-Part 12-
Safe At Last
"I do not understand why his blood won't clot!" The Elf Lord shouted in frustration as he applied the life saving pressure to Aragorn's neck. Meanwhile, Elladan readied a needle that Elrond would use to close up the fatal wound. The cloth he held in place was rapidly being stained crimson.
Legolas, who thanks to Elrohir, had finally regained consciousness, stared on in helpless disbelief as Elrond attempted to save his best friends life. When he heard Elrond's statement it took several moments for him to process it, but he finally formed a possible answer to the riddle.
"It's because of a drug that was given to him, but I do not know its name." Legolas announced as he watched Elrond stitch up Aragorn's wound with speed and precision.
Aragorn had paled a considerable amount and they all held their breath as the Elf lord finished. However, their work was only beginning, for they now had get Aragorn back to Rivendell, quickly and without endangering his life any further.
Elrond lifted Aragorn's head carefully, so he would not tear open the new stitches, and helped the unconscious ranger to drink a temporary healing concoction that would help to slow down, but not rid Aragorn's body of the toxins in his blood stream.
Seeing that his son's condition had finally stabilized, Elrond proceeded to examine Aragorn for further injury. His face soon turned grave as he came upon the multiple bruises and cuts that marred the young man's body.
He gently cleaned Aragorn' s knees and bound them with clean cloth. He then moved to tend the ranger's hands and wrists, which had also been ripped up during his struggle to regain his feet.
When he lifted Aragorn's left arm, the ranger's sleeve fell away revealing the infected gash. Elrond winced in both pain and sympathy as he began cleaning and treating the wound.
Legolas, despite the twins' protests, was now standing awkwardly behind the Elf lord. He softly put his hand on Elrond's shoulder. The elder Elf's tunic and leggings were tinged a dark crimson. He looked exhausted and disheveled to Legolas, who had never seen the Elf lord in this state.
"We must get him to Rivendell, even now the infection wreaks havoc on his weakened body. The poison was recently administered and it has yet to take its toll on him." The prince spoke softly to the elder Elf.
Elrond sighed and stared down at his hands that were stained red with blood.
"You are right Legolas; we must leave. However, I cannot help but wonder do you know where the poison that they used on Estel is? Perhaps I can use it to help determine what would be best to counter it." Elrond rose from where he was seated as he spoke.
Suddenly Legolas grasped his head in anguish as a sharp pain lanced through it.
"Legolas are you well?" The twins asked in unison bringing their fathers attention away from the two dead bodies and back to the injured elf.
"Yes, I am fine." The prince said his tone reflecting his confusion caused by the sudden wave of pain.
"My dear prince, why do you continue to neglect your own wounds?" Elrond asked his tone laced with humorous bemusement. He was soon kneeling in front of the injured elf.
"I'm fine, really. You should be worried about Estel, he…" Elrond, who laughed softly despite their situation, cutting off Legolas words.
"Now, if he were awake, what do you think he would say to that?" Elrond smiled at the prince fondly.
"He would probably tell you to just ignore me, and would not rest his own wounds until mine were seen to." Legolas said returning the smile.
"Then, if you would be so kind as to tell me where you gained this large bump on the back of your head, perhaps I will be able to ease your pain." Elrond stated as he softly touched the Elf's head causing him to wince and pull away.
"Our hospitable friends over there," Legolas stared at the two dead humans with disgust, "Threw me into a tree and my head happened to impact it first."
Elrond looked into Legolas' eyes and found his pupils dilated.
"Legolas, did you lose consciousness?" Elrond questioned as he examined the prince.
"I think so," Legolas crinkled his brow trying to remember whether he did or not, "Yes, I did, because I remember waking up on a horse."
"You have a slight concussion. It is really nothing to worry about, but if anything goes ill, you must tell me immediately. You will also be riding with one of the twins just as a precaution." Elrond said the last sentence firmly to reiterate to the prince the seriousness of the situation, and to cut short any protests that Legolas could possibly have been conjuring.
With a sigh Legolas nodded his head, and clumsily rose to his feet with the assistance of the twins.
"Lord Elrond, grab that dirty pack from the larger of the two horses. I believe the toxin that they gave Estel is in there." Legolas said as he was helped, despite his wishes, onto Elrohir's horse.
Elrond did as the prince requested, and without looking in it tied it to his saddle. The Elf lord then walked back over to Aragorn, and going down on one knee scooped his unconscious foster son into his arms.
With Elladan supporting the ranger's head, Elrond carefully mounted his horse and pulled Aragorn up with him. He held the human close to him as they nudged their horses on, all the while being careful so that Aragorn's stitches did not reopen.
Elladan led Aragorn and Legolas' former captives horses behind him. The elves set fire to the bodies of the two dead men, their honor not allowing them to leave the bodies for the wolves that roamed the woods despite all the pain they had caused their family.
With that they made their way back to Rivendell with the Elf and ranger safely back in their company. The two could finally take rest for they were finally safe at last.
The story as you can tell is finally winding down : ( Its been a great ride! I only expect to have maybe 2 more chapters and that will lead into hopefully the next story. Thanks to all my reviewers for sticking with me this far! Reviews Please!