Here ya go, people. Once more thanks go to NiRi for putting the commas in and much more, as my punctuation tends to suck. Not much action, but loads of angst and the timely arrival of a certain elf lord.
Lena
One friend to Another
12:
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The night passed uneventfully. Gandalf had kept watch all night over the small makeshift camp, taking only small naps himself. During those times that he had needed his own rest, the camp had been guarded by the two larger horses, Legolas' bay stallion and the large black war horse that he himself had been riding. Both horses came from the sufficiently stocked stables of King Thranduil, and being elven horses they had understood the importance of what was required of them. Once Gandalf had communicated what he needed, the animals had trotted to either side of the camp. The bay stood to the left side of the camp, ears and eyes focused out into the dense woods. The big black did the same on the other side. Neither horse so much as nibbled grass or shifted their feet during their vigilance, but stood like beautifully carved statues. Only the occasional blink of an eye or swipe of a tail at a mosquito had given away any signs of life.
Now as the sun rose, the horses had been relieved of their duty and they had wandered off to join Estel's chubby pony in grazing nearby. The wizard set about once more building up a small fire, more for cooking and water heating than warmth as the morning air was humid and promised to be a quite a mild day for early Autumn.
The old wizard noted to himself that very little noise disturbed the air. Even the birds seemed subdued, not breaking into early morning song as normal but instead flitting from tree to tree on an almost silent hunt for insects. There was a heaviness to the air, more than the humidity, yet it did not speak of danger. It spoke of sadness, an almost palpable dread. Knowing the elf prince's connection to nature Gandalf was not surprised. He glanced over to where Legolas and his little companion lay under the tree. The elf had not made one move or sound since late last night, and neither had the young human. Not even a nightmare had disturbed the child, so deep was his exhausted sleep. Nature insured the child slept long and deep, and when he awoke his mind would have sorted out and rationalised his terrifying ordeal. His innocence would protect him, his strength would endure.
But it was not so for the long limbed elf lying beside him. Legolas' face was drawn and pale, his forehead creased as if in pain. Gandalf had had to check the elf constantly during the night, just to assure himself the Immortal still drew air, so shallow was his breathing. What nightmare of Shadow tortured that troubled mind, the wizard wondered. Would he have the strength to endure?
Deciding that it was time to wake and feed the child, and get some more Miruvor into the prince, Gandalf rose to approach the hump of blankets. But just as he bent to shake the boy's arm and rouse him the two elvish horses nearby broke the silence with a cacophony of whinnies and were joined by the higher pitched neigh of the pony. The three beasts came trotting into the clearing and both elvish horses snorted with distress at the wizard. Understanding the warning the Maia dashed back to the fire and grabbed up his staff and sword. Taking up a defensive stance in front of the two beings on the ground he prepared to face whatever danger approached. The bay stallion and the big black stood to either side of him, tossing their heads in agitation, ready too, to defend the sick elf and sleeping child.
"Mae govannen, Mithrandir," came a sudden melodious voice as a small host of elves on horseback emerged from the dense copse of trees ahead. At the head of the column rode the Peredhil twins, behind them at least twelve warriors in the Rivendell colours of blue and black, all armed.
"Elladan, Elrohir," Gandalf greeted. He sheathed his sword and with a swift pat to the necks of the two horses to assure them these were friends, he approached the elven party. "Please tell me, my friends, have you your father with you?"
The twins swiftly dismounted. While Elrohir turned to give the horses to one of his warriors and oversee the breaking of formation and setting up of camp, Elladan approached the nervous wizard.
"Ada is on his way, Mithrandir," the dark haired elf assured him. He craned his neck to see behind Gandalf, hopeful he would spot his tiny human brother. "You found them," Elladan breathed, relief evident in his voice as he spotted the missing boy and elf prince. He made his way to the sleeping figures, the wizard quietly following. Bending his knees, the elf hunkered down beside Estel and touched the child lightly on the arm. "Estel, wake."
Immediately Estel's eyes opened, then opened wider in surprise when he registered who it was before him. Wordlessly the child extricated himself from his cocoon of blankets and furs, then threw himself into the arms of his big brother. Estel's body shook with sobs, but they were sobs of relief as Elladan wrapped his arms around the shaking body.
"Shush, penneth. Shhhh……I have you," the elf crooned, standing up. He was joined then by Elrohir and the boy threw himself into his other brother's arms in exactly the same manner as he had Elladan. Elrohir gave his twin a meaningful glance over the boy's unruly mop of hair and shifted his eyes to the remaining body-shaped pile of covers on the ground. Then Elrohir carried the boy over to the fire and sat with him on Gandalf's log, comforting him. Lifting a plate of bread and fruit that the wizard had prepared earlier for the child, he set about convincing the boy to eat, but his eyes rarely left the direction of his brother and the wizard.
