without a word.
"Her mouth is dry," he murmured while examining her face closely.
He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger to hold her head still while he lowered his ear an inch above her mouth. After a couple of seconds of silent and attentive listening he stated, "She has troubles breathing."
Aragorn mentally gathered the symptoms - they were more than enough for him to guess what ailed her.
"Beinheryn¹. It provokes death by slowly paralysing the lungs muscles," he said.
"Poison?" Gimli exclaimed. "But how…"
He did not have the time to end his question since Aragorn was undoing the bandage around Cindra's shoulder. While the wound had closed during the night thanks to the former Ranger's skilled healing, the bruised skin around it that was still purplish the day before now displayed shades of green.
"This is how," Aragorn answered.
"The Orc's blade was poisoned…" Gimli guessed while Legolas, next to him, was growing paler than usual.
Loosing not a single second Aragorn rose to his feet.
"She was rather lucky for being barely wounded. A real wound would have contained enough poison to kill her within a few hours." He paused. "I have to gather a few ingredients to prepare a draught that will slow the poison's effects. However I am afraid I will not be able to stop them completely, for some things I would need cannot be found in those desolated lands. We have to go to Mirkwood quickly so she may be healed."
Aragorn turned to his men. "Ethiannor, Niyan, build a litter, we will have to carry her to Mirkwood." He then turned to his friends. "Gimli, Legolas, I want you to keep an eye on her and keep watch while they prepare the litter and while I gather the ingredients I need. If she convulses, make sure to pull her on her side. Understand?"
As they both nodded he turned round and disappeared into the woods.
Gimli and Legolas sat silently on each side of the young woman, the breakfast's joyfulness already long gone, while Aragorn's men busied themselves with their work.
Legolas' gaze was lost in the distance as if he was scanning the area, though Gimli knew it was not the look he had when keeping watch. He finally decided to give voice to his concerns.
"What is wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing," Legolas answered, dismissing the question with a shrug.
"You have not said a word since we found her unconscious," the Dwarf insisted.
"Well I have now, have I not?"
Gimli knew from the Elf's look it would be useless to persist and they both fell into a silence only disturbed by the sound of Aragorn's men chopping wood.
After a couple of minutes however, Legolas timidly spoke up. "Gimli?"
"Aye?"
"How did Qeladon die?"
The Dwarf stared at him for a few seconds before answering. "He was killed by Orcs back in that clearing, do you not remember?"
"Did you see him die?" Legolas asked again.
"I did not. Legolas, why are you asking this?"
The Elf sighed, pointedly avoiding Gimli's gaze. "There is a part of my memories, right after the creature possessed me, that are inaccessible to me," he eventually murmured. "I know not what I did during that period of time. As far as I know I could well be the one who killed Qeladon." Before Gimli could object he went on. "Then I killed Crireth. And now Cindra might die because of my negligence."
Gimli let go an heavy sigh. "First, you did not kill Qeladon. Second, Crireth's death was not your responsibility, the creature is the only one to blame for that. Third, I do not understand how you could be held liable for what is happening to Cindra."
"Poisoning one's blade is a common practice of this region's Orcs. I have scouted these lands enough to know that for sure, I should have remembered," explained Legolas with a guilty look.
"Come on, this is ridiculous, Legolas, and you know that," Gimli assured.
"Had I warned Aragorn earlier he would have been able to treat the poison while the wound was still open and she might have had better chances of survival," argued Legolas.
"You could not know, and I doubt it would have changed anything," Gimli pointed out.
The Elf's eyes found the unconscious body of the Norean. "She is young. She deserves to live," he whispered. "I should have heard that Orc coming. It is entirely my fault," he ended.
Gimli shook his head. "I should have heard him coming as well," he objected, a bit short of arguments.
"You are a Dwarf," Legolas stated.
