Healing
There was a light, light too bright to look upon. It appeared warm and
welcoming. All the troubles of her life melted away as she walked closer toward
the light. Walking into the light, Amara knew her time was over but could not
think of what she was leaving behind.
"It is not your time." A deep echo of a voice filled her ears.
"What?"
The glittering light began to fade before her very eyes.
Legolas sat by Amara's bed side holding her non-responsive hand. He could do
nothing but sit there and watch her. The doctors said she would be out for
awhile due to the pain meds that they gave her. That was two nights ago and
since then she had not moved let alone woke up. Listening to the rhythmic beep
of the monitor that tracked her heart beats, he reached over and moved a strand
of hair from her face.
She looked so helpless lying there, but yet so beautiful. Legolas shook his head
where had that come from? Not knowing, he couldn't help but think it. Her hair
was fanned out on her pillow and her skin seemed to glow. She was like a fallen
angel. He was more then happy to see she had survived her horrific ordeal, he
just wished she would wake to tell him about it.
Those last few days had been like dwelling in a dark cave. While waiting for
Amara to be freed from surgery he let the anger that he held at bay glow through
him. Brad was the only word on her lips, a name that had caused much pain and
more to come. People in the waiting room sat far from Legolas after seeing the
murderous look on his face. He cared not to see the actions of the people; his
friend was deeply hurt which was all that mattered to him.
Just thinking of Brad made his anger show again. Feeling Amara stir he quickly
abandoned the feelings he held for Brad. His blue eyes watched her face for some
sign of her waking. Her warm fingers squeezed his hand gently and he smiled. Her
dark orbs fluttered to life and she groaned.
Amara struggled to get up but was forced to lie back down on account of the
streak of pain her stomach felt. At the pain everything flooded back to her.
Running from her parents, walking down the street and getting attacked by Brad.
"You must rest Amara."
Amara turned toward the voice. Everything was a blur since her glasses were off.
"Legolas?"
Legolas forgot that she could not see without her glasses and quickly handed her
them to her from the small table beside her bed. Amara put them over her eyes,
the world appeared clearer. The walls she saw were painted a sickly white color.
There were a bunch of flowers around her bed the only thing to bring color to
the room.
Legolas watched her drink in her surroundings. He wanted to ask her what exactly
happened but did not want to push her. Amara looked down lastly at her own hand
which was still in Legolas'. She quickly pulled it away. Her eyes stayed glued
to the pink sheet she laid under.
"My parents? Are they-did they?"
"Both the hospital and
Brittany
tried contacting them but got no response." Amara nodded. 'The dream, it
warned me but I didn't pay it any attention.'
Between the loud sound of the monitor and the ticking of the clock it was enough
to drive her mad. Where were things going to go from here? If she was not her
parents' child then who was she? 'My origins definitely don't lie here,'
she thought frowning at her predicament. Not another moment did she want to stay
in the horrible hospital, wallowing in the misery she helped create.
"How long have I been here?"
"A few days I'm afraid you were in terrible shape. We thought you would not make
it."
Her thoughts strayed from what she had been thinking about before her accident
to Brad. She knew she had messed up things for him but she never thought he
would go this far. She winced as the memory of Brad forcing the knife through
her flesh played over in her mind.
'Things won't ever be the same.' The amount of pain that welled up inside
made Amara want to cry, but taking a side glance at the elf beside her, she held
in the tears that threatened to spill in. She bit her lip mulling in her own
thoughts. Brad who could have ruined her life in a flash and ended everything
was the only one she thought of. 'Don't cry, don't cry. You've already shown
him that you're weak; crying will only make it worse.'
Legolas watched as Amara mentally debated with herself. There were tears in her
eyes clear to anyone. The reason he was here was to help the girl before him and
some how the feeling of him giving her, her final lesson went through him. He
felt his time with her would become limited which both his heart and head
objected to.
"You should let them fall you've been through al ot."
Amara turned to Legolas her mind set on not crying. "What are you talking
about?"
