Walking along a narrow path, Aragorn led a small party of people towards a viewing point that was just stunning. Not any of the ladies. They had all wished to stay indoors and chat about the upcoming wedding. Gondor's first royal wedding in generations truly was a cause for excitement and Arwen wanted to plan accordingly.
Frodo had retired to his room with Sam, Elrond had left to visit the Houses of Healing with his sons, and as usual, no one had any clue where Gandalf was.
Following Aragorn were Legolas and Gimli, Merry and Pippin and Thranduil. Thranduil had arrived yesterday and wasn't quite ready to give up a chance to be around Legolas.
They all walked along, enjoying the light exertion, marveling at the view of the city occasionally visible below.
As the rocky path twisted higher it seemed to promise access into the sky itself. Clear blue sky seemed endless as they reached the top. A small plateau jutted out from a cliff to the left of the city, well above its highest point. The back and side of the shelf embedded into the mountains they now stood upon.
Commanding a view that showed the river threading its way across the land, through and past Osgiliath. Vast plains flowing away from the lowest level of Minas Tirith with tiny trees like specks due to their altitude. The mountains of Mordor were ignored as if they did not exist. The dark reminder had no place in their pleasure trip of the day.
Fascinated by the structure of the space their group explored, Gimli began a quick overview of the cliffside and how it supported the jutting shelf where they walked. Quick for a dwarf anyway. Seeing the dwarf's enthusiasm, Thranduil sent a questioning glance at his son, as if Legolas somehow understood what Gimli was doing. Legolas simply smiled, enjoying his shorter friend's delight, and shook his head.
Quite content to know Gimli was happy, Legolas didn't care for understanding the enthralling mysteries of the stone that were quite dull to a wood elf. Turning his attention to the two hobbits, Merry and Pippin were expressing amazement and enthralled with a childlike wonder. Their simple pleasure made all the older members of the party consider how grateful they were for the lives and friendship of these people of small stature. Bringing smiles to faces, even Thranduil's, as they enjoyed the hobbit's zest for life..
After a proper amount of appreciation for the sweeping vistas laid out before them. The two young hobbit's attention turned in a rather predictable direction. Pippen was meticulously examining every nook and cranny for any rare edibles that might survive among the rocks. Merry was telling Pippin there would definitely be no berry bushes this high up.
Overhearing an argument about possible mushrooms, Aragorn laughed to himself and sat, making himself comfortable on a knee high boulder. The boulder was much like an awkward, chilly chair aligned against the back side of the shelf, where the mountain stretched still higher above.
Pulling out his pipe, Aragon hoped to tempt Gimli to join him for a smoke. Thranduil studiously ignored the offensive pipe and Legolas made a face at his human friend. Aragorn pretended not to see. He had a secret thrill knowing that, for once, he wasn't going to be told that smoking wasn't allowed in Mirkwood. Even more than that, he was a king now, so Thranduil wouldn't say a thing, much to Aragorn's glee. Being king certainly had its perks.
Sitting with feet dangling over the edge, Legolas sang softly to himself. His posture relaxed even further when Thranduil sat next to him. Aragorn watched Legolas and Thranduil sit shoulder to shoulder, just enjoying each other's company. It was a rare sight even with all of Aragorn's years. The demands of life in the forest had been too much for the royal family to have much free time.
Regardless of the hard stone seat on which he rested, Aragorn drifted into a comfortable drowsy state. As a ranger he had a soldier's ability to sleep anywhere anytime circumstances permitting. After a time he was jolted awake by a shout from Gimli. Snapping to alertness instantly Aragorn glanced that direction the dwarf was pointing to and his stomach knotted.
A small slide of shale was rushing Merry along, an unwilling passenger, towards the open space at the edge of the rock. The two hobbits had evidently climbed up an adjoining slope to further their explorations and found a barely supported pile created by an old landslide. Climbing upon the unstable surface had given the looser rocks enough prompting to continue sliding down the mountain.
Before Aragorn could even get to his feet, Legolas was already running across and flinging himself forward to catch Merry as he rolled by. Merry's terrified face and Pippin's panicked cry sank sharply into Aragon's memory as he also ran to help save his friends.
The growing pile of rock and scree gained speed as if reluctant to let its victim escape. Legolas managed to reach Merry, catching the hobbit up, he threw Merry towards arms waiting to catch him. Panicking, Thranduil tried to grab Legolas as the scree swept by.
Failing, Thranduil saw his son almost suspended in the air for a second. Scrabbling to grip the edge of the rock, solid ground vanished from underneath Legolas, dropping the sliding rocks and Legolas into a free fall.
Without regard for his own safety, Thranduil managed to reach over the edge and grab his son's hand. Legolas' momentum pulled Thranduil over the edge and for a heart stopping moment, Legolas felt weightless as he plummeted downward. Their momentum stopped with a painful jerk that almost yanked Legolas from his father's grip.
Dangling in open air over the side of the cliff, Thranduil had a barely there grip on the stone edge. Swaying in the air, Legolas' frightened face looked up at his father's weak hold. Unable to do anything but dangle as his shoulder screamed from the abuse of stopping his fall, Legolas couldn't help staring down at the steeply descending slope below him. Calculating, he realized he probably wouldn't die from the fall. He would be probably injured, then he would have to hope he could climb back up, which was another problem altogether. If he landed just right, his father would have another arm free to climb up…
Almost as if he sensed Legolas' questionable train of thought, Thranduil growled, "Don't you dare." Fixing his son with a piercing glare as Legolas turned his face up, mouth half open in surprise. Thranduil scoffed to himself, as if his son didn't have that assessing look on his face, the one that always showed up before the jumped into something dangerous or stupid.
