Chap 11 - Sickness and Stories
Disclaimer: I own not any canon characters or places, as much as I would wish otherwise, they are the property of Tolkien and therefore I make no money from this venture.
Dimrost picked up the limp body of the youngest prince and ran inside the palace to the healers. Speed was of the essence now; the poison from the spider bite would undoubtedly be strong. That spider was too large to have come from anywhere other than from the northern area of the southern reaches. The thought did little to comfort the master archer as he burst into the healing rooms. Mithril, the Head Healer, turned around. She was about to chide Dimrost for barging in like that but stopped before the first word left her mouth at the sight of the little price's prone form.
"What happened?" she gasped.
"Spider bite." Dimrost said simply, laying Legolas down on one of the beds.
"Arianwen, Brithon!" Mithril called to two of the other healers before turning back to Legolas and removing his tunic and shirt to get a better look at the wound.
There were four puncture marks on the prince's left arm. Two on the top and two on the bottom, each was a centimeter in diameter and bleeding heavily.
"Arianwen, clean those wounds, Brithon, get something to dress them with but don't forget to put the athelas salve on the wound first." Mithril issued her orders before turning to Dimrost, "Dimrost, what can you tell me about the spider? I need to know everything."
Dimrost launched quickly into a description of the beast. When he had done, Mithril nodded, thanked him, and hurried into the next room to fetch some herbs. By the time she came back, Legolas' arm was dressed, but his face was deathly pale. It was obvious he had lost a lot of blood, but how much was impossible to tell.
Mithril instructed Arianwen on how to make the right antidote while Brithon laid his hands on either side of Legolas' head. A faint blue light could be seen forming around them as Brithon gave a small amount of his power to Legolas to help him stay alive until the antidote was issued. The young prince's breathing eased a little and removing his hands, Brithon breathed a sigh of relief. Power channelling was not the most enjoyable of things, but all healers had to be able to do it and preferably, do it well. Sometimes it was the only way to save a patient's life. Dimrost saw he could do no more there and left in search of Thranduil.
Meanwhile, Thranduil had led Legolas' three friends and his guests into the great Hall where he intended to find out what had happened. They had just entered when Arhival appeared with Dimrost. He had plainly told her what had happened, it was obvious from the look on her face. Although she didn't like to admit it, the prince's mentor had grown fond of her mischievous charge. Turning to face Galathil's children, he asked,
"What happened?"
Quietly, Arhival translated what was being said for the three worried young elves that stood beside her.
Galador spoke up, "We went to the clearing. Then Legless-"
"Legolas." Galathil corrected under his breath.
"Legolas," Galador continued, "Started bossing us around before he decided to ignore us all together. Then he announced he was going to leave, he wanted to go somewhere more exiting I think. He was just going to abandon us so we had no choice but to follow. He led us to a mud hole and pushed me and Eldanna in before rousing some spiders with this silly song."
Before Galador could go any further, Earelen interrupted,
"You lying little orc!" she spat in Sindarin, "You know that's not true! You ran off before we even reached the clearing and we had to come after you when we heard Eldanna's cries for help."
"Earelen!" Arhival said warningly, it wouldn't do to call the son of the Dale negotiator an orc.
Thranduil turned to the elflings (who were all glaring at Galador) with one eyebrow raised. He then turned back to Galador and said, "According to Earelen, you and Eldanna ran off before reaching the clearing, forcing the others to come and look for the pair of you."
"That isn't true!" Galador said angrily, "Those brats would have gladly seen us spider bait before so much as thinking of helping us!"
Spider Bait. The words formed a worrying connection in the king's mind. What if his son had intended to go spider baiting?
"How can you say that?" Aros asked in disgust. He knew Galador wouldn't understand, but the adults would and would tell the treacherous human where his place was, "Legolas saved your life and this is how you repay him! By trying to pin the blame for your foolhardy actions on him."
Thranduil turned once again to the elflings, and switching to Sindarin asked, "Would you like to recount your side of the events?"
Balar began the tale; "We were very near the clearing, so Arhival deemed it would be safe to let us get there on our own. We were all together at that point. Galador and Eldanna were slightly further behind, talking about something and Aros, Earelen, Legolas, Elanor and myself were up front, Legolas acting as a translator. When we reached the clearing, we realised that Galador and Eldanna were missing. A few minutes later we heard Eldanna screaming and calling for help."
