A Healing Touch

Hi people, here is your update. I would have posted the second half to this chapter last night but for some reason it wouldn't post.

Shadow Archer: Are you serious? I never got that e-mail, then again I'm always the last to know anything. Anyway... You never thought of a dragon in Middle Earth? I take it you've never read "The Hobbit"? There's a dragon in there, Smaug. (He's bad though). No, I don't think you sound rude, better that than getting flamed. lol.

Mawgy: I know, I'm sorry! I meant to post more chapter quickly but I've been trying to get my Christmas shopping done. I haven't even gotten a tree yet. I actually meant to post the second half of this chapter last night.... or I should say this morning, I was up all night till about 9:30 am, but the chapter wouldn't post, I tried about three times and nothing worked and I didn't have the patience to try a fourth time, I was too tired. So lets try this again.

m: Lol, yes I'm insane. I don't know what I was thinking, but I love dragons and I don't like the idea of dragons always being evil. So I came up with Nuarhir and now he and Legolas have a kind of 'Lilo and Stitch' relationship going on.

louise_oblique: Lol, glad you think so. *hugs*

Amelie: Really? I'll drop you a line.

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Disclaimer: If you don't know then I'm not gonna tell you.

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Legolas abruptly awoke as a high-pitched scream issued throughout the Last Homely House in the early morning and he instinctively scanned the room. "Nuarhir?" Legolas leaned over the ledge of the bed, lifting the covers to see underneath. The little dragon was nowhere in sight. "Oh no..." the prince muttered. He was interrupted when he heard the loud sound of crashing and banging, following more frightful screams. He sighed and kicked off the blankets, rushing out his chambers and down the hall. Hearing more clashing of glass and metal, Legolas ran down the stairs, quickly racing to the kitchens.

When he finally reached the doorway he stood frozen in place as he took in the scene before him. Nuarhir barely missed Glorfindel's sword as it came crashing down upon the long marble counter, and scurried out of reach as the seneschal lifted it back again and swinging sideways, knocking over countless jars, causing them to be flung to the floor with a loud crash and shatter.

In the corner of the room, stood one of Elrond's chambermaid's crying in hysterics as she witnessed the scene before her, Erestor was there as well, still garbed in his night clothes, trying to calm her. She was tightly clutching a fruit basket to her chest and leaning into the wall as if to hide herself. Under normal circumstances seeing a frenzied she-elf, a flustered Erestor, and a seething Glorfindel in nothing but a nightgown swinging around a sword would have been fairly amusing but as it was the seneschal was chasing the baby dragon around the kitchen intent on killing it the first chance he had as the little creature bounded off walls and jumping off table tops, its paws screeching across the floor as it attempted to bolt from the angered Balrog slayer. "Glorfindel, don't!" Legolas cried.

At the sound of the little elf's voice, Nuarhir immediately swung his head around and without second thought dodged towards him, still parrying the blows as Glorfindel's sword kept clashing against the floor as he tried to decapitate the poor beast. Legolas knelt on his knees and opened his arms to the small creature as it jumped towards him, the sudden weight knocking them both against the wall as Legolas tightly wrapped his arms around the creature. "Legolas, get away from that creature!" the seneschal cried, ready to strike down the beast once it was released. Legolas backed into the corner of the wall, still shielding the dragon with his arms and shook his head frantically. "Now, Legolas!"

"No! I won't let you hurt him."

"You are speaking madness, Legolas. That thing is a monster!"

Legolas brought up his knees to better block his 'pet'. "Nuarhir is no monster, he's my friend! You can't hurt him, I won't let you." Legolas' youthful features were firm in his decision, his jaw set tight, his brow furrowed and the look of defiance in his bright eyes, the same stubborn quality that his sire possessed.

"I knew it!" Erestor bellowed, leaving the maiden's side to stand next to the seneschal. "I knew you were hiding something from us. Tell me, Legolas, how long did you possibly think that you could hide--"

"What in the name of Eru is going on here!?" all eyes turned to the center of the doorway to meet those of Lord Elrond, his stony mask firm and demanding. On either side of him stood his sons, each dressed only in a pair of simple loosgginggings, looking on in disbelief. "Well? Someone answer me."

