Aragorn rummaged through his pack and retrieved his pouch of healing herbs and extracted the ones he needed. He then began to crush them into powders to mix into tea and chewed others into a paste. Behind him a fire began to crackle with water beginning to bubble sitting on top. Aragorn searched through his pack again and found some bandages. He laid everything out in front of him, and waited for the water to come into a rolling boil.
Eventually the water was ready for use and he hastily dipped a piece of cloth into the scorching liquid, ignoring the burning pain he felt in his fingers. Turning to Legolas, he gently removed the stiff hand and it felt as though it was still as defiant and stubborn as its master trying to keep Aragorn from helping.
As gently as he could, Aragorn cleaned out the wound though it still bled profusely to his dismay, "Please stop bleeding," he begged quietly. If he couldn't stem the flow soon the elf would surely die of blood loss; but it was as if the elf had heard him when after a few moments the blood stopped flowing. Aragorn breathed a sigh of relief; he continued in cleaning out the wound and added in some of the paste. It was at this moment when Legolas showed a sign of discomfort. His face contorted in pain and his arms tried to reach his wound.
"I'm sorry!" Aragorn whispered frantically trying to keep the hands at bay, "I'm sorry I know it stings but you must leave it be!"
But Legolas did not hear him this time and struggled further, "Someone help restrain him!" Aragorn called and the dwarf shuffled over to assist, "If he struggles he may add more damage."
Gimli nodded and held down the shoulders of the elf but that wasn't enough. Pippin seeing him struggle, hurried over with Merry and held down Legolas' left arm as Merry weighed down the right. Even with these three beings trying to keep the elf still, the strength of his people hidden within the slender figure was too much for them and they were thrown off.
"This is ridiculous," Boromir said, looking incredulously at the three of them and took their place. He lasted perhaps thirty seconds which was twice the amount of time the others had lasted before Legolas managed to punch his face and Boromir staggered back, stunned. His flabbergasted gaze fell upon Legolas' form that struggled with Aragorn.
"What incredible strength he possesses," Boromir gasped, rubbing the bruise that was starting to form on his cheek.
Sam simply stared at the whole procedure behind the safely of the fire. He knew he should help but he was afraid of making matters worse. Frodo sat beside him with a horrified look on his face, I have caused him this great pain, he thought miserably. Sam peeled his gaze away from Aragorn and Legolas to Frodo, 'You alright?" he asked, noticing the look on the face of his friend.
"It's my fault," Frodo murmured.
Sam opened his mouth to reply and try to reassure his friend that it was an accident but before he could do so Aragorn called to him.
"Sam! I need you help over here!"
He quickly got to his feet and rushed over, "What do I do?" he asked, happy to help. The sight of Legolas so distressed was unnerving to him.
"Make tea with that powder there," he instructed, trill struggling the stop Legolas from damaging himself further.
Sam nodded enthusiastically and grabbed a cup, adding the powder and pouring the steaming liquid on top. He rummaged around his pack until he found and spoon and stirred it gently, making sure that all of the medicine had dissolved. As he stirred the mixture changed into a clear blue and he was intrigued with this strange concoction he created.
Aragorn looked at the mix and nodded his approval, reaching out for it.
"Legolas, please mellon-nin calm yourself and drink," he said softly, holding the cup to the lips of his friend. Eventually Legollas relaxed enough that Aragorn was able to get the medicine down his throat.
Aragorn sat back, relief coursed through him. At least his friend was not in pain for the moment but getting him to drink was the easy part, now he had to stitch up the wound and Aragorn started to work.
Stitch after stitch he sewed up his friend and took extra care to make sure he did not falter. After he had knotted the end and snipped the excess thread, Aragorn added the remaining paste on top of the stitches to speed the healing process. The finishing touch of a white, cotton bandage completed his work. Legolas' wound looked much better covered and out of sight.
It was at this time that Aragorn gathered up the remains of Legolas' shirt and replaced it with a clean one. The elf's leggings had escaped most of the blood and were left untouched.
Frodo took one look at the blood stained shirt of Legolas and nearly gagged at the metallic smell that invaded his nose. It brought back his memories of Legolas jumping in front of him to save his life in Moria and Frodo shuddered, remembering that terrifying moment. "Run Frodo!" the elf's voice echoed through his head and only brought more misery upon his heart.
