Scars- Chapter 24 Iron Will
Disclaimer: This story is being written for enjoyment only. I do not own any of Tolkien's characters.
Author's Note: Thank you all for your kind words regarding chapter 23. Whether you're a frequent reviewer or someone new to reviewing this story, your words of encouragement are greatly appreciated. I hope you enjoy chapter 24. :)
"Who, Estel? Who do you speak of?" Elladan replied worriedly as his free hand moved quickly towards his brother's garments, pushing back the concealing cloak which covered Aragorn's lean frame to locate the source of bleeding beneath it. There was blood everywhere inhibiting the Elf's search. It soaked through Aragorn's clothing, covered his hands, and even soiled the white linen of the bandage surrounding Legolas' chest and shoulders where only seconds before he had pulled his now dazed brother from atop his friend.
"They were here….here but a moment ago…I used your knife…I was able to kill one of them… Aragorn rambled on apprehensively, wary lest his Orc captors should suddenly return to stalk both he and Elladan now. Argh!" Aragorn cried out hoarsely. The return of pain cutting short his efforts at speech as Elladan at last found the source of his injury.
"Dear Elbereth!" Elladan exclaimed loudly, his own hand coming back to him bloodstained as well as the Elf finally realized the extent of the wound his brother sustained. "Why…why did you not say something, Estel?" Elladan stammered as he looked back towards the frightfully, pale face staring up at him.
Reaching forward with an unsteady hand, the Ranger tried to allay his Elven brother's growing fear. "I didn't want to hurt you… I thought by saying nothing…." But, Aragorn could continue no further. What little strength he had managed to hold onto was fleeing from him at last. He held no control over his body. His limbs were trembling violently and he was seized with cold. An alarming buzz began sounding within his head once again, its droning growing louder and louder with each passing second until he could think no more. Then there was nothing, nothing, nothing but darkness and cold and pain…
Elladan looked on horrified as Aragorn's previously extended hand fell back towards his body, while the Human grew slack within his arms; glazed, grey eyes rolling back beneath his heavy lids. Without hesitation, the frightened Elf shook his brother's withering frame in a desperate attempt to revive the Ranger, exclaiming loudly. "Do not leave me, Estel!"
Aragorn startled awake at his brother's urgent appeal, though his pupils remained dilated and his gaze unfocused. Responding breathlessly, he continued, "We cannot…we cannot stay here, Elladan…They'll be coming back for us!"
Elladan looked about them warily, confused by his brother's portentous warning as Aragorn continued to ramble on, "I was only able to take down one of them…" He began before halting fretfully as his trembling hand groped frantically towards his waist, while he exclaimed in fright. "My knife…It is gone! I have no weapon with which to defend myself!"
Taking fast hold of his brother's flailing arms, Elladan quickly claimed one of the Ranger's questing hands, moving it towards the sureness of Aragorn's sheathed blade before drawing it back between the warmth of his own two. The Elf was distressed by how cold the Human's extremity felt. Turning the hand over within his palm, he noted with increased anxiety that the once healthy pink showing beneath his brother's broken and dirty fingernails appeared bluish in tone. Choking back his growing alarm, Elladan attempted to reassure his brother by answering. "No, Estel. It is still there. You have not lost your blade."
"Good." Aragorn bit out roughly, his head now turning from side to side as he swallowed hard against a new wave of pain washing over his senses. Fighting to remain afloat against its rising tide, the Human slumped forward, making a fast grab towards Elladan's outer garments, clenching tightly the folds of its fabric beneath his fist as if it were a lifeline thrown out to him as he strove to remain buoyant upon a turbulent sea. "You must help me to stand, brother," he gulped, "for I cannot walk alone….My leg…It is broken…"
Elladan's startled gaze immediately zeroed in upon Aragorn's lower limbs as they shuffled back and forth helplessly upon the ground beneath them. Though lacking in strength, neither leg appeared to be broken or damaged in any way. The facts be known, Elladan could not perceive any other injury sustained by his brother except for the initial wound to his side. Then suddenly, Aragorn's earlier words returned to apprize the Elf of the grim situation surrounding him, and everything at last began to make sense.
