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By Death or Poison :: Part Three
Legolas looked warily around the room. Aragorn was standing at the window, waiting for the Elf to wake up.
"And how long have you been there?" asked Legolas.
Aragorn laughed, "A few days. Don't worry...I've slept. How are you feeling?"
"Uh...sore. I'm surprised I can feel anything at all. Not my lucky day, was it. Ah well, every body has a bad day once in a while," he replied.
"You best be careful or your bad day is bound to get you killed," Aragorn said with a laugh.
Legolas shrugged and tried to get out of bed. He fell back and gave up on the notion. "Where are we?" he asked.
"Mirkwood, like I said," replied Aragorn. "I'll go get you some food. You're probably hungry." He left the room, the door closing with a quiet click behind him.
Legolas sighed and put the pillow over his head. Quiet...it was quiet. How he longed to be back home, but now that he was home, he wanted to leave again. He hadn't realized that he was so restless. It wouldn't do him any good to leave now. It would only do him worse. He'd get as far as the edge of the forest before he passed out. It would only make Aragorn worry. The last thing he wanted to do was drop that kind of burden on the human. Aragorn had his own destiny to worry about, not Legolas's health.
The door opened again, but it wasn't Aragorn. No, it was Thranduil. "Feeling better?" asked his father.
"Better than a few days ago," he replied in a low tone.
Aragorn stood at the door, holding the food tray, but didn't enter.
"I was worried," said Thranduil. "You always get yourself in trouble when you go off on one of your little adventures or just a simple errand. You're so reckless."
"So? What do you care? I'm just another errand boy to you," he said.
They seemed so...angry at each other...so indifferent. Yet, they loved each other. In their hearts, they were bonded as father and son. It was as if...they were scared to show it.
"You know that's not true," contradicted Thranduil. "You're my son. You're the only thing that I have left..."
"Now that the kingdom is failing? Now that you know the forest's doom is inevitable? Or now that Mother is dead?"
The elven king couldn't answer that. He simply stood up and left. Aragorn moved and let him pass before walking in and setting the tray down on the bedside table. Legolas closed his eyes and waved Aragorn away. "Please leave, good friend, I wish to rest," he whispered. Aragorn nodded and left.
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The moon reached its peak in the sky before Legolas awoke again. Aragorn must have come and gone again, because the food tray was gone and replaced with a plate of bread and water. Legolas smiled, glad his friend cared so much. He moved his arm, but kept his shoulder still. It hurt even now. He got out of bed, feeling less dizzy than before. Legolas walked over to the window and looked out. It must be pretty late. Even the forest looked asleep. He opened the window. It felt strangely hot in the room.
The door creaked open. Aragorn stepped in. "I was just coming to check up on you and put some fresh bread and cold water out," he said. "I'm glad to find you awake."
Legolas turned to him and smiled, "Yeah, just dizzy. I thought you would have gone to sleep by now. You should." He sat back down on the bed.
Aragorn replaced the bread and water on the bedside table with what he brought. "I was having trouble sleeping, otherwise, I would have been in bed right now. Oh...you're cheeks are flushed," he said, lookign back to Legolas.
The Elf shrugged, "It's hot in here." Aragorn put his hand on his friend's forehead.
"Strange...you've got a fever...a high fever..." he muttered.
"That can't be possible," he said. "Elves don't get sick."
"Well, you do because you've got one. I was taught by Lord Elrond. I think I know when someone has a fever."
Legolas sighed and laid back. No wonder he felt so dizzy. He put his hand over his eyes. "Let's make for Rivendell in the morning. I need to see Elrond," he said to Aragorn.
"I'll be back. If you need me, send someone for me," he said.
"No need for that," replied Legolas. "You need rest. If I need something, I can get it myself." He closed his eyes as Aragorn left.
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