Well, this chapter was quicker in coming than the last one, but it's not as
long as I promised. Hopefully I can find time to post the next one quickly
too. I hope this is to your satisfaction!
Thank you everyone for your reviews! They always motivate me to keep going. Please keep them coming!
Chapter Eighteen:
The forest was already becoming darker and darker. Shadows hung ominously behind the trees, and Legolas silently cursed himself for not bringing a torch. Though his vision was fairly good even in the darkness, he didn't want to take the chance that something could escape his eyes. On he rode, following the faint trail of hoof prints that had been left by the Mirkwood army on its march to the previous battle.
Finally he came upon his destination. Though he had been in battles before, their aftermath always sickened him. The dead bodies of the goblins had yet to be burned, as the day had been one of rest, so most were still sprawled out where they had been killed.
He looked around anxiously, impatient to find what he was looking for. A certain goblin with an arrow embedded in its chest, on the ground at the edge of an open area in the shape of a circle, caught his interest.
Legolas approached it and looked at the circle. The open space was surrounded by dead goblins, most with sword wounds riddling their bodies. He went back to the creature that had been killed by the arrow. Examining it more closely by flipping it onto its back, he saw that his face was frozen in a way that made it seem that it was laughing still. In his hand it held a long knife, dark blood dried onto its blade.
He pried it from the goblin's closed fingers and gasped as he grasped the hilt. His instance of connection with the knife had shown him that it was an entirely evil weapon. He dropped it quickly and bent down to peer at it.
The hilt was pure black with red symbols inscribed into it. The writing was foreign to Legolas, and he decided that he would have to wait for his father to decipher it, if even he could. The blade was a plain gray underneath the blood, and the edge appeared dull. Following the keenest edge with his eyes, he came to the end and did a double take. There was no point - it had been broken off. All that was left of the tip was a jagged fringe.
The Prince pulled a handkerchief from his tunic and picked the weapon up with it. Then he quickly mounted his horse and galloped back toward the castle.
* * * * *
Nora sat with Calathi on her bed. The maiden no longer had spasms or convulsions; she was too weak. Now she was feverish and her face was flushed. Nora quietly prayed that Legolas would return in time to save her. A tear fell down her eye as she added to her prayer that he would be back in time to at least say goodbye. Her mistress only got worse and worse, and there was not much hope left for her recovery.
It was dark outside now, and a chilly breeze flowed through the room. Suddenly the doors to the room burst open and both the King and Prince entered the room, as well as a few of the healers. Nora was quick to stand and curtsy to them, but Thranduil simply waved her away and told her to sit. She did so as she stared in apprehension at the new occupants of the room.
Legolas went to sit beside the maidservant and took a deep breath before beginning, "My lady, do you know of the Dark Age?"
Nora jerked in surprise and then nodded, saying, "Aye, my Lord, I know of the war against the Dark Lord Sauron."
The Prince continued, "I have found the blade that dealt this injury to Calathi. It is a weapon that was forged in Mordor during the reign of Sauron."
Calathi's friend stared openly at Legolas. "But - how."
"I do not know how the creature obtained it, though my belief is that the goblin that attacked her had been a minion of Sauron, or has been to Mordor, and so still carries his weapon."
"Can you save her?" Nora's lip started trembling in anticipation of his answer.
"That I also do not know. My father believes that the broken tip of the knife is still embedded in Calathi's flesh. Our hope is that when we remove it she will recover." He squeezed her hand for a moment before going to join the King at the bed.
The few servants that had entered the room were arrayed around the bed and were firmly holding Calathi's arms and legs. Legolas looked at his father in surprise and worry. "She will feel this?"
"I am unsure, Legolas. She may, and so we need to take these precautions. Of course, I hope that she doesn't." He patted his son's shoulder and then picked up the clean knife he had brought with him. They had to reopen the wound.
Carefully Thranduil placed the knife over the black scar of Calathi and pushed slightly into her skin, and then he dragged it down the entire length. Legolas held his breath, but the she-elf did not struggle against the elves holding her. The only reaction was a slight moan coming from her. *Maybe she does feel it, but she doesn't have the strength to fight it, * the Prince thought. He cringed at the thought and prayed for the sake of his love that it wasn't so.
Dark blood began to stream from the new incision. Legolas wiped it away so his father could work. Slowly the King slid the knife into the wound, and then he picked up another one and put it in parallel to the first. Next he pulled the ends apart, opening the wound further so he could find the bit of metal inside her.
Thranduil scrutinized the opening for a moment, searching for the missing piece. He leaned close to one spot and then stood straight again, reaching for tongs. He faced Calathi again and took a quick breath before bending over her arm and pushing the tongs into her open skin. He moved them around for a moment, feeling for something, and then he suddenly yanked them out, a small point of gray metal held in his grasp.
Holding it up to eye level, the King examined it for a moment before nodding in satisfaction. He handed the tongs to Legolas and gathered the needle and thread to sew up the incision on Calathi. He turned around again and nearly dropped the materials in surprise. Calathi's wound was healing right before their eyes. Legolas placed what he was holding on a table so he wouldn't drop it.
Nora stood up when she heard the commotion coming from the bed and walked toward her mistress. She yelped and then held a hand over her mouth to keep from screaming. The black specs on Calathi's arm disappeared, and the white area slowly returned to its normal color. The new scar forming over her wound was no longer black, but a healthy shade of pink.
Legolas cried out in relief and confusion. He assumed that the danger was over for his love, and now she could begin recovery. The wound finished healing, and everyone stood still for a moment in shock. Suddenly Calathi screamed and sat up straight. She saw everyone and instantly stopped, her eyes coming to rest on Legolas. She mouthed, "I love you." Then she fell back and fainted dead away.
