Chapter 24
Adette's POV
I tried to keep my eyes open as Legolas laid me out on the bed. I could see Aragorn standing near him, both of them looking at me with worried expressions. Legolas had asked me to keep talking, and so I started up again slowly.
"He was sent by the steward…he was angry…" I could hear my voice trailing off, and desperately tried to find my lips to keep speaking. My mind was screaming at me to stay awake but my body was so exhausted and confused.
"Hey! Adette, why was he angry?" I watched Legolas turn to Aragorn. "She has a concussion."
Aragorn's eyebrows furrowed and I knew that he was angry. I watched him try to compose his face, and then speak in a less concerned tone, probably to calm Legolas down.
"I'll be right back, keep her awake and talking." He then rushed from the room to go and get supplies. I had never had a concussion before, so I didn't know what I needed. As Legolas turned back to me, pushing my hair back, I was horrified to see that he was changing colors. I blinked, trying to correct my vision.
"He doesn't like me…or Aragorn." The look on Legolas's face was the same one I had seen when I had been wounded by the warg. I slowly reached out for his hand, and he took it gently. I then saw him sit down beside my head. The colors were beginning to dizzy me, and I was fighting hard to stay awake.
"Why not?" I barely heard his voice. It sounded as though he was trying to speak while his face was pressed into a blanket.
"He…Legolas…" I felt my eyes close and I saw darkness. From beside me I felt the bed shudder, and was vaguely aware of hands on my face. I could still hear Legolas's voice, but it was still muffled.
"Hey! Adette, stay with me. Adette!"
Open your eyes Adette. I thought, trying to open them. It was as if someone else was controlling my body, and it was frustrating. I felt my eyebrows twitching, my forehead creased as I tried to convince my eyes to open.
"Adette come on talk to me!"
"Legolas…my eyes…" I tried to tell him, I tried to explain that my body wasn't responding but I couldn't. "Damn…it."
I could hear Legolas chuckle. My lips twitched into a smile, thankful that he wasn't freaking out anymore. I suddenly felt something cold on my forehead, dripping wet onto my skin and into my hair and ears. Another voice was speaking.
"Echuivo Adette." Aragorn's voice sounded just as muffled as Legolas's. I nearly shouted at him, "I am awake!" I instead settled on trying to move my arm instead, reached out to hit him. I caught something with my fist, but it moved before I could do any damage. Two chuckles.
(Wake up Adette.)
"I am…awake damnit." I said in an annoyed tone, crying out in relief when my eyes slowly reopened. I wished I had left them closed, for I instantly felt as though someone were pressing their thumbs into my eyes, trying to pop them out. I didn't mean to, but I screamed. Before my eyes closed again, I saw Legolas's eyes widen at the sound.
"Keep your eyes closed," whatever had been on my forehead moved down over my eyes, "but keep talking. You can't fall asleep yet."
"Tell us about the steward. What happened exactly?" Someone was then touching my throat where the man's sword had cut. I felt wetness there too, and made a sucking sound through my teeth when the sting came. "I know, I know just hang on dúlinn."
"Lord Denethor…he's such a jerk." I muttered, slapping hands away when they touched my head. Didn't they know that it hurt when they did that? I heard Aragorn sigh and then footsteps moving towards the end of the bed. "He sent that…oaf…after me."
"He will die by my hand." Legolas snarled. I felt something softer against my neck, assuming it was bandages. "How dare he try to kill the princess."
"How dare he try to kill me at all." It was getting a little bit easier to speak, although voices were still muffled, and the pounding in my head wasn't helping.
A hand grasping my sprained ankle roughly sent a pain that shot up through my whole leg, causing the damn thing to shudder. I sat up, my eyes flying open to strike either Aragorn or Legolas, when dizziness swept over. Colors swirled like a painting in front of my eyes, but a blonde color was the most dominant as it rushed to lay me back. I could make out Legolas's worried eyes, and I could see his lips moving but no words came. I was done trying to stay awake.
Legolas's POV
"Lay back Adette, rest my love." I said softly, gently pushing her back down. Her eyes were closed again, but I had seen them glazed over when she had had them open. I laid the wet cloth back over her forehead and eyes. "Are you awake?"