"He believes himself to be in the past once again." The Elf uttered disbelievingly.
"No, Estel!" Elladan comforted immediately, as he drew his hand towards the Ranger's all too pale face. "You have nothing to fear. All is well," the Elf reassured tightly as he looked outward about them making sure of this claim. As his palm met with the clamminess of brother's flesh, the Elf's growing worry increased tenfold for he felt a building heat beneath the dampness. Anxious grey eyes returned at once towards the Human's pallid features and unfocused gaze before traveling down the length of his trembling form. "All is well…" The Elf repeated yet again this time for his own sake as well as Aragorn's, though his effort at reassurance lacked conviction.
Aragorn was losing ground fast. The growing evidence of the perilous shock the Human was slipping into was abounding. Elladan needed to act forthwith, or he stood the chance of losing his youngest brother to its deadly claim. Long learned advice immediately sounded within his head. He knew he should raise Aragorn's lower limbs to help facilitate the flow of blood back towards his heart. He also knew he should attempt to restore warmth to the Ranger. But firstly, he needed to try to stem the flow from his brother's continuing blood loss, because neither of the former measures would do the Man any good, if his brother bled out.
As Aragorn's legs thrashed against the ground, Elladan's attentions swiftly turned towards divesting the Human of the remaining garments covering his wounded torso. His frantic efforts were interrupted when a noise sounded behind him, relaying to the First Born the possible unwanted advance of another. The startled Elf turned defensively towards the perceived threat making ready to act precipitously should the need arise. But as Elladan's hand instinctively drew near to the handle of his own weapon, he was relieved to discover that it was only Halfdan, who now rushed forward to drop down beside him. Without further hesitation or any exchange of words, the two joined together to work towards a common goal. In short time, their efforts were complete, and they lowered the injured Ranger back towards the ground beneath him before rolling him onto his left side.
Elladan was unsure whose startled gasp sounded first when at last they uncovered the full severity of the damage done to the Ranger. A puncture wound marked Aragorn's right, lower flank where his brother had undoubtedly been stabbed from behind. The flesh surrounding it appeared torn and ragged suggesting that either his attacker had twisted the weapon mercilessly during the assault, or that Aragorn had struggled to break free from his assailant.
While the wound still bled sluggishly, the flesh surrounding it appeared puckered and inflamed limiting from view the depth of its entry. Seeing this, Elladan reached reluctantly back toward Legolas to claim the flask of water beside the supine Elf, before pouring some of its content over his outstretched hand. Realizing his next actions would undoubtedly cause his brother further pain, but knowing that they could not be helped, the Elf carefully began to inspect the wound's track within his brother's flesh. Aragorn screamed out immediately at the contact, his injured back arching as he tried to break free from the hands which he perceived meant to harm him further.
Elladan's throat tightened with emotion, but the Elf did not let up from his intended pursuit. Halfdan, likewise, did his best to keep his Chieftain immobile while the Elf continued his assessment of the wound, but the Man grew increasingly combative as the seconds ticked on.
"Be still..., Estel…" Elladan barked out, though his words sounded disjointed, choked by the emotion which clogged his throat, "or you… shall… cause yourself… further… harm!"
His brother's frantic movements seemed to dissipate somewhat beneath his lingering touch, but the Elf was unsure whether this was due in effect to his uttered exhortation or if at last Aragorn's ebbing strength had finally gave way. Cautiously, the Elf's slender fingers continued to probe beneath the severed flesh, while his keen eyesight picked up on small traces of fabric and splintered wood left embedded within its ragged pathway. Then suddenly, his careful exploration met with resistance as he encountered what appeared to be a remaining shard of wood still buried deep beneath the surface.
"Sweet Elbereth!" Elladan exclaimed roughly, as his worried eyes moved upward to meet with those of the concerned Ranger's beside him. "There is still a fragment within him!"
The younger Ranger stared back at him in disbelief until the dawning of recognition spread across his anxious features, and he looked down towards the Man beneath his hands muttering incredulously. "That is how you were able to remain upon your feet for so long after sustaining such a wound. To have not bled out…"
" What? How?" Elladan interrupted him immediately. "How long did he allow this to go unacknowledged?"
