Anna did not sleep well that night. She was up and down all night using the chamber pot. Her head ached and she could not seem to get warm enough. The first few nights that Anna had slept in Orophin's room her tossing and turning in the middle of the night had roused him but he had long since grown accustomed to it and now slept thru it.
In the morning when Orophin woke from his reverie, he was surprised to find Anna still asleep. Usually she was up and preparing breakfast before Rúmil or Orophin. He called gently to her
"Wake up sleepy head the sun will rise soon." She did not even stir.
Orophin reached out his hand lightly tapping her cheek to wake her and found she was burning up with fever. Orophin's heart constricted within him and his stomach felt hollow. He knew little of mortals and their ills but he had seen enough fevers to know this would be a dangerous one, perhaps even deadly. Orophin ran out of the talan to seek a healer.
Miles away another elf felt his heart constrict and his stomach go hollow as he tried to enter reverie. He finally drifted off but when he woke found that the feeling was even stronger. Legolas did not understand fully what was happening to him or why. He only knew deep within his heart that the mortal woman whom they had rescued was in great danger and he was filled with an overwhelming urge to go to her side. He tried several times to shake off this feeling of dread and urgency but it was no use. The harder he fought against it the stronger it became.
By the time the sun was risen the urge to go to her had become so powerful that he had saddled and supplied his horse and was talking out loud to himself, rehearsing how he would explain to Aragorn and Gimli his need to leave.
Even in the midst of everything else that occupied Aragorn's mind he had noticed Legolas's increasing unrest. At first Aragorn had thought it was the sea longing which had finally entered the soul of his dear friend but it was Gimli who managed once again to voice the problem exactly.
"You are thinking about that lass we found aren't you?", asked Gimli.
"There is something very wrong, I feel she is in great danger. I must go to her. Do not ask me why, I do not fully understand this myself, " answered Legolas.
He then turned toward Aragorn and would have tried to explain his need but Aragorn held up his hand and said, "There is no need to explain Legolas. Go to her. We will follow as we may."
So it was that Legolas Thranduilion followed his heart north riding as hard as he was able.
Meanwhile in Lothlorien Orophin had found a healer and brought him to the talan where Anna was delirious with fever. After examining her the healer had her brought to the healing tents with those who had been injured. Anna was kept slightly apart however because, even though elves are not usually subject to mortal sickness, the healers knew it was unwise to take chances with spreading a fever of unknown origin.
Orophin looked at Anna with worry in his eyes as Haldir approached. "What are you doing out of bed brother?" Asked Orophin.
"A good morning to you also brother. I am not yet an invalid so you can stop looking so worried,” replied Haldir.
"If they have allowed you to rise then you are past the worst of your injuries and I look forward to hearing your gruff orders on the field once more, but my worry today was not only for you dear brother", answered Orophin distractedly.
"Has someone else been injured? Is it Rumil?" Haldir asked his voice changing from light and jovial to fearful.
"Nay Rumil is well it is Anna. She has taken a high fever suddenly," Orophin almost whispered as he began to pace.
Haldir could see the worry in his brother's eyes and in the way he was acting. It was amazing, he thought, how quickly this young woman had worked her way into all their hearts. Even he would be sad if the lady died. After all, someone with the courage to stand up to Orophin was a rarity. Haldir smiled as he recalled her spunk.
"She is in good hands Oro," said Haldir. "I will check on her when I may as the healers intend to keep me here even though I have repeatedly told them I am fit to leave"
Orophin smiled slightly at his brother's obvious frustration. Knowing Haldir it would not have surprised him at all if the Lord and Lady had had to order him to remain until the healers released him.
"Go and tend your other duties Oro, or you may find yourself having to eat Rumil's cooking for breakfast. I give you my word I will send for you if there is any change in her condition."
Orophin did not want to leave Anna but he knew there was much to do and the plans for the next several days would not be put on hold for one sick woman, no matter who she was. So he returned to the talan and started breakfast. Rumil was almost desperate to ask Orophin about Anna, but he could tell that his brother was on the verge of tears. Rumil did not want to intrude on Orophin's grief or take the chance of pushing him over the edge into despair. They had come to care a great deal for the mortal woman. They knew that , being mortal, she would one day die as all mortals did. Still death was an unnatural and horrifying state to any elf and neither of them wanted to contemplate the most likely outcome of such a fever. For this reason the two brothers packed and went about the normal household duties in a silence so thick it could be cut with a knife.
