********For Disclaimer see Chapter One*********
Quick note – So Sorry to be so long in getting this chapter up but I spent a few day pretty sick, running a fever and the whole bit - had to have my mum-in-law come and stay over for I could not even lift the twins or take care of my older child. So as I was returning to the land of the living, then I had a complete computer meltdown and just last night after purchasing a whole new hardrive and working for 8 straight hours to get it installed and set up (arrrggggghhhh It would not set up as a master drive so I had to slave it to my CD-Rom and then make it bootable from there, it would not format to full capacity because of a bios problem and so on and so on) so I am sorry to all my readers that I was so long in not updating this and that it is not longer than it is. On to my Call outs………..
b-squee – Thank you so much. You have no idea how much that means to me, because the one thing I struggle with the most is my dialogue. And I loved that line too. It just felt so right.
Cheryl W – Well if you do not know by now that I LOVE you what more can I say! I get private reviews from you all the time as you beta for me and I am so grateful for your help.
*** - On that note - ***
I just wanted to add that there truly are some great people here and FF.net like Cheryl W and Quickbeam1 – who are not only great writers themselves but also we are blessed to have their advice, help and interest all on their own time. Big HUGS and Thanks to you both! And IF any of you reading this have not yet Read "MIRE" by Cheryl W, well finish my new chapter (REVIEW PLEASE – I AM BEGGING NOW) and then scurry your little buts on over there and read it. Then when you are done that and still waiting for me to post another chapter Pop over to "Relesen" by Quickbeam1. Both Stories are complete and AMAZING!
boromir – I am so glad you like it, you love it and darling you can have more of it anytime you like! That is speaking of course to the character of Boromir who also makes me a little weak in the knees – and not necessarily the reviewer who could possibly be a woman – do not know for it was unsigned!!
Luinthien – I am working on making it LONGER seeeeeeeee :o)
Tychen – I am glad you noticed my little nod towards hypothermia, very observant, and I am always struggling with how to put these things in medieval type context. I had really tried to bring up the very real dangers of Aragorn going into shock as well – and how people can, unless treated quickly, deteriorate rapidly and possibly die. But I had trouble with that concept here I may go into it more later.
Quickbeam! – I look forward to your reviews so I hope this chapter keeps you interested
**************Back To the Story***********
Knowing more wood was needed to keep the fire ablaze all night, Gimli still hesitated to leave the side of his two friends. Looking over at the form of the slender Silvan Elf, Gimli watched as Legolas sorted though his bag of healing herbs and retrieved a small earthen cup from his satchel. Bearing in mind that Aragorn was in the best hands possible, Gimli determinedly set about completing his task of not only gathering wood but also making sure that no more harm befell his friends under the cover of the eerie silvery darkness.
Moving his satchel and healing herbs next to the still shivering Aragorn, Legolas began to speak to him in Elvish, his voice musical and enchanting.
//"In your blood, Estel, flows elven blood. Gifted to you from the line of Elros Tar-Minyatur, the endeared and only brother to Elrond, father of your beloved Arwen Undomiel. Elros too chose a mortal life and anguished the heart of his brother. This is why Elrond fears the same fate for his daughter and yet he holds you in as dear a place in his heart as a son, Aragorn. Arwen declared to you that the light of the Evenstar does not wax and wane and that she will be ever steadfast in her love for you. It is that love and that bond that guided us to you, and to that bond I am now indebted. I will not let you fall into shadow while I still draw breath, my friend. Thank the Valar that you are descended from Elros first King of N£menor and longest-living of all in the race of Men, though the elven blood in your blood is diminished, you above many before you, possess the distinct qualities of the D£nedain for you have already lived past many of the years of other men." //
Legolas continued to put herbs into his small cup, crushing many of them with his fingers. He took from his cloak the Elven brooch given to all of the fellowship by the Lady Galadriel, and with its sharp pin he pricked the end of his finger. In the moonlight the blood that welled up there looked like thick black ink. He tipped his finger over the earthen cup and let three drops fall onto the assembled herbs. Again he chanted in Elvish,
//"One drop to heal the mind, one drop to make body whole, and one drop for binding together mind, body and spirit. With this blood of my body I desire to capture within you the healing powers of your Elvish kin and draw on it to make you strong again.//
Taking his water skin from his waist, Legolas added enough water to almost fill the cup containing his extraordinary mixture. Setting it carefully on the ground beside him, he sat at Aragorn's head and maneuvered himself skillfully until he had managed to cradle the Ranger's head in his lap. Taking up the cup, Legolas used a soft leaf from his bag of healing herbs to painstakingly trickle the elixir into his wounded friend's mouth. The process was very slow. Legolas had to work with just enough liquid to make Aragorn want to swallow as a reflex even in his unconscious state but not enough to make him start to choke.
More than an hour had passed when Legolas's expert hearing alerted him that Gimli was returning.
As he neared the fire, Gimli set his cache of newly found wood down and drew closer to Aragorn and Legolas. "How is he faring lad?" Gimli asked anxiously.
"His trembling is lessening, and he is starting to feel warmer to my touch though it will be some time before I will know if the herb mixture I gave him is working." Legolas replied.
Gimli reached out and put a hand on Legolas' shoulder and said "If even half the stories I have heard about the power of elven magic, are true, then I have no doubt it is working."
"I hope you are right, Gimli. I truly hope you are correct. I have called on a great many powers of Elven magic this night." Legolas sighed and returned his look back down at Aragorn whose head, now dotted with beads of perspiration, lay fitfully across the Silvan Elf's lean legs.