Thranduil followed the sprinting dwarf king at a brisk walk, cursing the slowness of their race not so subtlety under his breath. Bilbo was some where in this cursed mountain in need of his help, and he was forced to follow behind these short legged heathens.
Precious seconds ticked by, each expanding to the length of what felt like hours, his frustration growing with every breath. He promised Blibo that he would do everything in his power to keep him safe when he had left his halls, though the hobbit brushed off his words insisting he was unworthy of such concern. He would not be able to uphold that promise if the hobbit died before he could make it to his side. A small part of his mind whispered that valuable time was wasted bickering back and forth with the dwarf king and his company but he swiftly pushed it and the inkling of guilt he felt at the thought aside. He would make it to Bilbo in time making his last thought a moot point as long as these damned dwarves picked up their pace.
No more than a minute had passed before they were rounding the last sharp turn, rushing towards a large wooden door that was inlaid with a ridiculous amount of gold and gems.
Honestly, dwarves and their riches.
They would craft a chamber pot and inlay diamonds on the bottom just to see them sparkle.
Entering the chamber Thranduil swept past Throin, rushing to the bed, his charge now fully in his sight. Elves were not known to be the best healers in all of Middle Earth by chance; his people had access to powers no other race could hope to match and he planned on utilizing every ounce of that ability to keep Bilbo Baggins alive.
Gently he placed both of his hands on the exposed skin of the hobbits back, letting the warmth of his power gather in the palm of his hands. It bubbled softly over the hobbits form, soothing and assessing all of his injuries both on and under his skin.
"What are you doing?"
"What's happening?"
"Can you help him?"
"Damn it answer us!" The dwarves shouted over each other but Thranduil ignored them all focusing solely on the hobbit.
He reached out, feeling the muted irregular heartbeat of the hobbit as his lungs fought hard to pull tiny gasps of air into his burning lungs, his chest heaving with the effort. Suddenly, a hard vice like grip clasped his upper arm stalling his movements. Thranduil snarled, casting a sideways glance to the dwarf surprised to discover it was not Thorin Oakenshield but a Darrowdam, who looked vaguely familiar to him.
"Whatever you have to do to save him do it." she ordered, increasing her grip. Though she spoke with a fierce tenacity Thranduil heard the underlying layers of grief, fear, and desperation in her words.
Thranduil rolled his eyes at her unneeded demand, as if she could order him to do anything. Not that it mattered, Thranduil was already determined to do whatever necessary to help his young friend. His only response was a slight shake of his head before he pushed her from his mind as well. He let his healing gift pool around the hobbits heart and lungs offering strength to the struggling organs, finding them to be much worse than he had originally expected. Though he was unwilling to admitt it, it was quite possible that even he would not be enough to keep the hobbit in the land of the living, not when his soul was so willing to pass between the worlds.
"What do you need." rumbled one of the dwarves.
"My son." Thranduil stated, never taking his eyes or hands from his charge, "He is waiting outside of the mountain, if Mater Baggins is to live I will need his help."
He heard more than one pair of scrambling foot steps rush from the room and he hoped they would be swift in bringing his son. They were running out of time.
Thranduil gathered his power letting it surround him and the hobbit in a bright ethereal light, buzzing under his skin.
"Hlar-nya óma elvellon, Hlar- nya hûn, hlar-nya hwest, lav-ti graw -d ir-d danna, maetha-nya tû mai-wen loita, nah-wen blab ad thuia go, mennai ci to dadwen. " he spoke his voice taking on a timber as deep as the roots of the tallest tree, as smooth as a river that runs unhindered, as airy as the breeze that swirls high above the mountain, and as warm as the first ray of sunlight after a harsh winter strom.
His heart beat thundered loud in his ears, pumping hard enough that it felt as if it would burst from his chest with every beat. He breathed deep, dragging blessed air into his lungs, his chest rising a falling slowly. He felt Bilbo's heart stutter once, then twice as it tried to sync up with his own faltering with every failed effort.
"Matha-nya hwest, matha-nya hûn, lenca a thala-wen dartha, di û blab a hwest tû gala"
"Adar." Legolas spoke coming to stand beside his father, his lips turning down in a slight frown at the sight before him.
His father and Bard, King of Dale had been right worry about their young hobbit friend, he had indeed been in need of their aid.
"His heart is too weak, I can't keep it beating and heal him at the same time. Start with the infections and work from there." his father ordered and Legolas saw the light sheen of sweat forming on his father's brow. "Work fast nya-ion,we don't have much time if we wish to save him." Legolas needed no further prompting and quickly moved to do his father's bidding.
Thranduil and Legolas worked tirelessly together as the dwarves watched on silently. Dis had both of her arms wrapped around her son's unsure if she was holding them up or they her, not really caring either way. Thorin paced restlessly just behind the elf king and his son, his body stiffening each time one of them spoke in their own language. For the first time in his life he cursed his families dislike of everything elvish, he wanted nothing more in those moments than to be able to understand just what was being said. With each question that went unanswered by the duo his worry grew until he felt he would burst with it.
