Here's the next chapter I promised for the week~~ aha! Surprised ya' ...a late night posting... ;)
Chp 37
Kili helped Tauriel up and they made their way across the large guard room. They entered the immense hallway and crossed over to the large wooden double doors opposite the room they just exited. There were a few dwarves bustling about and in and out of smaller doors off of the main room. When the dwarves saw Kili they bowed but tried to not pay attention to Tauriel. Kili went himself to peek in a few of the doorways and when he found the one he was looking for, he waved for Tauriel to come down there. As she passed some of the other doors, she could hear faint moaning sounds and yes, the smell of death and many medicinals hung heavy in the air. She knew this to be the infirmary where all the injured dwarves were brought after the battle.
She entered the room Kili had motioned her to. Oin was there, administering over the large dwarf Kili shot with the bow and arrow. There were two other aides in the room, who actually didn't seem that displeased with Tauriel's presence. They bowed very low for Kili, and just looked at Tauriel with a slight standoffish fascination. Kili went next to the table and leaned over to Oin, "How is he doing?" he said. "Well," Oin started, "I think he shall live...however, he most likely will never talk again. He will become more stable if I can get this bleeding stopped." Kili turned around and motioned for Tauriel to come over. He said, "Oin, I brought Tauriel, perhaps she can be of some assistance." So busy in his ministrations, he didn't even notice her enter, but once he saw her he bowed very low but quickly grabbed her hand and said, "Tauriel, what I witnessed in Laketown I scarce can believe what I saw. I have learned a few elven treatments over my many years. But I would be blessed to have your help here."
Tauriel also clasped Oin's hands and bowed her head. "Of course. I will help in any way that I can. Most of my experience comes from tending to battle injuries though. I know naught of comforting those afflicted with prolonged illnesses." She looked worried and apologetic that she couldn't do more, but Kili approached her from the side and said, "well, that is most of unfortunately the poor souls here in the infirmary then," and smiled encouragingly at her, and Oin also nodded and smiled.
Tauriel stood still momentarily, wiping her hands up and down the front of her tunic, as she was nervously assessing the dwarf's condition, finally she sprung into action. She loosened the bandage on the dwarf's throat and examined his injury. Many years of tending to her kin as they battled the orcs and spiders that wandered into her foresthome had left her hardened and used to the sight of blood, unlike many of the elves she knew. She looked down unflinchingly, the blood was still flowing freely from the gaping wound in his throat. He had already lost most of his life's blood and she knew she would have to act fast. She looked up and addressed Oin- "I need styptics...do you have any?" Oin just looked puzzled and Tauriel struggled to think of what they may be known as in other tongues, "Agrimony...small thistle," she got out. "It looks like a purple ball of spikes." Oin exclaimed, "Aye, yes! He shouted to one of the aides and he told what to get in the stores of medicine. As he was hurriedly leaving the room, Tauriel yelled, "it needs to be made into a tincture!" The dwarf nodded and smiled at her.
Tauriel caught her breath and took a deep swallow. "Oin, we will need to sew up this wound. Get me your finest thread and smallest needles." The other dwarf aide looked to Oin and he said, "don't ye be a'standin there! Go fetch what she needs!" Within moments, the dwarf was back with the needle and thread. Tauriel got set to work. "Oin, please pry open the wound for me." Kili had just watched all of this with fascination, but backed out of the way so the healers could all access the patient. Oin had his aides get some metal instruments that helped to keep the wound open, then Tauriel was able to reach deep inside his throat. She started sewing up the sinews of his throat muscles, she worked at the innermost layers where the blood was coming out thick and dark. She paused to wipe her brow as Kili handed her a clean towel. "Okay," she said, " I think I've gotten the deepest layer closed. Just then the aide ran into the room with the tincture.
Tauriel set to work applying the tincture to the dwarf's throat with a small, thin piece of clean wood. Oin handed her some strips of cloth to dab at the wound, and then she set about sewing up the outer layers of his skin. After she was done, she packed it with some fine linen and wrapped a long bandage loosely around his neck. She laid both her hands on the wound and began to chant quietly. The dwarves just stood back and watched, amazed. Slowly a better color returned to the dwarf's cheeks and he began to stir. Tauriel slowly backed away and sighed long. Kili sensed she might collapse to he was right there to put his strong arms around her and lead her into a chair.
The other dwarves just looked at Tauriel like they had never before witnessed any creature such as her; but Oin went over to her and got down on his knee and grabbed her hands and bowed his head. Tauriel smiled and patted his hands and then slowly collapsed back in the chair. Kili ran over and grabbed a basin, pitcher of water and some cloths.
Meanwhile Oin had returned to the dwarf patient and his aides were helping him to sit up as he had finally opened his eyes. He tried speaking, but Oin said, "no, no laddie, don't try to talk. These lads will take you to a healing chamber where you can rest." Both aides went over and stood in front of the seated Tauriel and she looked at them apprehensively, not sure what they were going to do or say; even Kili protectively stepped in front of her. The dwarves bowed very low in unison and then when they rose, these younger dwarves both smiled at her. Taken aback slightly, it took her a moment but she returned their smile and put her hand on her chest and bowed her head. They hurried to return to the patient whom Oin had been supporting himself. Each dwarf took him from either side and they headed toward another room down the hall.
Oin came over again to Tauriel and said, "Tauriel, that was amazing to witness, thank you ever so much for your help here." He bowed his head, hesitating before he spoke again, "When... you feel up to it...can you, would you be able to come back? We have more patients that are in need of aid...and you could be of so much help to me and my staff." She smiled at Oin, and said, a little breathlessly, "Yes, of course I will. However I can be of service, my good Master Healer," and she bowed from her chair. He nodded and said, "Wonderful. For now...rest though."
