Chapter 35
My tears eventually subsided some time later and I rode silently through the night. I stopped the carriage only once to check on Adette, finding her fast asleep in the carriage. When the sun rose up in the sky I breathed a sigh of relief. By midday we would be in Minas Tirith.
Herenvardo was tiring out and was growing stubborn. I whispered soft Elvish to him, trying to urge him on when his pace slowed. I was about to give up when Adette's voice spoke my name. I pulled on the reigns and the horse stopped in its tracks. As I dismounted I watched as Adette stumbled out of the carriage and fell to her knees as morning sickness overtook her body.
"Garo bo Adette. Only a few more weeks left of this and then you will feel better." I murmured, tying her hair back with a ribbon she had tied around her wrist. I then rubbed her back until she had finished.
(Hold on Adette.)
"Why don't you rest awhile Legolas? I can lead Herenvardo the rest of the way to Minas Tirith while you sleep." She offered, getting back on her feet.
"No Adette it isn't safe."
"Legolas le baur na idh. Ceri le aníro na danto flae?" She stroked my cheek and I reveled in her touch. However the moment only lasted for a few seconds for my ears picked up on the sound of sixteen Uruks heading in our direction.
(Legolas you need to rest. Do you want to fall ill?)
"Adette, there are Uruks headed towards us. Get into the carriage and stay put." I commanded, pulling out my bow. I walked past her but stopped when I didn't hear her move. I turned back to face her. "Ceri sui im pedo!"
(Do as I say!)
"No. You cannot fight alone." She unsheathed her sword and came forward.
"Adette-" I was unable to finish my sentence for the sounds of the Uruks rushing from behind caused me to turn. I took out one Uruk right away with an arrow, quickly readying another. Two down, fourteen more to go. I reached for another arrow but realized with a heavy heart that I had run out.
I replaced my bow and grabbed Adette, swinging her beneath my arm as arrows flew towards us. As I was about to push Adette inside of the carriage I became aware of an arrow heading right for us. I quickly moved Adette out of the way, safe inside of the carriage and then I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder. Adette gasped, her hands flying out and pulling me inside.
"Legolas!" She exclaimed, ripping off pieces of her tunic. It was then that I saw the arrow sticking out of my shoulder, blood slowly spilling from the wound. Never in my life had I been pierced by an arrow. I could barely speak it hurt so badly.
When the carriage began to rock I watched Adette jump out, taking her sword with her. I then felt the carriage moving and knew that she was riding Herenvardo. She was trying to get to Minas Tirith with fourteen Uruks chasing her. Even worse was that I was slowly giving into unconsciousness from the flaming pain in my shoulder. Adette had wrapped the cloth tightly around the arrow protruding from my flesh.
I looked up and saw the sky above, the corners fading black. I blinked, trying to keep myself awake. I could not pass out for I would be leaving Adette to fend for herself and she could not fight although she would try.
Although it caused me great discomfort, I sat up and held the arrow in my fist. Clenching my jaw and my eyes closed, I wrenched the arrow from my skin and immediately screamed out in pain. More blood rushed from the open wound, and I tried my hardest to redress it with the cloth, wrapping it as tight as I could. Once this was done I grabbed my bow and leaned out of the carriage. Using the bloody arrow I fired at the nearest Uruk, the arrow going straight through his forehead.
I turned my head and saw Minas Tirith not too far away. I could also see riders coming towards us at a fast pace and sighed in relief when I recognized the banner that they carried.
"Hold on Legolas! Hold on!" Adette's voice called back to me. I could hear the tears in her voice as she continued to drive Herenvardo hard. As the riders came closer I allowed myself to fall back into the carriage and fell into a painful sleep.
Adette's POV
The healers dressed Legolas's wound after applying many pastes and liquids to his wound. They had said that if he had lost any more blood he surely would have died. I had not left his side once although the healers had wanted me to rest. I refused and they left me alone with him as he slept.
I took his hand into mine, stroking it gently with my other hand. His face was relaxed and I was glad that he was sleeping peacefully for the time being. When he was awake he was probably in a great deal of pain. Just rethinking what had happened scared me. I tried to will my heart to stop beating so quickly by taking deep, even breaths but to no avail.
"No balar nin bein maethor. Ceri al anno am. Eruanna a im nedio bo le." I said a little louder than necessary. I continued to stroke his hand.
(Be strong my handsome warrior. Do not give up. Eruanna and I count on you.)
When the door opened I expected to see a healer but I instead saw my brother. When he entered I flew to him, pitching myself forward to wrap my arms around him. He was quick to respond, hugging me tightly.
"It is good to see you sister." He then pulled me away gently, and looked me over. "Are you alright? What about the baby?"
"We are fine Aragorn. But…" I hung my head as tears welled up in my eyes. Aragorn tipped my chin back up to meet his eyes.
"Legolas will pull through, I promise. Now you should get some sleep for you and for the baby. Legolas would have a fit if he knew I did not make you rest." He smiled, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
"I can't sleep, I must stay with him. You must understand that."
He nodded, sighing heavily. He went on to tell me that if Legolas still had not awakened in the next few hours he would send me to bed anyways. He then left me alone with him and I continued to stroke his hand.
I spoke to Legolas about anything I could think of. I told him where I wanted to put the baby's things in our room, I told him what color dress I was thinking about wearing to Aragorn and Arwen's wedding, I talked about old memories, and finally I ran out of things to say.
