Chapter Eight: Unruly Blossom
The fever had returned with the same ardour as the previous night, although the shivering of before had been replaced by breathless pants, and some fidgeting – the heat her patient was feeling was almost hidden; pale skin barely flushed, perspiration only slightly apparent – the opposite of before. Oloriel pressed a cool cloth against Herendil's forehead, combing his hair away from his face with her fingers. The blonde moaned. "I feel sickly." She reached for the pail, praying that this would be the last time she would have to do so. Once settled back onto his pillow, Herendil slowly ceased his movement, and drifted off to sleep.
Oloriel sighed in relief. "Thank you." Perhaps the powers-that-be had heard her prayers. Gazing at the sleeping form, she noted the steady rise and fall of his well defined chest with satisfaction, admired his strong limbs. He shifted in his unconscious state, bending a knee upwards so that the sheet slid to the right to rest inside his thigh, revealing a muscular leg, the curve of his shapely behind. Oloriel roamed her eyes over this newly exposed flesh, and then snapped her head away. She too was tired.
Rising from her seat, Oloriel busied herself amongst the half empty bottles and containers littering one of the side tables, as she put these back in their rightful places, she tried to banish him from her mind. What was flesh to her? She'd already bathed him, already seen him. Ofcourse, she'd bathed plenty of ellyn but...there was no denying that he was quite alluring. Argh! She shook her head. What were these thoughts?
There was a knocking at the door. Oloriel quickly pulled the sheet over her patient's leg before softly calling "Enter." Arwen stepped inside the room, quietly pulling the door shut behind her. "Mellon nin, what is wrong?" she asked. Arwen shook her head.
"I don't know what to say to him. He doesn't like me, I'm sure of it."
"I assume you talk of Legolas?" the healer inquired.
The ebony haired elleth nodded. "I am rude to him. He will ask me something, and I will say little in response. But do not think that I am willingly so! Sometimes I am so full of nerves, thinking that it cannot be, that he cannot be. I did not know what to expect when I was to see him once again. But not this. Do not let me deceive you, for he is honourable and polite, but I cannot talk to him. He is a warrior, he turns me aside to talk to his companions, and turns back to me, asking me of my domestic achievements which, you know as well as I, are not of interest to either of us. Cannot you see! He thinks that I am one of them! One of those delicate flowers whom spend their lives pleasing all, demure, pretty, forgiving. Not I. If I be a flower, than an unruly blossom I shall be! I desire none to control me, no rules to set me in place." Arwen took a shaky breath following this outburst, and calmly added "Cannot you empathise with me?"
Oloriel took her in her arms as she wept. "Come now, today has been an unexpected and long one for you. It has been a surprise. But can you not take into consideration the effort which the Prince has bestowed on you? I'm sure he has not found it easy."
Arwen looked up with red rimmed eyes. "You are right. I will make a concerted effort." With that she turned and left the room, heading towards her own. The night was no longer young – her renewed efforts would begin on the morrow. Oloriel gently sat back down again, noticing Herendil's open eyes. He frowned slightly.
"She has not befriended Legolas?" he asked.
She smiled down at him. "No, but I think she will."
"Legolas does not befriend ellith easily. He is more accustomed to flirting with them." He gave a half-smile. "But he does want this friendship. Your friend must not give up on mine so easily."
"I'm sure she won't." She reassured him. "Now you must sleep, for it is my duty to see you well."
"You are doing just that. Already I am less hot."
"I'm glad to hear it. Now sleep." She told him sternly, straightening the sheets.
Herendil grinned, and closed his eyes. "Yes, nana."
Oloriel could not help but let a smile appear on her lips as she leaned over, and picked up the damp cloth once again.
x
Legolas pushed his report to the side – he did not have the motivation to continue just this moment, his mind was filled with other thoughts, the majority of these concentrated solely on Arwen. How uneasy he was with her. What was he to say? He knew not of her interests, and was brushed aside at every attempt. How he wished he had female friends; for surely communication would be easier. It was so terribly hard knowing that it was her. Somewhere, in a part of his heart, he had believed that she would be the inquisitive elfing that he had left all those years ago. A silly notion, but there it was. If only they could climb trees together and swap stories as they once did – how simple it would be. He suppressed a grim smile. He did not imagine her even wandering out to the forest, let alone climbing the trees. And in such dresses...he doubted she ever went further than the garden. He had held hopes to find her...different. To be sure, she was very beautiful, her voice melodic, her manners pleasing...but that wasn't what he had wanted. He sighed. His friend – just simply wasn't.
However, it had only been the first day; there were many opportunities yet. Legolas poured himself another glass of wine with a sigh. How was he to approach her? He needed a friend to talk to...if only Herendil was better...
x
The following morning broke clear and fresh, the strong sunshine glittering amongst Arwen's hair as she brushed it. As she sat in front of her dresser, she devised a plan so as to show the Prince of her want for friendship between them. Arwen knew that ellyn (and warriors in particular) possessed egotistical natures, and to flatter this heightened sense of self importance often resulted in the male favouring the flatterer more so, merely due to their expressed appreciation. Therefore, as she tread down the hall for breakfast, she wore a simple dress of sturdy grey material instead of her softer wear, and had replaced her slippers with boots. The Evenstar smiled at those present at the table, though to her displeasure, Legolas was not seated.
She poured herself a cup of lemon tea, and sipped slowly, waiting. Eventually he arrived, along with her brothers and some other ellyn. "Arwen!" greeted Alar enthusiastically as they seated themselves, "Good to see you have risen."
She arched her eyebrow. "I know not to what you indicate – 'tis not yet eight." She sipped her tea again.
