Elrond stayed by the prince�s side again that night, hoping against hope that he would wake. He did all he could to tend to the elf�s wounds. He now wanted to see what it would take to tend to the prince�s overwhelmed emotions. The sun rose slowly, flooding the elven fortress with an orange glow. �How is he?� Elrond smiled upon his sons. �Perhaps one of you could watch him, so I could get some rest?� Elrohir was the first to nod his head, sitting in the chair his father had just risen from. �Come get me if he should wake.� Elladan nodded. �I will come.� �Very well. Do not crowd him-� �Father, I was there.� Elrohir said. �I know what not to do. Go sleep. I fear you will be of no use to the prince in the state you are in.� Elrond smiled warmly on his son. �Have it your way. I sent a messenger to Thranduil.� �Father, go.� Elrohir said firmly. Elladan waited until Elrond was well out of ear shot before he spoke to his brother. �Elrohir� what happened in Tarduain�s place?� The elf�s brother only shook his head. He saw things there that turned his stomach� he would not speak of them now, if ever. �You really don�t want to know.� It was a wonder to him that Legolas had endured such a place. Elrohir�s attention was redirected as the prince, still deep in sleep, clutched at his chest and gasped for air. Elladan leapt forward, pushing the prince onto his back so he would not injure himself further. The elf�s body shuddered and fought Elladan�s hold. �Help!� He said desperately, unable to hold the prince still. He hadn�t realized that Elrohir was already springing to action. �Legolas, listen to my words. Hear me! Come back to the light!� Elrohir realized suddenly what the prince�s body was telling them. �Step away, Dan. Let him go.� Although he was confused, Elladan obeyed the order. Elrohir repeated what his father said to Legolas. �You�re in elvish hands now, Legolas. Be at peace.� He laid a hand on Legolas� shoulder, and he immediately became calm. Elladan understood quickly what was happening. Elladan sighed. �Will he be alright?� �I fear he has internal wounds we had not yet seen to.� Elrohir said, thinking aloud more than anything. �Should I go to Father?� �No. There is nothing we can do for Legolas until he awakes and can tell us what hurts.� Elrohir awoke with a start, and had no idea why. His eyes landed on Elladan, asleep in a chair across the room from him. He directed his gaze at the bed next to him where deep blue eyes met his own. �Legolas? Are you alright?� �Lord Enimodel�� The voice came as a barely audible whisper. �Yes, it is I. Why didn�t you wake me?� �I did, did I not?� �No, well, yes, you did. But I mean, why did you not awake me earlier? Didn�t you wonder where you were?� �Elrohir?� The elf watched Legolas� body tense as Elladan�s weary voice entered into his awareness. �Be at peace, Legolas. He is my brother. I am Elrohir.� �But� Enimodel�� His aching head couldn�t take this. �Ay, that is me. Enimodel, Elrohir� they are one in the same.� Legolas shook his head, almost imperceptibly. It couldn�t be. He had known Elrohir once, and yet he had not recognized him at Tarduain�s castle. �It�s fine, Legolas. Do not worry about it. Everything will be explained when you feel better.� Elladan remained quiet through this exchange. �Where am I?� �You are in Rivendell, in the house of Elrond.� �Arwen!� Legolas suddenly tried to sit up. Elrohir jumped from the chair, pushing the prince back down. �She is fine. She is resting right now.� Elrohir looked firmly at Legolas. The prince�s eyes were like those of a trapped dear. �Relax, Legolas. Legolas?� Elrohir turned to follow the prince�s gaze. His eyes again landed on his brother. He sighed, turning back to the prince. �Would you feel safer if he left the room?� Legolas nodded very slowly. �Elladan, can you please�?� �Say no more.� Elladan stepped out of the room, and slipped away to fetch Lord Elrond. �Legolas, it is just you and I now. It is Enimodel.� He was still holding Legolas� shoulders, keeping the prince from rising. Legolas nodded. His body was about to give out again, and it threatened to fall back into sleep. He had to admit: sleep would be easier than this. �Did they hurt her badly?