Hebo Estel
Chapter 3
Elrohir slowly opened the door to his brother's room. He hadn't seen Estel since earlier in the day when he briefly spoke to him while tending to the injured. Estel hadn't been looking well earlier and he wanted to make sure nothing was ailing the younger man. Elrohir wasn't expecting much, Estel was probably just exhausted and now in a deep sleep in bed. Where I should be, Elrohir mused to himself.
But, the sight that unfolded before his eyes was far from what Elrohir had expected. In front of him lay his dear brother, shuddering in his bed, sweating and clearly in pain. He rushed forward immediately.
"Estel! Mani marte?" He reached for Estel and instantaneously felt the fever burning within him. He grasped Estel in a firmer hold and proceeded to shake him out of whatever sleep he was in.
"Estel, please. Wake up! Let me help you." Getting no response Elrohir slowly but precisely shifted his brother so that he was fully lying on his bed.
"I'm begging you Estel, what ails you."
Estel finally submitted to his brothers requests and became aware enough to answer him. Though this more aroused state was accompanied by severe pain and an inability to regulate his temperature. For a moment Estel forgot where he was and panicked before he realized he was safe in Rivendell and only in pain due to his dim-witted mistake.
"Elrohir" , gulped Estel. He gasped in pain that the simple task of speaking caused.
"Aaaa" he moaned, uncontrolled tears springing to his eyes. "There's so much pain Elrohir. Please, I beg you, make it stop." His breath was coming in gasps now and every muscle shook with pain and tension.
It hurt Elrohir to hear is his brave and gracious brother pleading for help, relief.
"Estel, you must tell me where it hurts. Show me so I may help you."
"Everywhere. Oh Valar, my body feels as though it's being turned inside out."
Elrohir cupped his brothers cheek, rubbing it with his thumb to try to soothe him.
"Shhhhh, I shall get Ada and he shall make the pain disappear." Elrohir quickly scanned his brother's body looking for a source of the pain before his eyes fell upon the side Estel's hand was grasping. He removed his brother's hand and lifted his shirt to find an angry wound beneath. It was swollen and hot to the touch and not even beginning to show the first signs of healing.
"Oh Estel, what happened? This is not good. I must go fetch Ada, he will be able to help. Don't worry I'll return quickly."
Elrohir sprang from Estel's bed side and bounded down the corridor to his father's room. He heaved open the doors without even knocking.
"Ada," he called. "Ada you must come. Estel is not well."
Hearing that his youngest was unwell quickly awoke Elrond from his slumber. He roused himself from his bed and made his way to the adjoining chamber where Elrohir was.
"Elrohir, what is wrong? What has happened?"
"Ada please come with me to Estel's his room. He is unwell. His whole body trembles with pain and burns with fever. Come quickly."
Both elves briskly made there way to Estel's room and within moments Elrond was at his son's side. Signs of worry quickly clouded his face and he assessed his son's condition. His skin was pallid except for two rosy spots of fever on his cheeks. His breathing was quick and shallow and a sheet of sweat covered his body.
"Ada, I discovered a wound on his right side that looked troublesome."
Elrond lifted Estel's shirt and examined the wound.
"Indeed, it is not healing properly and needs to be cleaned. But it cannot be the source of his fever, nor would it cause pain this severe. Something isn't right."
Elrond grabbed Estel's face forcing his son to look at him. "Estel, open your eyes. You must talk to me my son."
Estel made no attempt to open his eyes or answer his father
"Estel, do as I say. Open you eyes. You must open them!"
Finally Estel relented and opened his eyes to see Lord Elrond balanced above him, his eyes apprehensive.
"Estel, where did this wound come from? What happened? No don't close your eyes! Come on Estel, stay with me. You must be strong. Where did this wound come from?"
Estel gasped as he tried to answer his father.
"Elrohir, get a bowl of athelas and cool water and a cloth so I may cool Estel's head." Estel closed his eyes and managed to relax slightly as his father gently wiped his face with the soothing water.
"On my way home. Orcs attacked. One got my side. I didn't think much of it. Ada please," cried Estel, "The pain, please make it stop."
It pained Elrond's heart to hear his son cry to him like that. Before he had a chance to reply Estel's whole body tensed and began to convulse. His face was strained, his jaw clenched and his eyes squeezed shut.
"Quick Elrohir. Help me role him to his side!" The two men shifted Estel so that anything brought up during the fit would not be aspirated back. They watched helplessly for what seemed like hours and the fit continued, unable to do anything. But, after what in reality was maybe a minute, the seizing stopped and Estel became motionless, unconscious, muscles completely relaxed for the first time in days.
"This is not just an infected wound Elrohir. There is some other foul element coming in to play. The blade must have been poisoned. Infection alone would not do this much damage this quickly."
Elrond made another examination of the wound, this time more carefully inspecting it. He made not of the faint tendrils of black beginning to snake their way from the edges of the wound.
"Yes just as I've feared, the orcs poisoned their blade. Look, it's beginning to spread. We must act quickly if we are to stop I before it's too late." Elrond grimly pointed out the lines to Elrohir.
"Try to make him more comfortable while I go fetch my herbs. Cool water and athelas. If he awakens don't let him panic. Try to get him to drink water if you can."
Leaving the instructions Elrond set off for his quarters to gather his supplies.
Kinda short, but please review. I'll update quicker next time!
Thanks for reading!