A/N
Wow! Thank you for the positive feedback, it really makes me feel good to be complimented on my work. Before I continue, I'd like to warn any out there that happen to be action lovers that this story is now going to take a very angsty turn.
And now on with the story!
PS Does anyone have Spark notes (Cliff Notes) on the Simarilion? I've been trying to read it, and I don't think it's my cup of tea.
Chapter 3:
Healing
The Ride back to Rivendel had been one of the longest in Glorfindel's life as he held the quickly fading elf in his arms. When he reached the palace, Elrond was outside waiting for them, a contingent of healers at his side. When he came to a halt, Elrond himself moved forward to retrieve the prince while Glorfindel dismounted. Elrond quickly let his eyes roam over Legolas, noting the gaping holes in his stomach, one of which was a through and through, and his wounded hand, which was festering, a sign of poison. "Valar," he gasped at the frail condition the younger elf was in. "We must get him inside quickly!" he told the other healers as he himself took off into the house, giving orders to servants to fetch various items he would need as he flew past them. As he sprinted down the hallway of his home, Elrond quickly formed a mental list of all that needed to be done to save the elfling and of what problems may arise during the healing process. Dashing into the guest room that Legolas always occupied when he came to Rivendel, he gently laid the prince on the soft bed. He then gathered the various herbs and medical supplies he had long ago learned to keep in the room together just as the rest of his healing staff had gathered in the spacious room. The healers immediately crowded around the bed each beginning their own tasks, leaving Elrond to personally tend to the elfling that had become as a fifth child to him. As he removed Legolas's tunic, Elrond's eyes widened at the damage the wraith had inflicted upon the poor prince. He then checked over Legolas's hand, grimacing when he found signs of a powerful Morgul poison. "Oh, elfling, what have you done now?" murmured Elrond as he tried to stem the heavy bleeding of Legolas's stomach wounds. Another healer then took his place, leaving Elrond to begin fighting the poison and severe fever that had set in. As they worked, Elrond would sing songs of light and comfort to the young prince, as they could not risk giving him any drugs for the pain or knocking him out, as he might never wake.
So passed the night. Elrond was constantly forced to purge more poison from the younger elf's body before sponging him down to control his fever. By dawn, Legolas was finally stable enough to be allowed to sleep and was no longer in within death's grasp. Having made sure of this, Elrond went to check on Frodo, before heading to his own chambers to get some rest. On the way he was stopped by Glorfindel. "My Lord?"
"Yes, Glorfindel?" Elrond prompted.
"Well, I was wondering why I didn't see Estel over you like he usually does when you're tending to Legolas." Elrond chuckled at the question.
"Indeed he would have had I not used some very powerful tools of persuasion to get him to rest," Elrond replied, causing Glorfindel to raise an eyebrow.
"Oh?" Glorfindel asked with a smirk. "You know Elrond, sooner or later Estel's going to develop an immunity to your sleeping herbs, or stop drinking your tea and then what will you do?" Elrond laughed at his friend before patting him in the shoulder and retiring to his chambers.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ A few hours later
A loud pounding on his door woke Elrond from his slumber right before Estel charged in. "Ada! Why did you drug me?" Aragorn was furious. He wasn't at all happy about the fact that his father seemed to drug him at a whim, especially when he wanted to help with Legolas whom he hadn't seen yet.
Elrond sighed at the intrusion. "Good morning, Estel. I', fine thank you. I trust you slept well?" Elrond said, pointedly ignoring his foster son. Aragorn merely graced him with an unamused glare.
"You did not answer my question, Ada," Aragorn growled at the elf.
"You were weary beyond belief, my son, and would have keeled over had you not taken some rest. In the state you were in you would have hindered me more than you would have aided me," Elrond put it simply and truthfully for the man. "Now if you have finished your little tantrum, which was quite unbecoming of a man your age, perhaps you would like to check on Legolas while I examine Frodo?" Aragorn smiled at that, instantly forgetting his anger at his father as he eagerly nodded his assent before making for the door. "Oh, Estel," the elf called, halting his movements. "Legolas was very close to death last night, so please go easy on him."
"I will use the utmost care, Ada." With that Aragorn was gone.
Elrond listened to the eager strides as they headed in the direction of Legolas's room before dressing and heading to see to Frodo.
