Chapter Twenty Six ; Rescue ; Part Two

He felt as though his mind was struggling to swim amidst a muddled sea of intermingling thoughts and sensations, none of which he was capable of understanding, in fact he wasn't even sure he wanted to but some how, the longer his consciousness struggled with this strange confusion, the more urgent the innate need for clarity became.

Somewhere deep in the back of his mind a strong instinct for survival made itself known and an inner voice was demanding that he make sense of the chaos.

Gradually as he tried to filter his way through the disordered feelings and memories, he realized that where ever he was, it was warm and comfortable and for some unexplainable reason he felt safe. There was the feeling of lingering pain all about him but its intensity was so dulled that it did not worry him, so he paid it no heed.

He could detect the pungent smell of oil lamps and candle wax interwoven with the soothing aromas of lavender and athelas, these familiar fragrances helped to comfort him further.

However there was another scent close by, more subtle yet still strikingly familiar and personal and now that he had singled it out, he could not prevent his body from reacting to it. He could feel his heart rate quicken as adrenalin rushed through his system, eager to return him to consciousness.

As he became increasingly cognizant, he was made aware of the sensation of something rough and calloused rubbing back and forth near his right hand.

It was soon after this discovery that he heard muffled voices for the first time, they too seemed familiar and yet so distant, as if his ears had been filled with water.

All these little sensations acted like the disjointed pieces of a much larger puzzle that his muddled mind was struggling to put together in its languid state and he could feel frustration building within. In an effort to break through the haze, he latched on to the nearest sounding voice, it had a musical quality to it and yet was deep and resonating at the same time and the young elf could not help but be struck by the undertones of concern and fear hidden within those masculine depths. The more he listened, the clearer the voice became as his ears steadily returned to their normal heightened state.

Then suddenly, it was as if all the little pieces of the puzzle had simultaneously clicked into place, the voice, the scent, he knew instantly to whom they belonged and he could not prevent a sharp intake of breath as all the harrowing memories of the last few hours came rushing back with unexpected force and clarity.

oOoOo

Thranduil sat hunched over his son's bedside, he had patiently maintained this silent vigil for several hours, refusing to leave the elfling's side.

He had walked anxiously along side him as his warriors carried their precious sleeping cargo to the healing wing.

He had tenderly held the child's head above the warm water as the healers slowly allowed this warmth to penetrate his body and reheat his core.

He protectively hovered while Nestor dried his son's frighteningly pale limbs and quickly tended to the numerous superficial wounds.

He had held him once more, whispering soothing words into blue tinged ears while his broken leg was set, then murmured prayers of thanks to the Valar that his child had been spared knowledge of this pain.

And now his worried eyes were fixed on the elfling's pallid features while he gently held his limp right hand, unconsciously rubbing his own thumb back and forth over the pulse point as if to reassure himself that his son was indeed alive. It upset him to see this unnatural hue mar his son's skin but Nestor had told him repeatedly already that to warm his son's body too quickly would cause more harm than good.

"Now that we have managed to reheat his core, his blood will soon flow more freely and his limbs and extremities will take care of themselves, be patient my Lord, his body will know what to do," he had said with equal parts of conviction and tenderness, completely aware of his King's distress.

And now Nestor had returned to the small private room once more, eager to check on his King as much as he was to monitor his patient's progress. The scene was as he had left it, his Lord sitting as close as possible to the young Prince's bedside, scanning his features for any sign that he was in pain or that he would waken, while Gwaithwen sat near by occasionally drying her silent tears in a large white handkerchief.

"Still asleep I see," he commented.

Thranduil reluctantly tore his eyes away from his son to reply.

"Still."

The healer moved to the left side of the bed and checked the elfling's pulse, it was much steadier and stronger now, he raised some of the woolen blankets and gently examined the muscles in his limbs and found that they were much more relaxed, all good signs, even the Prince's skin felt warmer to the touch and his extremities were loosing their disturbing shade of blue.

"It won't be long now my Lord, he is showing all the signs of recovery," Nestor happily informed his King.

A small yet merciful amount of tension drained from Thranduil's shoulders upon hearing this and Gwaithwen could be heard whispering her own prayers of thanks.

"How fairs Galadon ?" Thranduil asked.

"He is fine my Lord, a blow to the head left him with a slight concussion, there were some cuts and bruises but nothing too serious, he felt much better after his warm bath…………….he is resting now, Gailrin and Gílorn are watching over him," Nestor replied.

Thranduil nodded in understanding, he would speak with the elfling's parents later.