Had they been in the middle of one of their verbal jousts, Gimli would have assumed it was meant as some kind of insult. But they were not and he knew it was not the intended meaning. Gimli was a Dwarf but he, being an Elf, was expected to do better.
"Even an Elf can fail sometimes," Gimli said softly in an attempt to comfort his friend, before inwardly cursing himself - he had just implied Legolas *had* failed.
Legolas gave a weak mirthless smile. Gimli decided not to add a single thing, fearing it would aggravate his friend's morale more than it would alleviate it.
By the time Aragorn came back Ethiannor and Niyan had nearly finished building the litter. He silently mixed the ingredients he had found together and the draught was almost ready when he heard Gimli's cry.
"Aragorn!" the Dwarf called. "She is… She is waking!"
The King of Gondor hurried to the young woman's side while Gimli and Legolas drew aside as her eyes slowly opened. She seemed dazed and lost, Aragorn immediately noted the abnormal dilatation of her pupils, another symptom of the poisoning.
"Cindra, can you hear me?" he asked softly.
Her nod was almost imperceptible. "What…"
Aragorn stopped her with a movement of his hand. "Do not talk. Save your strength and let me explain. The blade that wounded you yesterday was poisoned with beinheryn."
She first seemed confused, as if she did not know that word, then thoughtful while she mentally listed her own symptoms to establish her own diagnostic.
"Deadly nightshade?" she eventually articulated with a weak voice.
"It is another name for that plant, aye," confirmed Aragorn.
Aragorn could read in her eyes that she knew what it meant. She turned her head away from him.
"I see," she whispered.
"We will reach Mirkwood soon enough to have you healed at King Thranduil's House of Healing," he assured.
"No you will not," the young woman replied, turning her tear filled eyes back to him. "Do not make promises you cannot hold, King Elessar," she added with a frail voice but looking at him straight in the eyes as if defying him to say otherwise. He did not.
Ethiannor and Niyan chose that moment to bring the finished litter over to them.
"Have her drink that draught," Aragorn ordered, handing the beverage to Niyan. With a gesture he then urged Legolas and Gimli to follow him.
"Legolas, how long will it take to get to your Lord's palace?" he questioned as soon as they were far enough for his liking.
"Four days³ I would say. Three if we really hurry," Legolas answered. "How long will she live?"
Aragorn hesitated. "With that draught to slow the poison, two at most," he said in a low voice.
Gimli noted Legolas closed his eyes at hearing that statement and knew the Elf still held himself responsible for what was happening. They all knew they would not make it in time to save her.
"Maybe we should tell her…" Gimli suggested.
"She is a healer. She already knows," Aragorn answered.
As he said that Cindra's voice rose. She recited with a trembling voice what sounded like a prayer, spoken in her own language. They managed to recognise the name of Eru, but had they been able to understand the language of Norea here is what they could have heard:
"O Eru, thou took those dearest to my heart, now claim me. I call upon the mercy of thee to claim me quickly for I long to meet those who await me in the Halls of Mandos."
"We will hurry, then," Aragorn continued, "and if we do not stop to rest for the night we may have a chance."
They immediately set off, Cindra laying on the litter carried in turn by two men. The young woman was quickly unconscious again, lost in a poison induced agitated sleep. All were walking the fastest they could, hoping to cover the maximum ground before nightfall - their progression would prove trickiest in the darkness of the moonless night to come.
It was Aragorn's men who were carrying the litter , Ethiannor at the front end and Niyan at the rear, when the latter called, "Ethiannor!"
The older soldier gave a quick look over his shoulder to see what was happening and put the litter down when he saw Cindra shaken by strong convulsions.
Remembering his King's instructions Niyan hurried to the young woman's side and immediately rolled her on her side, holding her while she emptied her stomach's contents on the ground in obviously painful jerks.
The young man looked up at Aragorn as he held tightly to the still shaking body of the Norean, stroking her brow in a calming gesture, hoping the former Ranger would provide a solution. But Aragorn had none to offer, much to his own dismay.