Thranduil waited, praying Aragorn would reach him soon, it had only been seconds but his fingers were losing their grip on the crumbling rock already. Tightening his grip on Legolas' wrist he refused to let any foolish ideas convince his son the wiggle free.
Above him, Thranduil felt the vibrations of footsteps hurrying to him. As Aragorn and Gimli's faces came into view and they reached out, his grip slipped. Thranduil saw his horror and panic echoed in Aragon and Gimli's eyes as the distance between them grew. He turned away from them, pulling Legolas tightly into his arms. Wrapping himself around his son to offer what meager shielding his body could provide. They impacted harshly against the mountainside.
Paralyzed by the unthinkable happening before them, the group above watched as father and son bounced twice before the slope rolled their limp bodies down and out of sight.
A sense of dizziness overwhelmed Aragon and he sat ungracefully. Face pale, a cold sweat gathered on his brow and his vision blurred as he tried to wrap his mind around what just happened. A thumping blow on the back startled him into taking a deep breath and slowly he realized Gimli was hollering. As he breathed again the world steadied and he began to make out what Gimli was saying, "Breathe Lad! Steady… There. Breathe."
Able to look Gimli in the eye now, Aragorn let out a shuddering breath, then breathed deeply again. Gimli let out a sigh of relief.
"There now, you won't be helping them if you are ill yourself," the worried dwarf rumbled, watching Aragorn anxiously. At the word "help" Aragorn staggered to his feet. Gimli watched warily, waiting for the human to sway or fall over.
"I must get my father, my brothers. We must find them!" Aragon gasped out, heading for the path back to the city.
"The hobbits are already on their way lad. The state they are in will mobilize help quickly, even if they weren't heroes." Gimli said, restraining Aragon from running off. "Couldn't you and I begin searching for them now?" the dwarf asked in an almost pleading tone.
Refocusing on the bearded face, Aragorn finally noticed the lines of worry and grief already etched deep. Gripping Gimli's shoulder, Aragon's head sagged, "I am deeply sorry, my friend, for not seeing you're worried too."
Placing a hand on the new king's arm, Gimli spoke gruffly, "Nothing to apologize for laddie, we bear the same burden." With a pat to Aragorn's hand, the dwarf turned facing where their friends had fallen. "If you can leave a trail for your kin to follow, I can navigate the slopes for the safest path and we can begin searching now," Gimli offered, his anxious tone conflicting with the flicker of hope in his eyes.
With the prospect of a plan, the ranger found he carried a flickering hope of his own. Determination set his jaw, as fear and hope spurred him on. The two started to seek the missing elves. Gimli carefully listened to the rock around him, tapping the group before each step forward, as he picked a way off the edge and Aragorn left signs for his brothers to read and follow.
Slowly, forging a trail of switchbacks down the mountainside, the man and the dwarf had almost reached the barely there marks on the slope showing where Thranduil and Legolas had first struck ground. Hearing a shout above them they turned their gaze upward to see Elrohir, Elladan, and Elrond peering carefully over the edge. Giving them a wave but turning back to his task, Aragorn heard enough shouting he absently wondered just how many people the two young hobbits had scared in their efforts to find help.
Steady as the mountains his kind were made of, Gimli moved forward establishing a safe path for Aragorn and any who followed to walk among the treacherous scree. Much rock had been destabilized by the growing landslide that just passed over. Elves and Farmir's rangers were able to move faster as the path was marked. After a time Aragorn found his worried family in speaking distance directly behind him, with a trail of more people following.
Catching up, Elrond studied the tense lines of his youngest son's back. Gently spinning Aragorn around he could see the war of devastating fear and faint hope written across the man's face. With a strong grip on his son's shoulders, Elrond simply gazed at his son, waiting for Aragorn to take enough comfort from his presence to be ready to speak. Once Aragon had taken a deep breath and met his father's gaze, Elrond tilted his head in silent query.
Letting the breath out, Aragon summed it up with a short, "We need to find them. Quickly," his tone was so soft that only Elrond could hear. Watching, Aragon could see the dismay that flitted across Elrond's face before his unreadable expression was again in place. Turning, Aragon strode to close the gap that had grown between him and Gimli. Elrond and the rest followed.
One slow step after another, a line of elves and men, led by one dwarf, threaded their way down the mountain along Gimli's switchback trail. Moving forward slowly, step by step, as Gimli walked on. Aragon sought to track what signs of Legolas and Thranduil's rapid descent were available while Gimli used Aragorn's directions to seek out a solid trail. The search party behind them had been limited to Elrond, his sons, two Mirkwood elves, and five of Faramir's rangers.
Each person had been given a pack of supplies to carry, in an attempt to prepare for the unknown. As afternoon light dimmed and evening shadows grew, the men pulled out torches and grimly handed a couple forward to Gimli and Aragorn. There was no way for this search to be put off till morning. So, the group walked on, barely aware of the stunning sunset that painted rich orange and pink colors across the sky.
The shadows behind each rock and boulder darkened and grew longer, soon encompassing the search party in dusk.
Time felt stretched and slow, like trying to slog through a muddy field, and yet it felt like water flowing through his fingers. Unstoppable and flowing too fast, Aragorn felt his hopes dying a little bit more with every minute that passed. It was taking too long, they surely needed help. What if Legolas was bleeding out? Or had already bled out? His mind whispered terrible possibilities as he struggled to contain his panic.
