Creature Comforts

Chapter 13

We fight like never before each blow to
the enemy worth double the effort to kill more. Our destination is within
sight. On Legolas’ instincts we followed a set of orc tracks found just outside
the cities defences and with the Valar on our side we have come across a scouting
band of orcs who bear Merry and Pippin as their prize. Their encampment is foul
it’s smell leading us to it’s position before we ever caught sight of it. Merry
and Pippin are being fiercely defended by them all but we fight continually
towards the centre of their camp. Legolas is like a wild animal his weapons
mere flashes in the dark as he swiftly hacks his way through the group without
regard for his own safety. Gimli and I have triespeesperately to keep up with
his progression towards the sickly pale figures of the hobbits but have been
resigned to defending ourselves rather than following the determined elf. From
behind us I hear the horn of the city bellowing out across the countryside. No
doubt our attack has created more attacks further down the front from the
disturbed parties of orcs.

 

“Estel!” I hear Legolas scream my name
above the foul sounds of the orcs around us and I turn my head to glance
towards the centre of theampmampment we are hacking our way slowly through. I
smile momentarily at the sight of Legolas as he unties the two weak hobbits
from their bindings while still trying to protect himself. For a moment Merry
and Pippin remain unmoving on the ground despite their freedom from the
bindings and I feel dread fill me at us being too late. However a renewed sense
of hope fills me with determination as I see Pippin sit up and begin dragging
himself and the still limp Merry towards the trees circling the clearing around
the camp. Watching each other’s back Gimli and I make a break running inward to
where Legolas is fighting tep tep the orcs from where Merry and Pippin are
moving slowly towards the safety of the trees.

 

“Get the horses! We’ll hold them off.” I
nod at Legolas who bs aws away from the fighting and swoops the two hobbits from
the ground and runs into the trees, leaving Gimli and I to continue to fight
the never ending sea of beasts. It seems but a life time until Legolas returns
the two hobbits lying in front of him on the horse and the other awaiting Gimli
and I to mount up. Another loud bellow from the horn of the city momentarily
provides a distraction for the fighting orcs and Gimli and I take the
opportunity to mount up. We head back towards the city gates, aware now of the
orcs, which are swarming out of the forest around us. Arrows whistle past my
body as I lower myself closer to my horse, Gimli all but lying flat against my
back as we ride as quickly as possible. I glance behind me continually to make
sure Legolas is at our heels as we get near the gate. It is closed now and I
scream at the top of my lungs in order for them to open it for us.

 

“Open the GATE!” I scream again at the
guards upon the turrets and slowly watch as the gate is opened just enough to
allow us passage through it. I do not stop the horse until I have passed
through all three defensive walls of the city and am safely in the courtyard of
the palace. Faramir and several warriors and councillors meet us in the
well-lit courtyard. Gimli slips from the horse to the ground allowing me to do
the same. I turn back to where Legolas and the hobbits are still upon the other
horse. The sus ofs of rescuing Merry and Pippin I feel is instantly quelled. As
if in slow motion as the hobbits are helped from the horse I watch as Legolas
falls forward and slips from the horse to fall with a sickening thud upon the
cobblestones of the courtyard several arrows protruding from his back. “LEGOLAS!” I scream at him in utter horror
and run to where his limp body lies crumpled upon the ground. Gimli is at my
side as Faramir instructs the people around us into action to fetch the healers
and to ready some beds for the wounded. His face is a mess, the dark black
blood of the orcs splatter and mingling with his own fresh wounds. I cannot
hold back the tears as I pull his body into mine and rock him tightly in my
arms. This was not the way it was supposed to be, he is the fairest creature I
know and deserves better than this ending. Everything else around me is
insignificant as I close my eyes and allow my tears to fall upon the mattered
mane of golden hair held under my chin. I love him and I ot lot lose him like
this

 

*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*

 

I sit quietly in the same seat I have not
left for two weeks. Legolas lies as if in a sweet slumber beneath the covers of
the bed in front of me. He has barely moved at all, his wounds not healing as
they should, despite my many healing techniques. It is as if he has lost all
will to survive and with each rise and fall of his chest the life within him
diminishes. The sound of footsteps in the hall does not even draw my attention
as several figures enter the room.