"She is condemned," Gimli whispered to Aragorn. "We will not reach Mirkwood early enough to save her."
Aragorn glared at the Dwarf. "They were three, coming from Norea as ambassadors of their homeland to warn us of the coming of an evil creature. Two already died. I will not send a messenger to Norea to inform them that all three died while under the protection of Gondor. She will live," he concluded, not trusting his last words as much as he would have wished, and turned to continue his way.
He was quickly stopped by Legolas. "Aragorn, I just came up with an idea that might allow us to bring her to the House of Healing in time."
"Do tell," Aragorn urged.
"We have several outposts along the southern border of Mirkwood," Legolas began, "at least we had the last time I was there but I have no reason to think it would have changed. A couple of horses are usually kept at each of these outposts in case an urgent message has to be sent to my Lord."
Aragorn nodded. "I see. If we can reach one of these outposts, someone will be able to carry her to the House of Healing on horseback."
"Absolutely," Legolas agreed. "If we do not stop for the night we can get to the closest outpost by tomorrow morning," the Elf estimated.
"This should work," Aragorn admitted, "it should take less than a day on horseback to cover the distance between south and north of Mirkwood.³ We shall do that, then," he concluded, gesturing everyone to keep on going.
They went on advancing all night, barely ever pausing to nibble on some food or have a little drink. However, at the first lights of dawn as Legolas had planned, they reached the edge of the thick forest.
With a move of his hand, Aragorn invited the Elf forward. "Legolas, if you would take the lead. You know those lands better than any of us."
The Elf agreed with a nod and entered the forest first. Ever since its edge had been within his eyesight, the feeling of being home had overwhelmed him and a part of him kept thinking 'at last'. He stepped further into the woods, breathing in the familiar scents.
Remembering that he could not allow himself to marvel at how beautiful the forest had become - more beautiful than it was in his memory - he decided that it was high time he found that outpost.
Only a few minutes of walking deeper into the forest and followed closely by his companions, a smile stretched on his lips as he found it. Their was nothing indicating the presence of Elves nearby, just details only experimented eyes could notice.
He was not proven wrong since a couple of seconds later they were surrounded by a dozen Elven archers. However, their notched arrows were all pointing down to the ground, hence were not as menacing as they could have been.
While Gimli was looking around warily, neither Aragorn or Legolas seemed cautious. The latter even seemed confident and at ease.
However Legolas' eyes grew slightly wider with surprise at the sight of the Elf stepping forward and towards him.
"Mîrdolen," he acknowledged.
"Legolas," the other replied rather dryly.
Gimli observed the pair attentively as they stood silently in front of each other for a few seconds as if sizing one another up. The other Elf may be a bit older than Legolas, though it was hard to tell with Elves, and the two seemed to share a physical likeness. Maybe a relative, Gimli mused, unable to guess any further since Legolas had always been very discrete and secretive about his family.
Both Elves suddenly broke into laughter, clasping one another's arm and affectionately laying a hand on the other's shoulder.
Aye, Gimli thought, they knew each other well.
"We saw you coming," the Elf named Mîrdolen eventually said, pointedly choosing to speak in Westron so as everyone could understand.
Before he could add anything Legolas interrupted him. "I am afraid we will have to save any discussion or explanation for later. We carry a poisoned young woman," he said indicating the litter behind him, "that is in great need of an appropriate healing. How many horses do you have?"
"Only three," Mîrdolen answered, gesturing to an Elf behind him that soon disappeared into the woods. "It is not enough to carry all of you, but only one will be needed for one rider to bring her to the House of Healing."
The other Elf came back, a horse walking next to him with no guidance. When he stopped, the animal continued until it reached Mîrdolen.
"I will take her myself," Mîrdolen offered while absentmindedly caressing the horse's mane, "for things will be smoother if it is I who go and she will be treated quicker."
Legolas nodded while Gimli wondered why it would be simpler if it was that Elf that brought the Norean.
