Here be some more for ya. Oh, has anyone seen Kingdom of Heaven yet!
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Chapter 2- Black Water
The moon shined brightly in the midnight sky and all was peaceful in the Healing House of the Mirkwood palace. Those who were in need of healing were sleeping in their soft beds in privacy. Only the soft footsteps of one last healer could be heard in the chamber.
Sighing, she placed a container of white powder on a table and gazed around the room. All was as it should be and she turned to leave, but was stopped when she heard a pain-filled screaming coming from down the hall. Her grey eyes widened and she rushed to open the doors and she gasped.
Struggling and thrashing in the arms of her King and many nobles was Crown Prince Nendir. They had him by his wrists and ankles, desperately trying to get him still. His eyes were shut tight, so much that little drops of tears flowed out. He was screaming in agony from some unknown ailment. The healer rushed out and approached Thranduil as the other lords carried the prince into the room.
"My King, what has happened to him?" She asked worriedly. The king leaned down, placing his hands on his knees to help steady himself and he looked up at the elleth.
"I do not know, Nessa. He was with his wife when his screams woke me." He explained, quite out of breath. She placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you alright?" She asked and he smiled.
"Yes, I am fine." With that, Thranduil stood and strode into the room, Nessa tailing.
As the two passed, they saw that most of the patients were sitting up in bed, staring around worriedly at each other.
"What is wrong with Prince Nendir?" One asked, but no one answered him. Murmurs floated through out the room, but it was ignored by the King and the healer. They continued through that room into a separate, private room. They entered and closed the door behind them, locking it.
They saw that all of the lords were piled on top of Nendir and were breathing heavily. The prince had ceased screaming, but tears streamed down his face and his whole body racked with sobs. His chest rose and fell heavily and his normally well-groomed hair was falling out of its royalty plaits and was scattered everywhere on his face.
Thranduil approached his son and put a hand to his forehead. Nendir moaned quietly and tried to open his eyes.
"Ada…"
"Shh, be still, my child." He hushed and Nendir fell silent again. Nessa rushed around the room, gathering different types of salves and medicines, and then placing them on the stand beside the bed. Thranduil grasped his son's hand and he responded weakly. One by one, the elves on top of him began to pile off of him and Nendir relaxed slightly. When the last one was off, the prince curled up into fetal position and began to shake.
"Ada, it hurts so badly." He whimpered.
"Where do you hurt, Nendir?" He asked gently as he stroked stray, brown hairs from the prince's face.
"All over my back!" Thranduil looked to Nessa and nodded, then to the others. "You may leave. Thank you for your help." Bowing, all of the lords then left, leaving only Nessa, Nendir and Thranduil in the room.
"Nendir, you need to roll on your back for just a moment so Nessa can take off your tunic." After a few moments of hesitation, the ellon did just that, but regretted it right away. A burning sensation flew up his body and he hissed, arching his back.
"It burns!" He yelled, "Hurry up!" Nessa rushed forward and quickly unbuttoned the tunic and slipped it out from underneath of him. This caused Nendir to visibly relax though, but he still kept himself arched. All in the room could see his chest rise and fall rapidly, but it began to calm.
"Alright, Nendir, that is good. Now you can roll onto your stomach again." Nessa said as she dipped her long fingers in a container and scooped out some fragrant cream. Nendir nodded once and, in one swift motion, rolled over, giving the two a full view of his back.
The jar of ointment busted as it fell from Nessa's hand and she gasped, eyes widened. Thranduil stood abruptly from his chair, jaw hanging as he stared at his son's backside.
"Nendir, what has happened to you!" Thranduil gasped.
"Oh my…"
IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOI
Ethiriel lay on Norui's bed, crying into her hands. Norui, Legolas, Lothron and Melyanna all sat by her side, rubbing circles on her back comfortingly as they tried to contain their tears as well.
"What is happening to him?" Ethiriel wept. Norui then gently pulled her into his arms and tucked her head under his chin.
"Shh, it will be alright." He whispered. Legolas sat beside his brother and reached over slowly to caress Ethiriel's cheek. He tucked a stray, golden hair behind her ear and kissed her cheek.
"Do not cry, love." He crooned and smiled when she turned to look at him. He thought using his old nickname for her would cheer her up, and it seemed to work.
"But Hon," She began, using his old nickname as well, "I can't. Nendir is-"She could not continue as a new wave of tears splashed down her cheeks. The two princesses whispered consoling words to her and rubbed her arms comfortingly.
"What is going on?" She whispered.
No one replied, for they knew not what was happening as well.
IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOI
Morning had come in the woodland realm of Mirkwood. All were out and about, even the Crown Prince that had been released from the Healing Wing.
Sunlight streamed down happily upon the prince's face, but it did not cure the frown on his lips. The stallion below him took gentle steps as it strode forward to some unknown destination. The light breeze blew through his mahogany hair and brushed against his fair features, but his forehead was still marred by creases. He sighed.
"Nendir, what is troubling you?" Norui asked beside him.
"It is nothing, I am just tired." He replied.
"It does not look like you are tired, Nendir. You look more depressed then anything." Legolas added.