”Strider?” For a moment I tear my glance from the bed up to where three
familiar faces smile at me weakly.


”Merry, Pippin, you’re out of bed.” The two hobbits quickly waddle over to me
their warm embrace welcoming my saddened heart. They have come around quite
remarkably well despite their ordeal, although I am sure the mental wounds the
encounter has made will not be as easily healed as their physical ones. Gimli
has been the most attentive dwarf I have ever seen in looking after the pair. I
know he desires much more to be at Legolas’ bedside rather than the hobbits but
does it out of respect for me. They have grown in friendship and put aside the
misgivings of their respective races in pursuit of friendship.

 

“How is he?” Pippin perches himself upon my lap his body
thin and fragile quite unlike the stumpy young lad I first met at Bree.

 

“I do not know Pippin, there is little I can do now. If he
does not wish to return to us he will not.” I sigh heavily and lower my eyes
back to Legolas expressionless face, the bruises just beginning to fade upon
his pale skin. There is silence before Gimli grunts his disapproval and perches
himself hastily upon Legolas bed to glare forcefully upon Legolace. ce.

 

“Bloody stubborn Elf. Do you not realise what grief you
cause! I should have thumped some sense into you myself before we ever left
Rivendell.” I cannot help but smirk as Gimli growls at Legolas before his
features soften as no reply is given from the unconscious prince. For a moment
Gimli just stares at him before he reaches out and brushes his stubby fingers
gently through Legolas golden hair. The gesture is a kind one and is testament
to the small warm effects that the elf has had on all of us. In the silence we
continue to sit patiently, Merry at my feet and Pippin on my lap, while Gimli
continues to gently brush Legolas’ hair with his silver comb.

 

The afternoon wanes and the shadows grow long as the day
fades. Outside I hear the fall over several horses on the coble of the
courtyard. I think nothing of it until several loud footfalls move down the
corridor outside the bedroom and stop at the door. I glance up from Pippin’s
sleeping form on my lap, as the door swings quietly open and Faramir steps
inside.


”How is the Youngest Prince of Mirkwood?” His voice is sympathetic as I shake
my head to signify that there is no change. Faramir has been away from court
for most of the two weeks leaving several days after the incident with a large
party of his councillors. I watch him sigh before stepping aside from the door
and gesturing to someone outside in the hallway. “I have brought someone to see
him. Maybe this is what he needs.” I watch almost relieved as two familiar
blond elves step through the doorway.

 

“Elrond.” In an exasperated sigh of relief I stand from my
seat careful to replace the sleeping hobbit in my place before embracing the
eldar elf freely. For a moment I take strength from his comfort in this dark
time, his warm ethereal glow reminding me of the glow that once surrounded
Legolas just as brightly. Elrohisphispers softly in elven at his joy at my
safety before pulling back and glancing forlorn to where Gimli is still
religiously brushing Legolas’ hair.

 

“How is he? Faramir informed me it was orcs?” I watch
somewhat saddened by the lovers gaze that Elrond passes over the fallen prince
before he walks stiffly over to sit on the edge of the bed, his hand reaching
down to entwine gently with the limp digits of his lover. I swallow my jealousy
and force life to my throat.

 

“Yes he was struck several times in the back while
protecting Merry and Pippin who we had just rescued. He has a fever that has
not broken for several days despite my attentions and I fear that the very life
that sustains him grows distant with each breath he takes.” I lower my head in
silence aware now of every pair of eyes glued to me and my desolate outlook on
the situation. For a moment there is silence before Elrond stands and unclips
his cloak along with his weaponry discarding them on the floor as a
determination washes across his features.

