Hebo Estel

Chapter 2

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Enjoy!

There was shuffling and shouting and hurried footsteps as Estel woke from his slumber the next morning. He wearily opened his eyes to find the sun streaming into his room. He groaned as his brain tried to process the commotion in the corridor outside his room.

He got out of bed softly clutching his still tender side, and opened his door to find various elves running about, shouting orders and requests at one another. Estel was confused. Rarely was his home this chaotic. He scanned the passing crowd before him for a familiar face and soon found his brother Elladan who seemed to be concentrating wholeheartedly on a task before him.

"Elladan," he called. "What is this? Why the commotion?".

"Oh, Estel. You're awake, good. There has been a disaster. A group of thugs traveling through the area ransacked a nearby town and caused mass destruction. Not only were people wounded by the men, but by the falling structures and buildings as well. Ada has all able persons tending to the wounded and trying to make order of the situation. Come, get dressed. We need your help." With no further instructions Elladan wearily turned from Estel and continued on his way.

Listening to his brother, Estel hurriedly changed into fresh clothing. He winced when anything brushed over his cut, which surprisingly was still oozing, though not just blood. That could be good though, maybe his body was trying to heal himself. He would just have to wait to take care of that. Besides, how could he even think of asking his father to clean what was probably a surface wound when people with much graver injuries needed all the help they could get.

Not giving his own injury a second thought Estel went in search of his brothers or father to find out where his help was most needed. He found his father in a common room giving instructions to others helping.

"Ada, what can I do to help." Elrond looked at upon hearing his human son's voice.

"Estel, I didn't expect you to be up yet. Are you feeling well? You look quite pallid. Maybe you've caught something from traveling in the inclement weather." Elrond worriedly put a hand to Estel's forehead and a look a relief washed over his face when he found no trace of fever.

Estel smiled under his fathers caring touch. Even the slight pressure from his father's hand on his brow taxed Estel's muscles and a layer of perspiration broke out over his body. "No Ada, really I feel fine." He prayed his father wouldn't be able to see the façade he was putting up. The poor villagers needed help!

"Alright Estel. We could use your help tending to the injured villagers. I've put the less critical ones in the hallway and the one requiring immediate attention in the common room. There is no need to push yourself, if you don't feel comfortable treating someone leave them for me or one of the other healers. Don't push yourself Estel, you've only just returned from an exhausting journey."

"Ada, there is no need to worry. Let me get started." Before his father could express anymore concern Estel went on his way.

He began his work in the corridor stopping randomly. He dressed cuts, cleaned scratches and put salve on burns. It was like this for hours upon hours.

There had been those who could not be saved and they lay in their own room. Estel could do nothing for them but make the comfortable. He kneeled next to a young boy who had a fatal wound in his side. His curly blond hair was plastered to his head and his eyes were glassy.

"Please," the boy spoke as Estel raised a cool cup of water to his lips. He drank greedily. "Please, don't let me die. I don't want to… I'm scared."

Estel brushed back the boy's hair and gave him a reassuring smile. "Mellonamin, have no fear. Your pain will be eased and your suffering will soon end."

The boy looked back at Estel with hopeful eyes. Moments later he groaned in pain and every muscle in his body seized. Estel could not tear his eyes away. The young boys eyes rolled back into his head and his body relaxed. Grief for this stranger consumed Estel as he closed the boy's eyes. "Lle ume quell."

Sadly he had to move on to the next injury.

Estel only stopped twice to drink so water, a welcome relief. He was sweating and the amount of energy he was exerting was quickly draining. The throbbing in his side had grown into an ugly monster. Not only was his side burning, but now the rest of his body was on fire too. He was sweating profusely and dizzy, stumbling a few times. But thankfully, no one seemed to notice.

Estel promised himself that as soon as everyone was seen to he would tend to his own inconvenient wound. Night had fallen long ago and Estel had just finished up on the last of the injuries. He dragged his tired and aching body back to his room only to collapse on his bed. He knew no one would realize he had left. Even though everyone had been helped there was still much chaos and therefore much order to be had. Elrond would more than likely be up for many hours to come trying to sort through the disorder.

Estel knew he should help, he just couldn't move his tired, weighted body. Every move elicited a groan. Perhaps he should just rest for a while before tending to his cut. After all, rest could help him think more clearly and he could better tend to himself.

Before he knew it he was sleeping, and even sooner he was awake again. By now the estate was quite. Candles were burning low; Estel assumed hours must have past since he had fallen asleep. He whimpered as he moved from his position on the bed. His mouth was dry and he was craving a cool glass of water.

As soon as Estel stood he immediately regretted the decision. He was immeasurably lightheaded and the room spun at lightning speed. He shut his eyes and groped for the wall to try and steady the world around him. Slowly but surely the word righted itself and things moved more slowly. He grabbed the first cup he could find of one of his many tables and a pitcher of water someone had left him and drank the life-giving liquid until he felt he could hold no more. Within moments his stomach was unpleasantly surprised and recoiled at the unwelcome water.

Keep it down, Estel thought to himself. He repeated this mantra to himself over and over again willing the water to stay in put in his stomach. But his stomach had a mind of its own and within seconds Estel found himself leaning over a bucket, expelling what he had so happily drank only minutes before. Maybe I did catch something in the rain he concluded. Or maybe I should really have a look at my side.

Even at just the brief thought of his side, it flared up in agony and Estel's breath caught, waiting for it to pass. He made his way back to his bead, a new layer of sweat breaking out from head to toe. Even though he had brought up whatever was in his stomach, the fresh waves of pain threatened to turn his stomach inside out. The pain was intense and almost unbearable and cascaded in waves up and down his body. Even though he was burning up, his body shook in reaction to the pain. He made it back to his bed in one piece and lay on his back, his hands covering his face, breathing slowly.

And that was how Elrohir found him…

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Reviews would be greatly appreciated and would most likely speed up the arrival of the next chapter.

Elvish:

1. My friend

2. You did well