Hi there,
I want to thank those that have read this story and reviewed. I love what you have to say.
LadyMeldaLosse--I am sorry that I did not get this posted before you went to WA state. I hope you will return soon to read and review.
CelticCroos--Here is the newest update. Enjoy! Hope this was fast enough. :)
MarenLP--I don't think even Daelon and Faramir realized they had those deep of feelings themselves. I know I didn't until I wrote it.
FranCheesecake--Thank you for pointing out my error. I did know that Eomer and Eowyn were brother and sister. Geez, I have read the books and seen the movies. Anyway, I fixed it. Thanks again.
Hisster
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Faramir sat at the morning fire with Eomer. They drank strong, hot tea.
"The ranger is a late sleeper," Eomer stated.
"It is not like her," Faramir said, taking a swallow of tea. "I will go see what keeps her."
As Faramir entered the tent, he knew there was something wrong.
"Daelon?" He spoke her name she opened her eyes.
"Faramir, I do not feel well," her voice cracked. He moved to kneel beside her. He could feel the heat radiating from her before he laid a hand on her. Eomer stepped into the tent.
"She is on fire," he told Eomer. "Daelon I need to look at your wound." He ripped her shirt at the shoulder and undid the bandage. The wound was an off color and the flesh around it was an angry red. "The wound is festering." He said. "Get me two of your strongest, fastest horses. I must get her home to the healers."
Eomer personally chose the horses and brought them to Faramir.
"My men are yours to command," Faramir said as he mounted. Eomer helped get the half-conscious ranger on the horse in front of Faramir.
"Go, we will follow," Eomer said.
Faramir stirred Daelon long enough to get her into the saddle and hold on so she did not fall when he changed mounts. Dark had fallen before he reached the main gate of the city. He had ridden hard all day, he was exhausted, his horses were exhausted, and he still had to ride to the top tier of the city.
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The healer hall was dark and he had to kick at the door because he held the unconscious Daelon in his arms. It seemed and eternity before anyone came to the door.
"Captain Faramir," The healer woman at the door recognized him. He pushed his way inside with Daelon.
"The ranger took and arrow in her shoulder. She is feverish," Faramir told the woman as she led him down the hall. As they passed a younger healer, poking her head from her room the older woman commanded she go get the master healer at once. She then led Faramir into one of the rooms where he laid Daelon on the bed.
The healer opened the blanket wrapped around Daelon to get a look at her wound.
"Was this bandaged?" She asked, looking up at Faramir.
"Yes, I took it off this morning to look at the wound. She was burning with fever then."
"It does not look good," the woman said pressing the wound a little.
"Faramir..." Daelon's voice cracked. He moved to get closer to her, and then hesitated.
"It is all right, Captain, you may remain with her," the healer woman said. Faramir moved to Daelon's side, he brushed her hair back from her face. The younger healer returned.
"The master will be her in a moment," she said
"Good, now go put some water on to boil. Bring some cool water and a cloth for the basin so the captain may help us keep her cool."
"Yes, ma'am." The young woman hurried out. She returned in what seemed only a minute or two. She poured some water into the basin on a table beside the bed where Faramir stood. She handed him the cloth after she had wetted it and wrung it out.
Faramir wiped Daelon's forehead with the cool, wet rag.
By this time, the master healer had arrived.
"What have we here," he asked, looking. "Ah, the ranger, she cannot seem to stay out of trouble." He poked and prodded the wound. "Hand me a knife, Tildie," he said to the older healer woman. He started to cut then Daelon jerked away from the pain. "Hold her Captain, do not let her move."
They had not noticed the arrival of Aragorn and Legolas. Aragorn moved to hold Daelon's legs. Legolas stood back watching. The healer opened the wound so he could see what was causing it to fester. Daelon screamed and struggled. Legolas moved to take her hand. The wound bled and tears leaked from her closed eyes.
"Ah, here we go," he said. He pulled a bit of cloth from the open wound. "Now we can clean it up and bandage it. It should heal now and that fever should go down. Tildie will you make me a drawing poultice. We will make sure there is no more in there."
"I have it already," Tildie said, moving around the men to get to the healer. He took the poultice, placed it over the wound, and bandaged her shoulder. He then examined the cut under her eye.
"How did she get this?" He asked giving the cut a little pinch and making a satisfied sound. "Does not matter, it is healing."
After the master left, Tildie chased the men and elf out of the room. The three went out into the common room of the hall.
"Tell me what happened, Faramir," Aragorn said.
"It is a long story, Aragorn. I would rather not tell it now," Faramir told him. His face was drawn and pale. He could feel the elf's stare on him.
"I would like some answers," Aragorn said, he would not let it go. Not only did she have the arrow wound she had the beginnings of a nasty black eye.
"We got into a tussle with some Urak Hai and orc. She was struck by a stray arrow." Faramir said. He knew the next question before it asked.
"How did she get the black eye?" It was Legolas though and not Aragorn who asked.
"A fight with a soldier," Faramir did not want to give details if he did not need to.
"Why?" Aragorn asked he wanted to know. Faramir glanced at Legolas.
"The man was, propositioning her, and then he said something about me and her. The next thing I know she is handing me her weapons and she punches the man. Then he hit her. I am not sure how she got back up but she did and plowed him over. When she stood back up to retrieve her weapons the arrow struck her."
Legolas looked from Faramir to Aragorn.
"You should have let me go along," Legolas said.