Erestor stepped foreword, pointing a finger accusingly at the small form huddling in the corner wall. "I told you, Elrond, I told you, did I not? Legolas has been harbouring a beast!" Elrond's gaze snapped on Legolas and the tiny form he was shielding.

"Nuarhir is not a beast!" Legolas snapped, hugging the creature tighter to his chest.

Elrohir turned silently to his brother. "Nuarhir?" Elladan shrugged his shoulder with a raised brow.

"Watch your tongue with me, elfling. Elrond and Glorfindel aren't the only ones capable of giving a good thrashing."

"That will do, Erestor." Elrond chastised before raising an eyebrow at the flaxen haired child. "Let me see, Legolas." The elfling slowly, albeit hesitantly lowered his legs and unwrapped his arms, but still let his hands rest on the creature's mid-section. For a long moment all were silent as they gazed unbelievingly at the green reptile in the child's lap.

"Well," Elladan said, breaking the silence. "that explains a lot."

"Please," Legolas whimpered, staring at the elf lord, pleading eyes brimming with tears. "please don't hurt him, Elrond. Don't let them kill him, he did nothing bad."

The Lore master sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose between two fingers. "Come with me, penneth." Legolas hesitantly stood, not giving up his hold on the dragon. Elrond then turned to the rest of the kitchen's occupants. "I suggest the rest of you return to your chambers and change into something more presentable." with that said Elrond then put a hand to the prince's back and gently guided him out the door.

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"Where did you find it?" Elrond sat next to Legolas on the overly sized bed, the prince looking guiltily into his lap which the emerald dragon now perched.

"In the forest, under some shrubs."

"I see, and did it not occur to you at all that I would be very upset with you for bringing this creature into my home?" Legolas nodded slowly. "Then why did you do it?
"
"He would have died had I not taken him home."

"You don't know that for certain."

"Yes I do. He's only a babe. He doesn't know how to hunt, he can't even fly yet or breath fire. And his naneth was nowhere in sight and Glorfindel told me that dragons never stray from their young."

"Never the less, Legolas, you should not have lied to us about it. Here you haven't even had this creature for a fortnight and look at all the trouble its caused already. You've put me in a very difficult position."

"Please, Elrond, I'm sorry. Don't let Glorfindel kill him, please!"

"Honestly, Legolas, I am at a loss for what to do. You cannot keep that creature here. It is destructive and it is reckless. And once it grows larger things will be much worse."

"But he's my friend. And I can train him--"

"Whether you can train him or not isn't the issue, Legolas. It is wrong to domesticate an animal born in the wild. Why do you think that dragon is so destructive? Keeping it locked in doors is slowly driving it mad. Please try to understand."

"But... but we keep horses."

"Yes but that is completely different. They choose to serve us, and they still have their freedom. This dragon does not." Legolas sighed, affectionately stroking the dragon's scales. "And what about your faithful Skylenar? She will surely become jealous if you spend the majority of your time with this dragon."

Legolas moaned. "What am I going to do?"

Elrond wrapped an arm affectionately around the boy, hugging him tightly. "I do not yet know. You may keep your dragon for now until I figure out what to do with it."

"Thank you, lord Elrond."

The elf lord nodded, before he rose and walked towards the entryway. "Jury try to keep that thing under control. I do not need anymore of my furniture demolished."

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Elrond collapsed in his chair, utterly exhausted. He then glanced across his desk at his seneschal and advisor seated before him, now properly attired. "Did you give the little imp a good thrashing?" Erestor muttered plainly.

"No." the elf lord sighed.

"No? Why ever not? Iluvatar knows he deserves one, sneaking that beast in without our knowledge."

"His heart was in the right place, Erestor. He did what he did for all the right reasons."

"I did not realize bringing a demon into the house to destroy the property was a good thing."

Elrond sighed, and turned his gaze to his seneschal whom sat silently in his chair, hand supporting his chin as he stared blankly at his desk. "Glorfindel, have you any opinion in this?"