� �Arwen is fine. She has no long lasting injuries, which is more than I can say for you.� He had wanted to wait for Elrond, but he might as well get started now� �Tell me, how do you feel?� �Tired. And pain� there�s so much pain. It hurts just to breathe. I want to sleep again.� �No, please stay awake. Lord Elrond is coming, and he will mend whatever ails you.� �I don�t want�� �I understand that, but you have to trust him. He saved Arwen, he will save you.� Legolas was silent. Elrond entered as if on cue. �Prince Legolas?� Elrohir said nothing as Legolas� body tensed under his hold. Legolas also remained quiet. Elrond came up next to his son. �Is he aware of what is going on?� �If you�re asking if he is delusional, I do not believe so.� �Legolas, listen to my words.� He put a hand under the prince�s chin in order to redirect his attention, but halted as soon as Legolas tried to recoil from him. �Listen to me. I am here to help you, I will not hurt you. Do you understand me?� Legolas nodded, but Elrohir responded for him. �I don�t think understanding is the issue.� Elrond nodded. �Do you trust me, Legolas?� Legolas wanted nothing more than to say yes, but he couldn�t. Elrond again nodded. �I must help you, either way. Just let me know if it gets to be too much.� Legolas gave no response, but his body trembled as Elrond began to redress some of his wounds. �Perhaps you should leave, Elrohir.� Legolas paid no attention to his words; he was too intent on ignoring the pain. �He at least trusts me, Father.� And so Elrohir stayed. Elladan knew better, but he desperately wanted to be of help. �Can I help?� Legolas� body reacted to the young elf�s voice violently. �Go see to Arwen!� Elrohir hissed. �I don�t understand!� Elrohir glanced at Legolas, then let go of his shoulders, pushing his brother out the door. �Dan, please, listen to me. He doesn�t even trust Father. He won�t trust you.� Elladan looked up at this. �I can�t blame him,� Elrohir added. �I wouldn�t trust anyone either.� �He deserves to know what happened.� Elrond appeared in the doorway. He smiled at the look on Elrohir�s face. �Don�t worry. He told me what was hurting him, so I put him back into sleep. I will work on him this way, and it will be easier for all of us.� �Pray tell, what is wrong with him?� �Does it matter to you, Elrohir? I think you�ve put yourself through far enough stress as it is.� �Tell me.� There was a steady gaze between father and son, both too stubborn to back down. �Father, if I may?� �What is it, Elladan?� �Well� Elrohir was there for most the time the prince was. He saw what went on� he saw what caused the injuries. I would think it only fair to tell him what the injuries are.� Anger flashed in the elven lord�s eyes, followed by a sort of sympathy. �Three of his ribs are broken. One has been pushing against his lung.� �That explains his trouble breathing this morning.� �But, luckily, it has not yet punctured. I have to reset it somehow. Other than that, it is only lack of care that has him in this state. And the poison.� �Poison? They poisoned him?!� �Elrohir, please, contain yourself! It was a mild poison that I will work out of his system when his sleep becomes deeper. He will be fine.� Elrond paused. �Elrohir, I must ask you to go to your room. Or anywhere, but I cannot have you here while I work.� Elrohir�s mouth gaped, but he knew better than to argue. He turned on his heel, storming down the hall. Elrond shook his head, walked back into Legolas� room, and closed the door. �Elrohir?� �He doesn�t understand, Elladan!� The younger elf slammed his fist into the wall. �The things they did to him� and the entire time he kept his pride. Never did I see him walk without his head held high, though they tried so hard to bend it. I wouldn�t have been nearly so strong. And Legolas knows me now, he trusts me. I have to be there!� �He has a point. You haven�t had nearly enough rest. You�re too high strung, and he doesn�t want anything in his way. He�s only trying to help Legolas!� Their eyes locked. �If Legolas wakes up, and he�s alone in a room with just my father, he will not react favourably.� |
| Chapter 5 Go on to part 6 |