Distracted, Aragorn took a second to realize that Elrond had stiffened and was listening carefully. Straining his own ears, he heard nothing. The elves in the group all shifted restlessly, anxiously. Elrond stepped around his foster son and spoke to Gimli in an undertone, pointing in a direction to their right where some formations butted up from the slope. Nodding and moving with greater haste, but still cautiously, Gimli changed direction as Elrond indicated.
Soon, even the men and the dwarf could hear the occasional weak coughing mixed with groans.
The torchlight pooled around the search party as they clustered closer together. Soon they lit up a space where the boulders had stopped and piled up chunks of rock and earth before the rest of the landslide tumbled further down.
Following the sounds they found Thranduil. His hair didn't shine or reflect the torchlight. The elven king was so covered in dirt even the natural elven glow was completely masked; making him indistinguishable from the terrain around him. Only his weak movements and the efforts to clear the dust from his lungs made it possible to see him at all.
A leg stretched behind him, bent at a nauseating angle. His attention was focused in front of him where his arm reached into a shadow. Coughing, Thranduil didn't seem aware of them as they approached. Elrond broke into a cautious scramble over the scree with his tight-lipped 'very worried' face. The other elves were right behind him, their worry mixed with some measure of relief to have found anyone alive and breathing.
Glancing back, Aragorn saw the rangers begin to set up a perimeter and more stable lighting without orders. Reminding himself to thank Farmir for their help later, he ran forward with Gimli to the tight knot of elves.
Elrond's knees carelessly hit the dirt by Thranduil's side. Willing his hands not to shake, Elrond started gently examining the injuries his long time friend carried. Dazed from a concussion, the woodland king mumbled a stream of indecipherable language, still unresponsive to their presence.
Hearing a whispered "Legolas," from his sons, Elrond looked up to see Elladan and Elrohir crouched by where Thranduil's hand rested on Legolas' head, hidden by shadows. Suddenly understanding Thranduil's strange position, Elrond sharply analyzed Legolas' unconscious face, shadows showing stark lines of pain as Aragorn's torch light approached from behind.
Buried up to his neck, Legolas was completely immobilized, which explained Thranduil dragging himself over here. Tear tracks had cut their way through the dust on both father and son's faces. Based on the pain Legolas was still suffering while unaware, Elrond was sure Thranduil had forced his son to sleep to grant some level of relief. With a flash of insight, Elrond's breath caught and his heart broke. Elrond was sure Thranduil feared his son would not wake up but had helped him sleep and was trying to sing a lullaby.
Quietly, Elrond spoke to Elrohir, "I need you to keep Legolas asleep, until we know what damage he has sustained." Elrohir nodded and slid his hand under Thranduil's. Thranduil jerked, the breaking of contact with his son forced him to a tenuous awareness. Gasping as his motion jarred his wounds, Thranduil's eyes glazed over with pain. Elrond pulled the outstretched arm back to his side and carefully rolled him to his back with the help of Thranduil's bodyguard, Cendir.
A strangled scream escaped as the mangled leg shifted with a grinding sound. Thranduil fell silent as full unconsciousness allowed his body to relax. Cendir looked grim but helped Elrond as he quickly reset the broken leg back to a straight position. Chancing quick glances in Leolas' direction to see the progress as Gimli led the efforts to safely dig up the earth covering his friend. Cendir worried about what they would find, but focused on helping Elrond treat Thranduil's injuries best they could in such conditions.
Elrond was not happy to allow Thranduil his oblivion with the concussion but let him rest and monitored him closely. There was no question it was better to set the leg before he woke, with any luck maybe they could transport him to the Halls of Healing before he came back around. Elrond washed and wrapped the many cuts and bruises. Cendir helped raise Thranduil up so they could bind broken ribs and the sprained shoulder. With a constant background noise of shifting rock and shoveling of dirt, Elrond prayed Legolas would be somehow the healthier of the two.
Elrohir remained motionless by Legolas' head, keeping him unaware. Elladan, Gimli, and Aragorn were working directly over their friend and handing their loads to the rangers and Dolthon who tossed it out of the way.
By the time Elrond had finished, Thranduil was covered more by bandages than not but was definitely cleaner. Elrond smiled with a grim kind of pleasure, knowing Thranduil's fastidiousness about cleanliness. Shifting him to the clean cloth spread next to him, Cendir pulled a blanket over Thranduil.
With a sigh, Elrond stood and stretched. He and Cendir watched anxiously as Elladan and Aragorn stepped into the hole now slowly growing around Legolas, anxious to remove the last of the dirt on top of him. Elrond noted that Legolas' face had relaxed some as the weight on top of him was reduced.
Unable to wait, Elrond hurried forward. Watching Aragorn carefully scoop and move the dirt as Elldan started trying to ascertain injuries, Elrond shook his head. Looking at the dirt surrounding and covering Legolas from head to toe, " We need to move him out of there," he said. Looking at Elrohir, sitting at the edge near where he stood, "Does he have any head injuries?"
"No concussion. A lovely black eye and a knot on the side of his head but it is surprisingly minor," Elrohir said, letting out a sigh of relief.
"Alright," Elrond paused for a second, studying the situation, as Elladan continued.
"Broken ribs, swollen shoulder, broken arm and wrist, extensive bruising, nasty gash on his lower left leg, beginning to show signs of infection, probably from the dirt packed into the gash," Elladan muttered under his breath to himself. With a glance at his little brother, Elldan crouched and slid his arms underneath Legolas. "Mind his arm," he told Aragorn.
Once the broken arm was as secured as it could be, Elldan then simply lifted Legolas as gently as possible. Elrohir stayed alongside, hand on the blonde hair, keeping him asleep as they climbed out and walked towards a clean cloth that had been spread near Thranduil.