"I... I can't believe Legolas would hide something like this."

"He handled things as he had because he was afraid you woreacreact exactly as you did. He knew the moment you found out about the creature you would slay it."

"Perhaps, but does that really justify what he did?"

"Considering how much he cares for the beast, I would have to say yes. He cares for it so much he has even gone as far to name it gwador."

"He calls this monster, 'sworn brother'?" Erestor exclaimed. "Lovely, just simply wonderful. So, what are we to do now with the little beast?"

Elrond shook his head. "That is what I am trying to figure out."

"What I would like to know," Glorfindel suddenly said. "is how in Arda would a dragon be able to enter our lands without us even knowing?"

"That is a good question." the elf lord replied. "The border patrol is always on high alert as far as I am aware. Glorfindel, I want you to take Legolas into the forest. Have him show you exactly where he found the dragon and look for any sign of its mother's presence and try and find some clue as to how it found its way onto our territory."

"Of course, my lord."

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"Isn't he cute?" Legolas smiled up at the twins from where he sat upon his bed, Nuarhir draped comfortably in his lap. Elladan and Elrohir stared at the creature, an odd look masking their features as they both crouched in front of him, knee to knee.

"Well," Elrohir started, for the first time since his majority utterly speechless. "he's .... nice, but he's just so... so--um--"

"What Elrohir means to say, Legolas, is ...uh, he's interesting but--"

"He isn't exactly what I'd call the ideal pet. I mean, he's already destroyed our chambers,"

"Which we expect you to help us repair, by the way."

"And the kitchen--"

"Technically, brother, that was Glorfindel's doing."

"Well yes, Elladan, but still that would not have happened had the creature not been there in the first place." the younger twin turned back to the elfling with a sigh. "Adar will never let you keep him, Legolas."

"I know." the prince sighed.

"Nor could we," Elladan inquired. "That animal would destroy everything in its path before it even fully matured. Such creatures aren't meant to be kept in a cage, Legolas. It would break his fea and slowly drive him to madness. You would want what's best for him, would you not?"

"Yes, but ... but I'll miss him. Nuarhir's my friend."

"Then as his friend do what is best for him. I am certain he has a family out there somewhere looking for him. For a moment, Legolas, see through his eyes," Elladan hated to bring up the painful subject, but he desperately wanted the elfling to understand. "If you had the chance to see your naneth again, you wouldn't hesitate for a moment, would you?"

"No." the boy whimpered, very close to tears. Elladan sighed and perched on the bed besiim, im, wrapping a single arm around the prince's small form and hugging him close in comfort and apology for broaching the subject that effected them both. Elrohir followed suit, taking a seat on the opposite side.

"Then let him go, Legolas. He needs his freedom, needs his family. You have done your part for him and have done it well. You have taken him into your care and have protected him, ensured his survival, and I am certain he knows this, just by the he che constantly stays with you. But you must let him live as a dragon is meant to." Legolas sniffled, silently nodding inersterstanding.

"For now," Elrohir said. "enjoy your time with him until adar, Glorfindel and Erestor decide on what to do with him. Why don't we go out into the gardens a w a while and take your Nuarhir for a walk? I expect he would enjoy some time out doors. Come." Standing in unition, the twins exited the chambers, Legolas following right behind.

As the trio wandered the garden paths, the twins relayed their adventure and how they had tracked down a hoard of orcs with the help of the dunadan, and had engaged in hazardous battle, soon becoming overthrown with the dark beasts, fighting for their lives and coming out victoriously. Legolas listened intently to the two brothers as they finished their tale, occasionally glancing at Nuarhir as he romped through the bed of flowers and clambered up trees jumping from one branch to another.

They had stopped under Legolas' favoured willow and hadchedched them selves on the drooped over apple tree, the dragon scampering his way with them and together they sat, discussing their time apart. At one point when Nuarhir was vainly trying to gain their attention, he had unexpectedly clamped down his teeth on Elladan's leggings, earning a pained yelp from the elder twin as his teeth grazed his calf and began to pull, making growling noises.

