AN: I really want to thank everyone who sent KIND reviews. They include: I- LOVE-LEGOLAS, etheraldragon, legly luver, Some one...,Fox-Demon-Girl, Myri78, GreenEyedElfGoddess, and everyone else. You make my day happy! Sorry about the cliffhanger (um, actually, I guess I'm not. evil grin). Anyway, thanks for being so loyal and sweet. XOXO!
Onto the next chapter, shall we?
Trouble in the Night
"We must do something to staunch the bleeding!" Fiondra exclaimed. Gimli just stared at her in shock and Fiondra realized that he wouldn't be of much help to her. She hurriedly wracked her brain. 'Stop the blood, what can I use?' It came to her in the next instant. She turned away from both elf and dwarf and raised her skirt. Fiondra snatched at the crisp, white petticoat underneath. She pulled it taut and struggled to rip a good-sized portion out of it. She finally succeeded and bent down to press the wad of linen to the wound in Legolas' side.
"I'm glad you thought of that, lass, because I know I wouldn't have," Gimli said to Fiondra, relief evident in his voice. They watched as the blood slowly soaked the torn piece of petticoat.
"Gimli, I need you to hold this steady while I tear up the rest of my petticoat. I have another one I can change into," Fiondra said to him. The dwarf complied and Fiondra quickly went to Etul and took a spare underskirt out of her pack. She took off the ripped petticoat and replaced it with the extra one. The old underskirt she tore into multiple paddings and when she finished, rushed back with them to Legolas.
The elf was pale; the cloth to his side that Gimli held was nearly dripping with blood. 'He is losing too much,' Fiondra observed. She reached into the pouch at her waist and took out a sprig of athelas. She dampened it with her tongue and lightly placed it into the injury on Legolas' left side. "That will help if there was any poison on the arrow. I assume 'twas Legolas who pulled it from his side?" Fiondra asked Gimli.
The dwarf nodded and surveyed as Fiondra replaced the drenched bandage. He asked tentatively, "Is he going to make it, lass?"
Fiondra looked up at Gimli from her place on the ground. In a grim voice she replied. "I believe so. But it's going to be a rough night for all of us. What he really needs is a healer." She looked back at Legolas, worry on every aspect of her face.
"Why doesn't one of us go for help? Surely we aren't that far from the Woodland King's palace?" Gimli asked her in a more hopeful tone.
Fiondra sighed heavily and responded. "Think about it, Master Gimli. First off, we don't dare move Legolas. He's lost too much blood. Secondly, you can't go for help, because you're a dwarf, and since my people aren't generally friendly towards your kind, they'd imprison you immediately. On the other hand, I cannot go for help, because I was banished. In their eyes, I still am. If I suddenly show up, they'll kill me. There is only one elf whose word King Thranduil will trust, and right now he lies unconscious which doesn't help either of us." Fiondra looked at Legolas' blue eyes, hazed over with pain. She spoke again. "No Master Gimli, you and I must stay here, waiting until Legolas is fit for travel or until someone comes across us. I will stay here to tend for Legolas. I need you to keep watch. Night is drawing near and gigantic spiders roam these forests. Will you do that for me?"
Gimli said, "Aye." Off he went, patrolling their campsite with a bear-like ferocity. Fiondra smiled and turned back to watch the wounded elf.
All through the night, Fiondra cared for Legolas. Gimli had tired and she had told him gently that he might rest for a while. Although he had protested at first, the dwarf had laid don and now his rumbling snores echoed through the dark trees.
Sometime after midnight, judging by the position of the waning moon, Legolas awoke, delirious. He called out, "Naneth! " Fiondra calmed him, whispering reassurances to him. She poured water on a small piece of the petticoat, and with it, wiped his fevered brow. When he had fallen into a distressed sleep, Fiondra checked the wound at his side and was relieved to find that it had stopped bleeding. It bore no signs of infection and evidently no poison had begun its evil work. Fiondra bound it and laid her cloak over the tall elf.
As the wound had dried, Fiondra had decided it was time to see if the elf could take any liquids. She cautiously raised Legolas' head. Fiondra placed a flask of water to his thin lips and managed to dribble some down his throat. She laid Legolas back down and his eye again cam out of sleep. "Naneth?" he questioned her feverishly. When Fiondra didn't answer, his eyes again fogged over into slumber.
Many times that night Legolas awoke, calling for his mother. A couple of instances occurred when he instead asked for "Alqua", puzzling Fiondra. She decided to ask him about "Alqua" when he recovered.
A twig snapped. Fiondra spun to face it and discovered eight bristly legs. "Gimli get up!" she shouted. The legs belonged to a massive spider, looming in front of her. It was too close for Fiondra to use her bow, so she snatched up her short Elven sword, one that was more like a long knife. It had been her father's while he had lived; he had called it Tinwë, Spark. Fiondra took Tinwë and slashed upwards, cutting the spider on its underside. It hissed at her and lunged, fangs dripping. Fiondra swung Tinwë again, this time hitting a leg. The spider screeched again and tried to sting her with its poison. Fiondra jumped out of the way, her arm just barely grazed by the sting. The poison only swayed her slightly, but she had lost Tinwë in the process of dashing away from the spider. It lay on the spider's opposite side. Just as the beast made a move to strike again, Gimli came into the fight and swung his axe with all his might. Luck was on his side and he brought down the terrible spider.
"Are you all right lass?" he said sprinting to her. Fiondra appraised her injury and brushed it off as non-important.
"I'll live," she told the concerned dwarf. "How about you?" He shrugged and looked over at Legolas.
"Thank mithril the spider didn't get to him," Gimli said. Fiondra nodded and exhausted, sank to the ground. "You'd better get some rest now. I'll keep watch from now till dawn."
Fiondra thanked him. "Wake me at first light," she said sleepily and with that she had fallen asleep.
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I heard that elves sleep with their eyes open, so that's what I'm displaying in my story. If you have more information on this or know otherwise, let me know.
Naneth - Mother
Alqua –swan
Hope you enjoyed. I know I didn't really finish off the cliffhanger, but that'll have to be for the next chapter. Please review!