As Legolas' limp body was carefully laid down, Elrond addressed the twisted broken arm and wrist, sensitive fingers sensing the torn tissues and cracked bone through the layers of dirt and torn clothing. Peripherally aware of his sons jumping in to help, Elrond recognized Elladan taking Elrohir's spot at Legolas' head, keeping him asleep.
Elrohir focused on the infected cut, preparing to sluice out the dirt and Dolthon was preparing needle and thread at his side. Aragorn gently examined the broken ribs that had been compressed under all the rock, explaining the severe pain Legolas suffered. Breathing had to have been excruciating. Bruises covered Legolas as liberally as they had Thranduil, leaving them both colored with more purple and blue hues then Elrond had ever seen on any patient before.
By the time Elrond had thoroughly assessed the twice broken arm, Aragorn was ready to wrap the strained shoulder and broken ribs. He waited and assisted Elrond to set and splint the arm and wrist first.
Grimacing in sympathy at the tremor that ran through his friend's frame, even while held asleep, as the bones were realigned. Then Elrond wrapped bandages tightly around Legolas' chest to support the broken ribs and snugly around the swollen shoulder as Aragorn held Legolas upright.
Feeling drained, Elrond sat back as his sons finished the last of the treatment. His hands shook, having poured what healing he could into Thranduil. Aragorn had done the same for Legolas and was swaying on his feet across from him. He hoped their efforts would help strengthen them enough for the assuredly painful trip back.
Sending a quick prayer of gratitude to the Valar that these two were found alive, he closed his eyes with a sigh, thinking of the consequences if they had arrived much later.
Elladan and Elrohir reserved their healing energy for fulfilling the role of healers on the way back and once they returned. Though, thankfully, they would have plenty of assistance in the Healing Halls to help balance their own weariness.
Litters had been prepared by the rangers and with the precaution of tying the injured persons to the litters, they were ready to start the long dark climb. The narrow path only allowed for two people to carry a litter at a time.
Cendir took command, splitting them into groups.
Taking the front of Thranduil's litter was Cendir. Elrohir walked close by to keep an eye on Thranduil's condition. One of the rangers took the back half with a second man carrying a torch so the rangers could see. They started back first.
After a brief argument it was decided that Gimli would help carry Legolas in front and Dolthon at the back of the litter, Elladan followed alongside and a torch bearing ranger followed behind in case anyone would need to be spelled out. Gimli grumbled at the ridiculousness of anyone thinking he would need help carrying a lightweight like Legolas, even up a mountain side. Dolthon was almost cheered enough at Gimli's grumbling to crack a smile at the dwarf's refusal to trust the welfare of his friend to anyone else.
Aragorn never quite remembered the climb back clearly. He remembered watching the litters being carried up the slope as he slowly followed in the rear. Eventually the separate groups, revealed by flickering torchlight, vanished from sight as they crested the hill and began the next leg of their trip back to the city. The last two of the rangers accompanied Elrond and himself, one carrying a torch in front and another in back. They walked closely enough to discreetly help if needed but wisely didn't offer.
The climb was a blur of rocks, shadows in moonlight and patches of torchlight causing the surrounding darkness to darken even more. He was never quite sure if it was the gray predawn that surrounded them when the rangers bundled the two exhausted healers into Arwen's care or if it was simply exhaustion tinting the world gray.
When Elrond woke, warm light filled the room, flooding in from the windows and he relaxed for a second enjoying the comfortable sunlight. Then memories of last night's struggles came forward and he quickly rose and hurried into his clothing and out the door.
He passed his twin sons asleep in the chairs by the fireplace and paused to place a hand on each dark head, checking their health and condition after leaving them with last night's task. A faint proud smile crossed his face, feeling how much they had drained themselves to care for their friend and Thranduil. Pressing a kiss to each dark head he left them to their well deserved rest.
Walking quickly to the Houses of Healing, he went directly to the private rooms reserved for the most injured. Standing in the doorway, Elrond observed Gimli snoring softly in a corner of the room. Thranduil and Legolas laid out on beds near each other. Pillows propped them up into an almost sitting position to ease the strain on their ribs.
They were being cared for by one of Mirkwood's healers, Galdor if he remembered correctly. Glador was busy trying to carefully wash out the long blonde hair of his king. It truly wasn't an easy task to carry out alone.
Stepping into the room fully, Galdor watched silently as Elrond took a closer look at Thranduil, walking up to his bedside. Hands hovering over the bandages, evaluating what his senses told him, Elrond was reassured that Thranduil's heartbeat was much stronger and the bruises were faintly improved from the day before.
Turning to Legolas next, Elrond examined the broken arm and infection induced fever. The natural elvish healing was working to break the fever, giving Elrond a reasonable level of confidence that the fever would be gone by the end of the day. Fear now conquered by the breathing, healing pair in front of him, Elrond looked at the work Glador was trying to do.
"Why do you work alone? Surely there are many who would help you wash their hair?" Elrond asked, fairly certain he knew why but wanting to hear Galdor's thoughts.
Galdor shifted a bit, and ran a bit more water through the matted muddy hair, "I let them help wash the dirt away from their skin. I would have done it on my own if I could. But there was no pressing need to accept help with their hair." Galdor bit his lip, feeling a bit out of his depth. He was a young healer, though talented, and no one expected his skills to be truly needed on this trip. Finding the king and the prince in his care had shaken him considerably.
Elrond nodded sympathetically, "You felt like you were letting others carry out your responsibilities?
Glancing up to see Elrond wearing a reassuring, understanding, smile. Galdor let out a breath and allowed his shoulders to relax a bit, no longer feeling quite so alone. "Aye," Galdor said softly.
