TITLE:
Blood, Chapter 3: Elrohir
ARAGORNANGST
PROMPT #106:
Eyes (500 words)
AUTHOR:
Marethiel/ThinkingLady
RATING:
T (for potentially disturbing images)
CHARACTERS:
Aragorn, Elrohir
DISCLAIMER:
Don't own 'em, drat it. Many thanks to Professor Tolkien for creating
these wonderful souls to populate my imagination.
BETA:
The lovely and incomparable Cairistiona. Thanks for the catch,
madame! Well done.
________________________________________
This week, I've watched you from Ada's window across the courtyard. You rest, healing slowly, on the couch on your balcony, gazing in silence at the way the sunlight through the trees dapples a pattern on the walls. It is peaceful; there are noises of warriors training out on the field, the telltale clang! of sword meeting sword… the thwack! of an arrow sinking into a target. These sounds offer counterpoint to the silence, but you pay them no heed. Not at this time of day. No, at this time of day, your ear is attuned to steps in the hallway, stopping before your door …
It is a different look in your eyes than when you're waiting for one of the kitchen staff or even one of us, if we're available, to bring you a meal. Your appetite is much improved, and Metharad works hard to create wonderful things to tempt you to eat at the break of fast, and lighter, easier-on-the-stomach delicacies for evening.
It is a different look in your eyes than when Legolas or Elladan come in the evening to read to you or just chat, when you're able to smile a little and perhaps play a game of chess, though your weariness begins to show before a game is halfway through.
It is a different look even than when Ada comes in with his harp. You love those times! Your weary eyes shut and you smile in pleasure as the music helps transport you away from your sickbed, at least for a little while…
There it is. There is the look. You have heard the steps stop before your door and the look has settled in your eyes. Ada has arrived to work with you on the exercises necessary to stretch and condition your torn muscles. The wound from the boar was close to the knee joint, and your body, in trying to heal itself, created connective adhesions, protecting the leg from moving. Your body did its job well…too well.
Now, Ada, Glorfindel and others must work with you each day for an agonizing fifteen to twenty minutes, putting you through sharp misery as the adhesions are stretched and broken to allow free movement once again in the joint.
Oh, my poor little brother! You face your "helpers" with such courage as they come in, but from my perch I see that look in your eyes when they knock upon the door, the look that is hidden and covered by the time they reach you.
You know what is coming. You know the fiery agony you will feel during treatment, the soul-sapping ache for hours afterward. That is my time… holding you -- shaking, sweat-soaked -- sometimes supporting your head and holding back your hair for you when you are overwhelmed with nausea from the pain … sometimes gently massaging the muscles to ease the cramping… sometimes just cradling you while you weep with weariness and exhaustion.
The look in your eyes? It is dread.
- to be continued