Grimly, the Ranger's dark eyes met with the Elf's anxious own before stating. "I know not exactly when the attack took place, but it happened while he was out alone in the Wild gathering the herbs to aid your friends."
Drawing a sharp intake of breath, Elladan issued a muffled oath before looking mournfully back towards his injured brother. "All this time and you said not a word? Why? Why would you do such a thing? Do you not believe your own life to be as precious as the rest? Why? Why then would you say nothing? Was testing the poison not enough for you? Then glaring accusingly at Halfdan , the Elf seethed, "How could you have allowed him to keep up at such a pace knowing what you did?"
"He bid me not to say a word…" The Ranger cut in. "He knew how desperate the plight was facing your kin, and believed he might hold the only chance at helping them. Seeing him on the path out there…witnessing the growing stain which sullied his garments… You don't know how I longed for him to abandon his agenda and see to his own welfare. But I could not go against his wishes…could not betray his trust in me… So I said not a word…did nothing except give him my cloak to cover his chilled flesh with. You do not know how hard it was to keep silent as I watched his suffering…as he continued to grow weaker, while those surrounding him knew nothing of the dangerous situation he placed himself in… "
The sudden reproach that had only seconds before filled Elladan's eyes now melted away upon hearing the Ranger's self-condemnation. Then holding up a hand to stave off any further explanation from the Human, the Elf conceded. "Nay…do not allow misplaced guilt to rule over you, for I've known him far longer than you. He is a stubborn one. You could not have talked him out of it… He would not have strayed from the path he set before himself…"
Looking back towards his Human brother, the Elf resumed his heedful ministrations while muttering quietly. "Perhaps the Valar was looking out for you, Estel, since you do not afford yourself the same concern."
The broken off shard of wood, still lodged within his brother's back, had most likely kept Aragorn alive until now. But what further damage lay beneath the splintered wood? Was the Valar's ever watchful presence to be extended even further to keep his brother safe from additional harm? Or, had the finely honed weapon, used to stab the Human, perforated any of Aragorn's vital blood vessels or surrounding organs during its thrust? For, if it had, its removal would spell certain death for the Ranger. But to leave such a fragment in place, would prove disastrous as well, for Aragorn would most assuredly succumb to the often slower and more torturous death brought on by infection. Had his brother been saved from one demise only to be overshadowed by another?
Taking a deep, shaky breath, Elladan focused his attentions once again upon the wound in front of him as his now bloodied fingers gently eased back once again the outer folds of torn flesh. By doing thus, he hoped to reveal further the extent of this attack. A small gurgle of pain caught in Aragorn's throat in reaction to Elladan's renewed actions as the Man convulsed once more beneath his Elven brother's touch.
"Be still, Estel, please!" The Elf urged apologetically, knowing full well that what he asked of his brother was nearly impossible for the Human to comply with.
What Elladan's keen eyesight noted as he continued on with his painstaking investigation was there was much too much blood filling the cavity of the wound to make a more extensive determination. He could not gain a further perspective until it was flushed clean.
Gingerly Elladan pulled his probing fingers back from the wound's edge, as he motioned to Halfdan to release his hold upon Aragorn. Taking the Ranger's place after wiping his brother's blood from his hands, the Elf curled his arms protectively about his brother while responding "I need more water than what we have left. I must flush out the wound if I am to determine how we should proceed. You'll find more with my brother. Please hurry!" No sooner had the words been spoken, than the Ranger beside him was back up upon his feet rushing off to fetch what was needed.
As Elladan's intent focus shifted away from the departing figure of the Ranger back towards Aragorn, the Elf realized that the Human was now trembling more violently than before, while his breathing came in short, hurried gasps. Tenderly, Elladan resumed offering succor to Aragorn trying his best to soothe away some of the pain which held his brother within its vice-like grip. Still the Ranger whimpered beneath his gentle touch.
"Hush, Estel," Elladan immediately comforted before continuing on unconsciously with. "I shall allow nothing to harm you further, brother."
Struggling uselessly to turn towards the sound of the Elf's reassuring voice, Aragorn responded blindly while gulping once again for breath, "I am sorry, Elladan…I failed you… I failed you…please forgive me!"