So... what did you think? Again, please review! The more I get the faster I'll post the next chapter. I hope you guys like this story so far!
Thank you everyone for your reviews! They always motivate me to keep going. Please keep them coming!
Chapter Eighteen:
The forest was already becoming darker and darker. Shadows hung ominously behind the trees, and Legolas silently cursed himself for not bringing a torch. Though his vision was fairly good even in the darkness, he didn't want to take the chance that something could escape his eyes. On he rode, following the faint trail of hoof prints that had been left by the Mirkwood army on its march to the previous battle.
Finally he came upon his destination. Though he had been in battles before, their aftermath always sickened him. The dead bodies of the goblins had yet to be burned, as the day had been one of rest, so most were still sprawled out where they had been killed.
He looked around anxiously, impatient to find what he was looking for. A certain goblin with an arrow embedded in its chest, on the ground at the edge of an open area in the shape of a circle, caught his interest.
Legolas approached it and looked at the circle. The open space was surrounded by dead goblins, most with sword wounds riddling their bodies. He went back to the creature that had been killed by the arrow. Examining it more closely by flipping it onto its back, he saw that his face was frozen in a way that made it seem that it was laughing still. In his hand it held a long knife, dark blood dried onto its blade.
He pried it from the goblin's closed fingers and gasped as he grasped the hilt. His instance of connection with the knife had shown him that it was an entirely evil weapon. He dropped it quickly and bent down to peer at it.
The hilt was pure black with red symbols inscribed into it. The writing was foreign to Legolas, and he decided that he would have to wait for his father to decipher it, if even he could. The blade was a plain gray underneath the blood, and the edge appeared dull. Following the keenest edge with his eyes, he came to the end and did a double take. There was no point - it had been broken off. All that was left of the tip was a jagged fringe.
The Prince pulled a handkerchief from his tunic and picked the weapon up with it. Then he quickly mounted his horse and galloped back toward the castle.
* * * * *
Nora sat with Calathi on her bed. The maiden no longer had spasms or convulsions; she was too weak. Now she was feverish and her face was flushed. Nora quietly prayed that Legolas would return in time to save her. A tear fell down her eye as she added to her prayer that he would be back in time to at least say goodbye. Her mistress only got worse and worse, and there was not much hope left for her recovery.
It was dark outside now, and a chilly breeze flowed through the room. Suddenly the doors to the room burst open and both the King and Prince entered the room, as well as a few of the healers. Nora was quick to stand and curtsy to them, but Thranduil simply waved her away and told her to sit. She did so as she stared in apprehension at the new occupants of the room.
Legolas went to sit beside the maidservant and took a deep breath before beginning, "My lady, do you know of the Dark Age?"
Nora jerked in surprise and then nodded, saying, "Aye, my Lord, I know of the war against the Dark Lord Sauron."
The Prince continued, "I have found the blade that dealt this injury to Calathi. It is a weapon that was forged in Mordor during the reign of Sauron."
Calathi's friend stared openly at Legolas. "But - how."
"I do not know how the creature obtained it, though my belief is that the goblin that attacked her had been a minion of Sauron, or has been to Mordor, and so still carries his weapon."
"Can you save her?" Nora's lip started trembling in anticipation of his answer.
"That I also do not know. My father believes that the broken tip of the knife is still embedded in Calathi's flesh. Our hope is that when we remove it she will recover." He squeezed her hand for a moment before going to join the King at the bed.
The few servants that had entered the room were arrayed around the bed and were firmly holding Calathi's arms and legs. Legolas looked at his father in surprise and worry. "She will feel this?"
"I am unsure, Legolas. She may, and so we need to take these precautions. Of course, I hope that she doesn't." He patted his son's shoulder and then picked up the clean knife he had brought with him. They had to reopen the wound.
Carefully Thranduil placed the knife over the black scar of Calathi and pushed slightly into her skin, and then he dragged it down the entire length. Legolas held his breath, but the she-elf did not struggle against the elves holding her. The only reaction was a slight moan coming from her. *Maybe she does feel it, but she doesn't have the strength to fight it, * the Prince thought. He cringed at the thought and prayed for the sake of his love that it wasn't so.
Dark blood began to stream from the new incision. Legolas wiped it away so his father could work. Slowly the King slid the knife into the wound, and then he picked up another one and put it in parallel to the first. Next he pulled the ends apart, opening the wound further so he could find the bit of metal inside her.
Thranduil scrutinized the opening for a moment, searching for the missing piece. He leaned close to one spot and then stood straight again, reaching for tongs. He faced Calathi again and took a quick breath before bending over her arm and pushing the tongs into her open skin. He moved them around for a moment, feeling for something, and then he suddenly yanked them out, a small point of gray metal held in his grasp.
Holding it up to eye level, the King examined it for a moment before nodding in satisfaction. He handed the tongs to Legolas and gathered the needle and thread to sew up the incision on Calathi. He turned around again and nearly dropped the materials in surprise. Calathi's wound was healing right before their eyes. Legolas placed what he was holding on a table so he wouldn't drop it.
Nora stood up when she heard the commotion coming from the bed and walked toward her mistress. She yelped and then held a hand over her mouth to keep from screaming. The black specs on Calathi's arm disappeared, and the white area slowly returned to its normal color. The new scar forming over her wound was no longer black, but a healthy shade of pink.
Legolas cried out in relief and confusion. He assumed that the danger was over for his love, and now she could begin recovery. The wound finished healing, and everyone stood still for a moment in shock. Suddenly Calathi screamed and sat up straight. She saw everyone and instantly stopped, her eyes coming to rest on Legolas. She mouthed, "I love you." Then she fell back and fainted dead away.
So... what did you think? Again, please review! The more I get the faster I'll post the next chapter. I hope you guys like this story so far!