A/N: I found my computer problem yesterday and fixed it so maybe I can start posting my chapters on time now.
A/N: Just a little setup for this chapter ... Let's say that you had just been the victim of a vicious assault in your own home and as the result of that assault you are now blind. Your friends bring you back home and they say, "Trust us, you're safe now." But you know that somewhere in your house, perhaps even in the room you are in, the person that did this to you is still there – but you can't see to defend yourself. How would you feel?
A/N: Violence against anybody, male, female, animal or mineral, has deep physical and emotional consequences and to rise above what has happened and to be able to forgive takes more strength of character than most people realize.
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Chapter 35
Consequences
Súrion ran to the Healing Wing and quickly grabbed two extra emergency medical kits then ran out of the House and toward the stables. He was met midway by the other three Guards who were being followed closely by his own horse. Not waiting for the horse to stop, Súrion grabbed at the animal as it went by and after pulling himself to his mount's back, all four then galloped out of the gate. They almost ran into the returning hunters but kept on going, ignoring all greetings that the sons of Elrond and Legolas called out to them.
"I wonder where they were going in such a hurry and, now that I think of it, where were they going without Anayah?" Elrohir was as puzzled as the other three, for although Gwaihir had told them to return to Imladris as quickly as possible, none of them knew exactly what had happened.
Elladan stared after the retreating figures, frowning.
"I am getting a bad feeling about this. Perhaps we had better get home and see exactly what is going on."
The others nodded their heads and nudged their own horses into a gallop.
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None of them were prepared for the sight that met them when they stepped into the Hall of Fire. Elurin had met them at the door but when they had asked the trembling elf what had happened, he could not speak but gently guided them in the direction they needed to go.
Seeing the condition of the hall then taking in the sight of their father sobbing in Gandalf's arms, they rushed to him. Immediately Elladan reached for his father to look for the wounds that had evidently been bleeding all over the hall but when his father weakly batted his hands away the eldest twin looked to Gandalf, puzzled.
"I am afraid that the blood that paints the walls, floors and furniture of this fine hall does not belong to your father. The blood belongs to Anayah, for it appears that the demon has paid Imladris a little visit with every intention of taking her life."
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The four elves had traveled no more than a mile up the valley before they found Elias, standing in the path almost as if he had been expecting them, and the closer the Guards got to the horse, the more he began to toss his head and dance as if he was encouraging them to hurry. When they finally reached where the stallion was standing, they dismounted and began to look around.
"Where is she Old Man?" Although Semoro didn't really expect and answer, he as well as the others were surprised when Elias trotted off toward the nearby trees, clearly expecting them to follow.
At first they did not see her laying in the shadow of the trees but upon closer inspection, what they had thought was nothing more than a pile of leaves turned out to be the young she-elf. All four elves knelt around her, carefully removing the dead leaves that were sticking to her, having dried in the blood that was covering most of her upper body. Gently, Rahan checked her back and neck for tenderness and swelling and finding nothing remarkable, and with the help of the others, slowly turned her over onto her back. She moaned softly at the movement but otherwise remained unconscious.
For a moment, Rahan looked away, covering his eyes that were threatening to tear. When he looked back, he again had himself under control.
"We must get her back to Imladris for these injuries are way beyond my power to treat. However, before we try to move her we will need to bind any wound that is bleeding and stabilize any broken bones she may have."
Working as quickly and efficiently as they could, Rahan and Súrion reset her dislocated shoulder then bound the arm to her body to stabilize both the shoulder and it's broken collar bone. Saeros fashioned a splint for her ankle, which would need to be set at a later time. Then, after placing a temporary bandage around the worst of her head wounds, the elf took off his cloak, carefully wrapped her in it, picked her up and walked purposefully to his horse. Semoro held her while he mounted then handed the unconscious she-elf up to him, after which all five of them headed home.
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The others heard when the Guards returned to the house but by the time they had run to the door, Rahan was already heading toward the stairs that led to the family's living quarters.
Once he had reached her rooms, he walked inside and gently laid her on the soft bed. Elenath and Míriel already awaited them and had warm water already drawn to clean as much of the blood and debris off of Anayah as would be safe before her numerous injuries were seen to by a healer. The four guards left the room, closing the door behind them then lined up in front of the door, an elf-barrier that no one would breach although the hallway was crowded with all those who were waiting and wanting to help. Finally, after about half an hour, the door opened and two of the guards went back inside.
When Lord Elrond tried to enter the room, he found his way blocked by Rahan and Semoro, the two largest Guards whose faces were impassive as they faced the angry Healer.
"She is my foster daughter and this is my house and I WILL enter that room to treat her. Now please move to one side so that I may enter!"
"I apologize Lord Elrond, but I cannot let you pass. Only Mithrandir may enter at this time."
Elrond would have argued further but Súrion laid a hand on the Captain's shoulder.
"She is waking up. You had better come."
As Rahan went back into the room, Súrion took his place at the door, just as impassive and determined as his Captain had been.
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Rahan sat on the edge of the bed, careful not to jar her. Carefully, he smoothed the hair back from her face then took a deep, silent, calming breath for he did not want the injured young elf to know that he was shocked by her appearance. Both eyes were completely swelled shut and her face, neck and arms that he could see were one, great, swollen, multi-colored bruise decorated in numerous places with gaping wounds that would need stitching. Elenath and Míriel had not cleaned much of the blood off because to do so may have reopened the wounds before they were ready to be dealt with and so, would have contributed to further blood loss.
