A/N HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
Welcome all to 2005, and chapter 31 of Alagaësia Meets Middle Earth!!!
Chapter 31- A Healer's Touch
Saphira landed in a clearing near the knoll of trees she has dropped Legolas in. Murtagh leapt off her back and helped Eragon off with the She-Elf. Legolas ran up the small hill to join them.
"You alright Elf?" Gimli enquired gruffly.
"Fine," Legolas replied. "Though Saphira took quite a hit." He pulled Gimli off her back and set him down.
'It hurts,' Saphira whimpered, referring to the arrow protruding form her wing.
'I know,' Legolas soothed. 'Avo 'osto, innas adrinc ha.' (Do not worry, we will remove it.)
"Eragon, have you ever removed an arrow before?" Legolas asked turning to the boy.
"I have," Murtagh piped up. "Not pleasant."
"I get the general idea," Eragon mumbled.
"Good. Murtagh keep hold of Saphira's wing, hold it as still as you can. Gimli help Murtagh. Eragon, go get the athelas, I put it in Snowfire's saddlebag," Legolas instructed.
Eragon quickly ran to the horses who were picketed nearby ands rifled through Snowfire's saddlebag, retrieving what he was looking for, he hurried back.
'Saphira, ha na naegra,' said Legolas. 'Gerich na garthala. Saes avo rinc.' (Saphira, it will be painful. You have to hold still. Please don not move.)
Saphira extended her neck and pulled up a small sapling, gripping it in her mouth. 'Im penia.' (I'm ready.)
Legolas brokeoff the head of the arrow. 'Erin gonodod neled. Mín, tâd…' he did not get to three as he pulled the shaft out of her wing, trying not to cause anymore damage. He popped some athelas into his mouth and chewed it a little before spreading it over the bloody hole in her wing. Then he muttered some words and closed the wound with magic. 'Mae carnen Saphira!'
Saphira threw away he sapling which had been clamped between her teeth. Huge teeth marks could be seen on the bark where she had bitten down hard when Legolas had pulled out the arrow.
'Hannon le,' she mumbled.
Eragon patted her neck, soothing her. 'Saphira, can you carry the Elf Lady? It would be difficult on horse back, dangerous too if soldiers from Gil'ead are hunting us,' he asked.
'Of course. Strap hr to my back, make sure it is secure so she does not fall,' Saphira agreed. When that was done, she took to the sky and soon disappeared in the clouds even beyond the sight of Legolas.
-:0:-
They travelled throughout the night, though none of them could deny their weariness, still they kept going moving farther and farther away from the lines of torch bearing horsemen that searched for their trail around Gil'ead. But on mutual agreement, and simply because they could go on no longer without rest, they stopped and made camp near a stream at the base of a small cliff.
Murtagh helped to remove the She-Elf from Saphira's back. The dragon examined her carefully. Gimli also peered over her, and gasped at her loveliness. She was beautiful! She could not rival the Lady Galadriel in his mind of course, for no being ever could. Though this one did come very close.
"She hasn't woken up then?" the Dwarf remarked.
"No. I wonder what they did to her," Eragon said with fascination.
"You would not want to know," Murtagh said coolly. "It can not have been good whatever it was, look at the state she is in!"
"I wonder how it was she came to be in the possession o that King Galbatorix. By what I have learned of the Elves of this land, they've been in hiding for years and nobody has seen neither hide nor hair of them!" said Gimli shaking his head.
"I wonder whether Galbatorix has found the Elf Haven yet, he has been searching for it for a long time, though, I think he would now be rallying all his armies to launch an attack on their safe hold if he had. I have heard no word of that though, so I think they must still be safe," said Murtagh. "I hope they were not able to extract the Elves' location from hr before we rescued her," Murtagh shook his head. "And now he is allied with Urgals…"
"He's what?!" yelled Eragon.
"Yes, we have seen it. When they took you in Gilead Eragon. The Urgals gave you to the Shade," explained Legolas.
"Filthy, stinking creatures!" Gimli growled, a hand unconsciously tightening around the handle of his axe.
"People will rebel," said Eragon definitely. "When they hear of it the people of the Empire will go mad! Then they will rally together and join the Varden."
"It's not that simple I'm afraid. With the Urgals roaming the lands, guarding the boarders, few will make it to the Varden. Galbatorix is evil; he rules with terror, he will be able to shape the Empire however he wants. People would probably join him in the end. Especially if they have a common enemy," said Murtagh.
"If you can't beat them join them scenario?" Gimli said glumly.
"Exactly," Murtagh nodded ruefully.
"But, what would the common enemy consist of?" asked Eragon.
"The Elves and the Varden. Rumours will be spread, soon they will be portrayed as the most despicable creatures in all of Alagaësia. The Empire could even stoop so low as to say that the Urgals are friends, powerful allies against such terrible enemies. People will believe what he wants them to. It's happened before," explained Murtagh.
"Surely people wouldn't believe it! Nobody could believe that!" Eragon said in disbelief. "Why would he ever say such things?"
"They will. And Galbatorix will stoop to that. His authority is challenged by the Varden, with whom people sympathize. There's also Surda, which has defied him since it seceded from the Empire," Murtagh then fell silent and gazed out moodily into the surrounding darkness.
"Well," Eragon said after a while. "We should make a bed for her," he indicated the She-Elf who he had been staring at for the past few minutes.