Startled at his brother's unexpected response, the Elf answered him immediately, heavy emotion cutting into his voice. "Never…never have you failed me, Estel! Do you hear me? There is nothing to forgive!"
Still the Ranger gasped yet again in a final rush of words, 'Forgive me…," before growing lax within Elladan's embrace.
"No! No, do not do this, Estel!" Elladan cried out in alarm while one of his previously soothing hands flew towards the center of his brother's bare chest hoping against hope to find some continuing sign of life from the Ranger. His initial fear was immediately placated as he felt the Human's heart hammering frantically beneath his sternum. But, for how much longer could this vital organ keep functioning at such a quickening pace?
"What is keeping that Ranger?" Elladan growled out his impatience as doubt and worry took a firmer hold upon him. "You must hold on, Estel!" The Elf pleaded shakily as his hand moved once again to lovingly cradle his brother's still face. "Do not leave me!"
A groan of pain answered his appeal, yet it came not from his brother, but from his friend as Legolas began to stir restlessly upon the ground beneath him. In his increasing despair, Elladan had almost forgotten about the archer.
Being reminded that he was now alone with not one, but two suffering victims, the Elf's concern over his suspect capabilities to minister to such adversity grew all the greater, and he spoke out his fear. "I have never been one to stomach the Houses of Healing…" Elladan began before his words drifted off to be replaced by equally frantic thoughts.
Elrohir had always nixed his assertion that he was not as competent a healer as himself , insisting only that the art did not come as easily to his eldest brother because his heart was too big. Simply stated, Elladan had trouble distancing himself from the pain and suffering felt by others because of his empathy towards them
Surely Elladan believed himself to be sufficient enough to triage a wound encountered upon the battlefield or to set a fractured limb, but when it came to the more delicate procedures of the healing arts, he felt it best to leave the likes of this lore to the more capable charge of others…his father, his brother, and even Estel… But, now he had no choice. The lives of three, whom he held dearest in his heart, had been placed in jeopardy. Even with Elrohir's improving health, his twin was still in no condition to act as healer. The fates of his brother and friend rested solely in his hands. Could he face up to such a challenge?
He was not given the chance to ponder upon such a troublesome query as the sound of an approaching figure heralded the much anticipated return of Halfdan to his location. The Ranger did not come alone, however, but was accompanied by his younger twin. The Human's supportive arm was looped securely around the ailing Elf's waist while in his other hand he carried a fully weighted water skin. Behind their impending approach moved others as many of Halfdan's fellow Ranger's followed in tow.
"Elladan…." Elrohir acknowledged his brother worriedly as Halfdan helped him down to the ground beside Aragorn, before releasing possession of the retrieved skin into Elladan's outstretched reach. "How is he, brother?" The Elf pressed onward.
"He is bad off, Elrohir!" Elladan answered succinctly as he fumbled to release the skin's catch. Moving one hand back towards his brother's heated body, Elladan gently eased back the torn flesh once again as he tilted the water skin above it to pour its contents toward the stab wound hoping to flush it clean. Though unconscious, Aragorn's body started as the cold water made initial contact with his injured flesh, and a groan of anguish caught in his throat.
With the Human's unexpected response, Elladan immediately stilled his prior actions, his anxious gaze rushing back to meet with his brother's.
Noting his Elven brother's paralyzing fear, Elrohir offered immediate reassurance by responding. "Do not be alarmed, Elladan, his response in only natural. It is actually a good sign. Though he appears incognizant, his body still registers pain signaling that unconsciously he still struggles against the veil of darkness. Continue on as you did before, but pour the water more slowly this time. You will still achieve the same desired effect, but perhaps in doing thus, it might cause him less distress."
Elladan only nodded his assent as he began following his brother's advice. Little by little he attempted to flush the wound clear of the blood still sullying it, but just when he thought the task complete, more of the crimson liquid oozed forth from around the edges of the splintered wood still embedded within the wound. The measure of its flow seemed to be in time with the rapid pulse moving throughout the Ranger's body and within brief seconds the cavity left by the puncture was filling with crimson again.