 

“Glorfindel fetch me some water and all the herbs from the
kitchens, if he is to survive he needs immediate attention.” For a moment the
warrior just stares at Legolas’ body as Elrond leans over it and begins
inspecting the wounds before he glances questioningly back at me and to where
Faramir stands next to me. In Elrond’s haste to heal his lover he has forgotten
his manners and to which household he is addressing and although Elrond shows
no guilt at the rudeness of presumption Glorfindel feels it acutely.

 

“I shall have someone escort you to the kitchens, you may
stay under the protection of Rohan until you so wish to leave. You most welcome in my home.” Glorfindel
bows respectfully although I am sure he feels much like Legolas did when he
first arrived, awkward and unsettled among the men. Faramir moves to escort
Glorfindel from the room but pauses as Elrond gestures to me.

 

“Will you bring, Boromir, Frodo and Sam to me Estel, I wish
to make sure you are all well of health. I have desires to speak with Gandalf
as well if you please.” I swallow hard and glance quickly to Faramir and note
his saddened expression. Obviously he has not spoken of the fall of his brother
to Elrond, which leaves me to break the troubled news of the broken fellowship
to the creator of it.

 

“I can not do that Elras mas much as I wish to be able to.”
Elrond stands straight from where he was previously hunched over Legolas to
stare at me. The piercing grey eyes eat away at my soul as the guilt of failure
finally collapses in upon me. It was upon my shoulders that the fellowship
rested after the loss of Gandalf and maybe if I hadn’t been so preoccupied with
my own thoughts of unrequited love, I might just have foreseen all of this and
prevented it from happening.

 

“Tell me Estel what has become of the fellowship.” A scowl
that tells of knowingness graces Elrond’s forehead and I find myself unable to
raise my head to meet his gaze. Like Isiludur I have become a ruin and disgrace
unworthy of any ancestral right.
Legolas would have born his duty much better than I could ever have
hoped to do upon the Throne of Gondor.

 

“Gandalf has fallen into shadow, a foul beast from the
depths of moria has stolen his life from us. The steward of Gondor, Boromir,
has departed from us as well. We were attacked several days out from Lothlorien
by Uruk-hai. Boromir fought valiantly for the protection of Merry and Pippin
but he was not to be saved himself and died a warriors death upon the
battlefield.” Symeticetically I glance over to where Faramir and his
councillors stare at me, pride for their fallen comrade radiating from their
saddened features. “We gave him a warriors burial upon the river and my promise
to him, to save the hobbits from the clutches of Isengard brought us to Rohan.”
I look back at Elrond and watch as he glances at Merry and Pippin before
sighing and questioning me silently of the two unaineained absences of Sam and
Frodo. “Frodo made the decision to continue the journey alone to destroy the
ring. Sam of course went with him.” I allow a small fond smile to grace my lips
and rejoice at it being reflected by Elrond and Glorfindel. “What you see now
before you is all that remains of the fellowship.” Guilt falls heavily upon my
shoulders and I lower my head unable to look into the eyes of the man I’ve
looked up to as a father. The stagnant pause lasts for only a few moments but
it feels like forever until Elrond sighs audibly and sits back down next to
Legolas on the bed.

 

“Well let us all hope that Frodo continues the journey in
safety and completes his task.” I glance up to smile lightly at Elrond who
mirrors my own faint wash of happiness before he turns to Glorfindel. “Did I
not ask an errand of you Glorfindel?” Just like that the thickness in the room
evaporates under Elrond’s insistent nudge back into our duty. I admire the
elder elf for he alone posses the calm countenance in the worst of times of
which I could never hope of portraying. Moving to the door I follow Faramir and
the others out into the corridor and make my way alone to my room. My heart has
played with my mind to utter confusion that I can not make head nor tail from
and until such time as I can understand what my heart truly desires it seems
only fair to release those I have wrongfully lead on. With solid determination
I sit down at the desk in the quiet of my room and begin to scribe my words to
Arwen, her gift clasped in my free hand. I have failed with the fellowship and
my heritage I shall not fail with my heart.

TBC……………………..