"I will also warn our Lord of," his eyes briefly strayed to rest on Gimli before turning to Legolas again, "your coming."
The Elf's side look was not lost on Gimli, though he was glad to see it had not been filled with disdain or hatred.
On his part, Legolas knew what the other Elf meant. He would warn his King of their coming - and especially of the Dwarf's coming. Surely the arrival of a Dwarf at King Thranduil's palace had better be… forewarned… - if Thranduil knew beforehand, his reaction and subsequent decision might be less… categorical… Legolas mused.
Mîrdolen leapt gracefully on the back of the unsaddled horse and waited until Ethiannor and Niyan brought Cindra next to him. The two lifted the young woman so as the Elf could wrap an arm around her waist and hold her on the horse in front of him.
After securing his grip on the Norean, Mîrdolen assured Legolas, "I will have other horses sent for you all as soon as I arrive."
"It will not be necessary, it is not a long walk," the other Elf replied.
Mîrdolen eyed him suspiciously. "Wish to have more time to prepare for your return, do you?" he mocked, leaving Gimli very surprised at how overfamiliar that Elf was with Legolas - the Elf's King's son.
"Remind me to ask you what exactly it is you did to be given the southern border to patrol," Legolas retorted with a mischievous smile.
The other Elf snorted. "I had better be on my way."
Right before he pushed the horse forward, Legolas warned, "Aldaro, muindor. He alcuiatha annan²." (A/N: "Hurry, brother. She will not live long.")
Mîrdolen nodded and disappeared in the woods.
"I hope he will arrive in time," Aragorn eventually said.
"Mîrdolen is a fast rider. He will," Legolas guaranted.
Aragorn nodded. "Let us keep going, shall we?" he added.
As they all resumed walking northward, the other Elves dispersed soundlessly into the forest, allowing their Prince and his companions to advance.
Mîrdolen had been right, Legolas thought. He wished he had more time to think over his return to Mirkwood. He had not been there since he left to attend to the Council of Elrond, he was conscious he had changed a lot during those last few years away from Mirkwood. Thranduil might not appreciate so much change in his son…
Furthermore, despite all his warnings, Legolas had befriended many mortals, among which was a Dwarf…
Legolas was at a total loss as to what his father's reaction would be.
~~~~~~~~~~~
¹ A Sindarin word I made up from bein (beautiful) and heryn (lady) to stand for belladonna (meaning "pretty lady" in Italian), also known as deadly nightshade, an extremely poisonous plant. While I may have taken some liberties with the symptoms of belladonna, most should be all right, though I didn't use *all* the symptoms.
² Hopefully I should have managed to get that Elvish phrase almost grammatically correct. However I couldn't find a Sindarin translation of 'hurry', so I chose the closest in meaning or intention. Hence 'aldaro' should mean 'do not stop'.
³ As my wonderful beta reader Candice pointed out, they wouldn't cross Mirkwood in only 4 days. Mirkwood is a BIG forest and a more accurate estimation would be 20 days on foot, and 3 days on horseback. But I hope you will understand that for dramatic purposes I decided to keep it to 4 days on foot despite the fact that I absolutely HATE inaccuracies, so please bear with me.
A/N: Since we basically know nothing about Legolas' family (except Thranduil), I dare claim total ownership over Mîrdolen (name and personality) and any other siblings/relatives I may introduce to this story.
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End of Chapter Ten...
Hey, aren't you happy? No cliffy this time! Well, not a real cliffy... But anyway, don't forget the creature is still around and that they're now going to Mirkwood, bringing it along!
I already started writing the next chapter, so it should be ready soon!! And I promise, it will be much more lighthearted! (well, some parts of it anyway...)
And in the meantime, I'd loooooove to have plenty, plenty, plenty of reviews!!!!!
Next chapter: "Homecoming" (or delving into Mirkwood's royal family...)(Hmm, Mirkwood... ;-)