Legolas laid down a blanket for her and lifted her onto it gently, he caught her sleeve and as it rolled back he saw the numerous cuts and bruises that decorated her fair skin. Rolling back the sleeve up to her shoulder, he revealed more.
"What is it Elf?" Gimli enquired seeing the look of disgust that had suddenly spread across his friend's face.
"Look at this!"
They all gathered round to seem, all went very quiet and there was a sharp intake of breath. Eragon stepped forward and unlaced the back of her tunic revealing the horrific lacerations that covered her back. It was laced with thin scabs where the lashes had fallen on her once perfect skin. Gruesome purple-blue-brown bruises also covered her back where she had been beaten.
"We have to heal her," said Legolas.
"But there is so much…" Eragon was at a loss.
"We must, she can not die!" Legolas snapped.
Eragon nodded. "Athelas?"
"Athelas," Legolas agreed. "Though I do not think it will be nearly enough to help this."
"But we can not risk lighting a fire without been found. We can not boil water," Murtagh protested.
"I know," Legolas replied. "Athelas will not do alone. Magic must be used too. I fear these wounds are not only on the surface."
"Legolas, I can help you. Eragon and I have used magic together before,' said Saphira.
'You have? How?' asked Legolas.
'Join my mind to yours,' instructed Saphira.
Legolas did as she said. She crouched next to him. "Waíse heil!" he said the words and passed over the bruises and other wounds. But he really needed to concentrate on the ones that were deeper, more life threatening. It was tiring work, even with the extra strength of Saphira to aid him as he toiled. Immortal anger kindled deep within him. this Elf had been repeatedly tortures, almost to the brink of death.
He went on all through the night until dawn with no breaks. He felt weak. Probably the weakest he could ever remember feeling. He rocked back form his kneeling position and felt a pair of sturdy hands grasp his shoulders.
"Alright lad, well done. Enough now," Gimli said gruffly.
Legolas blinked a few times as if coming out of a trance. "There is still much more. Mainly near the surface. But I am not strong enough now to go on. The life threatening injuries took a lot. They were numerous too. Eragon, you will have to finish up," he clasped the boy's shoulder, receiving the water skin the boy handed him gratefully taking a few gulps.
'Mae carnen Saphira, mellon nin. Hannon le,' Legolas said to her, sitting down opposite.
Eragon took up the task, sitting cross legged beside the She-Elf he joined his mind with Saphira's as they had done before, he said the magic words and began. Legolas had done much, but there was still a surprising amount left. How could the Elf still be alive after this much she must have suffered? It was exhausting work, but Eragon finally announced that he was done a few hours later. Legolas had recovered most of his strength and was now ready to do some patching up with the aid of athelas, ripping an old rag into strips, Murtagh and he bandaged the Elf's wounds, allowing Eragon and Saphira to recuperate aided by Gimli.
"Will she live?" Murtagh asked Legolas quietly.
"I do not know. She is strong as all Elves are. But I do not know how she survived hat she went through judging from this. We must wait, and keep a sharp eye on here. I wish I could revive her. But neither me nor Eragon have the skills to do that. There is much I would like to know. Not just of what happened to her, but what the Elves of this land are like. It has been a long time since I have had contact with any of my race. I just hope she lives. Pray the Valar be with her," said Legolas. Then he turned to look at her and said under his breath a little prayer for her. "No i Melain na le…"
A/N Wahoo, first update of the New year! Hope you liked it, though I know it wasn't particularly cheerful…
You guys know it's been almost a year since I began this fic? I think I will have to post a chapter of 11th January as a special anniversary chapter!
Anyways.. NOOOO! Have to o back to Mordor tomorrow! No fair!
Reviewers
Xiad Rusco- Yes I had a very good Christmas thanks! You? Yup, will have to post it on another site! Thanks… almost a whole year of Alagaësia Meets Middle Earth and I'm still going!
Lestatlover1784- Hey, chapter 10 now though! Cool can't wait to read that… Lol, yes we are taking Leggy captive. Wanna help? Lol. To be honest, I'm not that keen on coke-a-cola. Hmmm… a life time supply of McVities choccy biscuits would do nicely though…
Dragon-miko- I know short chappie, I think this one is short too but I'm glad you like! Yeah, that ha to be the bet scene, they should have totally put it into the theatrical cut!
Tim, Digidetined of Loyalty- Thanks, yeah. But Saphira did kinda almost go upside down and he wasn't hanging on. They should install seatbelts! Lol.
TrekieGreenieShannaraElfOfME- Lol, world domination can be so time consuming! Hmmm… oh well, we can use Leggy for ransom against Thranduil, then Mirkwood will be ours for the taking! Lol!
Zammy- Thanks!
Twilight Unicorn- That's ok. Life gets busy! Hmm, no doubt I will be busy now until at least Easter at school and stuff. No doubt my art teachers have concocted some new project that will rule my life! Glad you like though, thanks!
Belegboy- yup, I have considered how Gimli will react and I'm also very much looking forward to it! He hasn't had that much to o so far… so I think he will love it to be back with his own kind. Thanks!
Moonyasha- Yup, I did have an account on Neopets, but I haven't been on for ages and my Uni is probably died of hunger by now. Lol! But I could re-register I guess. Thanks, glad you like!
Well mellyn nin here's to a New year. And Happy Birthday to the brilliant J.R.R. Tolkien who would be 113 today if he was alive!
Laters
Lolly pop