Disclaimer: Please see chapter one
Many thanks once again to my Beta Katy
Chapter five
Tense moment's passed; all Glorfindel could hear was the rapid beat of his own heart. Surely he had heard Elrond wrongly? He could not have spoken the words he had just heard. All he could do was shake his head as if to clear it as he numbly repeated. "Not good?"
A sigh was his own reply before his old friend spoke once more. "You heard right, Mellon Nin, I hate to admit it." He reached forwards once more and gently began to palpate Legolas' head, being careful not to press too hard. Glorfindel could only watch as Elrond expertly continued his examination, but he found he was praying once more to this Valor that his fears would be ungrounded. All he needed to do, though was look down at the pink tinged towel he still held clutched in his hands to realise his fears were very grounded.
It was confirmed when Elrond's hands stilled and a deep frown settled on his face. He turned once more to Glorfindel. "There is a break, right under this laceration. The swelling must have hidden it to an extent. I certainly did not feel it earlier. This changes things." He sat back once more watching the unconscious Prince.
"What can I do?" Both Elrond and Glorfindel had know Legolas for many years, looked upon his as a surrogate son after the number of times they had patched him up after some scrape or adventure.
"All we can do is carrying on as we are. It may be some time before he regains consciousness or it may be today. I am afraid it is just a matter of waiting. The fever worries me. Along with the skull fracture it makes the possibility of seizures greater than normal. We will have to be vigilant. We can not let his fever get too high. Thranduil needs to be informed; Legolas' injuries are too great not to inform him." Elrond raked his hands through his hair before continuing. "Ai!! How do I tell him this in a letter? That his only child may die or end up with damage to his brain? How do I do this?!!"
Glorfindel was shocked at the desperation he heard in his friend's voice, he was used to him being calm and in control. He had in fact only seen Elrond like this a few times; so few in fact that he could count them on one hand.
"We tell him the truth. No more No less. Anything else will cause only greater problems. Then we wait. Legolas will need us to be strong. Whatever happens both he and Thranduil will need us to be there for them not despairing in a corner." He reached for Elrond and squeezed his shoulder in support.
Elrond gave a tired smile. "You are right as usual, Mellon Nin. What would I do with out you here?"
"Go grey? Kill your sons? Go mad? Any number of things, but I am here so please, do not contemplate any of those things or I just might beat you to them!" Glorfindel's efforts were rewarded with a weak chuckle.
"Hannon le, Glorfindel. A truer friend I could never have wished for." He stood. "Will you remain with the prince while I see to sending a letter to Thranduil? I really do not want Legolas left alone and would prefer it was just us until my sons arrive. I am sure we will be supplanted then. Legolas will not know what has hit him."
"I will stay, never fear." A full rather evil grin flashed across Glorfindel's face. "How long do you think they will mother him for?"
"Longer than normal I would think, seeing as this time he was not even with them. But I do not think they will touch Thranduil's mothering. He may just carry out his threat and lock Legolas in his room and throw away the key." They both laughed at the images this comment brought to mind.
"Aye, but knowing this little one he would not be safely locked away for long." Still chuckling at Glorfindel's comment Elrond left the room.
Still smiling Glorfindel sat back down on the side of the pallet and reached for the cloth that was waiting in the bowl. "Now, Penneth, you will not keep us waiting too long will you? You know how impatient both your Ada and Estel are. They may tear Imladris apart if you insist on them waiting." The last thought caused him to sigh as he settled into his vigil once more.
It took some time for Elrond to write the letter to his satisfaction. He did not think he had ever written such a difficult letter before in his long life time. To have to write it to an old friend did not help either. Then once the letter was ready he had to choose a messenger he could trust; bearing in mind Thranduil's warning. In the end he chose an old comrade from his childhood. He knew he could trust Thalen with his life. Thalen accepted the task with out question. Nor did he comment at Elrond's instructions to make his way to Lothlorien before cutting across country to Mirkwood.
Thalen left with Elrond's entreaty to be vigilant ringing in his ears. As for Elrond, as he watched the other Elf leave he felt guilty, doubly so. Firstly for making Thalen go by a longer route and also for the letter he was carrying. He just hoped that when Thranduil opened the letter he would not be alone. Elrond knew how much he would hate to receive one like it, but an only son?
As Thalen disappeared Elrond turned and made his way back to the Hall of Healing and his charge there. He found Glorfindel in the same spot that he had left him.
"All done. The message has gone. Go eat. I will stay here, when you return I will do the same. We will both need to rest." As Glorfindel left the room without arguing Elrond settled himself in the position he had just vacated and took up the job of sponging his patient's face.
An hour later he was rejoined by Glorfindel and they changed places once more. Dusk was falling as Elrond made his way through the empty hallways. Normally meals were taken in the Hall of Fire but it was too late for that so he made his way towards the kitchen. Opening the door he was met by the warm welcoming aroma of baking bread. His stomach gave a loud grumble reminding him that he had not eaten since the night before.
Proceeding further into the kitchen he was met by the cook, a warm welcoming smile in place. "Good evening, Lord Elrond. Lord Glorfindel asked that I prepare some food for you, would you like me to arrange for it to be taken to your study?"
"No, thank you, Calenli, I will eat here if that is acceptable with you?" Now he was here, with the aroma of cooking food his stomach would not stop it's protest that he eat/ At Calanli's insistence he was ushered to the table and made to sit.
Food was gathered and within minutes Elrond was contentedly eating whilst passing pleasantries with Calenli. He could only smile as they reminisced about all the times his sons and Legolas had 'raided' the kitchen in the middle of the night.
Calenli could only smile at the speed with which the food was being consumed by his Lord. Glorfindel had been the same, as they talked he gathered together a collection of fresh fruits to serve as desert. Once Elrond had finished all on his plate, the desert appeared before him like magic.