Just then, Balin came running in. He exclaimed, "Where...where is the dwarf? Did he...did he, pass?" Oin spoke first. "No...the dwarf will make it, thanks to Tauriel. She stopped the bleeding and sewed up his wound." Balin, who hadn't been there in Laketown and to witness elvish healing practices looked at her in amazement momentarily, but then nodded. "Okay, well...actually that simplifies things really" he said as he stood up a little straighter. Balin surveyed Kili and the prone Tauriel and then said, "Come Oin. Let us leave them." He then looked directly at Kili and said, "Find us, soon."
Kili nodded at Balin and the pair of dwarves left the room. Tauriel then sighed again and slumped back into the chair slightly. Kili poured some water from the pitcher into the basin and put some of the cloths he had brought over into it. He wrang them out and dabbed her forehead, which was sweaty from her labours. When she felt his gentle touch she smiled and opened her eyes. They looked at each other and Tauriel went to say thank you...but Kili reached her lips first with a huge kiss. She smiled through her lips and after a few moments, he pulled away from her. She tried to sit up but he placed his strong hand on her shoulder, "oh no, my beautiful lady. You will rest and I will take care of you...for a change." He added that last little bit and she peeked open one eye and smirked at him.
He walked a few paces away and grabbed a small footstool. He brought it back and gently picked up and stretched out her long legs and placed the footstool underneath them. Her hands were still bloody from the surgery so he sat next to her and placed her hands, in turn, in the bowl and washed each one lovingly. While he was busy in his task of cleaning her hands, she opened her eyes. She observed this dwarf caring for her and studied his features. He really did not look like the other dwarves. Of course he was quite a bit taller than most she had ever seen. With the exception of his uncle Thorin, and perhaps Dwalin, themselves mighty warriors among their kin. But no, she thought...his features weren't even dwarvish. His lack of facial hair could be attributed to his young age, of course. But still gazing at him, she noticed some things about him that she hadn't really taken the time to look at before; he had a more diminutive nose, sharper, not rough-hewn features, like most dwarves and almost even had slightly pointed ears!
This last thought caught her breath in her throat and she sat bolt upright which startled Kili and he stopped what he was doing. "Are you okay, my'lady?" he hurriedly got out. "Ah..yes...I'm fine...fine," she said as she sat up and put her feet on the floor. "If you feel up to it, I'd like to walk you back to your chamber so you can properly rest," Kili asked. She replied, "yes. I am able. And you do need to find Balin to see what arrangements he made." Kili bit his lower lip and nodded. "Yes... We shall see. But do not worry about that, my love." He helped her out of the chair and they commenced the long walk back to her room. When they got there, they kissed sweetly. Kili said, I will send some food and drink here straightaway. Please get some rest and I will come back when I know more. And don't forget to leave your soiled clothes here on the bench. I will send someone to take them to the laundries right away. With that, they smiled at each other and he closed her door and hurried down the hall.
Once in her room, Tauriel crossed over to the chest of clothes that Dori had made for her. She found the comfortable long dress of fine and soft material and placed that on, after she had removed her other clothes. She used her own wash bash and soap and water to finish freshening up. Then, she took the linen pants and the soiled shirt outside of her room and placed them on the bench and went back in and closed and locked her door. A short while later there was a knock at it. She opened the door and was surprised to see Bombur himself standing there, laden with trays of food and goblets of drink. He bowed and slightly stammered, "Thank you, my'lady for fixing up that dwarf and for saving our young, reckless king...again. Kili himself came to the kitchens and told us all that had transpired." When he finished speaking, he turned, even redder.
Tauriel placed her hand on her chest and bowed and then smiled at him, to which he returned, feeling a little bit less nervous around such an entrancing creature. She thought, he must not have much experience with elves and said, "please come in Bombur." He entered her room and placed the trays of food and drink on her small table. "Please forgive me, dearest lady, as, right now, we don't have much in the way of elvish faire. But Kili mentioned you might could help us restore our garden area to...its former...beauty." He again stammered his words, and Tauriel thought to herself, she is soon going to be very busy.
"Of course Master Bombur, I would be glad to. It will be an amazing site to behold, here in the mountain. Kili has already taken me to see it. But I think our good Hobbit sir would also love to help out with that." It slowly dawned on Bombur and Tauriel could see the excitement rising in him. Bombur asked, "Would you like to show Bilbo around to it then?" Tauriel replied, "Yes, Bombur, I would love to that...Bilbo will be so excited to have something to attend to. I will do that first thing tomorrow!" Bombur looked dejected and bowed his head, "well, my'lady. It may have to wait a little while," he said slowly. "Kili wants everyone in the mountain to come to the Great Hall in the morning...something about addressing the unrest from today's events," he said, as he still hung his head low. "Oh, yes, of course," she replied, thinking darkly of the next day to come.
"At any rate," Bombur said as he was exiting the room, "Kili said he would come fetch you in the morning and to rest up. I hope you enjoy the meal." He bowed, but before he could exit the room, she hurried over and grasped his hands and bowed to him. And again, he turned even redder than before, if it was possible. "No, thank you, Bombur." He nodded, then smiled sheepishly and closed her in her room. As Tauriel locked her door, she thought, gosh, these dwarves really have never been around a female much...let alone an elvish one! She smiled and sat down and feasted on the many fine faire Bombur had brought for her. After enjoying her meal she felt a tiredness come over her such as she had not felt since the Battle. She was too tired to even sit by her window and gaze at her beloved stars tonight, so she strode over to her soft bed, got under the silken covers and promptly fell into a deep and peaceful sleep-like slumber.
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Until next time (I promise, it won't be too long :))