The Cost of Loyalty

"What a delightful sight" Meila exclaimed as she beamed down at Legolas. The woodelf sat propped up on the pillows Miran had brought them the night before and very slowly ate some of her broth.

Elrohir kneeled beside him, watching him cautiously, while Elladan sat at the table to sort through their healing supplies.

Estel could tell that the prince´s stomach was not resting easy with even this little sustenance and that his friend would have long stopped eating at Elrohir not prodded him along, but he still smiled at the woman and replied: "What a delightful taste, I would say. I owe you my thanks."

Meila waved the thanks away, but the boy could tell she was pleased. "It is nothing, young Lord. You just rest and take it easy." She turned to the boy. "Miran asks you to assist him in the stable. We decided to offer your horses hospitality as well, and he is no longer used to such hard work. His old bones creak and groan, I´m afraid." She chuckled fondly.

Estel nodded and ran for the door. The sight of Legolas conscious and relatively well had flooded him with fresh energy and he was grateful for the chance to put it to good use.

His mood was dampened the moment he opened the back door, for several arrows were immediately pointed at him by the guards around the house. The boy had to admit that he had completely forgotten about them.

He raised his hands and slowed his steps, silently slipping into the small stable behind the house.

Alagos greeted him with a loud neigh and a stomp of his hoof. "I´m happy to see you too, my friend." He took a moment to stroke his steed´s soft fur, then he set to work . Miran leaned on his fork and wiped sweat off his brow.

"It is most gracious of you to help me, my boy", he said. "I do not understand how caring for a few horses can be so exhausting." He chuckled a bit ruefully. "Maybe my bones believe that over 80 years of service should have earned them a rest."

"It is the least I can do", Estel replied with honest gratefulness. "Without you Legolas would have never recovered so fast." He glanced outside at the armed men as he worked. "I am truly sorry that you seem to be in danger on our behalf."

To his surprise this comment earned him a loud laugh. "Danger? Ah, boy, at my age, anthing poses a danger. I could stumble and fall walking out of my house. I could choke on a piece of apple. Does that mean I sit by the fire and sip broth?" He shook his head. "Life is dangerous from beginning to end, young friend, and death will come to all of us. I have long since decided that I shall not look over my shoulder all the time, waiting for it, but rather do what I judge right."

They worked in silence for a while. With the horses taken care of, the old man and the boy returned to the kitchen for something to eat. Estel was startled to find that Legolas once again slept with his eyes closed, and his alarm must have shown on his face because Elrohir said: "Peace, Estel. All is well. I have merely given him a strong potion to put him to sleep. Elladan and I shall set his bone soon."

The boy nodded, his sudden fear subsiding only slowly. It had been heartening to see Legolas so lucid, and that he had to go through even more pain after such a short respite saddened him.

"Ah, healing needs to be done." Miran got up from the table. "I have never had the stomach for all the blood involved." Meila snorted from the fire were she was carefully cauterizing several knives. "So true, though he could stomach fighting wolves well enough", she replied not without pride. "And if the need was dire, I could even use him as a passable nurse. Today, however, it would be best to have you gone from under our feet."

Miran chuckled as he gave his wife a kiss. "Throwing me out of my own home, woman? Very well, I know which battles are a lost cause. I shall go for a walk. There are a few things I need to do anyway, a few people I want to talk to before today´s meeting. I will pray for the Valar to guide your hands."

With that and a slight nod, he left the house. "The knives are ready", Meila pronounced as soon as he was gone."

Estel felt a knot rise in his chest but still forced himself to ask: "Is there anything I can do?" He expected his brothers to hesitate, because he had not yet been allowed to assist with a surgery as complex as this, but Elladan answered him right away. "Of course, brother. We need to make use of all capable healers in this house. Meila agreed to hand us the supplies we need and Elrohir and I shall set the bone. We would ask you to sit by his head and monitor him closely. If you see any change in him, you need to let us know."

The boy nodded and sat down Legolas´ side, placing a hand on his brow. He knew that finding the correct sedation was difficult even for the most skilled of healers and prayed that Elrohir had not erred.

He need not have worried. The twins worked in concentrated precision, opening the wound to offer them some room and then gingerly setting the bone. Meila did not flinch from the blood but kept handing the dark-haired elves fresh rags, desposing of the bloody ones, and kept clean knives ready for as long as they were needed.

Legolas did not stir once through the proceedings, even though his breathing grew faster as the time went on. "He is doing well" Elrohir said quietly when his youngest brother alerted him to the fact, "and we are almost done." He smiled at Estel."I am glad we have you here to help."