His eyes then drifted to his son's legs and latched onto the bulky splint beneath the covers.

"Will there be any lasting damage ?" he whispered.

"Nay Sire, it was a clean break and it set well, the bone is still young and as resilient as a sapling, it shall heal without any lingering effects," the healer assured his King.

"And what of Brethiliaur ?" Thranduil enquired, suddenly remembering his injured Lieutenant.

"Merely a sprained wrist and a small cut to the head, nothing serious, though………..I'm afraid the damage to his pride could be fatal," the healer smiled, remembering the embarrassed looks he received from the seasoned warrior as he checked for fractures in the delicate wrist bones, "and I don't think he shall be allowed to forget such clumsiness any time soon, if the taunts from his fellow warriors are anything to go by."

Thranduil could not help the ghost of a smile from tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Brethiliaur has battled against dark spiders, foul orcs and vicious wargs, let us hope he is up to the challenge, he will…………………."

But Thranduil did not finish his sentence, his eyes had seen his son's chest rise and fill with a gasp of air, Nestor too had heard the change in the Prince and dropped all levity at once as his healer instincts took over.

He checked the Prince's pulse once more and noted how his heart rate was increasing, Gwaithwen stood up quickly, knocking over her wooden stool, though no one paid it any attention, for all eyes were fixed on the elflings eyelids as they fluttered and struggled to open.

"Legolas, Legolas my child, can you hear me ?" the King pleaded as he encouraged his son to waken.

oOoOo

Legolas battled valiantly as he struggled to return to consciousness.

Now if I could just open my eyes, he thought, why did they have to feel so heavy ? he wondered, as a slight groan escaped his lips.

Then he heard it……………….his name, his name was being called and he knew with utmost certainty that it was his father that was calling him. It was all the encouragement he needed to gather what little strength he had to force his uncooperative eyelids open.

A small narrow crack appeared in the darkness and he could make out the warm orange glow of several candles reflected in the pale ceiling above him, a shadow shifted to the right of him and he willed his eyes to open further. After several rapid blinks, his tired, bloodshot eyes gradually found their focus and he could make out the relieved and yet still nervous face of his beloved father.

"Legolas, my son can you hear me ?" the King asked anxiously.

"Ada," the elfling sighed as he managed a weak smile.

"Precious Leaf, you have come back to me," the King almost cried, as he managed to wipe away a few rogue tears that had dared to escape him.

Then he gripped his son's right hand in his own more tightly and held it to his lips, covering it with tender kisses, while his left hand lovingly stroked the elfling's golden hair.

"Ada," the young Prince whispered once more contently, it was all he could manage at the moment for his throat felt parched and restricted.

It was then that he became aware of others in the room, Gwaithwen was both laughing and crying at the same time and to his left, Nestor had just released a hold on his wrist. The healer smiled at him, then reached behind himself and filled a small glass goblet with some water. Nestor passed the goblet to Thranduil, then propped the elfling up slightly.

"Just a few sips for now my Lord," he instructed.

The King held the glass to his son's lips and encouraged him to drink some of the soothing liquid, which he managed to do, spilling only a tiny amount but Thranduil quickly wiped away the stray trickles with the wide cuff of his robe.

While the King supported his child, Gwaithwen left the room momentarily then returned with some extra feather-filled pillows. These were promptly placed behind the Prince's back and he was gently eased back down into their softness. Thranduil returned the goblet to Nestor.

As the healer placed the now empty vessel on the wooden table he retrieved one of the bees-wax candles.

"Prince Legolas," he called, needing the elfling's attention, "I want you to follow the flame with your eyes, do you understand me ?"

To which Legolas merely nodded.

Nestor began moving the candle stick back and forth across his patient's vision, he shifted it up and down, near and away all the while closely examining his pupil's reactions. Once satisfied that all was well, he returned the candle to the table.

"Well done little warrior, now how are you feeling ?" he enquired, hoping to get some indication of how the youth felt.

"Tired mostly, a bit achey all over, my leg throbs slightly," he swallowed, then paused a bit to look at the covered splint before continuing, "but otherwise not too bad."

Thranduil looked to the healer, who simply nodded calmly, these were all perfectly normal symptoms, nothing to be alarmed over. He turned to the table once more and measured out a small amount medicine which he administered to the Prince himself.

"This is just something for the pain my Prince, do not worry."

"Galadon ?" Legolas asked softly.

"Ssssh Legolas, do not fear, Galadon is perfectly hale," the King assured, "he is simply resting in an adjoining room, both Nestad and Nestor have been watching him closely and his parents are with him as we speak, you will have plenty of time to talk with him later."

