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Deowin quickly gained his feet and knelt at Strider's side. Indeed there was no sign of the man's chest rising, or of breath escaping his mouth. The rider hurriedly seized the man's wrist, praying for a pulse. To his somewhat relief, he found one, weak and faint. Immediately he turned Strider onto his back and began to breathe for him, pausing after a moment to see if he could breathe on his own yet. There was still no sign.
Legolas and Gimli hovered worriedly over Deowin's hasty ministrations. Neither of them could stand the idea of losing Aragorn now, after all of this. Deowin looked back up at them, his face pale.
"Legolas, come here and keep breathing for him, until he can do it on his own. Gimli, stock up the fire. I must try to find some stronger herbs that will fight the infection." Wordlessly, the two obeyed. Gimli threw two logs on the fire and blew on it to increase the flame, while Legolas continued to breathe into Aragorn's motionless body. Deowin tore feverently through their packs.
"Come on, mellon nin, don't give up on me now…" Legolas murmured between breaths. He knelt to give another one, and was welcomed by a quick rush of air and twin grey eyes.
"Leg-las, help…m-me….s-so cold." Aragorn stammered, his voice raspy with pain. Swallowing his joy of seeing his friend awake, Legolas quickly found his blanket and draped it around his friend's form, carefully turning him on his side to ease the pain of his back. Aragorn shivered violently, his breath coming in uneven gasps.
"Deowin! He's awake!" Legolas said quickly. The man rushed over with a small bowl of a foul smelling liquid. Legolas looked up questioningly.
"Since the herbs were not strong enough on their own, I have combined several. Don't worry, though it smells foul I think it will work. Now, prop him up."
Legolas carefully lifted his friend, avoiding the various wounds as best he could. Aragorn's eyes were half-lidded, though he was not completely conscious. Legolas accepted the medicine from Deowin and held it to Aragorn's lips.
"Estel, you must drink this so you can be well again. Trust me, drink it." To his surprise, Aragorn swallowed the mixture without protest. Suddenly the man's eyelids fell, and he fell back. Legolas grabbed him and gently laid him down, where his friend again began shivering unconsciously.
"Do you know what is wrong?" Gimli asked quietly from where he was standing.
"The infection is beginning to spread through his blood. If the medicine does not work, he will…get much worse, I'm afraid." Deowin replied
Deowin growled in frustration and again moved toward the healing supplies. Why was his medicine not working? If the medicine didn't immediately kick into the infection spreading in the man's bloodstream, he would receive infected blood everywhere and his body would shut down. But Deowin would not let this happen. He again began pawing through Strider's medicine pouch. Suddenly his fingers brushed against another, smaller pouch inside. Having only recalled touching bottles before this, he pulled it out. It was a leather pouch, unlabeled. Inside there was a fine black powder, and a small card upon which Elvish scriptures flowed.
"Legolas…" The elf's head snapped up. "I just found something I hadn't seen before. Can you read this to me?" Legolas nodded and took the card. For a moment, his keen eyes flew over the parchment, and he began to read.
I pray that you will not have need of this, my Estel, but should you find yourself in great need this will help you. This pouch contains a healing herb that my father only recently discovered. He has not yet found its name or any special healing properties, save for that it greatly enhances healing. All you need to do is put a pinch of it on the patient's tongue. It should work on its own from there. I give it to you now, for I know that you are undergoing much peril and may be in need of help.
All of my love,
Arwen
Legolas stopped reading and looked up. Deowin returned his gaze, smiling.
"Legolas, it seems your friend has just received a miracle."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Less than an hour after they had given Aragorn Arwen's herb, his breathing began to even out and some color returned to his face. Deowin checked him over carefully, and declared him sleeping peacefully. Legolas had given the man a tired smile and again sat down to take up the watch. Gimli looked at him, noting the elf's worn composure.
"Legolas, lad, you should get some sleep," he said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "You have been through much today, and yesterday. Let me take the watch."
"No. What if he stops breathing again? I cannot leave his side." Legolas murmured, shrugging off Gimli's hand.
"Gimli is right," Deowin said with a smile. "I'm afraid you won't be much help to Strider half alive. And he is surely on the way to recovery, from the signs he is showing. Go ahead and get some rest, both of you. I will watch. I will wake one of you in a few hours. "
Legolas nodded, too emotionally drained to argue, and went with Gimli to the blankets. The companions lay down, and were instantly asleep.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
At long last, the sun again stretched its bright rays across the plains. The horrific, and yet miraculous, night was over.
Gimli had been the first one awake, and the first thing he did was smack Deowin playfully across the head. The Rider had stayed at watch all night, letting the two tired travelers rest for about seven hours. Deowin smiled up at him and passed him some breakfast.
Legolas had risen soon after, and after expressing his opinion of Deowin staying up all night, joined them for breakfast. He knelt by Aragorn's side, studying his features. The color had returned to his face, and though the bandages remained, he looked much better.
"Did he awake at all last night?" Legolas asked. Deowin shook his head.
"If he has been through all that it seems, it has probably been a while since he has had a truly restful sleep. He should awake later today, around sunset, I think."
"That is good," said Gimli from across the camp. Legolas had forced him to eat farther away, as the elf could not stand the smell of Gimli's pipeweed. "Now that Aragorn is on the mend, we should search for signs of Merry and Pippin. The Riders didn't find them, did they?"
"No, I'm afraid not." Deowin replied. "Your friends may have slipped away before or during the attack. Perhaps you should search the forest."
"Yes, we must begin looking today." Legolas acknowledged. "But I do not want to leave Aragorn…"
"Do not fear, Master Elf. I shall watch him again." Deowin immediately said.
"But you already stayed up all night…" Gimli interjected.
"And don't you have to warn your nearby towns about the threat of the Uruks?" Legolas said.
"That is true. But I came to help you, and I can continue until you are ready to resume your quest. How about you search the border of the forest, and come back at around sundown? Then you can be here when your friend awakens. Perhaps he knows what happened to the Halflings."
"That's a very good idea. Let's go!" said Gimli enthusiastically. He sprang up and slipped his axe into his belt. Legolas laughed.
"Well, it seems that our eager dwarf is ready to go. But call us if anything happens, alright? We will be in hearing distance."
"Yes, yes, now go! Your friends await you!"
With a last glance at the sleeping Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli disappeared over the hill.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Deowin reclined leisurely against one of the packs. With a loud clatter, an assortment of daggers and knives fell out, including a bloodstained longsword. The rider picked it up and looked at it curiously. This was Thorongil's sword, he was sure. But it was coated in black blood. Surely when he woke up, he would want a clean blade. Deowin found an old swath of material and began to carefully clean the sword, his sharp eyes rooting out the small runes carved into the blade.
But what he didn't see was a small troupe of orcs, slowly climbing the hill toward him and his sleeping charge.
Well, there you go! Another cliff, I realize, but oh well.
I want to apologize for the absurd amount of time it takes for me to update this. I assure you I will not abandon this, no matter how often it seems so. But I'm afraid that the most truthful way I can measure updates is probably…monthly. I'll try as hard as I can to make it earlier, but there it must stay.
But on a happier note, MANY MANY THANKS to my wonderful reviewers. They really make my day! And I broke 100! HIP HIP HOORAY, FOR ALL OF YOU!
Thanks again!
QueenofFlarmphgal
