Disclaimer: I still don't own any of it!
A/N: I'm absolutely amazed! You all are so wonderful! Thank you so much for all the wonderful feedback! Some of this chapter may seem sort of slashy, but that is NOT how I intended it! (Read my profile, I don't write slash.) Hope you like CHAPTER SIX!
Prejudices
Night wore on. Soon Aragorn was stumbling again, the brief adrenaline rush that had pulsed through him when he woke to the wolf attack wearing off. The orc poison attacked his systems with a vengeance. So wrapped up was he in his own failing body, he did not notice Legolas weakening. The Elf's strength began failing fast as he was forced to support more and more of Aragorn's weight. Aragorn was caught off guard when Legolas crumpled to the forest floor, unconscious.
The man dropped to his knees, "Legolas?! Legolas!" Aragorn laid a hand on the Elf's forhead and noted with shock that he was feverish. Cursing, Aragorn undid the bandage around the wolf-bite with shaking hands, his fingers clumsy and muscles weak. The man cursed again when he saw the red, inflamed bite. Despite their best efforts, Legolas' wound was quickly becoming infected. Aragorn dragged his friend from the path and once again started a small fire. Uncorking a vial, Aragorn dumped its contents onto the wound. It bubbled and fizzed wildly before turning a sick, blackish green. Aragorn wiped away the revolting liquid and poured another vial of liquid down Legolas' throat.
Working tirelessly, Aragorn ignored his weakening body, pushing himself without rest through the night, constantly checking the Prince's pulse and breathing. Legolas regained consciousness as dawn broke. Aragorn leaned over him, eyes bloodshot, "Legolas? How do you feel?" Legolas groaned, "Like I took on one of your brothers' dares and lost..." Legolas looked up at his friend and gasped, "Estel!" The Elf shot up, "Oh, Valar! Estel, this is not good!" Aragorn sighed, "It could not be helped. Don't worry, I took more of Ada's tea...And I'm doing better...Really." Legolas scowled, "You are not. I can see you are not doing better. Please...Let us go. We are not that far from my father's halls...I can make it, then we can both be treated..." Aragorn sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Legolas stood, hiding his alarm at how much of his strength had been sapped.
Without warning, Aragorn's eyes widened and he began to gasp. He placed a hand on his heaving chest. Legolas dropped to his knees in front of the man and put his hand on his friend's chest. His eyes widened when he felt how fast Aragorn's heart was beating. No sooner had he done this when Aragorn passed out. Legolas caught the man and was startled to feel the man's heart was no longer racing—it was barely beating at all! Frightened by such a drastic change in so short a time, the Elf knew they had to move quickly and to do that, one of the packs had to be left behind.
Legolas took his rations and medical supplies and shoved them into Aragorn's pack, covering his own over with leaves and forest matter. Donning the pack, Legolas crouched and scooped his friend up, fear giving his weary body strength. The man's fever had returned with a vengeance. Legolas went as fast as he could, desperate to get back to his father's halls where Lord Elrond would be arriving soon. The sun was high overhead when Legolas reached the gates.
"Halt! Who goes there?" one of the sentries called out. Legolas squinted up, "Thaladir! It is I, Legolas! Please, open the gates, quickly!" The soldier ran to obey and met Legolas as he made his way through.
"Help me get him to my rooms without my father the wiser...Please, Thaladir..." Legolas whispered brokenly. The Elf nodded, though he shared Thranduil's view of men, Legolas was his friend. The soldier took the pack and led the way, checking for anyone who might see them. When they finally made it to Legolas' rooms, he asked, "Why? Why do you risk your father's wrath? You know he did not take kindly to this man before! Why do you bring him back? And with the Imladris delegation coming! Word has been received, Lord Elrond will arrive by night fall!"
"He is my friend, Thaladir...That is enough. But he saved my life twice in the past several days..." Legolas responded softly. Thaladir snorted, "He saved your life, only so he could not be blamed for letting you die." Legolas' jaw clenched and he looked at the sentry, "If those things are not enough, then know this, something we did not have time to tell my father; he is Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Heir of Isildur and Strider, Ranger of the North, yes...Those things you know, as does my father, but he is also Estel, adopted son of Lord Elrond, brother to Elladan and Elrohir...If not for his blood, he would be one of us..." Thaladir paled, "What?" Legolas nodded, "It is so. I-I would have let him continue on his way, if Lord Elrond were not coming here..."
