Legolas returned to the Healing Chambers. It had been a long and arduous meeting with Aragorn and his Father and yet when Thranduil dismissed them, there was more left unsaid. Legolas had told the ranger everything he knew about Dol Guldur, The Servant of the Dark Lord and Linnah's history. Thranduil filled in the spaces he left.
Then they spoke at length of Gollum, about his involvement in all of this chaos and of his keeping in their dungeon. Tighter security had to be in place, but they couldn't keep him locked in his cell all the time. His was not a death sentence and keeping him in cold and darkness would do nothing but that. There had to be supervised walks outside. But where? In the garden perhaps, he had suggested. But then Thranduil argued that the creature might disturb the castle's other tenants with his presence. So then if it was to be outside of the castle, Aragorn suggested, then at least four armed guards should be in attendance at all times. This idea was of course scoffed at as overkill by Thranduil and the argument went round and round again. Finally, before being dismissed, Thranduil agreed to Gollum having supervised walks in front of the castle with only two guards in attendance.
Legolas sighed. He was already weary from the loss of his friend, his encounter with Orlindel and the meeting that had just concluded and as he opened the door to the Healing Chambers, he became even more so. He immediately noticed that Linnah was still unconscious. His eyes first met Meena's and then Adriel's. He didn't need to ask. By the looks on their faces, he knew the news was ill favored.
Tuor came over to him quickly and said, "Your Highness, I have given her a potion that brought her out of the darkness. I must away quickly to another patient, but please do not worry. It is likely she will not wake for a few days, but she is conscious enough to resist anymore dark magic that may assault her."
"More dark magic? Did something else happen while I was away? Will there be any lasting damage?"
"I could not read her thoughts completely. Something or someone of great evil power was blocking me from doing so. At the very least, I could sense her struggle with whatever information she was receiving. The potion I administered seemed to help ease her spirit and her rest is now undisturbed. We will know more when she awakens."
The prince brought his fingers to his lips and nodded thoughtfully. "Thank you. I will keep you no longer from your next patient."
"I will return to attend to her tomorrow morning your Highness," said the Healer bowing and departing the chambers.
Legolas then turned his attention to Meena and Adriel, who were sitting quietly near him. "I am indebted to you both. I would not want Linnah to suffer this alone. With you both by her side, in this I am at least relieved."
Adriel just nodded her head in response, too sad to speak.
"It is no trouble, my lord," answered Meena. "But now that you are here we shall let you take over."
"Thank you, Meena," he said bowing his head slightly. Then to the kitchen servant, as he bowed his head again, "Thank you, Adriel." They both curtseyed to him and turned toward the door.
He watched them leave. Now alone with his maiden, he knelt by the bed, took her hand in his and began to weep.