A/N:
Remember 1105 – So sorry for not updating sooner, but hopefully you like this update.
Coquettish Siren – Really, Legolas should just speak up…silly Elf. Well, hopefully we'll know how he's feeling soon.
Mandi – Ah my ever-loyal fan! You're the best. And…gosh, I don't know what he was going to say to her. Whatever it is, I hope he says it soon. Before it's too late. ;)
geminitwinz – Wow, all in one day, that's insane! Well sorry I haven't updated sooner but hopefully you like this chapter.
HuNkYcHuNkYmOnKeY97030 – Well here it is!
Also, loyal readers, don't forget that I'm changing the title of this piece after the next update. It'll be called "Tomorrow Never Knows," so keep that in mind when looking for it! Anyway, onward.
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I was bleeding. That's all I could tell at first, until I slowly forced my eyes open. Dirt. Leaves. I tried to lift my head to no avail. My arm cooperated, though, and I brought my hand to my face, felt the dirt smeared on my cheek. I touched my nose tentatively, but the contact alone sent pain shooting through my face, causing my head to throb. I could only breathe through my open mouth; the blood caked in my nostrils prevented easy breathing. I felt my mouth; my bottom lip was swollen, also caked in dried blood. I put my hand on the ground and tried to push myself up, but realized I needed the aid of my other hand. Surprisingly, that hand responded to my silent command too, and with both hands on the ground I pushed myself up from it, forcing my body into a sitting position.
My body immediately tried to reject this position as blinding white pain coursed from my thigh to my head and back down, but never reached my toes; I could not feel them. I heard the leaves rustling, tangled in my hair and I searched my body for the culprit of the pain. My eyes darted to my right thigh, which was covered in dark red liquid that had seeped through my clothes and into the ground beneath me. I instantly felt sick, turning my head to reject my insides on the ground beside me. I noticed my hands, shaking and dangerously white. I needed help. My leg was still bleeding.
I did not know how long I had been lying on the ground surrounded by nothing but hushed trees. The last thing I remembered was taking aim at an Orc when another one blindsided me. I remembered searing pain in my leg and then crumpling onto the ground…
The trees around me were growing darker with each moment I sat and stared. I knew I could not move, and sitting alone was making me dizzy. I felt cold and lightheaded, but walking was not an option, so I stayed there, watching the trees grow darker, hoping someone would find me.
Eventually, after concentrating on clearing my mind and trying to help myself, I remembered my healing training, and pulled off my top, wrapping it around my leg to stop the bleeding. With my tongue between my dried, cracked, swollen lips, I made a makeshift bandage, too dizzy to feel the pain that I knew was racing like fire through my body. I tried to swallow but could not manage it and was becoming so exhausted that I let my body fall onto the ground once again.
I promised myself I would stay conscious for as long as possible, but the long was becoming short and I felt myself fading in and out of sleep. The air was crisp and cold against my skin and was burning my eyes, so I let them remain closed. The dreams I had were dark and awful, always looming over me when I woke up. I did not know how long I would have to lie there.
I may have died there…
"She has lost too much blood," an unfamiliar female voice said from the darkness in front of me. The voice was muffled and far away, but I could hear the words clearly.
"We can only keep the bandage on and keep her hydrated," another voice responded, this one male, "and hope."
"She's strong," the female voice asserted, "I can feel it."
I did not have the strength to open my eyes, so I kept them closed and let myself drift again…
When I woke up again, I felt heavy breathing over me, and burning eyes watching me expectantly. I had been enjoying a nightmare-less sleep for the first time in a while, but nevertheless I found it within myself to let the sunlight in, and a blurry vision with sawdust-blonde hair and gray eyes followed.
"Laina?" he said, jumping out of his chair. I took my eyes from him and surveyed the room around me. I had been here before. The hospital wing.
"Mmm," I replied.
"You're awake," he exclaimed, looming over me, letting worry cloud his face. "Laina, I was so afraid…"
"Féoras?" I managed to croak, feeling my lips crack and give with every movement of my mouth. I let my tongue wet them slightly, momentarily relieving my pain.
"They told me they could not find you," Féoras began animatedly. "I came looking, I found you lying there in a pool of blood…" his voice trailed off and I felt my cheeks grow hot. He had saved me. "Anyway, well, I am sorry I have not seen you lately," he added, gallantly changing the subject.
I nodded, gulping. "Thank you," I managed before letting my eyes close again. I was very grateful for Féoras in that moment, but I also did not feel like talking to him. For some reason, I wanted him to leave. I felt him staring at me for another few moments before I heard him turn and shuffle away.