Stilling his prior activity, Elladan's grief stricken eyes flashed towards his brother's, who was kneeling beside him observing the procedure. "The shard…it has pierced a vessel!" The Elf exclaimed inconsolably, realizing now its removal would bring death to the Human. 'Aragorn was going to die!'
Reading his brother's dire thoughts, Elrohir immediately rebuked. "Do not give up hope so easily, Elladan!"
"How can I not when death awaits him from all sides? I am not as skilled a healer as you, Elrohir…I am not practiced in the art of ligature! And even if I was, we have not the supplies needed or the conditions necessary in which to perform so delicate a procedure! Look around you, brother! We are out here in the Wild, not within Rivendell's Houses of Healing! You know as well as I that his death will be imminent once the shard is removed. He will bleed out! Yet to leave it alone, spells ultimate death as well for infection has already taken root within the wound!"
A storm of emotion raced through the surrounding crowd of Men at the First Born's prophetic announcement causing many of them to speak out at once, though one Ranger's voice rose above the rest. "We do not give up so easily upon our own, Elf! Stand aside! We are not so unknowledgeable towards the treatment of the sick and wounded. Perhaps our rudimentary skills may seem barbaric to your race, but they've gone a long way towards sustaining many who have tread too close the veil's dark border. We shall treat Strider, if you cannot!"
Refusing to release his brother to the custody of the Rangers surrounding him, Elladan spoke out warily, "What skills have you towards treating a wound so severe?"
"The iron!" Another answered immediately.
Elladan looked hopefully towards his twin as Elrohir acknowledged. "Though an infrequently used technique in our world, cauterization has been long been employed in the world of Men to stop hemorrhaging when all other measures have failed to do so." Then looking outward toward the crowd about him, the Elf inquired. "Have you a cautery?"
"Yes!" came a resounding response from the Men gathered around them.
"Then bring it forth!" Elrohir implored emphatically.
"No!" Another spoke up forthwith as others joined in with his sentiment. "As we stated before, we shall take care of our own! Stand back now, and let us to take Strider from you!"
"He cannot be moved!" Elladan retorted adamantly as the numbers surrounding him closed in. "For, to do so may dislodge the shard which has been keeping him alive!"
"Then, we shall take over here!" Another shouted.
"You shall do so then over my dead body!" Elladan countered as he swiftly moved forward while drawing forth his blade.
"Elladan…" Elrohir immediately cautioned regretting this downward spiral in the relation between the two races. Emotion prevailing over wisdom as many of the Rangers surrounding them reacted in kind and reached towards their weapons.
"Stop this!" Halfdan's voice cut into the growing fray surrounding him as the Ranger sprung forward offering himself as a shield between his disgruntled companions and the equally upset Elf, who kept guardianship over their injured Chieftain. "This is foolhardy, can you not see this? We work towards a common goal! We both seek to save Strider's life! Can we not band together in this pursuit? Or shall further blood be spilled as our leader lies dying at our feet? He would not want this! You should not want this! We all know the Elves hold superior skill to ours in the art of healing! During our years spent with Strider, he has schooled us in their use of herbology and healing techniques. Shall we abandon all of this now all for the sake of pride? And you…" The Ranger continued as he turned his rebuke towards Elladan. "You know of the love we hold for Strider…Can you ask us now to turn our backs on him during his time of need?…Let us work with you! Together, we might be able to save him!"
The Ranger's impassioned plea had the desired effect as the opposing factions slowly began to stand down.
Not happy with this unnecessary setback or the speed at which it took those surrounding him to refocus upon the matter at hand, Halfdan railed. "We must act forthwith! We can stand no further delay in treating our Chieftain!"
"Tell us what you need done?" One of the Dunedain called forth.
"Assemble the makings of a fire then light it here!" Elrohir motioned shakily, taking command of the situation from Halfdan. " As soon as it is blazing, put the iron into its heat. Do so carefully, so as to achieve the maximum benefit. We will not be given a second chance!" The Elf warned.
As a faction of the men departed to comply with the Elf's instructions, Elrohir turned towards Elladan putting aside his previous anger to state. "You shall be my hands, brother…"
"I cannot…" Elladan faltered, until noting the determination written upon his twin's wan face.