The realisation of what he had done came rushing suddenly back to the young Prince and he was unable to stem the flow of tears as they trailed down his face.

"I am sorry Ada," he whispered in between sniffles, "we both are……we………..we didn't mean to cause all this trouble…I…I…,"

"Sssh my son, now is not the time for apologies, there are enough people feeling guilty around here at the moment," he replied while stealing a glance at Gwaithwen, "we shall discuss what has happened when you are fully recovered, for now I just want you to concentrate on getting better."

"Yes Ada," Legolas complied, struggling to keep his eye lids open.

"You rest now Little Leaf, rest and regain your strength, we will be here when you awake," Thranduil assured his child.

Gwaithwen moved to her charge's side, leaned in and place a loving kiss on the Prince's forehead just as his eyes closed shut once more.

"Sleep little one, the Valar will watch over you," she whispered into his ear.

"It is most likely he will not awaken until morning," Nestor informed the King, "you should get some rest yourself my Lord, I will call you if there is any change in his condition."

"My thanks Nestor but I intend to be here when he does wake," the King stated adamantly.

"Very well my Lord, but at least allow me to fetch you something more comfortable to rest upon," the healer pleaded, the King's health was as much his responsibility as his young son's was.

Thranduil simply nodded in acquiescence.

In a matter of moments a comfortable cot was carried into the room and extra pillows and blankets were neatly piled at its end, just in case the King did decide to take some rest during the night.

"My thanks Nestor," Thranduil offered with deep conviction and sincerity, as he locked eyes with his family's healer.

Nestor knew that his King was not referring to the offer of a comfortable bed for the night, he was being thanked for saving the Prince of Mirkwood, he was being thanked for saving a son.

It was now Nestor's turn to simply nod as he smiled in understanding.

"I shall leave now, there are some other patients I wish to check upon but I shall be back during the night, if you should need me my Lord, just send one of the novices to fetch me."

And with that parting comment, he bowed then silently left the room.

"Go Gwaithwen, take your rest, there is no need for you to be here also, there will plenty of time to 'mother' him when he wakens," the King smiled at the nursemaid.

Understanding that her King probably need some private time with his child, she reluctantly agreed to leave but only on the stipulation that she be sent for if anything should happen during the night.

"I promise to send for you," Thranduil assured her.

As she made to leave, he called her.

"Gwaithwen please inform Luinsil and Sindadur that Legolas did regain consciousness and that Nestor has high hopes for a speedy recovery," he instructed.

"Ofcourse my Lord," she bowed politely, "goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Time seemed to pass slowly as Thranduil watched the steady rise and fall of his son's chest while he slept soundly. He felt much more at ease now that the terrible coldness that had gripped his son was finally gone, he knew how dangerous a foe the cold could be, just as lethal as any poisoned orc arrow and it would have surely meant his own death had Legolas succumbed to its icy grasp.

Lost in his thoughts, he did not sense the silent footfalls of his Captain.

Sindadur entered the little room knowing that his King was unaware of his presence. He softly laid a hand on Thranduil's right shoulder.

Momentarily startled, the King looked up to find the reassuring presence of his loyal Captain and friend.

"Gwaithwen told me," he simply stated.

Thranduil nodded in understanding.

"It is good news," the stoic warrior continued.

Thranduil smiled.

"Yes……………yes it is," he agreed.

"Won't be long now until he's up to mischief once again," Sindadur consoled in his own unique way.

"I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing my friend," the King countered.

"Hmmmm……………..either way I shall be there along side you my Lord, to help you deal with it," the warrior pledged.

"I know my friend………………….I know," Thranduil stated solemnly.

"But first things first," the warrior grinned almost mischievously, as he retrieved the two pieces of a broken arrow shaft from behind his back and waved them about.

The King couldn't help the small chuckle from escaping, it was good in times like this to have friends like Sindadur. For the next hour or so his thoughts were no longer wrapped up in morbid matters, instead he couldn't help but feel a little pity for his son and his friend while he listened to the very inventive and highly amusing ways his Captain planned his revenge.

OooOo

Author's note;

Hello folks ! It's been a long, long time I know, sincerest apologies but there have been many, many things keeping me away from the wonderful world of LOTR's fan-fiction, hopefully you'll understand and I'm hoping all is back on track now. As always you're feedback means a great deal...now more than ever so if you're out there & you're still following this little tale, please drop by & let me know how you think things are progressing. The long flashback is pretty much coming to an end now & then we'll be back with adult Legolas & Gimli ! Take care, Lai.