"I assure you, it is nothing." Norui and Legolas hushed and continued to ride on their own mounts beside their brother.
All morning, Nendir had been downhearted for a reason the two princes couldn't figure out, and it was taking a toll on their nerves. Even the prince's wife, Ethiriel, could not break through to him.
"What happened last night?" Norui asked, prying for more information.
"Nothing."
"Oh, so I suppose you purposely screamed and twisted in agony in an attempt to give everyone a heart attack." Nendir glared and tightened his jaw, then turned to face his younger brother.
"What part of 'nothing' don't you understand! If I say it was nothing, then it was nothing! Do not press the matter!" He shouted, and then urged his stallion into a swift gallop.
Legolas and Norui halted their horses with a troubled look on their faces. They exchanged glances, and then turned their horses around.
"Legolas, what is going on?" Norui asked.
"I wish I knew." He replied quietly. Silently, the two brothers strode back to the palace with heavy hearts.
XXXXX-NENDIR'S POV-XXXXX
Mud splashed up on my leggings as Meldiron galloped through the drenched grass, making irritating squishing noises when ever his hooves made contact with the ground. I guess it had been raining earlier. I turned back to make sure my brothers didn't follow, and they weren't, thankfully. Facing forward again, I noticed that I had gone considerably far from the palace. I knew I should have gone back, but I didn't. I can not face anyone right now.
I let Meldiron lead the way, I was just a passenger. Not to my surprise, he took me to his favorite spot: a large, secluded area with a shallow pond. The water was not deep at all and one could walk out into the center without getting his knees wet. The water was crystalline clear and I could make out small, blue fish swimming aimlessly in the center. The soft cooing of doves hit my ears and I smiled. I understand why he likes this place so much.
I hopped off Meldiron and let him graze. I sat down on the back and took of my boots, then trudged into the water. It was very refreshing and I sighed, wriggling my toes and burying them under the smooth earth. I looked down and saw the fishes swimming about my legs and I smiled when one tickled against my leg. I heard my stallion splash into the water and I turned to watch him guzzle down some of the pure water.
Continuing to walk out into the water, I frowned as I remembered Norui's hurt look when I snapped at him as I did. Maybe I should not have been so hard on him; he was only trying to help.
'But it wasn't his business.'
I jerked my head up from the water and gazed around, eyes wide and ears alert. I saw no one, nothing. Maybe it was my imagination, but I thought I heard something in my head that was not my own thought. I shrugged, and then began to unbutton my tunic so I could lie in the water.
After stripping it off my body, I cast it to the side and it floated in the water. I then remembered the bandage that Nessa had wrapped around my torso the night before. I glared, then pulled the wrappings off and threw them aside as well. I looked at my reflection in the water. Mahogany hair, green eyes and pale skin. Nothing unusual about that, but I know what is hidden behind me.
I sighed and ran my hand gently up my back so as not to inflict pain upon the welts that marred my entire backside. They rose up all over my skin and wove in wild directions. I was able to see them clearly with a mirror Nessa and Ada had given me. The welts were a faint pink in color and oozed slightly, but it had improved since the night before.
As I continued to stare at my reflection, I grew angry knowing what was there but not knowing how it happened. My fists tightened and I growled, and then splashed with my foot in an attempt to rid myself of a reflection. But it came back to show me as the unknowingly mutilated elf.
'So angry.'
My head snapped up and, once again, I searched nervously for something in the bushes, but there was nothing. Grumbling, I stalked over and picked my tunic up out of the water, but left the soggy bandages. I wringing the water out of my tunic down my back for a slight burning sensation had started there and it cooled it somewhat.
'Do not worry, prince.'
I froze in my tracks. Something had to be there.
'Listen to me.'
I thought I would go dizzy from tossing my head from side to side, trying to find whoever it was that was talking to me. Meldiron seemed unaffected for he still stood by the shores, drinking contentedly.
'Bright young suns, swift nightfalls.
Until the day the red bird calls.'
I stood puzzled for a moment, but then a sudden nausea filled my body and in my mouth. My eyes watered and my stomach contracted, but nothing came out. I clutched onto my belly and fell down into the water. I had trouble breathing because of the constricting and black dots formed over my eyes.
XXXXX-NORMAL POV-XXXXX
Nendir gasped for breath, his eyes wide with agony. His arms wobbled beneath his weight. Suddenly, he ceased breathing and his eyes rolled back into his head. His body slumped face down in and under the water, unconscious.
A crisp breeze blew through the area and the birds cried out. Meldiron lifted his proud head and gazed around anxiously. His nostrils flared and he reared, neighing loudly as the wind billowed through his gray mane. He pranced frantically, and then charged full speed away from the pond, shrieking loudly and leaving his master face first in the water.
The wind blew across the prince's back and he stiffened. Slowly, the ugly welts began to rise and pulsate, turning an angry red. The once clear water changed to a deep black, leaving the prince out of view of any passers.
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There you go. Hope you liked it.
Swasti- Ah, yes. Very bad cough. :coughs profusely: Thank you for reviewing!
Until Next Time,
Manwathiel