"No, it is I, brother, who presently cannot." The Elf argued resolutely so as not to brook any further hesitation from his brother, raising his bound hands as a further reminder of his impediment. Then noting Elladan's continuing hesitancy, Elrohir softened his approach, his heart now bleeding for the painful uncertainty he saw lingering within his brother's grey depths and regrettably he added, "We do not know what strength we carry until we are brought face to face with adversity. Do not underestimate the untapped capabilities you possess, brother, for they shall see you through this!"
Elladan startled gaze raised to meet with Elrohir's upon hearing many of the very same sentiments their father had spoken to him many years earlier leave his brother's mouth.
Then drawing Elladan's attentions back towards their youngest brother's sticken form, Elrohir continued. "He shall need you before the end, and you will not fail him, brother! I have faith in you, even if you place so little within yourself."
Elladan wished he shared some of this same unfailing confidence that Elrohir placed in him. But as the time drew closer for him to perform the necessary procedure, the uneasiness now dwelling in the pit of his stomach grew stronger in its claim and his eyes moved upward towards the darkening heavens above to offer up a short prayer of intervention.
"Please keep my hands steady for I cannot lose him! He has only done good in this life… thinking of others instead of himself. We need him here. Do not take him from us so soon.. "
Hearing his brother's impassioned words, Elrohir, who had taken a moment to rest while the preparations were being completed, shook off his growing weariness to draw close to his brother again and offer his support. "They will be with you, brother, as will I, Elladan."
Turning towards his twin, tears welled within Elladan's grey eyes as he clasped Elrohir to him whispering roughly into his ear. "I am counting on that, brother. It is the only bright spot in what lies ahead."
The remaining minutes of preparation rushed by in a flurry of urgent activity as an atmosphere of acute anticipation hovered above them. Soon a roaring blaze crackled close by, and the cauterizing iron was laid within its heat. The warmth of the fire's close proximity however, did not reach Aragorn as Elladan's troubled gaze fixed upon his brother shivering form beneath a cloak someone had placed atop of him. Suddenly it reminded the Elf of the Human's younger years, when many a night he'd find his adventurous brother curled up tightly in a ball asleep in some faraway corner of their home with an abandoned book by his side. As either he or Elrohir made to lift him up and carry him back towards his bed chamber, he'd nuzzle against the warmth of their bodies, while wrapping his young arms around their necks as a small smile framed his face causing his brothers to wonder what pleasant dream world he lingered in. But all too soon such innocent musings were lost to him, as happy dreams were replaced by nightmares, and his brother's shivering was brought on by fright instead of cold.
"Estel…" He began to utter his regret until his brief reverie was interrupted by the return of another.
"It is time." Halfdan spoke out as he drew close to Elladan. "The iron has reached the temperature necessary to close his wound."
Hearing this, Elrohir drew beside them, his legs now shaky from the prolonged exertions he placed upon himself, but he did not let up. "We must begin." He petitioned to Elladan, watching as his elder twin moved warily back towards Aragorn and knelt beside him. With Halfdan's assistance, Elrohir did likewise and began to instruct Elladan towards what actions he should take.
As the cloak was withdrawn from their youngest brother's body exposing once again the severity of his condition , Elladan's breath hitched in his throat, while his heart sped up in trepidation. His nerves were frayed, 'Sweet Elbereth!' his mind screamed, 'His life lies within my hands… my hands…If I should falter, I could kill him! I am not ready for this…not ready!"
But, Elrohir's weakening voice sounded within his ear, guiding him onward toward the procedure which was his to perform.
"Flush the wound gently once again with water. Use its flux to try and wash clear any remaining debris."
Elladan did as his brother instructed, thankfully unaware that all, who now surrounded him, were intently focused upon his actions.
Aragorn stirred weakly beneath Elladan's renewed ministrations prompting Elrohir to speak out to the Rangers surrounding them. "Please hold him still! For we cannot chance any unanticipated movement on his part when the time comes to remove the fragment and stem the flow of blood."
Halfdan and another Ranger beside him complied with the Elf's wishes moving forward to bear their weight down upon their Chieftain's shoulders and legs.
