Aragorn's Secret Weapon

10.

Lord save us all from... a hope tree that has lost the faculty of putting out blossoms.

Mark Twain

Estel hurried inside. As he passed by the healer’s room, he noticed that the door was open. He entered, a frown on his face as he noticed his father lay, not moving, on the floor. He walked over to Elrohir and woke him, his voice trembling with fear.

“’Ro… ‘Ro… please wake up… ‘Ro…” Estel shook his brother; he was in a panic because of his father.

Elrohir was sore. “Uh?” he asked, momentarily looking at his brother before drifting off to sleep.

Estel noticed the sleepy face and poked his brother until he locked his eyes with the twin. “It is father, please wake up!” Estel begged, hoping that Elrohir would get the obvious message.

‘Father?’ Elrohir thought and wiped his eyes, opening them until he was openly staring at his baby brother. “What?” he asked.

Estel called in panic, “It is father, he is not moving, what should I do? What should I do?”

Elrohir checked his father quickly as he noticed Estel’s pale and worried face. “His body is weak,” Elrohir said and added, “He needs herbs; I need to find it…” but was cut by his brother.

“Wait! The herbs are in Legolas’ room, I will get them,” Estel said happily as he remembered what his father said about Legolas and his weaker body.

Estel ran to Legolas’ room, but before he left he followed his father’s words and gave Legolas the herbs, which quickly made the young elf fall back asleep. Then he hurried to the healing room with the herbs.

Meanwhile, Elrohir lay his father down on the bed next to Elladan and then tipped a drink to his father’s lips, making sure that the older elf drank it all.

Elrohir looked upon his brother, and, seeing the sweat that covered his face, swept it away, then he eyed the herbs. The herbs’ colors went to black and then to purple, which made Elrohir’s worry grow. “Brother,” he turned, “Where did you get these herbs?”

Estel answered almost immediately. “Father gave them to me, to give Legolas.”

“Father? Why did he do that?” Elrohir asked confusedly.

“Because Legolas’ body is weak, and father said that I should give him the herbs ‘til Legolas felt strong again.”

Elrohir’s face creased with worry as he feared for Legolas.

“Brother? What is wrong? Have I done something wrong?” Estel asked in fear as he noticed his brother’s expression as he held the herbs. It seemed to Estel that he was cursing someone.

Elrohir knelt and clasped his younger brother on the shoulder. His eyes were locked on Estel’s and he opened his mouth to say something, but only a whisper was heard. Then Elrohir seemed to know why his father gave those herbs to Legolas, as he smiled at his brother and answered in an apologizing tone while he brought him the rest of the herbs, “No, you did not.” He stood and sat next to his father and brother. Then, turning his head from them, he added, “Now leave me alone, I need to rest too, as do you. Watch Legolas as well.”

Estel closed the door, and stared around as a frown covered his face. He seemed puzzled by his brother’s reaction and changing of acts, and the look that Elrohir gave him make him think that he might have done something wrong. Dazedly, he began walking back to Legolas’ room, wondering exactly what had happened in the healer’s room. He could not stop thinking, nor that he could sleep because of it.

He put the herbs next to the bed and he looked upon Legolas, noticing that his friend slept peacefully. Yet Estel’s mind kept wondering about the herbs and then he decided to get advice from Erestor, thinking that that might quiet the nagging voice of doubt in the back of his mind.

He left the room, and walked over Erestor’s room and knocked.

“Yes?” a sleepy voice called from the other side of the door.

Estel let himself in, noticing quickly the wide eyes openly glaring at him. Clearly, Erestor had no clue why Estel was there in his room, in the middle of the night.

“Estel? What are you doing here?” Erestor asked sleepily.

Estel walked over to the elf as he handed him the herbs and asked in curiously, “Do you know these herbs?”

Erestor nodded and rubbed his eyes. He felt that he would not be able to sleep at all that night with Estel is there to question him.

“Do you know what the herbs mean?” the child kept asking, still standing.

Erestor sighed deeply, knowing that there is no way back with the words that he was going to say. “The meaning of the herbs is to sedate the one that is hurt badly as the body is infected from poison. That is why the color of the herbs are black. The disadvantage of the herbs is that one could become addicted to them and ask for more, which could ruin his system.”

“Then what will happen to Legolas, since he was not infected nor wounded?” Estel asked fearfully.

“You have to make sure that he is fine, and not tired. You have to make sure that he will drink a lot of water and eat a lot. Could you do that, Estel?” Erestor asked.

“I can do that.” Estel confirm the advisor’s words.

Erestor could felt the boy’s fear and said proudly, “You know Estel, one day you will be a great healer.”

Estel blushed and said shyly, “I know, Father already said it to me.”

“Now, off you go, and get some good sleep, as I know that I am in need!” Erestor said as he smiled.

Estel smiled and thanked the elf before he left. “Thank you, now my mind is clear.”

“It is my pleasure, my dear Estel. After all we are family.”

End of Chapter 10.


Elvish Translations at the end of the chapter.

11.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Kahlil Gibran

The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and Legolas opened his eyes widely, breathing deeply, smelling the scent of the nature. He sensed that there was a person in his room and he raised his head a little, only to find sleepy Estel snoring. Legolas sighed and smiled at the sight that lay next to him.

Legolas raised his body slowly as he remembered Estel’s words. ‘Your body is weak.’