Aragorn stood before the door to Legolas's room, mentally preparing himself for what he was going to see. He knew Legolas was very ill and though no longer at death's door, he would still be incredibly weak. "Okay," he murmured to himself, reaching for the handle. To his surprise, however, the handle turned on its own and the door opened. "Arwen!" Aragorn gasped upon seeing who had opened the door. Arwen smiled at his expression.
"Were you planning on coming in to see your friend, or were you just admiring the door?" she asked as Aragorn recovered from his shock.
"What are you doing here?" he asked suspiciously, the protective side of him showing.
"Relax, Estel. Legolas is my friend too and I was sitting with him." She then smiled at him mischievously. "That is before a certain ranger came and just stood in front of the door causing me to open it for him. Aragorn smiled sheepishly at the slight lecture in Arwen's voice.
"Sorry," he said meekly before following Arwen into the room. As he entered, his eyes were immediately drawn to the bed, seeking his friend's lithe form among the linens. His heart clenched when he saw his friend. Even from the doorway he could how badly Legolas had been injured. The elf's torso was completely covered in bandages, as well as his hand, and his face was ashen. Aragorn also recognized some herbs on the table as being ones used to fight poison. "By the Valar, Aragorn whispered as he approached the side of his stricken friend. Arwen merely sniffed as she fought off her own tears. Legolas had been her friend her entire life and seeing him like this broke her heart. Comforting arms wrapped around her as Aragorn, having heard her attempts to not cry, pulled her into his embrace.
"Oh, Aragorn!" she cried into his shoulder I was so frightened I heard he was out there and even more so when he came back. He was so close to death and there was so much blood. I...I thought he would leave us for Mandos that very night." Aragorn just stroked her hair and listened to her sob, gaining as much comfort from the close contact as Arwen.
"Shhh, it's all right Love," he whispered into her hair, his own eyes filled with tears. "Legolas is all right," he said to himself as well as Arwen. They stood that way for a while, getting over the fear they had both harbored over Legolas.
"If you are finished, perhaps you'd like to say hello to me, if not I recommend you retire to someone else's room. So much sappy emotion at one time may cause me to go into a relapse," came a weak voice from the bed.
"Legolas!" they both shouted simultaneously before running over and embracing the elf.
"Ow!" Legolas cried out when they put pressure on his wounds
"Oh, sorry," said Arwen before pulling away. Aragorn just smiled innocently before releasing his friend from the painful hold he was inflicting.
"Well you stubborn elf, you are obviously well enough to poke fun at your two best friends, but how exactly do you feel?" asked Aragorn as he assessed the condition of his friend for himself.
"I ache and am very tired," Legolas admitted with a sigh. He was frustrated with his weakness.
"Cheer up, Honey, you'll be better before you know it," Arwen said in a sisterly tone, brushing a stray hair away from Legolas's face. Legolas smiled at her slightly, showing his appreciation for her care.
"Thank you," he said before turning to Aragorn. Seeing that the two needed to talk, Arwen quietly left the room after planting a small chaste kiss on Legolas's forehead. As the door clicked shut Legolas motioned for Aragorn to sit in the chair next to the bed that Arwen had vacated to open the door for Aragorn. Aragorn opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by Legolas. "It was not your fault, Aragorn. You don't have to apologize." The elf had known Aragorn's thoughts before he had even voiced them.
"But you fought that wraith protecting me." Aragorn argued.
"That is true," Legolas consented. "However, I did it because it was my obligation."
"What?" Aragorn asked, confused.
"Aragorn, I've known you since you were brought to Rivendel. I've watched you grow from a reckless little boy to an even more reckless man." At that Aragorn chuckled before Legolas continued. "And Long ago I took an oath to watch over you, just as you have me. We're friends, Aragorn, this stuff is always happening to us! If you feel guilty about it every time this happens, you're going to age a lot quicker." Legolas ended, smiling at his friend.
"You're right, Legolas, as usual," Aragorn sighed before redirecting the conversation to lighter matters.
The two remained that way for a couple of hours until Legolas started to nod off. Seeing this, Aragorn left his friend to sleep, and was oblivious when, several hours later, the poison made a last attempt to claim the prince's life.