"Cry. It is an outlet for pain. I know what you are thinking." Her attention was
full on Legolas though her eyes studied the bed sheets.
"I have known you long enough to tell that you are not the type of person who
likes to show when they are hurting inside," his voice was calm and quiet. "All
those emotions that stir within you could erupt in a way that could hurt you
more than you think."
Even though she heard Legolas' words she still kept coaching herself not to cry,
but that was slowly crumbling. She didn't look at him in fear of breaking and
letting her emotions run amuck.
"I know you are in pain and to heal you must...cry."
That was it, the final straw. The dam which held every emotion she never let out
broke. Tear after tear ran down her cheeks and she tried to wipe them away but
they kept replacing each other. Amara didn't take notice of Legolas sitting next
to her on the lone hospital bed and wrapping his arms around her in comfort.
Legolas looked down at the smaller figure he held, amazed at how well she fit
within his hold. His heart began to thump faster than usual within his chest as
he rubbed her back. She shook with uncontrollable sobs.
Everything for Legolas was right there in that very room, comforting the girl in
her arms. The strange feeling that went through Legolas was put to a halt as
Amara chocked out words.
"I-I saw the light a-and I was about t-t-to go through b-but there was a-a
voice." Her words were muffled within Legolas' shirt. He listened with confusion
but did not interrupt her.
"It told me that it wa-wasn't my time. I thought w-when he stabbed me m-my life
was over. I never thought he-he would do something like..." She trailed off lost
in her tears. She held onto Legolas a bit tighter in hopes of making herself
feel better. His touch always seemed to soothe her.
"It was Brad who harmed you?" Legolas stared straight ahead as if comprehending
something.
Amara nodded.
"It's my fault. I drove him to do it. If I had just let him co-"
"Do not say such words. You are not responsible for anyone's actions."
Amara sat up from Legolas' grasp and wiped her tears away with a hand. "Things
won't ever be the same for me. Where do I go from here?"
At that question Legolas' mind drew a blank. He did not want to hurt Amara who
had become more dear to his heart more than he knew. The emotional scars that
were to come from the accident she would carry for the rest of her life. Amara
waited in hopes of hearing comforting words. Breathing deeply Legolas gathered
both Amara's hands within his own.
"Aidulin, you must understand although I have lived longer than you I do not
hold all the answers. Some of what you seek you must discover for yourself."
Amara felt more tears began to brew; it pained Legolas to see her dark blue eyes
hold much pain. She would have let the tears spill again had there not been a
knock on the door. Drawing her hands from Legolas to wipe away the tears in her
eyes,
Brittany
came in supporting more flowers to add to her already big collection. A doctor,
who looked to be middle aged, walked in behind Brittany, carrying her medical
charts. Amara put on a weak smile as Brittany set the flowers down on a table.
"Hello Miss Hathaway. How are you feeling," the doctor's voice was gruff but
calm as if this were a regular routine.
"Okay considering I was stabbed a bunch of times."
Brittany
frowned at her disapprovingly. This was not a kidding around matter. Amara cast
her eyes down and listened to the doctor explain what they had done to her. She
didn't want to hear this really nor did she need to hear the information.
She couldn't understand what was being said to her, her thoughts screamed
through her head deafening her. Her parents that she had known since forever
really weren't her parents, her emotions constantly battled with her between
Nathan and Legolas, something which she never dealt with before...never, and
then there was Brad.
She bit her bottom lip deep in thought, thoughts she never wanted to think
about. Legolas and Brittany watched Amara who didn't seem to notice the doctor
measuring the clear liquid in a bottle and putting it into a big needle.
"Anything you two want to say before I put Miss Hathaway to sleep?"
'Put me to sleep? Am I a pet?' Amara looked up and low and behold was the
doctor holding what looked to be a ten inch needle. Her eyes went wide. "Holy
Shamoly, what are you doin with that thing?"
The doctor waved a hand in the air. "It's quite alright Miss Hathaway." Amara
shook her head. 'He ain't comin' six inches near me with that gadget.'
