Chapter 46: Check up
Legolas hid under his blankets and tried not to budge. He peaked out from under his blankets to see Haldir's muscular arm pass by as he searched the room for the elfling he had seen running to his room.
Haldir sat on the bed and Legolas let out a yelp – Haldir had sat on his foot. Haldir jumped up, but had heard the yelp and then noticed the large lump on the bed. Haldir snook up on the lump, then grabbed the child. Legolas kicked and screamed but Haldir held him tightly to his chest and never released him.
Haldir took Legolas to a fair sized room, a room Legolas hated. It was his father's study. Young Legolas loathed the room for three very good reasons:
He only went in when he was to get a check up or if his father was going to punish him with a beating or a long lecture. Or to study, which was just as bad.
His father stayed in his study for long hours, and Legolas got bored silly when his father stayed in there and began to miss his father.
He was not allowed inside unless told to come in, and if he came in when not wanted his father would scold him and lecture him.
Haldir locked the door behind him as soon as he saw that the healer was already in the study, set up and ready to examine Legolas.
Haldir stripped Legolas of his blankets and lay him on his father's cleared off desk, as the healer asked. Legolas, though depressed, swayed his small legs off the edge of the table peacefully.
"Legolas, are you nervous sweetie?" Haldir's voice was soft and gentle, and the Lorien elf ran his fingers down the side of the elfling's young, smooth, tender face. Legolas sadly nodded his head, looking up with his beautiful blue eyes at his babysitter, followed by looking at his healer. He looked fair, though Legolas knew he was, he just, felt uncertain. The same elf had done the same check up procedure six months ago to the prince.
"Legolas Thranduilion, I remember you, and how could I not? You are my prince, young master..."
Legolas giggled happily at being called master.
"...Now, you remember me, don't you? Who am I?"
"You is Cleall, my healer'."
"Yes, you are correct young prince. Now, may I ask that you remove your tunic and leggings?"
"Haldiw... can you help me?"
With Haldir's help, the elfling was left in his undergarments, and again sitting on his father's desk, swaying his feet (once kicking Haldir).
Legolas' eyes followed Cleall's hands as they gently ran down his face, stopping with a halt at the prince's chest.
"My, what happened to you Greenleaf? Your chest has been sliced!"
"Key did that to meh."
"How could he, to his own brother? I will speak with him as soon as I see him, and your father will hear about this."
Cleall's hand continued down the elfling's slender form. He then took the elfling to be weighed, followed by measured.
"Legolas, you have grown a whole inch!"
"I grew an inch? Is that bad?"
"No Legolas, you are an INCH taller."
"YAY!"
Legolas truly did not know what it meant to have grown an inch.
"And you have gained four pounds, which is also good."
"YAY!"
Legolas again, truly did not know what it meant to have gained four pounds.
Cleall continued with the check up, praising the elfling for good care of his body as often as possible.
"Time to check your vision, elfling."
Cleall had a board with three designs upon it: One picture, one letterr and one number.
"What's this Legolas?"
Cleall pointed at the letter.
"Its... da lette' H like in Haldiw!"
"Good, and this?"
Cleall pointed at the number.
"Seven. I is seven!
"That you are... this picture now, what is it?"
"Ooo! That's a picture of my Ada. I miss Ada lots."
"Very good Legolas, you take after your father's eyes, well, your father's eyes before he had that... incident... Now, open wide so I may check your teeth."
Legolas opened wide, but it did not seem wide enough. Cleall stuck a stick onto Legolas tongue (causing Legolas to gag momentarily).
"Ooh, Legolas, is that an empty space? Did you loose a tooth?"
"Yup! An I got lots pennies!"
"Great. Now, I'll be checking to see if your teeth are clean."
Legolas was slightly disappointed that he did not get any pennies from his healer. Cleall looked into the prince's mouth, checking for cavities. Happily, he found none, but still had to brush Legolas' teeth. He hated it, and what was worse was when Cleall flossed.
"Now Legolas, I have done most of your check up. There is, though, one last part. A small injection is all you need, Okay?"
Legolas gasped and jumped off the table, hiding behind Haldir's slender leg. Haldir pulled the elfling into his arms and sat in Thranduil's chair.
"Pleafe Haldiw, don' make him give me an injection!"
"Sweetheart, it wont hurt a bit. I get injections a lot in Lothlorien."
"Bu- Bu... HALDIW!"
Legolas burst into tears.
"Shh, do not cry. Here, I will show you that it does not hurt. Cleall, please give me an injection like the one Legolas shall be receiving."
"But, Haldir, sir, these injections are for young elflings-
"I do not care, please, give me one."
Haldir rolled up his tunic sleeve and outstretched his arm to Cleall, who took his arm, injection in one hand. He held the needle steadily above Haldir's wrist.
"When you are ready, Haldir."
"Legolas, watch. It does not hurt. It's just a small pinch."
Haldir looked at the elfling, who popped his head out from under Haldir's arm, and observed.
"Now, Cleall."
Haldir shut his eyes as he was injected with the medicine Legolas would soon have running through his veins. He could not believe he was getting a childish injection, but, since twas for Legolas, he did not mind.
Legolas' eyes widened as he looked at the needle embedded in Haldir's skin. Haldir showed no signs of pain, nor did he cry or yell as Legolas would. He did not even hold his Ada's hand, was Legolas' first thought.
When the injection finally came out of his skin, Haldir opened his eyes, relived it was over. Legolas looked up at Haldir, doing his most adorable face he could conjure up.
"Are you ready yellow leaf?"
"Well... well... yef... I guess..."
Shaking nervously, Legolas outstretched his arm for Haldir, and Haldir took the arm. He held the elfling's arm tight with one hand, the other around the elfling's body, also holding the elfling's other hand. Cleall held the needle just above Legolas' wrist, as he had did for Haldir.
"Okay, in three... two... one..."
Cleall injected the needle, and Legolas gasped in pain and tears poured down his face, holding Haldir's hand tightly. Legolas looked at the injection that pierced his skin
"Don't look at it sweetheart, it will not be pleasant if you do."
Legolas hid his face under Haldir's arm and sobbed.
"Done Legolas, all done."
Legolas raised his head to see Cleall cleaning a small amount of blood from his arm. Legolas felt Cleall added a bandage to the small puncture the needle had caused.
"That was not too bad, now was it Legolas?"
"I guess not... well it was bad a bit..."
The young prince yawned.
"It is your bed time yellow leaf, I am afraid."
"No... sleep..."
Legolas yawned again, and Haldir gently through the elfling over his shoulder, so that the elfling's body lay on his chest while his head had his shoulder as headrest.
Haldir lay the elfling in his bed. He carried the elfling's clothing in one hand, but since the elfling had fallen asleep while being carried to his room, he chose not to dress him.
Haldir lay a kiss upon the elfling's golden head, and silently left his room.
To be Continued...