"Would you allow me to help you? I would feel better myself if I was able to do something to help them," Elrond offered, already setting aside his long sleeved robe.
Shifting aside to allow room for another set of hands, Elrond and Galdor quietly washed the golden hair clean, first Thranduil, then Legolas. Taking time to carefully dry their hair afterward, Elrond began to work his fingers through Thranduil's long hair to ensure there were no leftover tangles.
Seemingly as a reward for their patient care, Thranduil began to stir. Elrond shifted to his bedside as Galdor poured a glass of water, ready to help anyway he could.
Blinking slowly, Thranduil felt awareness come in waves, first overwhelming light, then searing pain. Shutting his eyes tightly, he sucked in a breath, gasping as his ribs flared in protest. Words worked into his awareness faintly at first then louder as his brain caught up with the sensory input.
"Just breathe for a couple of minutes. Let your body adjust, it has been through a beating you know," Thranduil heard, finally recognizing Elrond's voice trying to soothe him.
His body relaxed as the reality of Elrond's presence sank in, Elrond had patched him up more than a couple times over the last several millennia and he trusted him. Thranduil's face scrunched up in annoyance at his sense of relief and the fact he was being soothed. Letting his eyes open cautiously, he glared at Elrond briefly.
Eyes now adjusted to the light, Thranduil took in his surroundings. Worry creased his forehead as he saw Legolas and he tried to speak. His voice came out as a croak, making him cough painfully, instead of the intended words coming out.
Once again speaking in that annoyingly soothing tone, Elrond told Thranduil what he wanted to know, as he brought the cup of water to Thranduil's lips. "Legolas is going to be fine, You both will be fine after some time recovering." With another attempt at a glare, Thranduil drank gratefully.
Blinking slowly again, this time because his body already demanded rest, Thranduil started to sink back into his pillows whether he willed it or not.
"Wait Thran. You need to drink this draught if you want any relief from the pain," Elrond said, somehow insistent and soothing simultaneously. Galdor helped prop his king up just high enough that Elrond could get Thranduil to drink the herbal concoction needed. Falling asleep mid drink, Elrond trickled the tea into the slack mouth, pausing to allow him reflexively swallow, until it was gone.
Having seen Thranduil act like himself for even a couple of minutes, Elrond felt surprisingly pleased, even the trademark glare was reassuring.
Returning to Legolas, Elrond saw that his color was slightly better and resting his wrist against the fevered skin, he found the fever was slightly reduced. As Elrond distracted himself by checking on broken bones and finally getting a look at the infected cut on Legolas' leg. He was distracted further by Aragorn entering the room at a quick pace.
Seeing his son, Elrond couldn't help but smile fondly at the rumpled hair and clothes clearly thrown on in a hurry. Like Elrond, Aragorn had needed to check on their injuries himself once he woke. Like Elrond, Aragorn gave a sigh of relief seeing the injured pair resting, cared for and alive.
"I should have known you would be here Adar," Aragorn said, giving a relieved chuckle. "I barely woke up enough to remember what happened last night before I rushed here."
"I confess I did not do much different, like father like son perhaps?" Elrond suggested, smiling affectionately.
"If that is so, should I suppose my Adar also forgot to break his fast after waking?" An amused feminine voice spoke from the doorway. Arwen entered, smiling at both of them with a sense of exasperation. She was followed by four hobbits bearing two trays filled with enough food to feed at least four men and two pitchers fragrant with the sweet smell of fruit juice.
As the delicious odors invaded the room, Aragorn's stomach growled loudly, sending an audible message that food should be taken into consideration immediately. Arwen laughed merrily, making Aragorn grin. The hobbits joined in the laughter, unable to resist the light, happy sound of Arwen's laugh.
All the hubbub disturbed Gimli's half asleep state. He groaned, stretching, stiff muscles complaining. Sniffing the air he perked up significantly, hopping up he pulled the table out a bit and grinned at the hobbits. After a surreptitious glance at Legolas when he thought no one was looking, Gimli took the pitchers from Sam and Frodo.
"Very kind of you to deliver breakfast for a poor starving dwarf," Gimli said, winking at Pippin as he settled the juice on the table. "Now then, this looks like more than I can eat in one sitting. Anyone else going to join me in this late breakfast meal?"
Gimli took a tray from Pippin while Merry moved to set his own tray on the table. Arwen grinned and cocked a questioning eyebrow at her soon to be husband and her father. Elrond conceded defeat gracefully, sitting down at one of the chairs Sam brought to the table while Arwen shoved a playfully resistant Aragorn towards the third chair.
Frodo and Sam settled into seats near the fire, enjoying the comfortable atmosphere. Aragorn, Elrond, and Gimli focused their attention on the generous breakfast. Pippin had already ran back to the kitchen to fetch more food because there was no way there was enough from his hobbit point of view.
Settling herself next to Legolas, Arwen smiled and relieved Galdor, taking her turn to nurse his fever. Quietly telling Galdor he could take a break to go rest and eat, Galdor smiled gratefully and left. He was quite sure that having two storied healers present ensured diligent care for his king and prince and was happy to allow the group privacy in the now crowded room.
Merry drew close, watching Legolas' face as Arwen soothed the fever heat by wiping a cool towel over the warm skin. From the corner of her eye Arwen watched Merry struggle with seeing what damage had been wrought as the cost of saving Merry's life. Being lost in his thoughts for several minutes, Merry's expression gradually grew more grim, as he sank in a mire of guilt and concern.
A damp cloth being pressed into his hand startled the hobbit from his internal downward spiral. Raising his face with surprise, Arwen's kind expression helped break through his gloom.
