Sickness in the Wilderness

Chapter four
Recovery

"Breathe deeply. This may hurt."

Searing pain shot through Elrohir's back. He cried out and groggily tried to push the hands that were hurting him away.

"Stay still! The wound is poisoned."

Another voice, a male's, said gruffly. "I liked it better when he was unconscious. He was easier to handle.

Elrohir groaned. "I liked it better when I was unconscious also. It was easier to feel no pain."

"He has his wits back, at least," the first voice said amusedly. Elrohir thought sleepily that it was a girl. Gentle hands rubbed a cool salve into the fiery cut on his back. He winced, but tried to stay still.

"I am Elrohir," he said, "and my brother Elladan..."

"Yes, we know," the girl said. "He helped save my people. Tailuren has returned to us, and told of your troubles."

"Estel? Is he worse? I was coming to get help from your band; we heard of one learned in healing, called Ryalthiar, and I was intercepted as I ran..."

"I know this," the girl interrupted again. "I have sent one of my fleetest messengers with curing herbs to your brother. Do you not remember telling us of your plight? You staggered into camp with blood running down your back from the arrow, a flock of orcs right behind you."

"I...no, I do not remember that," Elrohir said.

"Your brother is being well looked after," the girl said soothingly. "Perentad here has been watching over you for the last day and night. You had a very close call,"

"Has there been any news of my brother Estel? Or Elladan? How do they fare?"

"Last I heard, the messenger came back saying that your brother had improved slightly," Perentad said. His large hands held Elrohir still as the girl wrapped his back with clean linen.

"Thank you, my friends," the elf said. He felt his eyesight blur.

"Rest now," the girl said .....................................................................................................................

The next day, Elrohir awoke. By the quiet sounds of the forest birds and the fresh smell of the dew on the nearby plants, he knew it was early morning.

He sat up and gingerly felt his back. Surprisingly, under his thin shirt, only a long, tender scar marked the wound. He took off the compress of dry herbs that had been protecting it. Pulling on his tunic, he stood up. Only if he shrugged his shoulders or bent over did he ache.

"I take it you are feeling better."

Elrohir turned. A young elf stood behind him holding his cloak and bow. She handed them to Elrohir.

"Thank you," he said. "Is there any news of my brother?"

She smiled. And with that smile, Elrohir's heart turned. Then she laughed so happily that Elrohir knew that nothing could possible be wrong if she was joyful in such a way.

"Your brother is here in camp," she said, brushing her long, light brown hair away form her face. Elrohir gulped as he looked into her deep gray eyes. He bowed low.

"Thank you, my lady," he stammered. "May I see him?"

"This way," she said. "He was brought last night with your twin, Elladan. The herbs I sent strengthened Estel enough to travel the distance here so that I could further aid him in his recovery,"

Walking through the tents, they came to several elves sitting around a low fire. One form was heavily cloaked, and leaned weakly against another.

"Estel!" Elrohir rushed to his adopted brother. The boy looked up, and his face brightened.

"I heard of your bravery in facing the orcs," he said. "Is your wound better?"

"Much better," Elrohir said. He embraced Estel carefully.

Elladan was speaking with another elf, but broke off the conversation to greet Elrohir. "I was told you would awake sometime this morning," he grinned. "And you seem to be much improved."

"Yes, thanks to the kindness of her who tended to me," Elrohir nodded at the girl standing nearby.

"You don't know who she is?" Elladan said in surprise.

"Well..." Elrohir blushed, "we have not been...formally introduced. I was somewhat agitated on my arrival."

Elladan motioned for the girl to come closer. He put his hand on Elrohir's shoulder.

"My brother, Elrohir of Imladris, Son of Elrond. This is the elf-maid Ryalthiar, healer of the Wandering, daughter of Fialthan, sister of Perentad."

And Elrohir, as he kissed Ryalthiar's hand in thanks for her care, knew that he would never forget that moment when he met the loveliest elf in Middle Earth. .......................................................................................

Elladan paced back and forth through the camp. Estel was clearly on the mend, and felt right at home with the Wondering elves. He would sit and talk with them for hours, or watch as they showed him a new way to fletch arrows or season fine wood a knife handle of bow.

Elrohir, too, seemed content to be with the Wandering. He enjoyed long discussions with the elder elves, such as Fialthan and Tailuren. Much of his time was spent comparing his writing with those of the others'. Also, Elladan had a feeling that Elrohir and Ryalthiar were becoming more and more attached to each other. It would be cruel to take Elrohir away so soon.

"So Why," Elladan thought furiously. "do I feel that I must move on?"

He turned over his prospects in his mind. The only reason he felt he should leave was that the idea the Wandering had of building a fortress in the stony mountains had entranced him. What a quest it would be to rid the stone mountain of orcs and transform it into a safe citadel worthy of the elf-kind! Elladan shivered with excitement. He enjoyed challenges.

But he could not storm the orcs alone. Only a fool would do such a thing. He decided to ask Tailuren if he could requisition any willing warriors to come with him. It would not be an easy task to accomplish, but with hard determination it could be done...

"Elladan!"

The elf turned. Estel ran up to him, breathing hard. "Guess what has happened?" he panted.

Elladan raised his eyebrows. He noticed uneasily that Estel seemed tired out by his short run, and the boy's cheeks were flushed pink in the cool weather.

"Another, band of the wandering has arrived in camp," Estel said excitedly, without waiting for Elladan to guess, "and there are many young elves my age!"

Elladan hid a smile. Elves his age, indeed. Estel often forgot that elves matured much more slowly than humans, and the young elves, though they acted his age, were probably at least two or three hundred years old.

Estel went on. "The elves want to have competitions. Not in earnest, but so we can have practice and be more comfortable in real combat. May I compete? Please let me!"

Elladan looked at his younger brother. Barely five and a half feet tall yet, he was almost a head shorter than the elves. He did not even have the soft beginnings of a beard. His curly, dark brown hair as mussed over his shoulders. Estel looked pleadingly at Elladan.

"Oh, please let me! I want so badly to participate! I truly am feeling better."

"I will ask Ryalthiar if she thinks you are fit enough to have a mock battle with the elves," Elladan finally said. "But if she believes you are not ready, then you must accept her word as law. Is this understood?"

"Thank you, brother. I understand well. The games are in three days, so I have that much time to practice by myself." He ran off for his bow.

Elladan sighed. What would he do if something happened to Estel? He had nearly lost him recently; he did not want to take that risk again. .....................................................................................................................