In the healing tents Anna moaned, "Eddie wait" and "No! don't" as visions of her family and friends drifted through her delirium. The healers' greatest fear was dehydration of their patient, so a vine was inserted in her nose and run down the back of her throat into her stomach through which they fed her sugar water and a warm broth made of boiled potatoes, onions and cabbage. This is also how they administered goldenseal, willow bark tea and sleeping drafts. Kingsfoil was burned like incense in the healing tents and the whole place smelled of it. Through it all, Anna dreamed there was a snake crawling up her nose and she screamed trying to pull the tube out. Finally they bound her hands so she could not hurt herself or accidentally remove the tube.
Twice daily the healers placed Anna in cool wet sheets and after she was dried off, rubbed her down with alcohol in order to help reduce the fever and cleanse her body from the profuse sweat. Her hair began to fall out in clumps due to the extreme fever. The fever broke after several days and a small swollen bite mark was discovered under her left arm. The healers agreed that it was a small insect bite and quite probably the cause of her illness so she was declared no longer contagious. Anna was still very weak when she regained consciousness, but Haldir visited her as he had promised. Orophin and Rumil also checked in on her as often as they could while at the same time giving Haldir reports of what was happening at the front. Haldir was driving the healers insane with demands that he be released and allowed to fight at the side of his brothers and friends. To occupy Haldir's time and mind the healers allowed him to help with tend some of the patients needs, first making him promise he would not overdue or it would mean an extra week for him in the healing tents.
When Anna woke up she saw Haldir sitting beside her. "Quel Amrun Lirimar," said Haldir.
By the time the fever had broken Anna had lost almost all of her hair and if she felt a little plain next to these drop dead gorgeous creatures before, she was positively mortified at her appearance now. She felt naked without her hair but good manners won out over her pride and she whispered hoarsely, "Quel amrun Haldir."
When the healers found she could take some drink and food on her own, they removed the feeding tube. Anna shuddered recalling the nightmare she'd had about the snake.
"Is something wrong lirimar?" asked Haldir after seeing her shudder in fear
"Oh no, it's just that I dreamed that vine was a snake and remembering it just now kind of shook me up," she replied shuddering again.
"Dark dreams are natural with such a high fever," Haldir responded. "Not all of your dreams were dark though," he said.
Anna looked at him quizzically, so he smiled and asked "Who is Ed-dei?"
Anna blushed and asked, "Was I talking in my sleep?"
Haldir nodded and smiled and Anna blushed even more deeply. If she had been talking about Eddie in her sleep, who knows what she had said. Haldir had been right; not all of her dreams had been frightening. Some had been sad and others had been erotic. She could feel herself turning bright crimson and prayed she had not said Legolas' name in her sleep.
"You still have not answered me, who is Ed-dei?" Haldir asked again begining to enjoy teasing her. "Is he your lover?"
"What else did I say in my sleep?" she answered.
"I will tell you what else I heard when you tell me who Ed-dei is?"
"Eddie was my husband "she responded sadly. He died."
"I am sorry lirimar. I did not mean to remind you of something so sad," Haldir replied
"It's alright Haldir, you had no way of knowing. I just haven't gotten used to the fact that he is not there any more," Anna answered softly.
Haldir felt terrible at having made her so sad and so he put his arms around her and held her stroking her back and humming to her until he felt her relax in his arms asleep. Anna had never been particularly vain about her looks. She knew she had never been the kind of woman who turned every head as she walked into a room. However now she was bald , or nearly so, and in place of her baby fine light blonde hair, coarse, kinky auburn fuzz was beginning to grow. Haldir could tell by the bright shade of red she turned whenever he addressed her, that she was deeply self-conscious about the loss of her hair. So, he spoke to one of the healers and they found her some silk scarves to cover her head. Haldir was frustrated at not having been able to help in the battle and somewhat bored, so he spent a good deal of time visiting with Anna and trying to cheer her up. He even managed to get her to laugh a few times.
Legolas was surprised and concerned when he entered the Golden Wood to find it almost empty. Those left were equaly surprised to find the normaly calm, pensive prince in the state he was.
He curtly informed them that he did not care if they were battling all the hordes of Isengard and Morder combined he would scour all the northern borders and storm Dol Guldur himself to find the woman he sought if he had to.
When Legolas finally found the healers' tents and the bed where Anna had been placed, he found Haldir holding her hand and laughing with her in a very familiar way. Legolas almost stomped over to where she was lying. How dare Haldir take such liberties with her, he thought to himself angrily. He glared at Haldir silently hoping that the march warden would give him an excuse, any excuse to punch him in the nose. Haldir saw the look on the prince's face and could feel the anger rolling off him. He was confused for a moment and wondered what he could possibly have done to anger Legolas, as the last time they had spoken they had been on quite friendly terms.