As Elladan completed flushing the wound, Elrohir spoke up. "Most likely the shard within his body is being held in place by the pressure exerted by his surrounding flesh. You will need to use the blade prepared to make a small incision to help draw it free then employ the iron. You must work carefully, yet quickly because time is of the essence. He has lost much blood already. We will need to stop any further hemorrhaging before his body becomes too compromised by its loss."
Elladan looked incredulously towards his twin. Elrohir expected him to cut into their youngest brother's flesh before removing the fragment. Yet how could he cause his brother further pain, especially after his pledge? But, before any attempt at denial could form upon his disbelieving lips, his twin pressed him on further by directing Elladan to. "Cut towards the right, though make your incision shallow and slight, because it will offer the least possible chance at jeopardizing his condition any further. Do it now, brother!" Elrohir pressed on.
Elladan swallowed hard as he followed his brother's instructions, his still shaky confidence growing slightly as he noted the shard's once secure seal slip loose from the confining walls of flesh surrounding it.
"Quickly, pull it free!" Elrohir implored urgently just as Aragorn reawakened to the pain cresting through his body and began to resist wildly against hands attempting to hold him still. More men moved forward to halt the Ranger's frantic motions as another drew forward holding the cautery iron within his grasp. Originally intending to relinquish its possession to the Elves, but too leary to risk transferring the fired iron under the now hectic commotion surrounding him, the Ranger used his free hand to quickly push those standing in his path aside before placing the heated metal himself towards the open wound.
Aragorn's response was immediate as a wretched cry of agony was torn from his lips while the sickening stench of burning flesh filled the air about them. "No, please no! Do not do this!" The Man screamed out.
The Ranger above him holding the iron, however, did not relent at his leader's most obvious torment, but continued pressing the cautery further into the cavity of the wound until the necessary time elapsed to stop the flow of blood. During this, Aragorn's continued cries grew weaker and hoarser until at last all that was left was a final almost indistinguishable gurgle, which caught in his throat as his body slumped limply towards the ground beneath him.
Immediately the iron was withdrawn and thrown aside as the Ranger previously performing the abominable task called for his companions to release their lifeless leader and quickly turn him onto his back. The hovering Ranger's hand then shot towards Strider's neck in search of a pulse. For it was widely known fact that the shock brought on by using a cauterizing iron to close a wound could very well cause a Man's heart to stop beating.
Elladan looked on now in horror from the sidelines as the Ranger's questing fingers continued moving frantically against the column of his brother's throat searching for some sign of life, but as the seconds gave way a pall of despair began spreading through the crowd huddled around Aragorn.
"No!" Elladan's stark voice rose above the maddening silence surrounding him. His denial ringing out as his earlier promise returned now to taunt him.
"I shall allow nothing to harm you further, Estel …"
"No!" A forgotten voice now echoed his misery, joining in the unimaginable grief surrounding him before continuing on further. "No! Please do not let it be so!"
TBC
Author's Closing notes: Well if you reached this point, then I thank you for reading chapter 24.
It was another tough chapter for me to write. The original draft was completed over two weeks ago, then sat in my work bag for the next two weeks, because of second thoughts I had regarding it. I have since rewrote a major portion of it. In the original draft, the animosity between the Rangers and Elves was much harsher than how it ended up to be in this final draft.
Also I must credit the idea of using a cautery iron in this chapter to a story found on my favorite's list called First Blood by Evendim and also the movie, Braveheart. I try my best to research most of the medical knowledge I use in my story, so since a large part of this chapter dealt with healing, I hope it came off as credible.
It is indeed my intent to finish this story, though such progress has been slow of late. Being a mother, wife, and daughter, my attentions and time are divided in many differing directions. With the start of spring soccer season, musicals, plays, and concerts along with another new assignment at work, my time will be even more in demand for the next few months. I will do my best to update as frequently as possible. I believe there will be quite a few more chapters to go before this story will be complete. (So if I double or triple that estimation, I should come close to an accurate answer.) Aye, yi yi:)
Sorry, no quote this chapter.
Until next time! Sue a.k.a. Quickbeam1