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!
Wow! Thank you for the positive feedback, it really makes me feel good to be complimented on my work. Before I continue, I'd like to warn any out there that happen to be action lovers that this story is now going to take a very angsty turn.
And now on with the story!
PS Does anyone have Spark notes (Cliff Notes) on the Simarilion? I've been trying to read it, and I don't think it's my cup of tea.
Chapter 3:
Healing
The Ride back to Rivendel had been one of the longest in Glorfindel's life as he held the quickly fading elf in his arms. When he reached the palace, Elrond was outside waiting for them, a contingent of healers at his side. When he came to a halt, Elrond himself moved forward to retrieve the prince while Glorfindel dismounted. Elrond quickly let his eyes roam over Legolas, noting the gaping holes in his stomach, one of which was a through and through, and his wounded hand, which was festering, a sign of poison. "Valar," he gasped at the frail condition the younger elf was in. "We must get him inside quickly!" he told the other healers as he himself took off into the house, giving orders to servants to fetch various items he would need as he flew past them. As he sprinted down the hallway of his home, Elrond quickly formed a mental list of all that needed to be done to save the elfling and of what problems may arise during the healing process. Dashing into the guest room that Legolas always occupied when he came to Rivendel, he gently laid the prince on the soft bed. He then gathered the various herbs and medical supplies he had long ago learned to keep in the room together just as the rest of his healing staff had gathered in the spacious room. The healers immediately crowded around the bed each beginning their own tasks, leaving Elrond to personally tend to the elfling that had become as a fifth child to him. As he removed Legolas's tunic, Elrond's eyes widened at the damage the wraith had inflicted upon the poor prince. He then checked over Legolas's hand, grimacing when he found signs of a powerful Morgul poison. "Oh, elfling, what have you done now?" murmured Elrond as he tried to stem the heavy bleeding of Legolas's stomach wounds. Another healer then took his place, leaving Elrond to begin fighting the poison and severe fever that had set in. As they worked, Elrond would sing songs of light and comfort to the young prince, as they could not risk giving him any drugs for the pain or knocking him out, as he might never wake.
So passed the night. Elrond was constantly forced to purge more poison from the younger elf's body before sponging him down to control his fever. By dawn, Legolas was finally stable enough to be allowed to sleep and was no longer in within death's grasp. Having made sure of this, Elrond went to check on Frodo, before heading to his own chambers to get some rest. On the way he was stopped by Glorfindel. "My Lord?"
"Yes, Glorfindel?" Elrond prompted.
"Well, I was wondering why I didn't see Estel over you like he usually does when you're tending to Legolas." Elrond chuckled at the question.
"Indeed he would have had I not used some very powerful tools of persuasion to get him to rest," Elrond replied, causing Glorfindel to raise an eyebrow.
"Oh?" Glorfindel asked with a smirk. "You know Elrond, sooner or later Estel's going to develop an immunity to your sleeping herbs, or stop drinking your tea and then what will you do?" Elrond laughed at his friend before patting him in the shoulder and retiring to his chambers.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ A few hours later
A loud pounding on his door woke Elrond from his slumber right before Estel charged in. "Ada! Why did you drug me?" Aragorn was furious. He wasn't at all happy about the fact that his father seemed to drug him at a whim, especially when he wanted to help with Legolas whom he hadn't seen yet.
Elrond sighed at the intrusion. "Good morning, Estel. I', fine thank you. I trust you slept well?" Elrond said, pointedly ignoring his foster son. Aragorn merely graced him with an unamused glare.
"You did not answer my question, Ada," Aragorn growled at the elf.
"You were weary beyond belief, my son, and would have keeled over had you not taken some rest. In the state you were in you would have hindered me more than you would have aided me," Elrond put it simply and truthfully for the man. "Now if you have finished your little tantrum, which was quite unbecoming of a man your age, perhaps you would like to check on Legolas while I examine Frodo?" Aragorn smiled at that, instantly forgetting his anger at his father as he eagerly nodded his assent before making for the door. "Oh, Estel," the elf called, halting his movements. "Legolas was very close to death last night, so please go easy on him."
"I will use the utmost care, Ada." With that Aragorn was gone.
Elrond listened to the eager strides as they headed in the direction of Legolas's room before dressing and heading to see to Frodo.