With that in her mind she pulled the wire that connected her to her heart
monitor from her arm, unfolded the blankets around her and hopped from the bed
ignoring the stiffness and pain in her body.
"Amara come on its not that big a deal, a shot. You'll hurt yourself,"
Brittany said
trying to coax her back into bed.
'What is she now my mother?' Feeling a draft she blushed noting she wore
only one of those ridiculous hospital gowns.
"You must not move so easily you could pull a stitch out." The doctor warned.
The hell with the stitch it was that damn needle that concerned her. "You know I
feel fine, in fact its not that bad of a deal. A few pokes with a knife."
Knowing her friend's weakness or at least one of them Brittany shot a look
towards Legolas. He nodded and instantly turned on his elven charms, the one he
used around his father's palace to get what he wanted, the one that made women
swoon with delight much to his annoyance.
While Amara's eyes stayed fixated on the needle, Legolas took her hand and
entwined his fingers within her own. Again there was that damn feeling in the
pit of her stomach. Pushing the insane feelings down, she focused more on the
needle. There was nothing anyone not even Legolas could do to get her to sit
down and take that god awful shot.
Brittany and Doctor Goldstein, as his name tag called him, watched as Legolas
leaned down to whisper in Amara's ear. What he spoke was not audible but the two
humans continued to watch anyway. Amara's brow wrinkled in protest, but Legolas
raised the hand that wasn't holding Amara's to silence what she was about to
say. He continued to whisper in her ear until she nodded. Legolas released her
hand, straightened up and watched Amara climb into the hospital bed, stick out
her arm and shut her eyes.
"Stick it to me doc and make it quick."
Doctor Goldstein took a quick look at Legolas before moving toward Amara.
Brittany's eye brows rose wondering what the elven prince could have possibly
said to her. Amara felt the needle pierce her skin and the heavy liquid enter.
As soon as it came it was over and she rested her head on the pillows behind
her.
"The medicine should take effect soon. Call me should anything happen." With a
slight nod Dr. Goldstein left. Brittany sat on her friend's bed the question she
wanted to ask nagged her. Seeing the look on Brittany's face she eyed her
warily. "What is it?"
"Nothing."
"Come on I know something's up with you. I can sense it."
Brittany
cleared her somewhat dry throat and glanced over at the elf who stood looking
out the window.
"Come on what is it?"
"Well it might be too soon to be asking this..."
When
Brittany
trailed off she knew what she had wanted to know. Her eyes began to feel a bit
heavy but she held on. She thought she would have to face the issue sooner or
later. Her pillow began to feel inviting, too inviting.
"No it's not too soon go ahead and ask."
"The police came awhile ago; they wanted to know who stabbed you." Brit saw the
distraught look on her friend's face. "I told them you would talk to me before
you talked to them."
Brittany
left it at that and waited for Amara to come fourth with the information on who
it was. Not at all was this easy.
Swallowing the lump in her throat she looked anywhere but at Brittany, feeling
uncomfortable to do so.
"It was Brad."
Amara thought that simple sentence would send her friend over the top or even
spark a reaction but it didn't. Brit remained calm, cool, and collected. She
simply reached for her cell phone on her pocket and patted Amara's hand. Legolas
moved from his spot by the window and placed a light kiss on her forehead. It
was a simple friendly kiss but it sent her nerves high anyway.
"Get some rest."
He followed a retreating
Brittany
out of the door, and just as they left Nathan came supporting a bundle of wild
flowers. His lopsided grin made her smile despite what had just happened. He
scratched his messy mop of brown hair before setting the flowers down in a rare
empty space.
"Hey, how ya feelin'?" Nathan pulled up an empty chair by her bedside. Again the
feeling in her stomach pulsated taking on a life of its own.
"I could be better I guess."
Nathan nodded, "That's understandable. I hope they catch the creep who did it."
There was silence. The last time Amara saw Nathan he had told her the feelings
he had for her. To be honest she didn't know how to handle the situation seeing
as if she never was in a situation like this. There were just too many issues
for her to deal with at once. Sleep began to flow through her like a river
flowed through its banks.
