Legolas entered Commander Aradan's room to find Ceridwen at the Commander's bedside. Commander Aradan was still sleeping.
Upon seeing Legolas, Ceridwen stood up and excused herself. "I need to change the water, Prince Legolas. Please excuse me. May I get you anything?"
Legolas shook his head and Ceridwen left with a bow. Legolas could see that her eyes were red from crying. It made him feel even worse. Ceridwen was younger than him. When she had been a wee elfling, she used to tail behind him, looking up to him in awe. He had mostly been irritated by her, young as she had been and soon they had mostly not been in contact.
Legolas sat down and looked at his Commander. He was breathing heavily. When Legolas touched his Commander's forehead, he realised that the Commander was running a fever. No wonder, Ceridwen has said she needed water.
Legolas' eyes ran to the bandages on Commander Aradan's shoulders. How many times had he sat on those shoulders as a wee elfling? He had received his first bow and arrows from this elf too. Much of his knowledge, skill and training came from his Commander. And all he had done in return was to shame him on the battlefield and get him injured.
Legolas blinked back tears as he realised that Ceridwen was returning, along with Healer Galaden. The Healer smiled at Legolas.
"Legolas, you have not eaten yet. Do have your dinner now."
Seeing Legolas' hesitation, he continued, "Your Commander will be fine, Legolas. Do not worry."
He beckoned to Ceridwen who laid a tray for Legolas and then returned to Commander Aradan's side. She took a wet cloth and placed it on his forehead, trying to bring down the fever. Galaden went to check the bandages on Aradan's back and shoulders.
"'Tis common for him to run a fever. Make sure that he does not move too much, Ceridwen. When he wakes up, feed him the broth slowly and then give him the medicine. I will be back here as soon as I return from the infirmary."
"Aye, Ada. Don't worry. I will take care."
"You have something to eat as well, henig. Aradan will be fine." Galaden kissed his youngest's forehead before leaving the room.
Legolas ate in silence as Ceridwen changed the cloth on Commander Aradan's forehead again before she turned to her tray.
"I am sorry."
Ceridwen looked up in surprise at Legolas' words as he continued, "'Twas my fault that the Commander is injured." He said no more, absently picking at his food as the tears threatened to spill again.
"Do not say that, Prince Legolas. The Commander is very fond of you." Ceridwen gave a sad smile before she continued, "I used to jest with the Commander that if you and I were to be in danger at the same time, he would surely ditch me to save you. The Commander always said the Prince would not need me to save him. He will save both of us, Ceridwen. Count on your Prince."
Legolas attempted to smile back but could not hold it anymore. His tears spilled and he began to cry.
"Prince Legolas! Are you alright? Now, Ceridwen, have you been chattering incessantly again?" Galaden had returned to the room with a bottle in his hand.
"Pray, do not chide her, Healer. 'Twas no fault of hers."
Galaden looked at his daughter who had stood up. "Elda promised me some dessert. I will just go and get them. I am sorry, Ada." As his daughter left the room, Galaden smiled. As Erienne had said, Ceridwen was becoming a wise, young elleth.
He turned to Legolas, who was wiping his tears. "Legolas, what is the matter, ionin? Your Commander will heal. I was not merely trying to console you."
"'Tis not just that, Healer Galaden. So many things have happened and I have not been here at my Ada's side, at my Commander's side to help them. I have failed in my duty."
"Nay. Do not say that, ionin. You needed some time alone. That was all. But your Ada was very worried. Do not worry about that though. Your Nana was here was him. For that, all of us are blessed. The Woodlands is savouring happiness again."
"Nana…I was quite rude to her when I first saw her, Healer. I have to apologize to her but everything is just so confusing." Legolas remembered his Nana's hands and looked at Galaden, "Have you seen Nana's hands, Healer Galaden? She mentioned that she had been in Dol Guldur. And…and she said something about being with babe."
Galaden saw Legolas looking at him and he knew that the Prince wanted him to assure him that his Nana had merely spoken in anger. He looked away.
"Prince Legolas. You have to be strong. These things happen in war. Your Ada knew it too. That is why he is so adamant about protecting the elves within the Woodlands. Times are not safe now."
"The babe was ….. killed, Galaden?"
Galaden squeezed Legolas' shoulders. "Your Nana knew what would happen to the babe were it to be born. So..she..she is skilled in herbs. She..she made sure the babe would not be born."
"Her babe, Ada's babe." Legolas repeated his lips trembling, "I saw her hand. Her glove had caught fire and Airion removed it. They were so…Somebody had mutilated her. 'Tis just her hands right, Healer?"
Again, Galaden did not reply and Legolas could feel the pain constricting his chest. He was a trained soldier. He did not have to ask anymore. Dol Guldur. The Wildmen of Dunland. Azog. He remembered what Azog had done to her in Dale with his knife. And all these years…no wonder his Nana covered all parts of her body.
"Ada did not try to save her and Nana is not even faulting him, Galaden, for she knows that he was trying to protect the Woodlands."
Legolas swallowed again, "How could two wise and beautiful elves birth such a foolish elfling, Healer?"
"Do not say that, Prince Legolas. You would be hurting your Ada for he would feel that he had failed in his upbringing of you. And your Nana for she would blame herself for not being here for you. You are back now, Prince Legolas. That is all that matters. The elves know that you will stand by your Ada and your Commander to lead us. We are all together again. Take joy in that, Legolas."
Legolas nodded, feeling no better. Healer Galaden's words were wise yet they did little to console him. There was no use looking to the past. The future beckoned and he would ensure that he rendered his duties without fault. But he had to apologize first.
They heard Aradan stir and Galaden went over to him, gently touching his forehead.
"You are still with fever, Aradan. Try not to move," Galaden instructed Aradan as he gently swept back the Commander's hair. Taking the broth from the table, he fed small spoonfuls to Aradan who pushed them away.
"You need to take some. Else, I can't feed you the medicine, Aradan. Please. I know it is not easy," Galaden's gentle coaxing made Aradan force some broth down and then take the medicine.
"I will be alright, Galaden. Do not be upset. Else I will find it difficult to play a trick on you again." Galaden smiled at Aradan's words, knowing his friend was trying to comfort him.
"My lady is here. If you fool with me again, she will see to you, Aradan," he jested back.
Aradan managed a weak smile and then whispered, "Thranduil is alright?"
"He was here but he went to see Erienne," Galaden replied with a nod.
"Erienne! She is injured?" Aradan started and ended up biting his lips and his body convulsed from pain again.
"You should not be moving like that, Aradan!" Galaden's rebuke was filled with alarm as he wiped the sweat of Aradan's face.
"Do not worry, Aradan. Thranduil and Erienne are fine. As is Legolas," Galaden assured him.
"I am here, Commander. Do not worry about me. I am so sorry, Commander Aradan."
"Nay, do not say tha.." Aradan's voice trailed off as he squeezed his eyes.
"That's enough talking, Aradan. You need to rest. I need to go to the infirmary now. Ceridwen and Legolas will be here, Aradan. Ceridwen knows what to do. I will leave now."
As he was about to leave the room, Galaden turned again. Kneeling at Aradan's bedhead, he looked at his friend in the eyes and said, "The Woodlands needs its Commander, Aradan. You will not fail in your duty to them. You will recover soon, mellon."
Aradan knew what Galaden was telling him. He nodded, squeezing Galaden's hand in return.