"Why should it make a difference where Lord Elrond is?" Thaladir asked. Legolas shook his head, "Thank you, Thaladir, for helping me. Now, you best return to your post, before you are missed. And if you tell anyone of what I have said, I will personally see to it that you spend the next century in the dungeons." Thaladir bowed and retreated from the room. Legolas set about tending his still-unconscious friend. Aragorn began to convulse just as the door shut behind Thaladir. Legolas raced to his friend's side and tried to hold him down. The fit passed as quickly as it had come, but returned again. For over two hours, Legolas fought to keep Aragorn from hurting himself as a new set of convulsions racked his body. Finally, it seemed the fits were over. Legolas began to bathe the man's brow with cool water, trying to cool the raging fever.
The Elf's brow furrowed when Aragorn began to flinch at his touch. Soon, the man was crying out in pain. He woke and his pupils were dilated so much, his normally silver eyes were nearly all black, save a tiny rim of color. The man was gasping and tears ran down his cheeks. Legolas made another batch of Elrond's tea and Legolas was dismayed when Aragorn shook his head, then was sick into the basin Legolas had been dipping the cloth into that he had been using to help cool the fever. The Prince cleaned out the basin and refilled it, but hesitated at resuming trying to cool Aragorn's fever.
"I-it is alright, mellon nin...Th-the fever i-is the least of-of my worries...H-how did..?" the man asked softly. Legolas smiled, "Hush, do not worry about the how. Your father will arrive by nightfall, I am told. He will heal you. It will be well," the Elf reached out to place a reassuring hand on Aragorn's shoulder as a wave of pain washed over the man, but then realized that it would only hurt his friend more and drew back. The pain intensified, until Aragorn began to cry.
Legolas ached to help his friend, it shook the Elf deeply to see his normally unflinching friend cry in pain. "Wh-what would you have me do, Aragorn?" Legolas pleaded. Aragorn looked up at him, "H-hold me...I-if I cannot b-be wi-with m-my Ada at-at th-the end, i-it would b-be y-you I w-would ch-oose..." Legolas swallowed, "You are not going to die tonight..." He reached out to do as the man asked, but hesitated, knowing the pain he would cause with his touch. Aragorn gasped, "I-I would-rather h-have m-more pain a-and k-know y-you are the-there than n-not, m-mellon nin..." With that, Legolas gathered the man into his arms. Aragorn lay there tense and breathing hard, but clutched Legolas' hand and seemed comforted, if not in body, then in spirit.
Hours later, to both the Prince's relief and dismay, Aragorn had passed out. It was a relief as the extreme pain seemed to have disappeared but, dismaying because now Legolas could not get the man to stir in the slightest. The only indication that Aragorn still lived was the very slight, slow rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. Legolas sat with his head in his hands, exhausted when a sharp knock startled him.
He went over and opened the door and found his father there, radiating fury. "Where have you been?! The contingent has been home for over a day! The delegation from Imladris is less than an hour away and here you are, sulking in your room! You are filthy! It looks like you've been rolling in the mud! Hurry up and make yourself presentable and be down in the main hall to help welcome our guests!" Thranduil roared. Legolas pursed his lips, eyes blazing. He bowed, "As you wish, Your Highness. Now if you will excuse me, I'll fulfill your command," with that, he shut the door in his father's face. Casting a worried glance at the man on the bed, Legolas sighed and went into the bathing chamber that adjoined his room. Careful of his wolf-inflicted wound, the Prince bathed and dressed, re-bandaging the bite with a little difficulty.
Finally ready, Legolas made sure the man was covered by blankets to ward off the evening chill and left reluctantly. His expression turned from worry to muted fury as he met his father in the entrance hall. Minutes later a servant announced, "Lord Elrond Peredhil and distinguished ambassadors of Imladris."
Thranduil stepped forward as Elrond entered, "Lord Elrond, welcome. Please, come in. We have a meal that should be ready momentarily. I'm sure you are quite hungry after your travels," the Elf-king said, smiling. Legolas stepped forward and bowed, "Lord Elrond."
Elrond smiled, "Thank you, King Thranduil. Prince Legolas. You are doing well, I hope?" Legolas' jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, as he answered, "I am well, milord." Elrond quirked his brow at that, still smiling, "I am pleased." Elladan and Elrohir exchanged a puzzled frown at the near pleading in Legolas' eyes. Thranduil must have noticed his son's look for he leaned toward his son and whispered harshly, "Forget that man! You will treat Lord Elrond and the others in a manner befitting your station as Prince!"
