Houses of Healing

She blew her breath against the window and drew a star before the faint mist it created on the glass tile vanished. The whole forest was covered in a white blanket, very peaceful and serene. That is, until she spotted a group of young elven-children chasing each other with snowballs. She smiled at their playfulness then moved away from the window so she could finish the rest of her chores.

It is one of the coldest winters she could remember and in an elf's lifetime, there were plenty of winters to experience. The cold air kept them on their toes, especially with servants. They seemed to work much faster during this time of year with thoughts of enjoying a nice fire with friends in the outside patio near the servant quarters. Most of all, Le'ariel's mother makes the finest hot chocolate in all the Elven lands in Middle-earth.

The Firstborn experienced the colder months differently from the race of Men because they didn't need as much clothing or were affected by the drop in temperature. Still, they could feel the coldness the weather brought to the Hither Lands.

Another morning was accomplished and as usual, Le'ariel headed down to the laundering section to have the royal family's clothing washed. A servant, who was clearly in a rush, ran past her, almost trampling over her causing her to drop the load she was carrying in a basket.

"My apologies, Le'ariel! Come, you must hurry!" An out of breath Dreland said.

"Wha—why? What is the hurry?"

"There is some sort of commotion outside and all the servants are gathering by the stables. It has something to do with the prince!" Dreland didn't wait for her to respond before disappearing down the corner.

Oh...great...what now?

The chambermaid hesitated to leave the sacks of clothing in the hallway, but eventually followed in his wake. A good crowd formed outside the stable doors just before she finally arrived. Everyone talked all at once making it difficult for Le'ariel to understand exactly what was going on.

After seeing Lady Varien amongst the crowd, who appeared to be standing next to Legolas, she wasn't so sure if she really wanted an explanation at that point. Le'ariel rolled her eyes but decided to stay, regardless, and be a spectator in case something interesting happened to the snobby Orc.

Keldir stepped forward and told everyone to move aside so that the prince could pass. The Mirkwood guards opened a path for him by blocking the onlookers with their arms and staffs. As Legolas passed, she noticed he held his right arm against his chest with, of course, Varien right beside him offering some sort of unnecessary assistance.

"What happened?" Le'ariel whispered to Quinlas, one of the guards holding back the crowd.

He looked around cautiously before answering to see if someone else might be listening. The less the audience knew the better. He didn't mind telling Le'ariel since most, if not everyone, in the palace knew her because she was seen almost everywhere doing her chores.

"Well, apparently after the prince's usual morning ride with his horse, Lady Varien came to greet him here when he returned..."

"So? She has been known to do that. I still do not understand what the commotion is about?"

"Prince Legolas's horse is not too fond of her and grew unsettled when she tried to pet him. He ended up kicking the prince off, thus the prince landing on his arm."

"Oh...I see..." Now she understood why the prince was holding his arm so close to him. He also didn't look very happy to say the least.

"All right everyone—go back to your stations!" Keldir yelled at the crowd. "The show is over!" He motioned for his guards to get the mass of elves moved back inside their underground fortress. "We will let you know of his progress. Now please…everyone, inside."

"Well, you heard the Captain of the Guard!" Quinlas extended his arm toward the entrance of the cave. Le'ariel followed the rest of the elves quietly. No wonder why Varien was attached to his arm again like a little leech. There have been other mishaps in the past where Legolas wound up injured when Varien was around. Accidentally or by purpose so she can get closer to him, no one really knew.

Most likely Varien was already plotting to be his nurse-in-waiting as she often did, sitting by his bedside until he healed, which to Le'ariel was…pathetic. Although Varien tried for the role, she didn't play it very well. There were always two or three other servants taking orders from her as if she was the queen and knew exactly what would make the prince better. No medicines. No special herbs. Just her and her unwanted company.

That morning just got colder.

I I I

"Le'ariel, I have a task for you."

"What is it, mother?"

"Please be a dear and bring this to the Houses of Healing for me, would you?" Dalorien sat down a warm bowl of soup in front of her with a lid on top to keep the heat inside.

She stared at it for a second. "And…who is this for?"

"Who else?"

"Prince…Legolas?" she inwardly cringed. Dalorien nodded without turning to her. "I would mother but I...have not finished chopping the vegetables for the evening meal and I told Sirawen I would help her fold some of the laundry afterwards and—"

"I can get one of the other cooks to chop the vegetables and I am sure Sirawen is capable of folding laundry all on her own as she has done many other times before. This is only the prince, Le'ariel, with a broken arm, not some sort of Balrog with a disease. He is not contagious. Now go."

"But honestly, mother, why me?" Le'ariel frowned.

"Because I am your superior and giving you a direct order. Besides, Legolas will be happy to see you. Now no more excuses. Go!"

Le'ariel grumbled. "Happy to see…me?"

"Go!"

"Yes, mother..." She carried the soup carefully on the tray and headed out of the kitchen.