"Could you take my place while I am busy?" Arwen asked, with an encouraging smile.
Merry felt moisture well up in his eyes and blinked it back. "Certainly, my lady, I would be honored to help you care for Legolas," Merry said, grateful for her tactful way of giving him a small way of saying "thank you". With a squeeze to the hand she pressed the towel into, Arwen left Merry tending to Legolas with all the seriousness a hobbit can muster.
Exchanging glances with Aragorn as she glided gracefully to Thranduil's side. She was comforted that he would be helping monitor Merry's mood as well. They didn't want Merry to start blaming himself for the unfortunate accident. To ensure Merry did not think she was simply distracting him, she took her time checking Thranduil's vitals, giving her "Uncle" extra attention as an excuse to be busy for a while.
Arwen brushed a stray lock of hair from the bruised face as she recalled sweet memories of Uncle Thran. Swinging her in circles as an elfling. Sitting in a regal oak tree helping her to listen to the trees more clearly, the tree's communication was always clearest when Thranduil or Legoals were around. Even helping her play a prank on Legolas when he teased her about her archery skills.
Her strong, kind, noble Uncle Thran was now covered in bandages, lying still on a bed. Sitting, taking his hand into hers, she watched him sleep. She was far more accustomed to nursing Legolas, who seemed to end up in the healing wing at least once every visit. Usually with the company at least one brother. Somehow, they usually contrived to injure themselves together. Uncle Thran was a new experience and it left her unsettled.
Eventually she was pulled from her musings by the weight of her father's arm around her shoulders as he stood next to her chair, drawing her tightly to his side.
Speaking softly, he said, "He already woke up once and glared at me." raising her head up and she focused on Elrond's face. Her father's deep understanding was written in his gaze. With a faint grin, Elrond said, "In truth, he glared at me the whole time he was awake. He was annoyed at being "coddled" by a healer as usual." Arwen's lips twitched as she fought back a smile, able to envision exactly that now that it was mentioned to her. She teased her father saying,"I suppose I should be impressed he did not order you to help him out of bed."
Chuckling lightly, Elrond agreed, " I do not think the idea occurred to him yet, but I am sure he will try it in the near future. Maybe we should assign you as his primary nurse to help encourage his cooperation."
Turning back to study Thranduil's face again, Arwen wore a fond smile. "I just might take you up on that Adar. Just think of all the quality time I can milk from this situation whilst he is confined to bed," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Getting to her feet, she made a show of surrendering her seat to Elrond, provoking a smile as he kissed her on the head.
"I should go and update the others who are waiting to know how the invalids are doing. I presume you two won't be leaving any time soon?" Arwen asked as she glanced between her father and Aragorn.
Shaking his head, Aragorn said, "No, I do not plan on leaving for a while. I am sure Elladan and Elrohir will return once they are rested and I will reconsider then." Elrond nodded in agreement.
"I will come back in a while, dinnertime at the latest," Arwen decided. Then directing her attention to Sam she asked, "Is there anything I can do for you or Frodo, Mr Gamgee?"
Blushing at the attention of a beautiful elf maid, Sam spoke hesitatingly, "Could you maybe send for a blanket or pillow for Master Frodo?" For Frodo had fallen asleep by the fire, curled up in the large chair. "This is the nicest sleep he's had in a few days and I don't wish to disturb him. If it don't trouble you, my lady,"
"It would be my pleasure," Arwen responded sincerely, and left the room only to return in less than ten minutes with a collection of cozy blankets and soft pillows which she entrusted to Sam.
"You take admirable care of Frodo dear Sam, but do remember to rest yourself as well," She whispered before walking out the door again.
A quiet hour or two passed, Sam had curled up in a chair and fallen asleep after draping a blanket over the worn out looking Frodo. Gimli had fiddled with his empty pipe, not intending to light it but put it away when Aragorn shook his head. Eventually, Gimli drew a whittling project from somewhere and there was a pleasant rasp of wood being shaved away and the smell of fresh cut wood wafted through the room. In an undertone, Aragorn and Elrond discussed the best treatments for the broken leg and arm specifically. Merry diligently sat at Legolas' bedside while keeping an eye on his friends sleeping by the fire.
After looking at Frodo and Sam, confirming yet again that they still slept. Merry was surprised to see Legolas watching Merry with a tired but concerned expression.
"Legolas! Goodness, you're awake!" Merry exclaimed, overjoyed to see Legolas more aware. The two healers hurried over. As Elrond went around to the other side of the bed to examine Legolas, Aragorn handed some water to Merry, then started preparing medicine.
Raising the glass toward Legolas as if asking, Merry gladly held it up for him to drink when Legolas gave a faint nod of assent.
Elrond took on a decidedly pleased expression as he saw the fever had broken, even sooner than he had expected, and started discussing with Aragorn what herbs to prepare in the tea. Gimli's movements to the foot of the bed could be traced by the faint clanking of metal on metal.. He wished to be as close as he could while not getting in the way.
Drinking, Legolas sighed with relief as his thirst subsided. One of his eyes was almost swollen shut with the black eye some rock gave him, the other eye was dull compared to the energy and life Legolas normally displayed. With effort, Legolas managed to ask, "Merry, were you hurt?"
Nearly brought to tears, Merry shook his head. "Not a scratch, thanks to you," Merry said, voice thick.
With a palpable sense of relief, Legolas relaxed and closed his eyes for a minute, then snapping them open he jerked, jostling his ribs and arm. Blankets fell around his waist as Legolas struggled to sit upright. Breathless from pain, he gasped for air like a fish. Now filled with adrenaline, Legolas ignored the pain and tried to swing his legs off the bed. Merry stepped back, eyes wide, as Aragorn tried to carefully force Legolas back into the pillows to ease the pain. Gripping Aragorn's hand with his good arm, Legolas gasped again but asked in near panic, "Ada, where is Ada?"