While Elladan attempted to shake the little creature off, his other half and Legolas chuckled at the sight of him hopping around on one foot while flailing his other leg with the dragon firmly attached to it. "Ai, get this thing off me!"

Wiping the joyful tears from his face, Legolas finally granted the elder twin mercy and reached around Nuarhir's waist and arduously extracted him from the twin's limb, a scrap of Elladan's legging plucked with them. The force of the pull landed the elfling on his bottom with a grunt, the dragon clutched to his chest, landing in a pile of leaves. The prince then looked up, grinning sheepishly as he released the reptile, whom merely began jumping and rolling in the foliage playfully. Legolas chuckled, and began throwing handfuls of leaves at the little animal.

Glancing at each other with identical mischievous grins, Elladan and Elrohir slowly approached the pair, their predatory looks not escaping the elfling. With a worried glance in their direction, Legolas quickly stood and just when he was about to take flight, Elrohir snagged him around the waist earning a surprised yelp from the prince before picking him up and tossing him back into the bed of leaves. Elrohir dove in after him, Elladan quickly following suit, playfully tackling his brother from behind, and together they started wrestling as if they were elflings again, rolling and grappling in the crunchy pile. Legolas laughed heartily, before he too joined the frisky quarrel, vaulting on Elrohir's back and wrapping his arms around the twin's shoulder while the dark haired elf pinned down his brother. While the three elves capered in the leaves, Nuarhir watched them curiously before he realized that this was the two-leggeds way of play and he too jumped in with them, playfully pouncing on them and tugging on their clothing, and dodging their playful hands., and that is how Glorfindel found them when he rode up on Asfaloth's back, grasping Skylenar's reins whom wolloollowing close behind.

Clearing his throat rather dramatically loud to gain their attention, the three elves quickly froze in their brawl, snapping their attention on the golden haired elf before them. With an amused smile on his face, he dismounted his steed and walked towards them. "Oh now honestly, I would have thought by now you two would have matured at least a bit." The twins merely grinned from their positions, Elrohir straddling his brother, pinning his wrists above his head. Glorfindel then fixed his gaze on the elfling whom had his beloved dragon hanging off his shoulders. "Legolas, you are to come with me. I wish for you to show me the exact place where you found that... animal."

"Alright," the elfling nodded. After standing and brushing himself of the leaves that clung to his garments, he clicked his tongue to his green companion and Nuarhir climbed over his shoulder and into his arms. Walking up to his youthful mare, Legolas lovingly stroked her snoud ind introduced the strange creature in his arms. "Skylenar, this is my new friend, Nuarhir. Nuarhir, meet the greatest horse that ever lived, Skylenar."

Skylenar stared at the dragon. Nuarhir stared at the horse. Flaring her nostrils at the strange reptile, the filly decided immediately that she did not like this creature. The dragon's feelings were mutual and he immediately began to growl somewhat akin to a cat at the large mammal. In turn, Skylenar pinned her ears back and lunged her head foreword in an attempt to nip at the small beast but Legolas quickly backed up out of her reach. "Skylenar, no! You be nice to him." The mare's response was an indignant snort as she held her head high.

"Come now, Legolas, up with you."

Legolas turned to the seneschal, holding the dragon out to him. "I think you had better hold him while I mount Sky'." Saying that, the elfling forced Nuarhir into the Balrog slayer's hands, whom in turn hesitantly held him out at arm's length, eyeing him carefully as if at any moment he would bite off his hand.

Motioning with his hand to lower to the ground, Skylenar bent to her knees so Legolas could climb atop her. He then grasped the reins before giving her a light tap on the side of her neck to indicate that she could rise. Normally elven horses wouldn't require tack, their intelligence exceeding that of a regular horse, and their understanding of the elvish languages. But both Legolas and his mare were fairly young, Legolas an inexperienced rider, and Skylenar only freshly trained. So for the safety of the prince, should the filly spook at something, Glorfindel had put on a simple halter and a set of reins on the horse.