"Oh, and by the way, in case you are wondering...Lady Varien is not permitted to enter while the prince is recovering. No visitors he said."

She almost tripped.

I I I

Legolas was relaxing comfortably. The herbs the healers gave him made his whole body feel warm, even his head felt light, and his arm tingled. He felt no pain in his arm as long as he didn't make any sudden movements.

Earlier he attempted to pick up the glass of water by his bedside thinking it was an easy enough task, but he found himself dropping it on the floor instead, the water spilling into the cracks in the floor. None of the healers or servants was around as he ordered so he left the glass where it fell.

The prince wanted no visitors, especially Varien. He simply wanted to relax. Moreover, he found her to be a bigger headache than she normally was when she tried to impress him. Note to self: Keep Varien away from the stables! She had all the qualities of a proper maiden except for the intellect Legolas looked for.

A light knock suddenly came from the door, distracting him from his thoughts. "Come…in," Legolas sounds unsure if he really wanted any visitors right now.

The door slowly opened revealing a female elf carrying a tray. "Prince Legolas..."

"Le'ariel..." he politely smiled. Relief washed over him. At least Dalorien's daughter he was glad to see.

Avoiding the elf-princess's gaze, she sat the tray by his bedside table. "My mother asked me to bring this to you in hopes that it will help with your recovery. Having a good meal always helps she says. I must get going, good day."

"Wait!" Legolas called out to her just before her fingers touched the doorknob. It was a sudden impulse. "Can you not stay for a bit?"

The female elf held her breath. "I thought you did not want any visitors?" Her entire hand now gripped the doorknob.

"Yes, that is true, but...I am bored with no one to converse with."

"And why would you want to converse with me?"

Legolas laughed. "Is it not obvious? You always have something interesting to say, no matter how rude you are at times." He grinned widely.

"What?" Le'ariel spun around in defense. "The things I say are not rude!" She took a deep breath and relaxed her shoulders, speaking more calmly. "Forgive me, your Highness. I only speak what I believe should be said. Although, I know it might not seem like it at times, I know my station."

"You are not afraid to say what the other elves are only thinking so do not apologize. Please...just stay for a while," he softly asked. The chambermaid hesitated. "Please?"

It was amusing to see him plea the way he did. "Umm...very well...but I cannot stay long."

She pulled up a chair next to his bed and before they knew it, the awkwardness between them lifted from the room. They told stories of old and reminisced of the mishaps that he and Keldir got themselves into over the years.

The two elves let their guards down and openly laughed and shared jokes with one another as if they were close friends this entire time. He was not a prince and she was not servant. They were just...friends.

"Le'ariel, I wanted to discuss something with you..." The smile on her face slowly faded from the serious look he now carried on his. Clearly, there was something on his mind. "It is about what Elenia said."

"Your Highness, I do not think this is the right time for this. You are still healing. You must keep your strength." And because I do not want to talk about it!

"The herbs the healer gave me are making me feel strange and I..."

"A side effect of the herbs they gave you causes dizziness if you exert yourself too much before you are fully healed. Maybe I should leave."

"No, no, I am fine. I...I wanted to talk to you about that day...Elenia..." Legolas started to lose his train of thought.

"Your Highness, please," she tried to beg.

"Legolas," he corrected her.

"Legolas, please. We said we would not bring it up. You are becoming delirious, you need to rest. I have stayed here longer than I should have."

"What is the matter with him?" Another voice entered the room.

"Adanion!" Le'ariel, startled by his presence, stood and knocked over the chair she was sitting on. "What are you doing here? I did not hear you enter."

"You did not hear me knock? I came to pay my cousin a visit after this morning's event. I knew he did not want any visitors but that was not going to stop me." He looked at the prince who was now out cold.

"I came to bring him some soup as my mother ordered. It seems the medicine he was given is finally working."

"Speaking of your mother, she has been looking for you."

"Looking for me?" Was I really gone that long?

Adanion had a curious, almost suspicious, look in his eyes. "If your mother knew where you were, why would she be looking for you?"

"I was probably gone longer than she expected. We started telling stories and I suppose we lost track of time," she smiled innocently.

"I see..."

"If you were here a few minutes earlier he would have been awake to receive you. Unfortunately, he will be fast asleep for a few hours until the medicine wears off."

"Then we should leave him to rest."

"Yes, we should..." Le'ariel nodded and quickly left the room without properly saying goodbye. Adanion shortly followed after her with new questions on his mind.

For some reason the chambermaid felt embarrassed for getting caught, although nothing happened between she and the elf-prince. They were merely enjoying each other's company...right? But perhaps deep down she knew she overstayed her welcome but didn't care until Adanion saw her.

In any case, Le'ariel was relieved it was Legolas's cousin and not Lady Varien. Who knew what type of disaster that would have been! She shook all of her thoughts and feelings away from that room and pretended she was never there.

The soup she brought Legolas remained untouched and forgotten, now sitting cold.