The Lost City Of Cirus
Author's Note:
Thank you so much for all of your reviews. I hope you continue to stick with this, though it is approaching its end.
Hope you enjoy this chapter and please review when you are done reading. Sorry about this chapter being kind of short.
Thirty-Three
Healing
Elrond dabbed at Aquila's forehead with a damp cloth just as Legolas burst through the tent flaps.
"Is she…"
"She is still unconscious but I was able to remove the arrow from her without any complications and I've treated her for the poison."
"Do you think she'll be alright?"
"I don't know Legolas. I think the arrow had been in her for sometime when we found her, which means the poison has been in her system for a while. I can now only hope that my antidote is strong enough. But she is a fighter Legolas, she may pull through yet."
The Prince nodded and wiped the back of his hand across a tear that slipped down his pale cheek.
"Is there anything I can do?"
"Here," Elrond handed him the cloth and gave his seat beside the Roc's bed to Legolas "make sure her forehead is kept cool, but not too cool."
Legolas nodded vigorously and pulled the chair up to her bed. His eyes strayed down her body to the white bandages wrapped about her abdomen. There was a small patch of blood on them where the arrow had been pulled and it was this that forced Legolas to look away again.
"I'll be back in a few minutes to change her bandages and give her another dose of antidote."
Elrond waited until Legolas had acknowledged what he'd said before he exited the tent, leaving a trembling Legolas alone with the frail form of Aquila lying out on the bed before him.
He dabbed gently at her forehead where already sweat had broken out again. He cupped her cheek carefully in his hand and stroked his thumb across her cheekbone.
"You'll be alright my love. You have to be…for me." He sighed heavily and lent over her, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "If you don't come out of this I fear my life will end as its result."
Her breathing hitched and she shifted slightly. Legolas' spin stiffened as he waited in desperate hope for her eyes to open. But she stilled again and he let his eyes fall closed in disappointment.
As he opened them he noticed she was shivering slightly and so he pulled the thin sheet at the end of the bed up over her body and tucked it carefully in around her. He then sat back in the chair to watch intently over her. He vowed silently to sit at her bedside until she woke, he would not let her open her eyes to find him not there.
Elrond ran into Aragorn on his way out of the tent and the King pulled the Elf aside to have a word with him.
"How is she Elrond?"
"She is stable, she still hasn't woken but at least her breathing is regular and her pulse is stronger."
"Do you think she'll live?"
"She is strong, I believe she will. I'm afraid she has lost her child though."
Aragorn stood, his mouth hanging open, unable to utter a word. Blinking he finally managed to gasp out.
"She was with child?"
"Yes, she was not very far into it the pregnancy at all but it will grow no more."
"Does Legolas know?"
"No, I don't think even she would have known. It was only a few weeks old and she wouldn't have been showing any physical signs of a pregnancy. I also don't believe Aquila to be the kind of mother who would willingly endanger the life of her unborn child. She wouldn't have gone to war if she had of known."
"Are you going to tell Legolas?"
"Given his fragile emotional state at the moment I don't believe that would be the most appropriate course of action."
"Elrond he is the father. He has a right to know that a child existed!"
"And what, have him die because of it so that when Aquila does pull through she wakes to no one!" Elrond hissed back at Aragorn.
The Man lowered his gaze.
"You're right. I didn't think of that. Perhaps it is best he doesn't know."
"I don't think they should ever know."
Aragorn gave him a questioning look.
"Would you really wont to know you had lost a child Aragorn? Sometimes ignorance is bliss."
"You are right. But this is a heavy burden you ask me to carry."
"I carry it with you Aragorn."
Aragorn nodded and smiled at Elrond, who smiled back.
"I will keep this secret for you my Lord."
He bowed to the Elf who responded in much the same way. The two then embraced and Aragorn continued on into the tent that housed Aquila to help comfort his friend.
Elrond again left to get fresh bandages and a new vial of antidote to bring back to Aquila.
"Elrond tells me she's doing well." Aragorn said as he stepped into the tent.
Legolas' down cast face quickly told him he wasn't in much of a mood for discussion and for that Aragorn was thankful, as after the news he'd received from Elrond he wasn't sure he could look his friend in the eye. So Aragorn pulled up a chair next to Legolas and placed an arm comfortingly about his shoulders.
Legolas did nothing to acknowledge Aragorn's presence but he didn't remove the arm from about his shoulders. His attention was focused only on the Roc lying on the bed.
Aragorn couldn't help it as his eyes strayed to her belly, now covered by the white sheet, to think of the how she had been carrying Legolas' child at the day's beginning but now at its end it had been lost forever.
Subtly he flicked his eyes up to look at the Prince's drawn face. Elrond was right not to tell him of the loss of his child, it would surely break him in his current condition.
"You should eat my friend. You have had nothing since we returned from battle."
Legolas shook his head. He would not leave her side and Aragorn knew this. He sighed heavily in frustration and tried again.
"If I bring you some food will you promise me that you will eat it?"
"I'm not hungry Aragorn."
Aragorn stood and made his way to the tent's entrance.
"Promise you will eat the food I bring?"
"Very well Aragorn."
Gondor's King shook his head as he walked from the tent. He was not convinced that the Elf would eat anything brought to him but he would still make sure some food was sent anyway. Just incase his appetite did return to him.
So Aragorn left his friend by Aquila's bedside, he had other injured friends to visit and the Elf didn't seem to feel like dealing with company at that moment. He stopped a soldier on his way out of the tent and asked him to see that some food was brought to Legolas, whether or not the Prince ate it was another matter.