Balar stopped and Earelen picked up the story, "We didn't know what to do at first. The shouts were coming from the south and we've always been told not to go that way. We all know how dangerous it is. After a moment of indecision, it was Legolas who said we had to go and help the humans. We couldn't just leave them. So, I took Elanor on my back and we went after them. I tell you now, it was lucky we arrived when we did."
She shuddered and Aros continued for her.
"Galador and Eldanna were trapped in one of the mini bogs and a spider had just turned up on the other side of the clearing. Legolas and me went to distract the spider whilst Earelen and Balar got Galador and Eldanna out of the bog. I fell, and the spider was baring down on me. I shouted at Legolas to leave me but he wouldn't." Aros swallowed hard, "He jumped in front of the spider and saved my life. Legolas got it partially stuck in the bog, but before he did that, it bit him. He saved me." Aros finished miserably. It was obvious he felt responsible for what happened.
Balar concluded the tale, "Legolas told us to run, so we did. Thankfully we all got back. But please, you must believe us; we wouldn't have gone against the trust you gave us. We wouldn't do anything to endanger any of the humans."
Thranduil sighed; he had no idea whom to believe. He thought Galador was lying, just from the way he talked and his body language, but he couldn't just accuse the boy on a hunch. He gave a brief account of the tale the elflings had just told him to the human children and then asked if it was true.
Eldanna and Elanor nodded solemnly. Eldanna looked miserable at the fact she had run off with her brother, but he did not share the remorse.
"So what if it is true?" he snarled, "That brat had no right to tell me what to do. I'm nearly double his age."
"Galador!" Galathil cried out, shocked and angry.
"Actually," Aegnor said calmly, "Legolas is nearly double your age. You're what, nine summers? Legolas is nearly eighteen."
"Yeah right." Galador sneered.
"You'll find it perfectly true. You forget, elves age differently to humans."
Galador was about to make some sort of rude reply when Galathil put a hand on his son's shoulder.
"By your leave Thranduil, I would like to take my son to our quarters." The man's voice was as cold and hard as steel and full of suppressed rage at his son's actions.
Thranduil nodded, "I will see you in my office later."
Galathil turned and lead Galador out the room.
While all this was being discussed, Legolas lay on a bed in the Infirmary. A few minutes after Brithon had completed the power transfer, the young prince groaned and stirred. He blinked and the world swam back into view. He groaned again and tried to kick some of the blankets off of himself, he was sweltering.
"Hush, lie still." Came a voice from beside him.
Legolas turned to see Mithril standing there.
"But I'm so hot." He whispered hoarsely.
Mithril felt his brow and shock her head; "It's the poison playing tricks on your senses Prince Legolas. You are actually icy cold. But apart from that, how do you feel?"
"My head's pounding like there's an angry dwarf inside trying to get out," Legolas whispered through cracked lips, "My throat's so dry, my arm feels as if it's on fire, my whole body aches and my stomach is writhing as though I've just eaten live snakes."
Mithril stroked the young prince's hair off his face and asked, "Will you drink this for me? It'll help you feel better."
Legolas nodded, anything that would stop the incredible pain he was in. Mithril helped ease him into a sitting position then raised a small cup to his lips, Legolas took a sip. Instantly, his stomach protested violently. He retched. Mithril quickly grabbed a basin and held it up so Legolas didn't have to be sick over himself. The little prince vomited and retched into the basin for a few minutes before slumping back against his pillows. Arianwen came with a fresh basin and took the old one away, glancing sympathetically at Legolas.
Mithril made as to get the young prince to try and take some more medicine but he shied away from her.
"Please caun nin, you must drink this."
Grimacing, Legolas tried again to take the medicine. He was successful at keeping it down this time, but only just. This small effort left him exhausted; he fell back against the pillows once more and his eyes fluttered shut. Mithril stared worriedly at the small form beside her. It wasn't natural for elves to sleep with their eyes shut; they only did so when seriously injured or ill, which didn't happen naturally either.
A few hours later, after Galador had been dealt with, Galathil had apologised to Thranduil and the whole ordeal had been cleared up, Aros, Balar and Earelen came into the Infirmary. Legolas was still asleep, but Mithril told the young elves that they could see him.
"Call me if there's any change, I need to go and make some more antidote." She told them.
They nodded silently and walked quickly over to where their friend lay. His skin was ice cold and nearly as white as the sheets that covered him. His left arm lay on top of the sheets, bandaged neatly. He moaned and turned slightly in his unnatural sleep. The three friends stood beside him, staring miserably down upon the pale face of their friend.
