Deana You're back as the 1st reviewer, I see.
Rutu Yes, I agree with you that thee most striking similarity between Kel and Hector is that their younger brothers happen to be played by Orli. (Balls is…uh…how to say it…Well, one of the readers suggested to tell you that balls mean…err…a male's part where the sun doesn't shine and it's…uh…God, I'm blushing here!)
Leralonde You were not the only one who was left drooling in the cinema watching KOH. Me, I drooled a bucket!
Seylin I do get a high when torturing the readers. How did you know?
Courtney Why, thank you so much. Keep on reading, girl!
Szhismine I need to make a correction. Until today, I've seen KOH thrice, not twice. I know, I'm crazy. LOL!
Keluin Lossehilin Yes, I've got your mail. Thank you for the support about the idea! I'll let you be one of the first persons to read that fic after it's finished!
Karriya That is the longest review you've ever made! Awesome, and thanks! I'll check out your fic when it is posted on board, I promise. Love to read the work of another writer from Asia.
Yami Tai : Your friend is indeed the stupidest lucky people in the world. He declined Orli's offer to sit next to him? Really, I feel like hitting him! (your friend, not Orli).
Elemmr My plot bunnies are a lot happier now. See, they are dancing the jigs!
JoeAteMuffin HOLY COW! I was violent, wasn't I? No, I won't kick that cliffie habit. I need it to survive.
Delano I can understand why KOH is rated R in your country. Trust me, it's remarkably violent. Movrak and Michael Jackson? Quite an uncanny resemblance you said? Yikes!
Legosgurl Still laughing, mate? He he he…
Stealth67 If you want to buy the dvd, I suggest you get the extended version which will come out at the end of the year.
A NuEvil Someone definitely pushed you! And guess what? That someone was me!
Theo darkstar Have you received 'Triple Jeopardy'?
Irish Anor Oh, I'm glad you like the battle scene! I nearly killed myself while making that, dodging between those elves' blades and sword!
Kalayna I know what you mean. Legolas was not behaving like himself in that chapter. Maybe he needs to see a therapist.
Ceyxa Err…I might sound quite dense to you but…what is Monty Phyton?
Likurstorys Over a year now? It's so nice to finally hear from you! Keep reading, mellon!
I know, I know! I'm terribly hate! So sorry. Lot's of things is happening in my life right now, what with Kimi winning that Spanish GP, juggling with my monthly financial presentation to the board, and me winning a small contest in our local magazine (I won a hamper worth RM1,000 of Lancome products! Yay!).
Note : I'm feeling generous, so I might post another chapter today!
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Legolas didn't know how long he stared, panic-stricken, at his brother's ashen face. But he instantly jerked back to life when he heard the heart-wrenching wheezing sound that Keldarion was making as he fought for breath, an amount of blood covering his nose and mouth.
"Leh…Legluh…" Keldarion panted in misery, his fists clenching and unclenching within Legolas' grasp.
"I'm here, brother. I'm here," Legolas said soothingly as he stroked his brother's temple. "You are going to be fine, I promise you. Now, let's make you comfortable, shall we?"
Keldarion was positioned on his side, on top of a cloak that Legolas had hastily spread on the ground. With gentle hands, the younger elf arranged his brother's head so that his right cheek was resting against the warm fabric.
The blood flowed out freely out of Keldarion's throat then, giving relief to his breathing passage. He managed to take several deep gulps of air before a spasm of agony suddenly burst inside his chest. He could have screamed out loud if he had had enough air to do that.
"Shh, easy, big brother. Easy, now. Don't breathe too fast. Let your lungs take it slow and steady. All right, Kel. That's it. Very nice. You're doing well."
As he crooned alternately in Sindarin and Quenya, Legolas wiped the blood off his brother's face. He then worked to release the leather scabbard from around Keldarion's waist before carefully pulling down his brother's tunic and undershirt over one shoulder until the arrow wound lay exposed. Keldarion moaned, his eyes shut and teeth gritting. Obviously, the movement pained him very much.