Elrond was half way through this when they heard the sound of running feet. Elrond had just made it tom his feet when the door was flung open and one of his junior healers, panic etched on his face ran in. "My Lord….. Prince Legolas…. You must come!"
Elrond did not need telling twice. What ever was happening Glorfindel has sent for help. He left the other healer gaping after him as he ran…. RAN to the Hall of Healing.
The room was in utter chaos when he arrived. Four other healers had joined Glorfindel. Three were trainees and taking shouted orders from the older Elf. The five of them were huddled around the single pallet. It became clear to Elrond as he moved further into the room just what exactly was happening. Legolas was having a seizure.
An Elf held each limb, trying desperately to keep their patient on the pallet. Glorfindel was doing his best to make sure Legolas was breathing with no difficulties, but was having trouble as the force of each muscle contraction arched the tense body off the pallet. As Elrond reached Glorfindel's side he could see the Legolas' jaw was clamped shut, the muscles bunched and standing proud of the skin, showing how strong the seizure was. Blood and drool combined to dribble down his chin. Elrond winced in sympathy as he made his way over to the herb table; it was obvious that Legolas had bitten his tongue with the force of the spasm wracking his body.
He wasted no time and once he had the paste ready and at the consistency he needed he made his way back to the pallet. "I need him on his left side."
This action was carried out without preamble and within moments Elrond was giving the younger Elf the medicine he needed. Unfortunately there was only one way he could give the treatment, if they tried to give it orally then they would only have greater problems and possibly cause Legolas more injuries; Elrond was just grateful that Legolas was still unconscious, he would have been mortally embarrassed other wise. They all waited tense for the herbs to take effect.
Legolas' body gave one giant convulsion that dislodged the Elf on his left leg; sending him crashing to the floor. He then went completely limp, all animation leaving his as the fit ended. They all took a moment and a deep breath to regain their composure.
"Thank you for your help. It may be best if at least one of you remains near. We may need help again, but for now that will be all. Deanol you will need to have some one take a look at you, that was quiet a fall you took." Deanol nodded his agreement and at the dismissal the four Elves bowed and left the room, leaving just Glorfindel and Legolas with Elrond as he washed his hands.
Elrond looked up from the wash bowl before taking a towel and wiping his hands. "Well, now he has had one fit he will in all likelihood have more. I will prepare a tea, he will need it six hourly and if he fits. It will hopefully keep them at bay." He gave a deep sigh. "I really do not want to have to dose him in that way again. It is degrading, effective yes, but degrading." It was then that noticed the growing red stain on Legolas' right thigh.
Working together once more, they had the dressing removed within seconds. Neither could stop the wince that crossed their faces. The stitches that Elrond had so carefully treated the wound with had been ripped from the wound. It was bleeding heavily once more and the surrounding skin looked a deep red and very angry.
"Elbereth! I will need to pack this, I could not even begin to re-stitch, and the infection is too great. We will have to wait for the infection to pass. Can this get any worse?" Elrond was once more gathering all the herbs and roots he would once again need.
It took half an hour to re-treat the wound for Elrond to be happy with it. Once they had Legolas re-settled on the freshly made pallet, Elrond gently brushed the loose, tangled hair from the pale face. It was a relief to see the young Elf relaxed once more.
Glorfindel took Elrond's place as he moved once more to the table and began to prepare a kettle of tea. He made enough to treat Legolas through the next day. He really did not know how Legolas would be able to cope with much more strain, at least he cold reduce the chances of him fitting.
The night passed in a blur. Between the two of them they kept Legolas comfortable. Every hour they would make sure Legolas was given fluids. Dehydration would only cause more harm added along side the fever that had yet to break.
Morning found Glorfindel asleep on one of the other pallets in the room. They had taken it in turns to get some rest, but neither would leave the room. To both of their dismay Legolas' condition remained unchanged.
A tentative knock at the door brought Glorfindel to awareness and he sat up quickly, watching as Elrond crossed to the door and opened it. To reveal Calenli, arms laden with a tray full of food. He swept through the door and sweeping aside the herbs and roots on the table set down the tray. "Breakfast, My Lord's. I thought you might like to stay here with the Prince. How is he?" The concern was heart felt and genuine. All in Rivendell loved Legolas, almost as much as those in Mirkwood.
"The same, no change at all. Thank you, Mellon, for the food. I was going to come and talk to you later, could you make a weak broth for the Prince? Valor knows when he last ate and he will need nourishment to help fight this infection." Elrond was quickly dividing the food.
"Of course, that will be no problem. Would a weak, milky porridge help until the noon day meal?"
"Yes, that would be perfect. Thank you." Elrond had no chance to say any more, he could only watch as the other Elf left the room just as quickly as he had entered. Glorfindel's chuckle echoed in the room and Elrond found himself joining in. The cook never stayed in one place longer than a minute.
They had just finished their meal when Calenli returned a bowl in his hand. Passing it to Elrond he lifted the now empty tray and with Elrond's thanks once more ringing in his ears left the room.
The day continued. One by one the search parties returned. All empty handed and with no news to report, until night fell once again. Only one group had yet to return.
Night slowly became morning. Legolas still remained deeply unconscious, much to Elrond's dismay. His wounds showed no signs of healing, which was another worry. Sounds from outside caught Elrond's attention.
Rising he left the Hall of Healing, leaving Glorfindel to watch Legolas. A large crowd had gathered in the square outside, but they parted to allow Elrond through. It revealed Andechoriel's party, laden with a litter. The litter contained a covered body. As Elrond moved to Andechoriel's side no one noticed the figure that slipped away, heading in the direction of the Hall of Healing…