Only a short time later the wounded elf´s leg was tighly bound, a splint holding the bone in place. The twins and Meila had washed their hands and were regarding him critically. "As long as he does not jostle his leg around it should heal well now", Elladan said. "I just wished we had more Naursalab."

Estel understood what his brother was talking about. The powerful herb was used to battle infections, and the twins had used up their supply by now.

"Maybe someone in the village has some", he said hopefully, "I know how to apply it."

Elrohir smiled. "That is a good thought. We will have to find some later. For now, Legolas still has enough of it in his system to be safe, I hope."

The younger twin settled down beside his unconscious friend and lightly put one hand on his chest to monitor his breathing, the way it was always done after surgery. He could not quite hide a grin when Estel settled on the prince´s other side, doing the same, but did not comment.

They grew quiet, resting and keeping watch over Legolas, until at some point after midday heavy steps approached the door.

"Miran!" a rough voice called. "Bring the elves and come. The meeting begins."

The brothers exchanged a look. Estel had long since wondered why the old man had not returned home yet, and now his curiosity was fast turning to worry. Meila rose, her face not betraying any emotion, and went for the door. She had not yet reached it when a heavy hand pounded against it, making Legolas flinch.

The stout woman opened the door with a deep frown on her face. "You will remember your manners, young man! There are wounded in this house."

The bearded villager, armed as he was, stepped back and lowered his head. "Beg your pardon , Meila. But tell Miran to make haste. He is expected, and Botham already rallies his followers. Heated words are being exchanged as we speak."

The woman squared her shoulders. "In that case, I will go with you in Miran´s stead. He has left to run some errants and has not yet returned." Her words drew gasps from the men outside. "But he promised to speak on the elves´ behalf", one voice called out. "He is the only one who truly knows them from way back."

"The only one but me", Meila said calmly. "Do not forget that he was my husband already during that fateful winter. I remember was transpired well enough. Let us leave."

The bearded villager hesitated, then seemed to relent but still said: "Very well, Meila, but bring the elves. All three. The boy may remain here, as the house continues to be guarded."

"All three?" Meila bristled, her eyes sprakling. "Are you all out of your minds? What has befallen our menfolk of late?" She threw up her hands and then stepped forward, forcing the man to retreat a few steps. "You will not drag any uncosncious patient out of my house, elf or not. He is not well enough to be moved, and you have my word as a healer that he will remain asleep for a least a few more hours."

Her eyes bore into him, challenging him to contradict her. The man looked around at his fellows nervously but finally stepped aside. "Fine then. But the two brothers will come, and I shall have no more discussions now."

Estel´s eyes found those of his brothers. His heart was racing painfully, aware that what might transpire next could well change their situation for the worse. Elladan clasped his shoulder. "We will go with Meila, Estel. Do not worry. Remember that we would never break our promise to you."

"Indeed", Elrohir confirmed. "Stay at Legolas´ side and should he wake, try to get some water into him. Nothing evil shall befall you. I swear."

The boy nodded, fighting back the tears that threatened to rise to his eyes. He kept his chin up and his back straight until Meila and his brothers had left the house, then he slumped down beside his wounded friend and put his head in his hands.

A feeling of foreboding so strong that it was nauseating came over him. Why had Miran not returned? The old man and his wife were the only humans in this village that he felt he could trust, and now Miran had disappeared right when he was needed the most. What if the villagers decided to kill the twins during their council? The two elves were vastly outnumbered. What if they came to slay him and Legolas, too? What if...

His dark musings were interrupted by a sharp call from outside. "Hold! Who rides there?!" Estel picked up his head and wiped tears from his cheeks. He had not even noticed that he had been crying. Maybe Miran had returned after all?

The person who answered the call could not have surprised him more. "My name is Elrond", the soft elven voice replied. "I was told that I might find my sons in the comforts of your hospitality."

Dashing to the window, Estel saw that it was indeed his adopted father who had arrived. He sat upon his horse, bareback and without bridle as was elven custom, and looked as relaxed as if he had ridden into a sunfilled clearing.

Instead of the robes that were his usual attire he wore a simple, loose tunic over his leggings, making it plain for all to see that he bore no arms. At his belt he carried several

pouches of the kind he used for healing supplies. He smiled pleasantly at the armed men that had formed a wide circle around him.

One of the villagers finally found his voice. "Well-met, Lord of Imladris. We did not recognize you."

"That is not your fault", the elf replied kindly, "and no offence has been taken."

