Title: Unlucky
Author: rabidsamfan
Chapter Five: Reprieve
Summary: AU diversion – what if the cut Sam got in the Mines of Moria had been poisoned, after all?
Disclaimer: None of this belongs to me, but rather to J.R.R. Tolkien -- and several lines are quoted directly out of the chapter "Lothlorien." The best ones, of course.
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Merry volunteered to go down and keep watch, in case the orcs decided to brave the light and return. Pippin rummaged through the baskets, finding sweet breads and cheese and more apples, which he divided carefully out into even shares. Gimli cleared away the bodies, tossing them down to be burned when it was safe to do so.
Frodo helped Sam sit up so that he could take a look at his wound while the chance offered. It needed cleaning; Orophin had not had time to bind it again before the Orcs came. Nor was the injured Elf in much better case. Gimli's hasty binding had stopped his bleeding, but Frodo could see the pain in his eyes and he could not use his arm at all. Frodo gave them each a mouthful of water and wondered what next he should do to ease them. He was glad to see Aragorn and Boromir arrive at the flet, and alarmed to see bright blood on Aragorn's boot. "Strider! Are you all right?"
"I was hit by an arrow – a glancing blow," said Aragorn. "It is not deep."
"Legolas and Rumil have stayed below to retrieve arrows," Boromir said, untying the rope from around Aragorn's waist. "I'll go and help Haldir. He was struck as well."
"What about the others?" Frodo asked, giving his shoulder to Aragorn for the few steps across the talan to Sam and Orophin. "Are they all right?"
"So far as I know," Aragorn said. "Haldir is not badly hurt, but it is a long climb. And here above? How did you fare?"
"We're all right," Pippin said, coming over to help. "I found some food and wine. Do you suppose anyone would be mad if we had some?" He had belatedly remembered that the food belonged to others, and brushed guiltily at the crumbs on his shirt.
Aragorn smiled and addressed the question to Orophin, who nodded and murmured a few sleepy words. "He says we should eat our fill," Aragorn reported. "There is more food stored nearby."
"Oh, wonderful!" said Pippin. "I'm ready for breakfast."
"Is it morning already?" Sam thought. "It don't look like morning." He blinked in the strange reflected light, torn between weariness, and the certainty that he should be doing more than sitting still while others worked. But the pain in his head was as close as his heartbeat, and his strength lay beyond it; he could not reach so far. It seemed to him that the song of the waterfall so far below was echoing louder, and words were in the music of it, urging him to sleep a little; but he did not want to sleep until he knew why the light had come and how badly Strider had been hurt and if Frodo were all right and how did the Elves grow trees so tall. His Gaffer would be right interested in such great trees when he got home. He put his forehead against his knees and tried to think how best to stay awake.
Something bumped in his pocket, and he drew it out, confused at first to find a silver flask, and then remembering that Orophin had put it in his care. There was little enough of the cordial in it yet – more than enough to keep Sam awake, and just enough to let him sleep without pain, he guessed. But it wasn't his, and there were others hurt, and tired too. He sloshed the flask a little, trying to estimate. It might go as far as a bit for each of them, if they drank carefully. Orophin had wanted him to drink more, he remembered. 'Just a sip then, and I'll give it back to him," he thought, and put the flask to his lips, careful to let only the few drops fall on his tongue. Warmth came to him again, and if it did not go so far this time, at least it let him ignore the pain. He turned carefully to the Elf at his side, and nudged him awake, offering the flask. To his surprise, Orophin took a proper drink and pressed the flask back on Sam, signaling him to finish it off. Sam looked at the flask uncertainly, but he didn't truly want to argue. He drank.
Frodo noticed Sam and Orophin moving and sitting up straighter and breathed a little easier on their accounts. He really should have spent more time at Rivendell learning how to tend wounds. Fortunately, Aragorn had not taken a serious injury. If the arrowhead had been an inch lower it might have been deflected by the top of his boot, and half an inch to the side and it would have missed him entirely. He had a long ragged cut below the level of the knee on the outside of his leg, easily cleaned and bound if awkward to see. Frodo helped him tie the bandage.
"Do you think the arrow was poisoned?" he wondered aloud.
"We'll know by dawn," Aragorn said. "But the wound does not burn, so it is doubtful." He stood and tested his weight on the leg, and seemed satisfied. "Thanks to the Lady, we may not have to fight again before then."
"What Lady is that?" Frodo asked. "Did she make the river shine with the moonlight?
"She is the Lady Galadriel," Haldir answered climbing through the hole at the center of the flet. His left hand was wrapped in his cloak, and he seemed surprised to find Gimli at the other end of the rope which was tied around his waist. He nodded warily to the Dwarf, and released himself from the rope, crossing quickly to Orophin and exchanging a few words with his brother before turning to Aragorn and Frodo. "She sent out her power, farther than she has in many long years, and I have no doubt that Lord Celeborn has already dispatched more assistance to reinforce the northern marches. I do not think the remaining orcs will dare her light unless they are driven into a fury. Scattered as they are, even if one of them should try to lead he will have difficulty. By the time they regroup we should have help from the Sun."
