Chapter 5: Tavel awakes
Legolas lay in bed, talking with his sister and babysitter. Haldir told tales from Mirkwood to keep them all amused and Illiendal and Legolas listened attentively. But Haldir's tale that he was telling about a prank Rumil and he had played on Celeborn came to a sudden stop when Tonus entered the room. Tonus hand blood on him and had clearly just came back from amputating Tavel's leg.
"How is Tavel? Has he awoken? Did something happen?" Legolas asked his questions immediately.
"The amputation was a success, though I am sad that Tavel now only has... stubs of legs, I suppose you could say." Tonus said softly.
Two elven healers came in carrying Tavel. It was hard for Legolas to look. Tavel was covered with a blanket but you could tell he no longer had much leg left.
"And as for you Legolas, if you wrap this around your abdomen you will be able to walk around. This will prevent you from slouching over or bending your abdomen." Tonus wrapped a hard bandage-like thing around his brother. Legolas could not slump over, like Tonus had said.
Haldir and Tonus helped Legolas to his feet carefully; Legolas was still weak from the loss of blood and the adventure itself.
"So, where do you plan to go first now that you can walk, Legolas?" Illiendal asked, and to her surprise Legolas only walked over to Tavel's bed before sitting beside his bed.
"I want to be here when he wakes." Legolas said. Tonus smiled.
"Legolas, he will not wake for a good half hour. Go... Amuse yourself. I'll tell you when he is about to wake. Do not fear for your friend, I wont let him go without a fight." Tonus attempted to ease his brother.
"Okay..." Legolas got up to leave, though Haldir was not certain where he was off to. Haldir followed quickly, ready to protect the prince in case Legolas had, once again, chosen to wander somewhere dangerous.
Legolas was heading to his bedroom, to Haldir's relief, which meant Haldir would not have to chase him throughout the palace, though Haldir highly doubted Legolas would manage to run through the palace in his conditions.
"Why are you following me?" Legolas asked, turning around to be almost touching Haldir who had not expected the young elf to spin around like he did.
"To make sure you do not do anything foolish." Haldir said. Legolas grunted.
"What makes you think I would be foolish?" Legolas asked.
"You wandered into a cave and almost got killed by a troll." Haldir stated.
Tonus was calling Legolas' name, so Legolas did not get the chance to say something rude back to Haldir, and instead he ran through the halls and into the healing wing to see Tavel. Tavel sat up and was looking at his bed where his legs would have been if they had not been amputated.
"...Tavel?" Legolas whispered. Tavel looked at Legolas with watery eyes before burying his head in his forearm and sobbing. Legolas approached his friend and lifted Tavel's head.
"Come Tavel... I'm sorry..." Legolas let Tavel cry into the prince's shoulder.
"I can't take care of myself anymore!" Tavel said in between sobs.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." Legolas whispered tearfully, clutching his friend. Haldir entered the room and looked with sad eyes at the two friends.
"How am I going to live on my own, Legolas? I can't use my bow without being able to stand, I can't protect myself!" Tavel stayed in Legolas' grip, still crying.
"I don't know… You… You can stay here, with us, cant he Haldir?" Legolas managed a smile, turning around to face Haldir.
"Well… I mean, your father never said if-
"Come on Haldir, he's lost his legs and you plan to send him home, alone? That is ridiculous!" Legolas said, frowning.
"I suppose there is no other choice, your friend Tavel will have to stay here." Haldir said, Legolas grinning a sad grin.
"See Tavel, not everything is so bad." Legolas tried to get Tavel to smile. Tired, Tavel simply lay his head back down and nodded to what Legolas said.
"How is Suiadan?" Tavel asked.
"He only suffered a broken arm, it was worse because he carried Legolas home but it was nothing we could not fix. You where the hardest of all, we thought you where dead and when we found you the cave troll's body completely crushed your legs, up until what you have left of your hips, just above where your knees would be." Tonus explained. Tavel nodded and yawned.