"Let her sleep now Legolas." Aragorn was about to wrap Adette's sprained ankle. "Legolas will you take off her leggings? Be gentle, we don't want her trying to sit up again."
I nodded and slid my hands up underneath her tunic. I felt around carefully for where her leggings began, and tugged them down past her thighs. When they were above her knees, Aragorn lifted one leg at a time so that I could slip the leggings off. Her left ankle was swollen a bit, but didn't look too bad.
"What should I do?" I didn't like just standing around, looking at her like this. Aragorn seemed to understand my distress.
"Why don't you help me with this. You can lift her foot for me while I wrap." He moved over to make room for me, and we began to work on her ankle. "What happened out there?"
"When I arrived, Adette had just slashed the enemy's abdomen. He then picked her up by the throat and she dropped her sword. I shot him in the shoulder, but he seemed completely fine, but he dropped her anyways, only to smash his head against hers, and then hit her again in the head with a fist.
I had another arrow ready, but he had his sword at her neck." I stopped, and closed my eyes tightly. The image of Adette being held captive like that, his eyes glancing down her tunic…
"Legolas." Aragorn had a hand rested on my shoulder. I opened my eyes without looking towards him, instead I just focused on her ankle. Aragorn continued to wrap.
"My only regret is not slaying him in a slower way. He felt no pain."
"Her ankle is wrapped." Aragorn announced quietly, tying the bandaging tightly. "Shall I stay with her?"
"No, I will. Aragorn," I looked up from her ankle and saw that Aragorn was already looking at me, "she said the beacons are supposed to be lit."
His eyes widened at my words.
"I will go stand watch." He turned and stepped towards the door, but changed his mind. He went to Adette's side and looked down at her. He didn't speak for awhile, but simply watched her. "It's my fault."
"Baw." I went to his side and turned him towards me.
(No.)
"If I had been on the throne, if I would just accept who I am…then Adette wouldn't have been hurt." His eyes met mine. "I am so sorry mellon."
"Avo pedo tó." I said sternly. "It isn't your fault mellon. You are too good of a brother to Adette, don't blame yourself. Blame Lord Denethor."
(Don't say that.)
He didn't answer, but he smiled sadly at me. I let go of his shoulders, returning the smile as he patted my arm. He cast one more glance at his sister before going to the door.
"If she awakens, make her go back to sleep," he then laughed and turned to face me, "even if she hits you."
"That's easy for you to say." I groaned. Aragorn grinned.
"You married her my friend." He then disappeared, closing the door behind him.
I turned back to Adette. I wanted to dress her in something else, to brush through her tangled hair. I just wanted to make her more comfortable, but moving her body around didn't seem like a smart thing to do. Instead I simply circled the bed and decided to lie beside her. Her head was tilted to the side, facing away from me. Her neck looked like an inviting pillow. I laid my cheek against it, being careful of the bandaging from her cut. Her skin was warm, her pulse tapping gently against my cheek.
When she mumbled, I lifted my head. I watched her face, waiting for her to speak again. I lifted the cloth and saw that her eyes were closed. I wondered if she was having a nightmare when she spoke again, a bit louder.
"Where is my husband?" She moaned sadly. As her head started to tip towards me, I gently coaxed it into a comfortable place on the pillow. But once my hands left her head, she whimpered. "Where is Legolas? Legolas?"
I leaned in close, scooting towards her. Perhaps she would feel me in her sleep, and become comforted. The pain in her voice was breaking my heart.
"Forn sí nin foeg, harn herves." I whispered, a grin spreading across my features. If I had said that while she had been awake, she would have punched me.
(Right here my poor, wounded wife.)
I was surprised when she snuggled closer, and when I went to move her head for her, she laid it upon my shoulder. I hesitantly held her close, not wanting to cause her pain. She leaned into my arms and I kissed her forehead lightly.
"Herven." She murmured when my lips brushed against her forehead.
(Husband.)
Èowyn had insisted that I go to the dining hall to get something to eat a few hours later. She promised me that if Adette awoke that she would make her go back to sleep and so I followed her suggestion. As I was walking down the hall, however, I stopped inside the Golden Hall. Théoden was going over maps with some of his men at a table. Gimli got up from his seat when he saw me.
"How's the lass?"
"Ah yes Legolas, how does Adette fare?" Théoden asked upon seeing me. I crossed the room to the table, glancing at the maps.