"Maybe we should go while we can," Boromir joined the conference, and Gimli with him. It was getting crowded on the platform, and with unspoken accord, they sat in a loose circle. Only Pippin stayed on his feet, distributing food. "The troop of orcs we fought wasn't a tithe of what might follow, and even a frightened orc might send fire arrows into a tree, if he knows which tree to aim for."
"There is the matter of healing herbs as well," Aragorn said. "Unless Orophin has more here than were in the bag he lost below." He nodded at Sam, who had accepted some bread from Pippin, but wasn't eating it. "The sooner we come to a place where we might safely rest, the better for our hurts."
"So I think also," said Haldir. "I have some of the ways of healing, but there are sentinels on the other side of Celebrant who are more skilled. But I pray you listen, for I am troubled. We had heard rumors of your coming, for the messengers of Elrond passed by Lorien on their way home up the Dimrill Stair, but the details were not given. Hobbits, we were warned of – although we had not heard of you or your kin for many years," he nodded to Frodo. "And you, Aragorn are known and have the Lady's favor. Legolas is kinsman; he and Aragorn can vouch for the Man of Gondor. But no word was given that I should allow a Dwarf to enter Lothlorien."
Gimli snorted. "I should have known."
"But Elrond himself chose Gimli to come with us, that all the free peoples of the world should be represented," protested Frodo. "He is from the Lonely Mountain, and one of Dain's trusty people. We will not go on without him, for he is brave and faithful."
"His courage I have seen," Haldir said. "And I do not doubt his faith, for without his strength my brother would be dead." He turned to Gimli. "But not since Durin's Day has a Dwarf beheld the trees of the Naith of Lorien. Such dealings we have had with your folk have been always careful, and made outside our borders. This I can and will do, if you will allow it. I will take you across the river, and there blindfold you and lead you to Caras Galadhon by smooth paths, and so keep all your company together."
"I like this not," growled Gimli. "I am no prisoner, no beggar or spy, to be thus handled. My folk have never had dealings with any of the servants of the Enemy, and I am no more likely to betray you than Legolas, or any other of our company."
"Still, it is our law," said Haldir. "I am not the master of the law and cannot set it aside. Indeed, were it not for the messages from Rivendell I would not dare take you across Celebrant without first sending word ahead."
"This is folly," said Gimli angrily. "I would go forward free, or go back to seek my own land, where I am known to be true to my word, or perish in the wilderness."
"Folly indeed," said Haldir. "Indeed in nothing is the power of the Dark Lord more clearly shown than in the estrangement that divides all who still oppose him. Yet so little faith and trust do we now find the world beyond Lothlorien that we dare not by our own trust endanger our land. We live in an island amid many perils, and our hands are more often on the bowstring than upon the harp. I would not send you away to die, but rather bring you to safety, and vouch for you before the Lord Celeborn."
"It is hard to thus single out one of the Company," said Aragorn. "We shall all go blindfold if Gimli must, even Legolas, if you will agree that our hands stay free, and we may all unbind our eyes if the enemy comes upon us."
"Once we are across the Celebrant, the inner sentries will guard us," Haldir said. "I do not think any Orcs shall pass them, but I will gladly agree to your terms if Gimli will do so."
Gimli laughed suddenly. "A merry troop of fools we shall look! Will you lead us on a string, like many blind beggars with one dog? Nay, t'would slow us too much, and we already are slowed by those we will have to carry. But I shall claim amends for every fall or stubbed toe, if you do not lead me well," he warned.
"I will lead you well," Haldir promised, much relieved.
"And if Legolas should be mirthful, he shall join me," Gimli said to Aragorn. "I will not go a step forward while the subject of mockery."
"So I shall tell him," Aragorn said, gravely. "And so it shall be true for any of the company whose manners do not meet your courtesy in this."
"I'm too tired to be mirthful," Pippin said. "Can't we please rest a while before we go on? It would be good for Sam, don't you think Frodo? He's too sleepy to eat."
Sam stirred, and blinked owlishly at Pippin. "Don' wan' eat," he said thickly. "Too much work."
"Sam!" Frodo exclaimed. "You're drunk!"
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A/N: I'm not sure how much farther to go with this, actually. Perhaps to the meeting with Celeborn and Galadriel? I'll get them across the river and out of danger at the least, but the story keeps on twisting on me…
Liptonrm: I'm glad you'll go on with your Merry story. I like Merry – just not as much as Sam! It is true, I am just following what would happen if the one factor changed, but I keep surprising myself.
Lilybaggins: Sorry there isn't a lot of action in this part. Getting across the river isn't going to be easy though, so I hope you'll keep reading!