The old ways

Eowyn searched the body for wounds and broken bones. There was nothing she could make out from this side, she had to turn him over but she hadn’t enough strength left. She quickly got off the ground and called for help. Marna and Hamling were the nearest and rushed to her aid. Very carefully they turned the elf over. Marna quickly turned around and leaned over the edge of the parapet for fresh air. Eowyn choked and Hamling closed his eyes for a second. A mighty stroke of an axe had cleaved the back nearly in two. Right beside the spinal column, most of the ribs had been separated from it and the cut had even reached the skull. The skull had been cracked at the bottom, but not to such a bad extend that it was open, though the blank bone shone through. Eowyn took a deep breath and ordered Hamling to build a stretcher and lift the elf carefully onto it.
After half an hour they had managed to bring the body of the elf inside the keep into a large room were most of the wounded were treated. By the time they laid him face down on a table, more helpers had arrived and were now busy treating wounded and dying. Marna helped Eowyn, who had decided to tend to the Lorien elf herself, and fetched some water, healing herbs and bandages. Eowyn had heard that elves were fast healers but she had no idea how fast and if those healing powers were able to restore flesh and bone, like it was needed in this case. Very carefully Eowyn cut through the remaining layers of cloth and armour, laying bare the pale and slender body. When she cut away the shirt in the area of the neck, she found a severely damaged chain of the finest Mithril. While Marna went to cleaning the gashes, Eowyn cautiously pulled the chain out from under the shirt. Two matching rings hung to it, one slightly smaller than the other. It was hard to make out in this light, but she could make out different kind of leaves entwined with each other.

There was so much pain, scorching, searing and ripping through his body. A mixture of hot col cold, burning him. There was not supposed to be any pain in Mandos Halls, was there? The feeling of hands on his body, pushing him, rubbing something onto his skin, tying him up in some way. What was happening, he still couldn’t see, his hearing was not as it used to be and he couldn’t move. Where was he? What was happening? He wished to leave this torment, get rid of this pain, he wanted to be free to move and make himself known. His lips parted on their own accord, drawing in a shuddering breath. His tongue seemed to be glued to the roof of his mouth, it seemed swollen and partly paralysed, but after some failed attempts he was able to make a sound. It was no more than a harsh breath but Eowyn, who stood at the head of the table, bandaging his head, heard it nonetheless. “Legolas”.

Gimli still sat with the trembling elf in his arms. After some time the racking sobs subsided and the breathing became easier. Legolas slowly opened his bleary eyes and a small whimper left his mouth.
“My dear elven friend. It seems that I have you back at last. Come open you eyes a little further. Please speak to me. Legolas.” Gimli was gently stroking Legolas back, while he wiped the tears away from the pale face with his other hand.
“Gimli,” Legolas voice was faint and weak “Gimli, have you been here all the time?”
“Yes, Master elf. I have not left your side.”
“Gimli, I can not go on. I cannot live without him. It hurts so much. I need him, I can still feel his hands on my , hi, his lips on mine. Gimli, help me.” Legolas shuddered and the tears fell from anew.
“Legolas, listen to me. You have to hold on. We need you. Your child needs you. Do you hear me? Your child, Legolas. It is a part of Haldir you are carrying. It needs you very badly, don’t give up now. We will all help you get through this.”
“Oh Gimli, why did he come to Helm’s deep? Why did this happen. Oh Elbereth, and I didn’t even tell him of our child. He died without knowing. I was too scared to tell him, but I decided that after the battle I would tell him everything, I even would have left the fellowship if he had asked me to. He was my everything, Gimli.” Sobs started shaking the slim frame again, as Legolas buried his face in Gimli’s shoulder and cried.
It took a long time until Gimli felt Legolas relax and the partially regular breathing indicated that the elf had fallen into a light but healing sleep.

Gandalf had left the campsite and followed the path Gimli had taken to find Legolas. It didn’t take the old wizard long to find them. He found them beneath an old and large tree, the dwarf holding the elf in his arms stroking his back soothingly. If it hadn’t been such a tragic situation Gandalf would have laughed about the odd pair. But now he just quietly stepped nearer and gently laid his hand on the elf’s head.
“He is sleeping. That is a good sign. Maybe his will and love for his child will keep him going. But we have to get him nearer to the fire. He needs warmth. Come Master dwarf, I will carry him.” With that the old Istari cautiously took the slim frame from Gimli’s arms and moved through the darkness towards the campsite.