"You think none of this would have happened with you along, Elf?" Faramir asked. His temper was on a short fuse and the elf's haughty statement was almost too much.
"That is enough," Aragorn said. "Legolas, why do you not got sit with Daelon? I am sure you would like to be with her. Faramir, come with me, we will escort Eomer and the men into the city and get them settled."
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Legolas sat with Daelon from the time Aragorn had sent him in with her until the next night. The others had all offered to relieve him.
"I will stay with her," he said. He wanted her to know he was not angry with her and he understood her duty.
Aragorn found him sitting in a chair leaning against Daelon's bed with his head resting on his arms.
"Legolas, you need to go get some sleep," he said putting a hand on the elf's shoulder. Legolas sat up and stretched. "Go get some rest, my friend, before I have them give you something that will put you to sleep. I will sit with her."
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Daelon heard familiar voices. They were so far away from the hot, red, darkness in her fevered mind. The Witch-king lived in her fevered dreams. She tried to run from him but he seemed to find her no matter where she hid.
A voice called from the cool silver light. It seemed the silver light crept in covering the hot, red, darkness.
'Daelon,' the voice called. She recognized the voice.
'Father,' she called back. Lord Elrond stepped from the darkness into the silver light. He reached out taking her by the hand. They sat in a ring of silver light. He held both of her hands in his. 'My child,' he whispered. He touched her cheek with his hand and kissed her forehead. 'Rest and be well my child.' Heal yourself.' Daelon closed her eyes and slept in the cool silver darkness.
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Aragorn grew alarmed when Daelon's body went completely lax. He touched her forehead and cheek, the fever was gone. He felt the pulse at her throat it was strong and steady. He smiled to himself. She was sleeping the restful sleep of healing.
Faramir walked into the room. He had gone up the King's house to rest after they had gotten Eomer and the men settled.
"Good," he said. "Eomer and Eowyn are eating with Arwen and Gimli. Legolas went up to his room, to rest I guess."
"I chased him out of here earlier." Aragorn said.
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When Daelon woke, she found herself alone. She had known before she opened her eyes that she was in the healer hall, it smelled of herbs and fresh linen.
She threw her blankets back thinking to get up and go in search for a healer, her friends, anyone to tell her what had happened. She could only remember telling Faramir she did not feel well. The rest was a jumbled blur.
To her dismay, she was dressed in only the bandage at her shoulder. She stood up, pulled the blanket off the bed, and wrapped herself in it. Opening the door, she found a healer about to reach for the handle.
"What are you doing out of bed?" The healer asked.
"Where is everyone?" Daelon asked, ignoring the healer's question.
"They have gone back up to the King's house for a rest and some food. They all spent their time sitting with you. When your fever broke I chased them out of here, told them you would be fine without them for a bit. Now get back over there so you can eat. I had planned on having to wake you," the healer said. She sat the tray on the bed in front of Daelon who now sat cross-legged on the bed. "I will go fetch the master healer so he can take a look at your wound and I will send someone to get you some clothes."
Daelon ate the fruit, bread, and cheese the healer had brought her. She gulped the goat's milk down after her first taste. After she ate, she paced the room waiting for the master healer and her clothes. What was keeping them, she wondered? She paced the room once more before the handle rattled and the door opened.
The master healer stepped in followed by the healer woman.
"All right, Ranger, let us see how you are healing," the master said. He unbound the bandage and pulled the poultice off. There was no more dirt on it, which meant the wound was clean. "I would say another day or two with a bandage and then we can leave it off. Come back tomorrow and have Tildie redress your wound. I hope not to see you too soon, Ranger," He said standing and leaving the room.
"Some one should be here with some clothes for you soon, Ranger. I will go see if they may be waiting in the common room." Tildie, the healer woman, left the room. Daelon sighed and shook her head. She would not be in this mess if she had stayed calm, what good had it done to attack that soldier? None, she decided, except she had felt better after laying the man out on the ground. She got up and walked to the window, where she stared out over the city. She remembered that not too long ago she stood at a window like this, doing the same thing.
"Did someone here need some clothes?" Daelon's heart jumped when she heard the voice. She turned to meet his gaze.
"Legolas..." was all Daelon could muster. She stared at his long hair, his beautiful face. Tears welled in her eyes. She had missed him terribly.
"Daelon," he said, tossing the clothes onto the bed and walking across the room to her. He took both her hands in his. "I thought I had lost you."
"Only for a moment," she said. She had forgotten the blanket wrapped around her. Without her holding it, it slid to the floor. "Perhaps I should dress," she said, blushing.
"Perhaps but I do not mind if you do not," Legolas said.
"Legolas, a bit forward are we not?" Daelon asked. She went to the bed and picked up her leggings, almost falling when she stepped into them. The shirt pulled on more easily and quickly.
"I have seen the soldier you punched. His jaw looks as bad as your eye." Legolas changed the subject.
"Faramir told you?"
"Aragorn made him tell what happened. He knew that black eye and the arrow wound were not both from a fight with the orc."
"Aragorn, ever the big brother," Daelon said as she slipped her boots on.
"He cares for you, Daelon. We all do. Some more than others," Legolas said. Daelon stood and moved to him.
"I am sorry, about my outburst before I left. I have been confused. I...I do love you, Legolas," Daelon told him. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
"We should go up to the King's house, now," Legolas said when they pulled away from each other. "Eowyn is worried that you will not be able to stand with her. She is worried that your clothes will not fit. It goes on and on, she is a nervous bride." They walked hand in hand.