Once Legolas was up and comfortably mounted, Glorfindel instantly handed him back the dragon before taking hold of his stallion's mane and gracefully hauled himself up. It was obvious to any spectator that the young mare didn't appreciate the extra load seated on her rump, the only thing stopping her from bucking the little creature off being fear of the Balrog slayer's wrath. Besides, if she threw off the dragon, her little master would no doubt be coming off as well, and she wouldn't dare put his life in jeopardy. Nudging his stallion gently, Glorfindel led Asfaloth along the forest path, Legolas following closely behind, waving bye to the twins as they left.

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Legolas led Glorfindel deep within the forest until the foliage grew too dense for the horses to trod through. From there on the pair traveled by foot, Nuarhir romping playfully beside them until they arrived at the very shrubs that Nuarhir was found under. The dragon instantly recognized their surroundings, becoming very frightened and walking closely to Legolas. Glorfindel motioned for the prince to stay put at the foot of the over-sized boulder while he began examining the ground for paw prints and crushed or damaged flora.

The elfling remained very silent as Glorfindel scanned the ground, listening to him as he quietly mumbled incoherent words to himself. The elf lord walked several paces foreword and looked up, suddenly noticing a clearing in the distance. Motioning for Legolas to follow closely, he hurriedly made his way over.

When the seneschal and prince came to a stop in the middle of the clearing, Nuarhir became so frightened that he began to tremble. Legolas immediately noticed this and quickly picked his little companion in his arms, holding him close, beginning to be fearful himself. "Glorfindel, something's wrong. We should leave, Nuarhir's frightened."

"One moment, penneth." Glorfindel mumbled as he began to trace the clearing. He bent down on his haunches, patting the ground with his hands, noting the splashes of blood on the frost covered grass and the fallen leaves. Scanning the ground, he quickly noticed several egg shells and sprinted over to them. They were dragon eggs, he mentally noted. They had apparently been crushed by something, traces of yoke still oozing out of them with a mixture of more dragon blood, likely from the unborn foetuses. Trees had also been knocked over, Glorfindel noticed. And the foliage was very flat, evidence that some large creature had been nesting here. What could have happened here? Female dragons were known to travel in colonies and protected each others young as if they were their own. And a dragon would never purposefully destroy their own eggs, for as massive as they are, they are painfully fragile with their young. There was obviously a fight between two dragons here, so Glorfindel's guess was that a solitary female was trying to protect her young from a male dragon. It was rare but male dragons were known to destroy a mother's eggs when they wanted to mate with that particular female.

Now all Glorfindel had to do was figure out how they came into Imladris without anyone realizing it. Dragons could fly, that much was true, but surely an elf would see such a beast flying in the air? Unless, he thought, they flew in at night when most people were indoors either sleeping, or spending time with their families after a long days work. The border patrols would not have noticed, they did not travel this deep into the forest, this particular area not on their path, the closest rode a long way from here. That must have been it, then. Two dragons fought here, destroying one of the dragon's eggs. All of them... except one. But where was the mother dragon now? Had it been killed, or just relocated. No, a female dragon could sense their young. Surely she would not abandon it? "Glorfindel, please. Can we leave, now? I don't like it here." Legolas' timid voice interrupted the seneschal from his brooding and he sighed but nodded.

"Very well, Legolas. I found what we have come for. Come." Just as Glorfindel was about to turn, a sudden shadow slowly loomed over the clearing, accompanied by the loud sound of beating wings. Whirling around to the sound of large feet coming into contact with the earth, Glorfindel craned his head to meet the yellow eyes of a massive red dragon. For several seconds the beast simply stared at him, its large sun coloured eyes dilating as it regarded his person, before arching its head up and letting out a loud, high pitched roar.

His first instinct was to flee, but Glorfindel was a warrior and as such had a duty to protect the elfling that was charged to his care. Baring his teeth, Glorfindel quickly reached for the knife tied at his belt just as the monster's fangs came down at which the seneschal quickly rolled to the side, ignoring the elfling's scream of fear. "Legolas, get behind that boulder, now!" he managed to cry before parrying a swing from the dragon's massive talons. Lunging the blade of his knife, Glorfindel managed to lodge it into the unprotected palm of the dragon's hand, jerking it out as the beast howled in pain.