I stayed by his side the rest of the day, and when Aragorn returned to escort me to bed I waved him away. I then told Legolas about how when he had tried to carry me I had tried to kick him but he jumped back before my foot could collide with his crotch. I then told Legolas how Aragorn had laughed and left me with a blanket and pillow in case I fell asleep.
All through the night I waited for Legolas's beautiful, blue eyes to open. As the moon became visible in the window I began to speak again.
"You took that arrow for me Legolas, you took it for your daughter. It would be rude and a very jerk thing to do to leave without letting me repay the favor." Tears welled up in my eyes again and this time I did not blink them back. "It's all my fault. I am the reason that you're hurt. It should be me in that bed instead of you."
Tears flowed down my cheek as I bowed my head, my shoulders shaking as sobs racked my body. Suddenly Legolas's hand twitched from beneath mine.
"No more tears Adette."
My head snapped up to see Legolas slowly open his eyes. The blue hues lit up from the moonlight, glowing in the dark. He slowly lifted his hand to my face, placing his palm against my cheek. I held it there, knowing he was weak.
"Adette your words hurt worse than this." He motioned to his shoulder. "I would rather be shot with hundreds of arrows than have you in this bed instead of me. Why would you say such a thing?"
"You took that arrow for me Legolas. It was my fault." I protested, more tears spilling down my cheeks.
His hand moved again from beneath mine and he weakly wiped the tears away. He then hissed as he moved and I leaned over him to check his shoulder. An arm wrapped around me and pulled me down next to him, my right leg falling over his legs. He looked down at me as my head was propped up on his uninjured shoulder.
"Do you remember that you nearly did the same for me once before?"
That was when I saw him.
An Uruk, twice as large as the others, was glaring angrily in Legolas's direction. His face was marked with white face paint in the form of a hand, making his yellow eyes stand out. His teeth were jagged and animal like as he bared them. He then proceeded to pull out a bow and get an arrow ready – aiming for my husband.
"Legolas, no!" I screamed. I charged at the Uruk, slamming into him with such a force that we both toppled down the hill. The arrow was released, and I could only pray that I had knocked him hard enough to move the target. When I heard Legolas shout my name, I knew the Uruk had missed.
"But-" Although he hissed again he moved his free arm over, his finger moving over my lips to silence me.
"No buts dúlinn." He leaned in close to my ear. "I would take another arrow for you in a heartbeat. Don't you ever forget that."
"I love you Legolas." I moved my face up closer so that he could kiss me. He only kissed me for a moment before gently pushing me down so that my head rested against his chest. I watched as he unwrapped his arm from around me to grab the blanket Aragorn had left for me. He then covered us both with it before pulling me close again. "You are injured and yet you treat me as though I am injured."
"I love you too Adette." He chuckled, kissing my forehead. I buried my face further into Legolas's chest and waited for him to fall asleep. I listened to his steady heartbeat carefully and when I was satisfied that he was truly going to be alright I let myself drift off as well.
"When the road gets dark, and you can no longer see,
just let my love throw a spark, baby,
and have a little faith in me.
When the tears you cry, are all you can believe,
just give these lovin arms a try and baby,
have a little faith in me.
Have a little faith in me,
have a little faith in me,
have a little faith in me,
have a little faith in me.
When your secret heart, cannot speak so easily,
come here darlin and from a whisper start,
have a little faith in me.
When your back's against the wall, just turn around,
you will see,
I will catch you, I will catch your fall,
just have a little faith in me.
I'll be loving you for such a long, long time baby,
expect nothing in return,
just for you to have a little faith in me.
They say time, time is a friend for you a me,
there is no end all you gotta do is have a,
little faith in me.
I'll hold you up, ill hold you up, strength is,
nothing have a little faith in me,
hey baby, oh baby oh, all you gotta do is have,
a little faith in me, oh all you gotta do,
is have a little faith in me."
I sang quietly as I rewrapped Legolas's shoulder. I sat on the opposite side of him so that I could wrap it. With the help of the healers' remedies, they had said that he would be fully healed in a week or two.
When I looked up from his shoulder, I realized that he was staring at me. With a gasp a hand flew to my stomach in surprise while the other nearly dropped the bandaging I was holding. He blinked once, twice, three times and then he grinned.
"Did I startle you?" He asked innocently.
"No, not at all." I said sarcastically, resuming what I had been doing. As I reached for my dagger I realized I had taken it off and put it on the nightstand on the other side of the bed. I leaned over Legolas carefully to get it when I felt his hands gently grasp either side of my waist. I felt his lips against my tunic.
"How is my daughter doing?" He whispered.
"Legolas," I shooed his hands away as I sat back down, "she's sleeping."
He raised an eyebrow, his grin widening.
"And how do you know this." His tone was amused. I cut the bandaging with my dagger, straying into thought.
"It's hard to explain. Whenever I sing, I feel a peace within me. She doesn't move, she doesn't jump she simply lies still. I just know." I shrugged. I looked up casually and saw him looking at me curiously, his eyes dancing with wonder. It was adorable the way he was when we talked about the baby.
"Adette?" He asked after a time.
"Mmm?"
"Have you told Aragorn about Mirkwood?"
"He knows Legolas, but we haven't discussed it. We were all worried about you and I thought it best to wait for you to wake." I stopped tying his wrap. "Was that wrong?"
"No I am glad you waited."
"When did you want to discuss it?"
He slowly sat up although I placed both hands on his chest.
"Legolas you should rest awhile more."
"There isn't time for that Adette," he slowly swung his legs over the side of the bed and staggered to his feet, "we need to talk to Aragorn right away."