He found it easy as he left the bed with no pain and could feel his body getting stronger. The elf left the room and walked to find Elrond or maybe one of the twins. He wished to speak with Elladan, as he seemed missed to his friendship most of all.

He walked into the hallway and noticed the closed doors, and yet he could see with his elven eyes that one door that was half-open. He walked over to it.

Legolas first noticed Elrohir, though his face was lowered over someone that he did not immediately see. He came closer and found that Elladan and Elrond lay in bed, both pale.

He scanned the room and found another chair. He took it and placed it next to the bed.

He moved his hands over Elladan’s face and spoke as softly as he could. “I forgive you, mellon-nín. I do not know what went through me. I do not want to lose my friendship with you and your brother; you both taught me everything that I knew since I was a baby, and for that I owe you everything including my own life.”

There was no movement from any of them. Legolas was still tired, even though he had awoken not long ago. He turned his head around and noticed a glass. Knowing by its good smell, he drank it and soon let his weariness claim him. He rested his head on the blanket and slept.

Soon after Legolas had fallen asleep, Erestor and Glorfindel hurried to the healer’s room, only to find Elrohir, Elladan, and even their lord, Elrond. They came closer and noticed Legolas, who slept peacefully on the blanket.

“What Legolas is doing here?” Glorfindel asked, noticing the empty glass that was near.

Erestor walked next to the empty glass and moved to smell it, then put the glass where it was and answered, “It is a good question. Wake Elrohir, I am curious to know what was inside the glass; the smell is horrible…. Open the window.”

Glorfindel moved first to open the window, let the breeze set free and cover them with fresh air.

Elrohir woke as the breeze blew on his face. He rubbed his eyes and noticed the lords that stood next to him, staring at him worriedly.

While Elrohir slept he had felt the presence of the elves though he knew that he was not alone in the room. “Mani?” he asked with worry.

“Legolas…” Erestor answered, knowing his short answer would catch the twin’s attention.

And it did. Elrohir stood and looked at Erestor with confusion, but then he noticed his friend. “What is he doing here? Was he not suppose to be in his room?” Elrohir asked curiously, though he was happy in his heart to see his friend alive.

“Umm… we thought that might you have the answer,” Glorfindel replied.

Erestor walked towards Elrohir and asked, “What was inside the glass?”

“Oh… there? The herbs. It seemed that father drank it all after all.” Elrohir grinned.

“What do you mean?” Glorfindel asked, wondering why his friend would drink the herbs.

“Estel was the first to notice that father lay on the floor not moving and woke me in a panic. I told him that father was weak, and…” Elrohir explained, but Erestor cut him off and added, “And the rest… I think that I know what happened.”

Erestor gave another look in the sleepy princeling and asked, “Are you certain that your father drank it all?”

“Aye, I saw it in my own eyes,” Elrohir confirmed.

“So again, what Legolas is doing in the room? And why is he sleeping?” Glorfindel asked, feeling that something was still amiss.

“Where is Estel, anyway?” Elrohir asked, remembering that he had sent his brother to watch Legolas and get some sleep too. But if Legolas was here… then where was his brother?

“Stay here, Glorfindel, I will go with Elrohir,” Erestor said, leaving the room with the twin to go to Legolas’ room.

Glorfindel sighed, and turned towards the sleepy elves, smiling. ‘Elrond, mellon-nín, I never thought that I would see you sleeping after you, as it seems, took your own herbs,’ Glorfindel thought as he looked at his lord and friend.

He glanced at the elder twin and hoped to see him well and smiling again. Then his eyes set on the princeling that lay peacefully asleep, his blond hair now covering half of his face since the elfling had moved his head.


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Erestor and Elrohir walked to Legolas’ room and entered inside only to found Estel, who still slept, the remaining herbs clasped in his hands, as though he guarded them from any evil.

“Estel… gwador…wake up…” Elrohir tried to wake him, but it seemed that the child slept so well and only changed his position.

Erestor grinned at the child, an idea lighting in his mind. “Estel, my dear child, where is Legolas?”

Estel woke in a panic; he knew that he was there to watch Legolas, and yet he had heard…. He rubbed his eyes and stared at the elves that stood in front of him, then glanced at the empty bed. Legolas was not in the bed! “But he was there when I fall asleep!” Estel’s panicky voice said.

“I am certain that he was. But now as we can see, he is not.” Erestor knelt next the child and tried to comfort him.

“He is sleeping in the healing room,” Elrohir said.

“Now he knows about Father and Elladan. We need to get him back here!” Estel said, already hurrying towards the healing room.

Erestor halted him before the child entered the room and said to him as softly as he could, “No, let him stay there, we will find out later.”

“Go brother, go and eat something. We will have a long day of healing ahead and we will need your help,” Elrohir said gently to his brother, sending him to the kitchen.

Estel turned towards the kitchen, but then suddenly stopped and called, “Wait!”

Elrohir hurried over to his little brother and asked, “What is it?”

Estel handed him the herbs and answered, “Keep them away from Adar and Legolas!”

“I will do that gwador, now go eat.” Elrohir assured him. Estel nodded and smiled before he left.

Erestor looked at the boy as he left and spoke, “That boy has changed, mellon-nín.”

“For good or worse?”

Elvish Translations:

Mani? – What?

Gwador - Brother

mellon-nín -My friend

End of Chapter 11.


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