Chapter 5
The sun had started to set by the time the scouting party reached the safety of Mirkwood palace.
"I'm going to find my father; I think the recent orc activity needs to be monitored."
"Of course," Aragorn said, supporting is injured companion, "I'm going to go to the healing wing and sort his shoulder out."
"Alright, I'll join you when I can," the elf nodded and walked through the corridors to his father's study.
"Who are you human?" a sharp voice demanded.
"A friend to your prince Legolas and I am on my way to the healing wing, my friend needs help." Aragorn answered not really answering the elf's question.
"Do you need a healer?"
"No, I am a healer, I just need some water, some pain lessening herbs and bandages." He told the elf who went to find the needed objects as Aragorn laid Halbarad on a bed.
"I'll be fine Aragorn...it is just a wound..." he tried swatting the younger ranger away.
"A wound that could get infected, and if it does it could be serious. Perhaps even life threatening." He looked to see the elf return and place the objects on a chair close by. "Hannon lle." He nodded, "this will hurt, do you want me to put you out?"
"I'll be fine," the older gritted through his teeth as the younger started probing around the wound.
"I did warn you," he shrugged, "wait," he called to the elf who was about to leave, "could you hold him down for me?"
"I suppose," the elf answered haughtily, to liking the idea of helping a stranger, no less a human stranger and firmly held the injured human's shoulder being mindful of the broken arrow shaft that stuck out just below his hands.
"Ready?" Aragorn muttered as he twisted the arrow out in an easy motion, luckily it was easy to get out and caused little bleeding.
"By the Valar Aragorn, could you have been a little rougher?" he hissed as the younger man applied pressure to stop what little bleeding came from the small hole, luckily it was not deep.
"You exaggerate Mellon nin," he shook his head as he started cleaning the wound.
"Trying to kill him Estel?" Legolas smiled entering the room.
"Legolas..." he started.
"No matter how many years pass, no matter what you say and no matter what you call yourself, you will always be Estel to me mellon nin." He smiled squeezing his friend's shoulder briefly, "you can go now," he dismissed the other elf who nodded gratefully and left.
"It is not deep, it will not need stitching." He muttered finishing dressing the wound and crushed some herbs and mixed them with a glass of water. "Drink this, it will ease the pain."
"Oh now you give them to me?" Halbarad growled, taking a sip, "How very thoughtful of you for making it taste better." The other two laughed.
"My lord," an elf burst into the room, "your father wishes to speak with you immediately, the beast has attacked again."
"I'll be right there..." Legolas started but the king appeared in the doorway.
"Hello Estel, it is good to see you again," he smiled.
"It is good to see you too my lord," the man smiled, "this is my friend Halbarad, a fellow ranger of the Dúnedain and my second in command."
"It is an honour to meet you Lord Thranduil;" Halbarad bowed his head slightly, "Estel speaks very highly of you and this palace, I see he did not exaggerate at its extravagance."
"The elf mentioned about a beast attacking." Aragorn interrupted the pleasantries.
"Yes the past few months there have been reports and evidence of a creature attacking travellers, brutalising them, but unfortunately we have been unable to capture it." Legolas explained.
"What does it look like?" Halbarad asked.
"We do not know. All we know is that it is neither orc nor human."
"Could it be an elf?" Aragorn asked.
"No, there is no living creature that could act like that, not even wargs are so brutal." Thranduil shook his head. "It has attacked again anyway. A small family travelling to Laketown. Mother, father, two children and a baby, all...butchered."
"Who would ever let such a creature live?" Aragorn whispered, picturing the massacred bodies of its victims. "We should get back to the main camp and put the captains on alert, in case there are more of these things. You feel well enough to travel Halbarad?"
"I told you I'm fine." He muttered.
"I'll come with you," Legolas smiled, "it has been long since we rode together Estel, and I will inform your brothers. They too need to know of this threat." He said decidedly, Thranduil was about to protest, "Ada, I'll be fine I can take care of myself, you know that."
"Fine, but don't take too long over it." Thranduil nodded, knowing he would not win the argument.
"I'll go and sort the horses out. We'll leave at dawn." Legolas nodded and left the room, followed by Thranduil.
"Rest up Halbarad. This will be a long journey." Aragorn smiled before walking to his own rooms close by.