For his part, Legolas was frozen in fear, unable to comply to the elf lord's command. He felt as if he was rooted in place, able to do naught but gape at the scene before him. Only a nudge on his tunic sleeve from his small companion seemed to snap him back into reality as he and Nuarhir clambered up and over the rock, pressing tightly against it to shield themselves. Legolas' blood suddenly ran cold, his face becoming very pale as he heard a Roar of victory from the great beast and a grunt of pain from his guardian. The prince peered to the side of the rock, crying out in horror as he watched Glorfindel stagger several paces, clutching his upper arm tightly as blood flowed from a deep gnarled wound.

For a split second, Glorfindel was aware of nothing except the fiery pain lancing up his arm where the dragon had snagged him with its fangs. He held the wound, desperately trying to stop the blood from flowing. Legolas' cry of his name seemed to have brought him back to the present, and he drowsily opened his eyes but was too late to do anything as a long spiked tail came flying at him, the contact throwing his body against the boulder, though he had enough sense in his mind to keep his chin tucked to his chest so he would not take a blow to his head. As the Balrog slayer's body slid down to the ground, and he believed all hope was lost as he saw the deadly head come at him again, he had to blink twice to believe he was not hallucinating when another dragon, a green female with fiery red eyes, came swooping down from the sky, hind legs coming down fist as they dug painfully into the males back and it howled out in pain.

The great male shook the female off, rearing into the air and grazing her with his proud horns. The female paid little heed to the minor wound and sunk her teeth in to the back of the male's neck, causing another howl of pain to issue from his mouth. In defence he swung around and caught her with his talons, causing her to stumble back several paces. The female flared her nostrils angrily, and before the red male could give a second thought, bright ball of flame shot out her snout, catching him in the side and causing him again to rear onto his back legs.

While the dragons continued to battle, Glorfindel painfully crawled behind the boulder to join the prince. His breathing was raspy and his eyes were closed as if to will away the pain. His forehead was sweaty and cheeks flushed, and he wanted nothing more then to fall asleep right then and there, but he couldn't, otherwise risk never waking up again. "Glorfindel," Legolas whimpered, eyes glazed with tears. "You're hurt, we have to go home so Elrond can heal you."

"Legolas," Glorfindel wheezed. "get out of here, quickly. While they are distracted, go home."

The prince shook his head stubbornly. "No, not without you." Legolas stared at the seneschal's wounded arm. "We have to make the bleeding stop."

"We would never make it back in time. I must heal the wound myself but we cannot do it here."

Legolas thought for several moments. "There is a cave nearby, I think. Narofea pointed it out several times to me. It's not far, come on."

"I... don't think I can get up, Legolas."

"Yes you can," Legolas whimpered. "get up."

Glorfindel sighed in exasperation, struggling to his trembling feet and once he was standing steadily, Legolas quickly but carefully led him towards the cave he had spoken about. It was not far, and it was no more then a large rock imbedded in the base of a hill, but it would do. Once inside Glorfindel immediately collapsed on his knees, panting heavily. "Legolas, you must gather wood quickly, and kindling, and then start a fire."

Legolas was too distraught to answer and simply nodded, rushing out of the cave and coming back several moments later with dried tree bark and sticks, Nuarhir running up behind him, laying a piece of wood in the pile that he had carried with his mouth. Legolas then looked at the pile uncertainly. "Glorfindel, I don't know how to--"

Before he could finish his sentence, Nuarhir flared his nostrils, blowing out a spark of fire. It was not much, but it was enough, though Legolas was not at all amazed. He knew Nuarhir could understand him, he just chose not to listen most of the time, but the dragon seemed to sense the mood and instinctively knew what had to be done. Taking one of the longer sticks, Legolas began to stoke the fire until it became a large enough flame for its intended purpose, though Legolas was uncertain as to what that purpose was.