"Amara I just want to let you know that I'm happy for you."
His voice was but a whisper to her as she drifted off into the dream world.
Nathan sighed as he saw Amara's eyes close. He continued to watch her, his heart
almost breaking in two. 'She'll never pick me over Adam,' he thought with
absolute sorrow. "I'm happy that you found the one you love."
Brittany clicked off the phone with the police. She turned to the elf
shaking her head. "Did you know?" Legolas did not respond, his eyes poised on
the small glass window outside Amara's room. He watched her speak with Nathan
for a few minutes and then drift to sleep. She didn't deserve this.
"The police are coming here to question her when she wakes. I-I can't believe
he'd do something like this."
"Why not?" Legolas turned around to face Brittany. "He bullied Amara for the
longest. Why is he incapable of doing more?"
Brittany
was silent. He had a point, why couldn't he commit a brutal act of violence?
Brittany stared at the blank screen of her cell phone hoping that someone would
call to break this tension. Legolas went back to watching Amara; anger was
evident in his clear blue eyes though his face held no expression. Her prayers
were answered when her cell rang.
Hastily she answered it even though it was her mother. Legolas could not help
the rage that bubbled inside of him. How could such a foul person like Brad be
allowed to breathe? Things would have been handled much differently had they
been in Mirkwood. Brad would have been banished from the land and warned by
others of his murderous act.
He could not watch the girl any longer; he made to leave from the hospital his
mind set to one thing.
Brittany
told her mother to hold on when she saw Legolas leaving.
"Where ya goin'?"
The elf said nothing and continued to walk. Brittany stared after him in
confusion scratching her head. 'What a weird elf.' She went back to
speaking with her mother who had carried on the conversation even though she
told her to hold. She didn't dare stop him and she didn't think she'd be able
to.
---
Legolas walked down
L.A.'s
crowded sidewalks. His bow was held tightly in his hand and the quiver of arrows
he so diligently had to hide from Amara was strapped to his back. To the people
walking along he appeared crazy and they gave him glances. With every step he
took whispers followed. He did not care; his anger was beyond what anyone could
know.
All he knew was that Brad hurt Amara, Amara who had over the months became a
dear friend to him and even more dear to his heart. For that simple reason he
walked his given path dead on finding Brad. His instincts guided him to where he
needed to go. He soon ended up in a suburban neighborhood. Nothing looked out of
the ordinary, flowers perfectly aligned around the houses, flawlessly cut lawns.
The only thing that was unsettling was the loud laughter coming from the back of
one house.
The laughter got louder as he stepped toward the targeted house. Like steam
coming from a hot spring the fury emitted from him. He walked around the back of
the house until Brad's image came into view. Brad sat on a picnic table with one
other guy each laughing hysterically. Beer cans were littered around the brown
table and the smell of alcohol was heavy in the air.
Brad's friend took a quick swig from his beer can and nudged him in the arm.
"Loo like somebody wanna talk ta ya."
Brad turned to face Legolas and when seeing him he staggered to his feet.
"Aren't you that Adam dude?"
Just seeing him here having a laugh and intoxicating himself while Amara laid in
the hospital sent him reeling with more anger. Brad was totally uncaring of his
actions.
"Look I'm real, real sorry about what happened to your...bitch."
Both Brad and his friend howled with laughter. This was not humorous to Legolas
at all. How he spoke about Amara in a derogatory manner only fueled his anger.
Brad was not at all disturbed by his actions and neither would Legolas be.
Slowly he pulled an arrow from his quiver and notched it.
Brad instantly stopped his laughter and his friend dropped his can of beer and
mumbled a slurred "I'll catch you later." Brad stood stupefied and his brown
eyes watched as Legolas aimed the arrow at him. He had every intention of
letting it go. There was no expression on his face as he pulled back the string
of his bow; nothing was between the arrow and Brad.
Brittany
sat in a chair reading an old issue of Seventeen. Nathan hadn't left either; he
was keen on speaking with her when she woke. Both sat in silence. Amara had been
asleep for an hour or so and had not moved. She was made of tough stuff to have
survived being stabbed, tougher than everyone thought. With being somewhat short
(5'2) for someone her age and skinny she sure didn't appear tough.