Elladan had hunkered down once more and bent over the motionless form of Legolas. He reached out one hand and placed it gently on the forehead of the prince, sweeping some strands of golden hair aside as he stroked the pale face. Taking in the sickly pallor and bruises he glanced up at the grey wizard. "How is he?"
"He needs your father," Gandalf stated matter-of-factly. "The Shadow sickness has taken hold. I do not know how much longer he can fight it." He paused with a sigh. "When I arrived both of them were in the hands of orcs, Elladan"
With a shocked gasp, Elladan's eyes flew to where the child sat on Elrohir's knee, scrutinising him, looking for signs of hurt.
"The boy is fine" Gandalf reached down, placed a reassuring hand on the Noldor elf's shoulder and gave it a slight squeeze. "Legolas, however….." He trailed off, letting the bruises speak for themselves.
The wizard pulled a flask of Miruvor from the folds of his cloak and gestured for Elladan to raise the Mirkwood elf so he could get some of it down his throat. Elladan complied, sitting on the ground and gently raising Legolas, then slipping in behind him to let the unconscious prince lean back on his chest. He tipped the head back, and Gandalf poured a minute amount into the other elf's mouth. Expertly Elladan massaged Legolas' throat until he swallowed reflexively. They repeated the procedure until the wizard was satisfied that Legolas had swallowed enough of the strengthening cordial.
"Mithrandir," Elladan queried as they worked. "How came you to be here?"
"As you no doubt know I went to Mirkwood to see Thranduil and perhaps find out more of what could be ailing our young prince," Gandalf replied. When Elladan nodded, he continued. "When I realised it was Shadow sickness, I left immediately after sending the message to your father. I had a feeling our dear prince would need my assistance….what I did not know was just how timely that assistance would turn out to be."
He proceeded to tell Elladan of the orc band, their treatment of Legolas, and how the attack was just about to turn on Estel when he thwarted the orcs with his poisonous smoke spell and handy staff. Glancing over, he noticed that the Rivendell elves had discovered the body of the vile orc leader and were dragging it away for burning.
"Now you may tell me, young lord," the wizard addressed Elladan as the two of them settled the Mirkwood prince once more under the warmth of the blankets. "Why are these two out in the middle of these woods alone, instead of safe in Imladris, and why is this one…" he indicated the lifeless elf, "…not ensconced in a bedchamber under the expert care of your father and his healers?"
"Have you ever tried to "ensconce" Legolas in anything, Mithrandir?" Elladan replied with a wry smile that belied the worry in his heart.
Gandalf groaned with understanding. "Let me guess," he grunted. "The foolish child rebelled."
"Ai, he did," the Noldor elf confirmed. "He took off yesterday morning, to return to his realm, and we think Estel followed him"
"Hmmm….rather typical of both, wouldn't you say?" The wizard smiled fondly. Then the smile faded. "He was probably already under the influence of the Shadow by then. His actions would not have been entirely all his own doing."
Serious again too, Elladan nodded. "What of the Mirkwood king, Mithrandir?" He asked suddenly. "Surely he is worried for his son and should be here with him?" The elf frowned. "If it was 'Ro or myself or Estel that suffered thus as Legolas does, Ada would want to be with us."
The twin tutted his tongue in disgust.
"Do not judge Thranduil, Elladan," Gandalf chastised. "His lot is not as your father's. He cannot just up and leave an already troubled realm for the sake of one. While Legolas suffers, the king is all that Mirkwood has. He has advisors, yes. But Amandil, the only elf he could trust to run Mirkwood efficiently and fairly in the absence of the king, has gone to Dale to negotiate this year's wine trade. When Amandil returns, then he may journey here to Imladris to see his son. But not until then can he abandon his people. Not even for the sake of a son."
"Forgive me," Elladan bowed his head in shame, running a tender hand once more over the pale cheek of his young friend, and Gandalf did not know if the Noldor addressed Legolas or himself.
To both their surprises, Legolas at that moment started to stir. His head moved to one side, away from Elladan's fingers as a groan of pain burst from his lips, but his eyes did not open. Opening his mouth Legolas seemed to struggle for air and his back arched up off the ground, hands clenching his covers.
"Legolas, peace!" Elladan pleaded, trying in vain to sooth his struggling friend, but the prince just clenched his teeth and gasped in air, writhing on the ground as great spasms gripped his frail body.