As the delegation passed by the hallway that led to the Royal family's rooms, Legolas could not help but gaze worriedly down that way. Soon all were seated in the dining hall. Legolas picked at his food, completely lost in his worry and need to return to Aragorn's side and have Elrond help the man. He started when he realized Lord Elrond had been addressing him, "Forgive me, milord. I fear I am overtired. I just returned from my contingent's raid on a spider infestation." Elrond smiled, "It is no problem. I asked if you are recovered from the last time I saw you."
Legolas looked over at his father before answering, "I am, milord. Thank you. Your journey here was uneventful, I hope?" Elrond nodded, "Yes, thank you."
"You did not meet anyone along the way?" Legolas asked, intending to lead someone from Lord Elrond's family to inquire after Estel. Elrond smiled, slightly puzzled, "No. Should we have?" Suddenly Thranduil announced, "Shall we adjourn for a song?" Elrond nodded in agreement and everyone made their way to the large parlor. Legolas was becoming increasingly agitated and said suddenly, "I think, perhaps, I should retire for the evening. I am not feeling as well as I thought."
Elrond smiled graciously, but Thranduil frowned and said, none too softly, "Enough. You have made your point."
"Have I? I do not think I have, because you do not seem to be listening! You have not listened since I came home with—!" Legolas retorted. Thranduil stood suddenly, cutting his son off, "Silence! You tread dangerous ground, for although I am your father, I am also your king and you will show the proper respect."
Legolas glared at his father, "Why should I give respect where it is not earned nor is it reciprocated? I have had it with your rude arrogance and your prejudiced ways! I will not have—I will not let—," Legolas broke off, a soft sob escaping. He turned to where Lord Elrond sat, listening silently, in discomfort at the very private matter, which he was unintentionally intruding upon. Elrond was concerned for the Prince. He had not noticed before, but now he saw dark circles under the younger Elf's red-rimmed eyes set in and unnaturally pale face. In Legolas' eyes he saw grief, helplessness, worry, and—fear. Suddenly, Legolas turned and left the room. Thranduil started after him but Elrond held up a hand, "Let me, mellon nin. There are some times when it is better to stay away." Thranduil frowned, but did not stop Elrond or follow him.
When he left the room, Elrond found Legolas a short way down the hall, staring down the passage to the family wing. He turned his head, startled when Elrond laid a hand on his shoulder. Elrond frowned, Legolas was trembling. "What is it Legolas?" the Elven-lord asked. Legolas did not answer but merely set out at a near run down the hall. Confused, Elrond followed and fixed Legolas with a stern, questioning gaze when they stopped outside Legolas' rooms. Elrond's annoyance melted when he saw the fear and despair radiating from the young Elf, pooling in his eyes, "Legolas, what is it?" Legolas merely opened the door and went inside, over to the bed. Elrond's breath caught in his throat when he saw who it was that lay there.
"Estel!" Elrond cried softly, rushing to his youngest. Legolas finally spoke, his voice hoarse and weak, "H-he has been like that for hours now..." a sob broke loose from him and he crumpled to his knees by the bed, "It is my fault!" Elrond was about to reassure the young Elf when a soft, weak voice startled them both, "N-no...I-it is not...L-Legolas, y-you have been the best friend I could ever have asked for...Th-thank you," the man had not yet noticed Elrond and went on, "T-tell m-my ada and my brothers th-that I love them, a-and I'm sorry..."
Elrond reached out and cupped his son's face in his hands, "No. Do not be sorry. You will be well, Estel. It will be alright now." Legolas locked eyes with the man, "I told you your father was nearly here..." Aragorn looked at them, "A-ada?" Elrond smiled, hiding his fear, "Yes, ninion?" The man's eyes widened, "I-it is you..." Elrond let out a short chuckle, "Yes, it's me." Worry soon pushed the faint amusement away, "What happened?"
Legolas took a deep breath, "W-we arrived here with no trouble after leaving Imladris. M-my father, well, we all know his feelings toward men...H-he did not take kindly to Estel's presence and things became quite...tense...Estel, rather than try to argue and create more tension, even if it was to explain, decided, instead to head back to your realm. It was only the next morning I was sent out with the contingent to take care of the spider infestation. The contingent was attacked as we cleared away the nests. I was separated from the main group and probably would have ended up as a spider's meal, if Estel had not appeared. H-he was bitten, protecting me...We administered the anti-venom and he seemed fine. I sent the contingent on and stayed near Strider as he rested. When he woke I asked why and how he had been there at the moment he was. He said he had been going slowly because you were not expecting him back soon and that is how he was in the area when we were attacked. I was going with him to the edge of the wood when he became ill...He-he told me..."
