The Healing of Elves and Trees

Title: The Healing of Elves and Trees
Author: Eliza 422 (eliza_422@hotmail.com)
Pairing: Elrohir/Haldir (eventually), Elladan/Legolas
Rating: NC-17
Summary: AU Story. Elrohir and Celebrian are captured by orcs. They survive the attack but Elrohir is changed. Will he ever recover from what he has experienced?
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JRR Tolkien.

Author's note: Adding a short chapter. Elrohir has a long road to recovery ahead of him.

Chapter 13

"There, how does that look?" Legolas said as he finished adjusting the colorful scarf around Elrohir's head. ohirohir lifted the small looking glass in his hand. He grimaced when he saw the rather silly bow that Legolas had tied in the scarf. He hated the scarf, but he hated his bald head even more.
"Why couldn't you tie it normally? I don't want this obnoxious bow on the side of my head."
"It looks nice."
"No it doesn't. Now retie it!"
Legolas sighed, but leaned over to undo the scarf. "Your hair is really starting to grow in. Soon you won't need the scarf any more. And all my lovely handiwork will be for naught."
"I can't believe father had my head shaved in the first place."
Not this again, Legolas thought. "Elrohir, your hair - or what was left of it, I should say - was falling out in big clumps. Your father said it was because of the trauma. This way ytarttart fresh with all new hair. That's got to be good! There - does that pass inspection, my Lord Elrohir?"
Elrohir lifted the mirror again. Legolas had put a simple knot on the side. "Yes." He put the mirror down and turned toward the window. He shifted the heavy curtain aside a bit so he could see the sunlight.
"Do you want me to open the curtains?"
"No!"
Legolas sighed again. He'd been sighing a lot lately. They had been home for eight weeks and Elrohir, although healing physically, was not doing well mentally. He was in a small private room in the Healing House, and he had demanded heavy curtains on all the windows. He had also demanded no no one enter the room without knocking and asking permission first - and he refused everyone except Legolas, Elladan, Elrond, and a few healers. If anyone else dared enter the room he would have a screaming tantrum and throw thingsund und the room until the unwanted elf left. Legolas could have handled this, but Elrohir didn't allow his sister or his mother to see him, and that seem intolerable. However, Elrond didn't seem inclined to do anything about the matter, so Legolas and Elladan had to bear the brunt of Elrohir's mood swings.
"What are you thinking about, Legolas?" Elrohir asked. He had been watching his friend for a few minutes, and was curious what he looked so serious about.
"Me? Oh, nothing really. Elladan is back from patrol today, so I was just thinking about him."
"So were you thinking about nothing, or thinking about Elladan?"
"Elrohir, don't do this. I was thinking about Elladan, but not about anything in particular. Why do you have to be so literal?" Legolas leaned back and crossed his arms, feeling frustrated and not knowing what to do about it.
"I didn't mean to intrude on your private time, Prince Legolas!" Elrohir huffed and turned away, peaking out of the curtains again.
Legolas was about to reply when there was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Elrohir said.
"It's your father and Elladan."
"Come in."
"Elladan!" said Legolas, leaping out of his chair and heading to the door. He ran into the arms of his husband. "I thought you weren't going to be back until tonight!" He burst out crying.
"Babe, what's this all about? Why the tears?"
Elladan looked at his father in distressrondrond stepped closer to stroke Legolas' back. He simply tilted his head toward Elrohir and Elladan understood.
"Elrohir, if you don't mind, I'm going to take Legolas out for a walk. We haven't seen each other in two weeks."
Elrohir frowned. "Can't you stay a few minutes?"
"No, I don't think so. I'll come by later today and spend some time with you."
ne,\ne," Elrohir said faintly, turning toward the wall.
Elladan rolled his eyes, but led his sobbing husband out the door.