"She is still sleeping."
"Remember that if you require anything-"
Suddenly the doors were thrusted open, and Aragorn stampeded in.
"The beacons of Minas Tirith! The beacons are lit!" He shouted, skidding to a stop in front of the table. "Gandalf calls for aid!"
"And Rohan will answer." Théoden turned to his men. "We leave in the morning. Order the men to ready themselves."
"King Théoden." I said, catching his attention. He turned towards me, smiling.
"Yes Legolas?"
"What has happened to Arod?" His face fell.
"I had one of them men put him out of his misery, he was suffering and there was nothing that we could do. Do you require another horse or will you use the horse you rode in with yesterday?"
"Will you-…can I…" I didn't want to use that beast as my horse. Théoden seemed to understand and nodded.
"You may use Herenvardo. I will have him brought out for you in the morning." He then turned back to study his maps again. I turned to Aragorn, red faced from running.
"Run fast did you?" I asked as he caught his breath. "I was just heading to the dining hall, would you like to come?"
"Yes I think I'd like a drink." He smiled, and I laughed.
Adette's POV
"You're cynical and beautiful,
you always make a scene,
you're monochrome delirious,
you're nothing that you seem,
I'm drowning in your vanity,
your laugh is a disease,
you know you're everything I need.
Everything you are,
falls from the sky like a star,
everything you are,
whatever ever you want -" Legolas's voice stopped suddenly as I shifted.
I moaned when I awakened, my head feeling a bit better. I heard rustling, and as I reached up to remove the rag, someone did it for me. My vision was still blurry from sleeping so long, and I tried to focus it. Legolas's face was inches from my own.
"Are you feeling faint?" He asked softly. I slowly sat up and he leaned back, one arm pushing me up from behind. I shook my head to rid myself of the dizziness and blurriness, blinking repeatedly.
"No." I whispered, turning to look at Legolas. I sighed happily when I could see clearly without everything shaking. "How long have I been asleep?"
"It is midway through the night." He smiled sweetly. "I'll bet your starving."
As if on cue, my stomach growled loudly. We both chuckled softly, and I nodded although I'm sure it wasn't necessary.
"What shall I bring you?"
"You don't have to bring me anything – I'll go myself." I began to move but Legolas gently swung my legs over the side of the bed for me. He then went to pick me up but I placed my hands on his chest. "I can walk."
"What about your ankle?" He protested.
"I'll hop."
"Adette-"
"I'm walking…but if you want you can put your arm around me if it'll make you feel better." He didn't need to be told twice as he slipped his arm around my waist and helped me off of the bed.
It was quiet and dark in the halls, but Legolas had brought an oil lamp with us and so everything glowed as we walked past. He kept it low to the ground so that if any doors were open, the light wouldn't disturb anyone sleeping.
"Did the beacons light?" I whispered, hopping up close to his ear.
"Yes, we leave tomorrow." He answered without looking at me. "Do you remember what you dreamed about dúlinn?"
I frowned, trying to remember.
"I had a dream about you," I looked up at him, "why? Did I talk?"
"Yes you did. You were looking for me." I smiled as I remembered.
"Yes I was sitting beneath the White Tree of Gondor when I opened my eyes and you weren't there. I called for you, asking where you had gone. I heard your voice, felt your kiss but you weren't there."
"Did you ever find me?"
I rested my head against his shoulder, sinking into his touch.
"Yes I found my herven."
Playlist (for the whole story)
(no specific order)
Into The West by Annie Lennox
Field of Innocence by Evanescence
May It Be by Enya
Flora's Secret by Enya
Wild Child by Enya
How Can I Keep From Singing? by Enya
Count On Me by Default
Everywhere You Go by Taxiride
Possession by Sarah McLachlan
Rain by Breaking Benjamin
Crown Of Scars by Lifehouse
Ride Of Your Life by John Gregory
Fly Away by Lenny Kravitz
Stillness of Heart by Lenny Kravitz
Running Away by Hoobastank
Do You Love Me That Much? by Peter Cetera
Have A Little Faith In Me by Jewel
Stop And Say You Love Me by Evans Blue
Beautiful Ways by Pat McGee Band
Faith Of The Heart by Rod Stewart
Dizzy by Goo Goo Dolls