"That it was a relapse?" Elrond finished quietly. Legolas nodded, "Yes..." Elrond sighed, "Well, this is not good, I will not lie to you and tell you that it is..."
"I-I've been drinking your tea..." Aragorn murmured, he attempted a smile, "Why don't you put something in it to make it taste better?!" Elrond rolled his eyes, "To make you miserable. I suppose this is the reason I always carry so many of my healing supplies...Estel, I must go get your brothers, will you be alright?" Aragorn nodded once, tiredly.
"I can stay with him, Lord Elrond..." Legolas said, but the Elf-lord shook his head, "No, I take it you did not tell your father that Estel is my son?"
"He never gave us a chance, milord," Legolas replied. Elrond nodded once, "Well, now he will give you a chance to explain everything. I need you to come with me." Legolas nodded and the two slipped out quietly and set out quickly back toward where the others still sat, enjoying the evening's music. Elrond and Legolas entered and went directly to the twins. When the two noticed their grave attitudes, worry entered their eyes.
"Ada?" Elladan asked. Elrond beckoned, "Come, Elladan, Elrohir. I need you to fetch my healing supplies and bring them as quickly as you can to Legolas' rooms."
The two exchanged a glance and left quickly. Thranduil watched the event in puzzlement, "Is something amiss, Lord Elrond?" Elrond turned to the king, keeping his anger in check and said with more than a little ice in his voice, "Yes. But, I have not the time to tell you. Perhaps Legolas will or you may come see for yourself." Without another word, Elrond also left the hall. Thranduil turned to Legolas, but the Prince merely turned away from his father and followed Elrond. Confused and offended, Thranduil also followed.
When they reached Legolas' rooms, they found the twins outside with Elrond's healing supplies. Legolas opened the door and let them in without a word. Thranduil entered last, but still in time to see the twins rush to the bedside.
"ESTEL!" Elladan cried. Elrohir gasped and followed less than a step behind. Both turned to Elrond, "What is wrong with him, ada?"
"He was bitten by a spider. Though the anti-venom was administered it reactivated the...other toxin...We must administer the antidote quickly or we will lose him," Elrond replied gravely.
Thranduil peered around the two Elves and noticed who was on the bed. Angrily he turned to his son, "What is the meaning of this?!" Thranduil demanded with deadly quiet.
Legolas glared at him, "You did not let us finish. When we came, I introduced him as my friend, Strider, Ranger of the North and as Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Heir of Isildur. But what I did not get a chance to say was that before he was known as either of those names, he is also called, Estel, adopted son of Lord Elrond, brother to Elladan and Elrohir of Imladris. If he had not been going so slowly, he would have met up with the delegation and I believe I can safely say Lord Elrond would have had him accompany them here. Not only did you not give us a chance to finish telling you who he was, you did not let us, let me explain why I would bring him here, knowing your feelings about and prejudices against men as I do...I told you when he left that you had sent away one to whom you owed your son's life...Perhaps you do not remember? Well, you do owe Estel my life. Several times over now. I journeyed to Imladris several months back as you well know. While there, Estel and I went out on a hunt...It took us just outside the boarders of Rivendell a-and we ran into a large band of orcs...Th-they were too many and we were taken..." Legolas paused, the memories dredging up feelings he did not wish to experience.
Ruthlessly, however, for he had to make his father understand why he and Estel were so close, the Prince went on, "Th-they were not kind...W-we were beaten and they did many other terrible things th-that I will not speak of...Perhaps I could have endured that, but they often forced us to drink a vile concoction that made us both very ill. They would make us drink it, then force the antidote on us, so we suffered the symptoms but did not die...There was more than a few times when I was far too ill to take the foul potion...They would have killed me. It was take the concoction or die...And when I was too weak, too ill to do it, Strider would intervene, he would take not only his own share but mine as well. When Elladan and Elrohir rescued us, I-I found out that that particular type of orc poison was far more deadly to Men than to Elves...And Strider knew. He knew what it was they forced on us, knew that it would affect him far worse than it would me, but he still took my share...Thankfully, Lord Elrond was able to administer the true antidote, untainted by orc bile and we began to recover, though Strider is healing much slower because he is a man and because he was far more injured and ill than I...Then your summons came. I would have come alone, given you my report and relived th-that...experience. I would have done all this by myself, but Estel would not hear of it. He insisted, nay, demanded that he come with me. He said it was because he refused to let me relive our experience with the orcs alone, with no support...I tried to dissuade him, I explained that Men were not welcomed within the boarders of the forest, save a very few who brought the goods from Lake Town, but he would not be held back. So he came. And you did not even give me a chance to explain everything. You turned him away simply for his race, his blood...Strider saved my life while we were with the orcs. He saved it again during the skirmish with the spiders..."