A deep agonised groan burst from tortured lungs as Gandalf and the Noldorion struggled to hold him still. Elladan crooned to the prince, words in elvish, his own heart pounding in panic at his friend's obvious pain. The blankets were kicked aside as the blond elf's struggles began to diminish, his breaths growing shallower while his mouth opened wider in a vain attempt to draw vital oxygen to paralysed lungs.
Legolas' left hand suddenly flew to grasp a fistful of Gandalf's grey cloak as his eyes flew open and locked with the steely grey of the Maia. The normally cerulean orbs were mostly all black, his pupils dilated and swimming with a dark fog. Then just as suddenly, the blond elf fell back to the ground again and lay still, eyes still open.
"He's not breathing!" Elladan yelled, throwing the blankets further out of his way. Elladan hurriedly undid the clasps of Legolas' tunic, pressing two fingers to the young prince's throat. "Gandalf, do something!"
So preoccupied was Elladan, he did not hear the approach of another until he was roughly pushed aside from the prince and suddenly his father was there. Elrond put his mouth over that of the prince and breathed into him three times, then pumped both hands five times on the prince's bruised rib cage. "Elladan, breathe for him!"
Elrond's son copied his father's actions and breathed air into Legolas' mouth. One, two, three breaths. Elrond again pumped on the unmoving chest. One, two, three, four, five. The two elves worked furiously to keep the young prince alive, oblivious to the crowd of elves that had gathered around them. The elf contingent had been added to by Glorfindel and four warriors that had accompanied him and Elrond to the wooded location.
Safe and secure in the strong arms of Elrohir, Estel watched with mounting fear as his ada and elven brother fought what seemed to be a loosing battle. He did not notice that he was holding his own breath, heart pounding in his tiny chest as he watched. Silent tears of hope crept their way down his cheeks.
"He breathes!" Elladan announced suddenly to the immense relief of their audience. "He is breathing on his own, Ada."
Elrond checked for himself, then sat back on his heels to catch his own breath as the prone figure before him did indeed begin to once more take in shallow breaths. The Rivendell lord checked Legolas' heartbeat, then satisfied it was strong, covered him once again in the warm blankets and furs before rising to his feet. Elladan was joined on the ground beside the prince by his twin and Estel, the little boy immediately squirming out of his brother's arms to get closer to Legolas.
"Glorfindel, please see to the making of a litter to carry Prince Legolas," the elf lord ordered. "Elladan, do not leave the prince's side, ion nin. If he so much as twitches, call me."
Elladan nodded as Elrond gestured for Gandalf to follow him. The two beings moved a little way away from the group of elves, as Elrond's blond general began ordering and organising the warrior party to construct the litter.
"Your timing is impeccable as always, mellon nin," the wizard teased lightly as the two halted on the edge of the clearing.
"As is yours, Mithrandir," Elrond returned with a sad smile. "We must take him to Imladris," the elf lord continued, his eyes not leaving the bundle of coverings where Legolas lay. "I cannot banish the Shadow from his fea here in the open woods. He needs to be surrounded by the light and love of his kind."
"He is a wood elf, Elrond," Gandalf stated, glancing at the tall trees and colourful bushes that circled the clearing. "Here he is surrounded by the love of his kind."
"That may be true," Elrond nodded once, then turned his attention to a darkening sky, "But a storm approaches. It will not be so pleasant a location once that storm breaks ere nightfall. And I will need the help of every healer and herb and potion that I can get my hands on if I am to help him defeat this."
"And magic?" Gandalf enquired with a quirk of one eyebrow. Elrond unconsciously fingered the hidden ring on his right hand.
"If it comes to that," the elf replied, "then yes. This one will not fade, Mithrandir. Not if I can help it."
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In little less than an hour, a litter was constructed by the expert Rivendell elves, and the Mirkwood prince secured behind two of the largest horses. Estel had refused to leave the side of the prince, not even to ride with one of his brothers, so he too was tucked into the blankets beside his friend.
As soon as the party of elves and wizard set out, the motion of the litter sent the child into a deep sleep. The twins rode behind the litter, keeping a sharp eye on Legolas to make sure he kept breathing, and on Estel to ensure he did not roll over and fall off the wooden structure in his slumber.
The day was just approaching late evening, when the party arrived in the haven of Imladris. Legolas was immediately taken to the healing chambers, and the still exhausted Estel carried to his own bedroom to be watched over by Elrohir.
Elladan joined his Ada in the healing rooms, to assist in anyway he could with the prince. Then he, Elrond, Gandalf and the Rivendell healers began the long fight to banish the Shadow from the soul of one who should be filled with light.
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TBC.