Aragorn stood before the door to Legolas's room, mentally preparing himself for what he was going to see. He knew Legolas was very ill and though no longer at death's door, he would still be incredibly weak. "Okay," he murmured to himself, reaching for the handle. To his surprise, however, the handle turned on its own and the door opened. "Arwen!" Aragorn gasped upon seeing who had opened the door. Arwen smiled at his expression.
"Were you planning on coming in to see your friend, or were you just admiring the door?" she asked as Aragorn recovered from his shock.
"What are you doing here?" he asked suspiciously, the protective side of him showing.
"Relax, Estel. Legolas is my friend too and I was sitting with him." She then smiled at him mischievously. "That is before a certain ranger came and just stood in front of the door causing me to open it for him. Aragorn smiled sheepishly at the slight lecture in Arwen's voice.
"Sorry," he said meekly before following Arwen into the room. As he entered, his eyes were immediately drawn to the bed, seeking his friend's lithe form among the linens. His heart clenched when he saw his friend. Even from the doorway he could how badly Legolas had been injured. The elf's torso was completely covered in bandages, as well as his hand, and his face was ashen. Aragorn also recognized some herbs on the table as being ones used to fight poison. "By the Valar, Aragorn whispered as he approached the side of his stricken friend. Arwen merely sniffed as she fought off her own tears. Legolas had been her friend her entire life and seeing him like this broke her heart. Comforting arms wrapped around her as Aragorn, having heard her attempts to not cry, pulled her into his embrace.
"Oh, Aragorn!" she cried into his shoulder I was so frightened I heard he was out there and even more so when he came back. He was so close to death and there was so much blood. I...I thought he would leave us for Mandos that very night." Aragorn just stroked her hair and listened to her sob, gaining as much comfort from the close contact as Arwen.
"Shhh, it's all right Love," he whispered into her hair, his own eyes filled with tears. "Legolas is all right," he said to himself as well as Arwen. They stood that way for a while, getting over the fear they had both harbored over Legolas.
"If you are finished, perhaps you'd like to say hello to me, if not I recommend you retire to someone else's room. So much sappy emotion at one time may cause me to go into a relapse," came a weak voice from the bed.
"Legolas!" they both shouted simultaneously before running over and embracing the elf.
"Ow!" Legolas cried out when they put pressure on his wounds
"Oh, sorry," said Arwen before pulling away. Aragorn just smiled innocently before releasing his friend from the painful hold he was inflicting.
"Well you stubborn elf, you are obviously well enough to poke fun at your two best friends, but how exactly do you feel?" asked Aragorn as he assessed the condition of his friend for himself.
"I ache and am very tired," Legolas admitted with a sigh. He was frustrated with his weakness.
"Cheer up, Honey, you'll be better before you know it," Arwen said in a sisterly tone, brushing a stray hair away from Legolas's face. Legolas smiled at her slightly, showing his appreciation for her care.
"Thank you," he said before turning to Aragorn. Seeing that the two needed to talk, Arwen quietly left the room after planting a small chaste kiss on Legolas's forehead. As the door clicked shut Legolas motioned for Aragorn to sit in the chair next to the bed that Arwen had vacated to open the door for Aragorn. Aragorn opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by Legolas. "It was not your fault, Aragorn. You don't have to apologize." The elf had known Aragorn's thoughts before he had even voiced them.
"But you fought that wraith protecting me." Aragorn argued.
"That is true," Legolas consented. "However, I did it because it was my obligation."
"What?" Aragorn asked, confused.
"Aragorn, I've known you since you were brought to Rivendel. I've watched you grow from a reckless little boy to an even more reckless man." At that Aragorn chuckled before Legolas continued. "And Long ago I took an oath to watch over you, just as you have me. We're friends, Aragorn, this stuff is always happening to us! If you feel guilty about it every time this happens, you're going to age a lot quicker." Legolas ended, smiling at his friend.
"You're right, Legolas, as usual," Aragorn sighed before redirecting the conversation to lighter matters.
The two remained that way for a couple of hours until Legolas started to nod off. Seeing this, Aragorn left his friend to sleep, and was oblivious when, several hours later, the poison made a last attempt to claim the prince's life.
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!