Legolas worked as quickly as possible with a meticulous eye and hand. He felt the sticky putrid pull of infection as he worked on the hobbits back and limbs. He isolated the infection pulling it from the hobbits body cauterizing the newly exposed skin with his light and power before aiding the growth of new skin to cover the wounds. His stomach heaved as he cleared one of the worse gashes, the infection seeping into his own body before being expelled by his own natural immune system. This type of healing was unorthodox and frowned upon but they did not have the time to work with poultices and serums so he did what needed to be done with no hesitation. Moving on to next wound he let his power flow in time with his father's voice, pulsing under the hobbits skin, encouraging his body to fight, to hold on to his life instead of slipping away into the dark.
Legolas felt the icy cold brush of something foreign against his light. It bubbled and oozed pulling at his power as if it were trying to stamp it out of existence entirely. He pushed back harder putting more effort into his healing only to to leave himself feeling woozy and drained. He realized with a start that the prenece, infection, what ever this monstrosity was, was not only draining him, pulling his light deeper into the dark but it was pulling Bilbo's soul as well. Now that he was aware of the problem he could feel the hobbit's soul fighting hard against the darkness where Legolas had previously assumed the creature to be willing slipping away. He was amazed Bilbo had managed to cling to life as long as he had against something so vile and strong.
"Adar, there's something here, something dark, it's pulling him into death." Legolas spoke lowly so only his father could hear he did not want the alarm the numerous dwarves scattered around the room.
"Show me." his father ordered glad that Bilbo's heart and lungs had stabilized pulling on the strength of the organs in the elf king's chest.
Legolas led his father's light to the darkness allowing his father to explore the surrounding area with a surety only gained by many lifetimes of experience.
Thranduil turned suddenly causing Thorin to skid backward as the elf spun towards him.
"We have encountered a complication, I need you all to leave the room before we can continue." the elf ordered firmly hoping the dwarves would listen just once and not argue.
Of course that was not the case.
"I'm not going anywhere." Thorin growled stepping closer to the bed.
His sentiment was echoed by every dwarf on the room as they began shouting and pushing their way foward.
"Enough stop it!" Bard called halting their movements as the dwarfs stopped to look at him it appeared they had entirely forgotten his presence.
"Thranduil only wants to help Bilbo if he says we need to leave we need to follow his advice for Bilbo's sake." he scolded meeting the eyes of the dwarves closest to him.
"I appreciate your help King Thranduil but if there is anyway I may stay by his side I beg you to let me, I can not leave him now." Dis pleaded her eyes glossed with tears.
Thranduil tilted his head and regarded the darrowdam carefully, it was obvious she cared deeply about Bilbo though the how and why were unknown to him. The process to remove the darkness would be painful, extremely painful, if it succeeded at all and he could not have someone in the room that would try to stop or interrupt him while he worked, but to have another anchor, another person who loved the hobbit could be useful if things went awry.
"You may stay, only you, but you must swear not to interfere."
"I swear it." Dis responded strongly.
"I will stay as well." Thorin stated stepping towards his sister only to find his path blocked by the elf king.
"Do you want Bilbo Baggins to live?" Thranduil asked coldly eyeing Thorin as if he were a serpent about to strike.
"Of course." Throin answered vehemently his voice horse from lack of use.
"Then you will wait outside of the chamber and keep anyone from entering now matter what you hear." the elf ordered his tone offering no argument yet Thorin stiffened at his words his body fighting the idea of being separated from Bilbo.
"It is the only way to save him." Legolas added his voice gentle with an underlying tone of pity that shook Thorin to his core.
The dwarf king nodded once stepping forward to the edge of the bed Thranduil following close behind, the elf's body tense ready to pull him away if need be.
Thorin bent low until his lips hovered next to Bilbo's ear.
"You are stronger than any being I have ever known," he whispered his voice cracking, "I need you to fight now, one more miracle amrâl'im'ê ."
He knew it wasn't right, that it wasn't respectful or wanted but he placed a light kiss against the hobbits brow anyway before walking from the room barking for the rest of the company to follow him into their usual waiting room. Thranduil gave him a purpose and he would fulfill it, no one would enter the healing chamber, not even himself, no matter what.
That blasted tree hugger better know what he's doing .
Dis quietly made her way to the head of the bed making sure to stand far enough away to allow the elves room to work but close enough to give her comfort.
"What I have to do will be very painful for him," Thranduil nodded his head towards Bilbo, "will you be strong enough to witness his pain without interfearing?"
"For him I will always be strong enough." Dis answered daring the elf to contradict her words
"Then we will begin." Thranduil stated evenly turning back towards the bed.
The air around the elven king and his son began to glow bright heating the space around them. Energy buzzed pulsating in a slow cadence used by a war drum sending goose bumps up Dis's arms. Thranduil began speaking in his own tongue rapidly his voice raising in volume with each pulse of energy. His son stood with his back hunched over Bilbo's frame, his hands resting in Bilbo's blonde curls. The elven prince added his own voice and light to his father's and that's when they started.