Just as soon as he had gone, light, fast footsteps reach my ears. The doors to the hospital wing burst open, but I was unable to sit up to see who it was. It had not mattered, for he nearly jumped on the bed beside me anyway.
"Laina!" Legolas nearly screamed, looking me over wide-eyed. "You're never patrolling again," was the next thing he said, and before I could protest he continued, "This is all my fault. Oh,Ilúvatar, Laina, look at you…" His honey browns traveled to my face and I felt the walls around him start to crack and crumble. A dam had been broken and a waterfall of emotions was gushing into his eyes, onto his face and down his body, splashing onto me.
"Do I look that bad?" I asked, smiling up at him, allowing his feelings to drench me completely.
"Oh, Ilúvatar," Legolas breathed again, bending over and digging under me with his arms, pulling me into a limp hug. Coarse pain shot from my thigh to my head and I was blinded by it. I tried my hardest not to scream, but the ensuing body jolt was enough to force Legolas to let go. "I'm sorry!" he said hurriedly, placing me back onto my pillow carefully. "Laina, Laina…I'm so sorry…"
For the first time in what felt like years, Legolas was allowing me to see the sensitive side of him. He sat down on the side of my bed and just looked at me with those concerned honey brown eyes, placing his hands all over me, in my hair, on my face, tracing my lips, on my forehead, down my arms, on my shoulders. I thought he would have started crying by now.
"Leaf," I finally managed to say firmly, causing his hands to move, frightened, from my wrists. "I'm fine and this isn't your fault," I added. Though I wanted him to stay, I knew he had to go back on patrol. Letting him fawn over me all day and night would not have been acceptable. They needed him out there. Legolas gave me a pleading sigh, but my voice was resolute and he sighed, leaning down and kissing me on the cheek before getting up to leave.
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In a few days, I was feeling much stronger and I talked the healers into letting me out a few days early. I had a large bandage around my leg, and I was limping, but my broken nose was healing nicely and my lips were no longer swollen and bruised. As soon as I made my way out of the hospital wing, I went to see Féoras. I asked around and the general consensus was that he would be at the archery range, so I made my way there carefully, down the path and away from the halls. I had been inside far too long and was thoroughly enjoying the smell of the trees and the grass. I saw out of the corner of my eye a few patrols every few steps. I wondered how much man power they were using to patrol our borders, and how long we would have to fight for our land against the darkness.
I finally made it to the clearing where the archers were practicing, and I saw Féoras immediately, aiming his arrow at the target. I called out his name and he let the arrow go soaring through the air, missing its mark completely. I laughed as he hurried up to me, dropping his bow and taking me carefully into his arms. I rested my head against his chest, smelling the rather enchanting smell of wood and sweat that mingled beneath his clothes.
"I'm so glad you are well," Féoras said into my hair. His strong arms around me sent little chills down my spine. I finally broke the embrace and he put his hands carefully behind my pointed ears, making me see him eye-to-eye. I surveyed his eyes then, and saw beneath them a warmth that I had not recognized before.
"I owe you," I whispered, smiling and allowing him to pull my head forward and kiss my cheek. I felt a slight burning sensation where his lips met my skin.
"Let me eat by your side tonight," Féoras said into my ear. Another chill, a minor shudder. I contemplated this for a moment, and I caught myself wondering how Legolas would react. I felt slightly disgusted at my own thoughts. Why would he care? Just because I normally sat between him and Malian at dinner did not mean I had no right to sit anywhere else. Besides, it was a little awkward, with Malian and Legolas still not talking. Many times I had wondered when that little debate would subside, but though Legolas was clearly over Kaethe (who did not eat dinner with anyone, and in fact, who had not been seen by anyone except Malian for quite some time…thank Ilúvatar), he was not ready to forgive Malian for betraying him. Most of the time I was caught in between two conversations, with both Legolas and Malian fighting for my attention. It was exhausting, really, and I should have been much more excited to sit with Féoras, Elf-who-had-saved-my-life, rather than Legolas and Malian, the forever pig-headed.
"Alright," I finally replied after having mulled it over. Féoras smiled a genuine smile I had not seen on him before, and I found myself hoping I would see it more often. "I'll meet you at the dinner table then," I agreed. Féoras nodded and kissed my cheek again, taking my hand in his and squeezing it before returning to his bow and quiver of arrows. I found myself skipping on the way back to the halls.
Honestly. Where had the former Laina gone? The witty one whose only true love was flirting with a dirty Ranger at home in Imladris? A few years ago I would have made some catty remark. A few years ago I never would have let Aragorn leave without me. A few years ago I would have gotten off that ground in the middle of the forest and saved myself. Mirkwood was sucking the life out of me.
But then, what was so wrong with dinner?