After Legolas and Boromir had spoken, the others had been called back in and they all sat around talking together, for Legolas, though tired and weak, had insisted that they stay for a while and that he was feeling up to it.
"Can I get you anything, Legolas?" Thranduil asked while he fixed his son's pillows.
"No, but perhaps Aragorn can," Legolas replied with a humorous tone in his voice. "For what must one do to take a little food around here?"
Aragorn laughed a little at his friend's light ribbing and at his own forgetfulness. "Of course," he said and called for an attendant, "right away."
"Something easy to eat," reminded Gandalf, who sat smoking his pipe in one of the corners, feeling quite relaxed now that the elf was awake. "And some lembas if you have any, for I think that may prove to be a source of strength that he needs."
Aragorn passed on all of these instructions to the attendant, who sped off right away and returned with a tray of food not long afterwards.
Gandalf feared to move Legolas' body at all, not even into a sitting position, for he worried about the broken and cracked ribs and the many wounds covering the young prince's body. And so Legolas was left lying down and having his food fed to him by his father. For this, the others respected his privacy and left the two alone in the room.
For a while, the two sat in silence, with Legolas gratefully accepting each spoonful of the hot soup and the nourishing bites of the lembas bread. When he had finished, Thranduil put the tray to one side and straightened the blankets covering his son. Then he stood and made ready to leave the room.
"Wait," protested Legolas, "will you not stay for a while?"
"You must take some rest, Legolas," urged the elven king.
Legolas nodded. "I will, but later, for I am not yet ready for any more sleep. I wish to speak with you, but first, if you might call Mithrandir back in. I must ask him something."
"As you wish," came the reply as Thranduil carried the tray to the door. Slipping outside, he made his way down the hallway and found Gandalf lazily staring out of a window. There he relayed his son's request, and the wizard strode to his room.
"Gandalf," smiled Legolas, when the first white hairs of the wizard's hair and beard were visible to him. "I wanted to ask you something."
"What is it?" came the kindly old voice, as Gandalf sat down at the elf's bedside.
"I wanted to ask you if there was something you might do for me. Is there something, some spell, you might be able to cast on Boromir, to help him stop beating up on himself over all that has happened. I have forgiven his actions, for it is Saruman that I blame, but still I see how this whole ordeal is tearing him apart inside. Is there some way that you might be able to make him forget the events of the past week or so?"
A warm smile spread over the old wizard's face. "Truly there not many in this Middle Earth that are as compassionate as you, my dear boy. Alas, I am sorry to say that there is nothing that I can do to help Boromir come to terms with all that has occurred. Nor can I make him forget the events. He is a strong man; he will deal with this in time, for you must remember that it was only yesterday that he came out from under Saruman's spell, and then we were not sure if you would awaken from your fevered sleep."
"I understand, but I thought it worth the try, for I hate to see Boromir so conflicted."
"Give him time. But now, I think it is time that you take some rest."
"I will, but first I had asked my father if I might speak with him."
"I will get him for you. Goodnight Legolas."
"Goodnight Mithrandir. And thank you for all that you have done. I know not what force told you to come to Gondor, but I am glad that you did. If not just for my own survival, but for the support I am sure that you have been to the others, especially my father. He is wise and loving, though rather rash at times when he is agitated by something."
At this Gandalf smiled. "If you really must know what brought me here to Gondor, I am not sure myself. I was visiting with my old friend Tom Bombadil when I suddenly had the urge that something was very wrong in Gondor. Gwaihir the eagle bore me as far as Rohan, where Shadowfax met me to race with all speed to Gondor. But you are most welcome all the same."
With a smile, the wizard existed Legolas' room, only to be replaced by Thranduil, who once again took to the seat by the bedside.
"Atar," began Legolas, once he was sure that his father was waiting for him to speak, "how upset are you with me?"
"Upset?" The elder elf looked quizzically at his son. "What ever do you speak of?"
"I must know how upset, angry, or disappointed you are in
me. For none of this would have happened
if I had not momentarily let down my guard.
I forgot the cardinal rule of a warrior.
For I listened to the men that night hunting orcs, listening to them speak of Aragorn
and Gondor's restoration. I should not have done so; my mind should
have only been on my surroundings."
Thranduil smiled warmly at Legolas. "You did only that which is natural, for you love your friends greatly. Saruman's powers were quite potent and his mind set on one task. Despite whether or not your mind was only on that which was around you, he would have found some way of ensnaring you. I could never be angry with you for that. In fact, I am rather proud of you, for I spoke with Boromir just now in the hallway, and he spoke of how bravely you acted whilst you were…under his watch. Many an elf might have be broken in spirit having to experience some of the ordeal you survived, yet you never once cried out, never once showed loss of morale, and instead showed courage in the face of hopeless odds. I am proud of you, my son, and I love you. I will admit, I over heard, accidentally of course, some of that which you spoke of to Mithrandir just before. It was very selfless of you to ask for such help for Boromir."
"Boromir is a friend and I cannot bear to see him suffer so."
"Regardless, it was still a very compassionate gesture. But come now, Leoglas. Please take some rest, for you are still weak from your battle and your wounds."
Legolas nodded, as he was already fighting the sleep that his body was so desperately calling for at this time. He closed his eyes in his weakened state and blissfully allowed himself to fall into a dreamless slumber.