Elrond looked at Elrohir, and saw the anger burning in hyes.yes.
"I have Anorion outside in the hall. I'd like to bring him in so we can do a thorough exam. Is that all right?"
"Fine."
Elrond gestured to Anorion to come in. The two healers approached Elrohir's bed. The only lights in the room were oil lamps on several tables.
"Elrohir, Anorion is going to pull back the curtains from the windows. We need much better light than that from the lamps." Elrond motioned to Anorion to do so.
Elrohir raised himself onto his elbows. "No! Don't uncover the windows! I won't allow it!"
Elrond snapped. "I don't care what you want or don't want! We need light to do our job and that's final. Do you understand me, son?"
"Don't uncover the windows!" Elrohir screamed.
Anorion, who had stopped at Elrohir's command, looked at Elrond. "What should I do, my Lord?"
"Pull those curtains back!"
"No!" Elrohir grabbed the curtains closest to his bed and held on with all his strength. Anorion struggled to pull the curtains, not wanting to hurt the ellian. Elrond sat on the edge of the bed and grabbed Elrohir's hands, working at the fingers to let go.
"Let go of me father!"
"No! Stop acting like an elfling!"
Elrond finally managed to wrestle the curtains out of Elrohir's hands. Anorion immediately pushed them open and tied them back. He opened the curtains covering the other windows. The room was flooded with midmorning sunlight.
Elrohir still struggled to get his wrists out of his father's grip, but still hadn't regained his full strength. He finally stilled, but his anger had not dissipated. He stared at his father with anger and defiance.
"Let go of me!"
Elrond maintained his hold, although he loosened his grip. "No, I will not let you go until we've had a little talk."
"I don't want to talk. Just do your business and leave me alone."
"This isn't so much a talk as a lecture. I'm sick and tired of this behavior of yours. You're acting like the most spoiled infant in Arda and I'm not going to stand for it anymore."
Elrohir couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Spoiled? Spoiled? What does that mean?"
"It means we've put up with your unreasonable demands long enough. You will never completely heal if you keep going like this."
"I hate you! Let me go!"
Elrond took a few deep breaths to center himself. He continued in a calmer voice. "Elrohir, son, listen to me. I know you've been through a terrible experience..."
"You don't know anything!" Elrohir struggled again briefly, but it was impossible to get his father to let him go.
"You've been through a terrible experience, and none of us has wanted to do anything to upset you. But this is not the way to go about your healing. I'm afraid a lot of this is my fault - I've been seeing you as a son and not as a patient I need to heal - and I'm going to stop that right now."
Despite his efforts to control his emotions, Elrohir felt a few tears start sliding down his cheeks. "I don't want to hear anymore."
"You must. We've indulged all your demands, but we're not going to do that anymore. Trust me, son, I want you to get better."
"You're going to kill me!" sobbed Elrohir.
"No, I'm going to stop this self-destructive behavior of yours. You're also hurting other s."s."
"I'm not!"
"Son, didn't you see Legolas leaving in tears? And I can't even begin to tell you how hurt your mother is. How can you refuse to let your own mother see you?"
Elrohir began weeping in earnest. Everything felt so out of control. How was he ever going to hold on?
"You don't understand what I'm going through."
"And this is your way of dealing with it? Elrohir, an elf needs more than just medicine to heal, especially wounds to the spirit. You know that from your own training. For one thing, you need sunlight and fresh air - you'll never get better cowering behind black curtains."
"I'm not cowering!"
"And you need to the love and attention of family and friends - how are you going to get that if you keep everyone out?"
"I haven't kept you or Legolas or Elladan out!"
"You can't put this whole burden on them. Poor Legolas is worn out trying to keep you happy and entertained in this dank dungeon you've built for yourself. I won't have him suffering anymore."
Elrohir's breath was hitching, the sobs still shaking his body. Elrond finally let go of his wrists.
"Legolas is suffering?" Elrohir asked in a small voice.
Elrond reached up to stroke Elrohir's cheek. "He's a sweet elf who loves you dearly, but this is a heavy burden to carry. He feels personally responsible for your recovery."
"I never said that to him."
"You didn't have to. He knows that he's one of the few you've let in here - what else is he supposed to think?"
"I never wanted to hurt anybody, father."
"I know, son, but you are. This is very hard for me to say to you. It pains me to see you crying like this, but it pains me even more to think about you wasting away in this darkness. You've already accomplished so much."