With a rumbling voice, Gimli said, "You're father is right here lad."
Overlapping Gimli, Aragorn also answered, " Your father is fine, recovering, like you."
Unable to see Thranduil at that angle due to the swollen eye, Legolas struggled against Aragorn weakly. Concerned, Elrond helped restrain Legolas, pressing him into the ample pillows. "Now stop this recklessness, Thranduilion," Elrond snapped. "I will help you see your Ada without you hurting yourself further, but you must lie still! Understood?"
Gimli grabbed Legolas' legs as they jerked in his efforts to move, forcing them still with a solid grip that oddly seemed to help ground Legolas.
Now white faced with pain, Legolas gave up fighting and laid back limply. He took shallow breaths, trying to will the pain to subside. Once his breathing eased a little, Elrond checked Legolas' heart rate and temperature again. Grabbing the prepared draught to help strengthen the natural healing process and fight the pain, Aragorn held it for Legolas to drink.
Legolas doggedly refused, while still trying to get his breathing under better control.
"If you would like to see your father you have to listen," Elrond said sternly. "Aragorn will help you shift enough to see him asleep on that bed. Then you must drink that. Agreed?
"Yes," Legolas agreed reluctantly, biting off the word through clenched teeth, his face still much too pale.
Contemplating Legolas' condition, Aragorn first handed the medicine to Merry, then surprised Elrond and everyone else when he didn't move to shift Legolas but instead shoved the bed into a better position to see Thranduil.
Uncaring of how it happened, Legolas' exhausted, pinched face desperately sought out his father with his good eye.
"Ada!" Legolas cried out softly, that one word conveying what he had feared and the depth of his relief.
An equally soft, impossibly gentle, "Legolas," was heard from the other bed.
Startled, Elrond looked up and saw Thranduil was awake and watching them. Recognizing a need in Thranduil's face, Elrond decided to give his bothersome patients what they really wanted.
"Aragorn, Gimli, move Legolas over here. Bed and all," Elrond ordered, waving his arm at them as he walked the few paces to check on Thranduil.
The bed frame was not a very heavy one despite being made from solid wood. Plus, Legolas, like all elves, didn't weigh as much as it seemed like he should. So, with little trouble and a matter of a minute or two, Legolas found himself within inches of his father. Finally relaxing, as Thranduil stroked his disheveled hair back from his sweaty face, Legolas' eye drifted shut, exhaustion finally overwhelming him.
"Not so fast young one," Elrond chided, bringing the earlier medicine forward. "You promised to drink this, and you must before you sleep again."
Faintly wondering if his promise could be counted as "under duress", Legolas forced his good eye open wearily as Aragorn supported him upright a little more. He grimaced at the smell of the faintly steaming cup before him.
"Legolas," Thranduil growled warningly, saying something more in a woodland tongue no one else understood.
Making a face, Legolas allowed Elrond to help him drink. Then as Aragorn leaned the elf back onto the soft pillows, Thranduil stroked Legolas' hair, murmuring that lullaby again.
Within a minute, Legolas' eye slid shut and he was deeply asleep.
Merry couldn't help a nervous laugh as Elrond and Aragorn released an identical sigh of relief.
"Is.. is Legolas going to be alright?" Merry asked hesitantly, shifting his feet, his gaze darting between Elrond, Aragorn, and a nervous glance at Thranduil.
"Yes," Aragorn said firmly, comforting Merry. "Legolas will rest better now and he will recover much faster than you expect."
"I believe Bilbo told me that elves heal remarkably quickly," said Frodo, drawing everyone's attention. He had been woken up by the sounds of furniture being moved. "Isn't that correct Strider?
"Correct," Aragorn answered. "Both Legolas and Thranduil should be perfectly fine to attend the wedding in fact. As long as they don't overexert themselves or disturb the broken bones."
Sam's sleepy face popped up, yawning, "I just don't see how that is possible Mr Strider, sir."
Listening, while watching Elrond redo his son's bandages after Legolas' attempts to get up. Thranduil heard the hobbit's amazement as Aragorn chuckled and shared a story of how Legolas and himself had both sprained an ankle, but Legolas had almost fully recovered in half the time it took Aragorn to recover. Gimli tipped his ear in that direction so he could hear better, as he fetched Elrond a few items as needed.
As the short tale finished, Elrohir and Elladan entered the room.
"Was that the story I think it was, Aragorn?" Elladan grinned as he saw Aragorn's hand twitch in annoyance. "Maybe we could share a few more stories for our dear hobbit friends?" Elladan taunted, wanting to provoke a stronger reaction.
"Or maybe at another time," Elrohir suggested, redirecting his twin calmly. Turning to the hobbits directly he said, "I, we, were told to inform you that Master Pippin needs your assistance in the kitchens."
Sam bobbed up from his chair in surprise, curly hair bouncing as he got to his feet, "What on earth for Mr El... Elf sir?"
With a smile and an amused twinkle in his eye, Elladan answered for his brother, " It seems Pippin wanted to make a couple of homestyle treats for people to try. The cooks had never heard of mushroom pie and now he needs help finishing his attempt."
At the word "mushroom" Merry and Sam lit up and even Frodo appeared interested.
"Begging your pardon Master Frodo, we really should go help. My Gaffer knew how to make a better mushroom pie than any Took ever did." Sam told Frodo seriously, Merry showing agreement.
