Chapter 117: Froggie
Tonus was afraid to shoot. If he missed, Tonus could easily hit Legolas' wriggling leg, or worse, Legolas' head, chest or even back. But the spider was scratching Legolas' tender, slim little legs and Tonus could not stand for that. Aiming carefully, he shot three arrows, all of which pierced the spider's back. The spider fell on top of Legolas, and the elfling screamed and cried until Haldir kicked the spider's body away from Legolas' sight.
Haldir bent forward to see Legolas, and as soon as he was close to Legolas, the elfling grabbed Haldir by his tunic and cried. "Haldiw, protect me!" Legolas cried, still mortified of what had just happened.
"Its all right Legolas, I am here, and you are safe." Tonus whispered, gently placing a finger on Legolas' tear covered face.
"Please don't leave me..." Legolas begged, clinging to Haldir. Haldir ran his fingers down Legolas' hair and sang to him quietly, as did Tonus once he could pick up the verse Haldir sung.
"Your safe now, gwador... nothing will hurt you..." Tonus whispered.
"Legolas, did that horrid spider hurt you at all, anywhere?" Haldir asked, looking at the small, quivering elfling.
"I want my ada." Legolas sniffled quietly.
"First, show me any where you are hurt." Haldir ordered softly.
Legolas let Haldir sit him down, and Legolas showed Haldir his legs, which where all scratched up from below his knees to his ankles, bleeding and needing minor medical treatment.
"Anywhere else, Legolas?"
Legolas nodded his head quietly and unbuttoned his tunic, revealing a bruised chest. Luckily, Legolas had no other injuries. Tonus carefully raised Legolas and carried him into the palace. All the healers where in Thranduil's room, since the king was being checked on by all the healers to see if Thranduil would be well enough to start walking with his staff again.
Tonus carried Legolas into Thranduil's room, and Thranduil was at first shocked that Tonus had not said hello, but when Thranduil noticed the bundle of green and blonde that was his sobbing son in Tonus' arms, Thranduil sprang up in a sitting position, despite the healers telling him to be careful.
One healer laid a blanket out on the floor, and Tonus laid Legolas on the blanket. Thranduil leaned forwards to see what was going on, and saw Legolas, crying.
The healer and Tonus removed all of Legolas' clothing, save his undergarments, and the healer observed the scrapes and bruises. The bruise could heal itself, but for the scrapes the healer prepared water, mixed with salt. Legolas had this treatment before, given to him by Elrond when Thranduil was not around (since Thranduil would not have allowed it if he was there), and when the cloth that was wetted with salt water touched his skin, Legolas had burst into tears. When Legolas learnt that they planned to put salt water on his scrapes, Legolas screamed and ran to his father's bed, already in tears.
"ADA!" Legolas cried, as his father reached down and picked him up.
"What is the matter, little Greenleaf?"
"Tonus and the healer wants to put salt wawa on me!" Legolas sobbed in his father's arms, as Thranduil held Legolas close.
"Legolas, it will only sting a bit. I do not wish to know why you need this treatment, but soon enough I shall learn." Thranduil said. Thranduil held Legolas carefully, and the healer approached with the cloth, which had the treatment for Legolas on it. Legolas buried his head in Thranduil's arm just before the treatment touched his wounds. Legolas sobbed in his father's arm, his small fingers digging into Thranduil's hand that he clutched.
Legolas pulled his head away and tried to push the healer's hand off his abrasions. "Stop! Please! It really hurts!" Legolas cried.
"Get it off him!" Thranduil ordered sharply as he saw how much pain was going through Legolas' body.
"Lord Thranduil, Legolas' wounds will heal faster only if we do this!" The healer said, nervous of Thranduil's quick temper. Thranduil sighed and quickly calmed himself.
"It will be over soon Legolas, I promise, it won't be long now... your doing very well... keep calm... almost done..." Thranduil said gentle encouragements to Legolas, who appreciated these a great deal.
When the healing was finally over, Legolas snuggled close to his father as Haldir told Thranduil all that had happened, Legolas adding in the details of when he had taken the baby spider, which he still held in his hands. Thranduil smiled at Legolas.
"Can I keep him?" Legolas looked up at his father with persuasive eyes.
"Well... I, I suppose you may keep him. In a box, with air holes of course." Thranduil smiled at his son's expression as Tonus handed a box with small holes. Legolas let the spider crawl into the box, and Legolas shut the lid. The little elfling could see his pet spider crawling in the box from one of the air holes.
"Thanks daddy." Legolas smiled, kissing his father just before beginning to watch his spider again.
"I wanna call my spider... Froggie!" Legolas giggled, as bandages where wrapped around the scrapes on his legs. Thranduil chuckled and held Legolas closely.
"Ada, can Froggie stay in this room? I might get nightmares if Froggie stays in my room." Legolas asked, and Thranduil nodded his head. "Of course he may. Froggie is welcome to stay in my room." Thranduil watched as Legolas placed the box on his father's night table.
To be continued...