Glorfindel slid up to the fire and Legolas watched curiously as he lay his knife over the flame, its metallic blade heating up until it began to glow red. "I don't understand, Glorfindel. How will this stop the bleeding? Don't you have to sew the wound closed?"

"I do not have the proper equipment to properly suture the wound closed, Legolas." the seneschal rasped. "I must close the wound by the heat of the blade. You may not want to watch this."

"The heat of the blade?" Legolas repeated. Then awareness suddenly dawned on him. Like a blacksmith would fuse metal and iron together, Glorfindel was going to fuse his wound closed. His eyes went wide. "But you can't! I-- I mean, that will hurt, won't it?"

Glorfindel gazed into his lap, refusing to meet the boy's pleading eyes. Truthfully he was afraid. He had felt this pain before, and believed there was no greater pain then the scorching of flesh and Legolas' frightful stare would only discourage him further. If he wanted to live there was no other way. "It must be done, Legolas." Tearing off a piece of his shirt, Glorfindel wiped the blood off his wounded arm as best he could. "Legolas, is there a stream nearby?" at Legolas' nod, Glorfindel handed him the rag. "I want you to go to the nearest source of water and soak this for me."

Legolas nodded and without another word he and his dragon quickly ran out of the cave. As soon as they were gone Glorfindel grasped the hilt of the knife and extended his arm over his raised knee. He had purposely sent the boy out so he would not have to witness this. The elfling had already seen so much horror in his short life and Glorfindel did not wish to add to those memories. Besides, the last thing he needed was for the boy to see him in such a vulnerable state. He was supposed to protect him and to have him see the mighty Balrog slayer cry under the knife would be too pathetic to even think of. He knew he would cry, and he did not want the boy to see that, his moment of weakness.

Gritting his teeth, Glorfindel's trembling fingers firmly pressed the knife against his bleeding wound, trying to ignore the stench of charred flesh and the sound of hissing blood. Unable to control his voice from the excruciating pain, Glorfindel involuntarily let loose an anguished scream that would chill the blood of any within hearing distance.

Legolas felt his heart constrict at the distressed cry that echoed through the forest, immediately recognizing whose voice it was and why he was in agony. Motioning for Nuarhir to follow, Legolas dashed back to the cave, the dragon's surprisingly quick form not far behind. When the prince and dragon arrived, they were nearly shocked to see the seneschal panting through protesting whimpers, arm clutched tightly to his chest, while his back was pressed against the wall as if to cool his heated skin. Legolas doubted that Glorfindel even noticed the drying tears staining his cheeks. He ignored the scent of burnt skin that churned his stomach for now and cautiously approached the Balrog slayer. When he was not a foot away, did the prince timidly speak. "Glorfindel?"

Glorfindel's head snapped to Legolas, only for the first time realizing he was there. Quickly regaining his composure and mentally berating himself for his lack of attention, he looked at the elfling as if nothing was wrong. He again chastised himself internally as the prince stood face to face with his hunched form and tenderly wiped the tears from his face before snuggling down beside the seneschal while taking his good arm in his and draping it over his shoulder, leaning in closely.

Legolas heard him scream, Glorfindel knew he did, but was thankful that the child said nothing about it, only giving him silent comfort through the gentlest of touches. The seneschal scowled as Nuarhir came to join their little cuddle, and the seneschal knew the dragon could sense his disapproval but chose to ignore the elf as he snuggled into the prince's lap. Glorfindel just decided to ignore the little pest for now and gain a bit of his strength back while they rested, though he knew he could not fall asleep, so just sat there and thought for a while before they decided to head back to the horses and make their way back to the Last Homely House.

Their horses were where they had left them, and for this the seneschal was grateful. Asfaloth knowingly lowered to the ground when he saw his master's wound, Skylenar following suit for her elfling, ignoring the scaly nuisance that followed him, and as quickly as they could, in Glorfindel's condition, made there way back home.

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To be Continued -->

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penneth: young one
hen-nin: my child
fea: spirit
gwador: sworn brother
glaurohun: golden heart