The armed man coughed nervously. "Your sons – attend a village meeting, my lord. I would not deem it wise for you to go there, too. It might upset people."

"Understandably. I shall wait here then." Elrond glanced around as if seeing the cottage they stood in front for the first time. "If I may ask, why are you guarding this building? I take it that the meeting is not being held there."

"No", another man answered, his voice far less friendly than the first´s. "That house holds a third elf and a boy. We are here to protect the village from him."

"The elf or the boy?" Erlond asked calmly.

"Both!" the man spat. "Though the boy is young and the elf injured, one never knows what devilry they might conjure up."

"Injured, you say?" The dark-haired elf gracefully dismounted his horse, causing at least ten arrows to be poined his way. He either did not notice or did not care. "Then I shall make good use of the time I spend waiting for my sons´ return. You do not mind?" He purposefully strode for the door. The men looked back and forth amongst each other, at a loss what to do, but eventually refrained from doing anything. Totally unmolested, Elrond entered the cottage.

Estel threw himself around his father´s neck the second the door had closed behind him. "Ah ion-nîn, I am glad to see you!" Strong arms encircled the boy, conveying a feeling of safety and love that almost made him cry all over again.

They stood like this for long moments before Elrond gently disengaged from the boy and held him at arm´s length, looking at him intently. "Are you well, my son? You had me deeply worried when you did not return."

Estel nodded, wiping his eyes. It felt to him like he had not seen his father in at least a month. "I am unhurt, father, but Legolas was caught in one of the poacher´s traps for a week."

"A whole week!" There was pain in Elrond´s words when he sank down beside the injured elf and gently placed a hand on his chest, closing his eyes in concentration. Even though the boy burned to tell him everything, he kept quiet, knowing that his father was assessing the prince´s injuries.

Finally, the elven lord opened his eyes with a sigh but kept his hand where it was. "You took good care of him", he said quietly, "though much sorrow lingers. The week exposed to the elements has weakened him. I can feel a new infection spread from his leg."

The boy made a sound of dismay. "But he was better this morning! Elladan and Elrohir set his leg and..."

"... did so very well", his father finished for him. "I am sorry, my son, I did not mean to upset you so. He is in no immediate danger. I just wished I could take him home to Imladris." He looked thoughfully out of the window where they could hear the armed men discuss amongst themselves, obviously nervous about having allowed Elrond access to the house.

"I fear that more trouble is yet to come. Provoking the villagers by trying to take Legolas with me would do more harm than good, I am afraid. We have a common enemy, of that I am sure, but if we do not manage to show to the villagers that there is nothing to fear from us, we may never defeat him. It has to be a joined effort."

The elf lord came to a decision. "Estel, I do not know how much time we have. I shall try to strengthen Legolas to the best of my abilities. In the meantime, take a quill and paper and write down everything that happened. Make haste, but try not to leave anything out."

He opened one of his pouches, handing the boy what he needed, and then sat down next to Legolas again. He placed one hand on his chest, the other on his brow, and closed his eyes once more. Estel looked on for a short while, hoping that his father would be able to finish what he was doing, and then sat down at the table to do as he was bidden.

Silence spread, even the men outside falling quiet. It was as if the village was holding its breath.

When the end of the silence came, it was abrupt. A sharp cry rang out in the distance, but it was swiftly picked up by other voices, spreading like wildfire. The villagers called one word over and over again, a word that made Estel drop his quill and Elrond break his connection with Legolas. The boy rushed to the window to look outside.

"Murder!"

"Who?" the men guarding the cottage called back. "Who has been murdered?" A young man came running, sweat on his brow. "It´s Miran", he panted. "We just found him, pierced by several elven arrows. I need to tell the council."

Estel´s eyes widened as he turned to his father. It was as he had feared. Their situation had just turned a lot worse.

To be continued...

OK, so the bloodshed was "off camera" but still ... I hope you enjoy reading, please keep the reviews coming. THANK YOU

Review responses:

Rose61393: Yes, a little pause was needed – but it cannot last forever...

Pip the Dark Lord of All: Thanks for all the comments!

Guest: I will, I´m glad you like it.

Horsegirl01: Yes, Meila is an asset but now unfortunately a widow... BTW, I just saw that you entered the Teitho contest, too. Good luck and I´m curious what will turn out to be your story.

Reina de nieve: Well, he did get some help in this chapter but the story is not over yet *evil grin*

SnoCat: Ooops – I admit that was mean. And I was just starting to like Miran...