All was silent in the small room and a peaceful air hung around. Brittany raised
her red head from the magazine and Nathan stopped his steady staring at the
floor to look at Amara. The silence was broken. Her heart monitor sped up with
every second. In her bed she began to stir as if she were in immense pain.
"I'll go get a doctor." Nathan rushed from his spot and into the hall. Quickly,
Brittany
moved to her friend's side with panicky tears in her eyes. What was happening
here? One minute things were still and about as dull as listening to a lecture
on how to watch paint dry. Now she watched the lines on the monitor jump wildly
around wondering what she should do.
Looking at Amara she watched her friend's eyes flutter to life. Amara again took
the wire like tube from her arm and jumped from her bed. Instantly, the monitor
stopped with its crazy noise.
"Where are my clothes? I need my clothes!" Amara looked around the room
frantically. Her mass of dark brown hair was thrown about her head, her skin was
paler than usual and she scratched her arm nervously. For some reason things
were not right in the air and she felt disturbed, angry almost. Even though her
hormones were out of whack she knew she had to find Legolas.
"Whoa, slow down you need to get back in-"
"NO!" Amara cut off
Brittany
with some fury. "No I need to find my clothes. Something is not right."
"No, what isn't right is you being out of bed. Look you've been through a lot in
the last couple days and- and you need to rest."
Amara turned to
Brittany
with no intensions of getting back in that bed. Sure, there was a lot she needed
to work out but if she stayed there could be even more problems to sort through.
Her dark eyes spotted her clothes folded neatly on a chair. Quickly she walked
over to them and threw on a pair of blue jeans, she didn't bother putting on a
shirt and left on the loose hospital gown.
"Amara you're not making any sense." Brittany gently put her hands on Amara's
shoulders and attempted to guide her back towards the bed but failed as the
eager girl wiggled from her grasp. Amara didn't know what to say, how to explain
herself and she knew if she even attempted to Brittany wouldn't understand.
Finding her shoes she put them on and took one last look at her worried friend
before running out the door. Brittany ran to the door. "Where are you going?"
She watched Amara disappear around a corner. Growling with frustration Brittany
turned to find Nathan with Doctor Goldstein and two police officers. Shaking her
head she told them Amara had gone.
Once your mind is set on something there is little or nothing that can stop you.
Your mind stays focused on one thing and ultimately it becomes a goal. Escaping
the hospital was easy but the way of escape was not. Running took a toll on her
and inflicted pain to her wounds. She did not pay it any attention, blocking all
feelings from her mind as if building a fort from all enemies.
Amara followed the path her head set out for her not all knowing what was to
come of it.
"L-Look dude
I'm really sorry for what happened." Brad stood on the verge of crying in front
of Legolas who steadily held an aimed arrow at Brad. He said not a word and
stood as still as a statue, his only movement was to pull the string of his bow
back farther. Brad had backed away from the angry being in front of him but was
too scared to turn his back and run.
'Why? Why is this happening to me,' was his thoughts.
No thoughts went through Legolas now that Brad was in front of him. With every
action there is to be consequence and soon he would learn that. Brad was no
different from anyone else, but like a weak link he crumbled and caused others
to weaken because of it. For a brief moment he saw regret cross the rugged face
of Brad and for one second he saw the guilt. He could not stand another minute
of it and made to loosen his grip on the string in which his fingers held onto.
"No, Legolas don't!"
Amara stood in the way of the arrow gasping for breath. The run had not been
easy and looking at her weak form proved just so. Legolas was taken aback that
Amara stood before him and shielding Brad no less. He lowered his bow and put
his arrow back in its quiver. She appeared distressed and tired at the same
time.
"I know what he did to me was terrible and bad very very bad." She gave a glance
at Brad's terrified face and then looked back to Legolas. "Don't hurt him."
Legolas shook his head, "He has caused harm to you yet he walks free from his
actions."