Brushing Keldarion's long raven hair out of the way, Legolas quietly apologized. He loathed hurting his brother this way, yet he had no choice. He fervently wished that he was still a manyan, that he still had the power to heal. If only he had never lost the ability to remove his brother's pain just using the simple touch of his hand...
But he couldn't do that anymore, he hadn't been able to for over fifteen years now. And it was doubtful that he would get his erstwhile gift back.
Giving his brother a brief squeeze on the shoulder, Legolas left him to head towards the dwindling fire situated in the middle of the camp. After burying the sharp point of his dagger into the glowing embers, he straightened and swiftly took in his surroundings with keen eyes, grimacing at the dead bodies strewn all around him. The high stench of blood and urine that permeated the air, caused his nose to wrinkle in disgust.
There was nothing he could do about the revolting scenery right now, but the dead men might have left something that he could use to treat his brother's injury. Keldarion's life was hanging by a thread, and Legolas had neither time nor luxury to retrieve the packs that they had left behind with their horses up the hill. He had to make do with anything at hand.
Rummaging through the men's belongings, Legolas found several swaths of bandage and clean towels. He then grabbed a couple of water skins and carried the whole bundle to his brother's side. Keldarion still had his eyes closed, but he was breathing steadily, albeit weakly.
"Kel?" Legolas softly called, afraid that his brother would not respond.
Keldarion's eyes fluttered open, gazing dazedly back at the other elf. "Oh. Hello, Legolas. Are we…there yet?"
Frowning slightly, Legolas uncorked one of the water skins and wet a towel. He soothingly ran the damp cloth over his brother's sweaty face. "Where exactly do you mean, Kel?"
"H…home, Mirkwood," the elder prince responded. "Aislinn is…about to have our…our baby."
Smiling reassuringly, Legolas cupped his brother's cheek. He could feel that Keldarion had already developed a fever, and it was steadily rising by the minute. No wonder he was slightly delirious.
"No, she is not, Kel. You were just dreaming. Can't you remember what happened?"
Keldarion blinked and slowly looked around him. Recognition slowly flared in his eyes. "Right. Darion. The marauders. The fight. The bloody arrow…and stupid me."
"Well, you got no argument there. I think you're pretty stupid, too." Legolas grinned, bending over the hole in Keldarion's chest. "All right, Kel. Here's the story. I need to get this arrowhead out of you before it starts poisoning your blood. I'll reach for it with my fingers, so that I shall know if it breaks and leaves splinters inside."
"Fine." Keldarion grunted in reply as Legolas' gently poked at his chest to confirm the arrowhead's whereabouts. The younger prince then slowly poured a trickle of water over the wound, washing away the blood and dirt. Keldarion jerked at the stinging sensation, hissing and swearing under his breath.
"Sorry, sorry," Legolas apologized profusely. Looking extremely pale with guilt, he hastily searched through a small pouch at his waist. ""Did you bring any herbs with you, Kel? I forgot to bring any dry althelas or herbendeawith me. Any of those would help dull your pain."
Typical Legolas. Keldarion rolled his eyes, amused. There's always something he forgets to bring for a journey.
"What the blazes do you have in that pouch, then?"
His face turning red, Legolas took out three locks of very fine hair—two ebony, and one golden. "Err…Nara and the twins' hair."
Keldarion couldn't help it. He laughed until his shoulders shook from it. "What did you bring those for?"
Legolas grew even redder, pushing the shiny locks of his three beloveds back into his pouch. "For charm, and to ward off evil luck."
"You really think it works?" Keldarion teased.
Sending his brother a killing glare, Legolas retorted, "Well, I'm not the one who is lying on his back with an arrow in his lung, mind you!"
Not offended in the least, Keldarion grinned. "I didn't know you were such a sentimental person, little brother."
"I'm not sentimental, all right? Cut it out or I'll gag you," Legolas growled. "Did you bring any herbs or not?"
Still smiling, Keldarion pointed at the purse attached to his leather scabbard. "There. You'll find some althelas. Unlike you, I always come prepared."
"Right. That proves how boring a person you are."
Keldarion's eyes widened. "Excuse me? Boring?"