Some hours passed before Elrond returned to the tent that housed Aquila. He stooped slightly in order to pass through the opening and straightened again once he entered the tent.
Legolas still sat diligently by Aquila's bedside, his eyes fixed upon her sleeping face. Elrond sighed heavily as he walked over to where Legolas was seated. He notice on a table behind him was a tray of untouched food.
"Aragorn had some food sent to you I see."
"I already ate some." Legolas stated.
This was a lie and Elrond knew it but he didn't press the matter.
"If I could get you to step back Legolas so that I can change her bandages and re-administer the poison antidote that would be most useful."
"Of course Lord Elrond."
Legolas leapt up and stepped back out of Elrond's way, watching carefully as the Elven Lord approached the Roc.
Elrond stepped up to her side and gently smoothed a hand over her forehead, brushing her hair back. He then gripped the sheet and pulled it down past her middle so that he could access the bandages.
"She was shivering from the cold so I pulled the sheet up over her." Legolas said softly from behind Elrond.
"That was good thinking Legolas, well done."
Legolas couldn't even manage a smile at the compliment as Elrond began to peel off the bandages. As he unraveled the last layer of bandages Legolas gasped in horror at the dark purple wound that was revealed.
Elrond knew it was hard for him to look at but in the eyes of a healer it had improved dramatically since he had last treated the wound. He gently applied some ointment to the edge of the small wound and was careful not to break the scabbing that had begun to form over it. He then wrapped fresh bandages about her body before he pulled the sheet back up to her chest.
"Legolas you can be useful seeing as you're here. I need you to sit on the edge of the bed, next to her hips, and hold her up in your arms. It is easier to get her to swallow the dose of antidote if she is sitting upright."
Legolas did as he was bid without a word. He cradled Aquila lovingly in his arms and held her still as Elrond approached the bed with a tiny glass filled with a deep purple liquid. He put it to her lips and gently pushed her lips open with a finger. Tilting the glass he was careful to make sure every drop slid from the glass down into her mouth. Once he'd emptied the liquid into her mouth he pressed her lips closed and placed the glass down on the bed. He then put his fingers to her throat and gently massaged the muscles there to encourage her to swallow.
Once he was sure she'd swallowed the entire antidote he picked the glass back up from the bed and stepped back. He instructed Legolas to lay her back on the bed and he did so quickly and silently.
As Legolas pulled his chair back up to the bed and resumed his position by her side, Elrond made his way to the tent's exit.
"I have a few other patients to treat before I retire to bed. I suggest you eat something Legolas and at least return to your tent to get a few hours sleep."
Legolas made no sign that he had even heard what Elrond had said and so the Elven Lord left him to finish his rounds before he retired to bed.
Two days and nights had passed since the war had been won, and on the morning of the third day Elrond walked into Aquila's tent to perform his daily checkups and found Legolas still sitting in the same chair. The Elf had not moved from the spot since he'd sat himself down there. Everyday Elrond told him to rest, to eat, and to make sure he stayed hydrated but still Legolas would not leave his Princess's side. Were it not for Elrond and the others ensuring food and water were sent to him he would probably be close to wasting away by now.
Now as the Elven Lord ducked through the tent's entrance he sighed as he watched the blond Elf struggle to keep his weary head off his chest. The poor thing was falling asleep while sitting up but was still forcing himself to remain awake so that he could watch vigilantly by her bedside.
As much as he admired the Mirkwood Elf's dedication to his chosen bride he had stood by and watch him abuse his body long enough.
"Legolas!"
His head snapped up and he looked over at Elrond with bloodshot eyes from lack of sleep. He blinked slowly several times, seemingly trying to focus his vision.
"Elrond, you're here to change her bandages again?"
"Yes but I'm also here to order you out."
"What?" Legolas shook his head in confusion and stared blankly at Elrond.
"You have sat here for three days Legolas, that's three days with little food and two nights of no sleep. You are exhausted and if you keep this up much longer you're body is going to start shutting down. I have tried to encourage you to eat and rest but you have ignored my recommendations."
Legolas opened his mouth to object but Elrond held up a hand for silence.
"Though I do admire your dedication to her Legolas I'm going to have to order you to leave."
"Elrond! You can't do that!"
"I most certainly can. These tents are under my rule and I have only allowed you to remain in here because I thought it would be good for you. I am now beginning to think otherwise."
"But I…"
"Before you continue I will give two options. I can either order you from here and prevent your return to this tent until Aquila is well, or you can pick yourself up out of that chair, go outside, find something to eat and then catch at least a few hours sleep. If you spend the remainder of the day resting I will allow you to return here tomorrow."
Legolas hung his head and contemplated his options. He couldn't ever remember being threatened by Elrond and it certainly didn't sound like an empty one.
"Very well." Legolas said quietly as he stood. "I'll go get something to eat and try to get some sleep."
"Good." Elrond said with a smile and a nodded.
"Will you promise me something though?"
Elrond nodded before Legolas continued.
"Promise me that if she wakes or even if she looks to be coming out of it you'll let me know."
"I promise you Legolas, as soon as she stirs I'll have someone sent to fetch you and I'll be sure to tell her where you are."
Legolas forced a small smile before he ducked out of the tent. Elrond hated having to do it to him but he really didn't need a malnourished and sleep deprived Elf on top of all his other patients.
To be continued…