"Is there anything you could do to help him sleep more easily Earelen?" Aros asked quietly.
Earelen bit her lip, then nodded and said quietly, "There is one thing but I've never done it before. I heard naneth talking to adar about it, but I don't know if I'll be able to. I'll need your help."
The two boys agreed instantly. Anything they could do to help their friend. Aros and Balar took Earelen's hands in their own while she slowed her breathing. Slowly, her pupils turned silver. She trembled slightly, but stayed upright.
She was walking through the forest, it was dark and the air was suffocatingly heavy. Looking around, she saw him. Legolas was sitting in the middle of a small clearing up ahead. He was shaking. As she drew nearer, Earelen realised he was crying.
"So alone." She heard him moan, "All alone in the darkness. No one here to help me, why can't I die? Why do I have to suffer under the Shadow?"
"Legolas!" Earelen called out to the young prince.
"Earelen." He breathed as he turned around.
Earelen dropped down beside him and caught the prince in a tight embrace, which he returned.
"You're not alone." She whispered to him, "Never ever, ever. We won't leave you. You don't have to suffer alone. You have friends. We will never leave you, always remember that."
Legolas' breathing calmed a little and the boys saw tears in Earelen's eyes. They wondered what she was seeing, what Legolas was dreaming about.
"We'll help you though this and we'll be together forever. Don't leave us Legolas, please don't leave us."
Legolas' hold on Earelen tightened as he whispered, "I won't leave you, I promise."
"Heart to heart, soul to soul, mind to mind." Earelen whispered, "Our friendship will remain unchanged through out the ages of the earth. We will not part."
"Diolla le mellon nin." Legolas whispered.
The darkness around them was easing and the air was lighter. Legolas was beginning to realise just what his friendship with Aros, Balar and Earelen was. It was more than just a friendship. Little did they know it, but the others were realising too.
Just then, Legolas cried out in pain as a convulsion wracked his body.
"Legolas!" Earelen cried, fearful for her friend.
"The poison." Legolas groaned before crying out again with the agony.
Earelen was torn from the young prince and flung back into the real world. She staggered and Aros caught her. The convulsions wracked Legolas' body in this world too.
"Mithril!" Balar yelled as Legolas' eyes flew open as he gasped in pain.
Mithril, Arianwen and Brithon were through in an instant. Arianwen shepherded the young ones out before returning to the prince's side. Mithril was holding the prince's head gently; whispering calming words to him while Brithon carefully unwrapped the dressing on Legolas' arm. Arianwen fetched the athelas salve and the vials of antidote Mithril had prepared earlier. Once the dressing was off, she took one of the antidotes and after warning Legolas that what she was about to do would sting a little, poured a small amount onto each of the puncture marks that had already begun to heal. Legolas cried out as the liquid touched his arm. He felt like white-hot pokers were being pressed into the wounds. Arianwen then began to apply the athelas salve. Legolas retched miserably, the pain was too much. Mithril barely had time to raise the basin before he vomited. Legolas groaned as he flopped back against the pillow. He was so tired of the pain. Tears poured down his face as Arianwen re-dressed the wound and Mithril gave him small sips of water. Then Mithril picked up the second vial. Legolas grimaced as she poured pale green liquid into a glass and brought it up to his mouth. Legolas moaned and squeezed his lips firmly shut.
"Please Legolas," Mithril said softly, "You need to drink this. You have to get better, you can't leave us now little one."
Legolas remembered his promise to Earelen and opened his lips a crack. He gagged on the first few sips, but after that it went down more easily. Once he had taken the medicine. Legolas allowed himself to be taken back to merciful oblivion. He slumped against the pillows as he passed out again.
Translations
Caun nin - my prince
Naneth - mother
Adar - father
Diolla le mellon nin - thank you my friend.
Replies to Reviews:
Daw the minstrel: Yes, if there's one thing they can be credited with, it's bravery. Poor Thranduil indeed. I never thought that the kids might get in the way of the arrows though. Well, hope you enjoy this chapter!
Legolas-gurl88: He didn't think it was stupid, but then again what's that old saying about bravery and stupidity being one and the same? Glad you like it, hope this chapter's as good!
Nellas: Soon enough for you. Legolas does seem to get into trouble a lot; but then again, he's just a little elfling looking for fun. Thanks for that, hope you like this chapter too!