It was Legolas' turn to grin. He went through Keldarion's purse and took out several dried leaves of the healing plant. "Yes, Kel. You are always so prepared for anything. Why can't you just be unprepared for a change and meet all the surprises coming your way, head on? That would make your life more exciting."
Keldarion gave his brother a funny look. "Legolas, I was caught unprepared. See this wound, the arrow in my chest? How more exciting do you want my life to get?"
Chuckling, Legolas chose some of the dried leaves to place against his brother's lips. "Here, chew on them."
Keldarion obeyed without protest. He watched as Legolas drew up his sleeves and washed both hands. His younger brother was calm and composed, looking ready to the world to administer a very complicated surgery. But Keldarion knew better. He saw how Legolas' hands shook and his eyes shone bright with tension.
"It will go well, Legolas. You are going to do fine," the elder prince said softly, reassuring his brother.
"I'm the one who should tell you that." Legolas gave him a wan smile. "Now, brace yourself. I'm about to dig for the arrowhead."
"Before that, can you get me my sword?"
Legolas looked puzzled for a moment before going to retrieve his brother's blade from where it was lying next to Patch-eye's dead body. "Here. Say, what do you need this for? Are you going to stab me with it when your pain gets too great?"
With a sly grin, Keldarion placed the sword by his side and gripped at its pommel. "I might."
Legolas warily eyed his brother, and then shook himself back into business mode. "Fine, then. Do as you wish. May I start now?"
Keldarion tightened his grip on his sword until his knuckles turned white, bracing himself for the impending pain. "Now, you may."
With full concentration, the former manyan probed at the arrow wound before he gently inserted his index finger through the small gap. Keldarion flinched and grunted, causing Legolas to pause.
"Don't…mind me. H…hurry…" the elder elf gasped, his face turning as pale as ghost from the pain.
Legolas continued on. He dug deeper, searching for the metal. His finger was already halfway through when he finally felt the sharp and hard surface of the arrowhead. He then slowly slit his thumb inside, ignoring the low moans and whimpers that his brother emitted.
"I've found it," Legolas declared shortly after, perspiration beading his forehead. "It is not broken, still intact. I'm going to pull it out now."
Keldarion nodded his assent, biting his lower lip until it bled. Holding his own breathe, Legolas began the agonizing process of tugging the arrowhead out.
Keldarion writhed.
Legolas sweated.
And then…
"Got it!" Grinning, Legolas held aloft the offending sharp metal for his brother to see. Keldarion made a face at it.
"Lovely," he muttered, his breathing growing extremely labored.
Knowing that his brother was not out of danger yet, Legolas tossed down the arrowhead and quickly pressed a folded towel over the gaping wound. It had started to bleed profusely once more.
"Listen, Kel," he said, brushing a strand of hair out of Keldarion's eye. "After I stop the bleeding, I need to cauterize your wound before infection sets in."
Swallowing down the hot bile of nausea that rose to his throat, Keldarion nodded. "Do…whatever you…have to do…"
Keldarion didn't know what happened next, he must have passed out. When he reopened his eyes, his younger brother was gazing down at him, holding a blazing hot dagger in one hand—and looking deeply terrified.
"Kel, if you are not up to this…"
"Just…do it."
Legolas gulped nervously. From the moment he took his dagger out of the fire, he had been praying that he knew exactly what he was doing. Putting on a brave face, he gave his brother a brittle grin. "Want me to knock you out cold first?"
"Try it…and I'll…knock you out cold…m'self…" Keldarion mumbled.
Legolas found that notion hilarious, so he laughed. "There's still hope for you then, brother. Now, are you ready?"
"Do you…really want me to…answer that?"
"Oh, you need not answer. But I really have to warn you, Kel, this is going to hurt like the very devil. I know, because I've been through it before and it took three people to hold me down and…"
"Legolas?"
"Yes?"
"Get on with it."
Legolas ceased babbling. Without a word, he placed a clean towel between his brother's teeth. Keldarion bit it down and prepared himself for the next wave of agony.
The instant the burning dagger touched his wound, Keldarion regretted declining his brother's offer to knock him unconscious.
TBC…