Legolas did have a point and a good one but she couldn't let him do this. For
one, he could get in trouble and two; Brad was not worth spending time in a jail
cell, he was not worth anything.
"I know- I know but he will be dealt with by the regulations of this world. Let
the authorities take care of him. You've done enough for me already."
The tiredness she had once felt began to creep inside of her along with the
soreness of her abdomen. It was apparent she needed rest and Legolas decided to
obey her wishes. Brad took this moment to flee inside his house like a coward.
Amara hated and feared just to look at him after what he had done to her.
She thought she would never have to face him again, yet she had to save his
life. The very life which had thought to take her own. Feeling pain sweep
through her, she lightly touched her stomach and looked down to find a bit of
blood. She had ripped her stitches.
"We should get you back. You should not be here." Legolas moved to help her.
"I'm okay, fine really, besides I don't want to go back and have to talk with
the police, or explain myself to Brit and Nathan and I don't want another shot,"
she whined pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose.
"You are blee-"
"And you promised, you promised to take me."
Legolas sighed; she had a habit of making him do that. The sadness in her face
was enough to make the coldest of ice melt.
"Alright but we will only stay a small amount of time seeing as your wound
requires attention and I see the tiredness wrapped around you like a cold wind."
Amara rolled her eyes and felt like closing them at the same time but she was
not going to prove Legolas right so he could take her back to the hospital.
Legolas took her arm to help her walk with him. They walked slowly down the
sidewalk and it was as if nothing has happened. Amara took one more glaring look
at the house her attacker coward in; he was going to get what he deserved. She
wondered what Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway would say knowing that the girl they cared
for, for seventeen years had been stabbed. How would they react?
'What am I kidding? They don't care about me anymore.'
Amara sighed, closing her eyes she let Legolas do the guiding and her feet do
the walking. The great thing about having an elf for a friend was that they
didn't talk your ear off, they hardly said anything. Legolas looked down at
Amara thinking he really should take her back but he promised and he dare not
break it. It was not long before their reached their destination. It was the
secluded park that Amara loved and decided to share with him.
He wondered why no one ever came to such a beautiful place. Amara breathed in
the air and slowly made her to her spot under an oak tree. 'If anything is
going to help me recover it's this place,' she thought.
"Where are your parents?"
Amara turned to Legolas not expecting this question. She didn't want to address
the matter but it seemed like everything wanted to be dealt with within the next
twenty four hours. Picking at a blade of grass, she answered.
"What parents?"
Legolas looked at her confused. He sat across from her and studied her grave
face. She continually looked at the blade of grass she played with between her
fingers. The evening scenery began to sink in slowly.
"Those weren't my parents. Before I was attacked I had a fight with my
'parents' she made finger quotations in the air. "And they decided to tell
me the truth, which is that I'm not there real daughter."
This was followed by silence. The feeling of relief spread through her. The
relief of getting that fact off her chest and the two people she had grown to
hate weren't her parents felt extremely good. Actually she was kind of happy
that she didn't share genes with those two. Her eyes shifted from the blade of
grass to Legolas and a look of sorrow was on his fair face.
She smiled, "Don't feel sorry for me. I think a part of me knew that they really
weren't my parents."
Legolas sensed relief and a glimmer of happiness come from the girl. "I guess
knowing that a woman who gambles every Friday night for cigarettes did not birth
you is a relief."
Amara laughed weakly nodding her head. Her smile melted into something else. "It
makes me wonder who my real parents are. Where they might be…"
Amara closed her eyes and spoke no more; the medicine was still in her system.
Legolas noticed and decided to take her back to the hospital. Today had been
quite a day for her. Gently he picked her up and she squirmed not used to being
held like that.
"I should have paid attention to my dream," she whispered opening her eyes to
look at Legolas. "I dreamed everything that happened to me."
"Lanta kaima," Sleep Well Legolas whispered to her. Seemingly she understood
because she closed her eyes, giving into the medicine the remained inside her
body. Legolas took another look around the park sensing its magical air before
they left. It would not be his last look at the wondrous park.