"I believe we shall be going to the kitchens immediately, thank you for giving us the message Elladan," Frodo said, excusing himself and his friends. As they left, more than one person was pleased to see Frodo looking more lively than he had all day.
The sounds of the hobbits' departure faded and Gimli, who had settled himself in by the fire, witnessed the twins' playful mood shifting. Gaining an underlying seriousness as the two approached Thranduil, they greeted him with relief softening their faces.
"We didn't leave till we were sure of your ability to recover last night," Elrohir said, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"It sure is nice to see proof though," Elladan said in a husky whisper, squeezing Thranduil's hand.
Regarding them fondly, Thranduil carefully pulled both heads to rest against his own for a moment.
"Thank you. Both of you," Thranduil replied with deep sincerity. Raising his head he included Aragorn and Elrond into his statement. "Thank you, all four of you."
Gazing at his son next to him, finally knowing the extent of his injuries, he swallowed hard. "I am glad we did not have to leave Middle Earth in such a manner. I am even more grateful you kept us together."
With a wry expression, Elrond deliberately broke the solemn air in the room. "Not like separating you would work," he said dryly, " You two are like a matched set and we can't have the good without the…. Not as good."
Covering his grin with a smirk, Elrond gave Thranduil time to gather himself and fall back into their normal dynamic.
All three of Elrond's sons grinned in anticipation as Uncle Thran assumed his most arrogant expression. Somehow his posture on the bed became regal, even bruised and half reclined on pillows. It seemed he was there by choice for his own amusement instead of barely able to move.
"Not as good am I?" Thranduil said imperiously, Holding his regal air for a full minute staring Elrond down. Then he relaxed, almost sagging into his pillows like a deflating balloon, spurring a reaction from all four healers around him.
With a tired grin, Thranduil agreed. " At least you agree Legolas is the better one. I would have words with you otherwise."
"Hush now, you fool," Elrond berated his friend, taking the primary position at Thranduil's side. "Once again you give a false impression of how well you feel and over exert yourself."
The twins arranged the bedding to ensure comfort while Elrond accepted Aragorn's newest medicinal brew.
Elladan supported the tall frame upright, while Elrond helped Thranduil steady the cup he insisted on holding himself. Then, empty cup in hand, Elrond folded his arms across his chest.
"You are just as bad as Legolas! Probably worse! Matter of fact he probably learned his bad habits directly from you, you, you ridiculously prideful elf!" Elrond scolded Thranduil sternly, bringing a halfway there smirk to Thranduil's sleepy face as his vision glazed over.
Shaking his head affectionately, Elrond readjusted the bed linens one more time. Turning to his sons, who all seemed relieved and amused, watching his antics, he felt so proud he wondered how he could still be aware of anything else.
"And now I must thank each of you as well," Elrond said, placing a firm hand on each of the twins' shoulders. "You both finished what I could not last night."
He singled out Aragorn with a look. " You made it possible for Legolas to return for proper care. I am so proud that you all are my sons," Elrond said firmly.
"I would tender my thanks as well," the forgotten Gimli growled from his chair, getting to his feet. "I do believe that my thanks must extend to yourself as well Master Elrond." Bowing deeply, Gimli continued, "My house will always be at your service for saving Legolas. Losing him now would have been a bitter pipe to smoke."
Elrond and his sons bowed formally in return, "You should not remain unthanked yourself, Gimli, Gloin's son. Thank you for your help in rescuing both of them."
Bowing again, Gimli hesitated to ask a question. The moment dragged, just about to turn awkward, when Elladan snorted, laughing.
"We are a fine lot! Now that we have all been properly thanked," he made a mocking noise at their own pomp and frivolity. "Could my brother and I finally get an update on how these accident prone elves are doing?"
The unintended, stifling, formality broken. Everyone relaxed and laughed at themselves.
"I too would like to hear how they fare, but curiosity drives me to ask. Do elves truly heal as fast as you say? " Gimli asked, such a thing sounding almost magical.
"Indeed it is true, Gimli. I have rued it often in my life," Aragorn answered laughing. "Just you wait, they will both attend my wedding on their own feet, or foot in Thranduil's case."
Waving an expansive arm toward the invalids, Aragorn grinned. "with the exception of splints for the broken bones, they will be in perfect health. Well, aside from some tiredness neither will admit too," he finished with a shake of his head.
Staring at the elves, Gimli ran his fingers through his beard, "that will be a sight to see indeed."
Three weeks later
Delighted for Aragorn, Gimli stomped his foot appreciatively as the wedding vows were finished and the groom kissed the bride. Cheers erupted and the city was swept into the greatest celebration they had ever known. The hobbits joined the feasting with Gandalf following, ever intrigued by his smaller friends.
Gimli worked through the crowd and greeted the new couple joyously.
"Congratulations my friend!" Gimli boomed, the excitement everywhere was contagious.
"Thank you my friend," Aragorn, smiling wide, gripped Gimli's shoulder and forearm. Distracted for a second, Aragorn looked at something behind Gimli and grinned wider.
"There is a sight for you my friend," Aragorn indicated behind him so Gimli turned, squinting to see through the press of people.
There, with about a three foot space around them, walked Legolas and Thranduil.
Legolas glowed with happiness for Aragorn making it hard to notice the splinted arm tucked in a forest green sling that matched his clothes.
Regal, Thranduil moved confidently as if his gracefully carved, y topped crutch was a part of his normal accouterments. Finding a seat, Thranduil used the crutch almost like a staff when giving orders to the couple of elves attending him.
It really was a sight worth seeing. With a grin, Gimli made his way to Legolas. Perhaps being down one arm would give Gimli an advantage in a new drinking contest.
The End