Chapter 6: Jaunt
Tauriel woke to the sounds of retching and jolted out her seat where she unwittingly must've fallen asleep to find that Thranduil wasn't in his bed. She rushed to the king's bath chambers where the sound was coming from to find her master bending over a wash bowl, standing shaking in nothing but a thin nightgown, knees weak and wobbly. He was supporting himself holding onto the washstand, not that Tauriel could trust the security of his whitened knuckles. The warrior turned hand maiden didn't think twice about jumping to his aid and cradled his thin form tightly, ready to catch his whole weight if he weakened further.
There was nothing but stomach acid in his belly to throw up, and he struggled with it, his guts contracting painfully whether it was a successful or unsuccessful attempt to purge. With her arms round him that gave her a close feel, Tauriel was alarmed by the intensity of the cramping and found herself wishing for the moment that Idhrenion didn't keep back medicine from him, however good her reasons were for doing so.
Thranduil quivered and moaned, barely catching his breath, prompting some coughing in between heaves that made his belly freeze midseize and that seemed to hurt him just as much. "It's alright, it will be over soon," she encouraged senselessly despite some logical thought whispering her otherwise. Her hand moved to where he could not reach in his rigid attempt to keep holding on and not collapse and she started to rub his belly gently and instinctually just under his ribcage where it seemed to harden most. She was doing him some favours, Tauriel gathered from how he leaned into her touch, his pained breathing evening out somewhat. So intimately close, it startled her into a frenzy even more when his stomach contracted for more painful and unnecessary heaves, so much so she wondered whether she should talk to the healer again. Her hand remained at work though, trying to rub out the spasms, attentive to his every twitch and sound so she could calibre what she was doing.
It was either her work, or his stomach simply finished trying to throw itself up for the moment, but his belly became noticeably softer all of a sudden and his strength went with it. He leaned forward more, eyes closing and Tauriel struggled with trying to manoeuvre him into a position where he didn't hit his head into the washing stand as he went down. They landed clumsily in not much more than a heap, Tauriel kneeling and his upper body splayed over her lap. "Are you alright? Are you aware?" The redhead reached for his cheek, rubbing and patting gently.
"My stomach…" He managed, disoriented and pale.
Tauriel shook her head, angry with the healer, "let me lie you down here on the floor till I have a different healer called. Idhrenion is wrong about her methods," she held, finding it hard to watch him suffer so.
"The rubbing, that helped a lot," he suggested, breathy.
"Alright," she agreed, glad that there was something she could do and reassumed her previous manner of gently easing out some cramps, this time being able to see his expressions as she done so. Thranduil was taking bigger breaths, though it was obvious they were still hurting his wrangled abdominals, but there was a certain resolve about them as he consciously attempted to take control of his body and that calmed her somewhat. Thranduil will be fine, he would always be, wouldn't he. "Anything else you need?" Tauriel hoped she could do something else for him.
"Water…" Came the unexpected answer. Not something he had asked for in months, not to her knowledge. Still, she was worried his stomach would not be able to keep that down either at the moment.
"I can't reach the jug from here. Is it alright to let you slide onto the floor now?" Tauriel intended to humour him nevertheless.
Thranduil gave a little shake of the head, "in a moment. When the cramps ease. Just carry on as you were," he asked keenly, then concentrated on the relieving sensation when she complied.
"My Lord…" Tauriel started after a pause of regarding his drained and sickly features. He could sure not be riddled by heartache in this state of disorientating physical condition, but how was this worth it? "It saddens me to see you like this," she admitted, quite sure for the moment that the comfort she was offering presently was greater than his predilection for privacy. "Please, if there is anything I can do. If you'd let me guide you," she begged once more.
"If you were me, what would you do?" He questioned serenely, defeatedly, facial expression not changing from being ironed out by exhaustion.
"I would go after him. Find him. Legolas. Surely a grand gesture like that would sway him, give you a chance for discourse and right all wrongs."
Thranduil grunted, "I am the King of Mirkwood. I can't just take a leave whenever I wish."
"Your advisors have shared the good news with you, though in all fairness I do not know if you've even listened or understood. The woods are thriving in lush green, no spider nests to speak of within days' treks. Your councillors extended farming areas, if only temporarily till there's any renewed threat. Orcs decimated and have retreated, along with Sauron owing to actions of the White Council, his influence diminishing as we speak. Trade is unrestricted also, deliveries have arrived from Dale, Erebor, Lothlorien and the Shire. Your treasury full to pay for all and keep your elves in comfort I'm told they've not experienced in thousands of years. It's partly what gives you the luxury to keep yourself ill and not having to trouble yourself with daily skirmishes and the usual agrarian difficulties. If there was a time when you could escape for a while, this would be it."
The older elf opened his eyes at that and slowly turned his head towards his handmaiden, interest chasing the clouds from his gaze. "Travel? We shall travel," he allowed. "I need to get well and swift. Call Idhrenion, tell her of the plan. Surely she has some potions under her sleeves she was not willing to share," he ordered on a stronger voice, reminiscent of the Elvenking she knew.
Tauriel took a moment to answer, stunned. Was he in fact going to take her advice? "You want me to go right now? Will you manage the pain? What about the water? Should I not help you into bed first?"
"Water," he nodded tentatively. He wasn't looking forward to dealing with the cramps without her touch at any case. Her rubs and caressing attention was pleasant, and her presence and rational will also distracted him from the throbbing of his belly.
"Do you think you would be comfortable sitting?" She suggested thoughtfully, "we could move you to lean against the towel rack?" Tauriel took him round his upper body at his permitting nod and slid him over, then fetched a cup to pour some water in that she gave over hesitantly. "Will you manage?" She enquired benevolently.
The water felt good going down his scratchy, acid filled throat, but that was as far as pleasant experiences went. As soon as the liquid reached his stomach, it felt like a lead ball and his insides curled. Thranduil felt like choking as the water he was swallowing down met with the previous mouthful on its way up. It made him lean forward, one hand going towards his belly.
Tauriel jumped, prepared, and by the time the gag became productive, the cup in front of him was replaced with the washbowl and she slid round to brace him, all her doing he wasn't sick on himself. It didn't take the redhead much time to move her hand to his stomach either and press, giving Thranduil the impression it was her touch that kept his belly from exploding.
The king gagged long, wishing he never took those few mouthfuls as they were wrecking such havoc he would've never imagined. His stomach hurt badly as if tearing and he was feeling progressively weaker and woozier with the exertion to the extent he feared he would meet the floor, even though he was already on it and he would've as well if not for Tauriel's observational skills and quick thinking. "I'm going to get you to lie down," she embraced him so she could gently place him down on his side. The only movement he made on his own volition was to pull his knees up, to his belly that hurt so much he could not help passing out.
Tbc