The first scream that burst from the hobbit was so unexpected Dis jumped in shock shuffling back two steps. It echoed high and loud bouncing off of the cold hard stone with a roar; followed quickly by a second and a third cutting into Dis as sharply as any blade. Her first instinct was to immediately rush to his side, to stop the obvious pain yet one look at the elves halted her movements locking her legs in place.
Thranduil's effort grew, his strain was visible even to Dis, a dwarf with no knowledge of elven healing, but she knew exhaustion when she saw it. Bilbo's gut wrenching screams continued even while his eyes remained shut and his body still as stone. It was completely unnatural and terrifying sight to witness. Bilbo, who had not cried out once during his brutal whipping was screaming as if he was being burned alive from the inside out.
A heavy sickly feeling filled the room surrounding her, pushing on her from all sides until her limbs felt heavy and her breath came small gasps. She clutched her chest her heart racing beneath her palm as her eyes scanned the room frantically. Thranduil's light burst forward so bright she had to close her eyes against it his voice booming full of power and heat. She felt the pull though her eyes remained shut against the light, darkness versus light, shadow versus illumination battling for the right to claim the life of the hobbit. The surrounding force mounted one last attack the force of the heavy a sickly air increasing exponentially to the point that it sent Dis to her knees, her head clasped roughly between her hands. She felt as if the mountain had fallen down around her, crushed beneath the weight of a thousand stones, her scream joined Bilbo's merging together as one.
As suddenly as it appeared the heavy air evaporated leaving Dis unbalanced and unstable. Turning her head she saw Thranduil slump forward catching his weight on the edge of the bed as his son threw a supportive arm around his waist pulling him to stand up straight. Standing on shaking legs she half stumbled half dragged her feet forward to Bilbo's side letting out a sigh of relief to find his lungs breathing in and out in a stable rhythm. Timidly she pressed the back of her fingers to his forehead feeling cool sweat damp skin against her own and couldn't suppress the blinding smile that split her face.
"You may call in the others." one of the elves said and she rushed on shaking legs into the anti chamber to share the news.
As expected all thirteen dwarves and one man rushed into the room smiling joyously.
"He has made past the difficult part and should make a full recovery." Thranduil assured the group stepping away from his son to stand on his own when the dwarves entered the room.
"He will sleep, possibly for a few days but he will wake. I will be returning to Dale with King Bard in case he should regress though it is highly doubtful that he will, Master Baggins has a strong soul that is not ready to leave us quite yet." he smiled fondly at the hobbit running his long pale fingers through the hobbits hair and down over his cheeks before striding directly in front of Thorin.
"I expect to be informed the moment he opens his eyes." he demanded his eyes taking on their usual hard gaze, " I would take him with me if I could but he is still too weak to be moved such a distance."
Thorin ignored the harsh tone, the euphoria over the conformation of Bilbo's recovery leaving no room in his heart for anything but happiness and love.
"I will send a raven when he wakes." Thorin assured the elf. "I wish to thank you for healing him, I am in your debt." he finished with a sole nod of his head. The idea of being indebted to the elf made him sick and the words tasted like ash on his tongue but they were nothing compared to the life of his hobbit.
If he had expected a warm acceptance from the elf he was clearly mistaken as Thranduil's lips formed a hard line at his words straightening his back to bring him to his full height.
"In no way did I do this for you, any peace or happiness you have found in the result is purely by chance. I am a selfish being, I hold on firmly to that which is impottant to me and in the short time I have known him Bilbo Baggins has indeed become very dear to me." Thranduil snapped forcefully.
"Your small show of concern means nothing to me," he hissed sharply, "Do not think I have forgotten your treatment of him on your wall and that after. I do not trust you with him and even if he ever manages to forgive you I shall never forget." he finished and Thorin felt the treat behind the words, he himself had delivered many in defense of his kin and understood the absolute truth of Thranduil's statement; should he hurt Bilbo again his life was forfeit, King Under the Mountain or not.
What Thranduil didn't understand was if he hurt Bilbo again Thorin would gladly accept his fate.
All Sindarin translations were done using and I apologize in advance for any and all mistakes.
Hlar-nya óma elvellon, Hlar- nya hûn, hlar-nya hwest, lav-ti graw -d ir-d danna, maetha-nya tû mai-wen loita, nah-wen blab ad thuia go, mennai ci to dadwen - Hear my voice elf friend, Hear my heart, hear my breath, allow them to carry you when you fall, be it that they beat and breathe together, until thou strength returns
Matha-nya hwest, matha-nya hûn, lenca a thala-wen dartha, di û blab a hwest tû gala - Feel my breath, Feel heart, slow and steady they remain, with every beat and breath strength grows.
Adar - father
Nya-ion - my son
Thank you for taking the time to read this story I truly hope you are all enjoying it.