"Mae Govannen Legolas Thranduilion," Haldir said politely rising.
"What are you doing to her?" responded Legolas in a tone that made everything fall into place for Haldir. Somehow, as unlikely as it seemed, Legolas had become enamored of this mortal woman. Haldir's expression was torn between sorrow for his friend's predicament and humor at what the king would say when he found out.
"Anna has been ill, I was merely helping the overburdened healers with the tending of those who have been injured protecting your father's realm, Haldir answered calmly as a smile threatened to burst into a grin.
Haldir's calm reserve and smile did nothing to soothe Legolas. By this time Anna, having heard her name mentioned, was getting a little peeved at being spoken about as though she was not even there. This time she could even understand a fair bit of what Legolas had said.
"Mae govannen Legolas," said Anna. Legolas' mouth dropped open in shock for, the last time he had seen her, she did not seem to know any Sindarin and now she was politely saluting him in his own tongue. Haldir pretended to cough in order to hide a smirk while Anna continued to speak unabashed.
"I guess being a prince does not necessarily mean one has good manners. I believe it is considered polite when someone greets you to return the greeting." Even though her voice was soft Haldir could almost see her anger dripping from it. She remembered how tall blonde and grumpy had refused to even say goodbye to her and now he was practically accusing her of making out with Orophin's brother on her sick bed. "As for what Haldir and I were doing, that is our business,"she replied winking at Haldir and hoping inwardly he would play along and help her maintain some of her dignity.
Haldir caught on immediately and said in a sweet and caring tone, "You should try to get some sleep lirimar , for as much as I enjoy visiting your bed, I would also like to see your strength return." He winked back and added, "Sweet dreams."
Anna blushed at this and Legolas looked from one to the other stunned. He straightened his back, turned and stalked out of the tent. He was several yards away mumbling to himself when he heard someone calling his name.
"What do you want?" he yelled without thinking as he started to turn and ran headlong into a slightly taller, slightly older, suddenly angrier version of himself.
"Is that how you have been taught to greet your father and king my son?"Thranduil growled
Legolas groaned inwardly. Was nothing going to go right ever again , he thought to himself. This was not the meeting he had imagined having with Thranduil. Indeed from the moment he had met the young mortal woman one thing after another seemed to go wrong. This was but one more to add to a list of troubles which was quickly growing very long.
"Goheno nin Adar. I was deep in thought and did not realize at the first to whom I spoke. I am deeply sorry," Legolas replied trying to put a reign on his emotions.
"My son if I have told you once I have told you a thousand times , Eru has blessed us with much and to whom much is given , of him much is expected, Lectured Thranduil. "Is this how you represent our realm? Is this the example you give in front of Elrond and Galadriel? If so , it is no wonder that they think us backward and no better than wood elves prancing in the wilderness!" he continued.
This was an old and sore wound between them. Legolas knew better than to argue with his father; It would only make things worse. He knew that the best way to keep his father 's disapproving lecture short was to keep silent and let him wear himself out. Legolas responded only when his father paused obviously waiting for a reply and acted properly chastised as he answered," Yes Adar" and "No Adar" in all the right places. Inside Legolas longed to tell his father exactly what he thought and why , but although he could and had faced goblins, spiders, orcs, trolls, and even a balrog of Morgoth, Facing his father with the truth was a far more frightening thought.
The lecture lasted the better part of the afternoon before Thranduil showed any sign of slowing down. He only stopped when Celeborn approached close enough that he might accidentally hear the conversation. It simply would not do, thought Thranduil, to allow Celeborn to gloat over how unready for the responsibility of leadership Legolas was. It was bad enough that Celeborn and Galadriel had needed to come into his realm with their army to aid his people. Now they would have an excuse to claim part of his realm, as they had helped to defend it. If only Legolas had returned instead of going off on some fool quest this might never have been necessary, Thranduil thought. The king eyed his son sadly wondering to himself; "will he never grow up?" While at the same instant Legolas was wondering to himself, "Will he never realize that I am no longer an elfling and start treating me like an adult?"
Author's Chapter Notes:
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
I am not a doctor nor do I currently hold any type of medical degree. Do not attempt any of the medical procedures listed here because to quote the cartoon character Pogo, "they came out of my own head bone".
Translations:
Quel Amrun= Good Morning
Lirimar= Lovely one
Mae Govannen= Well met
Thranduilion= Thraduil's Son
Goheno nin= I'm sorry
Adar= Father