Thranduil looked shocked and Legolas nodded, "Yes. I was separated from the main group. I would have been taken if Strider had not appeared at the right moment. He killed the spider that would have taken me and was bitten in the process. Though the anti-venom was administered, the dormant orc poison that his body has not yet rid itself of was reawakened...If Strider had not been bitten, I would have let him continue on his way. He would have most likely met up with the delegation and the accompanied them here, but I did not dare leave him once the orc toxin was reawakened...We began to travel back here and were camped for the night. Strider had fallen unconscious earlier that evening from the poison...I-I suppose I was lost in my thoughts, my worry for him and I did not hear or see the wolf pack that surrounded us until it was too late. The wolves attacked. I thought they were all dead, but the leader attacked one last time. It would have killed me, but for Aragorn. He killed it and saved me..."
"But not before it nearly bit your arm off..." Aragorn whispered. Elrond looked at the man, "Legolas' arm is not healing well, ada...I-I do not think I tended it as well as I could have..."
Legolas rolled his eyes and retorted sarcastically, "Oh, yes, mellon nin, you neglected it so much! So much that you stayed up, making yourself more ill with worry and lack of sleep tending to it! I'll never trust you again, you tended this wound so badly! You should never touch an injured person again, your healing skills are so terrible!" Aragorn sighed and Elrond took the Prince's arm. Pushing up the sleeve of Legolas' tunic and carefully undoing the bandage, Elrond looked over the Prince's wound. He looked at his son, "I see nothing wrong with the way this is healing...I see no sign of infection, no swelling of the limb, obviously the Prince has not lost any movement or sensation in his hand or fingers..."
"He fell unconscious because an infection started and he was not resting! He had a fever and it would have been worse...because he was neglecting himself for me. Because he was using all his strength to get me here, to save me, and not looking after himself..." the man met Elrond's gaze, sorrow and shame in his eyes. Legolas put a hand on the Ranger's shoulder, "I do not blame you Strider. You did all you could. You had much bigger things to worry about than my injury...You did not neglect anything. You have done well. Your father taught you well and you have fulfilled any oath as a healer that you might have..."
Elrond nodded, "He is right, Estel. You cared for the wound, you did all you could. You are a credit to your training and I am very proud of you..." Aragorn sighed, then stiffened suddenly. He let out a soft cry as the excruciating pain returned. Elrond spun to face the twins, the brief respite over, "Quickly, we must hurry..." the two brothers offered the ingredients they had prepared. The ingredients for the antidote they knew, just not the proper measurements to combine them in. That Elrond, Galadriel, and Mithrandir alone knew.
Elrond carefully measured each ingredient into a bowl and mixed them thoroughly then strained water in which athelas had been boiled through the mixture. He divided the resulting liquid in two parts, using one as a tea. The other half, went back into the bowl with the herbs. He held it out.
Elladan was about to take it to grind the herbs and mix them with the water to make a paste, but Legolas took it first. Elrohir frowned, "Legoals, your arm...I do not think it can take the strain..." Legolas lowered his gaze to the injured limb, knowing Elrohir was right, "I just wish I could help..." Elladan looked at him, "You already did. You brought him here to Ada..."
Legolas nodded and held out the bowl. Legolas was shocked when Thranduil, silent during the telling of Legolas' and Estel's experiences, took the bowl from him and looked at the twins, "What must be done?" The twins, no less shocked, took a moment to respond as the broke from their paralysis.
"I-it must be ground into a paste, Your Highness..." Elladan replied softly. Thranduil nodded and took up the pestle, working it with little skill, but determination. Silent minutes passed as everyone watched the King of Mirkwood prepare a treatment that would save the life of a man. Finally Elrohir broke the silence by whispering, "It is done..." Thranduil nodded and handed the bowl to his son, then slipped out of the room.
Wasting no time, Elrond applied the paste to the healing spider bite then carefully began to coax the man into drinking the tea. Slowly, the tension in the man's muscles relaxed as the antidote began to work and took away the pain. Soon he slept and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
A/N: Well, I know, the last paragraph was not all that wonderful, but for some reason, I just can't make it go any better. Highly frustrating. I though about making this into two chapters and post sooner, but I didn't want to leave my loyal readers with a cliff hanger, as I'm sure it would have been as I was not positive when I would have been able to update. I hope you liked this chapter! The next one will most likely be the last chapter...Thanks for reading this fic! Hugs and bunnies!
Lalaith
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