"I wish to sleep." Tavel whispered.
"Then sleep. I will stay to watch you, I fear you may start to fade so I will have to monitor you." Tonus said. Legolas gave his friend a tight squeeze before Tonus forced Legolas and Haldir to leave to give Tonus his rest.
"Legolas, I will be here for ten days. What would you like to do? Your father left me a list of things I can and cannot do, what do you wish to do at the moment?" Haldir asked.
"I don't know. I'm worried for Tavel." Legolas stated.
"Are you hungry?"
"I don't know. I'm worried for Tavel."
"Thirsty?"
"I don't know. I'm worried for Tavel."
"Well then lets go see Cield and his children." Haldir suggested. Legolas sighed and nodded his head. Cield was lying outside on the grass, his children sitting on his chest.
"Hi Cield." Legolas muttered, sitting beside his brother on the ground. Cield took his elflings off his chest and sat up, Malfinniel quickly jumping on Cield's legs and Nenmir climbed onto his father's back.
"How is your friend, Legolas?" Cield asked, kissing his daughter on her head. Nenmir, jealous, began to whine until Cield smiled and kissed his cheek.
"Sleeping. He's upset about his legs." Legolas whispered.
"Well I doubted he'd be pleased. Oh and Haldir, this one is Nenmir as you know, you will be watching him. You better take the best of care of him or else I swear I will murder you!" Cield frowned. Nenmir cried at the words 'murder', so Cield scooped him off his shoulders and cooed to him.
"Do not worry Cield-
"I cannot help but worry! This shall be the first time I've ever been apart from Nenmir, and the first time on a trip with Malfinniel. I don't want Nenmir upset, he's just too precious." Cield said, giving his elfling kisses all over his tiny face. Haldir smiled.
"You seem to be doing well as a father, Cield." Haldir said with a gentle smile. Cield shrugged.
"Ada says I'm a modest father. I… I'm not too clever yet… I doubt I was ready when I got lady Firelien pregnant, I was drunken and stupid but I love these little ones with all my heart." Cield said, patting Malfinniel's head.
"That's great Cield, though I hope you've lessened on the drinking." Haldir muttered, Cield sighing.
"Haldir, I have a drinking problem. I cannot lessen, I've tried my hardest I just… drink and I cannot stop my addiction… It's shameful and I hate drinking in front of my children as much as I do… But ever since I was of age I drank wine everyday addictively." Cield murmured. Legolas picked up Nenmir.
"I'm going to go play with Nenmir whilst you both are talking about why Cield is an idiot." Legolas smirked as he carried Nenmir further off from Nenmir's father and Haldir.
"I'm supposing that Legolas gets along well with Nenmir?" Haldir asked. Cield nodded.
"Nenmir and Malfinniel are the youngest relatives Legolas has, so they make Legolas feel like a bigger elfling than he is." Cield smiled.
Legolas was very busy indeed, teaching Nenmir the art of the word BINK. Legolas of course still recalled saying 'bink' and aggravating the march-warden of Lorien to his limits.
To be continued…
Rainbow Fish: I guess it would be evil of you to be happy for him…
Haldir's Heart and Soul: It is sad. But Tavel was almost of age.
ElenweMorewen: I'm in seventh grade…
Legolas' Girl: No, he's not. You know, most people thought it was Locien that Tonus was talking about. I'm happy that you realized it was Florien, but I'm afraid I won't say anything but this: Veassen.
Mistopurr: But it's good with sugar and milk… Mmm… Sugar and milk… Plus you folk have prince Harry and prince William. And that Charles guy, I don't like him though... Plus your queen is on our money.
A.NuEvil: Legolas is very unique in that way…Bberry06: It is, but try and look at the good side…
Amarie: Classmates are silly.
CapriceAnn: Rumil will be in captivity for two years, Locien for three. Who ever said it was LOCIEN that Tonus was talking about? In fact, Locien's not even back yet in this story… Locien, to them, is still dead…