Hearing and sensing her Captain, Anayah turned her head toward him but did not speak.
"Hello young one. I see you have decided to grace us with your presence once more - I am honored."
He saw that she was beginning to tremble as shock started to set in and knew in an instant that they did not have a lot of time to treat her before she went critical on them. He pulled two extra quilts over her then took her uninjured hand and held it with both of his.
"Anayah, I think you know that you are back home and safe in your own bed."
When he felt her stiffen, he hurriedly continued.
"Do not be afraid, for Súrion and Semoro are standing watch at your door to keep you safe. We will not leave you."
He looked down and gently stroked her hand for he could think of no other way to comfort her and help her with the fear and pain she was currently experiencing. He could not even be sure if she was even alert enough to understand what was going on and what he was trying so hard to explain - all he knew was that he had to try something.
"Mithrandir says that your injuries are beyond his humble abilities to heal, so you must let your father treat you."
He was saddened by her reaction to his words. Anayah panicked and jerked her hand out of his, her heart rate and respiration doubled as she grabbed at the bed, trying, even with her damaged hand, to drag herself to the edge and to what she presently perceived as safety. Saeros carefully blocked her avenue of escape and Rahan knelt on the bed and gathered her into his arms, carefully holding her until she recognized who it was that held her, and calmed down. Ever so slowly, her breathing returned to normal and her heart rate slowed also. Her injudicious movements, however, had reopened some of the gashes on her body and she had again begun to bleed.
Her brothers and Legolas had been peeking around the guards at the door, trying to keep track of what was going on and when they saw her panic then saw the fresh blood on the bed covers, they tried to get into the room once again and once again found themselves blocked from doing so.
Súrion tried to reason with them.
"We all know that someone needs to treat her but she panics at the mention of anyone's name but Mithrandir and our duty to her says that we must honor her wishes. We will try to work through this problem as quickly as possible but for now we cannot allow you to enter and for that I am sorry."
"Has she specifically said no to her brothers entering the room?" Legolas couldn't understand why she would reject any of them, as they had not even been home at the time of the incident.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, holding her hand, Rahan had seen Anayah turn her head towards the door when the Mirkwood Prince had spoken. Placing her hand back on the bed he rose and walked to the door and stepped into the hall.
"Prince Legolas may I have a word with you please?"
Legolas walked up to the Captain followed by the twins and Aragorn.
"When you spoke just now, Anayah turned her head toward the door. Now, this is the first reaction other than panic that I have seen her make and so I am thinking that perhaps she will let you speak with her. If she does allows it, try to persuade her to let her father treat her."
Legolas nodded his head, then touching foreheads with the twins and Aragorn he turned and walked through the doorway.
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There was nothing that could have prepared him for what he saw and he had to close his eyes for a moment to try and master his own emotions. When he opened his eyes, he saw that Anayah had moved her good hand towards him so he carefully picked it up and held it to his heart and was rewarded for his efforts when he saw her head give a little jerk as if she had felt the beat. He was convinced that she was conscious and aware that he was there.
"I am here." It was all he could think of to say, as words seemed so inadequate at the moment.
"It hurts, Legolas." It was nothing more than a whisper.
"I know it does but we are trying to do something about that." He paused as he gathered his thoughts. "Anayah, do you trust me?"
"Yes." She whispered.
"Then if I asked you to, would you allow your father to come in and treat you?"
Again she panicked and tried to crawl away until Saeros again blocked her escape. This time it was Legolas who calmed her by gently rocking her until she calmed. "Just lie quiet, young one. We will figure this out. Be at peace."
When she had calmed down once more, he laid her down on the bed then knelt beside it so he could speak into her ears.
"You will allow Mithrandir to come into your room, is that correct?"
She nodded slightly.
"I have an idea to propose to you but I need for you to remain calm so that I can explain it to you. If you do not agree with the plan then we shall have to figure something else out. Do you understand what I am saying and do you agree with me so far?"
Again she nodded then gripped his hand harder as if the act gave her courage.
"All four of your guards will remain by your bed. Then your brothers will come in followed by Mithrandir and then finally by your father." He felt her tense up and hurriedly continued. "Your father will stand close enough to see and supervise but Mithrandir will stand by his side. Your brothers will then become your healers."
He held her hand to his cheek and smiled, knowing that though she couldn't see at the moment that she could feel him smile.
"Hey, you are not trying to run away! Does this mean you agree to my terms?"
"Yes."
It was a start, although there was still a long night to come.
TBC
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COMING NEXT: Healing Tears: "Gandalf talked to you, didn't he?" It was her turn to sigh. "Ada's wounds run just as deep as my own, for what he has gone through is something no being should ever have to experience." She looked at her visitor. "Possession is a rape of the mind - plain and simple - and for something like this to happen to a being with such a kind and gentle spirit is a thought almost too horrific to consider. I just do not know what to say to him that would help how he is feeling and I am worried that just the sight of me will be hurtful and I do not want him to hurt any more."
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kahui(): Thank you very much for your kind review. I am glad that you are enjoying the story. There have been some tough topics dealt with and there are some dark times ahead. But never fear, the reason for things will be revealed in due course.
Soccer-Bitch: Thanks for the review. Hope things are going well for you. Keep in touch.
DesolateAznVamp: Welcome back – I've missed you. Thanks for reviewing and hope you like this one.