Estel's Encounter in the Woods...pt5
The mysterious horseman covered Estel with his own cloak after carefully tearing and removing the remains of Estel's bloody one. The man wrapped Estel carefully in front of him on the horse trying so hard not to harm Estel further. Very shortly they arrived at the cave, the man with no name carefully lifting his injured charge down from his horse. He held Estel while he was making a make-shift bed for him. Each of the men had a warm blanket, and Estel was laid down on the warmest of the two, and the stranger covered him with his own. The mysterious man took the young man's pulse. It was weak , so he quickly grabbed one of his clean shirts again, and ripped it up, wrapping Estel up, quickly, to stop the bleeding as fast as he could. Estel was a rescuer waited for the blood to stop. The man checked him, again; his breathing was slower, easier, and his pulse was lower than it had been.
'Thank you, Valar!' He whispered gratefully,
He needed to clean him, so he carried the young man very carefully down to a small, nearby pond and laid him gently into the water to wash him off, as well as he could; with Estel moaning from pain, the whole time. The older man wanted to use his lye soap to help stop possible infections, of which he knew the young man would have. He knew it could be too painful and the lye soap too abrassive for Estel. He knew there was a chance for trauma or shock from the pain. But he went without and simply used a soft, clean cloth. He knew it would be way too painful and abrassive So he wrapped him again and rode back to the cave. He removed the cloak from Estel and checked all the wounds on him that he could find. He dried him off as well as he could, ;practically covered him in Athelas and some other herbs that he found in his pack, and his young patient's, to stave off any infections or fever he might have or might get. ...Except...except for his very deep wounds. He wanted to give them very special attention. . At least he didn't have but three broken bones, and no fatal internal injuries that the horseman could see. He set and bound his bones, first, 2 ribs and an arm. But he still needed lots of attention...everywhere. A small, but wonderfull blessing.. He didn't want this poor young man to develop horrible scars for life.
The unknown man finished administering the medicines he had given Estel. He wrapped him again, and gave him some sleeping medicines. He knew he needed lots of sleep to heal, to help recover, so he held Estel for extra wamth and comfort, even though he was asleep. After a short while, he laid Estel down very gently, and smiled at he went out for sticks and twigs and large branches ; as many as he could carry in a couple of trips. He didn't want to leave his charge for very long at a time, but he did get what he needed. He started with the kindling and sticks, until the fire glowed. Then with the branches, the fire roared. The man knew that could draw animals, but hopefully would also keep them and danger at bay.
The man heard Estel moaning, so he administered some painkiller, a steeping cup of tea with athelas, and some herbs to help fight the fever he had acquired. All he could do was cover Estel up, again and keep a close vigil, sitting near, waiting for problems or emergencies. He sat by the fire, looked out occasionally , but saw nor heard anything dangerous..So he stayed ouside of the cave. Eventually Estel stirred, shivering and sweating, still in terrible pain. He looked around a little, and was surprised he could see, but only in the cave. He was in a small cave with a blazing fire. Someone had rescued him from the wolves, that he remembered. But he didn't know who, of course. However, he saw a man outside of the cave. He assumed that he had been the one who had mercifully rescued him and pulled him out of the pack of wolves. Just the thought of what happened to him, and what could have happened, terrified him all over again. He wanted to thank the stranger so much, but he was starting to feel dizzy and sick, again.
Estel's body was still on fire, and he passed out once again. His skin was so red and raw. The unknown human had to work fast to save him. What should he do? He came up with an idea and left the cave for awhile. He went looking for unique herbs that not many people knew about.. But he did. They were very rare and very scarce and therefore very hard to find. But he got very lucky; When he got back, he mixed different herbs, including his unique herbs and made a paste with it, rubbing all the wounds he could to keep from tormenting Estel; and left the skin uncovered, hoping it would stop seeping and maybe that might help Estel's skin to dry a little. He had tremendous faith in that herb. He had seen many saved by it.
Aragorn slept all night, but his benefactor didn't; he kept a very close look-out on his young charge by the fire all night long. In the morning, Aragorn's fever was gone, broken. And he felt a little better and his body was no longer on fire. It was a livable pain. He was coherent for the first time since the wolf attack. He assumed his new friend was outside. He felt a little better and his body was no longer on fire. However he was in some bad pain, yet.
Estel still couldn't see beyond the cave entrance. It might have been a strange dream, but he doubted it. Odd things always seemed to happen to him. It bothered him so much. So obviously he wasn't going anywhere. Not that he could if he did want to...but he didn't. He was still in some pain, yet. Now where was the man who had saved him...who was he...WHERE was he? Estel still couldn't see out beyond the cave or even the heavens and the stars in the sky. How frustrating it was!
Estel's friend walked in about then, knowing that Estel would be burning with questions. So how have you been feeling?" He asked noticing that the young man was wide awake. " Are you feeling a lot better, Estel?"
"Yes, very much so, actually, thank you. Well... at least as well as someone can feel after an attack such as that. I really thought I was going to die. I do not see how I could have avoided it. Thank you so much for my life, and saving me so bravely from the wolves. How did you find me in the forest there at that time and in that place ? Who are you, Sir? I would really like to know who my rescuer is. I am so grateful to you for saving my life...I..."
"Shhh. We can talk about whatever you want to discuss with me, tomorrow. After you get another long rest. I need to rub some of this paste I have for you to feel even better than you seem to feel now. I also need to give you something to kill your pain, again, and help you sleep a little. You should feel even better when you awaken."
We can talk tomorrow...tomorrow. He whispered ...and smile