Chapter 5: Revelations
"Elladan! Elrohir!" she cried and sprinted the last few yards to them. "Legolas, where is he?"
The twins turned blue eyes frozen in sorrow on her. "Arwen, sidh. (peace)"
"But Astaldo-"
"Please, sister, do not worry."
"Elladan, I know what I saw and I saw blood."
"Astaldo is well."
"And Legolas?"
The twins exchanged a glance charged with apprehension.
"Arwen…"
"Tell me!"
"We were attacked nearly two nights ago by an orc battalion. 'Dan and I managed to immerge unscathed. But Legolas…"
"What about him, Elrohir?" Arwen ground out.
"He received two arrow wounds protecting us as we fled the sight, one in the thigh and the other…close to his right lung."
"And?"
"We cannot say."
Arwen's blood froze. "'Ro, 'Dan, let me through!" She pushed hard at their chests, frantic to enter that room.
"Please, Arwen, not yet, you must wait! Father will call us when we may enter. It is not any easier for us than for you. Please, 'star, patience."
Arwen suddenly forgot all about her desire to get past her brothers, even Legolas' wounds themselves. "W-what did you say?" she stammered.
"Patience," they soothed.
"No, no, the part about a star." She shook her head, desperately needing to know the answer and heedless to their comforting words.
Elrohir laughed lightly, slight surprise covering his face. "That's what Legolas always called you, remember?"
Memories as the fresh as the newly cut roses in her bedroom permeated her mind. She and Legolas kneeling by the glassy lake and laughing at the distortions the water's ripples created over their young features. His reassuring arm about her when she wept over a crushed bed of flowers she had labored over for nearly three years. Sharing a cup of sweet hot cocoa before a roaring fireplace after a snowball fight with the twins, their quiet moments together after the realm's business was concluded with her father.
But most of all she remembered with perfect clarity the way he spoke her pet name, that silly quirk ever present on his lips, the timbre of his musical voice, and the deep warmth that fairly glowed in his stormy blue eyes. "Do not trip over anymore buckets, 'star. Those such accidents tend to be hazardous to one's health and I shall not be here to catch you," or, "Watch for low branches when riding, 'star, or the next time I come you shall have a great knot on that forehead of yours," and the most recent farewell, "Namarie, 'star. Protect that wondrous joy about you even when days grow dark for I fear I shall not return for many days and it would pain me greatly to know that you were in sorrow."
Each time it was spoken kindly, softly, and with the greatest of affection. She had always thought it a tender name a brother would bestow upon his sister but now, now she saw that every time he had spoken her pet name he was saying it as one would to a beloved. He was saying without speaking that he loved her.
Even more startling was the revelation that she loved him back. Truly, deeply, loved him.
Catching her breath, she gave one final shove and pressed past her brothers. But the door of the occupied healing room flew open in front of her before her fingers had even brushed the handle.
"Adar," Arwen's voice trembled with emotion.
Elrond stood in the doorway, bearing the most haggard and exhausted expression she had ever seen the regal lord wear.
"Is-is he?" she could not bring herself to ask.
The elder elf ran a weary hand over his face. "His condition is delicate at best. I have done all that is within my power to do."
That was all she waited to hear. Bursting through the door, she collapsed next to the massive bed and the figure nestled in it.
TBC...