Alar rolled his eyes good naturedly. "I see you missed training today, which is not my loss for we have just been out sparring. You, on the other hand, need the practice."
One of the foreign elves spoke. "My lady trains?"
Alar answered in her stead. "Aye, I've been teaching her. She has tried the sword, not overly successfully," to Arwen's indignation the mob chuckled "however, she does show promise with knives."
Arwen nodded. "Indeed. I find them less heavy. It was my intention to forgo my session with you today, in order to ask the instruction of another."
Her friend rose both eyebrows. "Am I so poorly qualified, my lady." He teased curiously.
She laughed at him in return. "Nay, but I would like to give you a breather. I would like to ask Legolas to instruct me today, if he should agree to it." She stared at him from across the table, a hopeful expression on her face.
He nodded once. "Ofcourse. When shall we commence?"
"Presently, if you desire so – I do not eat before training."
Legolas nodded once more, and stood. "Then let us start." The two walked out of the room, and left the others to their breakfast.
x
Upon reaching the training ground, they sought an empty corner. Legolas was uncertain as to how skilled (if at all) the Evenstar was and decided to begin slowly, trying to determine what Alar had already taught her. She knew some basic manoeuvres, and he aimed to improve these. Her biggest failing was her footwork, for often she would stand rooted to the ground, stepping only when she was needed to. No duel could be won that way. "You must move your feet." He told her.
"Ofcourse." Legolas was not sure, but he thought he saw her cheeks glow a little, though it may have been due to the exercise. To her credit, she did not lack in determination; each piece of advice, each yield did nought to weaken her effort. He admired her spirit.
After a long while they sheathed their knives. "I think you have trained enough for this day. Come sit." He sank onto the soft ground, and Arwen followed his lead.
"Is there any hope for me?" she asked, smiling. Legolas was momentarily taken aback, for she had not smiled at him since his arrival.
"Yes, you show great spirit and determination."
This caused Arwen to laugh, a lovely soft laugh which made her eyes sparkle mirthfully. Legolas gazed at her, unsure. "My lady?"
The laughter stopped. "Arwen."
"Yes, ofcourse, Arwen. What is amusing?"
"Spirit and determination you say? You have not seen my friend. She is most passionate, and far more determined than I, and rather puts me to shame." She quirked her lips.
"You talk of Oloriel?" he queried.
"I do."
"A lady of many talents, I perceive."
Arwen nodded. "Indeed she is. I wonder how she and your friend fair this day."
Legolas smiled. "Quite well. I visited early this morning. Herendil appears to be fast freeing himself of the fever, and was engaged in a conversation with Oloriel about our homeland."
Arwen smiled fondly. "Yes, she has always been rather eager to travel. As have I, although perhaps a little less so."
"Aye, it is exciting, and interesting to see foreign lands. Have you been to Lorien?"
The elleth chuckled bitterly. "No, I have not, for I have not left Imladris in all my life."
The blonde's eyes widened. "How so? You have not even visited Bree, or The Shire?"
Arwen shook her head. "I have been nowhere."
Legolas stared for a moment, lost in his thoughts. To have travelled nowhere...he had seen so much already. "Forgive me. I have journeyed to many foreign lands. This notion is strange to me."
"You are forgiven. You cannot be faulted for living a more exciting life than mine." She stood. "Shall we go now? I much desire some breakfast."
x
After returning to breakfast (although it was almost lunch by this time) Legolas went to consult Glorfindel on particular military matters. It was late in the afternoon, and the Prince was still in the Balrog Slayers' den. He pointed at the map. "There it was healthy, but just over in this area it was not. So the goblin's occupation of that area would be a narrow one, this strip here. They must be using this smaller track." He mused. Glorfindel nodded.
"Aye, it would appear so. On your return, perhaps this route here would be the safest." He pointed. Legolas nodded.
"Yes, we will take that path. However, we must journey on to Lindon first, for Adar much desires to borrow some manuscripts concerning some or other spat he had with the dwarves." Legolas rolled his eyes.
"You will stay in Imladris on your return?"
"I would presume so, though not for long." He folded the map. "Enough for one day?"
Glorfindel nodded. "I would think so. I must meet with Lord Elrond in half an hour, and before then, find Erestor."
"Then I shall defer you no longer." With that the two parted ways, the Balrog Slayer heading towards the library, the golden Prince to the garden, where he could hear rowdy voices and laughter.
"Ah, he appears!" cried Elladan. "We had feared you'd gotten lost!"
"Nay, only busy – unlike you I see."
"You are much mistaken, we have travelled to where you were attacked short days ago and saw no living goblins in sight. We shall maintain checking that area, in case they are to visit again. But tell us, how did you fare with our sister?"
"No scratches," commented Elrohir whom was seated at the base of the Jacaranda, "I see she didn't harm you."
"Arwen is improving. It is true she knows only a little but I perceive she will become skilled with her knives with prolonged supervision."
Alar smiled. "Yes, I agree."
"And did she manage a few sentences today?" inquired Elladan with a grin "for yesterday she was quite the mute."
"Aye she did. She was far more agreeable. She tells me she has not travelled. Why is this so?"
"It is more dangerous for an elleth, I would suppose, and most travel that we undertake is either as hunters or diplomats. It is true that she ought to have gone on some of our diplomatic missions by this time, but Adar and Naneth are sometimes protective of her. It would be a hassle, to organise all that a lady should bring away with her too. I suppose it has always been accepted that Arwen was to stay behind. I've never thought that much of it."
"Well," said Elrohir, standing, "next time we'll take her along, just so she does not miss out." He smiled, and looked at the maroon sun. "The evening meal is soon. We should retire." At this, the group strode towards the house, leaving a satisfied Arwen sitting in the Jacaranda above them.
xxx