"I have?"
"Yes! How many other elves could have gn thn this far? I only want to see you continue to heal."
"I don't know if I can."
"Let's just think about today and not worry about tomorrow. Anorion and I are going to give you a full exam. I think your wounds - except for your legs - should be completely healed."
Elrohir nodded, too upset to speak. He lay still while his father and Anorion poked and prodded him. He covered his eyes with his arm so he wouldn't have to see what they were doing.
"Elrohir, we need to examine you internally."
Elrohir jerked his head up. "What?" He saw Anorion adjustinme pme posts on the bed. The beds in the Healing House had all kinds of attachments to facilitate the examination and healing of elves.
"We're going to elevate your legs so we can examine you internally."
"No, please, father, can we do this some other time? I'll do anything you ask, I promise."
"I only want you to calm down while we do this. It won't take long."
Elrohir felt the tears start up again. They raised his bandaged legs gently onto the supports. His legs were spread wide and his father pulled up the edge of his sleeping tunic. Elrohir squeezed his eyes shut and held on tight to the blanket. He whimpered when he felt his father's fingers enter his body.
"We'll be done soon, son, I promise." Elrond glanced briefly at Elrohir, and took in the scrunched face and the death-grip he had on the blanket.
"I think everything is healed, my Lord," Anorion said.
"I agree. Let's put his legs back down."
Elrohir sobbed in relief when Elrond pulled his tunic back down. He didn't open his eyes.
"We're going to examine your legs next, son."
Elrond was reasonably satisfied with Elrohir's progress, but wanted to administer one last test. He checked that Elrohir still had his eyes shut, then pinched his right foot as hard as he could. Elrohir didn't react at all. Elrond repeated the test on the left foot, and still no response.
"We're done."
"Finally."
"It's been a rough morning, I know, so we'll leave you be for the rest of the day."
"The curtains?"
"Will stay open. And starting tomorrow, you'll spend most of the day outside."
"Not outside! Anyone can come by!" Elrohir panicked. He couldn't be out in the open where just anyone could happen upon him.
"I'm not proposing we plant you in the main courtyard. We'll set up a nice spot for you in the family gardens."
"But father..."
"I won't hear another word from you. You need the sun, fresh air, and plants and flowers around you. You'll not be cooped up in here anymore. And you'll start talking to Gailind tomorrow."
"No!"
"Yes - now is as good a time as any for you to start treatment with the mind healer. And you'll not refuse to see the rest of the family. You'll need your mother's and sister's support as much as Legolas'."
"Father! It's too much!"
"Stop exaggerating. You can start with a few minutes a day with Gailind - your work with him will probably be slow anyway."
"I can't see mother!"
"That might be the first thing you should discuss with Gailind..."
"Father..."
"I'm quite determined, Elrohir, so you might as well give up. I've done a disservice to you by not prescribing these treatments earlier. And when you come back in I suggest you take a nice long bath - no more sponge bathing for you."
Elrond stooped down to place a kiss on Elrohir's forehead. "I love you son." He didn't wait for a reply. He left the room with Anorion close behind, ignoring the fresh sobs coming from the bed.

Anorion stopped Elrond in the hallway. "My Lord, do you think he'll recover the use of his legs and feet?"
"I don't know, Anorion. I don't want to make any rash diagnoses. Perhaps he needs a few more weeks."
Anorion glared in vexation. "My Lord, it's been eight weeks and there's no change in his condition. I know that elves can eventually heal from extremely grave injuries, but it often takes years. You're not doing that ellian any good by lying to him."
"I didn't lie! I didn't say anng ang at all!"
"Which is a lie of omission. I think he should be kept informed of his progress."
"I'll bear that in mind. Anything else?"
"No. You quite renewed my faith in your healing abilities in there. For a few weeks now I'd thought you'd forgotten everything you ever knew about healing elves physically and mentally."
"It's a different story when it's your own son, Anorion."
"That's just an excuse for weakness."
Elrond laughed despite his fears for Elrohir. "Remind me why I keep you employed here, Anorion?"
"Because I'm not a yes-elf, that's why. I say it like it is. I speak the truth. I hold up the mirror in which you can see your own failings and inadequacies. I offer healthy skepticism. I ... "
"Enough! Enough! You've proven your worth! No more, I beg of you!"